Chapter 11 of: The Fate of the Wandering: Pardon Me
"So…you're Ian."
Ian Pace looked up from the hologram he had been reading. "That would be correct." He stood up from the stone bench, tucking the hologram inside his jacket's pocket. Looking up and down at the newcomer, from the brown hair to the familiar facial features, he added, "And if I'm not mistaken, you're Dustil Onasi."
"You're not mistaken." Dustil grinned, and held out his hand. "Nice to meet my dad's secretary."
Ian shook it, with a rather strained smile. His yellow eyes were exhausted and his dark, curly hair was in total disarray. "Right. Nice."
"Man, you can't be any older than me. Feels strange," said Dustil. He glanced around Coruscant's gardens surrounding them, the only wild thing growing on this civilized planet. "I mean, strange in a good way. I guess it's just my queue to get a job too and stop living out of my father's pocket."
"Yeah." Ian's voice was as distant as his mind was.
There was an awkward silence, one that could not really be filled, but one of them tried anyway.
"So…" Dustil said again. "What's it like working for my old man? I hope he's not sending you on too many caffa runs."
"Oh. No, no, it's not too bad. I was actually on my way to give this hologram to him right now." Ian held it up briefly, before tucking it back in his pocket.
"You make it a habit to read somebody's mail first before you deliver it?" Dustil said pointedly.
Ian looked up. "Well, it's sort of my job, you see. Gotta make sure there's no…um…poison, or bombs, or anything remotely harmful in it before I give it to your father."
"Huh. Interesting."
They both started walking through the gardens. The sun was shining, birds—or something that slightly resembled them—were singing, flowers were blooming…but Ian looked anything but relaxed.
"You all right, man?" Dustil asked, glancing sideways at Ian, who was fidgeting with the buttons on his jacket.
"Yeah. I'm fine," he said hurriedly. They had reached the steps to the building, and Ian turned around to face Dustil. "Listen, it's been nice. You know, talking and all, but I've got…a job to do. And I can't…stand around and mingle all day."
Dustil backed up, holding up his hands. "Sure. Sorry. Didn't mean to…force you to mingle, or anything."
Ian ran his fingers through his dark, curly hair, then turned back around and headed into the building.
Dustil was left on the steps, wondering what had just happened.
"That is one tense guy," he reasoned, before heading in the opposite direction.
::.Carth's office.::
"Sir?" Ian's voice reverberated around the room. "Are you here?"
Suddenly, around the corner, came Carth. Apparently, Ian had interrupted him from his….shaving.
"Oh, hey, Ian." Carth half-laughed, half of his face covered in shaving cream. "You have nice timing."
Ian looked abashed. "Sorry, sir."
"Hey, no worries. And what have we said about calling me sir?"
Ian looked at the floor. "Oh. That. Right."
Carth peered at Ian curiously. "You all right? You seem a little…tired."
"So do you." Ian was looking at the dark circles under his boss' eyes.
"Just slept a little late. Hold on a second." Carth disappeared around the corner again, and when he came back, was clean and new. "That's better. So, is everything all right?"
"Got a letter for you." Ian reached inside his jacket and took out the hologram. "It's from Demi."
Carth took it at once.
"'Admiral Carth,'" he read.
"'Just wanted to let you know that Leo and I are making progress…in a round-about sort of way. A lot has happened, but we were able to find out that after Elaine left Deralia, she went to visit Atris. We don't know why yet, but we have a vague idea as to where Atris currently is, and we're on our way there. Till then…
'"–Demia Thress.'"
"'P.S. Don't you just love saving the world from indestructible immortal evil?'"
Carth looked up. "That's good news. Except for the, um, indestructible evil part. Thank you, Ian."
Ian nodded briskly. He was about to leave, but at the doorframe, held back. "Er…Mr. Onasi?"
"What can I do for you, Ian?" Just call me Carth… he begged inwardly.
"I'm not who you think I—" Ian closed his mouth, cleared his throat, then dropped his gaze to the floor. "Never mind."
"What do you mean by—Are you sure—?"
But with a swoosh of his jacket behind him, Ian was gone.
::.Vincentii's Headquarters, ventilation system.::
There was something about working his way through ventilation pipes that Atton just didn't like. Maybe it was the almost-no-space-to-breathe part (which was funny, considering the pipes were supposed to carry oxygen), or maybe the no-fun-crawling-on- hands-and-knees part, but Atton was dealing. That was what he did best. It was hard, though. Atton just wanted to get out of here as fast as possible so he could ask Griff and Brianna some questions and clear some things up.
