:THOMAS:

I didn't know I'd be put into leader duties immediately. I might've thought that this was just him getting back on me for the whole date thing, but I knew better than to question him. While Trey was still generally, well, Trey, he was leader now too and he had other more important priorities than the second thing Sean wanted to talk about. Not that I think the little sunshine-bearer will actually talk to me, but orders are orders.

Plus, I am still a newbie, so opposing the Head Leader, even if he was my best friend, isn't getting me street creds.

"Tommy!" Kytes runs up to me—surprisingly, without Nina. He's little pet thing though was running beside him. "I was hoping I'd find you. I have a job for you, we're trying to make the train look abandoned so some of us are piling twigs and junk on top of the carriages. I'm in charge of growing vines and old roots over them. I thought you'd like a chance to help—it's better than sitting around, right? You'll be a big help, since your room was always messy before he headed down."

"Ha-Ha, not as much as yours." I scoffed. "I'll join you guys in a bit, okay? Trey asked me to have a talk with Sean. So I'm going to get that over with first."

"Get it over with?" Kytes repeated, laughing. "you don't think much of him, do you?"

I shrugged. "But if he decides to stay, I'll bet he'll grow on me eventually... Like a bad rash."

"Well, if he decides to stay, he'll probably become more and more like one of us," Kytes notes. "and less like an outsider. I think we'll all more or less come to accept him. Even Bryce will."

I snorted. "Yeah, and pigs will fly." I joked, then realize that it could be a possible. "Do they..."

"Yes, we've seen a few. They make good bacon." Kytes said, and he didn't seem to be joking.

I wondered if I'll get a chance to cook them. "Well, I'll be back soon as I'm done to help out."

"Great, see you, bro."

I leave him and went to the room I know Cody was blocking stuff in. Because the kid's the last person I saw that was with him. And apparently, he was still with him along with an extra person.

"Now, those need to be stored in one of the—oh, hello Thomas." Rhys looked up from where he's explaining what goes where to Cody. "was there something you wanted?"

I smiled. "No, keep working." Sean is sitting in the corner of the room, watching the going-ons with apparent interest. "Hey Chuckles," I said, catching his eye. "there was something Trey wanted me to ask you. Care to chat where we won't be in the way of things?"

Sean surprises me by actually smiling at the name I gave him.

"All right." He agrees, rising up, placing a hand on Cody's head as he brushed past him. They share a warm look, and I'm stupefied once more. He went toward me and we stepped out of the cart. "what was it you wanted to see me about, Thomas?" Sean asked in a polite tone. POLITE.

I realize that I'm seeing the deferential Sean that had diligently served as the central core of the machine without complaint. It feels odd. Very contrasting to the rude brat I dragged across the surface. I feel a brief surge of appreciation—he's now trying to understand a confusing new world under extreme pressure. It's the first time I've been able to talk to him and feel something other than irritation.

I was proud.

"Trey's wondering about the second thing you were supposed to ask about."

"I'm not sure Cody would like me sharing it, I had second thoughts sharing it to Trey."

I raised a brow. That was a bit concerning. "You used to hate Cody." I remind him.

"I know." Sean half smiles. "I grew attached to him somehow. He's very... persistent in getting me to like him."

I laughed. "It's going to get him in trouble someday that he can't leave you alone."

"Yes, it will." Sean agrees, very quietly. "I can tell you that for certain."

I frowned. "Why? Has he done something?"

"No, not yet..." Sean hesitates. "I feel I should tell somebody, but I'm not sure it should be Trey anymore. I have a suspicion he'd not take it well. It could cause Cody some pain. I think I'll tell you, if you wish. Then you can see that it is passed on if necessary. Does that sound agreeable?"

"Uh, yeah. I guess." I keep myself from smiling. He's trying—is it his fault that he talks like a computer? I hardly think so. "All right, I'll listen to what you have to say." I'm getting a sense of Déjà vu... How many times have I been listening to people's issues this week alone?

Sean nodded. "You are aware that I may be taken back this evening if I choose to be," he says, then glances at me for confirmation. When he gets a nod, he continues. "Well, Cody is less than pleased. Which I'm certain you are also aware of, you saw him cry, after all." I winced at that. I'm glad he didn't assume I was the cause, though in a way, I was. "However, he has made a promise that alarms me. His intention is to go where I go—so in the event that I choose to return, he wants to come along. But I'm not sure..." He stops, seemingly stuck for words.

"I see..."

I have to think this through for a moment. Cody's planning to—yes, that could be a problem, and I think I could predict Trey's reaction. But what I'm mostly apprehensive about is Corrin's reaction. If they were the kid's actual parents, then he'd be the pampering mother. Then there's still everyone up here who likes the little bluebird to think about...

