Chapter 21

Mega sat up, opened his eyes and immediately covered them from the bright light before him. Letting his eyes get used to the light he saw that the source of the light was the bright morning sun before him.

Standing up, shakily he looked around. He was in a disused part of the city, right out on the outskirts. How did he get here, he thought. The last thing he could remember was being flung flat on his face by the blast from the command post and rubble piling on top of him. The place seemed familiar; he was sure he had been here before, but the memory was too hazy. As his head cleared, so did his view of the surrounding area. Of course, he thought, how could he have forgotten it. This was where they had met, just six months ago. He looked over to where the caravan had been and was shocked to find it standing there.

This made no sense.

Cautiously, Mega advanced on the caravan. Every detail of it was perfect, right down to the unique roof garden. He gently pushed the door ajar and peered inside.

--

Dee hovered by Aeryn's bedside anxiously. Aeryn's face and arms were still cold and clammy and her pulse and breathing weak. Patch had no idea what had happened and had been filing through his old medical volumes incessantly. The only breaks he had taken were to check on other patients.

Dee had sent Cloe and Josh off to find Tai San and Cat. That was nearly an hour ago now and they still hadn't returned. Surely they would be back soon.

A small noise from the other end of the ward broke Dee's concentration and she looked round. Paul, standing nearby sensed her movement and looked up. Dee motioned to him to check on the source of the sound - the mysterious stranger Helena.

Taking up a pad and pencil, Paul walked up to the far end of the ward. He arrived just in time to see the now one-legged girl open her large, startling green eyes, and smile at him.

--

Jetta closed the door on Angie after making sure she was actually going to get some sleep.

"You know, your friend isn't the only workaholic round here," Jack told her.

"I know," she replied, deliberately misunderstanding, "Patch is a terrible workaholic when he has something on his mind."

"That's not what I meant."

"I'm really not tired."

"You could've fooled me!"

"Thanks!"

Jack grinned for what seemed like the first time in years. Jetta noticed and a smile flickered across her own face, his grin was infectious.

"Aren't you going to show me round here then?" Jetta asked, casually, "I've not really been here that long and I usually sleep in or near the hospital so I don't know the Mall well at all. One of the few things Chrisma did before Cloe stood up to her was take over the ward where Angie and I had been staying. Patch had all our things moved down here and Angie came down with them, but I've never been in here before today so now I wanna go explore. Come on, show me around, you know this place don't you?"

A frown passed over Jack's face for a second. He did know this place, or at least he used to. The nursery he'd noticed on the way in was entirely new. How much else had changed. Besides, He had always had some reason to stay: first his friend Dal, then Ellie. Both of them were now dead - what reason was there for him to stay any longer. He looked up at Jetta. She stared back at him with her large, pleading brown eyes and he relented.

"Sure, why not," Jack sighed.

"Do you know the Mall well?" Jetta asked, taking his arm as they turned to leave.

"Know it - My dad owned it!"

"Cool!"

"Well, only the electronics store, really."

"Still cool!"

Jetta smiled; that infectious grin had returned.

--

Cat wandered down the quiet side streets towards the marketplace. If she was right, Lex should be on patrol there.

When she walked out into the wide open area of the market place she was met by a throng of people, all going about their daily lives as if the Technos were a distant memory from a lifetime ago. I suppose in these times, when you are this young, Cat thought, six months often is a lifetime. She scanned the crowd for Lex, eventually picking out the unmistakable form of his hat. Making her way towards him she caught the sight of faces she had seen so many years ago, when they had been so much younger, not recognising her not because she had changed, but because she hadn't.

"Lex!" Cat called above the crowd.

Lex turned to identify the source of the sound. Seeing Cat striding towards him through the throng, he was surprised to see how much she made those around her look like young children. When she caught up with him he scrutinised her more closely, until she gave him an odd look and he looked away before speaking to her.

"What's up?" Lex asked.

"I need your help with something."

"Anything important?"

"A present for Patch and Dee."

"If you're looking for ideas," Lex held up his hands as he spoke, "You've got the wrong man. I know nothing when it comes to presents."

"Oh, I know what I want to get them," Cat answered slyly, "and I know where to find them too. It's simply a case of actually moving them."

"Now there's nothing illegal going on here, is there? 'Cause, y'know I couldn't be party to that being the sheriff!"

"Yes, Lex, whatever," was Cat's reply, she was quite sure most of Lex's dealings could be termed 'illegal' "but don't worry, the whole thing is well above board. Now: will you help me?"

"Yeah, sure. When?"

"Tonight, after Salene and Pride's announcement."