It is not horribly sad to think that when I began this little story to now, our dear show has been cancelled! Without so much as a decent wrap-up to end the show! I need to stop liking shows; it only seems to get them cancelled. But I hope this chapter, though terribly late in coming, finds you well. I hate that I am often so busy it is difficult to write as diligently as I want to for you all! But we must make do. I hope another chapter will soon follow this one. Hope to hear from you, my loyal dears! Stay tuned and stay flaming!


Kara sat physically still in the hard chair, but her mind was in different place every second, searching desperately for answers. Her blue eyes drifted over the unconscious form of Doctor Holiday. Her friend, one of few, who now lay in the infirmary because of her.

The continual beeping of the monitor was music to her ears. Kara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, regretting it as pain shot through her ribs, even worse than the pounding in her head.

She bit her lip as she fought tears. Her instincts had told her not to accept Providence's invitation. Why had she not listened? Look at what it had cost them.

The screen that showed improving vitals helped to ease her worry, but not her guilt. She had brought the disastrous attack on them. This, she knew all too well, even if they did not. She had thought she had left her skeletons in her closet back home, but they had broken out and followed her.

She focused on Holiday's face. Minor cuts and an ugly bruise above her right eyebrow still marred her beauty. But she was recovering and no longer in critical condition. There was no reason for Kara to stay. Remaining there any longer would put all of them at further risk. She had to leave, and quickly.

She rose and stepped up to the white bed. She picked up Holiday's hand and held it with both of hers under her chin. "Please come out of this," she whispered, her closed eyes moist, "I wouldn't be able to-I can't lose someone else to an endless sleep."

Opening her eyes, she took another long look at her friend's face, resolve steeling in her heart. "I'm going to ensure this does not happen to anyone else. Get well, and don't worry about me. I have nothing to lose."

She gently set the limp hand back onto the bed. Once the door slid open with a soft whoosh, Kara glanced to either side down the hallway, then expertly maneuvered through the whole part of the building, sometimes having to backtrack to avoid agents. She was not terribly concerned with the agents seeing her as she was word getting to Rex. The last thing she needed was him on her heels while she tried to fix this. She made it to her room and packed up the few personal things she had brought. She decided to leave all the research and equipment she had brought behind. They could do more good with it than she.

She left her room cleaner than she had found it and took another path through the building, staying near the damaged side. She consider leaving Rex a note, but she decided against it. She figured he would take, "I AM GOING HOME. DO NOT FOLLOW ME. I AM SERIOUS" as "Hey, I'm going home. You should probably follow me. I wouldn't mind."

She reached the garage and began searching for her motorcycle. It was more of a street bike, built by her father-with her assistance, of course. A sleek black, with purple highlights, and accented with glistening chrome. She was quite in love with it. It had taken some convincing for Providence to allow her to bring it, but there was not a chance she was going to leave it outside her building while she was gone. Not only was it a sick ride-as Rex would say-it held sentimental value for her. Her dad had also made another for her cousin, who had modified it with handsome applications and advanced technology, much to the envy of every young man in her town. Kara did not ride hers often through the city, and when she did, she did not go far.

Back home, she rented a very small apartment on the top floor of an old garage. The owner charged her very little, and she returned the favor by upgrading the technology in his equipment personally. The hotel she worked for was kind enough to provide most of her meals. Most people in situations like hers did not want services and kindness that people offered them out of pity and sympathy. But she knew better than to reject true kindness, no matter the reason. Without it, she never would have survived.

All these reflections came to her mind and she mounted and rode from Providence into the vast desert. Clouds were beginning to veil the sun. The stark blue sky came to meet the orange barren earth in a simmering horizon. The day was hot, but the wind she was cutting through at sixty miles per hour helped to cool her. She hoped desperately that she could reach the main highway before Rex caught sight of her dust trail in the air.

Holiday's still form was in the forefront of her mind as she rode. Guilt consumed her stomach and she frequently had to fight a surge of tears.

She hated to do this on her own. She had just made genuine friends for crying out loud! Most people-normal people-heavily relied on their companions to help them through the trials of life. That was a luxury that she had never been able to afford. Or risk. It was just not safe to be acquainted with her, as proven by the attack on Providence. Her past was a looming shadow that posed a threat to anyone who came within reach.

She was dangerous and her past unrelenting.

This is what forced her from Providence, her sanctuary, her friends. She loved those there too much to bring more destruction down upon them. This was a task she had to face alone.

She bit her lip. Always alone.


Rex marched around in circles, wearing out the floor of his room. His thoughts were flying from the bombing, to Holiday, to his suspicions about Kara, without a sensible answer to any of his questions. The bombing seemed to really freak Kara out, in a weird way, he thought. She was hiding something from them, but he had no clue what it could be. Was she a double agent? Working for whoever bombed Providence?

Why had she not told him what was bothering her yet? Confided in him? Were they not friends? He had taken her out for burritos, for crying out loud! That meant they were on some friendship level that warranted secrets to be spilled about weird bracelets, EVO mind-control, and unexplained explosions, right?