And yet, Cody seems to like Sean more than enough to follow him.

"That's not good." I concluded.

Sean sighed. "I don't think so either. I can't see Cody adapting well to life underground, especially if it won't be much of a life. You know, as an experiment."

"No," I shuddered, the kid didn't deserve that. "But I don't think we can tell Trey. He'd flip."

"I thought so." Sean nodded. "I won't say anything. That was what I was going to talk to him about, though. I thought maybe Trey would hold Cody down or knock him out, or..." He trails off. "I don't know what. Something that would keep him from following me."

I frowned. "Sounds to me like you've already decided to go back."

"No," Sean shakes his head. "I am merely considering all options. I don't know yet. It's not easy, you understand."

I shrugged. "Sure, not well. But I have an idea. I'm sorry for being so hard on you through this whole thing. None of it was especially easy for me, either."

"I understand. You're right, we've both been through a lot." He smiles... again. Cody, what did you do? He's a miracle worker. "If I'm going back, we can at least part with no hard feelings between us. If I do leave, I might even miss you at some point—only briefly, but I'm sure you understand." He smiles... No, it's a smirk.

I blinked. Did he just make a joke? I grinned. "Oh sure, I'm probably going to have trouble dealing with the loss of your charming presence." I joked. "I'll leave you to—whatever it was you were doing before. Good luck with that decision, I hope you make the right choice."

"Me, too." Sean agrees, before heading back to where Cody and Rhys were.

I walked away, feeling better for some reasons and unable to explain why. Well, time to head back to Kyi.

I'm mildly surprised to see Trey. He should be somewhere else. "Hey dude."

"Hey Tom," Trey acknowledges me. "did you talk to Sean? Or did you simply strangle him?"

"Ha-ha, amazingly, no. I managed to keep my irritation to a minimum." Considering there wasn't even any.

Trey nodded. "Well, what did he want?"

"Er, yeah..." I stalled, wondering how I was going to handle this. I can't lie to Trey, so I decided that half-truth would do. "He changed his mind and now he says he'd rather he didn't let you know."

"Oh." Trey frowned. "it's not something that could endanger us, is it?"

I guess not. Only Cody, but that wouldn't make them feel any better. "I guess not. It didn't sound urgent, anyway."

"I see, thanks Tom." Trey smiles and looks at Javier. "Javi, we're going to need this done before sunset. Can you hurry a little more?"

"Sorry Trey," Javier said breathlessly. "it's been a long day. I'll do my best."

"Do whatever you can," Trey says, kindly enough. "I don't think I need to tell you it's important." He faces me again. "I heard your helping around. Kytes is nearby so, go along."

"I got it. Hurry on, I'm sure there's a thousand places you should be at."

Trey sighed. "Don't remind me. Sometimes having Meeko's ability would help me more." He walked away.

I went to look for my brother, but he found me first. "Over her, Tommy!" Kytes waved at me.

"Where's Nina?" I asked when I get closer.

"Helping Kiriho and Lexie with the kids." He answered. "that's a full time job. Lee usually helps out, but he's scouting ahead now with Max, and that's way more important."

I nodded. "So what's happening?" I asked him, copying the other kids in piling rubbles just so on the carriages. "did anyone report back yet?"

"Not since they told us that the guys from the underground found that mutant sheep." He answers, reaching into the ground.

I watched his face twitch in concentration, then the plants growing around the train start to creep up steadily and engulf it. It's weird... Oh well, nothing too bad, I guess. I keep working and ignore it. I'm interrupted about a quarter of an hour later by a soft touch on my arm.

"Excuse me?" I turned to see Jonah. "do you know where Trey is?"

I shook my head. "No, sorry." I wiped my forehead on my sleeve. "before you go find him, tell me what's going on?"

"They doubled back, it should be a matter of a couple of hours before they get to this area. But as far as I know, we're on schedule. I'll have to find Trey and tell him, though."

"Okay, don't let me keep you."

We continued working until Kytes deemed it convincing enough.

"That's good, Tommy. I don't think they'll be able to tell people had—one way or another—lived here. It looks pretty abandoned."

I looked and agreed. If I hadn't helped creating it, I would've thought the same thing. "Especially with all of those plants grown all over. I don't think they'll guess that you can actually do that." I grinned at him and he laughed.

"No, I guess not. It does come in handy, huh?"

"Can't wait to see what I'll end up with." I say truthfully. "if I happen to get any powers."

"Yeah, it'd be interesting to see what you get. Maybe you'll grow wings."

We looked at each other and laughed for no reason at all, just knowing that we no longer have to spend our lives separately is enough to make us happy.