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I recognize him when he stumbles out, looking like he's had a rough time. His clothes sit a little loosely and he looks like he hasn’t seen the inside of a shower in a week. His gray hair is slicked back and greasy, thick stubble covers his face and his eyes are wild. But when he understands who we are, he lights up. "Jesus H. Christ, I thought I'd never make it out of here alive.God, I messed up." He pauses. "This is a rescue, isn’t it? Not an execution squad because I jeopardized the mission or anything?"
Riot bumps his head with the flat of his hand. "Don't be an idiot. We're getting you outta here once we get what we came for."
"Kane? Is he?—"
"Running for his life," Ghost says coolly. "We'll worry about him later. First we need to get everyone out alive and stop that damn missile."
"Missile?" Cooper stares wild-eyed like he's waiting for the punchline.
"Come on," says Tex, already back out in the corridor. "We’ll catch you up while we look for Rebecca."
"Rebecca?" Cooper's eyes bulge out in shock.
"There's a lot to get caught up on and not much time," I say. "But until we find Mom, we're not getting out of here."
Cooper finally stares at me, suddenly realizing I'm here. "Holy shit," he whispers. "You look just like her. Jessica?"
I nod.
"Jesus Christ," he mutters.
"Down here!" Tex yells.
We follow down the hall and Kane’s finger gets another use. The door slides open to reveal a room that's a lot more like I expected a lab to look like. Not quite like the movies, but there are several computers, a worktable with wires and circuit boards, and a big wall screen with all kinds of data on it, next to a whiteboard that's been scribbled all over—diagrams, notes, atable of numbers, all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't know where to start with.
However, what steals my attention immediately is the woman who's standing there, holding her arms out, her blonde hair still long, her face a little thinner than I remember, but with a smile that's so familiar I can't believe I ever thought I couldn't remember what it looked like.
I see it every day. It looks like me.
This time, Ghost can't hold me back. Or he's decided he doesn't want to. I rush forward and throw myself in her arms.
"Mom!"
When she pulls me close, it feels like I just came home.
I squeeze her like I might never see her again, even though I just found her again. My face hurts, I want to cry so bad and lose myself in her arms, but there's no time. Not yet. But I don't let go, and neither does she. "Jessica. You don't know how hard it's been, knowing you were right out there, and not being able to get out. God knows I tried."
"I know, Mom. I know."
She chuckles softly. "I can't believe you're taller than me now. Some things aren't obvious through the security cameras."
Tex clears his throat. "I fucking hate being the asshole who's interrupting this, but you said you have something that can stop the missile?"
"Oh! Yes. Over there." She gently pulls away so she can grab a small device that resembles a remote control for a TV, thoughthere's exposed circuitry and a wire hanging off it. Definitely a work in progress. "We have to get much closer, though."
Ghost pulls out his phone. "Hellfire. We got 'em. Got anything for me?"
"Rebecca," Cooper says almost reverently while Ghost and Hellfire update each other. "I can't believe you're alive."
"Terrence? You've looked better." She softens it with a little laugh, like something old friends might say.
He chuckles too, sounding a little raw. "I've had better weeks, to be brutally honest. But seeing both of you alive… I don't have words. You don't suppose Chester…" He trails off, like he doesn't dare even finish the question.
Mom shakes her head, her expression drawn. "I'm sorry, no. I wish I could say otherwise, but no. Victor needed me for my skills and Jessica to keep me obedient, but… Chester was a potential liability. I wish it were otherwise, but no."
He nods like he didn't expect anything else.
"We're on our way," Ghost says and hangs up. "Hellfire and the boys have the yacht in sight. A helicopter just passed over and landed there. Guessing that's Mr. One-thumb."
