Roswell Fanatics

~At the hotel~

*Zeus*

New Mexico, he says. That's what NM means. But why would they be using such an ancient designation for their location? Still, it does explain the weather. I don't remember exactly where New Mexico was, but I know it was significantly south of my sector. This must be one of those old ghost towns -- although the brochures show aliens, not ghosts...

And he's from California, another old section designation. The other man calls him 'Xan.'

I'm about to guess that neither one of them belong here, either, like me and Moon, but then the man on the stair seems to know the place, and Xan.

This is getting to be very, very strange. I'm realizing that I must be very far from my workshop. I'm not even sure if Storm has a HQ down here. But the strange woman said that there was something here to help me stop Nexes, so I'll have to see what I can find.

"Thanks," I tell both men, but then turn to the one on the stair. "What's your name? Can you tell us a bit more about this place?

*~*~*~*~*~*~"

~At the Cafe at the Mall~

*Quixote*

I'm pleased as Kyle introduces himself this should be a lot fun. I wonder what he's going to think as he gets to know these two. I was about to leave and let them muddle along, but then again, I don't know a lot about them, either, so maybe I'll stick around for a little while.

I hum softly to myself, moving towards a nearby counter. I hop up on it, sitting with my legs crossed as I wait to see what happens.

~Moon~


I'm fully prepared to wander this strange place, either inside or out, when Zeus motions to a guy that I hadn't even seen laying on a couch nearby. Then suddenly the guy begins to stir and gets up, not even realizing we're there. Curious, I remained silent and watched him, noticing almost instantly that I hadn't really looked around me at all. The weapons cabinet he went to would have been an easier way to take care of what I had been planning...

I shake my head, forcing my thoughts away from that. I'd given my word to Zeus and when I give my word, I keep it, no matter how hard it might be. Observing the guy, I watch him swing a sword about some and have to admit it's impressive. Then, his gaze turns to us and he says, "Hello.." He doesn't seem to be comfortable now that he'd seen us.

I don't reply, uncertain what sort of person he might be. A sword wasn't something I was willing to mess with at the moment. But, what was really beginning to get to me was that Zeus and this guy looked like Adults. I didn't understand it. Had there been some mistake? Had some of the adults actually made it through the virus.. Then again, if they had been seventeen when the virus came through, that would mean they could have survived.. it had been nearly four years..

Zeus replies with an offhand, "Hey."

"Can I help you guys" I hear someone say from behind us and barely keep from jumping at the voice. Living with the Horse Traders I should have been harder to sneak up on. Turning I look at him and again, I see it is another adult. Where are all the kids like me? What happened to them?

"Sure," Zeus begins, "My name is Zeus and this is Moon. We're -- I guess you can say we're lost. Could you tell us a little more about where we are?" Zeus gestures at something that once again, I hadn't really paid attention to. "What sector is Roswell NM?"

I don't recognize any of that name. Sector, I remember Pony Joe telling me that the kids in the city had seperated different parts into sectors. Maybe it did mean that Zeus was simply one of the older kids that managed to survive since he wasn't quite an adult when the virus came through.

"Roswell, New Mexico?" The guy with the sword asks and I watch him move to the pamphlets and stiffen, nerved up now. Without thinking, I step to the side and backup against the wall, not liking that if I turned one way someone would be at my back. "I don't think I can help much. I've never been here in this place and the last I remembered I was in Sunnydale, California."

Another name I don't recognize. This Sunnydale, California was as alien to me as Roswell, New Mexico. Although, before the virus, I remember a teacher mentioning the place and saying it was overseas.

"Xan don't confuse the tourists. Besides, we both know you havent been to sunnydale in a few years." Okay, well it seems they know each other. So, that helps I guess.

"Thanks," Zeus says and I look at him as he asks the other guy, "What's your name? Can you tell us a bit more about this place?"

I sure hoped we'd get some sort of answers, because quite frankly, I couldn't help but feel afraid. Something didn't feel right about this entire situation and I wished I knew how I'd gotten here from where I'd been. Not to mention, I was hoping the pain in my back would subside soon. After having felt the sting of the whip so many times, I'd gotten used to it, but the proof of the final beating wasn't completely healed yet, though this time at least I'd have the chance to heal.