"If you have questions," whispered Brianna, in front of him, "now is really not the time."
"I'm aware of that," Atton hissed back.
"Good," was her reply.
Atton shook his head as though to clear his thoughts, but kept trudging on. After many minutes though, the tunnel they were crawling through felt like it was choking Atton, closing him on all sides. Tensions and tempers were running high.
"Just a little farther," Griff said back to them, as they turned around a right corner.
"That's what you said ten minutes ago," said Atton.
"I mean it this time."
"You better," Atton muttered under his breath.
Finally, they reached the end of the passageway. There was a fan that gave off a deafening noise, and a little grate near Griff.
"Anybody have a screwdriver?" he called back.
"What?" asked Atton, over the tumult.
"A screwdriver!"
"No…Something better." Atton threw his laser to Griff.
"This'll work," Griff said, and set to work. He had almost finished melting the edges of the grate so that they could easily take it off, when the grate fell through. It slammed against the lockers directly beneath it, echoing around the room and rattling the contents inside, and then crashed with a sickening, loud sound to the floor below. Brianna had tried to grab it in time, but had been too late.
Nothing like a loud grate dropping to the floor to start a party and let everyone know we're here, thought Atton.
"Oops," Griff whispered, throwing the laser back to Atton, who fought a strong urge to roll his eyes.
"That's an understatement."
"We still have to go down there though," said Brianna quietly. "All of your equipment is there."
They dropped down to the top of the lockers beneath them, then climbed down. Griff disabled a security cam, and Atton and Brianna searched through all the lockers.
"Score," said Atton, taking out his weapons, pazaak cards, and other random things of his possession. In the last locker, they found Griff's bag, which he slung over his shoulder.
They all crept to the door, and Atton looked out. "Nobody out here."
"That's what you think." Griff grabbed Atton's collar, and shut the door. "I have a map. We should get back in the ventilation system and make our way out. We'll be less easily detected that way."
"But look at your bag," said Atton, gesturing at it. "It's heavy, loaded, and bound to make a lot of noise up there. I'd rather fight our way out of here. I am extremely ticked off at whoever brought me here and tied me up. I think a few pistols to the head should teach them a lesson." Or a lightsaber to the skull… he said inwardly.
"Don't be rash," argued Brianna. "Griff is right. It's our safest plan out of here. Earlier, I followed the guards to where they kept you, and I had a tough time staying out of sight. Believe it or not, the security here is very tight. We need to get back up there." She pointed to the ventilation system.
"Fine," sighed Atton. "I'm outnumbered. But if I come across any employee from this damn place, I'm not holding anything back."
"Agreed. Now give me a boost." Brianna was halfway into the system, when three guards suddenly kicked the door open with a bang. They were all carrying blaster rifles.
"Told you I heard something," one of the guards said to the other. "We've got you cornered. Drop your weapons, get back on the ground, and keep your hands where we can see them."
The other guard grinned at Griff, but it wasn't the least bit friendly. "I knew the minute you first stepped into this place that we should have killed you. You're a traitor, Griff. That's all you'll ever be."
Griff sighed, almost regretfully. "I know, I know. I really am just a horrible person. But unlike you, I'm going to get over it and get myself a life."
In a flash, he knocked away the guard's rifle and pinned him to the ground. Atton slammed a guard into the wall, and attempted to take the rifle away from him. They wrestled for a moment, until Brianna took her spear and thrust it into the guard's side.
Atton stepped back from the now limp body, as the last remaining guard took his rifle, and shot twice at Atton. Luckily, in time, Atton pushed the rifle up towards the ceiling, and kneed the guy in the stomach hard. The guard fell unconscious.
"Hurry," he whispered. "Help me out here."
They put the bodies into the lockers, slammed them shut, and climbed on top of the lockers to get back in the vents.
"Somebody will have heard the guard's shots," said Brianna.
"We're going to head to the back lobby," said Griff quietly.
"Back lobby?" questioned Atton.
"It's the back entrance to this place, and has a lift up back to the cantina that we could take."
Again, they spent about ten agonizing minutes in the vents. Time seemed to move much slower up there. Then, from the front, Brianna put a hand up to stop them.
"Don't move and be quiet," she ordered.
