Mark, Fiona, and Marcus stepped out of the convoy onto the tarmac at Glasgow Airport as engines hummed around them.

  Marcus finished a call as he walked. “We should be landing in around an hour. We’ll be ready to brief you then.”

  Mark lagged a step behind, phone still to his ear. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I just can’t get out of this. Keep her home today, yeah? I want to know both of you are safe… okay. Love you too. Tell Ava for me as well. Alright—I need to go. Love yous.”

  Fiona shook her head as she started up the steps to the plane. “I can’t even get a pay rise, but you get a plane. Wow. Definitely chose the wrong career path.”

  Marcus took his seat and looked between them as the door began to close. “When we land, let me do the talking. Until we get there, we need our stories straight. Every detail will be checked and double-checked. Remember your training. Cooler heads will prevail here.”

  The cabin lights dimmed.

  The door finished sealing.

  Then the world folded.

  In the span of a heartbeat, the three of them were no longer on the plane.

  They were back in the interrogation room.

  Caelan and Keira sat on the sofa as they’d never left.

  Caelan blinked at them. “Guys. What the hell? Told you I was only going to be a few minutes. I know I’m a bit late, but damn—bailing on me?” He pouted slightly. “Do you not like me?”

  Keira held up her phone, admiring her new shiny boots. “Worth the detour, though. Check out these new bad boys. Totally my vibe.”

  Marcus stared around the room, then fixed Caelan with a flat look. “You can’t just kidnap us against our will. Do you have any idea the mess you’ve made? We have duties beyond listening to your stories while we try to stop the nation from collapsing in on itself.”

  Fiona tilted her head, curiosity slipping through the shock. “Can you do that anywhere on Earth?”

  “Duh,” Keira said without looking up. “But we’re not a taxi service.”

  Mark rubbed his face. “Why did it have to be today?”

  A police officer hurried past the door, shouting, “They’re back! In here!”

  Caelan casually pulled out his phone and tapped it a few times.

  The officer vanished.

  The station fell silent.

  “Listen,” Caelan said calmly, pocketing the phone. “Chill out. Nothing too bad’s going to come of this. And if there’s even a hint that loss of human life might occur, my people are already on standby to handle it with care.”

  He leaned forward slightly. “Now, let me get this right. The three of you were heading to report what you know about me. So why not save yourselves the trip and let me tell you more? Wouldn’t exactly be fair to send you down there with—what—twenty years’ worth of half-information.”

  He smiled, softer now. “Believe me, I’ll get to the point quicker. But if you’re dead set on going to London, I can have all three of you there before you even blink.”

  Caelan spread his hands. “So. What’ll it be?”

  Marcus exhaled slowly and finally sat, setting his bag beside the chair. “Very well. I have two requests. First, you allow officers back into the station. This is still a functioning government facility, and I can’t allow additional risk to life after the situation you’ve caused. Second—no more long stories. You answer the questions that are most pressing. The entire world is in crisis right now. One wrong move and this turns everything upside down for regular people's lives.”

  Keira flicked her phone on, laughing softly. “Honestly, I forgot what it was like for people not knowing everything about us. What a day.”

  The door opened again.

  Milo walked in carrying several large bags, the smell hitting the room immediately. Keira was still laughing when he paused. “What’s so funny?”

  “They asked the Captain to hurry up,” Keira said.

  Milo burst out laughing. “Oh—that’s rich.”

  Caelan shot a look between them. “I’m not that bad, you assholes.”

  “Wait—wait,” Milo said, waving toward the hall. “Aidan! Get in here!”

  Aidan stepped in, stretching. “Food’s here. What’s up?”

  “They asked the Captain to hurry the story,” Milo said.

  Aidan doubled over laughing. Keira joined in. The room filled with it—sharp, unrestrained.

  Caelan sighed, defeated. “Just put the food down, Corporal, and get in position.”

  Milo laughed harder. “He thinks he’s the Lieutenant now.”

  “Please stop,” Aidan wheezed. “My sides—oh hell, fine. Positions.”

  Caelan took the bags from Milo, shaking his head. “Damn. I missed you two.”

  Marcus stood again, jaw tight. “Caelan, I honestly don’t see the point of being here if you’re going to treat this like a joke.”

  Caelan set the bags on the table, then turned to Fiona and slid a bundle toward her. “The money I borrowed. Plus interest. Sorry again for not asking.”

  Fiona blinked. “Thank you. Still not happy.”

  “That’s fair,” Caelan said. “Won’t happen again. We’re… well. Billionaires now. Money’s not really an issue.”

