I can see everyone's expressions when they realize exactly which ship has a person hanging from their mast, and most are varying degrees of fury. My only request is that I can witness every second of what they do to Dirk. I believe that is my right after everything he's put me through. Sure, I can take it all, and I've had worse, but it's a principle sort of thing.

Logistics aside, Eva doesn't even wait to get on the ship before ordering Miguel and Ruben to get me down. The rest of them storm up to her quarters, presumably to demand answers from Dirk.

Ruben climbs up, and slightly surprisingly, slowly lowers me to the ground. I thought he would have just undone the rope and let me free fall. Guess I might be growing on him, or he takes Eva's talk about me being Miguel's to torment seriously.

I don't want to think about the other option, the one most normal girls would jump to at first and possibly be wrong. It's funny that this one holds the most stock for me. It would explain everything.

As soon as I'm close to the ground, Miguel has his arms around my legs, holding me up, presumably to take stress off my arms. I'm not sure how good it's going to work, since my arm has a very clear red path down it.

When there's enough slack, he starts to ease me down, making sure not to touch anywhere I wouldn't want him to, thankfully. Finally, my feet touch the ground, and he lets go of me, causing me to slightly stumble.

"Nice landing," He says slightly sarcastically, and I let out a small huff.

"My legs are still kind of numb, and I've had a rough week. Cut me some slack," I spit back, and watch his eyes slightly darken.

"It's been more like a week and a half, but who's counting," He says, trying to keep a light tone.

I let out a hiss as he tried to get the stupid chains off me. "How was it a week and a half? I've been keeping track of the days. It should be Wednesday today. A little less than a week."

He winces more than slightly, and screws-up his face in a way that's kind of cute.

I raise an eyebrow, completely reading him. "You guys kept me unconscious for quite a while while infected, didn't you?"

He closes his eyes and nods. "Yeah, we did. It seemed more human."

"And that's why the 'road to recovery' has been so short, and I've been feeling better than I should. Because it was really half a week ahead?" He nods again, and looks very sheepishly.

I shake my head, and he now looks at me curiously. "You're not mad?" He asks as I rub my wrists, now thankfully free of those stupid chains, via him picking the lock.

"My friends do it more often than any of us would like to admit. I should honestly just be expecting it at this point." I admit, and he laughs.

"So, the Ice Queen has friends. Any chance I'll be meeting them any time soon?"

"Not a single one. They'll just ruin my reputation as heartless if you do. And they'll give you far too much blackmail information on me, the easiest way to get me talking. Besides, when they're around I tend to get stressed, and people tend to start dying. We really don't need that, now do we?" I ask, and he laughs.

"You had me until the end. There's no way any of that is true." He says, and I smirk. Sometimes I love my reputation; everything I said was true, but no one believes it because they think I'm always serious all of the time. Just like how my friends can't blackmail me, because literally no one who doesn't already know would believe them.

Ruben lets out a very poorly disguised laugh, and I try not to smirk knowing someone doesn't see through me. I don't know why it's a smirk and not a scowl like it usually is; maybe I'm happy someone can actually tell if I'm being serious or joking, fairly accurately.

I see Maartje storm out of the quarters, and I think they could hear her stomping down the stairs from the brig. "Miguel, I think she needs some rest to recuperate from what she's been through," She grinds out.

I give her a look over, trying to imagine what went on. If Dirk was getting punished, she wouldn't be upset, nor would Miguel look so crestfallen and Ruben so disgusted. That means Dirk got off scot free even though he disobeyed direct orders and the only way that would happen is if... oh my. She's still in love with him, even after he's made a power grab, disobey direct orders, and is now manipulating her. Not only that but also arranged the kidnapping of her daughter, whom she still hasn't found.

Well, you know, he's my enemy. That means absolutely no mercy. He just confirmed that idea. And may someone have mercy on his pitiful soul and put him out of his misery when I'm done with him because I sure won't.

You know, Malcham mentioned something about a theory; you flay someone, roll them around in salt, and see how long it takes them to bleed out and die, and what makes them pass out first; blood loss or pain. This might actually be a good idea. I know how to conduct a 'scientific experiment' after all.

