The Stranger
"Next stop – Second Earth." Mark had just finished reading Bobby's journal out loud to Courtney. Mark was so excited! He was going to see Bobby for the first time in a long while. But what would he be like? Mark wondered. How tall we he be? Will he be covered in scratches, and will his hair look like he hasn't brushed it in days? But Mark tried to forget about it. The more he thought about it, the more eager he would be to meet Bobby.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Hold on," he said to Courtney. Mark tried to calm down and went to open the door. A boy about his age was there, wearing sunglasses. His skin was extremely tan, and his hair was a brown- blackish color. "How can I help you?" Mark said, confused at who this person was.
The boy replied, "Hobey ho, we're in a mighty tum tigger if you don't remember me."
"Bobby!" Mark shouted in amazement.
"How'd you guess?" Bobby commented sarcastically. "I have to disguise myself so people won't be able to recognize me. I don't wanna have people bombarding me with questions."
"Who is it?" Courtney yelled from the living room. Bobby, recognizing the voice, blushed as Courtney came into view. She stood right in front of him, held his face in her hands, and pulled it close to her, giving him a big smack on the lips. Bobby turned even redder. "What took you so long?" Courtney put her hands on her hips.
"Oh, the usual," he replied. "Saving people, giant cats, fighting Saint Dane…the usual. I'll be here for the summer, you guys. After that…it's back to hero work."
Half the summer went by well for Bobby; it was the best summer he ever had in his life. The three of them went to the beach a couple of times, (with Courtney wearing her pink bikini) then went to the Ave for some of the day. Mark updated him with what was going on with the world, like the war going on in Iraq that has been raging for a couple of years. But mostly, Bobby shared some extra details in his previous adventures.
But Bobby always saw someone strange whenever at the Ave. He always seemed to see an extraordinary girl about his height. Her long, silky brown hair was always tied in two braids. Her skin was about as tan as Loor's. Their eyes would occasionally meet, and a tingle would go up Bobby's spine. But he knew he couldn't cheat on Courtney. Finally, when he went to the Ave alone, he saw her again and decided that he could befriend her. "Hi," he said, as he came up to her. "You live near here?"
"Hey, Bobby," the girl, to Bobby's surprise, responded.
"Do I know you?"
"You will, soon enough. But I know you. Press Tilton showed me your picture. I'm Candina, the traveler from Ibara."
"The traveler from where?"
"Ibara. It's a territory that doesn't have any turning points yet – one that Saint Dane has not yet targeted. The traveler from First Earth, Gunny, I believe his name was, told me that there was a turning point in your territory."
Suddenly the thought struck Bobby. He remembered Mark mentioning a war going on in Iraq. That must be the turning point. He needed to find out more information from Mark about the war. "Come with me," Bobby demanded after telling her his suspicions about the turning point. "We have to find more information about the war. And I know just who to ask."
"Who?" Candina questioned.
"Oh, it's just a friend of mine. His name is Patrick, and he's the traveler from Third Earth."