  “This is a waste of time,” Marcus said sharply. “My presence is required elsewhere.”

  Caelan shook his head. “No, it isn’t. Sit down.”

  The room went still.

  “I’m not going to be rushed by you or anyone else,” Caelan continued evenly. “And let’s be honest—you’re the only one in this moment getting a direct look at the impossible. What exactly were you going to tell your superiors? That you walked out before learning anything that could be used against us?”

  He tilted his head. “Fat chance. Sit down. Wait your turn.”

  Marcus stared at him for a long second, then inhaled slowly. “And my requests regarding the station?”

  “Rejected,” Caelan said without hesitation. “And I’ll tell you why. Right now, the world is reacting exactly as planned. And as we speak, they’re becoming aware that we are here—right now.”

  He counted on his fingers. “Media. opponents who want me gone. And idiots who’ll decide I’m Jesus or something.”

  He looked back at Marcus. “You’re not the only member of N.I.R.A. If you want to patch any of them in live to observe and report, be my guest.”

  Marcus nodded once. “Very well. I’ll work with that—for now.”

  Caelan smiled. “Good. Then chill out a bit and let’s get through this.”

  He handed Keira a bag.

  She sniffed it. “What’s this?”

  Caelan grinned. “Dirtiest food you’ve ever seen. Damn, how I’ve missed it.”

  He started laying it out across the table.

  Mark cleared his throat, the dry edge back in his voice. “So, Caelan. What will it be next?”

  Keira finally looked up from her phone, eyes lighting up. “One Shot Squad?”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Caelan snorted. “Don’t be daft. That’s a way off yet.”

  “Oh, come on, Cap,” Milo said, grinning. “We three could role-play it. You can voice Gemma.”

  Aidan nodded eagerly. “Seconded. Bet you’d make a great Gemma. You moan enough for it.”

  Caelan’s eyes snapped sideways.

  “Corporals. Positions.”

  Milo and Aidan straightened instantly. “Yes, Captain.”

  They turned and walked out of the room without another word.

  Fiona leaned back in her chair, studying him. “So? What’s it going to be?”

  Caelan paused, fingers resting on the table, expression thoughtful. Then he smiled.

  “The first dungeon.”

  Keira grinned. “Oh, that’s a good one. Want me covering the upper floors?”

  Caelan nodded. “That’s why I need you here, sis.” He glanced around the room, energy shifting. “Right then. Let’s get into it, shall we?”

  Commanders remaining: 867,272,780,869

  Followers remaining: 954,000,058,956

  Days elapsed: 8,285

  Eliminated: 25,948,917,420

  A quiet afternoon settled over the Beech & Ember.

  Joss sat behind the bar with a sketchpad propped against the counter, pencil moving lazily as he shaded in something that might have been a monster or might have been Caelan on a bad day. Around him, the inn hummed with that rare, fragile calm.

  Keira, Mynxi, Veyra, and Milo were clustered around a low table, deep in a board game. Dice rolled now and then, followed by quiet groans or smug little smiles. Mynxi leaned so far over the board that her tail flicked back and forth as if it were personally invested in the outcome.

  Katie had somehow constructed a small pillow fort across one corner of the common room, disappearing entirely except for the occasional shuffle. Corwin lay flat on his back nearby, eating snacks and staring at the ceiling like he was trying to solve a cosmic mystery up there. Lyra sat at the coffee table with paperwork spread out in neat stacks, pen scratching steadily.

  One of those slow days.

  Then faint shouting drifted up the path outside.

  Joss sighed without looking up. “Here we go again.”

  Elyria’s voice came first, sharp and unmistakable. “No, no, no. I am not accepting it this time, Captain. You could have hurt the woman, and you know it. I know your skill better than you do.”

  “Oh, come off it,” Caelan shot back. “I had it under control. This isn’t my first time.”

  “That’s exactly my point,” Elyria snapped. “You can’t go throwing your sword in a hostage situation. Not even a centimetre to spare from her head. And don’t you dare open that door—you know the rules.”

  “Exactly,” Caelan replied, far too smug. “Maybe you might chill the hell out. I eliminated an asshole. Last I checked, that’s sort of our whole deal around here.”

  “DON’T YOU STICK THAT TONGUE OUT AT ME.”

  The inn door opened.

  They both went silent as they stepped inside.

  Elyria stormed past everyone and straight up the stairs, each step punctuated like it owed her money. A door slammed upstairs hard enough to rattle a few mugs.

  Caelan wandered in after her, unbothered, hands in his pockets. He glanced around the room and smiled. “Hey, guys. What are we playing?”

