[Scene opens to Sorcieré snoring happily in her bed, hugging her micro-economics book. Next to the bed, Fortune and Vamp - her two muses - are watching the scene with vaguely amused expressions.]

Fortune: *pokes sleeping writer* Hey, girl?

Sorcieré: *mumbles something incoherently and hugs the book a bit closer*

Vamp: *smirk* Well, it seems like we'll have to take over the show until she wakes up.

Fortune: Are you sure that's a good idea...? She's gonna be pissed when she finds out.

Vamp: *arches eyebrow* And? We're her muses - there's nothing she can do to stop us, anyway.

Fortune: *looks at Sorcieré* Point taken. Let's get to work. *picks up a paper from the floor next to the bed and quickly reads it* Ageless - well, actually Sorcieré just wanted to see if anyone still reads that little note at the top. And Jordane *will* get her time in the spotlight, trust us...of course, if you keep provoking the poor girl, *you* might not be around to read that, but that's not our problem *smug grin*

Vamp: And VivaGlam...*smirks* Well, in that case I'm very much looking forward to that fight you've been asking for. I've never had the chance to *bite* a writer before...

Fortune: X-Moonchik - the note was written in Danish, Sorcieré's native language.

As said, she wanted to see if anyone still reads the bloody note.

Vamp: What's next?

Fortune: *reads from paper* "Italics indicate thoughts/telepathy"

Vamp: ...Which all of you should know by now.

Fortune: *snicker* One of these days, we really should do a MSTing of one of her chapters. She'd hate us for that.

Vamp: Not to mention that it would remind her readers that Journey or not, sillyfics *are* her main forte.

Fortune: *shakes head* 'Reality Check' is gonna give them one hell of a shock.

Vamp: *smirk* Wasn't that the point?

* * *

Chapter Sixty-Four: An Unexpected Truce

* * *

Night had come, and night had gone, and along with it, the brief hours of blessed coolness that followed the darkness.

Ryan sat silently on the stairs outside the motel-rooms they'd rented, watching the sunrise and feeling the first heat on his cool skin. They'd driven all night, not stopping until they were sure that nobody had followed them, and even then they'd made sure to pick a town that would offer them at least a bit of safety. Ryan wasn't even sure what it was called, only that it was medium sized and located close to a large highway - that mean plenty of people who just stopped for the night, making a few more visitors nothing out of the ordinary.

It hadn't even been necessary for him to use his powers - Daryn had convinced a nearby ATM to give them the cash they needed, thanks to the account number that Hal with a wry smile had assured him *was* their own.

Ryan sighed and leaned back against the hard wall, letting his thoughts drift until they settled on the one subject that Ryan had desperately tried not to think about - Kyle.

It wasn't that Ryan didn't care about Suzuka, because he did, but four years with Kyle had made the two very close friends, and very little could compete with the concern Ryan now felt for his longtime friend and support. For the past four years, Kyle's presence had been one of the few constants in his life, always lingering at the edge of his mind. It had been a comfort to him more than once, a reminder that he was never really alone.

To suddenly lose that presence...Ryan closed his eyes and buried his head in his hands, reaching out with his powers again, desperately hoping for a reply.

Kyle...

Once again the only answer he got was a deafening silence, followed by an almost psychical pain at the loneliness that accompanied it. Sure, Ryan could still feel the closeness of his other teammates, but where Kyle's so calm and steady presence had been, there was only emptiness.

Focus yourself, Ryan ordered himself harshly. You can't sense anything if you let your powers be ruled by emotions.

He took a deep breath and forced aside the lingering feeling of fear and worry, focusing completely on his powers. Another deep breath; focusing, gathering strength, then-

Kyle!

Again he tried, stretching his mind to its very limit, searching for that one, familiar presence...and there, at the outermost corners of his mind, was the faintest echo of a drowsy, confused reply.

Ryan..?

And for the first time since their escape, Ryan smiled - it was a faint smile, lacking its usual strength, but it was a smile nonetheless. Kyle was alive...and suddenly the world looked a bit brighter.

Still with the small smile on his lips, Ryan focused on Kyle's presence.

Yes...It's me. What happened to you and Suzuka?

The reply echoed through Kyle's still-drowsy mind, and he forced himself to ignore the tiredness that still engulfed his head. He wasn't sure what time it was - his three cellmates were slowly, almost reluctantly, waking up as well, still feeling the lingering effects of the annoying drug. Kyle's body felt strangely drained, but it would have to wait - right now he had more important things to focus on.

I tried to find you, but I couldn't sense you, Ryan continued quietly. I was afraid that... he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Even the thought that he could have lost Kyle was enough to send a stab of pain through his soul, a touch of the loneliness he so often feared.

Don't worry - at the moment we're okay, Kyle replied, and the emotions that accompanied the words told Ryan that it was true - they were okay, at least for now.

What happened?