Atton looked down. Beneath them in a large room were about ten guards, looking at something on a console. In front of the guards was a large kolto tank, shimmering with a light blue-ish light. He was able to see the logo of Vincentii: It was a glowing blue V followed by two 'i's that were blended together to look like a wave.
"His DNA is being copied," said the worker at the console. "In about ten seconds, we'll have ourselves another clone. A stronger clone."
There was a voice on the loudspeaker saying formulas and orders Atton couldn't make heads nor tails of. The console was making strange beeping noises.
"This is a new secret model," the worker continued. "You are some of the privileged allowed to see this new experiment. These ones are stronger and smarter. Not like the dumb clones of regular people who get themselves killed in five minutes flat. And for the regular human clones…they are now smarter and can think for themselves and impersonate their old owner better. The clones can be programmed to have the memories of who they once were. The original copy will be brainwashed to our thinking as well. This is the first time we are trying this out….We have to thank Griff Vao for this. His support and test results were so crucial in this process, and he was just dying to give it to us." The guards laughed, and in the vent, Griff hung his head. "And now, you will meet our warrior, the one, or ones I should say, who will lead us into Nausuma…"
The kolto tank's cover slid open. Brianna gasped. A monstrous looking, seven-foot tall creature stepped out. He looked oddly reptile like, but stood on two feet. His slits of eyes glowed yellow. He would undoubtedly be able to take on five of the guards and slam them into the wall, but of course, he didn't.
And then, another creature just like that stepped out. He growled viciously and together, both creatures roared.
"We're going to get them into the lab to conduct more research," the worker said. "They listen to our orders because that is how we programmed them. With luck, on the Ascension Day when we send thousands of them into Nausuma, we will get what we deserve, and we will drink…"
There were cheers.
"What DNA was copied for this new model?" asked one of the guards.
The worker grinned wickedly. "Ready for this? Gizka DNA."
"Holy…" whispered Atton. "Gizkas?! Isn't that animal cruelty? What is wrong with these sick people? And why do they keep mentioning you?" he said to Griff. "You were working with these people?!"
"Atton," said Brianna warningly. "Later."
She started to resume her crawling through the vent, when suddenly, Atton's dispatcher in his pocket crackled loudly. He was so alarmed that he dropped it, and it fell with a clattering bang on the floor of the vent. Immediately, all the guards looked up.
"It's the prisoners! They're trying to escape! Shoot them!" yelled the worker.
"You know, I really hate that guy," whispered Atton. Brianna, Griff, and Atton were going as fast as they could through the vent now, not bothering to stay quiet. The guards' shots bounced off the vents, but one lucky shot could get through the holes in the vent and hurt one of them badly.
"Hurry!" Brianna yelled back.
Finally, they reached the part of the vents where they were hidden and weren't as vulnerable to getting hit.
"How do we get to the back lobby?" Atton panted, clutching a stitch in his side.
"Just a little farther," Griff said. Atton gave him a pained look. "For real, this time. Just a few more turns and we'll be out of here."
"I got in through the lift they have in the back lobby," Brianna added. "We're going to have to drop down behind the receptionist's desk, steal the passkey so we have access to the lift…"
"…and jet," Atton finished.
"That's the idea."
They passed over the cargo room, filled with boxes marked Clarande-V.
"Brianna, what does—"
"Not now, Atton."
He sighed. "Of course. Should have known."
"They're empty," said Griff, looking back at Atton. "But I thought Leo had taken the only bottle of Clarande-V with him…He must have forgotten one and Vincentii reproduced it…They said the clones were strong but they never said anything about a longer lasting life…"
Griff was obviously lost in his own train of thought now, and Atton didn't bother asking.
Just then, an alarm started blaring.
"They're going to be closing down all exits," Brianna whispered.
"So, what's the plan now?"
Griff stopped moving. "Their consoles. If we do manage to get into the lift in one piece, they're going to use the security override on their consoles to shut down the lifts, and we'll be trapped again. We need to hack into their system so we can prevent that."
"I'll work on getting the passkey," Atton said quietly. "Griff, you handle the system. You seem to be familiar with things here." He said that part a little venomously, but he couldn't help it. "Brianna, you whup any guards that get too close. Is this the plan?"
"It'll do," Brianna sighed. She didn't voice out loud that it seemed flawed. "But there are too many of them…"
Suddenly, she brightened. "We need a distraction. Something big. Something to get them off our backs while we disable the security and get the passkey. Any ideas?"
