After Dim Sun fell, the group was able to heal again. It was more for the Operators, but Cedar and Seafoam took their time. Admiral really appreciated it after all the damage. Dijon was also able to relax a little, though he still got worked up really quickly.

Such as Admiral's little mission to the north. Not all of Dim Sun was captured, so they split up to look for those that escaped, including the Sinis trio and Wheeler.

"A-a-are you sure?" Admiral blinked as Cedar doubt checked her arm. Thanks to Heath's lucky hit, her arm had to do a series of procedures. In the end, she got a prosthetic, but she's glad it wasn't her dominant arm. And now she was going north.

"Dijon, I'll be back as soon as I check."

"I'm more worried if Ice catches you."

"I know. But maybe I'll get lucky and catch one of the others." Seafoam hummed.

"She does have a 25% chance." Dijon was quiet as Cedar smiled.

"Good to go. Be careful."

~~~

Seafoam managed to get Heath caught. Lavana ditched it, escaping to another region, so outside rangers were put on her. Heath seemed to be laughing about something. Dijon was mentally panicking as he watched Admiral's signal with extra precaution.

~~~

Upon arriving, she immediately went to the castle. Gut instinct really, and she took it.

As she explored, a gentle noise seemed to fill the air and got louder as she neared the end. When she found it, her heart dropped.

Ice.

She stayed perfectly still as she watched him. He was wrapped in a blanket, staring at the ground like it was going to break underneath him. She decided to risk it as she went over. To her surprise, he flinched as she approached.

"Easy-" He pushed himself back from her, but not without her seeing something that made her pause.

Bandages.

His side was completely wrapped up and his clothes were torn there. She knelt down where she stopped, making him pause.

"Let me see the wound." He shook his head, staying completely silent. She scanned him, noting his shaking and a red mark on his cheek. "Ice, let me see it." Still not moving towards her. He finally spoke in a soft voice, marking the first time she's heard him.

"Stay away from me... Please..." She gulped as she eyed his bandaged side. She needed to get him checked. Forget capturing him right now. He needed help.

"Do you want me to get a medic?" His shaking seemed to pause as his eyes gave a questioning look. "I can get you a medic. Just please- Come here..." He finally moved towards her, taking her hand with a shaky one. She smiled softly before letting him lean against her so she could reach out. "Voicemail, Voicemail, Admiral to Union. I need assistance near the end of the castle. Medic would be nice."

~~~

Cedar was the one to join her, so technically they sent a medic. He went over as Ice rested against her.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm not the one in need of a medic." He seemed to stop his approach before scanning Ice. After spotting the injury on his side, he helped Admiral get Ice safely to the Union.

~~~

Dijon growled a little at the sight of the blue admin as a few medics took him into the infirmary. Admiral stretched from Ice leaning against her for so long.

"What the hell?" Admiral purred as she eyed Ice, seeing him grip a pillow while they steadied him.

"Not fully sure."

~~~

After Ice was healed up, he gently rested with the TO to give her answers. With a shaky hand, he slowly wrote out what happened. Apparently, he had been under Heath's "Iron Grip of Control" for years ever since Heath's family attacked his group. While Admiral helped Ice finish healing, The others took care of Heath so they weren't in the same building. They grouped up as Admiral helped him eat.

"I can see what could make someone so frightened. He practically roars when he speaks." Ice trembled a little as Seafoam rubbed her ears.

"It also takes 20 people to move him." Cedar added, tended to the bruise that Heath had caused by merely scraping him. Admiral paused as Ice finished the food offered to him. He then relaxed beside her, snuggling with the pillow from before.

"I'm sure with that knowledge, Heath got the others to help him. Come on.

~~~

While Lavana was caught in Sinnoh, Wheeler pulled a whole Mission on himself. So they were all locked away while Ice rested. After that and talking to the Chairperson, Admiral stayed with him. She giggled as he mimicked Sven's little rant about his Staraptor getting snippy. Dijon went over with a frown.

"What's happening over here?" Ice paused to glance at him while Admiral smiled.

"Someone thinks they're a parrot." Ice, with only a moment to register, smiled before mimicking Seafoam and Cedar's complaints about Heath.

"'I can see what could make someone so frightened. He practically roars when he speaks.' 'It also takes 20 people to move him.'" Dijon blinked as Admiral chuckled before Ice wrote something down and showed the two. 'I think that's all I got. I can't think of anything else.' Admiral giggled.

"You're silly." Ice purred before Dijon smiled a little. He never thought Admiral would loosen up or even leave the shell she was always in. But seeing her so calm made him less worried about that.