HEROES Chapter 5

It was a little while later when Yelena morphed back into her ‘normal’ form and walked back into the apartment. Finding a desk, she took out a notepad and started writing. When she was done, she folded the paper in half and wrote a single word on it.

Cowboy

Finding Anaya, she asked the young woman to please make sure Cowboy got the note. With one last check on Morgan, the shape shifter slipped out of the apartment morphed a hood over her features so no one could get a clear view of her. When she entered the elevator, she pushed the button that would take her to the lower floor of the warehouse.

When the elevator opened up, Yelena stepped out and looked around. The warehouse seemed quiet considering all the activity that had just taken place a little while ago to get them here. Walking out the door of the building she felt the cool rush of air followed by all the scents of the city. All she wanted right now was to find her way to a place that wasn’t quite so densely populated. How she was going to do that, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she had to do it now.

Hopefully Tim would understand. Of all her friends, he was the one who seemed to have that same need for wide open spaces. If anyone COULD understand, Yelena knew it was him.

When Anaya looked at the note, she would find it written in Russian and unable to understand what it read.

Я знаю вы не будет счастливы с моим решением, но я чувствую он чего я должен сделать теперь. С всем которое случилось в виду того что я возвратил к положениям, я чувствую ограничиватьле чем всегда. Я не могу двинуть без быть поохощенным одной организацией или другими. Я не могу проводить моя жизнь живя ОН нелегально или в прятать. Я должен мочь чувствовать солнце на моей стороне и получать некоторый свежий воздух время от времени который не включает ход на моя жизнь.


Я знаю я не может пойти домой. Слишком опасно для меня даже думать перемещать назад там. Я сделаю моим путем самое лучшее я могу здесь в положениях. Возможно я могу сделать новый старт где-то. Возможно в Техас и имейте мое собственное ранчо козочки.


Пожалуйста скажите другим до свидания для меня и воспрепятствуйте им знать его был ничего они сделали что сделано мной разрешение. Специально Morgan. Она идет все успокаивание она может получить. Главным образом от вас. Не получите слишком разочарованным с ей. Она до конца много. Ей как только яркое сердце теперь изнурённый и она будет нужно вы помочь ей осуществить там жизнь, котор нужно найти которая не включает смерть и ненависть.

Позаботьтесь, мой старый друг. Zoe давал мне ваш безопасный номер в случае если мне нужно он. Я увижу вас когда наши пути пересекут снова.



Твое
Yelena,

Morgan heard the door open and cracked open any eye, seeing Yelena checking on her before shutting the door once again. The way she looked, she had a feeling that Lena was leaving, for how long, she didn't know. But, she understood. She herself hated cities and as soon as she could she had planned on finding somewhere more open, less people.

Opening her eyes, she concentrated again, focusing on the bats now, merging with one of them, using their eyes and sonar to see if she could locate him.

There!! Climbing down a fire escape. From the looks of it he was quite a few blocks from Allie's warehouse apartment. She switched animals and located a raccoon nearby scavenging through a garbage can. Merging with the animal she directed it to where Tim would be climbing down, having the animal waiting on him. Once Tim was down, he would see the raccoon raise a paw at him in greeting, then try to get him and Totem to follow him back to Allie's.

"Amen, brother." Replied Totem to Cowboy's comment about the open range. The urban landscape was foreign to him, and the Haida man had never spent more than a week in a city at one time. The woods were his home and the skills and experience he had developed was wasted in the concrete jungle.

Looking eastward through the buildings, Totem gazed upon the moon which had just begun to rise over the black surface of the lake. "Kúng rises." he muttered referring to it in his native tongue. Her light seemed far more prominent since Wraith's tornado had knocked the power out all around Green Street, but it was a cloudy night and so they would retain their cover of darkness.

"You're right, Cowboy." Totem finally said, "We should find Wraith. Whether he is alive or dead, he deserves a respectful burial." He then looked into the night with his wolven eyes, studying the world brightened to that of day by the rise of the moon. "I think he was thrown to the east. I remember seeing something large streak away from the blast on TV and it might have been Toril. We should head that way first, maybe we'll get lucky."



Not too far away from Totem and Cowboy, Grey and Scavenger were on the perimeter of the disaster area cordoned off by RAID and police, waiting for Selena to get out of their car and go on her own way. Unfortunately, she wasn't going anywhere.

She casually lit herself another cigarette and made herself comfortable in the back seat, a confident smile on her pretty face. "I'm not getting out here." she flatly told them, her eyes darting toward the cops, "You can drop me off somewhere else, and don't get any big *#@$ing ideas, or I'll have these cops crawling all over you in a matter of seconds. You get me." She threatened.

Scavenger who had been staring at her from over his seat turned around and said nothing. He glanced over at Grey the worry evident in his eyes.



Sigma drove slowly down the Bridgeport streets as he intently listened to some late night radio host talk about the latest meta-human event that had just occurred north of Greek town, around Green street. "Why the hell, were the others creating a scene in their own part of town anyway!" he wondered then cursed aloud, "Damn fools!" It was only a matter of time now before they were exposed and after a years time he was just finally getting used to the place.

Slate parked his car a couple of blocks away from the apartment of Silicone Surfer and kept the engine running. The night was cool and he wanted to keep the heater on as well and listen to the rest of his radio program. Checking the time, it was only a little after midnight, so he had some time to kill before he met with Grave Sight, if he in fact decided to show up.

Sigma awoke with a start and try as he might to hold fast onto the fleeting memories embedded within his dream they faded away into nothingness the moment his eyes focused on the steering wheel. Thus were the pains of a man without a past, but he was confident that one day he memories would return and until then, he'd make his own memories.

He checked his watch; one in the morning. Still no sign of Grave Sight so Sigma decided to check over Silicone Surfer's apartment one more time and see if he could find anything he might have missed before. Putting on his mask, he slipped down the darkened alley, the collar of his trench coat drawn high and the blueish grey hood of the sweater he wore beneath drawn over his head, obscuring his face all the more. No one was awake, all the tenants were hard working folk and Sigma was able to once again access the fire escape and sneak into Silicone's floor quite easily.

Sigma expertly picked the lock and slipped into the room. He produced a pen light with a blueish coloured beam and began his search for anymore clue that might bring him closer to the truth and as he rounded the corner a man, casual sitting in a chair with his hands clasped before his face was staring at him. If Sigma felt fear like normal people he would have reacted with a yelp and a jump, but instead he just inquisitively shone his light in the man's face, forcing him to shield his eyes with a hand.

"Hello Grave Sight." Greeted Sigma.



"Sigma." The man said with a nod, "I was beginning to think that you were a no show." he commented with his mild new zealand accent, somewhat toned down from his many years living state side.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you, Everet. Have you checked the place over yet?" Inquired Sigma.

The man just smiled. It was never matter of him 'checking' a place since he couldn't turn his abilities off. The moment he had stepped out of his 'psy-scrambled' office building floor where he worked and lived his psychometry had begun to read every step he took. His medication helped him decipher between the now and the past, but he still had deal with the flood of information that his mind wanted to process.

