The golden bubble of shared memories pulsed with a warm, defiant light, a beacon of pure feeling in the desolate, gray valley. Inside it, Ryan's team was themselves again.
Scarlett's hand was a blur as she drew her dagger, its shadowy blade a stark contrast to the golden light. Zara's datapad was active, its screen filled with frantic, brilliant calculations.
Emma's eyes were clear and focused, her mind already dissecting their enemy. Chris was on his feet, his cannon hefted onto his shoulder, a determined growl rumbling in his chest.
"What was that?" Chris asked, his voice shaking slightly, not with fear, but with the lingering awe of what he had just experienced. "I felt that… all of it."
"He shielded us with his own emotions," Emma explained, her voice filled with a quiet wonder. "He built a firewall made of hope."