Kyle sighed softly and let down his mental barriers, letting Ryan look at his recollection of what had happened. He felt the strangely gentle feeling as Ryan sorted through the memories with infinite care, making sure that his actions wouldn't hurt Kyle. A moment of silence passed, then Ryan paused at a particular memory, anxiety humming around his presence.

Blade is there? Ryan asked, worry and anger battling for control. The thought that Kyle and Suzuka were trapped with a psycho like that...he couldn't even bring himself to think of the possible consequences.

Yes, but he won't try anything, not as long as Melee's life is on the line as well, Kyle assured him, and oddly, he found that he himself believed the words as well. It was quite a risk to run - to trust that Melee's presence would keep Blade from losing patience with them - but it was a risk that Kyle was willing to take. Not that he had much of a choice, granted, but still...he'd kept a close eye on the two, and found that yes, Blade did seem to care about his partner, unlikely as it sounded.

Are you sure? Ryan asked worried.

Kyle nodded slowly. Yeah...I am. Trust me on this, Ryan - I know what I'm doing.

All right, Ryan replied, but he didn't sound awfully convinced. Do you have idea of where you are?

No...this place could be anywhere, Kyle replied with a sigh. I tried to find some clues, but there was nothing.

Ryan nodded absently and continued his careful search through Kyle's memories, his attention finally coming to rest of the earlier meeting with Sanders.

Benjamin Ross? he remarked. I've heard of him...according to the media, the security surrounding his speech in Texas is going to be insane.

I know, Kyle replied. It doesn't...it doesn't make sense. If they wanted him dead, they could handle it themselves. I mean - why us? Why like this? Something's wrong.

It certainly sounds that way, Ryan admitted with a sigh. But right now there isn't much we can do - wherever you are, it's too far away for me to sense. I guess...I guess the best thing to do will be to keep in touch and be in Houston before you arrive.

Yeah, I think you're right. Kyle hesitated for a moment before continuing. What about the others? Are they okay?

Yes, they're fine, Ryan assured him. We escaped unharmed.

Kyle nodded, although Ryan couldn't see it. The words had brought with them a profound sense of relief at the knowledge that Ryan and the others had gotten away. They were alive, alive and safe, and that one fact forced away some of the depressing darkness that had lingered in Kyle's mind.

Kyle... Ryan's voice echoed through Kyle's mind once again, this time bringing with it a deep hum of worry. It wasn't hard for Kyle to guess that Ryan was more than a bit worried about the situation, and in all honestly, Kyle felt the exact same way. He suppressed the emotion, though -worrying now would accomplish nothing.

I doubt they would have bothered to keep us alive if they just wanted to kill us, Kyle remarked, trying to offer a bit of reassurance. Whether it was for Ryan's sake or his own, he wasn't sure.

I know, Ryan replied, and some of the low humming faded away, Just...be careful.

I will.

"Kyle?"

The voice cut through the almost tranquil silence of the mental conversation, brutally returning Kyle to the real world. He opened his eyes and found Suzuka watching him concerned, still looking a bit groggy from the combination of sleep and the lingering effects of the drugs.

"It's okay," Kyle replied. "I was talking to Ryan and told him what was going on." Suzuka's eyes lit up a bit, and Kyle continued before Suzuka could ask the obvious question. "Yes...they got away."

Suzuka didn't reply with words, but a smile appeared on her lips, that one gesture lighting up her entire face.

"Cretes, you say? So your beloved leader left without the two of you," Blade remarked with a touch of cruelty in his voice. "What a pity."

Kyle's eyes narrowed, but before he had the chance to reply to Blade's comment, Ryan interrupted him.

No...stay out of this, Kyle. That remark was meant to hurt me - I'll handle it.

Kyle hesitated for a moment, then sighed. All right.

There was no reply from Ryan, but Kyle could feel him strengthen his mental shields before he reached out towards the man who had caused him so much anger and grief.

Blade... The name echoed through Kyle's mind because of the telepathic contact with Ryan, bringing with it a harder, colder side of his friend that Kyle hadn't seen before. The gentleness that usually accompanied Ryan's presence was all but gone, buried beneath the mental shields, and somehow it worried Kyle more than he had expected.

Kyle saw Blade close his eyes to focus, his almost eerie mental presence lingering at the edge of Kyle's awareness.

We have something to settle, Cretes, Blade replied, his cold presence brushing directly against Kyle's mind for a brief moment, just long enough to send a chill through his body.

Yes...we do, Ryan agreed, and before Kyle could react, he felt the link between him and Ryan being cut off, leaving only a deafening silence behind.

* * *

Ryan took a moment to adapt to the sudden block of the link before he focused on Blade. In all honesty he would have preferred to have kept the link up, to feel Kyle's comforting presence, but he also knew that it was something he could not allow himself - this was between him and Blade. Not their teammates, not their allies...when it all came down to it, this was between them, and them alone.