I decide for the moment it's better that I remain silent. I know that if I speak out I'll only be reiterating things that Zeus has said. Damn, but things were complicated and seemingly getting more complicated by the minute.

I'm just waiting for either Pride or Bray before posting again. I'm lurking and happily reading other posts ^^;;

Working on Bray and Pride now (though wishing I'd get an answer from a friend for taking Pride lol)

Also working on Isabel, Tai-San posts too

~Bray~

My wrists were raw where they'd been chafed by repeated use of shackles by my captors the Techno's. Dried blood caked my brow, the wound they'd caused me when capturing me had never been tended to. Yet, I lived and I ached as I worked in the facility where I'd been taken. Three months, I'd been here and in that time they had enjoyed making me and many others continue to labor without real food and with very little water rations. Once a girl had used a small amount of her water to try and tend the gash on my head, but she hadn't gotten far before they'd dragged her away.

I haven't seen her since. In fact, many come and many vanish. None have ever come back. I worry about this, think on it constantly. What had become of them? What could I do to change things? The answer to the latter question is nothing. There is nothing I can do at the moment except for live and have hope that the woman I love didn't die as she lay there bleeding while birthing our child. Hope that even our child hadn't died. Yet, I fear that both are dead. How could they have survived without help.

I live for the day when I will be free again, though I doubt that day will come. Sometimes, I dream that I am back in the mall, facing down Ebony before she could get the power of being city leader. Keeping her from reaching that goal. Each time, I see Amber and Trudy die because of my stupidity, because Ebony wasn't able to get to them in time to scare the Guardian away. What could I have done differently?

"Get back to work, virt!" I hear one of the guards say and turn to see a girl looking at him with spirit and hatred shining in the depths of her nearly coal black eyes.

"Go sit on yer arse and spin, loser." She responds and I watch as he raises his arm, the zapper sounding as it charges for a shot. Without thinking, I run, ramming into him and knocking him aside.

"Run!" I tell the girl but she simply stands there and smiles.

"You truly do have a hero's heart, Bray." She says as I hear all sound stop around me and she smiles even wider. Who is she? What's happening? "So many questions, fears and hopes. Let me answer at least two of those questions you have boy." She says and as I watch she seems to age right before my eyes, but the age doesn't change this inate beauty that shines forth. She seems almost as though she is bewitching me.

"Who are you?" I can't help but ask.

"I am she who will guide you to your destiny, but first let me show you your beloved and your son." She waves her hand and before me I see an image of Amber in the Eco camp. She's holding a sleeping baby boy in her arms even as she looks at someone with longing. Setting the baby down, she smiles at the person and when they come into view, I see a Techno. A blonde guy who sits beside her. They begin talking and then right before my eyes, they share a kiss. A long, lingering kiss.

"No!" I cry out, turning and shielding my eyes. How? How could she do that? Why? She'd been lost to me longer then I was to her and had never turned to Pride, yet here she was kissing a guy, a damned Techno that had caused me to be ripped from her.

"I'm sorry that you had to see, but you needed truth to free you. Come, there is something awaiting you." I felt a hand on my shoulder and cringed before I no longer felt, heard or knew anything more. Sleep dragged me under, far under where there was nothing but blessed darkness.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Bray!" I vaguely here a familair voice exclaim as I begin to reach the surface away from the depths of sleep that consumed me. My head feels like it's pulsing as I slowly begin to move and then sit up, looking at Pride? An older, Pride? How can that be? He looked tired, circles darkened around his eyes.

"Bray? Do you have the virus? Has it come back?" He asks me and I shake my head, uncertain what he could mean. He holds out a hand after a moment, "Come on, let me help you off the floor and we can all sit here. I'll brew some tea and we can figure out what's going on." That actually sounds good to me and I nod, letting him assist me to my feet.
Automatically, I notice that my wrists are still raw and the ache still there.

