I find it ridiculously amusing that this chapter is about half of what last chapter was. hehehe

So I'm back, and Erin's back, and Lync's back, and the Resistance is back too! YAH!

Do any of you readers watch Ouran Highschool Host Club? Because in my friend circle, we've all been curious to whether or not there will be a second season. Rumours have been floating around, and I WANT a second season. I need a second season. MORE OF DEM BOOTIFUL HOST CLUB BOYS PLS~!

Meh.

ENJOY!

Erin's POV:

"Here, Erin, you're going to need this," Alice said, handing me a fluffy white sweater. "We're heading out to the lab, and it's chilly out."

"So I've noticed," I muttered, taking the sweater gingerly and shrugging into it. "Thanks."

Lync was already waiting by the front door, grumbling impatiently. "Hurry up; we're on a time limit!"

"Not exactly," I countered. "We just need to move fast."

"That's basically the same thing!" Lync argued, crossing his arms. "Hmph."

Alice laughed, walking towards Lync and ruffling his hair. I tried not to visibly clench my fists – I'd hate it if Lync thought he'd have to offer me some kind of solace over some depressing jealousy that did not exist.

That's what I liked to tell myself.

"You two," she smiled, looking between us. "Are adorable."

I smirked, looping my arm into Lync's. "Damn straight we are!"

Alice laughed, pushing open the door. We were blasted with a gust of cool Russian air. Lync gave a slight shiver, so I pressed closer to him.

As we crossed the short distance to the laboratory behind the house, Shadowheart began to speak softly, so only I could hear. "I'm surprised that you two seem so compatible together."

"Hm?"

"I don't know, Erin…"

I frowned. "Shh. We'll talk later."

Lync tilted his head, turning to look at me. "Did you say something?"

I smiled. "Nope."

He shrugged, smiling back. "Ok."

Within moments we were in the lab, and I was forced forward by Lync to shake the hand of Alice's grandfather. "Hello, sir," I said, doing my best to keep eye-contact and a friendly smile.

Acting polite used to come super easy for me… but now, I was going out of my way to put effort into such simple tasks… what had changed?

Oh yeah. I had spent months with the Vexos. Hanging around meanies can seriously do something to mess up your behaviour.

"Hello, Erin. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"And you too. Now, I hope you're aware of our current situation-"

"-I've been informed, yes," he muttered, pushing his glasses up his forehead and motioning the four of us towards a computer. "Alice and I have gotten a connection with the Resistance headquarters."

Lync whooped. "Bingo!"

Michael nodded. "Now, I was kind of wondering… is it too much to ask if you go there in the transporter I've made? I need multiple test subjects to test out this machine." He wrung his hands, waiting for our answer.

I looked at Lync, who shrugged, totally at ease. "Oh, that would be great. It would be faster than travelling by space ship." I said. "Thanks!"

He smiled, his eyes glinting. "That's perfect. Wow, isn't it fortunate that such kind people have come along."

Lync scoffed a little. "Ah, I wouldn't call us kind."

I laughed awkwardly. "I'm going to have to agree with that."

Alice shook her head. "Erin, Lync – that's nonsense. Please – you two can be kind – if not to others, then to each other!"

We both shrugged. "Thanks, but I don't really see myself as a nice person." Lync explained.

"It's not like being a little bit of kind and mean is a bad thing," I mused.

Shadowheart nodded slowly. "It's an odd balance. Maybe not that balanced, but-"

"Anyways," Michael cut in. "You kids can send a message beforehand to the other Vexos, and give them the coordinates to the Resistance. It'll take a few minutes for me to set up the transporter. Alice, if you could give me a hand?"

Alice smiled. "Of course, grandfather."

Lync nodded, watching the conversation. "Well, Erin and I will step out for a bit." Then he dragged me out the door and into the outside world. Which was very cold, by the way.

"Geez, Lync," I teased. "Why so sudden-"

I tried not to tumble down the steps backwards as he pressed his lips to mine.

