The trip to Norway was fairly uneventful. Icarus was highly amused by Adem's impression of Jessica from Murder, She Wrote. Drake read through the mission briefing a few more times. Link was munching on a buscuit while watching The Matrix on a portable DVD player. Guant and Lykopis were both quiet and kept to themselves. Over the years both had learned to appriciate the tranquility before a conflict.

The six heroes landed in Orsta-Volda and departed from the plane. They looked like normal people dressed for some outdoor wintering sport. Drake was in a light gray hooded jacket and darker pants, carrying only his bag of equipment. There were plently of pockets in his suit for electronic gear, and he wore dark goggles to sheild from the wind and snow. Lykopis marched behind him. Her corset was mostly hidden behind her fur coat. There was a faint jingle jingle from the metal of her weapons hitting each other underneath the fur. Icarus followed them out next. He was wearing his usual flight gear. The cold air was not too different from the cold experienced at higher altitudes. Adem's nanites formed a better insulating coat than his Columbo outfit. He found it amusing to watch his breath condense in the cold mountain air. Edward Guant look as cheerful as a grave as he marched off the plane. The low temperature did not seem to affect him as much as it did the others. Last but not least, Link Fox exited the jet, carrying a large cappacino and wearing a blue winter hiking outfit.

Drake found himself glancing at Link. He didn't bring any weapons. He doesn't seem to have any powers. Why did we bring him?

Lykopis spoke up, and Drake turned his attention to her. "Well, Paragon said the helicopter would be ready."

Nearby a massive MI-26 was warming up the engines. Drake took a look at his team and motioned for them to head over to Paragon's private helicopter.

"Sure is roomy," said Icarus. He was right. There was still room for seventy-four more people. "I tell you, Paragon's a funny guy. He's got the goods. All the same, why not join us on the field? He's damn near invincible."

Lykopis provided the first guess. "He has lost a similar group of friends before." She didn't add, "Like me." That is why you have trouble with these guys, do you not? Each of them reminds you of one our your old friends. Drake is very much like Diana in nature and personality. And there is something about Megera that is reflected in Icarus. Adem and Europa share common ground, even if he is a displaced alien.

"He doesn't seem very bothered by their absence," said Adem. "Perhaps he thinks his skills cannot aid in solving the problem."

"It's a lot simplier than that," said Link. Everyone was surprised to hear him talk like that. "Paragon's got tons of crap to do. We're just another business for him." Drake gave a nod. Well, at least he can read people.

Lykopis had taken an interest in Drake's mission briefing. She glanced at the page of the document. "Am I reading that right? What is the name of the ship?"

Drake stopped what he was reading and look to where Lykopis was pointing. "The ship's called The Abaddon." Both Lykopis and Gaunt pricked up their ears when Drake called out the name of the ship. "What of it?"

"Funny."

"Funny?"

Lykopis shrugged. "Not funny-funny. Like odd-funny. I just did not imagine a Norwiegian ship having a Hebrew name like that."

Adem turned to the Amazon. "It is ironic. What does it translate to?"

"It means 'ruin and destruction'."

Drake laughed. "Not exactly something you would name your kid, eh?"

Lykopis shook her head. "I have heard the name before...only once, mind you. The last book of the Christian text--" by this she meant the Bible "--I think it is Revalation. Abaddon was an Angel of God. He guarded the abyss."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Then they heard the pilot over the intercom. "Hey guys, we've reached the coordinates. You guys ready to climb down the rope?"