He looks away from me and I hear him say, "My name's Pride and this is Bray, who are you two?" I follow his gaze and see a girl and guy standing there. As I take a seat at the table, I shake my head. Trying to clear it. How did I get here? This is the mall, but how did I get home? Why can't I remember?

I know from my wrists the Techno's weren't a dream. "I am what I am and not what I'm not!" The girl replies and I can't help but furrow my brow in question. "What you think you know, may not be so."

What does she mean? I'm about to ask when the guy replies, "I'm Kyle..." I nod, thinking that it seemed strange to hear such a normal name. Though, I admit Bray is normal too. Most of us had different types of names.

"I haven't seen you around anywhere.." Kyle says, and I shrug. "Are you from outside of the town?"

"We've lived in the mall ever since the virus struck." I reply and then add, "Well, most of us. But, Pride here joined us about a year ago." I didn't want to think about how I'd first met Pride. It wasn't a thought I liked because of Amber who was then called Eagle.

"What tribe are you from?" I ask, though the fact that he looks like an adult and so does Pride, doesn't quite settled right.

~Medina~


I can't help but clap my hands with glee as I watch my chosen pawns move about and interact. Of course, Quixote simply seems to be enjoying the game just as much and that was something that I had anticipated. A small bit of lightening flashed and I turned with a satisfied smile, "What is it you require, Madrios?" I asked, remembering well how he'd been given a small gift but one that he could never use against me.

I'd given him this gift because I knew it would frustrate him after his family had been killed. He shouldn't have spurned me. "Medina, why must you toy with these people? Have you not toyed with enough lives?"

I laughed, "You are just upset because I have new toys that will provide me with more entertainment. Of course," I pause a moment and look at him with a provocative smile, "You could put a stop to this right now, and mate with me. End this curse between us and I will send them all back home."

"Never! I'd rather die a thousand deaths then ever willingly submit to warming your bed!" He spat and I laughed.

"Just remember you said that and that you can stop my game at anytime. Remember, that I will have what I want. If it's not you, willing and ready, then it's them in my games." I turned from him and changed the current view to show Moon and Zeus along with the two boys.

"You see, Madrios. See how this girl has fear in her aura. She tries to hide it, but it's there. Should I show you what she was trying to do before that one in the leather jacket near her stopped her?" Before he could answer, I waved my hand and showed the scene with the kitchen knife. "She'll try again you know, those kind always do. I wonder how long she'll remain in the presence of just those men and what would happen if I reached into her realm and pulled a couple of people from her past here for a temporary stay?" I smirked as I changed the image back to the current one.

"You are sick and vile, woman. It pains me to know you were created only to kill He who created you and do such things. A Goddess as lovely as you shouldn't be so hateful and spiteful." Madrios said and as I looked at him I noticed he was about to leave. Holding a hand up, I held him in place.

"Do you not remember that day four thousand years ago? It was you, you changed what I became. Don't ever forget that." I lower my hand, "Now go from me. If you wish to go down to the surface and dwell among them do so. I care not. Nothing you can do will stop my games any longer. Even you in my bed may not satisfy me enough."

I sighed as he left the same way as he'd come. "Now, where was I?" I muttered. "Oh that's right."

I lifted my hand, "Let earth lift, thunder roar, water fill and air soar." I smiled, deciding to make things more interesting. Letting my observation center change to show where everyone was, including the Pod Chamber where one still fought to wake within himself, I laughed. I watched as the ground in all of the places I'd created, as well as outside those places began to tremble but didn't touch or come near where Tai-San and Lex were having their little get together.

Next, once the shaking had done and earth had changed, I smiled at the lake and stream that led into it now filled with water that poured from the sky into it. I'd found two more pawns in my search and 'twas time to bring them to the Choosing Grounds. Along side that stream, I created a shack that both of them would recognize and I knew it'd bring memories back.

The guy's I'd chosen were all so enticing that if not for the damned curse my father managed to place on me, I would have kept them for myself. Instead, I have no choice but to watch and let them entertain me as they come together.

