A/N: Hi all! Boom-Rhapsody Reporting! well I love the Tribe on Wam! (which i don't own) and I decided to try out a fic! this is OC/OC, and I'm trying to stick to the episodes for as long as I can. After all, there are only five seasons! well, I'd Apreciate reviews/comments/whatever you

Post-Anything

Part One: Before the Sail

Chapter One: Drifter...?

Ruby stood behind the bar, rubbing the top down to polish it. She hummed as she worked, enjoying the warmth of the sunrise. Liberty was still sleeping, but she was always up in the earliest hours. She went back to the kitchen to check on what food they had, and saw that the stores were full and she would not have to go to the market anytime soon, thankfully.

Ruby walked back out to the bar and sighed. Things were so quiet at this time of day; even the upstairs wasn't showing any sings or sounds of activity. She settled on trying to go back to bed, but instead began to think about the occupants of the hotel.

Slade of course was here, he had become a permanent resident. And his friend, Gabe, or Ram, as Ruby had come to find out, was there as well. Another, Lex, was at the hotel, under lock and keep, after trying to attack and surely kill Ram. Ruby wouldn't have cared, once she had found out that Ram was the creator of Paradise. She despised

technology; too many people had been harmed by it.

Ruby was about to head upstairs when she heard someone outside step onto the front porch of the hotel. Stiffening, Ruby reached down and grabbed the closest bottle.

The large saloon doors swung on their hinges and in came a girl. Ruby blinked as she quickly looked the figure up and down. Her snow-blonde hair fell layered just above her shoulders, swishing gently as her head turned and her eyes took in everything. Her skin was pale. Her clothing was primarily blue; her stomach showing for her shirt didn't reach past her belly button. She was also carrying a shoulder bag that seemed about to burst.

Icy teal eyes darted around, finally coming to rest on Ruby. Ruby straightened up her posture as best as she possibly could.

"What do you want?" Ruby asked; "It's really early, I don't normally see people until ten."

The girl walked cautiously over, and stood in front of Ruby, not making eyes contact; "I…" she began, quietly; "I was wondering if… if you could spare a room, for a few days… I won't be here long, just enough time for a rest…" she finally looked up at Ruby, with questioning eyes.

Ruby was silent as she thought it through. Sure, the girl seemed harmless enough, but Ruby had been through a lot. And she had learned one valuable thing—nothing was what it seemed.

"I don't know if I have any," Ruby said, "Perhaps there's another place you could stay?" She'd just send trouble elsewhere.

The girl shook her head; "I'm very tired," she admitted, "I've… been wandering around for ages. I… I haven't been to any form of civilization until the Technos lost their power…" she grew quiet; apparently the subject was a tender one.

"What's your name?" Ruby asked after a moment of silence.

"Amerie," the girl said; "Please, I'll only be around for a couple of days, a week at most."

"Well," Ruby said, pondering the thought. Her heartstrings were pulled towards the girl; she would have to give in just this once. Her hardened soul gave in. "Lemme go check on something, I'll be back in a second…"

Ruby went up the stairs, and headed for a familiar room. She opened it, but only frowned. Slade was not in his bed, he'd left already. Sighing, Ruby went back down stairs, too find Amerie looking around the saloon with eyes glittering with curiosity.

"Well, I've got a room!" Ruby said, snapping Amerie out of her reverie; "Come on, I'll show you to it."

Amerie followed Ruby up the steps. Ruby opened the door to the room. It was primarily blue and green, with light-tanned furniture and a futon couch off to the side.

"Thank-you," Amerie said quietly, looking at Ruby.

"Don't mention it," Ruby said.

Ruby left Amerie to unpack and went down to the bar. She resumed cleaning it, but then she heard Ram come down the steps, without his crutches. "Mornin', Ram," Ruby said.

"G'morning, Ruby," Ram replied, sitting down at the bar; "What's for breakfast?"

"The usual," Ruby said, stopping to look him up and down; "You're up to something," she said suspiciously.

"What? Me? No!" Ram mock gasped before chuckling; "I was just noticing how there seems to be less space here… someone new in our midst?"

"Yeah, but she's just a drifter," Ruby said; "My heart went out to her though… her eyes were filled with so much pain…"

"Ah, but Rubes, we're all filled with pain to some extent," Ram said; "She is as you said, just a drifter. Um, how long with she be staying?" he asked.

"Couple of days," Ruby replied. She was about to continue, when Darryl and Lex came down, both yawning and acting as though their limbs were led weights. Ruby giggled at the two, then rolled her eyes.

