Chapter 548: Homecoming 2

Noah stood, stretching muscles that protested but functioned. His void energy had recovered somewhat during the flight. Enough to be useful, not enough to fight again if something went wrong. Around him, the team was stirring. Kelvin sat up slowly, testing his repaired ribs. Diana moved with more of her usual grace, though Noah noticed her still favoring that left side slightly.

Lila was already up, staring out one of the viewports at Earth growing larger as they descended. Her expression was complicated, layers of emotion Noah couldn’t quite read.

The ship broke through clouds, and there it was. Eclipse headquarters, sitting in the eastern territories like a fortress that belonged there. The symbol visible even from altitude.

Home.

They landed smoothly, the ship settling onto the pad with barely a bump. The ramp extended, and Noah led his team out into afternoon sunlight that felt wrong after Hollowstar’s pale illumination.

Sam was waiting at the base of the ramp. The faction’s coordinator looked tired but relieved, tablet in hand as always.

"Welcome back," Sam said. "Glad to see everyone’s mostly intact."

"Mostly is generous," Kelvin replied, walking carefully down the ramp. "But we’re alive, so that’s something."

"The injured need further attention," Seraleth added, helping Lila navigate the last few steps. "Are our healers available?"

"Already standing by in medical." Sam gestured toward the building. "They’ve been prepped for incoming wounded. Commander Hight sent ahead medical reports, so they know what they’re dealing with."

The faction’s healers appeared from the building’s entrance. Three of them, all Eclipse recruits who’d shown natural talent for the work and been trained specifically for this role. They moved efficiently, assessing injuries, directing people toward medical.

Diana waved them off. "I’m fine. Just some bruising."

"Ma’am, the report says you took a direct hit that—"

"I said I’m fine." Diana’s tone suggested the discussion was over.

Kelvin didn’t argue, letting them guide him toward medical. "Yeah, I’ll take the help. Everything hurts and I’m not too proud to admit it."

Other faction members had emerged from the building, gathering to welcome them back. Noah recognized faces from training sessions, people who’d joined Eclipse and made it their home. They looked excited, relieved, some even proud.

"You actually did it," one of them said, awe evident in his voice. "You rescued the family heads. That’s insane."

"It was a team effort," Sophie replied, ever diplomatic. "Grey forces provided the military support. We just handled the fighting."

"Just handled the fighting, she says," Sam muttered. "Like that’s the easy part."

Noah was about to respond when he noticed the ever present amused look on Sam’s face.

"Oh, by the way," Sam said, too casually, "the Vanguard challenge went well."

Noah’s attention sharpened. "How well?"

"Well enough that people are taking us seriously now. Turns out having a wyvern as your representative makes quite an impression."

"Storm fought?" Noah looked around. "Where is he?"

Sam’s lips twitched toward a smile. "What do you think?"

Before Noah could process that, a shriek split the air. High-pitched, joyful and unmistakably draconic.

Noah looked up just in time to see Storm shoot over the faction building, moving so fast he was more black-and-blue blur than solid form. And on his back, screaming with a mixture of terror and excitement, were six Eclipse recruits, holding on for dear life.

"BEST DAY EVER!" one of them screamed as Storm banked hard, executing a barrel roll that should have thrown them all off but didn’t, his frost coating creating handholds they could grip.

Storm shrieked again, clearly having the time of his life, and dove toward the ground before pulling up at the last second, sending his passengers’ screams echoing across the compound.

Noah stared. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since about an hour after you left," Sam replied, grinning openly now. "Storm got bored. The recruits wanted to meet him. It escalated quickly."

"I hate to say this but he’s built as a weapon of war," Noah said without any real heat. "Not a theme park ride."

"He’s both. Multi-talented." Sam checked his tablet. "Also, he’s been invaluable for training. Turns out having a wyvern chase you is excellent motivation for speed work."

Storm landed near the building, his passengers sliding off with shaky legs and massive grins. The wyvern noticed Noah immediately, head swiveling toward him, but didn’t come over. Instead, he chirped at the recruits, clearly requesting another round.

"Later!" one of them promised. "I think my stomach is still on the roof!"

Noah felt something in his chest loosen. Storm was fine. Happy, even. Enjoying his time on Earth with people who weren’t trying to kill them. It was normal in a way nothing else had been for months.

