Crete leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.  “Traven, no one blames you for feeling the way you feel.  It’s a shitty, no-win situation.  And to be completely honest, you’re not the only one bothered by Adam’s feelings toward Z.  I love her like a sister, and it gives me the creeps.”  He smirks at Adam who flips him off.  “Hell, this entire thing is so fucked up.  There really are no words.  We have a megalomaniacal asshole doing genetic experimentation mixing reptiles and humans in an attempt to create an army so that he can rule a pathetic, dying world full of people who are completely oblivious to the real problems all while using an innocent woman that he created in a test tube as a pawn in his twisted plans for domination.”  I smile and shake my head as Crete looks around the room.  “Did I get everything?”

            There is a brief reprieve before we all break out in laughter at Crete’s bluntness.  “Nope.  I think you got it all, Crete.”

            Unis shakes his head, trying to hide his amusement, but fails as he, too, guffaws loudly.  “You should write that shit down, Crete.  Save it for when we have to describe this when it’s all over.”

            Unis’s words, though meant in jest, are sobering, to say the least. I sit back down next to Abby, wondering how she is still asleep with all the noise.  She is exhausted like the rest of us.  I am running on pure adrenaline at this point and know that I won’t be able to rest until I have Zinley safe in my arms.

            “We have to win this, guys.  No matter the cost,” I say, killing the joy in the room. 

            “We will, Trav.  I promise you we will,” Unis says.