  Another door slam echoed from above.

  Keira didn’t even look up from the board. “Really done it this time, huh?”

  Caelan shrugged. “Pfft. Usual. Do my job, and she still moans.”

  Mynxi, laser-focused on the game, rested her chin on her hand and flicked her tail in a thoughtful arc. Without looking up, she waved at Caelan. “Hi, Dad.”

  He softened instantly. “Hello, little one. Having fun?”

  “Shhhhh,” Mynxi whispered, eyes never leaving the board.

  Footsteps thundered again.

  Elyria’s door slammed open, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone stomping back downstairs. Caelan winced slightly as she descended, slow and deliberate this time, stopping directly behind him.

  “Caelan,” Elyria said calmly, almost too calmly. “Can I talk to you in my room for a moment, please?”

  He didn’t turn around. “Are you going to shout at me again?”

  Silence.

  She stood there for a moment, said nothing, then turned and started back up the stairs.

  Caelan rolled his eyes. “You know the rule,” he called after her, teeth gritted. “Pick a game then.”

  She stopped.

  Stomped back down.

  Elyria walked to the shelf that had, over time, filled with board games collected from far too many worlds. She scanned the titles, smirked, then pulled one free.

  “My room,” she said, calmer now, already heading back upstairs.

  “Hell no,” Caelan replied immediately, following her. “It’s too clean in there. My room’s bigger. You know the rules—you picked the game.”

  “FINE.”

  They turned down the hall toward Caelan’s room in silence.

  Keira perked up, stood, and vanished into one of the spare rooms. She came back with a whiteboard. “Right,” she announced, “Who had thirty-five days?”

  Keira grinned. “Oh, Master Chief. Typical.”

  Lyra slapped her hand on the table. “I was so close. Day seventeen. How did they not blow up when he spilt the drink on her? I swear they are in on this with him.”

  The quiet didn’t last.

  A heavy, furious rhythm came pounding up the path toward the Beech & Ember. The common room barely had time to register it before a thunderous crash detonated through the entrance.

  The front door exploded inward, torn clean off its hinges.

  Wood splintered across the floor as Solara stormed in like a natural disaster, an outrageous stack of newspapers clutched under one arm. Her expression alone could have cleared the room.

  Before anyone could speak, she hurled a small pouch across the room.

  Joss caught it without looking, hand already raised, as if this were a typical Tuesday.

  “WHERE IS HE?!” Solara demanded, teeth clenched so tightly it was a miracle they didn’t shatter.

  Lyra snapped to attention instantly, stepping directly in front of Solara and saluting. “Lieutenant. The Captain is currently enacting Article 73-B with the Sergeant.”

  Solara paused. “Fantastic work, Specialist… wait.” She frowned. “Damn it. What did I have?”

  “Thirty-seven MC this time,” Keira said helpfully.

  Solara clicked her tongue. “Back to business. I’ll deal with him later.” She turned slowly, eyes sweeping the room. “Now—who would like to explain this to me?”

  She threw the newspapers down onto the floor.

  Keira winced. “Oh. So… you saw the paper he funded.”

  Solara’s neck cracked as she turned her full attention on Keira, closing the distance until she was inches away. “Master Sergeant. I have a very important question for you.”

  Keira stiffened.

  “Have you heard of the ‘One Shot Column’?” Solara continued sweetly. “Vile thing. Also—rubbish name.”

  Keira rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh, uh… no idea what you’re talking about, Lieutenant.”

  “That is the most disgusting thing I have ever subjected my eyes to,” Solara said calmly. “The pen name was ‘K.L.’ Curious, that.”

  Keira folded her arms. “Nope. Not me. Must’ve been—”

  “Fifty laps.”

  “Come on, Lieutenant—”

  “One hundred.” Solara lowered her voice, dangerous quiet.

  Keira’s resolve cracked instantly. “Please, Lieutenant.”

  “Seventy-five. Before dark. Now.”

  “Yes, Lieutenant.”

  Keira bolted for the door and vanished outside.

  Solara straightened, anger evaporating into a bright, perfectly controlled smile. “So! How’s everyone’s day been? I trust you’re all caught up on paperwork. Remember—you want to be like the Master Sergeant.”

  “Oh no,” Milo muttered.

  Mynxi suddenly stood and marched straight over to Solara.

  Solara smiled down at her. “Hello, super du—”

  “I was playing with Auntie Keira,” Mynxi said, frowning. “I was going to win this time. That’s not nice, Auntie Solara.”

  The room froze.

  Even Solara blinked.

