Chapter 12: Proposal

At the hospital, Michael, Rodrigo, RC, Marissa and Laura sat in the waiting room. All the other children had been reunited with their families, while the two gangs had gone back to their territories.

Inside, the doctors, including Dr. Alpert, were working on raising Devon's body temperature. When Marissa and the others had finally found him, he had just slipped into hypothermia.

Rodrigo looked up from a magazine and turned towards Michael, who was pacing the floor.

"Senor," he said, "I need to talk to you about something. Muy importante."

"Can it wait?"

"Lo siento, senor," he replied, "But it can't. Let's talk in another room."

The operative looked at the gardener closely…then sighed and nodded, leading the way to an unoccupied room.

At the same time, Laura said, "Riss, I need to talk to you too."

"About what?"

"It has to do with your heritage."

"M-My heritage?"

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"Si, Devon's heritage," Rodrigo answered, "And it ties in with your own destiny."

"How so?" Michael asked.

"You know I mentioned that there are three Lines, and two are mine, Line Maris, and Devon's, Line Medina. There is a third line, one that has very little to do with bloodlines…Line Knight."

Michael's eyes widened, "Line Knight? Wait a minute, was Wilton—"

"No, Senor, he wasn't. There hasn't been a living member of Line Knight in 500 years."

"So the last name is coincidence."

"Aye."

"So what about the third Line?"

"Several thousand years ago, this third Line was created with the purpose of protecting those of Lines Medina and Maris…especially from those like the secret society."

Michael nodded, "So what does that have to do with me?"

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"So what does that have to do with me?" Marissa asked.

"You weren't born a normal person…you are one of the Mystics, Marissa of Line Medina."

"I-I'm…a Mystic? That's why I have stuff like my dreams and can listen to music at sunrise and all that?"

"That's right."

"Wow…so that's what the fortuneteller meant. Mom also said stuff like this in my dreams before Kitt found me. It's…strange, but I think I like it! She also said I'd have an easier time accepting this than father will."

Laura chuckled and said, "That's an understatement. But Riss, it's also why your mother was killed and Parkson went after you. You're a target now for a certain gang of bad people. That's why I need your help tonight."

"For what?"

"A special ceremony; the first Initiation into the Third Line of Ancestry in 500 years. Through this, your Line and mine will have a protector, as well as other duties. Now that enemies to Mystics have reared their heads, the future must be safeguarded."

"Who's this protector supposed to be?"

"Papa is talking to him now."

Her eyes went wide. "Michael?"

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"Me?" Michael asked, amazed, "Are you serious?"

"As serious as a heart attack," Rodrigo replied.

"I…I don't know if I can do that. This…is about as overwhelming as when Wilton told me he wanted me to fulfill his dream of one man making a difference."

"Aye, it is an important duty, though. With the society making themselves more public, there will be more than just Parkson or the Mexicans in the terrorist group this time that will try to kill Marissa and Devon…as well as try to unravel everything."

"What does this Initiation entail?"

"At night, the lifepulse of Line Maris combines with the knowledge and valiance of Line Medina. Those combined with the wisdom of past, present and future is passed into the Initiate, and he or she is reborn as a member of Line Knight. I will tell you, senor, the Initiation will involve some pain and injury. But then again, all important things are like that."

"Pain and injury?"

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"Pain and injury?" Marissa asked.

"Yes, but it will safeguard the future," Laura replied.

Marissa sighed, remained silent for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll do it."

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"Okay, I'll do it. If it'll help me protect Devon, Marissa and the others, I'll do it," Michael replied firmly.

"Bueno! The ceremony will be tonight, at the hospital. I know just the place to conduct it. It's a small place, on the hospital grounds. I'll take you there later."

Suddenly, they heard Laura call out, "Papa, Michael…the doctor is here."

This made the two men hurry back to the waiting room.

In the room, Dr. Alpert stood in his lab coat, wringing his hands. His expression was one of worry. As soon as he saw the group, he said, "All of you here?"

Marissa asked, her tone quivering a bit, "Doctor, how is father?"

"Yeah," Michael asked, "How's Devon?"

The doctor looked from one person to another, sighed, than answered, "I'll be honest. He isn't in good condition. We've managed to raise his body temperature to normal. A number of the injuries he received were relatively minor, except for a concussion. There's absolutely no way I know of to explain this."

"Cut to the chase, doc," Michael interjected.

He sighed again and said, "Devon's in a coma."

Marissa's eyes closed and she whimpered, muttering something about "…happened anyway".

"Can't someone stay with him?" Michael asked.

"Yes, either 1 person…or 1 adult plus Marissa. I have a feeling that even if I try, she won't leave his side. Besides that, he can have as many visitors as you want. It might help him come out of…this."

The group nodded and gave thanks, then Michael asked, "What room is he in?"

"Room 205."

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Michael and Marissa chose to stay with Devon, while the others left for the Foundation headquarters. Rodrigo and Laura had said they had to prepare for the Initiation, while the others had to try to get the Foundation back into shape. At times, Bonnie, RC and others would come in to see them. A second bed in the room was put in for Marissa, who went to sleep, although even Michael could tell it was restless. While she rested, the police had come for statements from everyone that had been involved, and seemed peeved that they couldn't talk to the leader of the rescue operation.

In the afternoon, Bonnie and April came in to watch over Devon, insisting that Michael and Marissa go out and get some lunch at a restaurant that was close to the hospital. It had taken a lot of convincing to get either person to do just that, as neither one wanted to leave Devon alone in there. They had gotten a pair of cheeseburgers with the works, and Marissa had as much soda as she wanted.

"Laura said the ceremony will involve pain and injury, but said it was needed," she said.