Everet smoothly rose out of the chair and crossed the room. He smoothed any wrinkles in his fine suit then reached out and shook Sigma's hand with no apprehension whatsoever. "It's good to see you, Slate." he said using Sigma's real name, the only one that actually knew it. "I'm sorry about my behaviour earlier, the Surfer was a good friend. I should have come to you sooner."

Sigma didn't trust anyone else with the knowledge of his name and he if he could, would have kept it from Grave Sight as well, but his powerful ability had drawn it out when he was trying to restore Sigma's lost past. Even as they shook hands, Everet still couldn't get a reading off of Slate, even his name was obscured, which was truly an impossible feat considering the magnitude of Grave Sight's ability to see into the past. He actually preferred the silence, however. Slate was the only person he had ever known who he could be around and not be bombarded with a wave of history, even recent events weren't recorded by the odd meta-human. It was as if he didn't exist from a psychic perspective and Everet doubted that other psychics would even get a name from him. He'd never encountered anything like him before.

Allie watched as Yelena left, somehow sensing that she felt penned up and was seeking more open spaces. She understood for the most part for sometimes she felt that way here in the city and would head out to Mikey's ranch that Allie and her father helped her set up to take a breather. That was when she had a brilliant idea.

Grabbing the phone, Allie called Mikey, apologized for waking her as it was close to 1 a.m. and asked if she would come over right away. Mikey, in a sleepy, voice said she'd be there soon. Then, allie called Green Street Base and asked Snap to put the girl Zoe on the phone.

"Zoe, Flaming Angel. Hey, can you get a hold of Cowboy somehow, find out if Totem is with him and if he is, have them use the phone I gave Totem and get their asses back her pronto. I'd appreciate it."

She knew that Mikala would be okay with her plan, but common courtesy called for her to ask first anyway. It would take Mikey a few to get to her apartment since she was sleeping over at the gym as she was prone to do from time to time.

Once she got there, Allie let her in and Mikey waved hi to Ayana and peeked in on Kekoa. Then Allie led her to Morgan's room where Mikey was dropped to her knees from the emotions rolling off of the girl. As Allie helped her regain her feet, Mikey quikcly slammed up stronger blocks to block the girl's pain and....something else.......Mikey couldn't quite put her finger on it. Morgan was different from the innocent girl she'd felt when she'd read the journal.

After that, Allie showed her Shawn and Mikey could feel the need to be treated less like an invalid and more like a normal person. She smiled, admiring the boy's courage.

Once all was done and Mikey told Allie what she'd felt from the two, they sat down on the couch and Allie told Mikey her idea. Move the newbies out to the ranch. They would be close enough to the city that if any help was needed they could get there quickly and Allie would lend them their choice of any of her vehicles in the garage below the warehouse she lived in.

Mikala thought for a moment and decided that she liked the idea. Then Allie told her about Tim, Totem, and Toril and Mikala concentrated, trying to see if she could get a reading. She wouldn't be able to get a reading on Toril as she had nothing to go on, but Tim and Totem she might be able to. Closing her eyes and concentrating on their faces and auras, she got a feeling on where they were at and relayed it to Allie. Allie in turn went to Ayana and informed her that she was going to go pick up the two men and get them back here. If they hadn't found Toril yet, then they could regroup and she would join the search as she was familiar with the city. Maybe even, if they had something of Toril's, Mikey could get a reading or something.

Heading out, she checked on Morgan, seeing that she was once again asleep. Mikey came and stood beside her.

"She is wrought with guilt, Allie and is withdrawing into herself. Why isn't Cowboy here with her? He or the indian may be the only ones who can pull her back from where her soul is heading. She is losing herself, who she is. Becoming hard. We can do nothing to help her."

Allie didn't like the sound of that one bit, but she tried to explain where Cowboy was coming from.

"He wouldn't leave Toril out there alone. And I can understand, I think Morgan does, too. He knew that I would take care of her so he felt okay leaving her with me and the others. Her father did a real number on her."

Mikey turned and walked back into the living room, her eyes much older than her 23 years.

"She wasn't expecting it to be that bad, Allie. I can sense that in her. Her whole plan fell apart and she can barely handle the guilt of it. I can't bear to open myself up to read much more or I will simply break down for the poor girl. You go and collect Cowboy and Totem and then we'll concentrate on Toril and getting these guys moved out to the ranch if that is what they choose to do. I will stay and keep an eye on Morgan. Ayana has Kekoa under control, or as much as one can have water under control."

Allie headed for the elevator and once inside, pressed the button that would take her underground to the garage. There, she looked at her toys. A black Harley Davidson sportster, the black '68 Mustang, a 2010 flaming red Chevy Camaro, a 2009 Dodge Charger and a 2009 black Dodge Ram truck with full cab and four doors. Choosing the Camaro, she headed out headed for where Mikala had seen Tim and Totem in her vision, hoping that they were still there or somewhere close by.

As Everet walked about Silicone Surfer's apartment he poked at various items with his black cane, making sure not to directly make contact with anything less he draw in it's entire history. Grave Sight had to be careful not to delve too far into the past of any one item, simply hovering his hand over what he wanted to read was close enough. Sigma was just about to wander into the kitchen when the 'sensitive' began.

"She was watching a re-run of the X-files when the phone rang." Described Everet as he walked into the past. Sitting on the couch before him as real as the living was Silicone Surfer, otherwise know as Joanne Keys. Images of other times, other tenants, drifted before Grave Sights eyes but he forced them back, making them as transparent as possible as he focused on the night that Silicone Surfer died.

Joanne drew a mouthful of popcorn from the bright yellow and blue bowl resting on her lap while she stroked her purring cat curled up on the couch beside her. It was past midnight and as usual she couldn't sleep so she did what she always did. She dove into her X-Files archives, threw on an episode or two and had a snack. Her doctor had told her that giving into her late night indulgences was the worst thing she could do, but she was trying to follow Kekoa's lead and just let life happen rather than trying to plan it every step of the way. Lord knew she could perform her day job in her sleep, and quite often she did just that. She only truly felt alive when she was at the Green street base guiding her fellow super-heroes from afar, but she always felt as if she was right there with them battling the bad guys. Sigma, who had recently joined them was proving to be one of the most exciting rides yet and she was still coming down from the high of helping him catch a serial killer two nights ago. What transpired after had been a little disturbing and when she read in the paper of the latest victim of the Sigma Slayer being found tied to the hood of a still smoking car with the tell-tale sigma sign carved into the charred husk's chest that morning she had to admit she was both freaked out and exhilarated.

Everet sat down next to her on the arm of the couch studying the events as they played out and Sigma from experience knew to remain still and silent and just let Grave Sight do his thing. "The phone is ringing." Announced Everet and Sigma's eyes darted to the remains of what used to be the charging cradle lying next to the turned over end table it used to rest on. "The call display reads a series of zero's and Joanne looks concerned. She has a some sort of descrambler that should reveal the area code the caller is calling from but it's not working. She is reluctant to pick it up, but she does."

