Mallory sat at her desk in the abandoned lab in the forest. She had fixed it up to the point where she could start bringing things in and rearranging the place to suit her needs. At that moment she was sketching out the design of a mechanical horse. Her thoughts were jumbled as she thought over the past week's events.

First, Neil was attacked by a monochrome clown. Then he was kidnapped by that pale-ass bastard that attacked me on orders of a tall, pure white, faceless man in a dress suit. I had Mayhem and Maniac take out my S-Chemical and I almost lost control. What would have happened if I-

A knock sounded form the lab door and Mallory looked up from her blueprints. "I guess Neil's here." she set down her pencil and stood up making her way to the door and sliding it open. Neil stood there, looking up at her with his big blue eyes, a smile on his face. "Hey Mallory! Whatcha doing?" Mallory stepped off to the side so he could come in. Neil waved to Mayhem and Maniac who laid on a table in their charging stations. Mayhem gave a nod back while Maniac gave him a hello. "I'm making blueprints."

"For what?"

"A horse." Mallory made her way back to the desk and sat down, patting the chair next to her. Neil walked over and climbed into the chair looking at the table. "Why are you making a horse?" Mallory chuckled as she picked up her pencil. "I just thought it would be fun."

"So you science for fun?"

"I create for fun. I love building things and making things and just thinking. Puzzles and riddles. Books, cleverness. It's just a part of me. It always has been."

Neil smiled at her words. He remembered when Mallory had shown up the first month. She was mostly quiet, still nice but seemed distant and cold. Now she was more open with him and Henry. Seemed more herself and it made him rather happy. He felt like he was learning more and more about her everyday, and that he knew her very well. But he wondered why she had become the Wanderer. Why she didn't seem to have any parents. He wondered if she had any family at all These questions had been forming in the back of his mind for almost two months now. He felt like it was about time to ask her his questions since he had waited for so long. "Hey Mallory?" Mallory looked at him. "Yes?" Neil tapped his finger on the table wondering if he should really ask. "Well...You've been here for awhile now and I've gotten to know you some. But I do have some questions. Will you be mad if I asked them?" he looked up to meet Mallory's calculating eyes. They flickered in the light and she just stared at him before taking a deep breath and letting out a heavy sigh. "I suppose it isn't the worst idea ever. But I do have a question of my own that I've been wanting to ask you." Neil adjusted in his seat. "You can ask yours first. Mine might take a bit longer."

"Why aren't you in school? It's winter and yet you're still at home all day." Neil smiled. "It's because I have to take care of grandpa. You see, we don't have any other family in the state. They all live in the Midwest or on the west coast, far away. I go to the school to meet with the teacher normally when Grandpa is taking his nap."

"But that only gives you about two hours of learning time."

Neil nodded and shrugged. "I don't mind it. I love grandpa and plus I'm pretty smart from what I've been told. I mean it'll change when middle school starts up. The principles of the schools in the area already know my situation so everything's fine."

Mallory tapped her finger on her chin looking deep in thought. "Well...if you want I can help teach you. I was once a prodigy. I was supposed to start High school by the time I was 8 years old." Neil looked up at her with big eyes filled with admiration. "Really? That's so cool!" Mallory's cheeks flushed in embarrassment and she tapped her pencil on the table. "Not really. I was just smart is all." Neil wrung his hands as he looked down. "Um Mallory? I was wondering if you could tell me…" he fell silent and looked back up, locking eyes with her. "Where are your parents?" Mallory's eyes widened slightly as she froze up. Her eyes flashed with fear, pain and sadness. Neil arched his back as he sat up straight realizing that he shouldn't have asked. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have-"

"They're dead." he stopped what he was saying and stared up at her. Mallory brushed her hand over an old book. "They were killed when I was little. It was actually in the summer before I was to start high school. I still remember everything that I've done with them. They taught me almost everything I know. They inspired me and I wanted to be just like them."

"What did they do for work that you wanted to do so badly?"

