To those of you that are reading:

Eeee I love you guys so much! c': But before I go on ... there's good news and bad news.

Good news: I have my inspiration back. Bad news: That means this story is coming to a close (because I'm VERY close to finishing it).

But ... there's more good news! Because guess what?

I'M GOING TO WRITE A SEQUEL. c':

I already have two new characters, a plot, and enough vodka to keep Nikolai happy for years! ... Okay, maybe weeks ...

But the point is: THIS STORY WILL NOT END WITH THE LAST CHAPTER! (as I thought it would).

Which also means I need to scrap the epilogue I wrote a few weeks ago because it no longer applies ... ... ;-.-

ANYWAYYYY.

Here, have an update!


FYI: To whom it may concern: In my mind, Tank is 35ish, Kathleen is 21ish, Richtofen is 38ish, Takeo is 37ish, and Nikolai might be pushing mid-forty.


AnonymouseXI: Tank's a little sneaky sneak! And I suppose we'll find out about Samantha ... D: ... I'm glad you were excited about the update! *huggle* And NO I'D NEVER HEARD THEIR CHRISTMAS ALBUM BEFORE. *goes to listen* ... CHRISTMAS ALBUM?! *life is complete*

Hakanii-chan: Hahaha awesome! Yes ... he is a cruel, cruel, but somehow sexy man ... And YESSS YOU CAUGHT THE DEAN MARTIN PART X'3 ... so glad you enjoyed Vegas! c:

Chris Ahrens: Yay! c: I'm glad you've found it too! And of course, I am always up for suggestions! I would actually LOVE to do the whole Five meets Kino sort of situation, but I'll likely have that happen in an AU oneshot or something! My unofficial goal is to finish this story as soon as possible ... so I can get started on my next one ... or a sequel ... *cough hint* ... but your idea is lovely and definitely not utter crap! c:

Ahren24-115: Ze Doctor is disappointed. Oh vell. I suppose I vill be able to find shpleens elsevhere... zhough perhaps not from a villing donor ... *sigh* ... And ... BLAHH I AM SO FLATTERED. c': ... I can't believe you keep checking for updates and you love the story so much! *weeping with joy* ... *huggle* ...HERE HAVE THIS UPDATE *throws it at you and runs* ... And yesss keep those shifty eyes on Dempsey ... he's got some PLANS ... and my life is getting better, no worries! Just sorting through all the mess of being an adult! c: ... ... FANS ... ? ... BLAHHHH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AHHHH ... ... *scrunched up face of joy*

WickedIntentions: Yusssssss. "Samanzha, Samanzha ve talked about zhis ..." ... And don't you worry, my darling! Things seem to be coming together again! c: ... and blahhh yes your reviews are so FANTASTICALLY WONDERFUL AHHHH ... c': ... I still can't believe people like this story so much, especially since I basically started writing it on a whim ...! But it's grown into something I'm honestly really proud of, and I'm so glad I could share it with you. :3 ... And I'm really getting into the group interactions again; it's nice to write after so many one-on-one scenes ... kind of got that out of my system ... XD ... And yes ... now we will see what sorts of things Samantha's been up to ...! Here is another little update for your viewing pleasure! *kisses und shnuggles*

xxz0eyxx: Awwww I missed you too! *huggle* And don't worry! My life is gradually becoming wunderbar again ... which means my writing inspiration is flooding back to me! I have so many ideas for the end of this story (which is now on a crash-course)! And oooh I love your idea for the OC ... it's funny, because in the past, I always wrote shy girls (because I used to be EXTRAORDINARILY shy before I went through undergraduate), and now I write girls with attitude and confidence! XD ... I will give it some thought and maybe start a short little three chapter story or so! c: xoxoxo


I wish there were words to describe the utter glee I feel every time I read your reviews. It's like ... the sweet warmth of hot cocoa on a cold rainy day. c':


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... oh, Samantha ... you sneaky little sneak ... it was you all along ...

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Between Dream and Reality
Zwischen Traum und Wirklichkeit


CHAPTER FORTY NINE


Her Dirty Little Secret
ihr schmutziges kleines Geheimnis


Samantha sat in the corner of the medical supply room, hugging her knees.