"What do you want?" Joanne answered her eyelids partly closing in an exasperated fashion. Crossing her legs she hunched over leaning her chin on her hand as she listened to the person on the other end of the line speak. Several times she tried to get a word in until she finally just blurted out, "We've been over all this before and the answer is still no, I —" The person on the other end interrupted her once again and as she listened to the diatribe once more, leaned over the arm of the couch and began doodling on a note pad.

"She's drawing something while she listens." Informed Everet as he moved round to the other side of the couch to get a better look at her unconscious designs, "She's drawing a very childish version of what looks like angels, over and over again." he described and Sigma took out the piece of paper she had been drawing on from his pocket and imagined Silicone drawing the images as Everet saw it.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Shouted Joanne then just as she was about to scream something else there was a sound at her front door. A look of fear glinted in her large brown eyes. "Someone's here." she said into the phone, then there was a knock.

Joanne's heart stopped. No one knew where she lived, maintaining her anonymity to protect herself and those around her was a tactic that she and Sigma shared and she knew without a doubt that anyone at her door, late at night was up to no good. The voice on the other end of the phone said something to make her rise from the couch, but even as she headed for the kitchen a masked man in what looked like a RAID uniform smashed through the door.

"Three men dressed in black have broken in." Announced Everet as he quickly moved to the side to avoid the ghosts. "Silicone as dropped the phone without ending the conversation and is running into the kitchen. She reaches into a jar and pulls out a gun. She's terrified of the weapon but she knows it is her only defense, so she takes of the safety and points it toward the invaders. She shoots and they scatter, her aim is either very poor or she really isn't trying to hit them as she starts to run toward the front door."

Joanne sprinted through the living room while sporadically shooting her weapon, forcing the intruders to remain under cover, except one. He reached up his hand toward her and bright blue blaze of electrical energy emanated from it catching the woman in the shoulder, spinning her like a top. Silicone crashed into the end table, hard but she still managed to return fire and this time she was aiming to kill.

"Why are you doing this?" Everet repeated Joanne's words, "I did everything you asked."

The man just laughed and hurled a stream of electrical energy across the wall to frighten her.

"Please." She pleaded, "Don't —" were her last words.

"She managed to crawl into the kitchen before she died." Added Everet, but Sigma already knew that. He walked over to Grave Sight and handed him the piece of paper that Joanne had been doodling on during her telephone conversation. He took it into his gloved hand and looked at it curiously. There was no more information he could extract from it but there was something to be learned from the angels she was drawing.

"You know, Sigma I seem to recall that Silicone was a terrible artist. She struggled to draw a stick man." Everet recounted.

"So." Responded Sigma, wondering why Everet found it necessary to dwell on one of her short comings.

With a smug smile on his handsome face, Grave Sight walked over to the busted cabinet in which Joanne had stored her collection of DVD's, twirling his cane like a majorette. He clicked a button and a light flashed from its handle across the scattered cases, where one in particular caught his eye. He placed the piece of note paper beside it and awaited Sigma's reaction.

Sigma crossed the room to get a closer look and seeing the angel like sketches beside the logo of the production company on the back of the DVD case it made perfect sense what Silicone had been drawing. The lines that fanned out from the central body were not wings, but a depiction of a beam of light. They were not angels. They were lighthouses or otherwise known as beacons.

Wraith awoke with a terrible headache and looking over to check the time he was disoriented by the location of the clock. He always kept it on the bedside table to his right and as his brain processed how it managed to get to his left he remembered that he wasn't in his remote British Columbia home. He wished he was there now, but if he was he doubted he'd be sleeping so soundly with Shinnigami on the prowl.

Slowly Toril sat up, his glowing eyes allowed him to see in the dark room but the use of the ability pained him even more. He needed to replenish his electrolytes, which he had all but depleted. Staggering to the kitchen, Wraith began his three am feeding by wolfing down a whole chicken and washing it down with three gatorades. Then of all things he found fresh sushi rolls!

"Thanks to be to God!" Praised Toril as he devoured the salmon, yellow fin and vegetarian rolls. He ate them while walking around the dimly lit apartment, wincing in a pain a few times as he forgot to favor his side and his leg while skipping up the few stairs that lead up to a plateau before the balcony. 'Quite the view', he had to admit and wondered what it would be like if he used his gifts to satisfy his own materialistic desires. His contemplation was brief, as he immediately came to the same conclusion he always did and dismissed any notion of being dishonest and living off of society like a parasite. All the beauty around him, disgusted the super-hero, all of it was tainted and he aimed to see that it all went back to its rightful owners or at least a good cause. He'd have time in he morning to tear the place apart and learn Amazon's identity, but presently he still needed more rest. His stomach full, Wraith could feel sleep creeping up on him once more, so he returned to the master bedroom and fell fast asleep.

Tim's clung to the third to the last rung of the fire escape ladder, dropped to the top of the dumpster and then jumped down to the alley pavement. Looking down he saw a racoon with his paw raised. Tim knelt down and said "Well Howdy thar little pardnar, find anythang ta suit yur fancy 'round har?" As the racoon started ran off a short distance, turned, looked at Tim and then ran back towards him again, Totem jumped down and stood by Tim. "Looks like ar little friend has a hankerin' fur us ta folla him." Tim said to Totem. Tim looked at the racoon and said "Can't right now lil' guy, we gots ta find a compadre." Then a thought came to Tim ....... Morgan. "Tell ya what thar pardnar, ya go an tell Morgan me and Totem har'll be thar, soon as we find Wraith. Now go on an' git." As the racoon scampered off Totem and Cowboy headed east towards the rising moon.

Allie drove along, keeping her eye open for anything out of the ordinary when she spotted a raccoon running out of an alley. She wouldn't have paid it much attention but she knew about Morgan's ability and coons usually stayed in the dark alleys, not come running out where there were street lights. Only a few would do that and they usually wound up being flattened on the side of the roads. But this one looked as if it had a purpose as it scampered off in the direction she'd just come. Slowing down, she peered down the alley and saw two figures walking east. Parking her car, setting the alarm system, she got out and headed down the darkened alley.

Calling on her ability as she got closer, she created a low blue flame in her hand to shed some light into the darkness.

"Cowboy.....Totem....is that you?"

When they turned around and she saw that it was indeed them, she smiled as they approached each other.

"You guys are a sight for sore eyes. C'mon. My car is right over here."

When Tim protested, saying that they had to find Toril, she simply gave him an understanding smile.

"I know, but Mikala is at my place and she's the reason I was able to find the two of you. She was able to pick up on your auras back at the gym earlier when she did a reading to find Morgan. She may be able to do the same thing with Toril."

Taking a deep breath, the letting out, she continued as they headed for her Camaro.

"Anyway, we can regroup at my place, get you two something to eat, see if Mikala can get a reading then head back out. Sound like a plan?"

Getting into the car and buckling in she turned to Tim, her look now serious.

"Besides, Morgan is in a bad way. We got the bleeding to stop but she's withdrawing away from everybody. Mikala had to block her empathy or she would have broken down with what she was feeling from Morgan. So, what do you say? Come back to the apartment, regroup, see if Mikey can get a reading on Toril and then head out with someone who knows the city if needed? Plus, you can check on Morgan yourself, which may help her out. And, there is something that Mikey and I need to talk all of you about."