Mission failed.

We crashed awkwardly into the snow. Which sucked, because cold is cold. "Jesus, Lync!" I whined. "It's cold as balls here – what was that for?!"

He smiled bashfully. "I love you."

I scooped up a handful of snow and dropped it down his shirt. "I love myself too, no way!"

He gasped, getting up and wriggling around, trying to shake the snow out of his shirt. "C-c-cold! Cold, cold, COLD!"

I laughed, pushing off the ground and brushing off snow. "You're welcome, lover boy. Now, please stop with the affection. I don't need cooties." I trudged to the porch of the laboratory, trying to regain my composure.

But then Lync howled and ran after me.

"FRICK!" I screamed as we crashed into the snow again. Actually, scratch that. It was just me crashing into the snow. I served as a barrier between Lync and the ground. "Dude, chill!" I whined, pushing him off. "These aren't my clothes – I can't ruin them!"

He blew a raspberry in retort.

"Oh, you're going to get it." I hissed, scooping up more snow. I pushed his shirt up a little bit, and pressed it directly to his stomach.

He howled. "N-n-n-n-no-stop-Erin-agh-cold-EEP!"

Lync thrashed around, but resistance was futile. This was payback.

After a few moments, I dropped the snow. He crumpled to the ground, whimpering and curling up into the fetal position. "Ow."

I laughed lightly. "That's what you deserve, meanie!"

He groaned. "My stomach hurts now."

I froze. "Huh?"

"It hurts! It's so cold!" he continued, clutching feebly at his stomach. "Ow."

I cursed. "Shoot, ok. I'll get you inside the house." I held out my hands for him to grab. "Ok-"

He grabbed my hands and pulled me closer to him, pressing our lips together.

All of my annoyance trickled out of me. Lync was just too relentless – I was bound to give in and kiss back eventually. I tried cursing him in between kisses. "Fricking – little – piece – of – crap little-"

"I just realized I forget to tell you the coordinates of- oh my!"

Lync and I pulled away so fast I saw red. Alice was standing in the doorway of the laboratory, arms crossed, trying to look anywhere but our faces. Lync's face burned about as red as mine.

"Your fault," I muttered, jumping into a standing position. When he stood up, I gave his forehead a flick. He yelped, muttering a few apologies, brushing snow out of his hair.

I looked at Alice uncertainly. "S-sorry. He… got distracted."

Alice smirked teasingly. "By how nice your lips tasted?"

"Right!" Lync agreed hurriedly, snapping his fingers. "Wait – I mean, no! Hey!"

Shadowheart scoffed – and that's when I realized he had been in my pocket throughout my whole encounter with Lync. Oh my God. He… was there. This whole time.

Having a living Bakugan would definitely take time to adjust to.

"Anyways," Shadowheart cut through my inner dialogue, and I took him out of my pocket so he'd have an easier time addressing the others. "Coordinates?"

"Right! Erin… gauntlet?" Alice asked, still trying to remain polite, despite the rather compromising situation she had found Lync and I in. Thank Vestal. I handed her the gauntlet, trying to fight my humiliation.

"This is a secret between all of us," Lync insisted threateningly. "If Shadow Prove or Hydron finds out…" he shook his head. "We'd be ridiculed."

I groaned, and Alice laughed. "It's ok; I can handle keeping a secret, you two. But if you could please refrain from… any more spontaneous actions, that would be… ah, most appreciated."

Lync giggled nervously as I shot him an accusatory glare. "You wouldn't slap me again, would you, Erin?"

I sighed dramatically. "Not this time. I'll save a slap for a better time."

"A time where you're allowed to kiss me better, maybe." Lync quipped.

I paused, looking at him, suddenly feeling like I had had a conversation like this before.

Lync turned to Alice with a youthful smile. "Erin's been starstruck!"

