"Rise and Shine." Nat smiled knocking on the door to the mallrats house.

"What is going on?" Lex replied grumpily opening up the door to look at Nat.

"You guys better get up for breakfast or all the food will be gone." Nat smiled.

"Right then." Lex said practically sprinting out of the house. The rest of the mall rats soon fallowed.

Nat lead them to a small area filled with picnic tables. The food was set out like a buffet. Fresh eggs and orange juice where set out. A large tarp was covering the table from the piercing sun. The mallrats sat together in one of the longer table.

"This is so weird." Trudy commented.

"How so?" Amber asked giving Baby Bray some food.

"Everything is almost like it was before the virus; the decorated houses, the food. It's kind of nice." Trudy explained.

"So what's suppose to happen today?" Salene asked.

"I guess we meet with the leaders." Amber shrugged.

"There's Ved." Jay said looking up. Amber looked over to Ved. He was standing next to Lana whispering something in her ear. Lana seemed to be angry with him and they where arguing. Finally Ved sighed and shook his head; it seemed that Lana won the argument. He quickly glanced towards Jay but walked away.

"Give it time." Amber said gently rubbing Jays back. Lana walked over to them.

"Whenever you guys finish walk over to the meeting house so we can talk properly." Lana said softly.

"Sure, we'll be there in a few minutes." Jay answered.

Lana walked away to find Vaughn waiting close by. They walked back to the house and waited for the mallrats.

"So what the story with those two?" Slade asked.

"Not sure yet." Amber shrugged.

"Lets hope their trust worthy." Ebony said sounding doubtful.

-----------------------------------

"So can we trust them?" Vaughn asked Lana fallowing into the court room.

"I guess we'll see." Lana breathed. "From what Ved told me the only ones we need to watch for in a girl named Ebony, Ram and maybe someone named Lex."

The sound of Nat walking into the room disrupted them. "Hello." Nat greeted them.

"Hey." Lana smiled. "Any luck fixing the windmills?"

"Not really it would help if I someone who knew what was going on." Nat said taking a seat on one of the small oak benches. The building was meant to be a church but it was now used as a meeting/court room.

"It must be rough being the only genius. Surrounded by us simple minded people" Lana joked.

"Yes, yes it is." Nat smiled.

"One of the new comers can help. If their going to stay they need to find a place just like everyone else." Vaughn suggested.

"Hello." Lex smiled as he led the mallrats into the meeting room.

"Good you're here, all we need is Ved." Nat said.

"Where is Ved." Jay asked.

"He'll be here." Lana said looking towards the door. "Have a seat." Lana motioned to the first rows in the meeting hall. He Vaughn and Nat walked t the front and sat behind a long wooden table. They waited in silence for several seconds before Ved walked in the back.

"Glade to have you join us." Vaughn replied.

"Like I had a choice. Ved mumbled looking to Lana. Lana raised her eyebrows as Ved sat between her and Vaughn. Nat sat to the other side of Lana.

"So lets get started." Vaughn said. "We know how you got here, all we ant to know what your plan is."

"We have no plan. Honestly." Amber replied.

"Can we stay here?" May asked. Ebony looked cross as Ram tried to hide behind Slade.

"Look we have no other place to go. We also have children with us and an injured girl." Slade finally spoke.

"We have rules. Everyone must earn their keep." Lana said. Ved stared forwards looking past the mallrats and into another time. He wanted to be anywhere but here in a room with Ram and Jay.

"We understand. We will work hard." Ellie said.

"So now we must place you." Nat spoke.

"Place us? Ebony asked.

"Yeah, we give you something to do that will of greatest use to the family." Lana explained.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. I am not going to let you four tell me what I will be doing." Ebony demanded standing up.

"Then you will be sent away to face the dangerous of the forest. And I how ever tough you think you are you will not survive the night." Lana said standing up and leaning over the table. "You pull your own weight ar you don't stay. It's as simple as that."

The mallrats lookedto Lana with awe. Never has anyone stood up to Ebony like that before with out getting a protest but noticing the fire in Lana eyes Ebony sat down, or was rather pulled down by Slade. "Keep cool." He demanded.

"Amber! Vaughn ordered. "What are each of your tribe mates strengths?"

"Well, Slade, Jay, Lex and Ebony are amazing fighters." Amber pointed out.

"Great you can join Vaughn on patrols." Nat concluded.

"Anyone else?" Vaughn asked.

"Well I'm good with kids and cooking." Salene said.

"Yeah me too." Trudy smiled.

"Great I'll take you to Dreamer she'll know what to do with you." Lana smiled.

"I grew up on a farm." Ellie shrugged.

"Do you mind working in the fields with me. It's hard to find anyone willing to work." Lana asked.

"I'd love too. I've missed the farm so much since I left." Ellie beamed.

"What about you two?" Vaughn said pointing to Jack and Ram.

"Who us?" Jack asked pointing back and forth between him and Ram.

"Yes the odd looking one and the ex techno leader." Vaughn replied.

"You know about me?" Ram said looking up behind Slade.

"Yes, we know all about you and Mega. And your computer program." Vaughn answered.

"Well, their both brilliant with computers." Jay interrupted before things got heated.

"Then both of you will work with Nat. He's been having trouble with our power supplies." Vaughn said seriously. "And what about you, Amber?"

"I would like to stay close to my son." Amber answered.

"I'm sure we can find something for you close to the houses." Lana smiled.

"Just so you all know, all of you are on a probationary period. So watch yourselves." Vaughn said seriously before walking out of the meeting room.