​     Pandemonium.

     They were pretty much all there now.

​     In that auditorium atop the Diamond Tower, Valtair, Egoneg, the six members of the council that controlled all wealth on Earth, the Valids, Gramps and his family, the algrim and the Azure. Only the Silvers hadn't reappeared yet, although Gramps figured they'd be showing up at any moment.

​     Gramps' van let go of the twisted remnants of the "safe" room that contained his daughter and three grandchildren so that it landed with a THUNK! on the auditorium floor. The van itself then dropped to the floor next to it with a CLUNK!

     "Come on in," Gramps said into his com. "This van is the safest place for you all to be right now."

​     They were only too happy to comply. Once inside, Skip ran right for the onboard toilet. Gramps and Abby embraced. Brian sat down in one of the car seats and strapped himself in. He closed his eyes as if drifting off to sleep, but, really, he was switching off. He took the only option he had, in any manner, to remove himself from the scene.

​     Cathy didn't blame him. She felt a little bit like switching off herself.

​     "You know, we never did get your name," Abby said to the young man who'd come with them. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for coming to our rescue. What we would have..."

​     "My name is Noel," Noel said.

​                                                   CONTINUE