As they passed over Dreamland City, the navigation system announced it. Quinn was curious so he asked Logan to bring the ship down close enough to see. They were all shocked to see there was nothing to see. The Truedream Family had more people than each of the other families. It was why he was invited to join the Big Three to make it the Big Four instead. Quinn told Logan to bring the ship even lower. Logan detected 10 life signs. Quinn asked to be parked in the middle of the city so they could go to the people rather than the people coming to them. They were standing there with the ramp down arguing over who should go with Quinn when a vehicle with three people in it pulled up. Paul took the lead and said they had been off planet on mission and ran into trouble. These kids were all that was left of his team.
Lana was looking down the ramp wondering if she should do it. The three were asked to come aboard and answer some questions. Sitting around the table were Paul, Logan, Vorden, Quinn and the three military men. The others were around the outside sitting in the chairs that lined the room as observers of the meeting rather than participants. Lt. Bugen was the speaker for the other side. He stated a month ago, the city was destroyed and there was no warning or information on it. They had no idea if Truedream was alive or dead. No clues as to who was even capable of doing such an act. Oscar was the first to find out and knew something was going to happen and started moving people and equipment from the bases. A few stayed behind as a skeleton crew. Truedream's methods were the only reason the military was able to have the control it did.
The question was asked what had happened to the second military base. They were told the Graylash family went from base to base freeing those who were in the dungeon. While the old Graylash leader was friendly toward the military, the new leader was not. He had used all kinds of delaying tactics in all his dealings with the military.
Earth was now in a civil war. Many had left the military for other factions. Now, everyone had to be in a faction of some kind or they would be hounded by recruiters. Pure was also now a faction option with more people going there than to the other factions. The other options were Bree, Graylash, Sunshield, and the military. The Dalki were simply watching the humans implode. At the moment, everyone was searching for Truedream and Richard Eno who had not been seen since the war broke out. Quinn and Logan were now searching for Richard Eno as well after their time in the vampire world.
Paul invited the three soldiers to stay the night on the ship and were escorted to rooms over which Peter stood guard. At this point, the next step needed to be decided. Who do they join? Paul ruled out the military right away. With his position they would try to put him on expeditions to find high-powered crystals. The draft for military school was currently cancelled with no schools to attend. With his ability gone, he'd have to start at the bottom.
Lana was watching Vorden's face and she grew scared. He caught eye contact with her and knew her fear was going to come true but she understood. Vorden looked at Quinn and told him he needed to go home to check on his family. Logan chimed in the same thing stating his family was close to the Bree family so he could provide information based on that connection. Layla and Cia said they wanted to go back to Pure and be an agent for him there since Lay;a's mother was a leader there. This last was hard for Quinn as he feared for their safety.
Logan said he would create an autopilot so the ship could be controlled easily through a remote. Peter was nominated to run the ship since he wasn't there to defend himself. The ship would be like a home base. All masks would be able to communicate with the ship. Once everything was discussed, Quinn left the room looking dead tired and heartbroken. He had never done anything difficult without Vorden by his side. Lana left the room with Logan to discuss her ship and any last-minute changes she had for her plans. He had begun the modifications already. It took hours to start the ship because various parts needed to warm up so he did multiple things at once as only Logan could do. Lana was back in their room before Vorden returned. Shalt was outside her room reading his ability book. His stuff was in their room as well. Vampires didn't need as much sleep and he was committed to learning this ability so he could protect her.
Vorden took Lana in his arms, as Vorden. He explained now that he was going home, Sil would not come back out. He was in the back room again rocking back and forth because he was afraid. Lana nodded. She knew how Sil felt about the family. Vorden asked Lana to encourage Quinn to start his own faction. He had told Paul and Kaz Quinn should do this and he had said so to Quinn at some point during school as well. He saw it as the best chance for Quinn to be himself and grow in his own safety net. He also made Lana promise something. She was to stay with Quinn as long as she could. Once she parted ways, she was to check in with him every Sunday, with Logan every Wednesday. He also told her he was deleting all the contact information from his mask except the ship, Quinn and Logan. He would not be able to contact her as a measure to prevent the family from finding her. She was not to try to contact him under any circumstance. Quinn and Logan could but not her. If she ended up pregnant, she was to do as already discussed. Raise the child as a Plantwell, with the Plantwell ability. Once he was sure she fully understood, he switched to Raten and allowed them to have as much fun as they could until they fell asleep.