"Science. It was their profession, their art. Inventing and changing things with their minds and bodies and growing as people. I admired it so much that by the time I learned how to read, I started reading all kinds of books about science and math and the history and fundamentals of it all. It became MY passion. And it was something I shared with them."

"Do you miss them?"

"Everyday. Not a second goes by that I don't think about my parents."

Neil looked down. It was clear that the conversation was upsetting him, but he knew it was important. "I...Lost my parents too. I don't remember much about them. I was only 4 when they died. What I do know is that they were killed by something. From old newspaper articles and from the other few survivors, I know that they were killed by something that wasn't of this world. People told me that it was big. Bigger than most of the houses in my little town. It was covered in black fur and had red markings going across its body. They say it had sharp jagged teeth and large black horns with huge paws that had red spikes and claws, and a tail that was shaped into a ball and stronger than steel. It was like a giant, red-eyed, demon wolf." The room had fallen silent, a slight chill in the air. Mallory simply stared at Neil with a blank expression, while Mayhem and Maniac watched intently with knowing eyes. He looked up at her and laughed a bit. "I used to not believe it, but with all that's happened, and seeing a really tall faceless man with supernatural powers and your abilities, it has to be possible." he then looked down sadly. "I always wondered why, if a demon had killed my parents, why it didn't kill me too. I...used to have dreams of a giant, black beast with calm blue eyes that would flicker to red. Just holding me in it's giant paws as it watched me as I cried for my parents."

Mayhem flicked his tail. "Why that is a memory my dear boy. You experienced something traumatic at a young age. The memory never left you, you just buried it deep down in your mind because you don't like thinking about it." Neil looked at Mayhem and nodded. "Yeah I guess." he then looked back to Mallory who still sat their in silence. She was always thinking. Always calculating. But now it seemed different. It was as if she was in a frozen, twisted panic. Neil tilted his head slightly as he raised a brow. "Mallory? Are you okay?" Mallory snapped back into reality and blinked. "Uh...yes I'm fine...You had more questions?"

He nodded. "I was also wondering how you became known as the Wanderer. Like, when did you become the Wanderer?" Mallory glanced off to the side. "I'm sorry Neil but I can't answer that."

"Why?"

Mallory let out a sigh. "It's...a touchy subject." Neil nodded. "Okay, then don't tell me." Mallory smiled and patted his head before standing up. "So. I guess you decided to come here instead of going to school to meet your teacher?" Neil fidgeted a bit looking sheepish. "Well...yeah. But this was much more important." Mallory narrowed her eyes and he gulped, giving her a nervous smile. "I won't do it again?" he let out a yelp as Mallory grabbed him and tossed him up in the air slightly. She stepped forward and held out her arms. He landed on her back, his legs hooking through her arms almost instantly. "What just happened?" Mallory glanced back at him as she started walking. "We're going to your school." Neil groaned and leaned against her. He didn't complain since he knew he was going no matter what and he knew Mallory would try to catch him if he ran. He heard Mayhem and Maniac disconnect themselves from their charging stations and heard their metal paws hit the floor. The two robotic pets quickly caught up to the two of them and stayed by their side as they walked.

"I can't wait to see Neil's school!"

"Oh hush it you dumb dog. This'll be quick if anything."

Neil giggled a bit as the two of them bickered back and forth. It was so strange to see Robots act like this unless it was on T.V. Then again he had never seen Robots like Mayhem and Maniac in real life before. He figured it was just how Mallory had programmed them. He stared ahead at the forest beyond feeling happy. Neil had just learned more about Mallory, and felt much closer to her than before.

Unknowing to him, Mallory was feeling extreme amounts of guilt and fear that would not fade for sometime. A memory had returned to her. One that she did not know she even had.

Neil. I'm so sorry. But now, I don't think I could ever tell you. I have to protect you and gramps from the truth. If you knew, your lives would be in danger ...and you would hate me, forever.