It was a calm nights ride as the VTOL flew over the city, the ship steady as it propelled itself through the ebony sea of stars. Terry's team talked lowly with each other, telling jokes or stories to pass the time. Terry looked over his gear and readjusted his knee pads, something he always did before a battle or mission. Looking over his armor had become a kind if ritual for him, making sure he had the best chance of coming out in one piece. Xenia sat beside him looking over her Scroll, studying the shipyards map over and over again. The pilots voice pulled him from his thoughts as the light by the door changed from red to green. "Drop is hot, prepare to disembark."

  Terry took one last deep breath before standing, the others following suit as the side doors opened, the craft hovering several feet above ground. The boy looked over at his teammates and gave a thumbs up, signaling for the mission to start. With that, he jumped down to the dark shipyard below, landing among a graveyard of metal crates. His comm crackled as the VTOL flew off, leaving the team to their own devices.

  "Alright T-REX, you know the drill." Jaune's voice said into Terry's ear as his team moved in beside him. "Find the creature and the crate its been visiting and report anything you find. City security has been alerted and they won't step in, although the night guards insisted they stay to help. I've marked the investigation area and the guard shack on your Scrolls. Good luck, Beacon out."

  Terry pulled out his bow and knocked an arrow. "Comm check, everyone get that."

  "Loud and clear."

  "Check."

  "Solid copy."

  "Good. Xenia, lead the way." Terry flipped up his hood and pulled a black cover over his mouth and nose, only his eyes showing. Xenia pointed to the right. "Guard shack is that way, we should start there." Terry gave her the go ahead and they started walking, glancing around at the maze of rusting metal around them. A slight wind blew in from the port, the smell of salt lightly wafting throughout the yard and crusting onto some of the crates, most of them covered in signs of wear and age. A large crane loomed overhead and its chained arm swayed with a creak in the nights wind, giving the industrial graveyard an eerie backdrop. Reggie looked around nervously, his pile bunkers charged and ready to fire. The weapons resembled a jackhammer, a long metal spike protruding from the top of his gauntlets. When charged, the spike pull back inside of their housing and stay until the catch inside is released, shooting the spikes forward with incredible force. The weapons were large but so was the one wielding them, making for a savage and deadly combo.

  The Vauco boy's eyes darted around, each shadow catching his eye. "We almost there? You know ho much I hate the dark.."

  "Whats the matter tough guy?" Ellie teased. "Scared of the Boogie Man?"

  Reggie scowled at her, checking his weapons again. "If by that you mean Grimm with night vision, then yes, yes I am."

  Just then a loud scream cut through the night and everyone's weapons went up. Xenia looked at her Scroll. "That must have come from the guard shack!" The group took off running, the sounds of light gunfire growing louder only to stop suddenly. Terry felt the familiar sense of dread churning in his gut as they neared the small building, the pre battle butterflies in his stomach acting up. The building was small, more like a trailer than a hut with only one door to get in or out. The door was ajar but the trailer was silent, the interior pitch black. Terry motioned for them to stack up on it, Ellie on the doorknob. "Eyes up, we don't know what's in there.."

  He nodded at her and the girl pushed the door open slowly, the thin material squeaking on its hinges. The smell of something fowl hit Terry's nose as he stepped inside and he had to urge himself not to vomit. The stench of death mixed with the salt in the air created a sickening odor that flooded the trailer, causing Ellie to gag. "Good grief, what died in here?"

  "Xenia, some light please?"

  The girl nodded and opened her book, reading something from the pages in muttered words. She raised a hand and her Aura gave off a white glow, growing until the whole trailer was illuminated in dim white light. The feeling of dread in Terry's gut grew more intense as he got a good look at the scenery. "What a mess.."

  The trailer had been torn apart, bits of broken furniture littering the floor. The couch and table along with a couple of chairs had been overturned and destroyed along with the lights overhead. Blood stained the carpet and splattered all over the walls, some still dripping gently. Terry took a slow step forward, his boots crunching on the broken glass beneath him. His bow was ready, scanning from left to right. "We have the blood, but where's the body.."

  Reggie moved in behind him and sighed. "It's here, but not a lot of it." He pointed to the center of the trailer. The scent was the strongest there, and Terry could see why. A pile of human innards lay spread around the ground, its sickly color showing how fresh it was. Within the pile lay a single boot and guard hat along with a flashlight and spent handgun, shell casings sprinkled around the gore like glass shining in the sand. Now it was Xenias turn to gag, looking away as she heaved. Whatever had gotten to the guard in here, it was not an average Grimm. It was to savage, to messy. To revolting.