She looked at the both of them and they all racked their brains.
"Overload," Griff said suddenly.
Atton raised his eyebrows. "Over-what?"
"Overload," Griff grinned. "All their chemicals in their labs…From the console we should be able to hack into the program that controls how many chemicals run through the kolto tanks. These chemicals are the ones that keep those kolto tanks running. And we'll change the amount of chemicals to something huge."
"Isn't that…dangerous?" asked Brianna.
"Oh, no way. Nah, it just pretty much destroys all the kolto tanks and crashes the glass and sets loose the half-asleep-still-not-matured clones of all kinds walking around like zombies all around Vincentii and the guards will be so busy trying to get them under control…"
"Okay, wise guy," Atton said, holding up his hand to stop Griff. "It sounds like it just might work."
"I'm going to have to try to hold all of the guards back while Griff hacks into the system," Brianna said. "Atton, the passkey should be in one of the drawers. That's where they keep them for visitors."
Atton was still wondering who would want to actually visit this place of their own free will, when they reached the grate that dropped to right behind the receptionist's desk. Luckily, the receptionist wasn't anywhere around.
Quietly, Griff used the laser again to melt away the sides of the grate, but this time took more care in making sure it didn't crash to the floor. Placing the grate softly on the other side of the vent, Griff, Brianna, and Atton all dropped to the ground.
They all hurried to their posts: Griff to the console, Brianna on guard, Atton rummaging through the office.
"Where is everyone?" he wondered out loud.
"They probably thought we'd take the front lobby. But don't worry. They'll be here soon," Brianna said.
"Can't wait," Atton said dryly. Using his laser again, he melted away a lock, to find a passkey buried behind some files. It was a thin blue card with Vincentii's logo displayed on it.
"Got it!" he said.
Just then, a Vincentii guard came running to the desk. "They're here!" he yelled. "In the back—" Before he could so much as get another syllable out of his mouth, Brianna knocked him over the head and he fell to the floor.
"I always knew those guys had weak skulls," said Griff.
"They'll be here even sooner," was all Brianna said. "Griff, how's your progress?"
"I'm hacking into their lab systems. I already shut down the power of the main console, so they we won't get stuck in the lift. But I can't quite seem to remember the password…It's something with Wookiee in its name. WookieeRookiee…Naw, that can't be it. WookieLookie…Wookie…"
"Well, find something that rhymes fast. We got company." Atton leapt from the desk, and finally unsheathed his yellow lightsaber.
He ran beside Brianna, and they fought back to back at the guards who came nearby. Two came at once at Atton, but Atton blocked both of their attacks, then used Force-push to slam them into the wall. Brianna looked over. I knew it…I knew he was a Jedi, she said inwardly.
I heard that, Atton said telepathically to her, startling her. He jumped, and twisted a guard's neck swiftly with his feet, and the guard's neck cracked. Atton jumped back to his feet. Now, I suggest you tell me how you knew my name was Jaq.
Brianna angrily fought off three guards at once who were trying to get to Griff, taking her staff and hitting them hard with one stroke, so they fell down like dominos. If you haven't noticed, I'm rather busy at the moment… But she felt Atton's frustration. So she started explaining.
Long ago we met. Before the Mandalorian wars. Revan and Malak were there, to speak to you and all the other troops, to try to motivate you. My father, my sisters, and I were supposed to help with your training, teaching you how to use an Echani staff, how to defend yourself using the Echani martial arts. My sisters were…treating me the way they usually do. I was such a little girl then. I was crying. And you comforted me.
She could still feel Atton's presence in her mind, listening. You told me your name. Jaq Notta Rand. I still remember. And I told you I was the Handmaiden. And then you left. That's all.
She elbowed a guard in the ribs, and kicked the guard behind her. Bodies were collecting all around her. I recognized you, there in the cantina. I was sent on a mission by Atris to watch the movements of those from Vincentii. I heard the cantina was a popular place for them to find new people to use as…clones. A remote cantina, with people who are either forgotten or trying to get away from their own demons. I never knew that directly underneath the cantina was their headquarters. And yes, I recognized you. I followed them all the way here, where they kept you tied up. And here we are now.
So that was you, said Atton, amazed. Not just in the training before the Mandalorian Wars, but in the cantina. You were the one wearing the hood, watching me from the corner.
Yes, Brianna admitted. That was me.
Well, hint from the wise: Staring at people like that is just plain creepy. Turns people off. Don't do that again.
