Closure

	I glared angrily back at the guy who shoved me through the door and made me trip slightly. I was really tempted to retaliate, but I forced myself to keep my cool. I casually scanned the room, taking everything in. Slowly, acting as if I wasn’t surrounded by an armed guard, I strode over to Royce’s expensive wooden desk and leaned against it with one arm.
	“Nice place you got here.” I quipped, “But I wouldn’t wanna live here.”
	Peripherally, I saw Royce glare at me. Carefully, he made his expression neutral, fixed his suit, and rose from his seat.
	“That’s a pity,” he said, “because I’m afraid you and Zack will become my permanent guests.”
	I faked letting my guard drop.
	“Zack?” I squeaked, then put on my tough face again, “You’re lying.”
	“Am I?” Royce smiled, “One of my men winged him. We have him secure. And we have you. It’s only a matter of time before we have your entire group.”
	“So what. So you’ve got me. Big deal. It’d take more than one bullet to take Zack down. And the others aren’t stupid enough to let you have them. They’ll split. Probably already have.” I bluffed.
	“I beg to differ.” Royce said, moving in front of me, “I think they won’t leave without their superiors.”
	“Shows what you know.” I scoffed.
	I moved around the desk and plopped into his chair, kicking my feet up onto his desk and crossing my arms behind my head.
	“Nice chair.”
	Royce frowned and turned to his troops. I considered attacking him while his back was turned, but decided not to. His men still had their weapons in my direction and were definitely paying attention.
	Glass shattered behind me and I immediately dropped out of the chair and to the floor, kicking the chair out of the way. A second later, Krit was rolling under the desk with me and guns were being fired.
	Suddenly, shots stopped being fired. I peeked out from under the desk to see that Max and Ty had arrived, taking out the troopers from behind. Immediately, Krit and I jumped up and the four of us closed in on Royce.
	“Alright, now it’s our turn.” Max growled, lunging forward and grabbing him by the throat, “What did you hit the others with?”
	Royce choked. Max dropped him to the floor in disgust. Krit added a swift kick to his ribs to help motivate him to speak up.
	“That’s confidential.” Royce coughed.
	“Confidential, my...” Max said angrily.
	Ty reached over and pulled the dagger out of Krit’s boot. She knelt and pressed it to Royce’s throat.
	“Answer and you’re free to go. Don’t and you’ll wish you’d decided to take up a different career.” she threatened in almost the same low tone Zack uses when he gets really ticked.
	Royce stared at her, measuring how serious she was. She looked dead serious to me. She looked Zack serious. If I were him, I’d fess up. 
	“A patented pulse emission, at a frequency that is intolerable for your genetics.” Royce finally confessed as Ty pushed the blade harder against his throat.
	“How do you guys think up this stuff?” Max commented.
	“Good question.” Ty agreed.
	“Where are you keeping this thing?” Krit demanded.
	“The desk.”
	I went to the desk and began searching through the drawers. I found a small device that looked like it must be it. I pocketed it.
	“Let’s get out of here.” I said, “And bring sleaze-bag.”
	Ty yanked Royce to his feet and shoved him to Krit. I tossed him a gun and he kept it pressed against Royce’s back.
	“Try anything and Krit’ll pull the trigger.” I warned.
	Royce nodded. We moved out.
					***

