Mason's POV

  “I've been gone for three years?” I muttered.

  “Vey, get over here.” Levi spoke into his earpiece. Then he turned to me. “We've got to report this to Commander Darren.”

  I was too stunned to answer.

  “Hey Mason, did you hear him?” Lysa asked.

  “Yeah, yeah, I'm just…trying to…” my voice trailed off.

  “What?”

  “Huh?” I looked at Keisha.

  “Who are you talking to?” She asked.

  I shook my head. “Nah.”

  Levi’s POV

  I looked at Mason. He was still wearing his uniform, but it was ripped apart. The striking detail was the armor covering his chest. It had been shining a brilliant blue hue while his arms were covered in new gauntlets, way smarter than the ones the facility gave him. I peered at him and noticed something around him.

  “What the f—" I blinked as I stared at the figure standing next to Mason.

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  It looked at me quizzically. “Oh?”

  I reached for my gun, but I couldn't pull it. I couldn't move my body at all.

  I looked around; everyone seemed to be frozen, stuck. It was like time had stopped.

  “You can see me?” It asked.

  I grit my teeth. “What are you?”

  “You've got good eyes… so the pulse stream enhanced your vision, huh?" She held my chin. I was transfixed; I couldn't move even if I tried.

  “You're Levi, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mason mentioned you, said you'd have made a better Pulseborn than himself. It'd be a shame if I had to kill you.”

  What the heck did Mason find? And how does it know about the pulse stream?

  “What…are you?” I asked again. “Why can't I move?”

  “Rude, I'm a she, obviously. Also, I did that; I stopped time so you and I could have this little chitchat.” She smiled at me.

  “You can stop time?”

  “Yup!” she winked. Then she looked at Mason. “They’re all stuck,”

  She turned to me. “I am the L-cube, but Mason gave me a name, so you can call me Lysa.”

  Lysa? I thought, “With a y or an I?”

  “Why's that important right now?” She raised a brow.

  “I mean, if I had to get it in writing, would that be an I or a Y?" I asked.

  "A y, I guess. That's not the point. Listen!” she held my jacket. “My existence should not get out. You keep your mouth shut about Mason and me. Got that?”

  I swallowed. “Sure.”

  Someone touched me. “Levi?” I snapped to my right. “What?”

  “You spaced out.” Jett eyed me.

  I looked at Mason, and Lysa was next to him, smiling.

  The jet landed, and the doors opened. Vey walked out of it and looked at us.

  Mason's POV

  I looked at the girl coming out of the jet. “Vey?”

  She looked at me. “Huh? …wait, Mason?”

  I walked up to Vey. “Vey, you're okay…”

  Vey put her sniper behind her and grinned. “It's been three years; of course I'm okay.” Her grin faded away. “What happened? You just…”

  I hugged her tightly. “I'm glad you're okay."

  She hugged me back. “It's been three years; where have you been??”

  “Save the questions for Commander Darren.” Levi said and walked up to the jet. I released Vey from my arms as she followed Levi.

  I looked behind me and saw Keisha; her eyes were red, but she was smiling at me. I trudged over to her and held her shoulders.

  “Kei… I'm sorry…”

  What for?

  Shut it, Lysa!

  Keisha let the tears flow. “I thought you died…”

  I hugged her. "Hey, hey, I'm back now. Don't worry about that.”

  Keisha looked at me. “What happened?” she asked. “You look like you've been through a lot.”

  “It seemed like hours…but…”

  “Hey, quit the chatter. Let's move.” Levi yelled from the spaceship. I released Keisha and turned, feeling a tug on my jacket. She didn't want to let go, so I held her hand, and we walked together to the spaceship.

  I looked at her head. "Are you trying out a new hairdo?”

  She paused. “Yeah…”

  I grinned. “It looks great.”

  “…thanks…”