"So what is your plan for getting out of here?" Lito asks Oran.

"We plan to fight through the Fairy guard outside, and from there move as quickly as we can in the direction of Hart Island." Oran answers.

"Assuming we can fight through everyone we meet between here and City Island, how are we getting to Hart Island? We don't control the skies at the moment."

"With your energy and connection to the Central Sun, we can shoot across the water on a beam of light."

"Why can't we do that from here?" Lito questions.

Oran shifts uncomfortably, "Technically we can, but given our limitations and the three of you having to boost the five of us, we can only travel in a straight line once before having to reorient and more importantly, recharge. It will take us more time than you even with you supplementing us with your energy."

"We need to reconnect with the Central Sun through the shroud." Lito muses.

"Yes, we do." Oran responds.

"Without control over the skies we have to shoot blind, don't we?" Lito asks.

"It is now direct, ground based line of sight for us under current circumstances, yes."

"Which is why you want a short jump from the coast to Hart Island."

"Yes."

"I don't want to go straight to Hart Island. I don't think we have the capability to complete the mission as we are." Lito says.

"What do we do then? All we have left, our only hope for victory on Earth is completion of this mission."

Lito thinks, and then responds, "You are not the only active servitors left on Earth. Where is everyone else?"

"Retreating eastward."

"Out towards Long Island?"

"Yes."

"Does the Central Sun still have control out that way?"

"Yes, we've consolidated outside the city. The Fairies never pushed as hard outside New York City in Long Island, though they have their . . . portals and oases out there."

"I want to gather as many servitors as we can for this mission. Do you know where our forces are mustering?"

"In a few places. Plans were hastily thrown together and communicated by light beam channel, but that is increasingly hard for any of us to do the longer we remain under the shroud without full connection to the Central Sun. If only we could all have your robust connection . . ."

Lito says, "Maybe you can. We can't go straight to Hart Island. Do you know of any specific muster locations you can point out to me on a map? Do we have maps?"

"We do still have access to light scans of the Earth's surface. I can project one, with your help. I'll show you where those ordered to retreat now head, so long as nothing has changed."

Lito turns to Leonie and Iníon still sparing, noticing Iníon is now on the back foot. Leonie appears to not be giving one hundred percent, dragging the fight out further. He wants to make sure the motivation is pure, but for now he says, "Leonie! Iníon! Come over here for a moment."

Leonie quickly sheathes their sword as Iníon takes the break in fighting to breathe. Leonie reaches Lito first and asks, "What do you need?"

Lito answers, "Please help Oran project a map of New York City and surrounding area to the east."

Leonie summons their staff and uses to project a beam of light through the back of Oran's head. Beams of light leave through Oran's eyes, projecting a map of the city from memory onto the floor of the armory. Lito investigates the map as Iníon makes her way over to the crowd.

"I could have done that." Iníon huffs.

Without looking up from the map Lito says, "Yes, but Leonie is doing it. Don't worry, you will have your chance to help as well. I'll make sure of it."

Iníon frowns while staring down Leonie. Leonie does not betray whether or not they notice Iníon.

"Can you mark for me where the closest muster points are on Long Island within a relative straight line from here?" Lito asks Oran.

"Yes." Oran says as a couple of points light up on the projection. Lito studies the two closest to Hart Island and within a direct line of the Kingsbridge Armory. The first is Fort Totten and the second the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

"We have forces mustering at the Merchant Marine Academy?" Lito asks.

"It's a relatively secure facility and the previous owners no longer have need of it. We took it over early after our arrival."

Lito uses his own eye to cast a line from the armory towards the Merchant Marine Academy. A straight line shot puts them on the coast nearby, and there is more room to maneuver further east, away from the more concentrated Fairy and Underworld forces.

"We'll aim for the coast near the Merchant Marine Academy." Lito says to Oran as Leonie secures the light from her staff and the projection disappears from the floor.

"Do you plan to shoot there all the way from here?" Oran asks, "That is a very long shot and it is very dark outside."

"Leonie has the energy to spare." Lito says as he registers another huff from Iníon.

"How will we deal with the forces waiting for us outside? Our shielding works for now, but this drains us greatly. We will have to collapse the shield to give us the energy we need to make the trip even with your help. We are very vulnerable to attack between lowering the shield and taking the shot out of here."

"Yes, and we need to launch from quite a distance in the air above the armory, so we will be very exposed. I will handle defense on this end. Iníon will help you at our destination."

Iníon's eyes grow wide, "I can't defend anyone on my own! Let me stay and help you!"

Lito places a hand on Iníon's shoulder, "You'll be fine. I will send you second, and as the other servitors arrive provide them with your energy and they can fight with you. It will be far easier for you out there where we still have far more presence and control."

Iníon nods, and she places a hand on her shoulder when Lito moves his in order to speak with the servitors.

Lito asks, "What's the highest point in this building?"

"The two turrets flanking the main entrance." Answers Oran.

"Good," says Lito, "show me."

The five servitors lead Lito, Iníon, and Leonie to the front foyer, on a bit of a distance on either side of the main entrance are the entryways into the two turrets overlooking West Kingsbridge Road. Lito looks east in the direction of Long Island.

Motioning to the left turret Lito says, "Oran, take everyone with you up to the roof of the left turret. Wait for my signal, my signal will be a bright flash of light, it will be unmistakable."

"Especially in the darkness outside." Oran answers.

"Leonie," Lito says, "You go up the right turret. You will be both the archer and the bow. Did you get the target in your mind?"

"When I projected through Oran, yes." Leonie answers.

"Good. You wait for my signal as well. Everyone, get a jump up into the air high enough to clear all the obstacles between here and our destination in Long Island. Leonie, you go up first and everyone will follow your lead. You will be in the air the whole time, so you are the most exposed. I will help on the ground, but be aware of everything going on."

"Understood." Leonie says.

With everyone in position at the roof access of their respective turrets, Lito casts a spell to force open the main doors to the armory and steps out into the darkness. Lito hears the approach of opponents, uncountable footfalls on unseen ground rapidly closing on his position.

Raising his sword, Lito casts a spell that flashes a blinding light over the whole area, and for a moment both Fairies wearing boots and Automatons become visible, and the sudden loss of the cover of shadows causes the advance on the forces of the Central Sun to pause, but only for a moment.

In that pause and before the assault begins anew, the servitors with Iníon in the east-most turret and Leonie in the west-most turret emerge onto the turret rooftops. Leonie is the first to ascend to a height above the rest of the structures and buildings, and they see the White Horse parked over Hart Island.

"We never were getting to that island as we are." Leonie says to themselves.

One by one the Iníon and servitors ascend with Leonie using a magic spell to fire each body off as if a bolt of light. A few stray shots get thrown Leonie's way, but Lito keeps his word and fights the assault to a standstill at the main entrance, a localized shield spell giving him enough cover to narrow the fight to numbers he can handle while stretching upwards to give some cover to Leonie.

Leonie yells when the last servitor gets fired off causing Lito to retreat into the armory, sealing his shield spell to cover his retreat. As the light shields put in place by the forces of the Central Sun all collapse, Lito exits the west-most turret onto the roof and ascends to join Leonie in the sky.

"Let's get going."

"Alright. Thanks." Leonie says.

"For what?" Lito asks.

"For making that easy."

"You had as much to do with that as I did."

"Thank you anyway."

Lito looks eastwards and together with Leonie they fire themselves as bolts of light headed for a distant shore.