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The text had been expected when it arrived, but it hadn't really removed the usual sense of dread a major mission brought with it. At the very least he'd be armed, and that was more than he'd had going for him in a long time. There was still a thin sliver of hope as well that Jordan, somewhere, somehow, was still alive.

By the time Harrison and him arrived at the meeting, it was already bustling with people, but it didn't matter, the briefing was succinct and simple, and it looked like they'd be running with the qualified eclipsers. It wasn't going to be a light mission, that much was immediately apparent.

There was an optimism in him he hadn't had in some time, tentative but tempered with returned strength now the cuff was gone.

He checked out who was around with a lazy arch of his brow.

"I was working in the labs... when the dragon happened. Bix was there too." He paused, "My first was a Famine Horsemen." His skin paled just a bit at the thought, "She or it, had nothing under its clothes shoulder down but bones..."

Jerry caught his attention and what ever courage Ceres and Sylvia invoked in him was quickly draining, his skin seemed to get paler as the older hunter spoke. He tried to think of something to say but nothing came to mind, his gaze once more found his favorite patch of dirt and drilled holes into it with laser precision.

Harrison had checked and doublechecked his supplies before heading over. Last time they'd been gone...a hell of a long time. He gave the tanks in Clarice's office some extra attention, then found Rep and left together with him towards the training fields.

He couldn't help a little optimism himself, although he was mostly leeching it from Rep. He wanted to believe Jordan was okay. That dreams were just dreams. That this was more than getting tablets. ...All that aside, genocide was a job he'd been looking forward to finishing.

"Nice of the stragglers to all get in once place," he muttered, re-re-rechecking that he had his bandaid tin. For the first time in months, he felt like he had some leeway in being velcro'd to Rep's side. Rep wasn't injured. He wasn't cuffed. They weren't inches from death.

Not until they stepped through the portal, at least. He nudged Rep. "Going to talk to some Moons. I'll be back."

Most everybody was clumped in nervous circles, looking gloomy. He ferreted out Marcus first, and a few others by extension.

"Hey Marcus, Dakota." He acknowledged the other experienced Moon, "Ceres. We oughta round up the Moon trainees again."

Grinning, Madeline leaned into the one shoulder hug, wrapping her own arm around Wilson's in return. "Me too." She said, and laughed at the next statement. "Yeah, well... not much of an, ah, downtime to really tango with anyone new." She couldn't help waggling her eyebrows teasingly at him. "But don't worry, I'll get to them all. Eventually." She laughed. "Maybe." Glancing up when he mentioned that they should go over there, Madeline was somewhat pleased to see the boy that had been staring at Wilson before.

Bobbing her head in a nod, she stumbled over with Wilson, arms interlocked around each others shoulders. "Hey, sup." She said, smiling at both of them to ward away any restless nervousness at what was about to go down. Her eyes flicked between Ryan and Dakota, and then to Saya when she appeared as well. "Madeline." She introduced to Kat, dropping into a seat and masterfully - or so she thought - maneuvering Wilson into one as well. "Or Mads." She blinked at the other Sun girl, grinning. "You're Kat, right?"

She tilted her head upwards and flashed a lazy smile at the blond girl too. "Hi there." She rumbled in greeting, eyes flicking back to Ryan, Kat, and Wilson. Time always did seem to go extra slow when waiting on stuff like this. She rubbed the back of her head with her free arm and sighed. "Waiting is the worst part." She agreed flippantly, eyes flickering to the crowd already amassed.

Marcus's quiet apology drew a sharp exhale of breath from the Sun Hunter, his expression barely changing as he glanced to the other faces- familiar and not.

"You're the Sunny Sun here. Y'aughta' say something." That voice urged again in the back of his head, drowning out Roar's concerned grumbles, "Be a man, ********.... we'll..." He managed hesitantly. His mouth opened a moment, catching Ceres' pitying expression and his face went red. It was Madison's sudden hand on his arm that broke him out of whatever had clammed him up, his breathing quickening. "Y-yes. Yes. We'll... we'll show them the meaning of the word, we'll..." He hesitated again as Harrison approached their group, calling out to his fellow moons.

