Spes Novis

Savior - 11

"Get them out of there now, Dep," Lavender demanded. She almost chewed her nail, then lowered her hand to play with her zipper instead. "Please."

"Lavender, they're already going in to extract the hostages; you watched them leave."

"Why aren't we going with them?" Lavender asked.

Dep shook his head and said, "I thought Corey went over this with you. You're too impulsive. Someone could get hurt."

"Finnikin needs my help," Lavender expressed.

"We're leaving the extraction to the specialists. You've never worked a hostage situation. Believe it or not, these people know what they're doing. You can do your job after they're safely out. You'll be reunited soon," Dep responded.

Lavender sighed and nodded, "I understand, sir." She thumped her head gently against the car seat and watched the mage militia move in on the Erie base from their vantage point.

Veda leaned forward in her seat and put a hand on Lavender's shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Lavender. Finnikin is going to be fine. I know it's personal, but you need to let yourself believe that he will get out alright."

"How come-" Lavender began to ask.

"Corey used to be an agent. He's the one who found the base for us. They need him in there and you out here. Please, Lavender. Just take a deep breath."

"Are you using your powers on me?" Lavender asked, feeling a wave of calmness wash over her.

"Maybe," Veda responded.

"Thanks." Lavender glanced back at Veda. "Hey, I'm sorry for abandoning you when we investigated Proctor's house. I sort of got tunnel vision and just wanted to get shit done. For some reason, I thought you were being nosy when you were just trying to help."

"I forgive you," Veda offered Lavender a small smile and murmured some more calming incantations to her.

Lavender closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, trying to shut out the distant sound of gunfire, shouting, and explosions. Please let Finn be okay. Please.

The radio in the car went off, "The hostages are out of the building. Three wounded, one dead, permission to attack?"

Another voice across the radio gave the okay, "Permission granted." With that cue, the ground troops moved into the building to seize the base.

Lavender's eyes snapped open. "Dead? Who's dead?"

Dep shifted the car's gear and drove down the hillside to join the rest of the mage militia.

"Shh sh sh." Veda brushed Lavender's shoulder. "Just focus on the sound of my voice." She kept murmuring soothing words in an attempt to ease Lavender's nerves.

Lavender shut up, not because Veda's soothing voice was calming her, but because deep in the pit of her stomach, she knew something was utterly and terribly wrong.

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