Looking in on the little magic user all alone in the magic shop, I grin. Let's make this more interesting shall we? Laughter builds as I wave my hand moving her from the shop and placing her into the hotel lobby. Let's see how she and this Xander who now holds a sword fares in meeting.

While I wait and watch, I use the essence of the air within the Choosing Grounds and send a simple message to Quixote's ears only. "Let the gathering begin. The mall seems a perfect choice. Guide them and have fun."

JP Post by Storm and Aerdrie

Part One

~*Tai-San and Lex*~
Location: Outside of the Mall's Entrance


Tai-San shakes her head as she moves forward until she's right in front of Lex. The way he brandished the bottle, she knew he was definitely drunk. She took in his appearance from this closer angle and couldn't get over the fact that somehow in a week’s time he had aged and yet, her heart still leapt seeing him. "Lex... why are you drinking?" She begins and then shakes her head. She'd seen him like this, right after Zandra had died. But, since their marriage, he hadn't drunk much at all except when the Mallrats had a celebration of some sort. "Did I miss some celebration? Were the Technos defeated?" She can't help but ask him. Seeing him like this and then looking into his eyes more, he seemed... almost as though he was defeated.

She remembered only two other times she had seen this. When he lost Zan and then when they had almost split because of May's interference. It hurt her to see, but she resisted reaching out to him. He had been the one she caught in bed with another woman. He had been the one that threw their love and marriage away.

Looking through half-lidded eyes, he studied the woman’s face. Now that she was this close to him, the resemblance to Tai-San was uncanny. It was her eyes, but the rest of her… Lex’s head flops down to gaze at her from head to toe, she was taller and had a the much slimmer figure of a woman, if it was Tai-San, then she must have blossomed overnight or something. He looked at her down the bridge of his nose, head as far back as he could. It couldn’t be her, but he really liked what he was seeing.

A smirk played across Lex’s lips before he answered, “Nah, see this bottle is still fresh, all ripe to open, I’ve only just started to party, and you’re the first person I invited.” He leaned in, taking in her scent, she even smelled like Tai-San, like flowers and some kind of strong oil that had some kind emotion or something it was meant to invoke, Lex didn’t care to remember. Not that he could ever forget how Tai-San had come to his bed, ‘for the good of the tribe’, she had said.

“The tick’s nose, huh?” Oh, whatever, he thought to himself. He slapped a free hand at her waist, “So, Babe, are ya gonna come and party with me?” He looked up at the sky “We’ve got tons of time left.”

He leaned over and pulled her closer to him to whisper somewhat loudly in her, “I’ve managed to get the slip, Ryan hasn’t found me yet. He’s such a party pooper, anymore.”

Tai-San listened as he responded, felt a heat move through her as he looked her over and had to force her expression to remain blank. When he placed his hand on her waist, she felt a stirring in her senses and frowned. He'd cheated on her, why did she still respond this way? At his questions she prepared to answer but he pulled her closer and she smelled the whiskey on his breath, mixed with the tantalizing scent that was simply Lex. However, his next words caught her off guard. "What? Lex, have you lost your mind? Ryan has been gone for some time. The Chosen carted him off to the mines when he tried to kill the Guardian. Salene hasn't been able to find him." She replied, reaching for his hand and removing it from her waist as she stepped away.

"I think you need to get inside the mall, I'll make you one of my elixirs to help clear your mind." One like she'd made anytime he had a hangover. It was something she'd gotten used to when he was drinking. She took his arm and against her better judgment placed it over her shoulder, certain that he'd end up needing help up the stairs to his room and even inside the mall. Luckily, she still had her old room to go to. She hadn't moved everything out even while they'd been married. With her free hand, she attempted to get the bottle of whiskey from his hand as she added, "You don't need anymore of this at the moment."

Lex’s brow creased, trying to think about what she was saying, and watched as she brushed his arm off of her, falling limply, and rather disappointed at his side. She sounded like Tai-San too, but Lex was becoming even more confused, deciding to add that his, ears were playing tricks as well, to the growing list.

