Sam took her seat as instructed, sitting window-side near the back row by the exit hatches and behind around a half dozen armed men.

[Yeah, they stopped trying to follow us miles back,] one of them spoke, although it naturally went over her head.

[They’re too busy for us, anyway. Good for us, huh?] The other casually joked back.

The atmosphere was relatively lax, much in contrast to earlier, and it was much easier to breathe both mentally and physically than earlier through her two car trips. She used the towel she was given earlier to dry her hair and wrap around her shoulders as she felt another nudge from Renzo as he sat next to her.

“Is a long travel,” he spoke to her with continued effort to communicate around the barrier, holding out his earpiece set. “You can… you can sleep with music.”

A smile popped up again without thought, but took into consideration the kind notion. “Thanks… gracias, pero…” How do you say it again… Damn it, hold on… “Pero yo no…” She felt her face growing hot through the struggle, hoping he could be patient while she fumbled through her limited, far away vocabulary. Oh, yeah. “Yo no puedo dormir.”

Renzo did in fact wait, holding back a chuckle as he took out his mobile to place on the extended tray in front of her. [I like that you are still trying to learn our language,] he spoke into the translator as his message came up on screen. [Like I was saying earlier, I’m glad Bas has you around for him. He’s been needing someone more stubborn than him,] he added with a heartier chuckle. [But in all seriousness.] He then realized how exhausted even he was, but saw it in her eyes she still had way too much on her mind which explained what she meant earlier by not being able to sleep. [Are you going to be okay?] He asked as the shuttle gently but expeditiously lifted off.

She was wondering the same thing. Was the failed assassination attempt one and done, or would the chase continue? Where was Sebastian? Was he really alright to be left with the others? When could she get in touch with anyone she needed to?

“I don’t know, but nothing’s going right… even with me and Sebastian’s time off we tried to enjoy. And I see it’s dragged you fully into it. Sorry.”

Renzo pondered a response, feeling a bit guilty momentarily as he was the one who invited the two back to Bogota. But he also knew this was likely inevitable. [You know, we’re after the same person regardless.] He had Sam’s sudden and uncomfortable attention, and it wasn’t the sudden uptick in turbulence from the updrafts the shuttle ran through. [No one needs to be sorry. At least temporarily, this is our life, isn’t it?] He wasn’t content with bringing up Reaper as a topic, but that too in his mind was inevitable, given the circumstances.

Shit, does he know about Isaiah’s identity!? “What do you know about him?”

[Well,] he shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back, looking up at the ceiling panels. [He killed my men, he tried to kill you and those close to you.]

“He did,” Sam quickly added, remembering Devin. “Someone who saved my life in several ways died at his hands last month. Losing him also made me lose one of my friends.”

[Yeah, that’s how I see him,] Renzo continued as he realized perhaps there was more to the story than he realized or expected. [But still. No need to feel sorry.]

“To be honest, yes, I kind of do,” Sam spoke in a sudden change of tone. I need to tell him. Every time I hide important details, I hurt myself and others in the end. I don’t have Sebastian by my side this time, and I have no clue where the hell Kaylen is… leaving Renzo the only one I can trust. And I can’t do this alone even if it’s just for a night or three.

She thought to look at him to tell him but succumbed instead to the words stuck in her throat as she rubbed her face in frustration. And after a moment to regather her strength, she spoke through her hands as the only means to get her voice working: “He’s my brother.”

Renzo shook his head as if to agree with something he expected her to say, but it took the split seconds required to live-translate her words in a way that triggered his next reaction in suppressed shock: [What?!]

The hands went from her face to over the top of her head as she sank further. “I’d understand if you lose trust in me after saying that. The fact that he almost killed you, Sebastian, and Dani while killing countless others… it’s hard to be just, like…”

[Bas told me your mother was a cold one,] Renzo calmly spoke up to break the agonizing admission, stirring Sam from her curled up position. [Was that true?]

“What do you mean? What’s that got to do with what I was saying?”

[Well, if I go by what he said, you are nothing like her and nothing like your brother, right?] He gave Sam a second to process the thought. [If anything, he might have been one crazy product of your family while you were a complete other. I won’t even begin to pretend to understand a thing about you all, but I can say you are you. Just because a madman out there has your blood doesn’t tie you to him. And last time I checked, brothers don’t kill sisters.]

Right. Sam had thought those same thoughts many times before, but it always helps to hear others utter the same sentiments. “Thanks for understanding… and not freaking out. I mean, you’re right, look,” she continued as she tugged and pulled her left shirt collar over her shoulder enough to expose the scar he had left her. “He said the next will be for real. I can’t just back down because he thinks he owns me.”

Renzo grimaced at the thought more so than the sight, then bent down to roll up his pant legs up past his knees, revealing several massive surgical scars. [Yeah, I got the same story. That incident had my knees crushed. I thought I’d never walk again but thanks to Hexa benefits, you know…]

“Well,” she thought to put the topic back on something less deep as she put her shirt back in order. “You have any idea where we are headed?”

