Achilles stood outside Ethan's cell. He'd put this conversation off for hours, but it couldn't wait any longer. Tomorrow, Ethan would be transferred to a maximum security prison to await trial. Tonight was the last chance for something resembling closure.The guard unlocked the door. Achilles entered alone. Ethan sat on the edge of his cot, looking smaller somehow. The fight had gone out of him. His shoulder was properly bandaged, arm in a sling. He looked up as Achilles entered.“Nephew. Come to say goodbye?”“I need to understand.” Achilles pulled a chair over and sat facing his uncle: “We stopped the infrastructure attack. Arrested all the operatives. The Archelords are finished in Britain. It's over.”“Over.” Ethan smiled sadly: “Nothing is ever really over. There will be others, more attacks. More wars, the cycle continues.”“Maybe. But not today. Today we won.”“You won. I lost everything.” Ethan looked at his hands: “My brother. My freedom. My purpose. What's left?”“The truth.

[RAF Fairford]Achilles woke to alarms. He'd only been asleep for three hours, having finally crashed after spending the night with Gabrielle. But the moment the base sirens wailed, he was on his feet, reaching for his weapon as he felt something was wrong.His phone rang; Brigadier George.“Warlord, we have a situation. Multiple vehicles are breaching the north gate. Armed hostilities, at least twenty of them.”“What?!” Achilles was already pulling on his tactical vest: “How did they get past perimeter security?”Brigadier George swallowed: “We don't know. They had access codes. They knew exactly where to breach. Warlord, they're heading straight for the detention wing.”Ethan.They were coming for Ethan.“Lock down the facility! Get every guard to the detention wing now!” Achilles ran into the corridor: “Where's my daughter?”“Safe room with Star and Dr. Lloyd. Already secured.”Achilles instructed: “Keep them there. Full guard detail. Nobody gets near them.”Achilles ran toward the

[RAF Fairford Medical Wing – Three Days Later]Achilles sat beside Brigadier George's hospital bed. His friend and teammate was recovering well from the shoulder wound, but the doctors wanted him monitored for another forty-eight hours.“Warlord, you should be resting too,” George said. His arm was in a sling, but he looked better than he had after the assault: “You took three hits to your vest. Your ribs are probably still screaming.”“They are. But Gabrielle wants her daddy mobile, not laid up in a hospital bed.” Achilles shifted, gasping at the movement. “How are you feeling?”“Like I got shot. But alive, which is what counts.” George gestured to the window: “Heard they're transferring Ethan to maximum security tomorrow. First time Hector's been in that prison.”“Won't be the last if I keep making enemies.” Achilles managed a small smile: “But yeah, trial starts in two weeks. Crown prosecution is going for treason and multiple counts of murder. Death penalty for sure.”“You going t

[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst – Three Weeks Later]The grand hall was packed. Military brass from across Europe. Government officials. Diplomats. Media crews from every major network, and somewhere in the front row, Gabrielle sat between Star and Margaret, swinging her legs excitedly.Achilles stood backstage in his dress uniform, adjusting his collar for the third time. He wasn't a big fan of ceremonies. Too much attention and formality.“Stop fidgeting Warlord,” Brigadier George teased, arm still in a sling but present: “You look perfect.”Achilles chimed in: “I look like I'm playing dress-up.”“You look like a Colonel who's about to be promoted to Major General and decorated for saving the country.” Rachael Beauty smiled. “Embrace it.”The trial ended two days ago. Ethan Hector was convicted on all counts, sentenced to death by hanging. The verdict was expected, but it still felt heavy.Colonel Pemberton; Raven, had also been convicted. Life imprisonment with no possibility of

[Achilles' New Residence – London – Two Weeks Later]The apartment was modest by military standards but luxurious compared to the safe houses and barracks Achilles had lived in for years. Three bedrooms. A proper kitchen. A balcony overlooking the Thames.Gabrielle's room was already decorated with her drawings and stuffed animals. She'd adapted quickly to their new life. Therapy was helping with the nightmares.Star had requested a private meeting. She arrived at seven, dressed casually. Nervous.“Thank you for seeing me,” she said as Achilles let her in.“You're Gabrielle's mother. You're welcome ‘cause she needs you in her life.” He gestured to the living room: “Tea? Coffee?”“Water will be fine.”They sat across from each other. The silence stretched.“I need to apologize,” Star finally said. “Properly. For everything.”“Star, we've been over this—”“No. We haven't. Not really. You've been gracious. Kind. Forgiving because of Gabrielle. But I need you to hear this. Need to say it