halo 'n horns [klance au]

16. Stationary Angel Legion

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Lance

Pidge Gunderson of the Stationary Angel Legion was probably the most intimidating angel I'd ever seen. As we sat across from her in the sleek, black limo that had been waiting for us outside of the hotel, I couldn't help but feel nervous. I knew Pidge personally- she was Matt's twin sister and my own sibling as well, but the SAL was 'stationary' for a reason- angels who were chosen for the force grew up on Earth.

She and Matt talked often on the phone or through the windows angels above used to look down at the Midworld, but didn't see each other in person unless Matt came down to the Midworld himself. And even that was seldom, as the Midworld held unpleasant memories for Matt of Kuron. But the Gundersons still stayed in contact as much as they could.

Pidge eyed me warily as we sped along the highway, heading to somewhere unknown but likely to the SAL HQ. Suddenly, I remembered what had been nagging me since Pidge had shown up and leaned forward suddenly.

"That was you!" I blurted, alarming Keith beside me. Pidge raised her eyebrow.

"What?"

"At laser tag! That was you, wasn't it?"

I recalled the day before, slipping through the arena with the stranger beside me, her circular glass glinting in the bursts of red and blue lights. Now, those same glasses were perched on Pidge's nose as she gazed at me skeptically.

She smiled slightly, "Oh, yeah. I had to make sure it was actually you- those stunts that you pulled during your little one-on-one fight in the arena were very impressive, Lance- have you been training?"

I looked at Pidge sheepishly and replied, "Yeah, with Matt and Adam."

Pidge's cool demeanor slipped away at the sound of her brother's name. As we raced along the interstate, PIdge and I were able to sink into a comfortable conversation about Keith's and my journies on the Midworld. The brunette was surprised to hear how much we had been traveling.

"Of course, we've been keeping an eye on Keith since he showed up, just in case anything went wrong, but it's been hard keeping track of you."

I felt a sting at the remark- did Mother not trust me to keep Keith in check? So she'd sent the SAL after us to make sure I did a good job? I bit my lip, wounded.

Pidge went on, "We were initially going to get into contact with you a few days ago, but we didn't want to interrupt anything until we were sure it was you. You've grown a lot since I last saw you, Lance."

I smiled half-heartedly. It was true- the last time I'd seen Pidge was several thousand years ago when Matt had returned from the Midworld with Adam, their hearts in pieces. Pidge had taken leave from the SAL to comfort her brother, and in that time, we'd spent a lot of time together.

Back then, Pidge had long hair that trailed down her back in waves and hadn't needed glasses. Now, she'd chopped off her long locks and had glasses which I could only guess were the result of too many hours in front of a bright computer, coding and hacking and reading.

Pidge and Matt had always been tech geniuses, impressing our siblings and even Mom with their talents, but while Matt had stayed up in the Upperworld to look down at the Midworld, Pidge had chosen that her talents were needed elsewhere, namely the SAL, where she was apparently now a sergeant in the first battalion.

I was proud of my sister, but I still had so many questions for her. "Well, what do you need us for? Why are we being kidnapped?" I joked, but I couldn't help but have an edge of anxiety in my voice. Was Mom disappointed in me? Had I done something wrong with Keith?