[The only place they can guarantee our safety. Bahia Blanca.]

“Where is that?”

[Central Argentina. You’ll see.]

“You been before? Because you sound like it,” Sam added with a joking look of suspicion.

Renzo shrugged with a smirk. [That’s where I, well, ‘met’ Kaylen. And I assume that’s where we’ll meet her again.]

He must be looking forward to that, she thought through heavy sarcasm. But as things seemed to settle down, her ear started to throb more and more. The thought of changing the topic again seemed to offer some potential for distraction as another concern floating around surfaced. “And that’s where I guess this group, what’s it called?”

“Enrai.”

“Yeah, do you know anything else about these Underground groups? This isn’t anything I can look up on any news outlet or archives page.”

[Hey, look, all I can tell you is the bare minimum because that’s literally all I know,] Renzo laid back, seemingly heavy-eyed. [Kaylen is with Enrai, and apparently so is Rodrigo. They’re small, so we never knew of them until recently. I always thought Rex was the big guy since that’s who tried to smash up Bogota earlier this year, but something tells me maybe Bishop pulled strings with the Rochas and not Rex. Who knows?] He then remembered the last story he was told about her, figuring it’d be worth mentioning. [You know, at least according to Kaylen, that big in-fight between those two Underground parties in The Philippines caused a huge stir. I wonder if that’s why Rodrigo was speaking how he was earlier.]

“Thanks, all of that info is a good start for me, and yeah, I guess I got a number of stories to tell you in regards to that last bit between Rex and Tyrus,” Sam answered as she pondered the thousand more questions that entailed, helping distract her from her pain but drove her further into the desire to continue conversation, picking his brain. She then looked over to see him at his conscious’s breaking point. “But I’ll back off for now. We both need some rest.”

[Definitely fill me in on that after we arrive. We could use some precious shut-eye, even if just for an hour or two.]

“Right,” she feebly answered as she watched Renzo lean back and close his eyes, letting out a long sigh. She too rolled back to face the closed window and tried to get somewhat comfortable in her seat.

Yeah, as if I could sleep given the circumstances…

.

.

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●　● Akkadia One, Eden Space Territories

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There was a city park located just two blocks away from the assisted living facilities where Sam’s grandfather was staying, and in one section farthest from the central grounds was a small collection of benches around several trees and a fish pond. Lucian sat as the lone park-goer at one of the benches, holding a cup of coffee as he sat with his elbows on his knees leaning forward, staring into the ground in front of him in deep thought. He pondered the events from earlier, still at complete unease about the situation not only with the recent theft of the Ap50 package but also with Sam’s whereabouts.

He turned upon hearing approaching footsteps as if he knew who to expect. “Did you get any additional word from your sources?”

“I did,” Al responded as he sat down next to him. “She’s banged up but fine as far as her vital status goes. Safe in transit as you reported, and same for the three Navarres.”

The two faced forward, staring through the pond and into space as a quiet moment passed.

“You, uh,” Lucian started, feeling how heavy the air had become. “You going to be alright? I mean, I’m glad your daughter avoided the worst of that disaster, but…”

Al cut to the chase rather flatly but was notably spiritually exhausted. “My father passed.”

Lucian couldn’t find the words, not expecting that kind of news as another quiet moment passed.

.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’ll be hardest for Sam.” Al cleared his throat and checked his watch as a notification popped up. “I was glad to spend the time I could with him this past year, and that’s after a lifetime of him being there for me. But Sam? She only just started to get to know the real Grayson Knight just days ago, and you know how much life has absolutely fallen apart for her already as it is.”

Lucian finally found a reason to turn and look at him directly. “Well, either way, I didn’t think to include your father’s situation in what I explained before. You need to take your time and tie things up for your sake while you’re here, Knight.”

“No,” Al replied with a slow shake of his head. “Even he said so yesterday. I need to keep moving and not worry about how bad things have become, you know, concerning my family. I have to keep moving and save what future I have left with them.”

“Then, you’re going right back to continue looking for your wife?”

“I’ve got no choice. I have to find her or my son real soon, or I might not have much left to look for.”

“Then look,” Lucian spoke more firmly. “Before you go I need you to hear this. Vrey has been acting a bit off. We expected the worst from him when we went against his stance on Enrai. He just… walked off after accepting our plan of action.”

“Don’t pay his way of throwing a tantrum any real attention,” Al mildly chuckled as he stood up. “I sometimes wish I could be there to help put an end to this global mess that never seems to find an end,” he spoke directly to Lucian before looking away once more. “I’ll keep tabs. Anything I find that might help your end, well,” he continued as he fished a small envelope out of his pocket. “I’ll use this to send it to you. And you do likewise.”