He sighed and flopped back onto his bed. His head hurt. Friendship with this girl was seriously too complicated. He did not want to barge into her room and ask her point blank. What good would that do? If she were innocent like he hoped, it would probably offend her and then she would know he did not completely trust her. But if she were guilty and double agent or something, she would just attack him or run or...

Man! Why was this so hard?

The last he had seen her was the day before, just after they had rushed Dr. Holiday to the infirmary. He, Kara, and Six had stayed while some other doctor they had rounded up examined and treated her. After the doctor left, it was only a matter of minutes before Kara had told them she was retiring to her room, saying the fight had aggravated her bruised ribs.

A few minutes after the door had slid closed behind her, Rex had lifted his eyes from the floor and noticed Six was watching the door. "Rex..." the agent had said cautiously after a moment. "About Kara.."

"I don't know, Six..." Rex had sighed and put his head in his hands. "I just don't know."

Not much had changed since then. He still had no idea what to do. Normally he would ask Holiday for social advice, but he would not be able to talk to her for at least a few days. Agent Six was the last person to ask about relations. The thought actually made him chuckle amidst his stress.

The door to his room slid open with a whoosh, startling Rex. In strolled Bobo Haha, carrying a bowl of grapes. Throwing the fruit individually into his mouth, the ape plopped down in the middle of the floor, picking up a game controller with his feet. Rex stared at him, extending his arms. "Hey! Where were you yesterday?"

Bobo ignored him for a second. "Yesterday when?"

"Uh, yesterday when our building was being blown up!"

"Oh, yeah. I heard about that."

"Where were you?" Rex shouted.

"None ya."

"None ya?"

"None ya business."

Rex threw up his hands. "Ugh!" He stomped out of the room, sticking his tongue out at his friend as the door shut.

As he marched down the hall, he realized he had no destination in mind. A lot of his favorite places to chill, such as the cafeteria and break room, had been damaged in the explosion.

Maybe he could go to Kara's room and say he just came to check on her. Which actually was true. Though he was also checking on her allegiance.

He made his way down the halls, mentally debating what he should say. He wanted to sound natural. When he finally looked up from his thoughts, he found himself staring at the door to Kara's room. With a stomach full of lead, Rex forced his knuckles against the metal. The sound of his knock faded, and he heard nothing from the other side of the door. He pressed his ear closer. Nothing. He knocked again. Kara was not one to be so engrossed in something that she would not notice a knock on her door. She was cautious, a bit paranoid. Like him. One trait they had in common, then.

"Kara? You in there?"

Silence.

A hint of worry tugged at Rex's mind. "Kara? I just came to check on you. How are you feeling?"

More stupid silence.

"You want to play some Swift Shift?"

Something was definitely wrong. She would never decline a chance to beat him at their favorite game.

He glanced down either sides of the hall, saw no one, then set his hand against the door, putting his nanites to work. The door opened. The room was dark, quiet. Rex's brow dropped. So where was Kara? If not here, then where? He stepped inside, turned on the lights, and looked around, just in case. "Kara? Hey, Kara. You here?" There was no sign of her anywhere. It did not even look like she had ever been there at all.

For a moment, Rex debated whether he was in the right room, but he knew he was. And that meant Kara was gone. Not just absent from the room. Gone.

He huffed and ran his fingers through his hair. He wanted to believe Kara was innocent, but she was doing nothing to convince him! First, she was so secretive about herself. Second, she was suspiciously shaken by the attack on Providence. And now, she just leaves! Disappears! Without so much as a note!

He spun on his heel and marched out of the room, down the hall, muttering under his breath all the while. Whenever he passed another agent, he asked if they had seen Kara. No one had. Rex headed straight for the infirmary and found Holiday's room. The cold metal door slid aside to reveal his favorite doctor still lying unconscious and Agent Six sitting in a chair beside her bed. The trim agent stood, his emotions hidden by the dark panes over his eyes.

Rex barged in. "Have you seen Kara around?"

Six did not so much as flinch at the frustration in Rex's voice. "Not since yesterday."

Rex crossed his arms and turned to the window on his right. "I can't find her. No one has seen her."

"You think she left?"

"Looks like it."

It was quiet for a moment. Finally, Six asked, "Are you still suspicious of her?"

Rex nodded but did not turn, his eyes drifting over the desert landscape. "I need answers."

"We all do. Are you going after her?"

Rex looked back at the man, his brow bent. "How? I don't even know where she went."

Six said nothing, only nodded his head toward the window. Rex turned back to the glass. "The western horizon," Six said.

Rex's eyes moved where instructed. At first he noticed nothing, but with focus he noticed a faint dust cloud rising above the desert. "Kara," he breathed.

He spun around. Six's shades were on him. "Go. I'll cover for you."

Rex glanced at Holiday and then nodded, heading for the door when Six's voice stopped him.

"Rex."

The teenager turned, his dark eyes on the man who was almost as much a mystery as Kara.

"Come back with answers."

Rex nodded again, determination cementing in his mind. He left the room and ran down the halls. Oh, he was going to come back with answers all right. Even if it meant he would have to buy all the burritos on the planet. He was getting answers.