With the cloaks removed, Robin's eyes adjusted so she could take in the sight that was Sanctuary. It was quickly forgotten when Robin recognized the blaze of red hair belonging to a dear old friend.

Robin and Ally both shrieked with joy at seeing each other and collided into a hyper embrace!

"Robbie!" Ally felt like she might cry. "I can't believe you're here!" She pulled away from her friend and tried to look stern. "But I hear you've been bad. Still stealing when you promised you'd go straight."

Robin rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. Ally, I'm sorry but it's the only life I understand."

"Sounds familiar." Brennan murmured.

Robin looked over and frowned slightly in thought. "I remember you. You came with Ally and Dr. Kane to Los Angeles."

Brennan smiled faintly. "I remember you too and now I know who Ally was talking about all those times she said "Robbie". She had me worried for awhile."

Ally smiled sheepishly when he looked her way.

"I'm Brennan by the way."

"Very nice to officially meet you." Robin gave a slight curtsy.

"The two of you have a profession in common. Only it's ancient history. If he can change careers, so can you." Ally admonished.

Robin lifted an eyebrow. "Really? Well, we'll see."


A few moments later, everyone was ready to be serious.

"There's still no sign of Adam, but hopefully he still has the Puzzlebox." Emma informed.

"And now, completely by accident, we have the Pendant." Shalimar added.

"And the Defectors have the Hourglass." Ally reminded. "That just leaves—"

The computer beeped loudly, interrupting Ally's train of thought.

Jesse checked it out. "Uh-oh. I just received a bulletin from my search for the other items. It's from a Spanish news desk. The Ruby Cross has been stolen from a wealthy antiques dealer."

"That only leaves the Book out in the open, up for grabs." Tony clarified.

"It's last known location was Rome." Jesse offered.

"If it's in Vatican City, we'll never get our hands on it." Ally complained.

"Maybe that's a good thing." Shalimar noted.

"What do you mean?" Brennan asked.

"Maybe these items shouldn't be brought together. If they're the key to something, maybe having them all together unlocks something we don't want to unleash. Maybe that's why Adam asked us to back off."

"Told us, you mean." Emma corrected bitterly. "Shal, I'm not disregarding what you're saying, but we don't have all of the items. With Adam missing we have one. And the Book might have the information we need to decide what to do with the others."

"The Defectors may be swayed to assist us." Zenger suggested.

As everyone started to consider his words, Emma inhaled sharply and moaned in pain, bending over her stomach.

"Emma?" Brennan prompted worriedly.

She was weeping. "Not if they're dead."

"What?" Ally rasped.

Emma nodded to Jesse and his trusty P.C. "See for yourself." She bit-off.

Jesse did the only thing he could think of and checked the police bands.

He wasn't disappointed. "Police discovered a group of people in the distillery district…slaughtered."

"Oh my God." Shalimar echoed.

"Oh Emma, I'm so sorry. You felt it." Ally understood now.

"It must have been Ashlocke." Tony proclaimed. "He's furious."

"We need to find, Adam." Shalimar continued.

"That'll be difficult," Jesse countered. "Considering his commlink is off-line."

"So," Tony reviewed. "We've got one mutant on a rampage, another is an unexpected guest in our home, our leader is MIA and we've got a potential apocalypse on our hands."

"That about sums it up." Brennan grumbled.

"What next?"

"Oh no…" Ally moaned.

"You did not just ask that." Robin went on.

Yet again, Jesse's computer beeped and without being prompted, a grisly face appeared on the screen.

Mutant X. Why are you all just standing around? The man demanded. You should be trying to retrieve the Book of Anders.

"Who the hell are you and why should we be listening to you?" Jesse scoffed.

My identity is of no consequence. Does your future mean nothing to you?

"Listen pal," Brennan snapped. "We're not putting up with anything from you until we get some answers. Do you know Adam?"

"Do you know where he is?" Ally chimed in.

Adam is a fool. He thinks he's protecting you, when he's only going to put you in more danger. You must collect all five relics.

"What are you talking about?" Emma demanded. "Why?"

"What if bringing these items together makes things worse?" Shalimar blurted.

I assure you that's impossible. To ignore this would lead to tragedy. I can help you retrieve the Book if you will simply listen and do as I say.

"We'll let you know." And just as abruptly as he older man had intruded, Jesse cut him out. "What do you think?" He asked the group.

"I don't like him." Ally grumbled.

"Yeah," Shalimar agreed. "I'm not so sure we can trust him."

"He has no use of his legs…he's in a wheelchair." Zenger said absently.

Robin was confused. "What's that got to do with anything? And anyway we only saw his face."

"Zen just knows things like that." Emma offered.

"What do you think, Emma?" Brennan asked.

Emma shrugged. "I didn't like him much myself, but I didn't sense he was being dishonest. I think he can help us."

Jesse sensed there was more. "But…?"

"But, I think the first thing we should do, is try to find Adam and demand some answers."


Miles from anywhere, Adam Kane worked feverishly at a computer. Except for that and the Puzzlebox nearby, nothing else filled the vast space. From this spot you couldn't even see what surrounded you. One would never know if it was a cave, a building, an open field…all there was, was darkness, black and empty. But Adam just continued typing…

TO BE CONTINUED…