  Some movement caught Ellie's eye and she quickly called it out. "Guys, under the table, bottom left. I got something."

  Terry looked over to see a boot quickly move back under, trying to stay in the shadows. The team leader raised his bow and looked at Reggie. "Move it."

  The larger boy grunted and gabbed the table with both hands before lifting it off the floor and tossing it aside. The team readied weapons but quickly dropped them when they saw who it was. The second night guard held his arms in front of his face in terror, curled up into a ball in his now exposed hiding place. "Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" His voice cracked as he spoke, his uniform coated in blood.

  Xenia came and knelt by him, her voice calming and soft. "Its OK, we're here to help. Can you tell us what happened in here?"

  "It..it came for us.." The man stammered, his body shaking lightly as he spoke. "That...thing, it came after us..it took Morgan..." He started to break down, his nerves getting the better of him. Xenia put a hand on his knee and the frightened man looked up. "What took your friend?" She asked calmly.

  The guard swallowed. "It was a monster..a big black beast, unlike anything I've seen before."

  "Where did it take him? Did they go out the door?"

  The guard shook his head, pointing with a shaky hand. "It came through the roof.."

  The team turned to where the guard was pointing. Just above the pile of viscera there was a massive jagged hole in the trailers roof where the beast had gotten in. The moonlight now shined through the hole and landed on the pile, giving it a glossy shine, the brass shell casings twinkling like stars. Blood dripped from the metal around the hole showing that the beast had dragged its kill back out with it. The guard spoke softly. "Morgan shot at it through the roof..we thought he had killed it, but it burst in and.." He tried keep himself together but the memory was to horrifying to speak of. Terry knelt beside his team mate now, trying to keep the man calm. "Its OK. We don't need the details right now. Can you tell us where it went?"

  "I don't know..after it grabbed Morgan it carried him off.."

  Terry nodded and stood. "Xenia, help him up. The rest of you, we have a hunt to continue."

  "Wait!" The guard said as he stood. "Let me help, please. Morgan was my friend..."

  Reggie gave the team leader a distrusting look but Terry shook it off. "Alright, but stay close and keep low. When we engage that thing pump every bullet you got into it, OK? This things not making out of this shipyard alive."

  The guard nodded and wiped his face. "I'm good. Lets go."

  ---------------------------------------------------

-Then-

  Nix looked at the girl before him, memories flooding back into his mind. He could barely comprehend what was going on, his head a mess of questions and emotions. He spoke softly, his voice not wanting to work. "I..Io?"

  The girl smiled wide and ran forward, wrapping her arms around him in a hug, the force almost knocking him off his feet. Tears of joy were rolling down her cheeks and she gripped him tightly. "Yes Nix, its me. I missed you so much."

  Nix pulled her close, unable to hold his emotions in any longer. It really was her! After all these years of thinking he was alone his sister was alive! He smiled as he held her and Iolite buried her head in his shoulder, happy sobs muffling themselves in his clothing. He held her at arms length and looked her over. She had grown so much from the time they had parted, a deep sense of pride burning within him. "I have so many questions. How did you survive? Where were you all this time? Is this-"

  Io smiled and held up a hand. "There will be time for that later. But first, I have many things to show you. Come on!" She took his hand and led him to the door, pulling him along like she had all those years ago when she had an adventure to take him on. Nix smiled at the feeling and came happily, the two of them passing the secretary at the front. "Where are we going?" He asked as they approached a large set of doors.

  Io smiled at him and opened them. "To see our home."

  Nix took a small breath as he took in the place his sister called home. It was a village, just like the one they grew up in, with huts and trees all around. Small shops and other buildings were built into the landscape along with the houses, with people moving all around them. Men, woman, and children all moved about and talked among themselves, seeming happy in their place. Most wore simple brown clothing spotted with different colors while others wore more elaborate garbs. Guards armed with spears and light armor stood in a few stations as Io guided Nix through the streets, the boy looking around in wonder. "Did you build all this?"

  His sister smiled at him. "We. The people here all contributed to building our new home, most of them building their own homes."

  "And what is this place, exactly?"

"This.. is Haven."