What she was talking about didn’t make any sense. Ryan was most likely wandering the streets and going to the bars looking for Lex at this very moment. Lex hated being coddled like some child because they all had a tendency to do it. He shook his head and snatched the bottle away before she grabbed it, his reflexes were slow but he was still faster than any girl, or he should say woman, and removed his arm from her shoulders. Lex side stepped away, his feet nearly tangling as he did it.

He shook a finger at her, “You’re look like someone but… you’re too old, I don’t know you, ger’off me!” Lex shook his head, which made his head spin, and mumbled barely coherently as he looked toward the spinning asphalt, “looks like Tai-San, smells like Tai-San, sounds like Tai-San…” he truly felt that he could no longer trust his instincts, but then he never could. Zandra had been right behind him when they were running out of the observatory; he could have sworn it but…

Lex bent over, his boots clicking hard and fast as he took short steps backward and ended up landing on his ass, “she had to go get blown up…” he mumbled, his shoulders shaking from his chest tightening, near to tears.

Tai-San shook her head as she listened to his nearly incoherent mumblings as best she could. Old? Hell, sure she'd seen herself in the window... wait... he'd seemed to age and so had she. What did this mean? She shook her head, watching as he fell and barely heard something about being blown up. What? Was he talking about Zan or had something happened in the city while she was gone. "I am Tai-San." She replied first to those mumblings as she kneeled down beside him, letting herself go into mothering mode as she often did at these times before. However, she was also trying to hold back her own emotions seeing him like this. "Lex, what's happened?" She asked, her words spoken with concern but letting herself go numb as best she could.

It seemed to have slipped his mind that this woman was an adult, as soon Lex heard that note of concern that could only be recognized Tai-San, the confusion slipped from his mind. He closed his eyes and deep lines creased across his forehead, “You were there, it blew up,” it hurt to breath, the air in his chest was so tight, from the effort of holding back as much as his emotions as he could. His voice caught as he tried to continue, “Sh… she wasn’t behind me… she’s gone… and my baby died with her.” He cradled the Jack against his chest before anger set in.

Flinging the bottle aside, he got to his knees, hearing the bottle scrape against the asphalt, the bottle spinning oddly as it eventually stopped. The tiny rocks of the faded asphalt dug into his palms, stingingly, but it was a good sting, pain seemed to cut through any more tears, for he felt he’d already shed enough.

His eyes and head were so heavy, it was hard to see, he crawled to Tai-San, and then rose to gripping her shoulders, fingers digging into the soft skin of her arms, probably too roughly. He didn’t mean cause pain, only his own, “I lost my son, Tai-San. I really wanted to be a good Dad to him... Why did this have to happen? Was I gonna be just as terrible as my own, is that why they were taken away?”

ooc: Please continue to next part.

JP by Storm and Aerdrie

Part Two
~*Tai-San and Lex*~
Location: Outside of the Mall's Entrance

Tai-San listened and it registered instantly, the observatory. He was thinking about Zandra. The idea of that cut her to the deep. He'd been drinking again, but it wasn't because of losing her, it was because of Zan, Zan and their unborn son. She watched as the bottle was flung away and simply slid across the ground. Before she could respond, or even think of a response he'd closed the distance and his fingers dug into her shoulders. She cringed slightly, but otherwise made no other response the pain.

His next words, she hadn't quite expected. She'd known he was often afraid that he'd make a bad father; he'd often tried not to be left alone with Brady or the young kids because of this. She shook her head as she reached out her arms, the movement causing the pressure of his fingers to be stronger, yet she knew that there was one thing she could do. Her arms went around him, "Lex, I don't know why it happened. It wasn't your fault." She responded softly, adding to her words as she drew him against her gently, wanting only to offer comfort, for the moment forgetting everything else.

"You are not to blame for what happened, nor is anyone else that lives to blame. The adults were the ones that set it up, we didn't know." How could they have known that there was some sort of trap and they'd caused it to spring? She shook her head, "Don't blame yourself, Lex. Zan wouldn't want you to. You know she loved you enough to want you to have happiness and wouldn't want you drowning in sorrow."

