Ryan stood in the silent, crystal plaza, the light of the artificial sun warm on his face. The torrent of a billion years of knowledge had settled within him, not as a chaotic storm, but as a deep, calm ocean of understanding.
He felt… whole. The pieces of his identity that had almost been washed away were back in place, stronger than ever, reinforced by the unshakeable love of his partners.
He was still Ryan Stone, but he was also something more.
He turned and walked out of the plaza, his steps steady and filled with a new, quiet confidence. He saw them waiting for him at the edge of the Crystal Gardens.
Scarlett stood with her arms crossed, a universe of worry in her eyes, next to the powered-down form of the assassin. Emma and Zara were rushing from the direction of the hidden hangar, their faces pale with concern.
The moment they saw him, a wave of palpable relief washed over them. They ran to him, meeting him in the middle of a grand, empty boulevard.