As she rocked slowly back and forth, strands of sleek black hair fell across her round little face.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Uncle Edward ruined everything. He was supposed to hate Kitty, not fall in love with her. That was the whole point. And he had hated her.

At first.

When she zapped through the wormhole and landed in the cinema, Kitty was suspicious. A mysterious, tomboyish, foul-mouthed girl from America with a story that couldn't be explained. It was everything Uncle Edward despised, and Samantha planned it that way from the beginning.

How annoying it had been to search through reality to find the perfect person; someone female and defiant, with a heart of gold. The perfect foil for uppity Uncle Edward, with his neatly folded shirts, misogyny, and cruel, sadistic pleasures. Who better to butt heads? Of course the pyramid helped; they wanted Samantha to do it, they thought it would be fun. Why not toy with these insignificant beasts? Such inferior intellects, such paltry passions.

Oh, how Samantha missed their voices in her head.

They loved excitement. Anything strange and chaotic. And she loved it, too. She was a child, after all; her mind was a constant whirl of feelings and imagination. And before she killed Uncle Edward, why not torture him? Why not steal away all of his lackeys, and use a girl he hated to ruin all of his dreams?

How lovely it would be to watch him squirm as this girl threw his passions back in his face. Kitty, barely a woman, but burdened with the knowledge of the future. Someone Uncle Edward saw as inferior, demeaning him for his heartless malice. And the others, inspired by her insolence; inspired enough to rebel themselves, to be freed from the doctor's influence.

And then Uncle Edward would be alone in his mission to steal the pyramid, and Samantha could finish what she started so long ago.

She grit her teeth together, biting back a wail of frustration.

Tank was the one Kitty was supposed to want; the one who was American, like her. They had so much in common. Both potty mouths, both headstrong, both assertive and stubborn and demanding. If Uncle Edward hated Tank, and Uncle Edward hated Kitty, then surely they should love each other. Samantha thought it was foolproof.

Unfortunately, she couldn't account for the complexities of human nature.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," she hissed in German, smacking the heel of her palm against her forehead. "So stupid, Sammy! Why did you think they would help you? Why did you think they'd tell the truth?" Her dark blue eyes suddenly widened and she glanced around the room, as though someone might have heard her. Then she froze for a moment, listening intently.

Nothing.

No voices.

A twisted rush of pained relief flooded her body. She was glad to be rid of their scolding, but in so many ways, she still wished they'd come back. Just for a moment.

He will pay for what he did to Papa, they whispered in her ears, back when she floated still and warm in the pyramid. He will pay, and we will make sure of it.

But now they were gone, and she'd never have them back.

"Samantha?" someone asked, far away down the hall. "Samantha, can you hear me?"

She curled into the corner, as if she tried hard enough, she might disappear. No one would look for her in this room. It was too dark, too confusing; there were tables and chairs and instruments everywhere. She was hidden. She could stay here and cry and wonder how all of her plans went wrong.

Kitty stepped through the door, illuminated by the hall lights, her face crumpled with worry. "Samantha?" she called again, squinting around the room. "Please answer me if you're in here," she muttered, clearly upset. "I don't want to leave you alone in this place when we go back to get the pyramid."

That was when Samantha's foot fell asleep.

It was so uncomfortable. Almost painful.

She had to move it.

Why did something like this happen every time she tried to hide?

She stretched out her leg, and of course Kitty noticed. "Samantha!" she cried, stumbling across the room and over to her corner. "Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling down in front of her, frowning at her tear-stained cheeks. "Have you been crying? What's wrong?"

Samantha rolled her eyes, grimacing as she rubbed her foot. "I'm fine," she grumbled. "Just my foot fell asleep."

"If you stand up, it might help," suggested Kitty, reaching out to help Samantha to her feet. They stood. "I like to hop around a little whenever that happens to me," Kitty continued, shifting her weight subconsciously. "I think it gets the blood flowing again or something."

