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Anthony and his friends joined us shortly after we left NRG, catching up to us as we were leaving the stadium grounds. They joined us on the way back to the trucks.

"Homeward bound huh?", he asked.

"Yeap", I answered, "finally. About an hours drive."

"So what happens afterwards?", Skeve inquired.

"Oh...I dunno yet. I guess I'll see what of a house I have left. Just go from there."

"You gonna keep in touch?", Luka asked.

I sighed. I took my Sat Phone out of my plate carrier and handed it to Anthony.

"Nah. I don't think so. I think I'm done with the soldier game. I just wanna get out, get away from it."

Anthony acted like he was going to take it, but then pushed it back towards me, "sure you don't wanna keep us in arms reach?"

I shook my head, "No. You guys have done more than enough, I already owe you a debt I can never pay back, it'd be criminal to ask any more of you. Besides, I just wanna be normal, live a normal life, was never cut out for this job. Survival is one thing but, I don't care to play hero again. What about y'all?".

"Just keep doing what we do", he said, "flying out, checking hotbeds for paranormal activity."

"Yeah, what they pay us for", Luka agreed, "we'd love to have you onboard permanent."

"Yeah. Sorry Luka. Shit ain't for me."

"What about your team?", Anthony asked.

I turned to my friends, "well, that's their call."

"Been through too much with your dumb ass", James said, "You been talking up this house. Let's get after it."

"Fuck yes", Nat agreed.

"I'll be happy to have a place just to sleep for sure every night", Shannon said, "already thinking about how I'mma set up my medical bay."

I offered Anthony my paw, "you know what? If you ever find yourself needing that favor repaid, give me a ring."

"That knife cuts both ways", he said accepting the handshake, "you keep me in mind too in case you need death from above."

"I'll keep than in mind", I said, turning back towards the Tundra.

"Amen", Luke said, "Anthony, could I trouble you to drop me off in Montana next time you fly by?"

"I'll look at my schedule", Anthony said, "but that shouldn't be an issue."

I popped the door of the Tundra, Nero was sitting in the driver's seat.

"Ready to go home buddy?", I asked.

He perked up, his tail started wagging.

"Finally!?", he asked.

I smiled, "finally. We're done here."

Nero jumped up on the center console. Watching the others pass by to the Sequoia.

"Dad, can I ride with them?", he asked.

"Sure buddy."

Nero jumped out and ran back to the Sequoia, hopping into the back seat. I pushed in the clutch and started the truck. I breathed a sigh of relief. Sixty seven miles, and I'd be home. I put the truck in first. I couldn't wait to get home. I just could not physically wait. For more than one reason. I was ready for this shit to finally be over, to start building my life again.

"You know, long time ago, I wanted the apocalypse to happen so I could just live on the road forever", I told Eirren, "no rules, no wake up times."

"How'd that work out for you?", Eirren laughed.

"GOD! It fuckin sucked!", I laughed back, "Sand does not belong in between a reptiles scales!"

Eirren snickered, "where else would you put it?"

"The ground!"

"That is where it belongs."

288 was a short drive away from the stadium, it turned out to be easy enough to find on my own. Plus, once were on 288 South, I actually told Eirren she could put away the map, we didn't need it any more. She was thankful to finally be rid of that stupid thing, I can promise you that.

Past the scrap metal wildlife by the Pearland scrap yard, the stabby truck stop that was never finished, the bridge where all the homeless animals with high end sports cars used to hang out to beg, and past the old Bass Pro shop which still looked reasonably unlooted. I made a note that we'd have to come back there soon. We jumped on the Sam Houston toll way from bass pro to bypass the last traffic jam, ending up on the wrong side of the freeway, where no cars were present.

"We're going the wrong way", Eirren giggled.

"Once upon a time", I shrugged leaning back in my seat, setting the cruise control for 85 miles an hour. Somehow, I doubted a cop would be appearing from anywhere.

A few more minutes passed before Eirren spoke up again. She had put her seat back as far as the roll cage allowed for.

"What condition do you think the house is in?", she asked.

I shrugged, "At this point I don't really care. All I care about is getting there. Besides. I think I owe you a favor when we get back."

She smiled widely, "what kind of a favor?"

"The kind that makes you not stand up for a day or so once it's done", I told her.

She giggled, "if you threaten me with a good time, you had better follow through."

"Oh trust me", I promised, "I intend to."

I could see my comments made Eirren antsy to get home. I shrugged, one more thing to look forward to. About the time we hit Angleton city limits, Ben hit his radio.

"You better have some good booze at home my brother", Ben said, "I need to get fucked up."

"Me too", Shannon said, "I got plans once we got a good place to sleep."

