#psikhprotivogaz

"I'm so sorry, Luka." Huey hugged the boy tightly. "I know you loved him." Huey didn't know how to help his son cope with the loss of his cat. @psikhprotivogaz

"Mantis?!" Cal burst into the room, looking for her comrade. The base had been infiltrated, that much was certain. "Mantis! Someone...!" She froze. Luka lay on the ground, unmoving, his chest still, breath no longer visible. Cal nearly dove to get to his side, not caring if the attacker was still in the room. The only thing on her mind was Luka. "Mantis? Mantis!" Her voice was panicked and she pulled the gas mask off of him, trying to see if he would begin to breathe again. It was of no use. Her comrade was dead. "We... we'll find them, Mantis. I promise." Liquid would make them suffer for what they'd done. @psikhprotivogaz

Huey sat, cradling Luka to his chest. The boy was so tiny, frail. He hadn't realized it before, not really. Floating around the lab, talking to him mentally, building and moving, Luka had always seemed to have his own type of vibrance. And now it was gone. His son. His son was gone. Huey broke down sobbing. "Luka, Luka, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "Be at peace, my son." @psikhprotivogaz

It was a pub that Cal frequented when she was staying in London, a hole-in-the-wall with cheap beer and people who didn't question new faces or odd interactions. Cal liked meeting her contacts or employers there. It was neutral ground. Something was wrong today, though Cal couldn't place it. She felt a familiar presence. It had been so long since she'd seen him that she didn't recognize him immediately. But he was here, or she was really losing her mind. "Mantis."