Samantha had just begun to hop from foot to foot when Tank came into the room. "Oh, damn, you found her," he said, sounding relieved. "I was starting to think she'd run off into the woods or somethin'."

"Ugh," Samantha groaned. "I couldn't do that. I'd die."

Tank gave her a deadpan look. "What a shame that'd be."

Kitty glared at him. "Shut up. Don't say stuff like that. She's just a kid."

"Sorry," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. "I've just spent way too much of my life trying to kill her. Or her zombies. Or whatever."

Samantha lifted her foot and wiggled it in the air, rolling her ankle. "I think it's better now," she announced, looking much more relaxed.

"Good," said Kitty. "Maybe you won't sit all scrunched up in a corner next time."

"Like you care," grumbled the little girl, rolling her eyes again. She stormed between Tank and Kitty, who followed her as she stalked off down the hall. "Stop following me," she hissed, glaring back at them over her shoulder.

"Like hell I'm letting you run away again," muttered Tank.

But he didn't need to worry.

As Samantha was glaring over her shoulder, she didn't notice Nikolai, blocking her path.

She thumped right into him.

Nikolai grunted, staring down at her. "Great. The little girl smashes her creepy face in my stomach." His lip wrinkled. "I think I will be sick."

Samantha looked green around the gills, too. "Ew," she groaned. "Russian."

"Do not criticize your elders," muttered Takeo, appearing out of nowhere.

Tank grinned at him, incredulous. "So you're defending ol' Nikolai now, Tak? Cute."

Takeo turned narrowed eyes in his direction. "A warrior shields his allies," he grumbled, glancing over at Nikolai with mild disgust. "No matter how dishonorable they may be."

Nikolai grabbed the crown of Samantha's head with one big hand, pushing her away. "Do not do that again," he bellowed, scowling at her.

"Don't worry," she snapped. "I won't."

"You think the doc's done with those calculations or whatever?" asked Tank, glancing over at Kitty. "I'm itchin' to go kick some alien butt."

"I have missed the hellpigs," sighed Nikolai in agreement, pulling out a vodka bottle. He took a deep swig.

"Well," muttered Kitty, "If we get rid of the pyramid, the hellpigs are gone for good. I hope."

Takeo was quiet. "I would be pleased with this outcome," he murmured.

Tank laughed. "Always so outspoken, aren't ya Tak?"

"I guess we can go check with Edward and see if he's finished," Kitty was saying, mostly to herself. "But he just started, so he's probably nowhere near done yet."

"Edward," scoffed Tank, a little too loudly. He hadn't meant for anyone to hear it, but Samantha did. She gave him a significant look, which he ignored. Sure, they both hated Richtofen; but there was something about that girl he didn't trust. Besides, he had enough on his mind to worry about. He couldn't go adding her to the mix.

"Shall we inquire after his progress?" suggested Takeo, taking a hesitant step in the direction of the doctor's office.

Kitty nodded. "Sure, why not." Then she grinned. "It wouldn't be the first time we've interrupted him."

"This is true," chuckled Nikolai. "And I have the deafness in one ear to prove it."

Tank smiled lopsidedly. "We'll let you put that ear to the door, then," he teased, winking.

"Before or after we ask?" said Nikolai, frowning.

"Both?" Tank shrugged, dodging Nikolai's fist.

"Alright, guys," laughed Kitty. "Let's get going. The sooner we get yelled at, the better."

Samantha frowned.

"I hate being yelled at," she grumbled.

"Well, too bad," said Kitty, grabbing Samantha's arm. "We're about to get an earful."

"You mean, Nikolai is," corrected Tank.

Then he laughed as he dodged another drunken punch.


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Nothing to translate! ... I think ... ?


...

Well, well, well ... Samantha ...

I think you've got some 'splainin' to do ...

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... as soon as we get rid of the M.P.D. ...

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Comments, questions, suggestions? Tell me!
ZE DOCTOR VILL LISTEN TO ALL ZE GLORIOUS WORDS...!

Ze Doctor Says: "LEAVE ME ALONE. I am working on equations und calculations. If you dishturb me, I vill SHLICE YOU. ... und shteal your shpleens ... ja ..."