Alice laughed, handing me my gauntlet. I took it, but suddenly my mind was in another place… Flirting and bantering like I had with Lync… I had done that with Ace all the time.

… Wow.

I had almost forgotten that I used to hard-core crush on Ace Grit. It was all because of Lync – if I hadn't been so damn attached to Lync since the beginning of my break-and-enter of the mother palace, I would have come back to the Resistance making goo-goo eyes at Ace.

And he wouldn't be making those eyes at me.

And I'd have to come to the crappy reality that Ace could never be mine.

Alice retreated back into the laboratory, saying she'd come back in five minutes. I busied myself typing away at my gauntlet. I could sense Lync watching over my shoulder with the sharpness of a hawk – which was unnerving, but I managed to type out a message to the other Vexos and another to the Resistance.

"Hey, Mylene," Lync said gently, reading my message aloud. "It's Erin Algant. Lync and I are safe, and we've managed to find the location of the Resistance. Here are the coordinates of their Base. We hope you're ok. Thanks."

Lync ran a hand through his hair. "I feel guilty that I've been enjoying this time alone with you when the others could be suffering."

"Four Vexos trapped in the same space ship," I chuckled. "They'll be sick of each other, but they'll survive, Lync." I hoped I was consoling enough. I didn't want Lync feeling terrible…

"The transporter is ready. We've informed the Resistance of your arrival." Alice said breezily. "Please, let's get you two set up."

"Alice, I can change back into my-"

"Nonsense – keep those clothes. You look great, and I was never going to wear something that bold," Alice argued. I sighed, realizing there was no such thing as arguing with Alice. She was too kind.

"Th-thank you, I guess." I said, shaking my head.

She beamed. "I hope your mission goes well, you two." She shambles over to where Lync and I are positioned in Michael Gehabich's transporter – a close resemblance to the one back in the mother palace, no longer able to be used.

I reach out to shake her hand. She grasps onto it, her warmth making my whole arm tingle. "We owe you one, Alice."

"I owe you two, actually," Lync comments, wrapping his arms around Alice in a hug. I stiffen, but relax when he quickly pulls away.

"You're welcome anytime," Alice responds, tucking a strand of her beautiful orange hair behind an ear. "I hope you save the world."

Lync and I stole glances at each other, smirking.

"I hope we do too," he whispers. I nod along with that statement.

Michael looks up from a computer screen he had been typing away at, smiling grimly. "Stay safe, children. I'd be devastated if you two died tragically."

Lync stiffened and scoffed awkwardly. "Yeah… I'd be sad too," he commented.

Michael smiled the classic old-charming-person smile, before resuming his typing. "Resistance Base, here we come," I whispered, grabbing onto Lync's hand. He smiled.

The world began to fade in and out in what seemed like short bursts of static. Through the haze that was unrefined teleportation, I could see Alice waving confidently, her grandfather sneaking glances between our disappearing forms and the monitor.

And then, we disappeared.

…

Lync and I landed on the doorstep to a huge mansion.

A camera was strategically placed where a doorbell should have been, and upon our landing a door swung open, with the sound of Kato (Marucho's butler) saying: "Make haste, Erin. Master Marucho's been waiting for your arrival for weeks."

"Er… thanks, Kato."

"If need be, please inform us to restrain your companion."

I looked up at the camera. "Nah, Lync's all cool."

I could imagine Kato shrugging. "Whatever you say."

Everyone was gathered in the common room of the mansion. I could hear bits of their conversation from behind the door Lync and I were positioned at. Lync swallowed. "I'm scared. This is like meeting your parents or something."

The comparison lightened my mood, and I laughed. "You've met these people before." I patted his head. "We'll be fine, ok?"

"Ok." He admonished. "But you're opening the door."

I mentally braced myself before pushing open the door.

Conversation trickled to a dead stop.

Heads turned. There were a few gasps, a bunch of double-takes. Nothing I couldn't handle, so I stepped a bit forward. Lync still hung awkwardly in the doorway, but the shyness was no harm.

