Taro nudged the kitten behind her ears and she purred and nuzzled his hand. After cleaning off the motor oil, the former Osaka racing star had discovered the kitten was a white female with gray patches.

After giving the kitten tuna fish and warm milk as everyone kept suggesting, Taro knew he would never get rid of her. He wondered vaguely if he should think of a better name than Angie had given her. And furthermore, could he even keep her? As cute as she was, getting attached probably wasn't a great idea.

"Mew!" The kitten batted at a shoelace Taro dangled in front of her with her little baby paws. She jumped and twisted in the air just as Taro pulled the shoelace out of reach.

In a strange way the name did suit her. Yeah. He'd call her Manny.

"Well, now I know you have a heart," said a warm voice, "because I can see it melting."

He glanced at Karma, then back to his kitty, and smiled. "Do you think the base allows pets?"

"Fury said no one gets out. I'd have to assume that goes for animals too."

Karma rubbed under the kitten's chin, and she purred. "Besides, who could say no to that fuzzy face? Oh, what big green eyes! Have you decided on a name yet?"

"I'm gonna stick with Manny."

"Mew!"

"Aww, she likes it!" Karma chuckled and picked up the kitten, holding her to her chest. "Little sweetie! Who's my fuzzy baby? You are! Yes you are!"

Taro pretended to sulk. "I thought I was your fuzzy baby." For a moment, he and Karma just stared at each other, but finally they smiled.

"You missed a show in the garage," Karma said when she had stopped laughing. She told him about Angie Halloran's freak out—the things he did, the threats he made—and how Mikki had saved the day. It was one crazy story, but Karma demanded it was absolutely true. Angie had used his own life as a bargaining chip to stay at the base.

"Wow."

"I can't believe he almost threw it all away like that. You could see it on his face, Taro. He was completely prepared to end his life just to stay here."

"Why were they trying to take him away?"

"I only caught the tail end of what Tezla was saying so there was probably more to the story—" for a moment, Karma hesitated—"but it sounded like Angie got into some legal trouble when he was younger and isn't supposed to be driving. They seemed pretty angry about what he did to you in the realm, too."

Taro raised his eyebrows. "So we're stuck with him? Great." And now we wouldn't get the chance to beat him in a fair race. He glowered.

"Mew! Meewww!"

Manny twisted out of Karma's grasp and leapt onto Taro's head. Taro was startled, but didn't bother to try to pull her off. He sighed. Karma rolled her eyes.

"I'll get some more tuna fish."

When Fury returned from the Hulk debacle that next morning, he was livid. How had those would be assassins gotten into his backyard? But one positive side effect was that Dr. Tezla was no longer required to work with snotty human interns. An X-AD8 unit was located and, much to the doctor's delight, Gig's backup memory files were uploaded into it.

Time passed like so many jumping spiders, and soon it had been almost two weeks they were in the base. Mel regained her voice after only a day, her shredded vocal chords repairing themselves with superhuman swiftness. Dan recovered from his wounds rather quickly as well; by the ninth day, he was walking around as if nothing had happened and the medical staff promised he could drive in three days time.

Vert's apologies to Nona were still in vain, it seemed, but her temper was cooling off a bit. Tork and Krakatoa were still getting into their little playground arguments but they managed to keep a lid on the physical violence, so far.

One realm was opened every other day, to keep the drivers rested and their vehicles tuned. Dropkick was totaled in the Lava Realm, and Mel built a new machine after that; a supercharged Ford she christened R!OT GRRRL. And as soon as he had full range of motion back, Dan started working on a new car, too, which he called Sidedraft II after the car that got him through the World Race.

But as all this happened around him, Angie was stuck in the garage. He tuned and detailed Morrison, putting a new wizard mural on the side. He helped out the other Lost & Found when they asked, he cat-sat while Taro was in the realms, he cleaned his own room and the common rooms until he saw his reflection I every surface. All of this, and he still had time to compose an entire rock opera.

Needless to say, the little drummer boy was restless. Angie understood why he wasn't supposed to drive—the brass was just protecting the other drivers—and he knew why he couldn't leave—what if he revealed their operations and someone actually believed him? But he didn't like it. Even with his medication he was going stir crazy. He had serious cabin fever but at least he couldn't hear Cecilia or Devinn anymore.

It was strange; Angie had taken his medication shortly before entering the Realm of Eternal Night. He had not skipped a single dose, or even been late taking it, but still the voices called to him. He supposed it must have been the adrenaline rush that burned through all the sedatives and made him behave in such a way. It was for the best that he could not get behind the wheel.

But even if he knew it was for the best, Angie still did not enjoy being all cooped up.

Abigail Brand had been there the day before to see if Tezla had learned anything more about the Accelerons and now Fury was there for a few hours checking on the drivers. As the debriefing on the previous realm concluded the drivers filed out of the meeting room, but Angie lagged behind.

"This sucks," said Angie, deciding to be honest. "I can't drive, I can't go back to the city, and I haven't seen the sky in twelve damn nights. I'm cracking up, man! I need fresh air. At least the others get to use the on-base chapel."

Fury blinked—winked, really, since he only had one eye. "Pardon me fer soundin' ignorant, kid, but what does one have to do with the other?"

"I'm a Wiccan," Angie said sheepishly. "Tonight I was going to sing out to Konshu."

And much to Angie's surprise, the world's most adept spy nodded in understanding. "Ancient Egyptian moon god, right? Good for you."

"Huh? Are you a follower?"

"No, but I know a guy what wears a cape and calls himself the Moon Knight." Fury put a gruff hand on the drummer's shoulder. "Listen, the base ain't just this building here. We got miles o' desert around us; long as you don't go past the electric fence, I don't see no reason why you can't at least go outside."

Angie's eyes widened and he hugged Col. Fury, who had to fight back his instincts to shoot the boy. Fury forced a smile and patted him on the back before the little drummer boy skipped away. Shaking his head, Col. Fury voiced his thoughts aloud.

"Nutty as a fuckin' squirrel."

Angie caught up to his best friend, the Gothic Wheeler.

"Mikki Mikki Mikki!!!" he cried, practically tackling him to the floor in glee. "Col. Fury says we can go outside and play tonight!"

"So?"

"So the moon's risin' in 45 minutes, Mikki-mouse. Shake a tail feather. Let's roll!"

Realization dawned on the blonde's face. "It's the full moon?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!"

Vert narrowed his eyes and wagged his finger in mock disapproval. "Mikki, Dad said, 'no ritual animal sacrifices.'"

Mikki rolled his eyes and dramatically raised a scarred wrist to his forehead. "Aye, me, for I am so misunderstood." Mikki took a moment to stick out his tongue before turning to Angie. "C'mon, little drummer boy. I'll help you lug the altar."

"Konshu will be most pleased with us this night."

Alec muttered to Dan and Banjee. "Told ya they were weird."

"Yeah, and you weren't kidding." Banjee shook his head. Pagan worship was not only something he did not understand, but something he deeply disagreed with. "Que loco. They're messing with forces they don't understand. Who knows what could happen."

Dan raised his eyebrows. "Never realized you were so superstitious, Banjee."

"A basket case and some Goth freak sacrificing animals to who knows what demon in Hell just doesn't sit well with me."

"If it bothers you so much, I'll go keep an eye on the," Dan volunteered. "Who knows? I might learn something."

Dan waved goodbye in spite of Banjee's protests and warnings and leisurely followed after Angie and Mikki.