Jesse groaned and blinked as bright light shone in her face. Her head pounded and she felt sore.

"Where... where are we?" she mumbled.

"Just... stay calm Jesse." a familiar voice assured.

Then Jesse's mind began to focus and she realised who it was.

"You!" she made a grab for Soren, but she winced back in pain.

"You need to lie still. I've dealt with this before. It's painful, but it will go if you remain still." Soren instructed.

"Why did you hit us?" Jesse growled, reluctantly lying down on the bed she was on.

"You could have been there for only Notch knows how long. I've been there!" Soren sighed again.

"Where are the others?"

"They're just over there. You'll all be fine soon. But Jesse, I need to ask something..." the Architect scratched the back of his head. Instead of his armour, he was wearing a check white buttoned shirt with navy trousers. He also looked a little... calmer and more mature than when they last met.

"I need to see Gabriel and the others. I owe them a huge apology. And I can't run forever." he sighed.

"Well, you know Gabriel, Ellegaard and Ivor are the only ones left..." Jesse trailed off at the thought of Magnus.

"Yeah, I know. I'm guessing Ellegaard is super upset about it."

"Why her specifically?" Jesse raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say... her own personal reasons." Soren looked away.

"Like how I miss Reuben?" Jesse said sadly.

"Pretty much." Soren replied.

Suddenly they heard groaning.

Axel was waking up, his joints searing with the pain. "Ow! Jesse, where are we?" and then he laid his eyes on who Jesse was talking to.

"And what is he doing here?" Axel frowned.

"I can explain, I really can. But first I would need to investigate." Soren looked at Jesse with complete seriousness.

"If those people are who I think they are, we have a score to settle." he frowned.

"And why should we trust you?" Axel retorted.

"Because I know I'm a selfish coward, but I want to set it right." Soren pleaded.

Jesse gave a sigh.

"Fine. We'll take you."
___

Ellegaard was reading back in the New Order's temple. She and Gabriel sometimes visited, mostly to see Ivor for catching up, but also Ellie had sworn to make up to Olivia for how she treated her. After the Witherstorm, Ellegaard now knew the difference between pride and arrogance.

"Ellegaard!" a voice shouted in the distance. Ellie looked up from her book to see Jesse and co come back. She got up and smiled. Instead of her armour or the clothes she wore underneath it, now that she had a shot at a normal life she wore blue shorts with a red hoodie.

"Hey everyone!" she ran over.

But then she saw Soren.

"Oh. You..." she frowned.

"I know what you're going to say, Ellegaard, but first can I say one thing?" the former Architect asked.

"Go on." Ellie sighed.

"I am so sorry about what happened! I'm a stupid liar and I shouldn't have caught you and the others up in it! I really am! But please, you need to list-"

Ellegaard suddenly gave him a hug.

"Apology accepted." she smiled.

Soren sighed with relief, but then he had a serious look.

"Get Gabriel and Ivor. They're back." he urged.

Ellegaard looked confused for a minute, but then her eyes widened and she nodded. She ran off.

"Soren, who is back?" Lukas asked.

"You'll know soon enough... they're not the most pleasant people, anyway." Soren replied.

Ellegaard came back with Gabriel.

"I don't know where Ivor is." Ellie shrugged.

"Someone say my name?" as if on cue, Ivor appeared at the temple entrance.

"Ellegaard, Gabriel and..." he laid his eyes on the Architect.

"Soren..." he frowned.

"Ivor this is no time for the blame game! They've come back." Soren tried to show it was urgent.

"Can you please tell me who they are?!" Jesse shouted.

"Seriously Jesse, you don't want to get involved. Those people who froze you... they're a real threat. Dangerous, reckless and merciless." Ellegaard said darkly.

"They're not that bad!" Gabriel sighed.

"Still. We need to get back whatever they stole." Ivor nodded.

"Maybe we should split up? Cover more ground? If they're in town, then we'll surely find them!" Olivia suggested.

"OK. Sounds good." Petra agreed.
___

I has le sickys. Withersickness... :(