Brianna sighed and rolled her eyes as she fought to keep the tides of guards hindered. Of course, I wasn't expecting a thank you, or anything.
Atton softened. I guess we're even now. For helping each other out.
I guess so.
But they weren't able to say anything else, because, suddenly, Griff yelled, "I have it! WookieeCookie!" And he entered something on the console.
Immediately, another alarm started blaring. Lights were whirling. Guards froze in their motions, as they listened to the recorded voice on the loudspeaker.
"Chemical. Overload," said the smooth, female computer voice. "Overload level: 50. Overload level: 70. Emergency. Serious damage will be done to subjects in kolto tanks if chemicals are not lowered. Overload level: 99."
Everyone held their breath.
"Clones-in-progress have now broken free. Have a great day."
All around, there was the sound of breaking glass. Radios were dispatching messages back and forth. Things were chaotic. For a moment, Atton, Brianna, and Griff were forgotten. But then, an officer got in charge.
"All of you, get the clones under control! Scientists, set the newly made, stronger clones on these intruders!" He pointed at Atton, Brianna, and Griff.
"Atton!" yelled Brianna. "Passkey! Door! Now!"
Atton sprinted down to the lift, and inserted the passkey in the slot.
"Password," said the automated computer voice. "Please."
"Frack!" said Atton, jamming his fist into the keypad angrily.
"Atton! No!" cried Brianna. She whirled to Griff. "What is the password?!"
"This one is different. It's 1-2-7-4—"
But he got cut off.
Directly behind them, came two of the stronger clones who had just been made. The ground rumbled with each of their steps, and they stood about two feet higher than any of them. Their malicious eyes glowed yellow, with a strange, artificial feel. Half reptile, half something else, they started charging at Atton, Brianna, and Griff.
They were able to dodge out of the way just in time. Completely unfazed, the clones ganged up on Brianna. Brianna, with a determined spark in her eye, took her staff and plunged the sharp point into one of the clones. Or tried to. Before she even got near hurting him, the clone grabbed her staff and snapped it in half. Brianna gave a half-cry, half-gasp.
She tried to slide between, under, and through one of their scaly legs, but it pulled her back up, and slammed her against the wall, then held her there. The other started pummeling her in the face.
"Hey! Gizka Boy!" yelled Atton. Both of the clones immediately turned around, dropping Brianna roughly to the ground, where she stayed.
Griff threw two plasma grenades at each of them, and plugged his ears. Atton dove in and got Brianna by the elbow, and supported her to the lift. Griff quickly punched in the rest of the password, and the lift doors opened. The quickly scurried in, but one of the clones got there fast. He slammed his arms out, jamming the doors of the lift, denting the metal.
Thinking quickly, Atton took out his laser and aimed it right at the clone's eye.
Then pushed the button.
The clone howled in agony, and let go of the doors, clutching his eye. The other clone tried to stop the lift, but was too late.
The lift started to ascend, and all three of them exhaled in relief.
They had escaped.
Atton knelt down to Brianna, who was trying to stand and regain her pride, but hurt too badly. There was blood all over her face.
"It's okay," whispered Atton. "You can rest. It's a long way up." He turned to Griff. "Any bandages?"
Griff just nodded, and got them out of his green bag.
"Are you all right?" asked Atton.
Finally, Brianna spoke. "They…broke…my staff. Bastards."
That was the first time in her life that she had ever used that word. Sure, she had thought it, but never spoken it out loud. These two must be a bad influence on her.
Atton tried not to grin, hearing those thoughts. "She's back, all right."
There was an unspeakable feeling between the three of them, these three people who hardly knew each other and had yet barely gotten free of one of the most powerful corporations in their universe. They shared something now, a bond that they would never speak of, but which presence they knew was there.
Finally, and not a moment too soon, Atton, Griff, and Brianna headed up and back to the surface. They evaded the rest of the guards waiting for them up top, exited the cantina, grabbed a shuttle, and flew away.
::.Deralia, Dane's house.::
Demi breathed out onto the window, and a fine mist spread over it, completing the mystical scene she could see from her window. The sun was setting, and the moons—yes, plural—were rising. Demi drew a small star on the window with her index finger, feeling oddly relaxed.
I wish I knew how to paint, she thought. I want to keep this in my memory forever.
