Harper woke the next morning to find that it still rained, the sounds of it lashing against the window had been unnoticed as he slept and yet now it seemed like each drop was an individual thunderclap. Someone moved outside, shutting a door that he heard through the walls. "I know you are awake," Illithan's voice carried to him and he smiled, glad that the events of the night before were not a dream. "I have the computer active now; you can come and check for your friends." He was up very quickly, changing rapidly back into his own clothing that had been lying on the table by his bed, was into the main room in a few seconds and soon standing besides her. "I should warn you that there are several blocks for hackers on the system."

"If I get fried, I get fried,"

Illithan shook her head slightly, disbelieving his lack of concern, with a practised precision he connected a cable to the system, plugging the other end into the port on his neck. He was silent for a while, before pulling the cable out again, "A Molovan has them," Illithan pursed her lips, paling slightly but noticeably. "Who's he?"

"Molovan is . was a mercenary Shalench, he is now one of the leaders of this world, using his brutal sense to control people. If he has your friends then there is little hope for them, what were you doing that had them chasing you?"

He looked to her face, just noticing how pale she was, "Oh you know, the usual, a little pick pocketing," He shrugged and his voice sounded unconcerned, pulled an important looking file from his trouser pocket. Illithan's eyes widened as she recognised it as an important official document, if her eyes were not deceived then it was an arrest file for an important member of society, signed by Molovan. "Then this guy started on me, getting all mouthy, I seem to draw those sorts, Dylan pulled him back and the guy hit him, Beka hit him back, there was a big fight."

Thoughtfully Illithan tapped her nails on a nearby unit, her eyes unfocused; Harper's friends had somehow managed to cross one of Molovan's personal guards by the sound of it. "Your friends are lost; if Molovan has them there is no way for you to help them."

"No way, I've done this sorta thing before, jail breaking isn't hard."

"You have never broken Molovan's jail," Illithan snapped slightly. Harper pulled away from her, his eyes slightly scared, she took a few breaths in trying to calm herself down again. "I did not mean to be short with you, only one person has escaped before and they will not repeat the act."

"So it is possible?"

"Only if Molovan wants you to escape, he often has plans of his own, some of which are not understood until it is too late."

"Where does this person live? Do you know him?"

He turned to face her, noticing the pain to her eyes and the gaunt look to her face, realising far too late who had escaped before. "You could say I know her, I am her."