I awkwardly wiped my sweaty hands onto my pants, trying to go for a worn smile. "Er… 'sup."

Baron dropped the remote control he had been holding. I cringed at the impact the machine had with the marble tiled floor, but the sound must have triggered something in the others, because they all kind of suddenly surged forward in one large outburst of cheering and sobbing.

Lync looked lucky to be excluded from the mass production of interaction that had suddenly occurred. Everyone around me – Dan, Mira, Ace, Baron, Shun, Marucho, other people that I wasn't too sure I had met before, and all of their Bakugan, was basically going nuts.

First Mira had hugged me. Extremely tight. And refused to let go. So then Ace had joined. Then Dan. Then Baron. And Marucho, who then forced poor Shun to join too.

When that slightly suffocating experience was over, the intense amount of confusion hit me like a freight train.

The six who had hugged me began to pepper me with questions. Why are you here? Why is Lync here too? Where's ShadowHeart? What are the Vexos like?

And then two other girls – one with blue hair in pigtails, and another dressed in bright pink – began asking me questions too. Are you Erin? We've heard so much about you! Blah, blah, blah, introductions and stuff-

… Yeah, I zoned out for basically everything.

It wasn't until Shun finally called for order that they began to settle down, and I could finally take in my physical surroundings.

But then I didn't because my trembling legs suddenly decided that stepping closer to Lync's side would be much better for my mental and physical health. So I awkwardly stumbled in the direction of the door and did exactly that.

Jesus. That was a lot of people.

Dan, silly Dan Kuso, laughed a little. "Sorry, Erin. That must have been exceptionally overwhelming."

I loosened the death grip I had on Lync's arm, and he gave a little squeak. "Please don't do that ever again." I said. "Jesus… that was traumatizing!"

My threatening tone seemed to loosen the mood a bit, and Mira smiled. "Erin… what happened that made you come back?"

"And why is Lync Volan with you?" Dan asked, eyes narrowing a little.

And probably, the most horrifying question – or rather, statement. "Don't tell me you two are dating," Shun grumbled, crossing his arms.

I let go of Lync's arms with much reluctance. He stiffened, trying to convey just how panicky he was feeling through the use of eye contact. "I can explain… as much as I can." I stammered.

"About you and Lync?" asked Baron curiously.

"N-no! About the mother palace, and the Vexos situation… and the Alternative situation… and Zenoheld." I responded. "And Lync will help me recap!" I added as an afterthought.

Lync blinked, looking like he had eaten something sour. "… I will?"

I hoped I could convey just how much I wanted to slap him through the power of my eyes. Mission success, because he gulped and faked a cheerful smile. I patted his hair in appreciation, and he responded by swatting my hand away.

Ace seemed to growl a little at the action, and Lync promptly shoved his hands into his pockets, scoffing, blushing.

"Guys," I tried not to sound stormy or annoyed, but suddenly the idea of the Resistance not liking Lync and the others wasn't sitting too well with me. "Please, don't be hostile. We're all for having Zenoheld defeated and the universe saved – I don't see the need for division."

That Earth girl with the blue hair – Runo – tilted her head. "So… we can trust him?" she asked, pointing a finger at Lync.

Lync placed a hand on his heart, nodding. "Yes, you can trust me! And if you want further proof-" he paused, turning to face me. "The Alternative scans?" he held a hand out, expecting me to give them to him.

Dan gasped. "You have them?"

I reached into my pants' pocket and found the hard drive. I gently placed it in Lync's hands. The others seemed to bristle, but Lync calmly strode forward and handed them to a shocked Dan with a serene smile.

"Th-thanks, dude!" Dan said. "I… suppose I owe you an apology."

Lync huffed, but otherwise smirked. "Yes, definitely. And I suppose I owe you one too."