"That's what Rodrigo said, too. So…are you going to…"

"Y-Yeah," she started to say and broke down.

"Hey, hey there," Michael said quietly as he walked to her side of the table, "What's wrong?"

"I…everything went right with the operation…even if before we left, the objectives changed for to teams. But…when I saw father sitting in the chamber, as cold as ice…I…I didn't…Michael, I panicked! A…a leader isn't supposed to panic!"

"That's why you called to Kitt to transmit to me," he said quietly, starting to understand a bit.

"Michael, I didn't know what to do. Throughout it all, I knew what would happen…but when I saw him like that, I…I—" she sobbed.

He put a hand around her shoulders and ruffled her hair. "It's okay…it's not your fault that Devon's in a coma. Very few your age would know what to do for someone that went into hypothermia."

"I was supposed to!"

He shook his head and sat there, waiting for her to calm down some before returning to his side of the table.

When the two of them returned to the hospital, it was late afternoon. They had a shock awaiting them when they went into Devon's room.

"Hey there, Marissa," Jack said from his chair on the left side of the bed, "Was wondering when you'd get back. April's taking Bonnie to lunch."

As he stood and walked to the others, they saw that his hair was a bit neater…and that he was wearing, underneath the black jacket, a brown shirt and brown pants. Also, most of his pierced jewelry was gone.

"What're you doing here?" Michael asked, "I figured you'd be back to business as usual at the—your headquarters."

"Yeah… well…I don't know if I can do that anymore."

"What do you mean?" Marissa asked.

"The day you guys came into there, I had no idea how much things were going to change…not just for you guys, but for me, too…and for Chris Sato." He added quickly, "I slipped out quietly. Chuck and Angel don't know."

"Now that's a change."

"Tell me about it! I wind up finding out I have a living uncle and cousin that I never knew about before all this got started. Then after the storm, when I went back, it…felt like I was out of place. How the hell could I feel out of place when amongst my own boys?"

Michael peered at him, then asked, "If you're out of place there, where would you feel in place at?"

"A good question, nino," Rodrigo said from the doorway. He and Laura peered in with curious expressions.

"As crazy as it sounds…with you guys."

"Doesn't sound muy loco to me," the older man replied, "it would mean a big change for you, but…if you want to come live with us, you're welcome to."

He thought for a moment, then said, "It's as I thought…I'm out of place there, and at home here."

"Why didn't you tell us where you were going, boss?" a familiar cold voice asked from behind Rodrigo.

Jack blanched for a second, then managed a furious look. "Angel, what're you doing here?"

The two Mexicans came in, followed by Chuck and Angel, who looked mildly irritated, as well as curious.

"When you slipped out, we figured you'd come here," Chuck replied, "Boss, if you're just wanting to know how the man is, you could have just called."

Jack took a deep breath, and then said, "Chuck, Angel…I've come to a decision."

"Oh?" they both asked.

"Yeah. I'm leaving the Black Dragons…and joining the Foundation's Youth….that is, if you guys will have me," he directed the last to Rodrigo and Laura.

This surprised both the gang members, and the Mariz family members nodded in confirmation.

"Hear me out, you two. This entire matter's made me do a lot of thinking, discovering…and inner searching. Ever since those guys came to us for help, everything's changed…for me, that is. I—"

"We heard," Angel replied, "You feel out of place with us…and at home with them."

Chuck sighed and said, "If we ever had to choose who we lose ya to, I'd feel better it being to these guys."

Angel nodded, "Likewise boss—I mean, Jack."

The young man nodded and said with a relieved smile, then carefully took off the black jacket, then approached the female gang member with it in front of him. "Thanks, guys. Angel…you're the leader of the Black Dragons now. As the departing leader, I would recommend Chuck as your second."

Angel peered at him for a moment before nodding.

He then put the jacket on her, which fit well, despite the difference in height and age.

She then turned to the other man and said, "Chuck, you are my second now."

"Yes, Ang—boss."

They then saw the still form on the hospital bed.

"That's Marissa's father, Devon Miles?"

"Yeah," Michael said, "that's him."

She nodded and said, "We'll pray for him." The woman then turned to Chuck and said, "Let's go home. We need to relay the news to the Dragons and the Snakes."

Chuck nodded and the two gang members left.

Rodrigo turned to Jack and asked, "Would you help conduct a special ceremony tonight?"

"Definitely, Tio Rodrigo."

He chuckled, "That'll take getting used to."

Laura's eyes went wide as she said, "Wait…he's my cousin? How!"

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That night, with a full moon in a clear, starlit sky, Rodrigo came into the hospital room, alone.

"Senor, senorita…it's time."

Michael, holding the emerald-green coat that had been left with him, turned to Marissa and asked, "You ready?"

"Yeah. Let's do this."

The three people walked through the hospital, going down an elevator, through corridors…until they arrived in an area that normally was used for walking patients around for exercise. It looked like a mini-park, as well as a garden, complete with a white arch that was interwoven with flowers.

There was one part of the park that had strange flowers that seemed to glow blue and a brilliant purple. It was there that a small group stood, waiting.

Laura stood waiting, wearing a knife belt around her waist, her hair loose, for once. Beside her was Jack, wearing the same clothes he had come to the hospital in.

In front of Jack, though, was the surprise: The crimson-haired woman was there too, wearing a plain wool dress that was dyed emerald-green.

"You again," Michael said.

"Yes," she replied, "You've met me twice before; earlier today…as well as one other time. Remember? Remember the party for that fake princess in the high-rise? You were with a woman named Elizabeth."

"Yeah, I sure remember you. No offense lady, but I find it really strange you'd turn up here, at a gathering. Just who are you?" he asked.

She smiled, bemusedly in a way that reminded Michael of someone.

"My name is Medina."