She stayed there, sitting by the windowsill for a few minutes, just savoring the last moments until she knew the journey had to go on. Then, she sighed, a suddenly very depressing thought occurring to her. Wherever you went, you were supposed to be able to take comfort in the fact that, even if you and someone else got separated, you were always looking at the same sky, the same moon, and the same stars. But it wasn't the case this time.
Glumly, Demi got up, and picked up her new bag Dane had given her. It was filled with med pacs and food rations to last a few weeks. Also, around Demi's wrist was a silver bracelet, much like Dane's. Leo also had been given one.
"It'll be useful for wherever you go around the galaxy," Dane had insisted. "It'll ensure more trust between whoever you encounter."
"Hopefully," Demi said, but she had smiled. Dane really was a good friend. Demi had filled her in on their mission to find Elaine. Maybe, after all this was over, she'd come back and get to know Dane better.
Demi had packed everything. She was ready for another journey. Grace had told her that she had found Demi's lightsaber. It was broken, but the crystal was still intact. So Demi would have to start over and rebuild it. So what? It was no big.
Then why did she feel as though she was leaving something behind?
Then it hit her. The peaceful life. Just a quiet, enjoyable life by the sea and the country. That was all Demi wanted, all she had ever wanted. Everything in her life was rushed. She was always moving, never settling down. She didn't even really have a home anymore. She would have gone back to Dantooine, back to the Jedi Academy, back to learning under Master Kavar's guidance…Only the Academy wasn't there anymore. And Master Kavar was dead. It seemed everybody was these days. Inside, if nothing else.
I'll come back here, Demi vowed. If I'm still alive, and things are finally over, I'll come back here. Dane will be my neighbor and the predictable, quiet days will pass one by one and I'll learn how to paint and do things I've always wanted to do but never had the time to do before…
Demi sighed. If only, if only.
"Come on, Dem!" called Leo from the door, and Demi forced a smile. Leo had a nickname for her nickname, just as others sometimes did. She wouldn't be surprised if she was going to be called 'D' soon.
"I'm coming!" Demi yelled back, slung her pack over her shoulder, strode to the door, and opened it.
And Atton was standing there.
Demi felt like taking a step back. This couldn't be real. But he was here. Close enough to touch. His frame filled the doorway, and a crooked smile was on his face as usual. He was here. Reassuring, comforting…here.
And she wasn't sure whether to hit him, hug him, ignore him, say something, act furious…She just didn't know anything anymore.
"I thought," Demi said slowly, "that—"
"—by leaving me all alone on Coruscant while you sped off into Force-knows-where with the ship I've been flying for almost a year, that, and the fact that you were under the impression that I actually enjoyed the aristocratic life; that that was enough for me to just let you go off and kill yourself or worse?" Atton smiled grimly. "No, Demi. I don't think so."
"You're impossible," Demi said, but she was smiling slightly.
"That I am," Atton agreed. "And word is, I'm also confusing, but I've been through poison, captivity, and near death, so it would be really great if you would just accept this for what it is. Reality. And I'm not going anywhere."
Demi looked down for a moment, and when she looked up, her eyes were shining. "You're not one for staying behind, are you?"
"You knew that, Dem," Atton said softly, seriously. "And look, maybe here, with you, that's the last place you want me to be. And I know that you already have HK and T3 and you're not really looking to make this into a full-out, huge crew expedition, but the truth is, you feel like you're going through this alone, don't you? Even with them around."
"This isn't—this isn't the way it's supposed to be."
"Is anything ever the way it's supposed to be?"
Demi thought on that. "No. No, it never is."
"So maybe that's the way it's supposed to be."
Demi looked at him, amused. "You're a philosopher, now? You're just trying to get my head spun again."
Atton shrugged ruefully. "Maybe." He grinned. "Probably. Most likely, actually."
Demi shook her head and sighed. "I guess I can't just send you back, can I? After all you said you had to do to get here."
Atton smiled wryly. "Yes, that would go somewhere under the label of 'rude.'"
Finally, Demi full-out laughed. And not knowing what else to do, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged a surprised Atton.
"You are insane," Demi decided. "But maybe, maybe you're right."
But over her shoulder, Atton's brown eyes turned into a deep, menacing yellow and glowed. And his lips curled upwards in a smirk.
She's a fool, the clone thought.
A/N: Mwa haha.
Because of Chapter 25 (which I have not uploaded—yet), I'm going to have to re-write the scene w/ Dane and 'Jaq,' which I admit I rushed by. Kudos. :)