"I'll go get breakfast started," Ruby said, then she went to the kitchen.

Darryl and Lex sat down at the bar, Darryl between the two enemies. "There's a new girl in town," Ram said; "Ruby's renting out the spare room."

"Really now?" Darryl asked; "Hmm, wondered who was in the room beside me…"

"Probably just another drifter," Lex said nonchalantly.

"That's what Ruby said," Ram said decisively, "But I think there's more to this 'drifter' business."

"Come on, I bet Ruby hasn't left Liberty, who would she know on the outside?" Lex scoffed.

"No one," Ruby said from around the kitchen door; "She's just some poor lost kid who needed some rest."

"Sure she is," Ram muttered, idly twiddling his thumbs.

"Paranoid," Darryl muttered back, rolling his eyes.

After breakfast, the three young men contented in themselves to sit out on the front porch, watching as the city came to life.

"There is nothing going on," Darryl groaned, resting his head in his hands.

"Tell me about it," Lex said, sitting down on the steps.

Ram sighed; "Well, I think I'll just retire to my room. Lots of work to do!" he then whistled as he went about his way.

Lex watched as Slade rode up on his motorbike. The tall, tawny young man got off and removed his helmet. Lex said; "So, where you been?"

"Around," Slade said; "Why? Something the matter, Lex?" he asked with mock worry.

"No, just that there's someone new in this place," Darryl said; "Some drifter chick."

"Well, have either of you seen her?" Slade asked. Why would Ruby let a drifter stay here? Slade thought. They could be trouble!

"Hey, Ruby seems to trust her enough," Lex said; "After all, she did let her stay."

"Well where is this drifter?" Slade asked, walking into the saloon. Lex and Darryl followed.

"Up in her room, I guess," Darryl said.

"Ruby!" Slade shouted, walking to the kitchen door. Ruby poked her head around it, and Slade said; "What's this I hear about a drifter?"

Ruby rolled her eyes; "God is it that big of a deal?" she asked; "She's just a kid who needed some rest! I checked her out before I let her stay!"

Slade leaned in closer and whispered; "She could be a spy, from the City."

"And what would she spy on, Slade?" Ruby whispered back; "How I cook the omelets around here?" she snorted; "This business has gone to your head;" saying that she went back into the kitchen.

Ebony yawned as she woke up. Looking out the window, she knew breakfast was over by the position of the sun. Getting up she gathered her bathing supplies, and her clothes. She began to head for the communal bath, but saw that someone was already in there. There was no water, but she could hear singing, and an occasional clicking sound.

"Hello?" Ebony asked cautiously, tapping on the door; "Who's in there?"

The door opened and Ebony stepped back. The stranger in turn stepped back as well. "Who are you?" Ebony asked.

"I-I'm Amerie," the stranger said. She had been putting on tribal markings, the clicking sounds having been when the makeup containers would hit the counter. It appeared she had a white cross on her left cheek, and some plain eye shadow on. Nothing much else was there.

"Ebony," Ebony finally said, holding out her hand. Nervously, Amerie shook it, but pulled away quickly.

"Sorry," she said quietly, before darting off into her room. She slowly closed the door behind her, and Ebony watched with fascination.

"Weird, that one," Ebony finally muttered, shaking her head before she went into the bathroom.

Amerie finished her cross on the side of her face, and then added her eyeliner that made her eyes stand out. She finally looked at herself in the mirror. Nearly four years, and she was no where closer to finding out any news of anyone she once knew than when they had first been separated. Sighing sadly, she put on her boots, and then walked out of her room. She walked down to the steps, but stopped when she heard laughter and talking. Hearing a certain voice sparked a fire in her that had been extinguished long ago. Slowly, she slipped down the stairs, not a sound being made, and peered around the corner. At the bar, she saw him…

"Ram!" Amerie shouted, suddenly jumping out of her hiding place and spooking everyone.

Amerie made a run for the ex-Techno leader, but was stopped and held back by Slade and Lex. She fought to get out of their grasp, even managed to get free at one point, But Slade pinned her arms back behind her and she stopped.

Ram had jumped from his seat and backed to the farthest wall. But when Amerie was held he smirked, walking a little closer. Amerie lunged for him again, but Ram quickly stepped back.

"Where are they?" Amerie asked loudly; "Where'd you send them?"

TBC

A/N: well, my first attempt at a tribe fic! i'm US -born but I absolutely love the show. if I make any mistakes now or in the futur, please please please alert me. well, until next time!---BR