Allie waited to see what Tim and Totem were going to do. She hoped that they would return with her if for nothing more than to regroup and let Morgan see for herself that Tim was okay.

"Cowboy.... Totem... is that you?" A familiar voice had called and the two men stopped in their tracks. Turning they could see a dark haired woman illuminated by a blue flame dancing in her hand approaching and as Flaming Angel emerged from the darkness, Totem looked over at Cowboy and joked, "We should get the raccoon to go look for Toril, seems he's found everyone else." Then he briefly laughed and quieted down by the time the fire mutant was in ear shot feeling that she may not particularly appreciate his dry sense of humour.

Totem's brow furrowed when Flaming Angel suggested they stop for a bite while Toril could be out there somewhere. 'What the hell was she thinking?', he wondered. Wraith could be laying in a pool of his own blood, dying for all they knew and she wanted them to take a break and have a psychic tell them that while they were making a bologna sandwich they might have saved him if the had just walked two more blocks? Totem expressed his disconcert with a glancing look to Cowboy that the ex-cop picked up on right away. The rich girl meant well, but Totem felt that she had a lot to learn about the whole, 'search and rescue' thing. Not that he was really much better, but Cowboy had made him see the error of his way, and reminded him of how it used to be before the Riggs Act turned Humans and even Metas against Metas. He admired him for that, besides his outstanding sense of fashion; the both of them looking like two characters out of some western novel.

When Flaming Angel, mentioned Morgan's condition, however, Totem considered then that perhaps Cowboy should go back. It was a tough call though. They couldn't be sure if they would even find Wraith, but then again who knew if Cowboy could actually help Morgan?

"There's no guarantee that your friend will be able to find Wraith and he could be just around the next corner for all we know." Replied Totem as he pointed down the alley with his chin. "I know you're just trying to do the right thing, Fire Bird... uh, Flam.. F - Fire Angel, but you don't know me, or I you. I don't even know yet if I am going to stick around here, but I do know that if Toril is out there I am going to try and find him. Alone if I have to. The old fashioned way. I'm sorry but I am done following the guidance of seers for a while."

Totem then faced Tim. No words were exchanged, but the Haida man made it pretty clear that he was not up to tangling with RAID and the police alone, but he would if he had to. He glanced once more to Flaming Angel and nodded his good bye then slowly turned eastward to resume the search, giving his partner ample time to make up his mind. He hoped that he'd choose to stick with him since as much as Totem wanted to make sure Wraith was alright, he had been itching to face RAID on his terms but he didn't think he'd last very long alone.

Sigma made his way to the fire escape, the piece of note paper crumpled tightly in his fist. He now had a direction to follow, but tracing that beam of light back to it's source wasn't going to be easy. First thing he had to establish was why would Beacon want to kill Silicone Surfer? What was the connection?

"What? Not even a thank you?" Quipped Everet who was trailing closely behind the angry anti-hero. Not that he actually, required one but just the same he felt that a hint of appreciation for his efforts was somehow due.

Sigma stopped so suddenly that Everet nearly walked into him. "Thanks." he growled from behind his mask without turning around, then continued on through the fire escape door and out onto the old rusted platform.

Everet smiled at Sigma's effort to show some gratitude and followed him out onto the fire escape. "Y'know, Slate. You needn't wear your mask around me. I know what you look like." he mentioned.

Sigma slid down the first ladder and looked up. "Ain't you I'm worried about. Ya never know who's watching and don't use my name in public." he replied.

It was a cool spring night as the two men walked along the shadowy streets of Bridgeport. They were almost back to Sigma's car when he finally acknowledged Everet who was still following him. "What? Did you take a cab here?" he jeered.

"As a matter of fact, I had my driver drop me off a few blocks away." Answered Everet.

Sigma shook his head as he unlocked his door and opened it. "Well it looks like ya gotta long walk ahead of you then." he told the man, "Bet ya didn't see that one coming?"

Everet rolled his eyes at Sigma's attempt at humour. "I don't see a lot of things coming, just where they've gone." he clarified while he waited on the side walk for Sigma to open the passenger side door.

"There we're even." Joked Sigma as he unlocked the door and Everet got in. "Where to?"

As they drove down the night time streets of Chicago toward Everet's building the two men discussed Beacon and caught up on each others lives since they had last spent time together. Before a month ago, the two of them had actually been close. Grave Sight had been trying to restore Sigma's memories and during the process they had learned a lot about one another over the course of about seven months. All that time, and Sigma had learned more about his 'therapist' than himself and had finally told the guy that he was tired trying decipher his past. Since then they had seen very little of one another and Everet being a registered meta-human wasn't much for one to seek out Sigma, else he get caught violating his registry terms.

It was starting to lightly rain as Sigma's blue Cordoba crossed into the downtown area. Satisfied that no one could be spying on them, Slate finally removed his mask as he took a round about way, through less traveled streets to arrive at the office and dwelling of Everet Delved.

The stress of the night had caught up with Shawn and by the time Mikey arrived, he was sound asleep in the room Yelena had led him to. When he woke up an hour later, however, his stomach was screaming for food. Getting up reluctantly, Shawn found the wall and guided himself out of the room, the small device hanging from him like his messenger bag usually did. As soon as he emerged again in the main room, another's scent caught his attention-- one he didn't recognize. Pausing with his hand against the wall, Shawn hesitated, waiting to detect movement or some other sign that he should be on guard. When things remained still and quiet, he followed the scent of the food that Allie had set out, his hands in front of him. He managed with fair ease to make himself something before slipping back into a corner of the kitchen and eating quietly by himself. From what his remaining senses could tell him, they were still missing Tim and the other one who smelled faintly of earth. The girl they'd rescued was also not in the room and he wondered idly of she was still alive. From the stillness in the room it could go either way.

A few moments later, Kekoa emerged again, making Ayana jump up and immediately run over to drape his arm over her and steady him. She shook her head as he leaned heavily on her, smiling idly at everyone in the room. His dark eyes drifted about the room, settling on Shawn momentarily, his gaze dropping to the device at his side with interest before he acknowledged the others in the room.

"Hello, Mikala," he said pleasantly, the faint rasp in his voice the only indication that he'd nearly died. The Polynesian man then turned to Ayana who was supporting him with slight strain. "I'd like to go that way," he said, pointing to the food and grinning. Ayana sighed and pulled him over towards the couch.

"Come over here and lay down, stupid, I'll get you some food," then added, "at least you're feeling better," as she lowered him gently to the couch. Kekoa reclined on the couch and smiled dreamily up at his old friend as she moved over and gathered some food for him.


Grey narrowed his eyes at the young woman and glanced back and forth between the cops, Scav, and her.

"Look lady, I ain't a f$&^in' taxi and this ain't even my car. I ain't got any money either to afford your skanky self so just tell me how to get rid a you so we can both go and get on with our lives." Grey's face and head began to tic as he suppressed the vocal outbursts bubbling inside of him. The girl was more trouble than she was worth to Grey. He wasn't used to them refusing to leave-- not sober ones anyway-- and especially not when he was surrounded by RAID.