"Don't we all?", Zack said.

"We know what your plans are", James said, "dirty magazines. You know, since your girlfriend stayed in Houston."

"That was uncalled for", Nat said.

"That was cold James."

"Hey, never stick your dick in crazy", Zack said, "Alex is a bit more than I think my cybernetic ass could handle."

"I heard from that Shadow dude she beat that fuckin' deer with a concrete filled baseball bat with chain welded to it", Shannon said.

"I believe it", Ben said.

"I heard a rumor among some of the civilians that Shadow stopped her from killing Raul that night. Said that justice wasn't Alex's to distribute."

"If not her then who?", Eirren asked.

"Hell if know. Last I checked there aren't any police around."

"I think that's what the Shadows were trying to do", Ben said, "they sure did seem dead set on doing nothing but helping."

"I think Houston's in good hands", I said, "besides, we saw what that Tyro guy could do nearly by himself. Who knows how many dragons he has that just didn't show up?"

"Pretty solid point there", James agreed.

Soon enough, we passed a large, stone sign with one light flickering in a state of disrepair.

"Lake Jackson, City of Enchantment."

I felt a little grin creeping up my lips.

"So close...I hope the bridges are still up."

"How many between here and there?", Eirren asked.

"Two, one over the Brazos and one over the San Bernard."

Eirren took my hand, "do you have a recourse if they aren't?"

"Well....over the Brazos, not really. We could try and go back through Angleton and then loop around through West Columbia, and then if the San Bernard is down we can go through Sweeney. I hope the bridges are still up."

We came into Lake Jackson, I signaled to the others that I was taking the Richwood exit. Sliding off the highway and avoiding going into the actual city, we ran along 2004 to the intersection by the long defunct Remax building, now a little more than a pile of rubble post war. I pulled to a stop in the turn lane, next to the shell of a Honda Civic, looked both ways instinctively, flashed the right turn and pulled out onto 36.

"T-minus 18 minutes to destination", I hit my radio.

"Damn, been a hell of a ride", Ben said, "least things are quiet now. Arien, is there a Nissan dealer around here?"

"Yeah, back the way we just came."

"Sweet, once we get settled in, I need to see about getting another Frontier."

"Yup", Zack said, "I need another Ford."

"Imma need a new work truck", James added, "Arien, there any ac houses around here?"

"Yeah, we can take a trip in a day or two, I need at least that to rest from the last month or two. Been kinda hectic."

"Yeah. That it has", Eirren agreed.

The drive home, one I made so many times on auto-pilot, even now was made in a similar fashion. It was almost like coming home from work after a busy day, or perhaps a night spent in Houston. The clock on the truck's dash said 4:35AM. Man...sure felt like it.

As we came into Brazoria, I slowed down as we neared the bridge, as I didn't want to risk driving the truck off the bridge and into the Brazos. Thankfully, the bridge was intact and stable, and was crossed without issues. I kept the slow speed as we came into town, minding the 40MPH posted limit by force of habit. Ben did too, but more because he had no clue where he was going. We rolled through town, seeing no signs of life anywhere. That was fine by me. I made the jump onto FM524 from town, and from there, the drive just continued as it had many times before. It almost seemed, normal. Like it used to at this hour.

From town, it was about a five or six minute drive before I turned onto my old road, and another minute before I was turning into my driveway.

My parents old house was still standing. The roof looked a little worse for wear, and a few of the windows were busted. The yard showed obvious signs of neglect and the driveway was empty. The door still had the yellow caution tape my Dad had left on the door when we had left. It only just now dawned on me he never had any intention of returning.

Yet...here I was. I had just trekked 2000 miles across a post Final World War Canada and USA, and made it home. A little worse for wear on the knees, maybe, but with all my body parts in the right places, as they should. I pulled in beside the well and shifted into reverse, backing up into my Dad's old parking spot and putting the Tundra in park as I killed the engine. Ben did the same, parking the Sequoia next to the Tundra, where my Mom used to park the van.

I unlatched my seatbelt, "well, the house is still standing."

Eirren put her hand on my shoulder, "looks like it's in decent shape."

"Gonna need a new roof", I said opening the door, joining the others.

"Looks like we need a new roof at least", Zack observed.

"Yeah, siding could stand to be redone too. Frame should still be intact."

"Roof first, siding later", I noted, "we can work on the house roof first, then inside and then exterior."

James spun on his heel, surveying our new homestead, "lots of space here to put stuff."

"Yeah, we'll make something out of it soon enough", I agreed.

"What are we doing right now?", Shannon asked.

"Getting out of this gear, it's time for a break", Zack said.

I took the house key off my key chain. A break was something I could get behind.