So you escaped...but you had to leave Tempest and Twilight behind. What a shame, Blade mocked quietly.

I don't see how their situation is any different than yours, Ryan remarked coldly, Blade's presence fuelling Ryan's anger like few things had before. You and Melee are prisoners, too, although your team got away.

Blade smirked faintly, strangely pleased with this more ruthless Ryan he now faced. The old Ryan had been far from a challenge...but maybe this one would be.

Nice try, but I'm afraid you're wrong, he replied. My team was under orders to leave and not try to come back if anything happened...you, on the other hand, cold-bloodedly decided to leave your best friend in the hand of the humans just to save your own, sorry hide. How brave.

Again his voice was mocking, taunting, and Ryan clenched his fists in anger.

Really...Blade continued, confident in his control of the situation. It must be tearing you apart to know that two of your teammates are trapped with me...and there's absolutely nothing you can do to help them.

Or maybe there is, Ryan replied. The anger that had seethed just beneath the surface finally erupted, finding an outlet in the only way Ryan would be able to strike back - his powers. As he'd told Diana so long ago, his control was all but non-existent, but in this case control didn't matter. It was a matter of damage, not finesse.

A rush of adrenaline surged through Ryan and made his body hum with energy as his secondary and all but dormant power lashed out, draining Blade's strength with a speed that surprised both of the two.

For a brief moment, Blade was too stunned to react, then his instincts took over - it was only a matter of time before Ryan had gained the upper hand, and he would not allow that to happen. His hand closed around the lock to the collar, his intention deliberately clear to Ryan.

It took less than a second for the telepath to react, then the draining stopped, the link cut over by a mental knife.

I'm sure you've taken a look at Sanderson's memories, Blade remarked icily. You should know by now that if I tear this collar open, your two, little teammates will die.

If you tear that collar open, you and Jordane will die as well, Ryan replied, his voice every bit as unyielding as Blade's, but at the innermost corners of his mind, the doubt lingered. He knew Blade, knew what he could do, and something like this was not unthinkable.

Yes, Blade replied. I know.

There was no hesitation in the reply, no uncertainty, only cold, ruthless anger.

You're bluffing, Ryan said, almost challenging, but knew deep down that this was not the case.

I don't bluff, Blade replied indifferently, confirming Ryan's suspicions. A threat is useless unless you're willing to go through with it. I thought you'd learned that by now.

A life means nothing to you, does it? Ryan remarked disgusted, but he still forced his power under control again, making sure that he wouldn't accidentally unleash it if he let his concentration slip.

Should it? Blade replied.

And what about your teammates? Ryan asked coldly. Don't they mean anything to you, either? Was Laetitia's death just a minor inconvenience?

Nike? What happened to her? Blade asked with a frown, his argument with Ryan momentarily forgotten.

You didn't know? Ryan asked, real confusion tinting his mental presence for a brief moment. She died when the prison blew up.

Blade didn't reply, but a hint of real regret could be felt through the temporary mental link, the emotion only fuelling Ryan's anger.

You can grieve the death of an assassin, but not allow an innocent teenager to live? he demanded angrily. You're sick.

You attacked us - we had every right to take revenge, Blade replied coldly. The fact that your teammate had to pay the price can be blamed only on you.

Then let's settle it without any teammates to get in the way, Ryan suggested. The more rational part of his mind was well aware that this was a very bad idea, but right now Ryan really didn't care. This had gone on for long enough - it was time to finish it before any more innocents got hurt.

If I remember correctly, we're tried that before, Blade remarked. But the only result was the mindswitch you caused in your amazing stupidity.

I've learned from my mistakes, Ryan replied coldly. All of them.

Then what do you suggest? Blade asked, cool curiosity radiating from his presence. Ryan's suggestion intrigued him more than he cared to admit - during their first standoff, the other had hardly been a challenge. Now, though...Ryan's willingness to use his powers to hurt others, along with the change in his mind had turned him into someone far more interesting to Blade. He'd been right - Ryan had grown up, and the possibility of facing someone who might even prove a real challenge was enough to make Blade forget about their dispute for a while.

What I suggest is a temporary truce, Ryan replied. As it is now, your team partially depends on me, just as Kyle and Suzuka's safety defends partially on you. We wait until we've gotten out of danger, and then we can settle this once and for all. We can't afford to fight now, not when the lives both of our teams depend on us.

A truce? Blade repeated, amusement clear in his voice.

Yes.

For a moment there was silence as Blade considered the suggestion. Much as he hated to admit it, Ryan had a point - they both had a responsibility to live up to, whether they liked it or not. Besides...what would a few more weeks or months mean in the long run? He could be patient when needed be, and in this case his patience would be worth is.

Finally he nodded and gave Ryan the reply he had been waiting for.

Very well. Then a truce it is.

* * *