Allie realized her mistake when Totem spoke and had the common decency to look ashamed of herself but at the same time she was clearly agitated with the Haida man. She shook her head when he walked off, figuring Tim would probably follow him.

"Tim, you do you want you feel is best, I just thought this might help."

She handed him a throw away phone like the one she'd given to Totem who was supposed to have called her when he found Tim but he didn't call.

"Here, since I figure you're going to go with him. My number is programmed in, so call if you need me. As for Morgan, I will do the best I can for her but it's more than just physical wounds, Cowboy. She's riddled with guilt, from what Mikala said."

Allie didnt' know Tim very well, but she knew him well enough to know that he would more than likely go with Totem. She didn't fault him for it either for she understood.

"Go, see if you can find Wraith, but you're headed in the direction of my place so if you want to stop and regroup when you get there, go ahead. Just call so I can let you in."

She scribbled down the address on a piece of paper and handed it to Tim.

"Before you head out after Totem, I'll tell you now. Mikala has a small 50 acre ranch down by Crete not far from here on Deer Lake. It's set up for people like us with small cabins for privacy. She's invited your group to stay there if you wish. You would be close enough to the city to help if any was needed, Zoe wouldn't be far from you, and she thought all of you may be more comfortable there, out in the open. It is protected with scramblers and things so you don't have to worry about that. She has horses, cows, dogs, basically what you think would be on a small ranch. Think about it and let us know. The offer is on the table."

She started the car, put it into gear and looked at Tim again.

"I'm also going to let you used my Dodge truck whether you go to the ranch or not. It will seat all of you comfortably. I'll give you the keys to it when you return. Be careful, Cowboy."

Mikala watched as Shawn came out of the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen to grab a sandwich. She was amazed by him and his ability to maneuver around so well. She saw the device hanging around his neck and saw that it looked to be like something to use to communicate with the boy.

Seeing Kekoa up and moving, she smiled when he said hi to her and replied in kind, taking in his pallor, but seeing that he was hungry, which was always a good sign. She knew that Allie truly like the polynesian man, but she was so guarded where he was concerned that it was almost funny to watch. She had no clue if Kekoa was attracted to Allie or not as he was a hard one to read, his emotions so.....dreamy.......that it was hard to get a fix on them. It was like riding waves and never knowing where one stopped and the other began. So, she'd learned to not even try to read him.

Grabbing a plate, she put some sandwiches on it along with some pickles, cheese, and summer sausage from the relish tray, grabbed a bottle of water and headed into the bedroom where Morgan was. She knew, from Allie had told her before she'd left that Morgan hadn't eaten yet and she needed to eat to keep her strength up and heal.

Opening the door, she stepped inside and saw that Morgan had gotten out of the bed and was sitting in a chair next to the window, looking out into the darkness.

"Morgan...Morgan...I'm Mikala, a friend of Allie's and I brought you something to eat."

Mikey strengthened her blocks when Morgan turned her head to look at her. The true Morgan was in there, somewhere, but she was quickly being replaced by a harder, colder version. It worried Mikala for she was so young and her abilities were still growing and there were dark circles under the girl's eyes, her face still too pale showing the amount of blood she'd lost.

"Thank you, Mikala, but I am not hungry."

Morgan turned back to the window, watching when she saw the raccoon. Conncecting with it, she saw the picture of Tim in the little guy's head and heard what he'd said. She gave a sigh of relief, knowing now that Tim was okay, but she still had the animals of the city stick close to him in case he needed help. It was draining her even more to do this, but she felt she had to for it was her fault he was out there looking for this Wraith guy.

"Morgan..you have to eat, honey. Come on. Eat something."

Morgan looked over at Mikala again and shook her head 'no'.

"I need all of my concentration right now. Maybe later."

Sigma dropped off Everet who saluted a good bye with his cane before unlocking and passing through the glass doorway of the commercial building. The sky scraper, one of the tallest around was Grave Sight's place of work and his abode. He was not much one for getting out too often, preferring the solace of his controlled environment to the ever changing world beyond. Sigma, on the other hand was quite the opposite. He was rarely in the same place for long, constantly moving, keeping several steps ahead of the authorities at all times.

Slate pulled out onto the street. The traffic was sparse in the early hours of the morning and he was able to move at a decent speed along the main thorough-fare. He headed east for a while then turned north, deciding that he would sleep in his own bed tonight. The sun would be up in a few hours, but Sigma was more of a night hawk, preferring to work under the cover of darkness so the day was often sleep time. This day, however, Sigma was planning to get an early start. He wanted to check his contacts and see what they knew about Beacon's activities in Chicago and also learn who among them could throw an arc of electricity from their hands. First thing, though, he was going to drop by the cemetery and pay his respects to Joanne Keys.

Wraith awoke much earlier than he had expected he would. His body rested, yet sore, he slowly rolled out of the grand bed and felt that he was more than able to carry on thanks to assistance of the villain, Amazon. He couldn't quite be sure, but Wraith believed that she had mentioned that she would return later that day. The night before was a bit of blur and he wasn't sure if he could trust his memories so he wasted little time grabbing shower, which for Toril was a definite necessity.

Discarding his costume, Toril entered the spacious shower room which he found was also a steam bath. He stood at the center beneath a gentle water fall from the over sized rain forest shower head and enjoyed the soothing heat running over his muscles. A large purple and black bruise painted his ribs and a darker one spiraled out from his hip, among other minor abrasions that appeared on other parts of his body. His costume, which was made of a specialized material common to many outfitted super-heros, offered protection against friction burns and was fire retardant as well. It was the only reason he hadn't left half of skin behind on the side of building during his fall and despite the impact the uniform was barely scuffed.

It was amazing what luxury could do for the body, Toril had to admit as he emerged the bathroom much more limber and spry then when he had entered. Wearing only a towel and his mask he made his way back to the bed where he had left his costume and slipped the specialized material back over his skin. Toril had to admit he felt a little goofy keeping his mask on, but he couldn't be sure that Amazon didn't have hidden cameras around the apartment that could expose him.

After he was dressed, Wraith made his way to the kitchen. A slight limp resulting from where his hip had struck the concrete was evident in his movements as he searched the cupboards for something quick to make. Settling for a bowl of granola, he walked around the apartment while he ate, searching for any clues that might lead to Amazon's true identity. He wasn't surprised, however, to find that she didn't leave any bills or documents around that would reveal her name but he got the name of the building and knew that it wouldn't be difficult to trace who the owner of the penthouse was.

Before he headed out, Wraith left a simple thank you note in his untypical style of writing which was rather flowery and feminine. "Thanks. Be seeing you around." he wrote and tagged it on the fridge. He then located the open window she had left for him and flew out into the golden dawn back to the Green Street base.



Bronze Devil was sound asleep, sprawled out on the largest of the couches in the common area when the west gate buzzer went off. His eyes fluttered open and when it rang a second time, he rose stretching and made his way to the surveillance room. "I'm coming, I'm coming." he grumbled as the buzzer went off a third and fourth time. He wasn't at all worried that it was anyone else but someone from the resistance since the alert buttons were well hidden and why the hell would RAID bother with the door bell anyway?