This, this was something she could do, even though she felt guilt rise up in her and her eyes water. She could give Lex comfort, she could be there, but thinking of Zandra made her feel guilty. If not for her going to his room that night, Zan and Lex might have had more time, she might have even been far enough along where Bray and Amber wouldn't have let her join them in the search inside.

Half of her words went in one ear and right out the other, her scent was so heady. Lex let himself be held in her arms for a few moments, not even thinking that this woman didn’t quite feel like Tai-San. Much softer in the front was all the thought. He nuzzled into her thick hair, his breath warming the skin on her neck. He started to pull out of her arms, letting his nose brush her ear, his lips lightly kissing her earlobe as he slid back continuing to brush the line of her jaw before trying to grab her mouth to kiss her hard.

Tai-San felt her pulse jump as his breath slid over her neck and closed her eyes. She was not going to have this reaction, was not going to give into it. When he was pulling out of her arms, she almost felt a sigh of relief and disappointment build, but it quickly turned to a breath of surprise as he brushed across her ear with his nose, his lips kissed her earlobe and she felt her heart speed. Her eyes opened wide when his lips pressed against hers and as much as she felt every bit of who she was cry out to respond, she lifted her hands and placed them against his chest, lingering a moment before she gently pushed him away.

Trying to maintain control, "Lex. What do you think you are doing?" Her hands still pressed against his chest and she realized that with the changes he'd gone through, even his muscles were more enhanced. ~No!~ She screamed inside, ~You can't let yourself do this.~ Despite this, a part of her sat there and trembled, wanting Lex to press the issue a bit, but another part hoped and prayed he wouldn't because she wanted to be in control.

Running his fingers down her arms slowly, enjoying the silkiness of her skin which was warming so quickly under his touch, “Babe, I don’t wanna be alone anymore. Can’t you comfort me some more, maybe take another one for the tribe?” His vision was so blurry because he couldn’t seem to open his eyes wider. He wrapped both arms around her narrow waist, pulling her closer, moving in to the other side to give her neck and other ear the same attention. Lex Enjoyed her slight protesting, but they seemed to hold some kind of reluctance near to giving in and each moment she paused, fed him on to continue.

He pulled back to look at her face his head falling back, and with difficulty he raised both eyebrows enough so that his eyes opened enough to clear them a little. Her saw her flushed cheeks first, the glow of her skin, the deep black eyes that made you want to look in and fall into their depths. He didn’t doubt that this was Tai-San, but older, a woman, that had such a surprised look, that mirrored the Tai-San he knew, was watching him.

He pulled away, falling back to his ass and just looked at his hands. Lex’s daze seemed to quickly disappear, and he just stared at his hands. They were leaner, the fingers were thicker with muscles, and veins were lining the backs of his hands, and each time he tightened them into fists, they became more prominent. Lex looked over the condition of his clothes, the sleeves were shorter than they had been and so were his jeans, and just tight enough they were uncomfortable. His feet also felt restrained in his boots as well, the sides of the boots rubbing roughly at them, and he couldn’t seem to wiggle his toes at all in them. He grabbed at a section of his hair, pulled his chin back to see the ends, but he didn’t even need to, his hair was inches longer than it had been and it wasn’t grey.

Such confusion crossed his expression and his mind blanked entirely not even knowing what to say aloud, was this the virus again? He found his voice, which to him sounded a little deeper as well, at least from what he remembered he sounded like from inside, “Tai-San, what’s going on?! Is this the virus?!”

Tai-San felt both, relief and disappointment when Lex pulled away after observing her. She remembered another time when he'd said something about her taking another one for the Tribe. It was something that even then she had been unable to keep from feeling a thrill about, but she'd hid it well. His touch, his teasing, all sent thrills through her and she had to focus to keep her breathing steady and keep from giving in. Yet, he'd pulled back just when she'd been ready to give in. She should be grateful, shouldn't she? Yet, there was a hollow ache there.

