I've got a mega-update for you guys tonight: 4 chapters at one shot! Like I said days ago, part of the secret surrounding Laura, Devon, Rodrigo and Marissa will be revealed in them...as well as lots of other stuff! Hope you'll like them!

To the reviewers:

Knightsky: Yeah, Devon is like a typical father, and it's still very new to him!

MRlovesDC: You better believe I'm gonna finish this story! Plus, there are others to come in the future.

Macri007: I hope you'll like these next 4 chapters as well.

KITT40146: I hate not being able to send a review to the same chapter twice. I love the way your story is going, especially with Devon and the starts of the breakup of Elizabeth and Wilton. As to my chapters...I had some fun thinking and writing up that strategy. That wasn't originally in the typewritten story, and neither was the conversation between Michael and Rodrigo as to the truth (you'll see what I mean!)

Now, on with the fic!

Chapter 6: After the Launching: Three Paths

Michael

As he stood staring at the 10 vehicles that were leaving, Michael thought back to everything that had happened ever since they had arrived at the Sato mansion. While he and RC were talking to the terrorists, Marissa and the other children had been staying out of the adults' hair, keeping mostly to either Chris' room or a patio. Even when a lot more children came in, he had not really thought about it, as he had been told that they were just visiting and would not be there overnight.

He had not expected this.

Not only had the visiting children left, but so had the ones that came with the adults…and they had taken Kitt with them.

I have no choice…what the hell does he mean by that? And he actually refused to obey an order. He did that sometimes, but only when my life was in danger…and this doesn't fit that.

"Yo, Mike, what's the haps? You look mighty ticked."

"You're not gonna believe this, RC," he replied, and then told his younger friend what happened, including that Kitt was with them.

"Whoa! Sneaky little devils," the Negro answered at the end of the tale, "Anyone wanna take bets as to what the lady's real name is?"

"Yeah: one of the kids."

"Think, dude: what kid would have the guts, much less the need, to fake an adult voice and talk to Devon?"

The two adults looked at each other and Michael's face brightened in comprehension.

"Marissa."

"Bingo. Mike, something else's happened. Those bad dudes think we pulled a double play on 'em, and they sure ain't happy. No wonder, knowin' what I do now."

"What did they say?"

RC looked down at the pavement for a long moment, then said, "They'll be callin' more often: every 45 minutes instead of every hour. If that 'lady' is on this end again, they'll kill Devon. Also, they've said that if you go anywhere, use a certain mobile phone, attachable to any car. They said where it was…and I found it." He raised his left hand, showing the object as well as the black wires.

He nodded. "RC, go and get Rodrigo Mariz. I have no idea what those kids are up to and why they've got Kitt, but we've got to find them."

"Hold the phone, dude," RC replied, "I overheard somethin' Laura said in the kitchen when she was gettin' drinks…something about not liking street punks, but that 'she' was right. Then a couple minutes later, she went and got a road map."

Michael thought for a moment, then asked, "Which of the kids would be involved with 'street punks'?"

Right then, Mrs. Sato came out and said, "Michael, there's someone on the phone, asking for you. When I asked who it was, the request repeats. I don't understand a bit of it."

Michael nodded and hurried back inside, getting on the phone.

"Hello?"

"Michael, this is Kitt."

"Kitt? What's going on?"

"By the time that this message is being played back, the children and I will have already departed. Marissa knows about the oath that Devon had me take, the one that prevents me from lying or misleading FLAG staff. To that end, I have recorded this message, set to broadcast via telephone once we are 2 miles away, and is only activated by your voice pattern.

I know that you are thinking that I've been taken on a joyride, or tricked, or something—"

"Got that right," he muttered.

"But that is the farthest thing from the truth. You see, we are on a very important and serious mission. They may be children, but I have to admit, they are rather clever…and capable. Michael, several months ago, in Montana, I swore an oath: to protect Rissie from harm, no matter what. I realized that she and the others would mobilize and carry out their mission, even if I had told you earlier. As such, I have agreed to be a part of this mission and left with them. The children will be all right, but even if you come upon us, say at a bar that gangs would frequent for instance, please don't try to take us back to the mansion or stop us. You're welcome to join us, of course.

"Michael, trust in me and take care." There was a pause before, "Michael, this is Kitt. By the time that this message is being played back, the children and I will have already departed. Marissa knows about the—"

He hung up the phone, dazed.

"Dude?" RC asked, concerned.

"It was Kitt…I mean a recorded message from him. He went with the children, said that they've gone on a mission."

"Why'd he go with 'em?"