Leaning over the security desk, Bronze checked the monitor and saw that it was Wraith. He wondered why he just didn't dematerialize and sneak in, then he remembered that the doors were sealed air tight. "Where the hell have you been?" Asked Gabriel as he opened the door and walked around the corner to greet his old friend.

"Did you spend the night here? Julie's going to kill you, Bronze." Stated Wraith as he secured the door behind him and met Gabriel in the corridor.

"Well, if someone wouldn't have caused a natural disaster in his own back yard, I would be in my own bed right now." Gabriel remarked, walking along with Wraith who was walking purposefully toward one of the computers in the surveillance room.

Toril just shook his head. "What are the odds that girl's father would have picked a warehouse on Green Street?" he defended, "Y'know, if I didn't know any better I would think that it was a little too coincidental that she ended up being so close. The whole things reeks of a set up."

"Now, you're being paranoid, Mr. Public Enemy number one." Replied Gabriel who was curiously looking over Wraith's shoulder to see what he was looking up on the computer.

"What?" Said Wraith as he ran a search for the owner of Amazon's penthouse.

"After your little stunt, you're up there with Cowboy on the most wanted list." Answered Bronze Devil.

Wraith sighed. He didn't feel like trying to explain that something else seemed to take over the tornado and focused on his search, which yielded the name Monica Chatham. Quickly he googled her and learned that she was a reclusive fashion designer that went out of her way to avoid cameras. He did happen to find one blurry shot of her though, and while the face was too distorted, he recognized the body.

"So you gonna fill me in? And what's with the dame?" Demanded Bronze who was obviously a little agitated.

"This is Amazon." Wraith told him, pointing at the screen.

Gabriel stared at the blurry picture and read the name aloud. "How did you....?" He began, then stood up straight giving Wraith a serious look as he put two and two together. "No! Studio. Tell me you didn't."

Wraith spun around in his chair his hands raised innocently. "I didn't." He assured Bronze, "Hey, I've learned my lessons, Bronze. But she did, for some reason help me last night. I don't know why, but I owe her."

"You don't owe her shit." Growled Gabriel, "She's a criminal, and we gotta take her down."

"We? You're registered, Bronze." Wraith reminded him, "You can't go tearing up the city."

"She broke one of my horns." Snapped Gabriel, pointing at his head. "I OWE her."

Toril lowered his hands, fanning the Devil's growing anger. "Okay. Calm down, Bronze. Just follow my lead on this one, okay?"

Gabriel eventually complied with a nod, but said little else.

"So where is everyone?" Asked Wraith curiously, unaware of the night's happenings.

Tim looked at Allie and said "Ya tell Morgan none a this har shit is hur doin', ta not go frettin', hang in thar and get better. We'll have a lit'l talk when I git back. Ya also tell her I said, no one left behin' ur furgot. She'll understand." Tim then turned and ran to catch up with Totem. Once he was walking beside him he said "What say we go an find Wraith and kick a little R.A.I.D ass along the way." he grinned then added "Ya know pardnur my gran'pappy always said the best defense is a strong offense." They then continued east, each in the solice of thier own thoughts.

Jessica was up and moving around, watering the plants in her room, humming to them, her voice rather musical. Once she was done, she dressed in her usual jeans and soft t-shirt and headed downstairs to grab a bite to eat when she heard voices in the common room. Seeing Bronze Devil and another man wearing a mask, she stepped into the room, smiling at Bronze.

"Hey, Bronze. Who's your buddy?"

Bronze Devil made the introductions, introducing her as Snap Dragon instead of using her true name. She shook Wraith's hand then looked up at him again.

"You're being searched for, you know. I'll give Allie a holler and let her know that you're here, safe and sound."

Smiling at the two men, Jessica walks into the kitchen as she's pullling out her cell phone to call Allie.

"Hey Flames, guess what? Wraith is here at base.....yea, he looks okay. Okay, how's the girl?.....okay, will do."

She hung up, fixed herself some toast and juice and headed back to the common room.

"Flaming Angel says you're some kind of doctor, Wraith. Anyway, she won't be able to get through with all of the clean up and bullshit going on in the area, so if you think you can get to her place somehow, she could use your help. Kekoa got shot and Morgan is bad. Here's her address and cell number."

Once her message was delivered she gave a musical ta-ta and headed back to her room to be with her plants.

Allie had made it home around 3 in the morning, got the report from Mikala on Morgan, went and had words with the girl, who was still sitting at the window, her eyes barely glowing. Deciding that she'd had enough, she got Mikala to help her and between the two of them they forced Morgan to lay down. The girl fell asleep almost instantly. She went to the couch and pulled it out into a bed fo her and Mikala, both of them laying down to get a few hours of sleep. About eight o'clock in the morning her phone rang. Answering it, her face showed her relief at hearing that Wraith had made it to the base and was okay. She immediately called Cowboy to let him know.

"Hey, Cowboy, it's Flaming Angel. Look, Snap Dragon just called me from Green Street Base and Wraith showed up there this morning....yea, she said he looked okay. If he can, I'm hoping he can get to my place to check on Morgan and Kekoa......so, if you need picked up, let me know and I'll come and get the two of you and bring you back here. They've still got Green Street blocked off, so I think it would be best if you came here."

Allie stayed on the phone, hoping that Cowboy would agree to this as Wraith was okay back at base.

Totem turned and nodded to Cowboy as he came up from behind and matched his stride. Their hard heeled boots echoed through the alley as they strode with purpose into the darkness, each prepared to take down any RAID enforcer that crossed their path.

"I think our grandfather's would have been good friends.... Kemosabe." Replied Totem, a broad grin stretching across his handsome features as he made the classic reference. He then took out the phone that the flaming one gave him, shook his head and tossed it in the trash. "Can't stand the damn things." he grumbled.

Totem was all for finding Wraith, but more than that he was itching to deal with RAID. He was done with being pushed around and was ready to do a little shoving of his own and with Cowboy at his back he felt they'd be able to fight their way through just about anything.



Wraith sat on the arm of the couch as he listened to Snap Dragon fill him in on the conditions of Morgan and Kekoa. After accepting the contact information, the young girl got up and left before he could thank her and he just watched her for a while as she scampered out of the room. When she was out of ear shot, he jokingly put his fingers to his temple, looked at Bronze and said, "Don't tell me.... uh.... Plants. Right?" Then he brightened the room with his million dollar smile.

Bronze Devil shot at Wraith with a pointed finger. "You got it." he told him, smiling back. "She's a good kid and has a power kinda like that old guy you were going after. What was his name?"

"DiVinne." Answered Wraith.

"Yeah." Agreed Bronze, "So what's the plan, now?" he asked.

Wraith stood up and stretched out his stiff side, gritting his teeth slightly to suppress the pain in his ribs. "Well" he groaned, "I'm gonna go and give Flaming Angel as visit and you can hold down the fort."

