​     Trevor opened his eyes.

     Niki sat next to him on the pavement.

​     "They left some clothes for you," she said. "They're next to your head there."

     "Uh..."

​     "What?"

​     "I'm not sure how strong I am yet. Do you think you could hand me my underwear, please?"

     "Sure."

     "Where are we?"

​     "We're on the grounds of The Fours Inc.. Ever since the top of the Diamond Tower blew to pieces, no one from outside has come near the place. They must have us cordoned off or something. It's just been you and me for the last twenty minutes or so. You could have told me those blue guys could heal you just like that in nothing flat."

​     "It never came up in conversation."

​     "You okay?"

​     "No. I feel like my insides have been torn out, then put back in upside down. I'm going to be okay, though. How about you?"

​     "I'm fine. I only had to wear one of those things for a couple of minutes."

     "So?"

​     "So..."

​     "You joining up with us or not? I'm sure the Azure have already asked you in that weird, telepathic all visual way they have. I know that was part of my mission, to come get you and see if you could be recruited."

​     "Noel talked to me. You all want me to walk away from my life, today, like right now."

​     "It's a lot to ask, I know."

​     "I've been thinking about it while I've been waiting for you to wake up."

     "And..."

​     "Inter-dimensional war? A cancer out to destroy Everything? I can't get my head to wrap around all of that."

     Trevor pulled his pants on and zipped himself up. "So..."

​     "I haven't even begun to decide."

​     "Yes you have. You just haven't broken the news to yourself yet."

​     "I met somebody today, Trevor! If all of this had happened twenty four hours ago, I would've...I mean, my life just seemed to be going on and on, and I'm always so exhausted from work...but then I met Fathom, and for a single night everything seemed hopeful again, and...she's the one, Trevor! She is absolutely the one I want to be with for the rest of my life, but..."

     "Call her," Trevor said.

​     "Um, I'm pretty sure that would be the last..."

​     "No. Call her. Believe me, there are no cell phones where we're going. If you don't call her right now, regrets and complaints is all I'm going to hear from you, so call her."

     "If I..."

​     "Now!"

​     With his expression and body language, Trevor let it be known that no further movement would be made in any direction until she called Fathom.

​     So. Okay.

     Fathom picked up on the third ring.

​     Niki said, "Hey Fathom! You know who this is, right? Yeah! Uh, I know, I...No, it's not like that at all. Listen. No, listen! Look at the news! I'm part of that whole Diamond Tower thing! Oh...Oh...I'm sorry. I can't go into all of that right now, but...I'm not! I never lie! What I told you this morning is absolutely...Fathom! I'm going away, Fathom. I have no idea how long I'll be gone, but I need to tell you this before I leave: I am coming back, and, when I do, I'm coming back for you. Do you understand that, Fathom? I don't care that we just met! All I know is that my love for you pulses inside of me. We are destined to be together, and we will be together some day!" Tears sprang from Niki's eyes as she screamed out her words. "I love you, Fathom! I love you! I love you!"

​     And, with that, Niki threw the phone as far away from herself as she could.

     "Let's go," she said.

​     "Niki, if you need to..."

​     "Let's go! Right now! Let's go! Let's go!"

​                                                     CONTINUE

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