"Are you okay?" Dream asked.
Ron nodded, though his head was pounding.
Yardy came. That only happens when something's wrong.
He looked at her. "What did Yardy say?"
"First, stand up."
She helped him to his feet. His legs felt strange — heavy, distant, like they didn't quite belong to him.
What happened to me?
Dream guided him to the sofa and sat beside him.
"Skelly wants to meet you," she said.
Ron winced, pressing his fingers to his temple. "Why… damn, my head—"
Her hand rested on his shoulder. Warm warmth spread through him as her power worked.
"He says it's about Dr. Thomas's research volumes."
Ron sucked in a sharp breath, both hands now on his forehead. "What?"
"I don't know more than that."
He turned to her. Dream met his gaze — then quickly looked away.
Ron gently lifted her chin so she had to face him again.
After a moment, he spoke. "Can I ask you something?"
She nodded, a little surprised.
"Dr. Thomas. Wulkranoth." He paused. "He's your father… isn't he?"
Dream nodded slowly, eyes dropping.
Ron exhaled quietly. "So… that makes him my father-in-law. And Ines — his granddaughter."
Dream's eyes widened.
"I thought you'd be afraid of me," she whispered. "Because I'm his daughter."
Ron pulled her closer. "No. You're not him. You're you. People aren't guilty for the blood they're born with — only for the choices they make."
Her breath trembled. Tears followed.
They stayed like that for a minute.
Then Dream looked up, smiling through wet eyes.
Ron smiled back.
A small cry cut through the room.
"Ines," Dream murmured.
They went to her together. Ines soon calmed and drifted back to sleep. Dream followed not long after. Ron carefully covered her with a blanket.
"I really like these quiet moments," a voice said, "especially in a place as broken as Hero Town."
Ron turned.
The Cameraman stood in the doorway, filming.
"Get lost," Ron said flatly. "Stop sneaking around married people."
"Relax," the Cameraman shrugged. "Scene's shifting anyway."
"And buy a new camera," Ron added. "That thing's older than the universe."
Outside
The Cameraman walked down the empty road, still filming.
"What a world," he muttered. "No salary for two months, and I still get lectures."
He snarled at the sky, "Pay me already!"
Elsewhere
Carter stepped inside and collapsed onto the sofa.
"Welcome home," Lia said. "Dinner's ready."
"I'm not tired anymore."
She looked away.
At the table, she spoke softly.
"I visited Dream today. I met Ines."
Carter leaned forward. "Tell me."
"Red eyes. White hair." Lia smiled. "She smiled at me."
Warmth filled Carter's chest.
"Oh — a parcel came for you," Lia added, standing up.
"For me?" Carter frowned. Rocky?
He opened it — and froze.
The same letter Ron received. His name written clearly.
"I need to check this out," Carter said.
"I'm coming."
"It could be a trap."
"I'm a high-ranking soldier," Lia replied calmly. "Are you scared for me?"
"Yes," Carter answered immediately.
Her eyes widened.
"I'm stronger now," she said. "Aurora helped me."
He smiled. "I know."
He brushed her hair aside. "Adorable."
She huffed. "If people saw this side of you, they'd swarm you."
"You're the only one," he said quietly.
"Even if something happens to—"
She covered his mouth.
"If something happens to me," Lia said, steady but soft, "promise you'll move on."
Carter went still.
"You get attached too deeply," she continued. "You live inside the people you love. If I disappear… I don't want you to break."
A tear slid down his cheek.
He pulled her into a tight embrace.
She knows me too well. And that terrifies me.
"This matters," Carter said finally. "Not just to me — but to Locki's and Rocky's grandfathers too."
Lia nodded. "Okay."
Carter stepped outside and sat in his futuristic, weapon-equipped car. From the dashboard, he pulled out a comms earpiece, placed it in his ear, and dialed Jake Jacobs.
"Hey, bro," Jake said cheerfully. "How are the holidays going?"
Carter started driving toward the location written in the envelope.
"I'm good. You?"
"Same here. Just finished working on a car project."
"Jake, I need your help," Carter said, his tone serious. "Can you check on Scars?"
There was a pause.
"Scars?" Jake repeated. "Why them? I highly doubt information about them even exists today."
"Today, I got an envelope from Scars."
"No way," Jake replied, louder than usual.
Jake glanced at his butler, who nodded. Jake nodded back.
"I'm heading toward the building," Carter continued. "I need info on security and obstacles."
Jake stood up quickly, wiping his hands. "Let me check."
He moved to a large control screen.
Meanwhile, Carter arrived and parked at a distance, eyes fixed on the towering, unfamiliar structure.
"I'm near the building," he murmured.
The structure didn't look threatening.
"This place was built in just one day," Jake said through the comm.
"…That's strange."
"Scars," Jake added. "Brings back memories, huh?"
"Yeah," Carter said after a beat. "Too many… not worth remembering."
"I never thought I'd hear that name again," Jake admitted.
"It might really be them."
"Yeah. They sent me an envelope too. I think Rocky and Locki got one as well."
Carter hesitated. "Should I wait… or go in?"
"Enter," Jake said. "You're wearing the mask, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Your coat has sensors and a camera — audio and video recording."
Carter stepped inside.
Everything felt… familiar and yet not familiar.