"Ain't my fort to hold down." Said Bronze as he made his way toward the bar, "I'm just a old pain in the ass."

Wraith laughed. "Yeah. I know the feeling." he conceded then made his way out the base and dematerialized into the wind.

Since Wraith was unable to have contact with any sort of magnetic metal prior to his transformation, he couldn't carry any communication devices with him so he just made a bee line straight for Angel's place. As he headed eastward, he could see that the entire area was still crawling with enforcers and they seemed to concentrating on something but he couldn't exactly be sure what. He couldn't take the time anyway to check it out as he bolted toward the loft apartment of Flaming Angel, where he blew in and made his way to the upper level where he sought out the owner who was in what appeared to be an office busying herself with some internet research.

A cool wind stirred Allie's dark hair and rustled the paper on the desk. If she would not have been expecting Wraith to arrive she would have found an icy breeze blowing in the room rather eerie but then she wasn't surprised to see the costumed super-hero materialize before her eyes.

"Angel." He greeted with a nod. "Where are Kekoa and Morgan? I'll give them a look over and we'll go from there."

Wraith praised Flaming Angel on her medical skills and told Kekoa that he just needed rest and relaxation and to make sure the dressing for his wound was kept clean. Morgan, was however, another matter. She remained sound asleep while he checked her over and from the look of her wounds there were obviously traces of something left behind and an infection was already setting in. The only way to know for sure however, required some x-rays and then some minor surgery, but aside from her physical injuries Wraith was also concerned with the girl's mental state.

Leaving the room, he spoke with Allie alone and she verified the signs of depression that Wraith was worried about. "Does the girl have any family?" he asked and once more Allie filled him in on what little she knew about the girl's past and currently it seemed that Cowboy was one of the most trusted people in her life.

"I want to take her back to the base." Wraith told Allie, "I have everything that I need there, but getting her there is another matter. The area is still crawling with police and RAID, but they're starting to thin out. A think a large enough diversion would allow a car to slip in without being spotted, but it has to be something to completely draw them away from our part of town."

Tim listened to Angel then said "Well now right pleased ta hear Wind bag is safe. Ya tell 'im ta look aftar Morgan and we'll git thar shartly. Tell 'im The Lone Ranger and Tonto har got some unfinished biznus ta attend ta." Tim then grinned at Totem and dropped the phone, grinding under his heel. He then bent down and pick up the GPS / memory chip off the ground and stuck it in his pocket. Tim then walked over to where Totem had tossed his phone, dug it out and repeated the process. "Don' waunt them bastards trackin us or findin' the others." he said as they both continued walking. "What say we giv a yank on R.A.I.D.'s chain?" he said.

Allie was glad Wraith had showed up and couldn't help but beam a little under his praise at her medical skills, which were based more on common sense than actual skill. When he asked about Morgan's mental state and family, she told him what she knew when Mikala came in having taken a day off from the gym to help out.

Introducing herself to Wraith once he and Allie were done talking and explaining what she was and what she could do, she looked up at him. She was tiny compared to his large frame and her head only cam up to his chest, but she gave off a strong air of confidence.

"I can't open my empathy completely when I'm around her because of what I feel coming from the poor girl. She is pulling further and further away from us, withdrawing into herself. I've seen this before and in one so young with her abilties still growing stronger...well....she could very well turn rogue. And, I too, have seen the signs of infection and can sense that there is something more going on with her wounds than meets the eye."

Mikala took a deep breath, letting it out before continuing.

"She has a pure soul, Wraith, a love for life, but she is losing herself drowning in guilt. She blames herself for bringing RAID here and for others getting hurt. I hope we can pull her through this and any help you need I will be glad to give."

Mikala then went to fix something to eat as Allie and Wraith continued to make plans on how to get Morgan to the base safely.

Meanwhile, Morgan had woken after Wraith had left, her body beginning to become feverish with the infection that was setting in from something her father had dipped the nails into. Rising from the bed, she shakily made her way to the window again, her eyes giving off a faded glow as she called to the animals again to aid Tim, weakening herself even more. She didn't get far when she faltered, a sharp pain beginning in her side and legs. Looking down, she saw that she was seeping blood again, but found that she just couldn't find the strength to do anything about it when she collapsed, not having the strength to even stand.

Mikala, having felt the emotion and pain coming from Morgan, dropped the plate holding her toast and looked over at Wraith and Allie.

"Morgan.....she needs us."

Running into the bedroom, she saw Morgan laying on the floor underneath the window. She was conscious and there were red spots on the bandages on her legs and side. She looked up at Mikala, her eyes glazed from the infection that had begun.

"Have...to..help...Tim....keep...him....safe."

Mikala turned to Wraith, worry in her blue eyes.

"What in the hell did that bastard do to her?!'

Laying a hand on Morgan's forehead, Mikey shook her head, letting Wraith that a fever had started.

Jennifer Milan sat at the oversized solid cherry wood desk and stared out the window. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to tell her mind was elsewhere, which was unusual for the level headed executive. The buzz of her interoffice intercom system did little to break her daydreaming. Reaching over lazily and pressing the button, she spoke in a half interested voice.

“Yes?”

“Miss. Milan….Mr. Ortega is here to see you. He said it’s in reference to Monica Chatham.”

This DID get Jennifer’s attention and she spun the executive chair around to face the desk. A curious look was now in place of her far off look a few minutes ago.

“Well then…send him in please.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Abby….how many times do I have to tell you…..don’t call me Ma’am….”

Just as the door opened up a middle aged Hispanic looking man walked into Jennifer’s office, Abby’s voice came back on the speaker box.

“Yes, Ma….Miss Milan.”

“Good to see you again, Jorge.”

“Good to see you again as well, Jen….”

Jennifer stood up and walked around the desk to greet the man who gave her a pleasant smile. Gesturing to one of the large chairs in front of her desk, she sat in the one right next to him. She was dressed in a well tailored business suit that hugged her curves perfectly without being overly done. Her chestnut colored hair was, as usual, left long and hung in loose curls down past her shoulders. When she got settled in the chair, there seemed to be a definite twinkle in her brown eyes and the smile she wore was nothing less than beautiful with a hint of conspiracy to it.

“Since you’re here, I’m guessing I was right.”

Jorge Ortega nodded and chuckled softly.

“You couldn’t have nailed it any better.”

“I KNEW his curiosity would get the better of him.”

“What are you going to do now, Jen? Do you think he’ll be able to put two and two together to figure out who you are?”

Jorge had been Jennifer’s best friend since she was a little girl. When her folks passed away, Jorge promised them he would look out for her. When she grew into an adult, she told Jorge she wanted to return to the States, to the home that used to be her parents. Not that the Rain Forest wasn’t home to her anymore but she felt as though she could have done better things with her abilities. Of course it was just about the time she chose to return the Riggs Act was signed into law making her efforts all for naught.

As Jorge sat watching the wheels turn in Jennifer’s pretty head, he knew she was taking a huge risk. While he may not approve of it, he remained silent. He’d learned a long time ago that the minute you tell Jennifer Milan she CAN’T do something; she would go out of her way to prove she could. It was what he both loved about her and feared would be her downfall.