She watched as Lex began to observe himself, look over his hands and such. She had a feeling what he was thinking and when he spoke, she knew she'd been right. "I don't believe it's the virus, Lex. I'm not quite sure what's happened, but I don't believe we are in the true city either. I saw a building called the UFO Center and then another called Crashdown Cafe'. I was amazed to see our Mall here and you." She replied, staying where she was and trying to calm herself as much as she could. They had to figure out some things and yet, she was keeping a tight reign on every emotion she had.

Finally taking a good look around, Lex noticed that what Tai-San was saying was true, the mall was nestled in among places he had never seen before. Getting to his feet a little too quickly, he felt a head rush come on and slapped a hand on his head. He took a breath and wiped off his hands on his jeans. “Looks like a movie set, or something, UFO… maybe a Sci-Fi movie set,” he chuckled aloud, even saying it made it seem like such a joke, and his laughter awkwardly stopped.

Lex held a hand out to help Tai-San up. “And from the looks of things,” an eyebrow rises at the dirty thought that entered his mind, “but more for you than me, we need some new clothes.

Tai-San watched him stand rapidly and shook her head when he realized it was a bit fast. At his attempted joke about this place seeming like a movie set, she smiled slightly. Then, she felt herself grow nervous as he reached a hand out and spoke. His comment caused a light tinting to appear on her cheeks, but she calmly placed her hand in his, letting him help her up. Once she was standing, she removed her hand and simply looked around them as she replied. "I think you are the one that has more of a problem with the clothing, I'm quite comfortable." Then, with a sigh she shrugged, "We should see how much the mall has changed or see if there are others around. Maybe find some answers." Without waiting for a response, she moved past him.

~Isabel~

*Thanks Isabel...* I heard Liz reply and simply smiled slightly even as I listened to her explain what had happened. "W-we were having trouble, taking a step back... Maria set me up on a blind date competition, and I won... Max came after me, took me away from my 'date'..." I felt my heart go out to her, this was something she needed to be able to say, but I know it's hard on her.

"He was drunk, but he told me that he loved me, and he asked me to go away with him..." Liz broke off, shaking her head. "To this day, I don't know what made me say yes, but I did..."

I smiled slightly at that, it was obvious to me why. Love. "We got married, and it was the most wonderful evening I could imagine... Not because of where we were, because I can hardly say that getting married in 'chapel' of love was exactly how I had planned it, but because of who was there... I would never regret being married to him... It was less than a year, but I treasure the memory of every single day..." I squeezed her shoulder gently. Trying to reassure her that I was there without interrupting anything.

“I’m … sorry for your loss,” Max replied and that was basically it.

"Thank you..." There was a pause and I watched as Liz composed herself, knew the instant she had closed herself off. "We don't have time for this right now, we need information, anything that can tell us more about where we are and what's planned!"

“You’re right,” Max began, “I don’t much like the idea that she expects us to provide a ‘service’ to her,” he stated. “The note said there were others. We need to find them, explore this place and determine a plan.”

I looked over at Liz, "You already know, Liz. I'll follow whatever path you decide to lead. So, what do you want to do?" I say simply. Since my brother died, it was Liz that had led us and even with someone that was a different version of my brother around, that wasn't going to change.

*Quixote*

I had intended to leave as soon as I got Kyle some new playmates, but it would be fun to watch a few minutes more as Bray and Pride realize that each is not facing the one they think they know.

Still it starts slowly and before much can be said, the mall shakes. Soon it stops and I realize that all is safe. "Whooo!" I squeal as if I were on an amusement park ride. "Ring around the Rosie! We all fall down!"

"Let the gathering begin. The mall seems a perfect choice. Guide them and have fun." The voice comes from everywhere and nowhere and I know that the boys haven't heard a thing. But moving on doesn't bother me. There are so many interesting people here. Should have taken the time to get new clothes first. No matter.

With a smile, I skirt around a table and then behind a pillar. Before I get to the other side, I pop into the Hotel, continuing around a different pillar to see Zeus with two other boys and the girl, Moon. All of them very fun. Especially Zeus. I wonder if he misses me.

"How much is that doggie in the window? The one with the waggily tail," I sing, as I come into their view.