  She knelt slowly, voice gentler. “You can finish it when she gets back. How about you pick another game and play with Auntie Solara instead?”

  Mynxi thought for a moment… then smiled. “Okay!” She ran off toward the shelf, tail swishing happily.

  Lyra cleared her throat loudly. “Ma’am. I have a report.”

  “Of course,” Solara said, standing. “I expect nothing less from you, Specialist.”

  “I’ve noted several infractions while you were at the market,” Lyra continued crisply. “Specialist Katie has again failed to follow the official pillow code—this makes four infractions in nine days. Additionally, Specialist Corwin—”

  The entire inn shook.

  A deep, concussive tremor rippled through the floor and walls, rattling glasses and sending a hush crashing down over the room. Everyone stood frozen until it passed.

  Then the sound of a door swinging open echoed down the hall.

  Caelan jogged out of his room, already shouting halfway down the corridor. “Specialist Katie—get to Lumi’s store. Rally everyone to the east gate and hold it. No one out until I say so. Specialist Corwin—get to Mr. Pael. All gates are entry-only. I want Aurex in the plaza. Now. Go!”

  “Yes, Captain!”

  Katie and Corwin grabbed their jackets from the pegs and were gone in seconds.

  Caelan slowed as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

  Elyria followed right behind him.

  They both took in the room in silence.

  Solara looked sharply at him. “What’s going on?”

  Caelan frowned. “No clue. Right—wait, where’s the Master Sergeant?”

  “Doing laps, Captain,” Solara replied flatly.

  Caelan swore under his breath. “Of all the times… Specialist Lyra, get her back here now. I want her on top of that wall five minutes ago. Corporal Milo—get down to Whaa Whaa’s. Any member there meets us in the plaza. Lieutenant, Sergeant, little one—you’re with me. Let’s go. Joss, normal situation, lad.”

  Joss didn’t even look up from the newspaper he’d sneakily grabbed off the floor. He waved a hand lazily. “Don’t care anyway.”

  The rest of them rushed out of the inn. Solara paused, glancing up at the sky—and froze.

  A massive beam of golden light was stabbing straight down into the plaza.

  “Lieutenant, come on!” Caelan shouted.

  She turned back to the door—then stopped. The door was already gone.

  Solara cursed and sprinted after them.

  The plaza was already filling with people, crowds surging toward the notice board as the golden light pulsed brighter. Caelan pushed through them, his voice carrying.

  “Everyone, clear the area now. There will be an official announcement later.”

  No one moved.

  Solara snapped. “YOU HEARD THE MAN. CLEAR OUT. GUARDS—THE PLAZA IS OFF LIMITS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!”

  That did it. People began backing away, uneasy murmurs rippling outward.

  Mynxi stared up at the glowing board, eyes wide. “Oh… so shiny.”

  Elyria frowned. “Why now? Nothing’s changed on the board since we arrived.”

  Caelan tore a flyer straight off the notice board.

  He didn’t say a word.

  Solara stepped closer. “What does it say?”

  Caelan swallowed. “Limited time event. Ninety-nine hours, forty-seven minutes, thirty-two seconds. Floors cleared—zero out of ten.”

  Boots pounded across stone.

  Veyra came skidding into the plaza, breathless. “You all need to see this!”

  Aurex followed right behind her, panic written all over his face. “What happened? What was that shaking? Don’t tell me it was you again—wait. Is the board glowing?”

  Caelan was already moving. “East gate.”

  They ran.

  Garron, Veyra, Milo, Aidan, and Jett caught up as the noise ahead swelled—shouting, panic, a crowd forming beyond the city walls.

  “I’m jumping ahead,” Caelan said. “Catch up when you can. Little one.”

  Mynxi leapt onto his back without hesitation.

  Caelan launched himself, clearing half the city in a single bound and landing hard atop the eastern gate.

  Keira was already there, kneeling, sniper trained toward the horizon. She glanced sideways. “Any ideas?”

  Caelan handed her the flyer, eyes fixed on the road.

  Keira read it—and froze. “What’s this… no. You’ve got to be joking.”

  Mynxi bounced excitedly on Caelan’s back. “So cooooool!”

  Caelan grinned, sharp and dangerous. “A limited-time dungeon. Finally. Let’s see what you’ve got to throw at me this time.”

  Below them, guards struggled to hold back the restless crowd.

  Beyond the eastern border of Virelith, something enormous had risen.

  A perfectly black square.

  Smooth. Silent.

  Stretching all the way into the sky—casting a shadow over the land like the world itself had been boxed in.