Saber Rider characters belong to their specified animation and branding company. All OCs belong to me. Please don't sue me. I sincerely hope you enjoy this story. This stemmed from a dream I had while sick and taking cough syrup. Please review if you feel so inclined, I appreciate feedback.


Richard then turns around and parks not far from the coffee shop, the previous conversations running through his head as he gets out of his car. His phone chimes as he locks the car and he pulls it from his pocket and looks at it. A text. 'He's here'. Shit. He picks up the pace through the parking lot and enters the shop heading towards the table where he left Cilla. He sees in the corner of his eye another man who seems to have just spotted her and is pointedly headed her direction. "Sorry I'm late, Love," he says as he places a hand on Cilla's shoulder, making her jump. Placing himself pointedly between the man advancing towards Cilla. "My meeting took a bit of a detour. Got here as quick as I could. Are you ready to go?" he asks as she rises and pointedly keeps her gaze from the other man working his way towards her, though he's slowed down his forward motion, trying to act as if he isn't headed her way.

Cilla nods and smiles with obvious relief and they head out together, grateful for the feel of his hand on the small of her back. They reach the car and he helps her in before quickly going to the driver's side and backing out of the parking lot, pulling out a bit too quickly for the ice slicked roads, seeing Robert exit the coffee shop as he pulls out. Cilla grabs the handle on the door and holds on as he struggles to control the car.

Richard lets out an undignified string of swear words as he regains control of the vehicle, watching the mirrors for sign of pursuit. He takes several roads off the main drag to be sure they aren't followed. The silence is almost overbearing when he finally looks to Cilla, who has a death grip on the door and the console and manages a small smile. "Well, that could've gone better. Are you alright?" he asks as he looks to his companion.

Cilla snaps out of her fear induced state, blinking several times before turning her head to look at the man beside her. "I...I am now. I'm...sorry."

"You did nothing wrong, Cilla," he says quietly, casting another glance to each mirror before he looks to her again. "I am glad I was as close as I was."

"So am I," she replies. "Did you notice he wasn't alone?"

Bloody Hell. He immediately slows the car down. "I suspected as much. But my focus was getting to you and getting you away from him as quickly as possible and preferably without making a scene." So who did I not see?

"I'm fairly sure the funny looking man was with him and a woman that looked an awful lot like Fiona Wallace."

Shit. If the general is right and they are connected… Fiona? Why would she be there? "That could be a coincidence," he says hoping she believes him. "But when you say funny looking man, what do you mean?" the dread building once more in his stomach. How could I have missed seeing an Outrider?

"It's hard to explain...he just looked...off. And the vibe I got from him was not good."

At least she has good instincts, though if it was an Outrider, more trouble may be coming. "Let me know if you see him or anyone else like him again, alright?" I should have paid more attention, damn it.

Cilla nods. "I will."

Both are quiet as he drives, not ready to return home. "Is there someplace you'd like to go?" he asks.

"I'm not sure," she replies. "Are you ready to eat? I know it's early, but I'd like to maybe get something to take home to eat?"

He nods, running through a list of possibilities given their present location. "How would you feel about italian? Maybe a bottle of wine to go with it."

She nods. "That sounds nice and relaxing. How did your meeting go anyways? Are classes still on for Monday?"

"Aye, they are. Though I didn't actually make it to the school."

"What? Why?" she asks.

"I met the person I went to meet...on the way to the school. His car ran out of petrol. We wound up talking on the way to the petrol station and the ride back to his car."

"Is everything okay?" she asks noting the vague response and his tense body language.

"Not really," he says flatly. "An investigator has been looking for you. He was hoping I could reach you to get you to agree to talk to him."

"Me? Why?"

"The explosion was not accidental, Cilla," he says so quietly she almost doesn't hear him. Her gasp lets him know she does, as does the tremble in her hand on the console. He reaches over and covers her hand with his in a show of support. "He will be coming to our place this afternoon. I can stay with you while you speak to him, or I'll go into the bedroom, if you'd prefer."

Our place? "Stay. Please." she whispers. Don't leave me alone with a stranger.

He gently squeezes her hand as he makes another turn. "I'll stay," he says firmly. "I will not leave you alone."

"Thank you," she says quietly as he pulls into a parking lot of a small building that looks like a house.

"So, what should we get? They have a good wood-fired pizza, or something more traditional?"

"Pizza would be different. I've never had wood-fired before."

He nods and gets out, coming around to help her out. She moves slower than before he notes and he offers his arm for support. "You should take something when we eat," he states as they make their way to the entrance and enter the dimly lit building.

"Not if I want wine," she replies subdued, obviously in pain.

He casts her a concerned glance as the hostess approaches.

"Hello, table for two?" she asks.

"We'd like to order food to go, if we could."

She looks between the two of them and nods. "Of course, Sir. Do you need a menu?" she asks as she holds one out.

He takes it and after glancing briefly at he it looks to Cilla. "One with everything?" she nods and he turns his attention to the hostess once more. "We'd like a large house pizza. And a bottle of your best chilled red wine, please."

The hostess jots down the order and smiles. "It'll be about fifteen minutes. Feel free to have a seat at one of the front tables. I could get you an appetizer while you wait."

"That would be lovely," Cilla replies as they make their way to the nearest table.