He sighed, half angry, then replied, "Classic rock and a hard place…go with the kids and protect Marissa…or not cooperate and stay with me…while putting her in jeopardy. He says that in Helena, he swore an oath, a strong one, to protect Marissa from harm, no matter what."

RC whistled. "Rock and a hard place is right. Man, nobody with sense takes that oath lightly, not even him."

Rodrigo came into the living room, concerned as well as irate. "Michael, where's my Laurita?"

Michael and RC took turns explaining the entire thing. By the time they were finished, Rodrigo was shaking his head and speaking in Spanish.

"That sounds just like Laura," he replied, "I knew she was studying strategy, but I didn't think she would use it to this extent."

"What extent?" Michael paled. "No…you've gotta be kidding…"

000000000000000

Devon

At that very moment, Bonnie was glaring at one of the terrorists.

"What did you say!" Torres snapped at her.

"You heard me," she replied coldly, "I heard you talking about Gypsies as if they're nothing but sport. If you're really for True Liberty, you wouldn't be looking for them like this."

"What's it to you, bitch? Don't tell me you're one of those freaks!"

"No, I'm not nomadic, but they're human beings, too! If there're any freaks, it'd be you!"

He shot up and moved quickly towards her. At almost the same instant, Devon got up and in front of Bonnie.

Due to that, when Torres threw a hard punch, it connected upside Devon's head instead of hers. He crumpled to the ground.

"Cut that out, Torres! Stand down!" Marco snapped, then walked to them after the other man growled, kicked Devon, in the ribs, then went to another section of the room. Marco said tersely to her and the semi-conscious man, "I wouldn't be talking about things I don't know if I were you, lady. We're not talking about those nomad thieves. At least they're real humans."

"Real humans…? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Lady, do yourself a favor: Keep your trap shut about Gypsies and ask nothing. You might actually live that way…intact." He then peered at her closely as if looking for something.

"No," he added, "There's a vibe here, felt it a lot of times…but it's not from you. You're no freak. Be lucky you know that much, woman. Saves you from a trip to Mexico, and believe me…you wouldn't like what's at the end of the journey."

He walked off and Bonnie knelt, checking Devon. Those ribs would hurt, and so would the head injury, but he'd be fine. She felt puzzled, as well as angry…

Gypsies…? A kind other than the nomads we know about…and he said they're not real…? Just what's going on…?

000000000000000

Foundation's Youth

In the lead car, Kitt, Laura and Marissa looked at each other. Kitt himself was driving, although the Mexican was in the driver's seat, for appearances' sake.

"Riss," she said quietly, "They're going to be tired, soon. Also, it'll be sunset."

"You think I don't know that?" Marissa replied, "But the people in the Foundation have gone without sleep before."

"Si, but they're used to it! These kids--"

"Maybe so, but for every bit that we spend sleeping, the less time we have to save them." She sighed, then added, "The ones not driving can nap on the way. That'll help things."

"Si, but sleepy drivers are dangerous ones—"

"Laura, you know as well as I do that we can't afford to go off of the plan. Unless you took this into consideration when you, Becky and Kitt came up with it…?"

The older girl shifted in her seat, a bit embarrassed.

"Terrific," Marissa groaned, understanding now why adults used that term with sarcasm.

"Laura, Rissie, we're approaching the location in question. It's a bar called Viper's Outpost. How strange that it is the hangout for Chris' friends, the Black Dragons."

The two girls looked at the building in front of them. For a bar, it was a little large with two stories, with a three-story building a short distance away. In the parking lot was a number of motorcycles and very few cars…most likely, belonging to the inhabitants.

Marissa looked to Laura and asked, "You ready? We can skip these guys if you want and go without them."

The Mexican girl shook her head, replying, "Gracias…but Riss, even if I don't like them, we do need them. I'll be all right."

She nodded and said, "Kitt, signal the other vehicles, then pull into the lot. Find some good spots."

"Right away, Marissa."

He then flashed the turning lights in the agreed pattern: left light three quick times, right light three quick times, then both twice. The driver of the car behind him nodded, then repeated the pattern, although at the last part, the lights alternated once….and on it continued, until the tenth car received the notice.

Once everyone had parked, Marissa said, "Laura, Chris Sato, Mark Towers and…" she trailed off.

The four mentioned went out of their vehicles towards the young leader…as well as Christina.

"I'll go in, too," she replied, her face grave.

"You sure about that? These aren't the normal school bullies," Laura asked.

"I know."

Marissa nodded, "All right then. Stay close, children, and don't get too provoked. We want their help, not a war."

Some of them looked at each other and murmured, "Children…?" but nodded to her.