“No. He may be smart, but there are no strings he can follow that will connect Monica to me. Even if he does find that stupid picture of Monica on the internet. For all he knows, Monica is the Amazon, not me. And we’ll make sure it’s kept that way.”

“Are you going to go back to the penthouse like you said you would tonight?”

“You bet his sweet ass I am.”

“And if he’s there?”

Jennifer got up out of the chair and walked over to the window to look down at the busy streets of Chicago. As she watched the people coming and going on the sidewalks, in buses and cars, heard the muffled sirens and let her eyes drift skyward, she seemed to drift off again.

“Then I cross that bridge when I get to it but he won’t be there. She’s the wrong woman for him. Remember? He wouldn’t dare tarnish his polished reputation by coming within a ten yard radius of the Amazon. Unless it was to engage her as an adversary. He’s not ready to do that yet. He’s still trying to figure things out.”

“But what if he IS?”

Jennifer turned to face Jorge then and saw the worry on the man’s face. Her usual smile faded and she walked over to sit down next to him again. Patting his hand, she reassured him she would be fine.

“He won’t hurt me, Jorge. He owes me. He won’t do anything against me until his debt is paid. Once that’s done, then I’m fair game.”

Jorge thought she was being too nonchalant about it but didn’t say anything.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful, Jen. I promised your folks I’d look after you and I intend to make sure that I do.”

“I know, Jorge. And I love you for that. But I AM a grown woman now and I know my limitations. I won’t do anything foolish. I can’t risk getting caught. And neither can he. Now.”

Jennifer looked over at the television screen that kept replaying home video of the tornado that happened last night. Her brows furrowed and she asked Jorge a question as she looked at the screen.

“Tell me something, Jorge. Does that look like something a man like Wraith would let happen?”

Jorge studied the screen for a moment and furrowed his brows, shaking his head.

“I don’t like where this is going, Jen….”

Jennifer turned her head to look at Jorge, her brows still furrowed. Blinking, she turned on that dazzling smile and patted his hand again.

“It was just a question, Jorge….”

“You forget, I know you. You can’t go snooping around looking for clues as to whether Apex is involved or not. It’s too dangerous for you. You almost didn’t survive the last encounter with that man.”

Jennifer’s smile faded then and she looked back at the screen that had switched to a different news story. Standing back up, she walked over to the window again and this time searched the sky as if she were looking for something in particular.

“I know….but I couldn’t let him use those kids as a shield, Jorge. I may be a thief, but I’m no murderer. And those kids needed me to stand up to him for them. It was far better the school bus fell on me once I slowed it’s descent than let it be crushed by the impact with the ground from as high up as he let it go. Besides…who said anything about Apex?”

“You did, only you didn’t actually say his name. But I know that look and I don’t like it.”

Jennifer laughed softly, the sound filling the large office with merriment. Just then, the intercom buzzed once more. Getting up to walk around the desk, Jennifer hit the button.

“Yes, Abby?”

“Your eleven o’clock board meeting, Miss. Milan.”

Jennifer looked over at Jorge and gave an apologetic smile.

“On my way, Abby.”

As she picked up an executive folder, she walked past Jorge, who was standing now, and pecked his cheek affectionately.

“Don’t worry, Jorge. I know what I’m doing.”

Jorge waited until Jennifer was out of the room before he spoke again.

“That’s what terrifies me the most.”

Wraith scooped up Morgan in his arms and whisked her off the floor as if she were a paper doll. "She's burning up!" he exclaimed, feeling the heat radiating off of her, "We have to move now. Angel, give Cowboy a call and tell him we need a diversion." If anyone could create a diversion it was Cowboy, but when Allie cast him a disappointed look explaining that his phone was out of service, Wraith knew that they would have find another way.

After laying the girl back on the bed Wraith followed Allie's directions to her medicine cabinet and returned with some tylenol. He didn't bother asking if she had anything else in her system, since any extra would only assist in helping to temporarily lower her temperature. Gently raising her head he assisted her with a glass water then instructed her to try and remain calm.

Wraith slowly rose. "I don't have the strength to produce another tornado and even if I could it's an option I'll not use again for some time." He informed her and Mikala, then he looked out where Seizure was sitting, but he couldn't bring himself to throw her into a meat grinder a second time. He placed his hands on hips and stood pensively, his eyes focused on the floor as he considered their options. It dawned on him then that they could follow the sewer lines, if (and it was a big IF) RAID wasn't surveilling them.

"May I use your phone?" Wraith asked Allie as he shot out of the room and made a quick call to the base. He wasn't even sure who he got a hold of but it was all the same to him since all he wanted was someone to email the sewer schematics of the Green Street area to Angels home address. He then poked his head back into the room and requested that Angel access her email so that they could review the sewage system.

It didn't take Wraith long to pick their route. "There it is." he said pointing at the screen, "If we enter at this street we can avoid being seen, but we'll have to travel several blocks underground via indirect tunnels, and I can't be sure how easy the trek will be. We can rig up a stretcher and I'll need someone to help me carry the girl. Unless anyone else has a better idea, I'm open to suggestions."



Totem was pleased as well to learn that Wraith was okay. As annoying as the scientist could be, he was still one of them. He looked to Cowboy, his features illuminated by the golden hues of dawn, the determination and exhilaration evident and knew that all hell was about to break loose. Totem then staggered, and grabbed his temple. "It's Morgan again." he gasped, "The spirits of the animals within me can hear her, but she does not speak with words. Speech means nothing to animals and I can only understand that she and the others are going to try and get back to the base."

As Totem deciphered the message to Cowboy his eyes were changing from beast to beast, until he had to shut them tight and force the thoughts from his mind. "Shit!" he growled, "I thought cell phones were a pain in the ass!" Thankfully, though he learned that he could silence the telepathy by embracing his human side.

"So what does it mean?" Asked Totem, "Why would Morgan direct animals like that?"

Morgan couldn't quite understand why everyone was hovering over her, she only knew that someone had turned up the heat. She kept trying to throw the blanket off of her only to have Mikala or Allie cover her back up and shush her when she would weakly argue with them.

At one point, she had a lucid moment and knew that something was seriously wrong with her and she'd heard Allie say that she couldn't get a hold of Tim. This only threw Morgan into a panic and she would connect with various animals, trying to locate him, not knowing that she was advertantly connecting with Totem's spirit animals as well. When she focused onto a hawk at one point, her feverish state bled through unintentionally connecting to Totem's spirit hawk before she slipped back into her feverish state, losing her connection with the raptor.

Then she would chill, breaking out in cold sweats, shivering so hard Mikala and Allie were afraid her bones would shake out of her body. The infection had taken hold hard and quick, and within an a couple of hours of it starting, she was no longer strong enough to connect with anything and there would be a void felt within Totem's spirit animals.

By then, Allie and Mikala had made a stretcher using a blanket stretched tight between two of her long weight lifting poles and were ready whenever Wraith was. Allie had already updated Seizure and Kekoa and asked Seizure to take care of Shawn whether they came with them or not.