“Thanks for meeting with me, boys,” Tom said, staring at the twins from across his desk. It was early in the morning, but that was impossible to tell from inside the mountain. His nephews were so different from the last time he’d seen them in the wild. Although it had been longer with Cole than Alec, it was the short-haired boy that appeared so much older. His eyes were brighter, no longer subdued and constantly scared.

Tom remembered seeing Alec for the first time and how sad the occasion had been. He hadn’t been able to tell the young man he was his uncle. All he’d been able to do was be a supportive ear and shoulder during his own tenure at the Detroit facility. Leaving Alec alone there had broken his heart, but he had always known he’d find him again.

Cole had been another story altogether. Even now, the glowering looks remained. He hated people telling him what to do, or how to do it, though Tom didn’t think the man realized it.

Neither of the brothers said a word, and Tom reclined in his chair, placing his hands behind his head. “Boys… I owe you both an apology.”

“Damn right you do!” Alec stood up, knocking his chair to the ground. “I thought you were dead! I… I was so close to giving up, so many times.” His posture slackened, his chin dropping to his chest.

“I understand, Alec, but don’t you see why I did it?” Tom needed them to understand. “It’s about so much more than any of us as individuals.”

“True, but that doesn’t make it any easier.” Alec righted his chair and seated himself grudgingly.

“I had to scout the facility and I couldn’t take any chances. When I tracked you there, I needed to see that you were okay,” Tom said.

“But I wasn’t okay, Tom.”

“You will be.”

“Listen, we could sit around all day talking about how shitty life has been, but can we move past this? I have preparations to make if I’m going to make it to Chicago on this insane schedule,” Cole interrupted.

Tom saw the spark that never went out in Cole’s eyes. There was no way he was going to fail in this mission. He couldn’t. “Without the Roamers, we’ve already lost,” Tom told him.

“Agreed. What did you want to talk to us about?” Cole asked.

Tom sighed. “Your parents were incredible people.”

Alec leaned forward, and Cole brushed his hair from his face.

“Your father’s name was Travis Mason. He was a congressman in Washington, DC. Powerful man. I’d figured he might have had to cut a few proverbial throats to rise to the top at such a young age, but I did the same thing to make Colonel by thirty-five,” Tom said.

“What’s a congressman?” Alec asked, and Tom smiled at the young man. He often forgot how much of their history was lost already. It was a travesty. Returning their humanity was going to take several generations, even if they did vanquish the invaders once and for all.

“They are members of the House of…”

“Who cares what they did? It’s a dead occupation,” Cole said sharply. It was clear that Cole wasn’t as thrilled to hear about his lineage as his brother.

“It doesn’t matter. That was only his job, not the man. He was caring, passionate, and a loving husband,” Tom said. “He always stood up for the little guys, and would drop anything if you needed him. It was one of the reasons your mother fell in love with him.”

“You knew them?” Alec asked. 

“I should hope so. Travis… your father… was my little brother.” 

“Are you kidding me?” Cole asked. “That makes you… what?”