Chapter 25

'So,' Taylor glanced round at the others, 'any idea where we start looking for the Hybrid?'

'We're still trying to work out how to lure the Hybrid here,' Lus rolled his eyes, 'stop getting so far ahead of us.'

'I'm sorry, I guess I can't help it. I just feel like we should be doing something a little more proactive right now.'

'Why?'

'Because if your Talma's anything like the Talma I know, then she hates sitting around and waiting for anybody,' Seti gave a heavy sigh as he, Arados and the Limitless Girl joined their group.

'The impression I always got from her from my parents' stories was a little different,' Taylor frowned, 'they made her seem very patient.'

'Are your parents' stories from before or after Tao's death?'

'Before.'

'Then you have your reason. After her father's death Talma… I don't want to say she changed, exactly, but her priorities became very different. As a result she became much less patient.'

'I see,' he studied Seti for a moment.

'He's right,' Anubis gave a nervous little cough. 'It was like losing her father and then her mother shortly after was enough to make her… I don't want to say snap exactly, but… She had her own way of coping with the grief.'

'Yeah,' Drake gritted his teeth, 'I think I can vouch for that.'

'But in this case a little impatient instinct might be a good thing,' the Power Limitless Girl folded her arms thoughtfully, 'I think if we think this out too much we might not be able to lure the Hybrid to Seti.'

'So is Seti going to stay up here then?' Arados frowned.

'No, I think we should have our game plan laid out in Giya. The Hybrid would catch on to it being some kind of trap if we started leading it here.'

'Agreed,' Lus tilted his head thoughtfully, 'I also think we need to bring Crovell in on this. He's got better instincts for this kind of thing than most of us do.'

'Speak for yourself,' she smirked, 'but I do agree the Prince of Chaos should have an active role in all this.'

'If you're about to suggest I should sit this out…' Arados shot her a look.

'No, I think I'm going to need all of you. That's if you don't mind leaving Princess with Helen for a while.'

'So you don't think we need Helen?' Lus cocked an eyebrow. 'She's more than capable…'

'I know exactly what she's capable of,' she held up a hand to silence him, 'I also know she isn't needed right now. Nor is Jo. The group we have here, plus Crovell, will be more than sufficient for the plan I have in mind.'

'And what exactly is your plan?' Now it was Taylor's turn to eye her up.

'First we need Crovell here, then I'll explain everything you need to know,' she smirked.

'Nu-uh, we barely trust you as it is,' he half glared, 'what makes you think we'll accept that from you now?'

'Because I'm not giving you a choice,' she disappeared.

'A part of me really thinks we should hate her,' Arados gave a heavy sigh.

'I know what you mean,' Lus lowered his head slightly, 'but at the same time I still think she's the best chance we've got. And nothing she does or says is ever really going to shake that.'

Crovell had been stood outside of Jo's room for a while now. Every time he went to knock on her door, his mouth would become dry and his hand froze in place. He didn't know what it was he was so afraid of, but he did know he wasn't ready to face her yet. So why did he feel he had to? Or more importantly, why did he feel like he needed a reason not to. He was so conflicted by these thoughts it took him a while to realise he wasn't alone. Glancing down the corridor he spotted the Power Limitless Girl watching him.

'You're back then?' His voice was strangely flat.

'I'm back,' she held her hands out as if to present herself.

For a few moments he just silently nodded at her. He might have been much more used to being Chaos again now, but there were still times he felt a little out of control. Now was definitely one of those times.

'I need you to come with me. We've finally formulated a plan for dealing with the Hybrid.'

'Do we really need to deal with it right now,' he half glanced back towards the door.

'We really don't need any distractions right now, not when Ni could attack at any time. The only way to be sure we won't get interference from the Hybrid is to deal with it sooner rather than later.'

'And what about Kasey? What about the man behind both of them? What about Baraku? Taking out the Hybrid doesn't seem so important.'

'If we deal with the Hybrid now, then all those who are… stuck here because of it will be able to go back to where they belong. It will restore the trio to their full power, so I'd say dealing with it sooner rather than later is a pressing issue, wouldn't you?'

'Yeah, I guess.'

'You only guess,' she studied him for a moment, 'you, Crovell Lutoni, never guess.'

'How would you know, you barely know me. You've also been gone for six weeks and a lot could have changed in that time,' he found himself becoming agitated. 'Why did you disappear anyway? We really needed you to be around and you just took off on us.'

'It couldn't be helped. I'm just glad my companions were able to delay Ni's plans as much as they have,' she sounded strange, as though she was hoping what she was saying was the truth.

'Where were you?'

'Why do you need to know?'

'Because I need to,' he remained resolute. 'I need to know where you were and I need to know why you were there and I need to know now.'

'No, you don't,' she shook her head, 'because my disappearance isn't what you're really upset about,' she studied him closely. 'What's really going on here?'

'You know what's really going on,' he glared. 'I want to know where you've been and I want to know now.'

'And if I can't answer your questions?'

'Can't or won't?'

'Does that really make much of a difference to you right now?' She remained firm. 'Crovell, tell me, what's really bothering you right now?'

'I've told you what's bothering me,' he turned his attention fully back towards his sister's bedroom door, 'but if you won't answer my question then you should just leave. I have other things I need to do right now.'