Lips pursed, he straightened, "B-bix, we aughta-aughta- We aughta'..." He cleared his throat, forcing a smile onto his face, "G-give the Suns a talking to, too. Make sure everyone has a Torch at least." Direction, a direction.

He wobbled a bit. There were so very few... He scanned, spotting Ofelia and Madeline before starting to drift away, singing softly under his breath, "There are demons in the shadows, that creep and kill and bite..."

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Madison's stomach twisted and she sighed as Jerry wobbled away. She had a feeling that the only thing that'd fix him was Horseman blood flying everywhere. She could understand that.

But she felt lost without her Phoenixes. Jordan hadn't... she feared the worst, even though all she really knew was that he hadn't responded to her or been anywhere around. As for the others... she wished they were there around her, to help her. So she wouldn't feel as alone as she felt right now, watching Jerry stumble and crash and burn and feeling unable to help.

Well. She'd help by smashing Horsemen faces in. Maybe she could cut off a limb or two-

She spotted the big man out of the corner of her eye, a wave of relief washing over her. A moment later she had attached herself to Robert's reassuringly thick arm.

"Hi."

Hazel's attention was caught by one of the upper moonies and she wasn't able to get a response about the string, "Ah, I'll come back for that string later. "Bye Meat cup!" giving a casual wave to Leon before walking up towards Marcus with wide eyes.

"Ah, sorry!" she looked around at other hunters she didn't recognize, "Who do I report to?"

Jerry listened faintly to Harrison's short speech, dimly wobbling on his own as he watched Maddie slip off to check on another Phoenix.

She was right.

After a bit of quiet muttering to himself, his weapon, and who knew what else, Jerry finally turned, coat fluttering dramatically as he lifted Roar's tiny flute form and gave him a few tweets. The noise was not shrill, but stern and comforting to the man as he ended it in a dip of notes.

"Suns!!" He shouted, allowing them time to gather as he drew in several sharp breaths.

The Phoenix- not that corrupt thing, that was what Maddie had said, it was an emblem for many of them. He had almost forgotten about their little Club of Camaraderie, but Jordan was still... and always would be Alpha One to them.

And Phoenixes rose.

Sasha and Wash and Rin and the others were strong. They were holding on, he could feel it. Waiting for them.

"SUNS! Many of you have been in the feild before. Countless Times, even. And some of you may only think you have. Remember what we're here for. Remember what we represent. We are an important part of the machine. We are the hands that strike. We are the brute force. We are the teeth of Deus, and we are ready to bite back!" The moons had gathered, and now the suns, and the more he looked, the more he saw each symbol, each group as a note that formed a chord. It was a matter of directing the crescendos, the moments of silent and sound, the pauses, the thunder. "And remember what you're fighting for. This isn't just... blindly fumbling in the dark. We know what we're up against, and if you don't, then you will soon. It's our friends, our loved ones, our Brothers and Sisters in their clutches and whether they are dead or alive doesn't matter, we will get them back! We will slice and blast and smash and-" He hesitated, blinking as though listening to (what could only hope was) his weapon a moment before drawing in a deep breath.

"But most importantly, as part of the Machine, you need to make sure you have your coverage. If a Moon isn't available.... find a Mist," His eyes strayed to Candace a moment before his expression hardened. "Just make sure there is a Shield for every Sword. We will only succeed if our Offense is as strong as our Defense.

I hope you are all cleared for your Runic Weapons- at the very least, a Torch. And um. Headsets and..." He floundered losing steam, "And... and remember to... to fight like your life depends on it. Because it does. And um. Remember- " And unfortunately, he began singing,

"They might burn us, They might bite us,
They might curse and scratch and claw!
But we won't stop, we won't rest
Until we've gone and killed them all!

WATCHOUT! HERE WE COME!
WATCHOUT! Here comes the sun! "

At least the man was smiling again, a desperate sort of manic smile, but a smile all the same.