You can think of that latter. One thing you do know; you have to stay for what's about to happen. No way am I about to miss this.

"Actually, I got plenty of rest earlier. Not much else I could do; I'm perfectly fine," I chime in as everyone is thinking of some way to respond.

Miguel winces, Maartje stares at me, and Ruben narrows his eyes. I'm betting only one of them knows what I'm trying to do.

"I don't think that's such a good-" Miguel starts before Ruben interrupts him.

"No, we need her expertietes. This has gone too far, and I refuse to let it go any further. They need to be separated now. And she's our best bet. When can we meet in you and Laurens' quarters?"

"Maartje heastitates. "It'll probably be late tonight before we can."

"Perfect. Go and rest up, including you, Ice Queen. I don't care if you got rest earlier and that you're used to it; sleep. I have a feeling you're going to need it." Ruben orders before walking away.

Miguel smiles before leading me back somewhere I'm assuming was formerly a store room, but now has a cot set out. "I'm afraid we'll have to share it again; Captain says you can't be left alone."

"Lovely," I say as I get on my side. It doesn't come out quite as sarcastic as it normally would.

He just smiles, and lays down too. I close my eyes, and apparently I need sleep because I do actually fall asleep, much to both of our surprise I'm sure.

"LB, I'll take care of her for a little while, but you need to hurry. Neither of us can hold on much longer."

"Brady, please, just tell me where you are. I will save you, I promise. Forever and always. I,"

"There is no time, LB. She's nearly gone as it is. You have to hurry. Trust your instincts and your friends, new and old. Beware of a careful choice; the same as before. Do not make the same mistake this time.

"Brady, I swear I didn't mean to. If there was any other way, I would have taken it."

I feel as if something is cupping my cheek, tracing the scar only two people, one dead, know is there. "I know, Love of my Day. But what happened happened, and now it's time to move on. You've grieved and held on long enough; thaw your heart again. And hurry up in doing so; unless you can thaw you won't see the set up that will end in doom."

I can make him out, though it's fuzzy. Nearly as if he isn't really here. But he's humming our song, he has to be.

Then, all the sudden, a shot is fired, and red explodes all over. I bring my arm up far too instinctually, and it gets all over it, though I can just barely see Avidgor in the distance. He smirks, and I howl in rage.

I run, trying to get to him. Suddenly, he just keeps that smirk on his face, grabs me by my throat, and I scream in surprise.

I start thrashing, and then light is all around.

I'm still screaming, and Miguel is now awake.

He pushes my head against his chest, and starts rocking back and forth. "It's okay. You're okay. It was just a night terror. Everything is okay. I will protect you, I promise. Everything is okay. It was all just a dream."

Slowly, my breathing slows down, and the tears I didn't know I was shedding dry up. I want to go back to sleep, but I'm shaking too bad to even attempt to.

"You better?" He asks softly.

I close my eyes and nod. It's a lie though; I haven't been better since over six years ago. Possibly since I joined the stupid IEA. I can't imagine my life without them, but sometimes I wish I could. I wish I could have a normal childhood.

"I know you probably don't want to, but whenever you're ready to talk, I'm a good listener," He says, and I give a little laugh cry. How can he sound so much like Brady, and yet I love him for it and not despise him?

"You're right; I'm not ready. I probably won't ever be ready. But if I ever am, and I'm still here, I'll tell you." I promise, and surprise myself by actually meaning it.

We hear two knocks on the door, and Maartje calls out, "I hope you two are decent, because we're coming in now."

When we hear this, we both leap away from each other, and I leap to my feet. I quickly pull him up, and make the bed military style in fifty seconds, and then sit down on the bed.

Right as I sit down, they must have unlocked the door, and let themselves in. I can sense them all appraising the room as they cram in it, and Ruben gets focused on the bed. He nudges Maartje and she follows his eyes, noticing something at the head of the bed.

"So, you made the bed?" She asks, nodding towards me.