Dan offered his fist for a fist bump. Lync's eyes widened slightly, and the two bumped fists. Dan looked completely at ease now, now that Lync, the ex-Vexos, had accepted his request of a fist bump.

I tried to stifle my laughter. Was that all it took to convince Dan?

I smiled, walking forwards. "So… let's begin our recap."

After a solid two hours of talking and stupid questions later, conversation trickled out. The explanation Lync and I told had been believed, and by the time we were finished talking, I felt tired.

Lync had drifted off into polite conversation with Dan and the others, and I awkwardly excused myself to the bathroom.

I slipped out of the common room with relief. "Finally, some peace and quiet," I muttered to Shadowheart. "Let's look around."

"The Resistance is as busy as ever, it seems," Shadowheart mused as I walked aimlessly around, taking everything in literal stride. "When do you think the other Vexos will be arriving?"

"The other Vexos?" a voice asked from behind me – a voice I hadn't heard yet. I whipped around to see a tall, blond young man watching me from the other side of the corridor. He was dressed in abundant shades of red – and I concluded that this was the Spectra Phantom Gus had been so fond of.

"Spectra?"

"Call me Keith. And you are… Erin Algant, I presume." He started walking towards me, and soon he was looming over me (the dude was tall), seeming to take in my appearance and judge my character.

"Nice to meet the legend up close and… personal," I managed to say, stepping backwards a little.

"Likewise. Now, you were saying something about the other Vexos. I can't help but wonder if that includes my faithful friend, Gus Grav…?" Keith wasn't wearing his red mask, so I could see his two eyes and the pain echoing around in them.

I swallowed painfully. "He… I'm sorry, no." I said, not daring to say more on the subject unless asked.

He tried to play off the news as if it was no big deal, but the pain in his eyes seemed to increase tenfold. His dismay seemed to cloud the air around him. "I-I see. Thank you for this information." He responded.

I hadn't even gotten to shake his hand.

He turned to leave.

"Spectra – I mean, Keith!" I added suddenly. "He's… I can confirm the fact that he's alive. He's just… still back at the mother palace."

He froze.

Keith's eyes softened. "Th-thank you for this information, Erin," he whispered, looking thoughtful. "I'm very glad."

"You're welcome, Keith."

When he was out of earshot, I let out a sigh of relief. Spectra/Keith had always been the original brawler that I believe many had come to fear. He had this air of confidence and power around him – he was like some untouchable statue upon some delicate pedestal.

If you touched it, you would be in big trouble.

He had that same impression on me that the Vexos had the first time we met.

Seeing that this powerful figure in my life (ok, maybe not my life, but this powerful figure of Vestal society) was able to show emotion was equally odd and fascinating. And scary.

But the thought of Gus and Faydra possibly unable to escape chased away those thoughts.

Just as I decided to go and find Mira, one of the Earth girls – Julie – came up behind me and grabbed my arm excitedly. Both Shadowheart and I jumped, all startled. "There you are!" she said fondly, giggling all the while.

Shadowheart and I exchanged weary glances.

"Come on, me and the other girls wanted to talk to you!"

I tried not to slam my head into the wall. Cecil used to openly joke about how I had poor tolerance for squealing and bright pink – the basic description of this Julie person. Cecil had clearly been correct – and it seemed Shadowheart had picked up on my annoyance for such things.

At the same time, Mira was one of the other girls. I could tolerate her plenty. "Sounds great, Julie," I said. Shadowheart looked like he wanted to die. "Oh, yeah. I just want to drop off Shadowheart to stay with one of the others. Maybe Ace."

"No problem!" Julie chirped. Everything about her nature seemed so bubbly and carefree. It made me question if she had really seen what terror Zenoheld was able to inspire in everyone who had gotten to know him.

Fascinating. Maybe Runo would be just as interesting.

I don't think I've said this before... but thank you. Every time I get a notification from ffn about this story, my day is instantly made. Your reviews have been so nice and it makes me realize that my writing isn't that terrible! So thank you.