The sun crested over the horizon as Lark and Desmond finally pulled into the driveway. "So, you have this elaborate plan to have the hybrids take down the government that you have been working on since you left. The kids just hyper motivated you beyond what your timeline was?" Desmond asked as Lark parked in front of the garage door.
"Well you put it like that. Yeah. These kids shouldn't have to wait to take back what was theirs? Ever seen the deep archives of the government center?" Lark asked as he looked into the backseat with the asleep kids. "It's been buried deep within their sanctum. Even my high clearance at the time was far beyond denied."
Desmond got out and lifted up Jackson. "Always on the move to the next great thing. You surely are one to write stories on one day." He chuckled as Lark grabbed the little girl from the back. Her quiet breaths of deep sleep kept him at ease.
"History is written by the victors and only remembers the heroes. Unfortunately I will be remembered as neither." Lark held his head high as he had his key ready to unlock the door as it was already unlocked. He put his keys away as he opened the door and smelt food cooking. "Desmond, be ready for the most wonderful group of kids." Desmond shook his head and smiled.
The two entered the house as Willow was up and making food. Dante was helping her as Angel was still asleep next to James. As for him, he was awake as Rosie was guiding him through the biology book that Rodger left for them to study. "I'm back! And we made a new friend!" Lark exclaimed as Angel peeked her head up at Desmond as he was taking in the entire scene.
"Mr. Lark I hope you don't mind me coming over before my shift and showing James about biology." Rosie set the book to James' side as he picked it up and began to try and read it.
"Not at all, you helping him is sweet of you to do for him. Thank you." Lark's smile warmed her as she felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "What's for breakfast?" He looked over to Willow as both her and Dante kept working. "Angel, after you are done eating I have something for you to check out." She softly nodded as her wings fluttered awake.
"Now it all comes together. What a cool operation. What about the lakefront property you had? The dream retirement." Desmond asked as Lark set Etheldia down as she woke up. Dante dropped his spoon he was using onto the ground. Desmond paused for a moment.
"It was the dream, but without Martha. Its no way to live. I plunged myself back into work, kind of. Then after a short amount of time sold the lakehouse and bought a warehouse on the ocean in the city. Its stable work, was stage one of this plan. Without even lining up with the events of the kids." Lark went over and hugged Dante. "This trooper right here however is a lot like his dad."
Dante cracked a smile as Desmond leaned on the wall. "Now how will you take care of the two little ones?" He asked as Lark looked over. "Unless you don't really plan on taking care of them." Jackson and Etheldia looked up at Desmond confused.
"They will come back to the city with me, Dave gets his house back and the kids move into their apartment complex." Lark smiled. "And you now get to work at the docks with me. Still afraid of water?" Lark laughed as Desmond froze.
"Keep me on the inside of the warehouse and all will be fine." Desmond choked down his words as most of them laughed. Breakfast went off without an issue as everyone was filled up with the most heartwarming food. Rosie left shortly after to start her shift. Willow and Dante left with Desmond to help them set up the new apartment as it was just Lark, Angel and James at the house.
"Angel, I will watch James and the two little ones, you have a special mission just for yourself uniquely merited just for you. Go where the spirits remain, among the wreckage of that facility and see if you can find anything." Lark opened up a laptop as he waited for it to boot up.
"And what if I don't find anything?" Angel asked, her intent is on protecting her brother like he did for her. "Why can't I stay and have you go?"
"I think its more important for you two to understand what has happened in the past. This one is all yours, its something you need to do." Lark looked over and smiled. He held up a piece of paper for her map. "Bring the essentials. Some food, water and your spear." She nodded as she went up the stairs and redid her wrappings to ready herself again.
Lifting off the ground she soared above the clouds for the first time in her life. She felt so free, she felt no weight holding her down as she spun through the clouds. Her smile warmed her soul and brightened the sky. As she was gliding through the air she enjoyed every second of it. Her freedom, liberty and happiness felt so strong. One gust of wind chilled her as she felt some of her wrapping slipping loose as she felt a burst of energy and warmth from deep within herself.
With a flash of blue energy she was enveloped with aura. She slowly glided down as she looked at where she needed to go. Just a few more miles, she looked around as she felt a weird shift in the air as if she was being watched and followed by something.
Slowly descending she crept closer to the broken facilities, everything was amiss. She saw the massive wall around it on what should be destroyed buildings. But they are all repaired and standing once more. She dived directly low to the treeline as she hid in them. Spotting planes passing through the air as she silently took her next few breaths. She froze as nothing happened. Hopping from tree to tree she snuck closer to look at what the facility had become. Making it to the very cliffside where Astral once stood to look at it clearly.