Marco paced around the temple following the same path. His head was down and he mumbled to himself but he wasn’t trying to talk to any of the others. Ley was there but their form had changed turning into a ball of white fire. Whatever they were doing, they also weren’t in a communicative mood with the team.
Cal was with Sarah who had given him the full rundown of what happened. Gen stood nearby listening in as well. When she finished talking they stood in silence letting it hang over them. A botched attempt to protect the earth that ended up losing four of their friends.
Gen scowled finally and moved, “So you’re saying you went off with no plan and got screwed over?”
“That’s not how it happened,” Sarah said glaring at her.
“Really because that’s what it sounded like.”
“Are you saying you would have done better?”
“I wouldn’t have lost all of my so called friends on the fucking moon! I wouldn’t have lost my fucking boyfriend!”
“He’s my fiancé,” she stood up and glared. “And watch what the fuck you say next. I beat you once and I’ll do it again.”
“Funny, I don’t remember that being how it ended.”
The two squared off around each other and Cal started to say something but Marco said, “She’s right.”
All three turned to look at him. He stopped pacing and turned to face them. Sarah gasped looking at him, Cal looked taken aback but Gen was glaring at him. His eyes were over shadowed and red from tears. He looked defeated in a way. The confidence was shot. “What are you talking about Marco?” Sarah said.
“I led us to the moon. I led us through the ship. I didn’t have a real plan. We went in and we got caught. I lost Jack, Owen, Seth and Kat. I lost them! I don’t know what the hell is happening to them up there! They could be getting tortured! Or dead! Or worse! And it’s my fault!”
He didn’t realize how loud he screamed and the crystal flared with light almost in response. Marco huffed and his mouth quivered and he fought his urge to cry again. Covering his face, he fell down to his knees and bent over double. Sarah stumbled forward then ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his face. ”I don’t deserve to be the leader,” he said softly. She held onto him tightly and shhhed him gently, trying to comfort him as best as she could.
Cal stared at his friends his heart wrenching and turned to glare at Gen. He started to say something but he saw her staring at the ground. Her blue hair shrouding her face and he saw the shaking of her fist. He knew that she was holding back tears in the same way. She lost someone up there too.
Walking away slowly Cal went to the crystal. He stared at the floating white orb that was Ley’s form. He was tempted to ask them something but he was more than sure that they wouldn’t answer. Instead he looked up to the sky and stared at the moon. His friends were up there and for the first time in a long time he really wished he had his stone again just to help them.
But the crystal beside him flared to life again. Everyone looked up and stared at it. Marco wiped his face and got up slowly. He pressed his hands against the crystal and his eyes widened. “Another signal. Coming to the city.”
“Another one?” Cal repeated. “What the hell is Legion.”
“Maybe it wants to finish the job,” Gen said and there was no bite to her words. Just cold certainty.
“We have to go,” Sarah said and looked at Marco. He hesitated and she met his gaze. “We can do this.”
“Not just the two of you,” Everyone turned as the ball of fire became Ley’s full body again. “If you go by yourselves you will be over taken and join them.”
“So what we just let them tear up the city?” Sarah asked incredulously.
“No. You won’t go alone,” they said and looked toward Cal and Gen. “These are desperate times. And they require creative and desperate solutions.”
“What are you talking about Ley?” Cal asked. “I’m retired. I gave it up.”
Gen shook her head. “We also don’t have stones or powers. Heck my celestial is out in fuck knows where in the galaxy.”
“The power within you is similar to my own. Now that the other knights draw power from themselves, I can restore it as a temporary situation at least. You won’t be as strong as the knights are now but it will be enough.”
Sarah looked at them and nodded, “Once a knight, always a knight.”
Silence rested over them for a long moment at this sudden offer. But they each looked at the crystal, looked at the image of the earth and the hologram showing their home under attack.
Cal stepped forward slowly, “I’ll do it. I’ll become a knight again for this only.”
Gen wiped her eyes quickly and brushed her thumb across her nose, “I will too. Can’t let Owen come back and see his siblings hurt.”
Ley nodded slowly and raised their hands. In one hand a pink stone forming, with its accompanying band. Just like the last time Cal had seen it. The black stone in their other palm brought back some dark memories to Gen but also the hope to do something better with it. They both took them and gasped as the energy surged through them and their bodies flashed.
Cal leaned forward and then looked toward Marco, “We need our leader Marco.”
Marco looked at him and started to shake his head. But then Gen said, “We’re gonna fix what you started. I’m gonna save Owen and you’re gonna save your fiancé and friends then we’re going to never do this again.”
Marco stared at her and nodded slowly. He glanced at Cal who gave him a thumbs and smiled at him. Finally, he looked over at Sarah and she leaned up kissing him gently. “I believe in you Marco. We all do. And I know Jack would have something dumb and real supportive to say right now to encourage you.” They both laughed together and Marco stood up taller.
Marco looked at Ley and the celestial nodded, smiling in their own way. “Go Marco. Lead your knights. Protect your home.”
“Thank you. All of you. There’s no time for inspiring speeches or anything like that,” he raised his hand with a flourish and Sarah did the same. “It’s time to go to work.”
The Harlequin Library 