"Yes, I did. Miguel was out when I woke up, so I decided I might as well do something useful," I lie skillfully, and they buy it hook line and sinker.

"Miguel, you know you're not supposed to leave her alone!" Maartje explains, and Miguel shoots me a glare.

"I had to go to the bathroom, she was sleeping soundly, and I was going to be gone for seven minutes, tops. Anyone else in my situation would have too. I come back to the bed made up, and her sitting on it, staring at the door, and telling me that I'm early when I walk in," He defends himself, and they shake their heads.

"So, any idea how to split those two apart?" Maartje asks me.

"I don't deal with love; that's my rule. If it involves love, the agents have as much liberty and money as they need. My best guess would be see if you can get Miguel between the two; he was Dirk's competition in winning her heart, correct?" I ask, and they shake their heads.

Ruben speaks up. "We already tried; it's a no go. Any other ideas?"

I think for a couple of seconds, and then the dream comes back to me. "What if I could prove that Dirk was behind Luna's kidnapping?" I ask, and they give me a look.

"Look, we hate Dirk as much as you, but we know he wouldn't do that," Laurens says, and I shake my head.

"I believe he did. I don't have any concrete evidence; actually, I have so little evidence anyone would laugh at it. But, I also profiled him, and what I believe he did is within reason, and my gut is telling me he did. The only way to know for sure is to find Luna, which I believe we could do. I just need you guys to get Eva to agree; we find Luna and save her if I'm wrong, and if we right, we not only find Luna but also get rid of Dirk, something we all know needs to happen yesterday."

They all look at each other, seemingly processing this information. "Even if we did find Luna and Dirk wasn't behind it, he would be dying shortly would he?" Ruben asks, and I hesitate.

"Most likely, yes. It might even happen while we're gone, just in case. Then Miguel can swoop in and be the savior," I answer, honestly.

Suddenly, Maartje bursts out laughing.

"Why are you laughing? And wasn't this supposed to be in the quatermaster's quaters?" I ask, and Laurens shakes his head.

"She's laughing because Eva thinks you and Miguel have chemistry. She's trying to set you guys up, and said she would even tolerate you being around if you two were together. She was just in our room ranting about it. When she left, we saw Ruben in the hall, and decided to go ahead and have the meeting, since the reason she left was that Dirk needed his ego stroked some more." Laurens says, in the most disgusted voice possible.

"We would need to approve this with Eva. You most likely won't have control of your team," Ruben warns.

"I'm well aware," I answer diplomatically. You don't need to know that shortly after we go on this mission, my team will be joining us.

"Very well, let's go to Eva," He responds.

We all head out to find her, and find her on the top with what looks like a bruise forming on her cheek. I am literally going to kill him myself, unless Eva wants the honor.

Miguel approaches her first, and I know he sees the bruise on her cheek because his hand balls up and he tenses that arm. I believe if he's not in my group, the Dirk problem will solve itself and we will have to save him from Eva.

I can't hear what he says, but he quickly beckons us over.

"You really believe you can find Luna?" Eva quickly asks, and I nod.

"I do, and I promise not to stop trying until the time you give me runs out. I have a lot of people who owe me favors, and I believe it's time to collect on a few of them," I answer, surprised by how steady my voice is.

"Alright, take the group minus Laurens with you; he's my quartermaster and I need him here. We'll be leaving here and sailing around for a couple of weeks. Amory wants to visit Love's Grotto after that, so we'll go there. He says you know where it is at, so we'll meet up there in three weeks, tops," She negates, and I nod. This is more time than I expected, and more people than I expected, I can work with this perfectly fine.

"You have a deal," I say, and I start to walk away before Miguel speaks up.

"According to legend, you always said something before a mission starts."

I stop in my tracks, and then turn around to face them again, trying desperately hard to fight off memories and not get choked up. "I did. I would say carpe noctem, this mission is a go, and may we be as silent as a shadow and as successful as one, and if one of us gets in trouble, just hold on." I then turn on my heel, trying to hide the tears, saying the last words Brady heard for the first time in six years.