ALiCE in WoNDeRLaND

-36-

Adèle was somewhere between shocked and seriously pissed off.

I stood there above her, balancing one freaking heavy chair on my back as she struggled to push an even heavier desk off her body. "Stop that," I commanded, "or I drop the chair on your face."

She obeyed.

"Good. We're communicating now." I grinned ferociously, laughing at my turn of luck. "Now, I'm not going to really hold this against you. Odds are, you got a tainted machine from a seriously tainted Caol, and you didn't really mean for things to get so out of hand. But they have, and for that, I crush your ribcage."

I moved to push the desk down harder, but stopped when I heard scuffling behind me. I turned to see the guys getting to their feet, and heard the door flying open behind me.

I turned back to Adèle as Angelos rushed in, still frantic. "ALiCE, I turned off the..." He paused, probably to get a good look at the scene below him. "What the..."

"Long story," Miyka'el began, joining me and retrieving the keys from Adèle. "Thanks."

I took the keys from him and went about setting myself free as the other guys assembled beside me. They jumped collectively as the chair crashed to the floor.

"Damn. How heavy was that thing?" Zione asked.

"Not as heavy as the desk," I wagered.

Zione whistled, looking down at Adèle. "How's it hanging?"

She glared. "What the Hell..."

"Long story," I announced, agreeing with Miyka'el, "and we have a bit of a prior engagement here. I'm sure Angelos can fill you in on the details."

"Um, ALiCE?" Aurick called.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Angelos is gone."

I turned to the door, and sure enough, the lap dog had fled the temple once again. "That can't be a good sign." I looked back down at Adèle. "I sure hope he gets back soon."

"ALiCE," Zale began.

"She almost killed us." I made a sound of discontent. "For all we know, maybe she did."

"What are you talking about?"

I made a face. "We have to go." I looked down at Adèle again. "Maybe we'll stop by on our way back."

I made my way for the door, but stopped when I realized Miyka'el was not following me.

"What now, Miyka'el?" I sighed.

"I'm staying."

I stared. "What?" Certainly I had misheard him.

"I'm staying here with Adèle."

"I don't understand."

"Captain of the obvious, here."

"You or me?"

"Both, I guess."

I tried to recompose myself, but I don't think it worked. "You want to stay."

He nodded.

"I think we need you," I told him. 'I need you,' I wanted to say, but I wasn't really sure what I needed at this point. And I was even less sure of what he needed. But was Adèle really it?

"I'll catch up later."

"But..."

He shook his head. "I'll make sure she's okay, see if I can track down Angelos, maybe... maybe he's seen Fiore."

I nodded.

"Still having visions?"

I looked down at Adèle. "Nope. Must've just been the damn radio." I addressed my next statement to her. "Remind me to crush Caol's ribs, next time I see him."

She ignored me.

I looked at Miyka'el. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Really." He grinned. "I kind of want to check out this radio."

"I bet Angelos took it."

"Then I'll just have to find him."

I smiled, but felt like being sick, seriously ill. I had just found a friend and was losing him. It just didn't feel right.

"I'll be okay. I used to be a bounty hunter, remember? I know my way around people."

I nodded.

"Let's go," Zale said, more to the others than to me. I wondered who this made leader of our little outfit.

I smiled at Miyka'el. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not. You enjoyed every minute of that."

I made yet another face. "What do you think I am, a sado-masochist?"

He laughed.

I banged my fists on the chair, impersonating one of those drum riffs you do after making a bad joke. I turned and made my way toward the door, pausing to give Miyka'el a little salute before walking out and joining the remaining members of my crew.

I had a vision to think about it, and if need be, prevent.

Somehow.

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