"He knows you’re back," Sophie said with amusement. "He’s just having too much fun to even have your time at the moment,"

"Yeah." Noah smiled despite everything. "That wyvern is just a puppy in disguise,"

They both shook their heads as they started walking toward the building, the team gravitating together naturally. Medical staff had claimed Kelvin and anyone else who’d accept treatment. Diana had disappeared, probably to check equipment or do something productive instead of resting. Lila walked alone, lost in thoughts Noah couldn’t guess at. Seraleth coordinated with Sam, handling the logistics of their return.

Noah was almost to the entrance when an engine sound caught his attention.

The sound was different from the Eclipse ship. It was rougher and sounded like the ship was struggling.

A vessel descended through clouds, smoking slightly, systems clearly damaged. It looked like it had been in a fight, survived through luck more than anything else. The ship settled onto a secondary landing pad, engines cutting out with a wheeze that suggested they wouldn’t restart without serious repairs.

The ramp extended, and a figure stepped out.

Noah’s breath caught.

The faction members near Noah started murmuring, confused.

"Who’s that?"

"Is he one of ours?"

"Never seen him before."

Noah walked forward, aware of everyone watching, aware of the moment crystallizing into something significant.

"Lucas Grey," Noah said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Final member of a group of infamous rag-tag soldiers. We were designated Team 7, back when we were still in the military."

Lucas’s face split into a grin. "Noah Eclipse, you don’t look bad,"

"You too." Noah closed the distance, and they grabbed forearms in that half-hug soldiers did when they’d survived something terrible together. "Welcome home."

"Home." Lucas looked around the compound, at the Eclipse symbol, at the faction members gathering to see what was happening. "So you guys quit the military and built this. Impressive."

"Technically you haven’t quit," Noah pointed out. "You’ve been Arthur’s prisoner for months. Pretty sure the EDF still considers you active duty."

"The only team I belong to is the one where all my friends are." Lucas’s voice carried absolute certainty. "Everything else is just paperwork."

Sophie approached, and her smile was the professional one she used when she was trying not to laugh. "Well, we’ve spent the better part of this faction’s few months of existence hyping you up. Telling everyone how legendary you are, how handsome, how powerful. This better not make us look like liars."

Noah added, "We need to get you fed, stat. You’re way too lean. The recruits are gonna be disappointed."

Lucas actually laughed. "So I’m like some legend back from the dead? Awesome."

"Kelvin might have over-hyped you," Sophie warned. "You’ll need to live up to some pretty ridiculous expectations."

"I’ll do my best." Lucas’s grin was manic but genuine.

They walked together, all three of them, heading toward the building. The faction members parted to let them through, staring at Lucas with curiosity and excitement. Noah felt something settle in his chest. His team was back. Everyone who mattered was here and alive.

That’s when something happened.

All the electronics started going haywire.

Lights flickered. Tablets sparked. The holo-displays near the entrance shorted out with pops of failing circuits. Someone’s comm device exploded in their hand, forcing them to drop it with a yelp.

Noah’s hair stood on end. Sophie’s too. Static electricity filled the air, making his skin prickle.

Lucas grimaced. "Oops. Yeah, so, that’s been happening. The ship I came in suffered the same thing. I’ve been traveling around Arthur’s dimension so long using my lightning powers that now I can’t get too close to electrical things without them acting up."

"That’s inconvenient," Sophie said, her hair still standing in multiple directions from static.

"Tell me about it. I’ve destroyed three comms just trying to navigate my way here in the ship,"

Noah looked at Lucas more carefully. Really looked. His friend wasn’t just thin. He was radiating power in a way that felt different from before. The lightning wasn’t visible, but Noah could sense it, could feel the power around Lucas like he’d become a walking storm.

How strong had Lucas gotten in those months trapped in Arthur’s dimension? What had he done to survive, to become whatever he was now?

"Come on," Noah said, leading them toward the entrance. "Let’s get you fed and introduce you to everyone. Then you can tell us how you survived Arthur’s shadow dimension and why you apparently turned into a living power surge."

"That’s a long story," Lucas warned.

"We’ve got time."

They walked into Eclipse headquarters together, and Noah let himself feel something he hadn’t felt in months. Hope. Real, genuine hope that maybe they could actually win this war.

Arthur was still out there. The Purge still existed. Harbingers still threatened humanity. But Noah had his team back, his dragons, his faction. He had people worth fighting for and people who’d fight beside him.

That had to be enough.

It would have to be enough.

Because ready or not, the war was never ending. And Eclipse Faction would be there to meet it.