	We quickly made it outside of the building and headed to where Zack and Syl should be by now. I spotted Syl crouched in the foliage, catching a flash of her blonde hair amid the green.
	“Present for you, Syl.” Krit said.
	“Ewww, take it back. You know I wanted a bike gloves.” Syl replied.
	“Sorry, sis.” Krit shrugged.
	“Where’s Zack?” Cade demanded.
	Syl gestured over at the building. We all turned to see Zack running back to us.
	“What did you...” I started to ask.
	“Down!” Zack yelled.
	We all dropped, Zack practically tackling Cade and covering her. A second later, a giant explosion sounded behind us. I covered my head, feeling shrapnel falling around me. I wished Zack had waited a little longer, but it had been a strategic risk. He must have had confidence that we would get out in time. And we did need to destroy this place so they couldn’t make another of those pulse things that they had used to take us out. But did all his plans have to end with explosives?
	“Nice!” Syl said, sitting up before any of the rest of us dared to.
	“Syl.” Krit rolled his eyes.
	“What? It was a nice explosion. You’ve got to appreciate that sort of explosive radius. That shrapnel easily reached...” Syl began.
	“Shut up, Syl.” Zack said shortly.
	Syl clamped her mouth shut with a resentful look at Zack.
	“Did you find what he used on us?” he asked.
	Cade pulled the small metallic box out of her pocket and showed it to him. He took it and put it in his jacket.
	Zack grabbed ahold of Royce’s collar and pulled him over.
	“Who made this and can anyone else make another one?” he demanded.
	“Avery. He’s the only one who has the plans.” Royce said.
	“Good.” Zack said, punching him the face.
	Royce slumped, unconscious.
	“I’m tired. Let’s go home.” he said, standing and pulling Cade to her feet.
	“Okay.” Cade agreed, kissing him.
	Krit, Syl, Max and I all looked away.
	“I really wished they’d warn us when they’re going to do that.” Syl commented.
	Krit nodded in agreement as he got to his feet. He offered one hand to Syl and the other to me, pulling us both to our feet. Krit grinned.
	“It’s nice to have both my little blondes back.” he joked.
	“We’re not little.” Syl said, punching him soundly in the arm, “You’re just too tall.”
	“Ouch.” Krit commented.
	Syl pushed roughly past him and went in search of the Aztec and the motorcycles with Max, Cade and Zack who was dragging Royce.
	I looked up at Krit.
	“We fixed everything.” he said, looking at me searchingly.
	“Yeah. Cade is better. We took care of Royce. I don’t think Zack’s mad at me anymore.” I agreed.
	“So...do you think we need to stay away from each other anymore?” 
	“I don’t know. Do you think Zack’ll still kill you?” I asked, letting him step closer and place his hands on my arms.
	“Do I care?” he replied.
	I froze, hearing a click. Slowly, I looked to the side to see a hand gun pointed at my head.
	“Don’t.” the person at the end of the gun threatened, seeing Krit twitch.
	Krit slowly raised his hands and stepped back.
	“You took out some friends of mine with that blast.” the guy with the gun said, tight-lipped.
	Krit and I remained silent. What could we say? Sorry?
	“I don’t see why we bothered with you freakin’ science projects anyway.”
	“Don’t...” Krit said, barely checking himself from moving.
	“Royce was crazy. You’re just as human as the rest of us when it comes down to you. A bullet through the brain should kill you, too...”
	“Krit, no.” I said firmly, knowing him well enough to know he would only restrain himself for so much longer.
	I gestured down with my eyes and, barely moving, signaled with my hand for him to drop on my signal. He shook his head.
	“Stop it! Whatever you’re doing, stop it!” the guy yelled, his hand tightening on the gun.
	“Ty! Krit!” Syl called.
	The guy’s head snapped towards Syl’s voice. Immediately, Krit sprang, knocking me to the ground. He kicked out at the guy. He pulled the trigger a second too late. Krit wrestled the gun from him and used it to knock him unconscious. With a sigh of relief, Krit pulled the clip out of the gun and threw them aside. He sighed again and dropped his face onto my shoulder. I was too stunned to move.
	“God, you two. Can’t you at least wait until we get home?”
	Krit and I both looked up at Syl, staring at her blankly. I suppose it hit both of us what she meant at the same time, because Krit suddenly jumped off of me and helped me to my feet.
	“Are you okay, Ty?” he asked.
	I shook my head, finally coming back to my senses. That had been way too close! I had almost lost Krit for a second time today. That was totally unacceptable.
	But I hadn’t. I hadn’t lost Krit. He was still here. I was still here. That’s all that mattered. To hell with what Zack thought. This wasn’t about him. This was about me and Krit.
	“Oh, Krit...you are amazing...” I gushed, jumping in his arms and catching him by surprise, “...you’re wonderful...I love you...”
	I kissed him with each pause, barely stopping to realize I had actually told Krit that I loved him.
	Krit slowly smiled and laughed at me, hugging me tightly.
	“Oh, Ty.” he said, shaking his head, “I love you, too.”
	He looked past me and froze. I turned my head and saw that Zack, Cade, and Syl were all staring at us. I didn’t care what they say anymore.
	“Maybe we could double-date?” Krit offered with an uncertain grin.
	Zack glared at him.
	“Or not.” Krit said quickly, “Maybe just with Max and Logan. See, this is why I keep saying that we need to set up Syl...”
	“Krit.” I interrupted before he could tick off Syl, too.
	“Yes, Ty?”
	“Shut up.” I said.
	I smiled at him and threw my arms around his neck. He leaned his head down close to mine.
	“Okay.” he agreed and kissed me slowly.
	Zack coughed loudly and slowly Krit and I pulled apart. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I was reasonably secure in the thought of Krit still being there.
	“Can we move out now or would you two like to stay?” Zack pressed harshly.
	“No, we can move out.” Krit said, making Zack’s eyes narrow in annoyance.
	I was relieved when he didn’t say anything, but whirled around and stomped back through the woods. Cade followed him. Syl hung back with us.
	“You two...” she shook her head, “You’re cute.”
	“Cute?” I questioned, uncertainly.
	“Well, maybe not cute. Maybe if it weren’t Krit. How about yucky? Does yucky work?” Syl asked.
	“Oh, go away, Syl. I will set up you and Zane. You just watch.” Krit threatened.
	“Whatever.” Syl replied flippantly, striding past us.
	I smiled again and leaned against Krit as we walked after them. I could deal with Zack. I could deal with whatever bad guys we had to deal with after this. I could deal with all of it. Krit loved me.
		-------------------------------------------------------------------

	Sappy, I know. Couldn’t be helped. One more chapter, I think. Then it’s on to SP3 in which we play god and warp the DA time lines to suit us. Come on, you know you wanna read it. It’ll be fun! *rolls eyes at her own dorkiness*

	Ty