Important Notes: Okay, so I made Terra Rachel's little sister, but trust me, I have it all planned out. I'll give you a hint: Terra's betrayal will not be as personal to the group as it will be for Rachel. Victor (a.k.a. – Cyborg) will come in soon.

Dreams within Dreams

Begin Part II

—

III: Terra

Cage Hall was magnificent, acting as a dining hall to Jump University. It was also a makeshift auditorium. New students milled around the benches and chairs, some sitting with friends already known, some standing awkwardly, unsure if they should sit next to someone or not.

Kori was looking in vain for her beloved sister. Oblivious to the looks she received as she politely pushed her way through the crowd, she failed to catch a glimpse of her sister's midnight black hair.

The hall was large and rectangular, at one end a stage with drawn red curtains. Rows upon rows of chairs followed an isle down the room ending at the large entrance doors. The floor was marble, but red carpet was laid down the center. An enormous, ornate clock hung above the stage, and as the hands moved nearer to one, the new students began to take seats.

Kori sat down in the nearest seat, frowning at her failure to find her sister, and watched the red curtain wearily, ready for it to part. She did not take notice of the boys that had seemed to gather around, if not right next to her, or their attempts to make her notice them. At five past one the curtain did part, and what chatter was happening quieted but did not stop. A lone podium was all that was on the stage and empty, the students began to look around, whispering in hushed voices.

"Students, please settle down," a voice filled the room, silencing the fidgeting boys and girls. Now standing behind the podium, the woman was tall and skinny, almost in an unhealthy way. Short black hair framed a thin face, red lips matching the red robe; she spoke with a heavy French accent into the microphone.

"As you well know, you are now in the halls of Jump University. I am Madame Rouge. I oversee everything that goes on inside the school grounds. I have never been known for my long speeches, so I will be short.

"This year, the University is happy to receive a well-known figure of the political world as a student: the daughter of Slade."

Kori was one of the few who did not gasp. She had known this announcement was coming and even though she did not show her surprise, she could not help but feel nervous. Would the rumors be true? Only time would tell now.

"And to start the year off, she has been nice enough to speak to you. Please welcome Terra Markov."

Polite clapping filled the hall, everyone too tense to give into the childish whim to give a sarcastic 'Whoop!' in welcome. For a moment nothing happened, and then a tiny, young woman with straight blonde hair and electric blue eyes entered the stage in a chair on wheels. Everyone was silent. Kori noiselessly took in a sharp breath. It was she! From the train, there was Rachael Roth, standing behind the chair, her hands around the handles, pushing it toward the podium.

It was sad and pathetic; Kori could feel the one thought that everyone else shared. A powerful political figure that was linked to an inanimate object for her entire life, it was disappointing.

Terra waited patiently as the microphone was adjusted by Rachael to meet her height, so she wouldn't have to strain herself. It was sad.

"Do not pity me."

Kori was shocked. Over the millions of ways to start a speech, Terra had picked the most unlikely one.

"Don't deny it, I can see it everywhere. You think because I have to be dependent apart of my life that I'm dependent in all aspects. I will not fight your judgments, what energy I have is not worth it. But I will say this: if you, the students of the most prestigious school this country has to offer, cannot see past my wheels, then quite frankly, our beloved Fri is going to Hell."

She rolled off stage, pushed by Rachel, leaving an entire auditorium in shock. Kori could only gape open-mouthed as Madame Rouge came up and thanked Terra for her speech.

"She's amazing isn't she?"

Kori almost jumped at the question whispered to her. Looking beside her, she noticed for the first time the green man with pointed ears next to her. He was smiling, showing off some fangs, but Kori was not unnerved.

"It's been over ten years since I've seen her but she's still the same."

There was a hint of lament in his voice, but Kori quickly brushed it off, her mind still focused on finding her sister. But she didn't have to look long.

"Fellow students of Jump University, I am proud to welcome you as your student advisor and president."

Kori was once again shocked by who she saw behind the podium: Andrea.

"My sister!" she whispered, the green man next to her cocked his head and raised an eyebrow.

"You're related to the student body advisor and president? How lucky can you get?"

And although her neighbor seemed to look at this as good news, Kori could not help but smolder quietly at the fact her sister had failed to mention her position in any of her letters. Now that she thought about it, Andrea's letters had been vague with details:

Sister, you will be surprised at the difference between home and here.

Is this what she meant? Kori had no idea because the letter had ended abruptly after that sentence with a Sincerely yours, Andrea. Feeling a shiver down her spine, a feeling of foreboding feeling the young woman's bones.

—

IV: Sister of Terra

Some say that the point in life when you become an adult is when you realize that your parents are not invincible and cannot protect you from all of life's horrors. In short, it is when you discover their humanity, and there for detaching yourself becomes easier and you learn to stand on your own two feet. If that was the case than Rachel has been an adult since birth.

Wheeling her sister backstage, she blocked out the new president's welcome, focusing on only making it down the steps. It would be difficult with Terra's chair, but doable.

"If only Papa could've seen me," Terra said, basking in her glory. It was certainly a memorable speech; Rachel could imagine the people buzzing from her sister's sermon.

Rachel was careful to lift up the front wheels before trying to soften the short but sudden drops of the chair while going down the stairs. They were half way down the stairs when something made Rachel's grip slide, and her blood ran cold as she witnessed her sister become air born, her pale blonde hair streaming behind her like a ribbon of silk.

Before Terra could loose a scream of terror, Rachel acted.

"Azarath Metrion Zynthos!"

A dark orb encircled Terra and her chair, hovering just inches from the body. Terra hung in zero gravity inside. With all of her concentration on her sister, Rachel was careful to place the chair firmly on the ground before releasing her magic and collapsing, barely missing the railing for support.

"Rachel!"

Looking down into her sister's blue eyes, Rachel inwardly drew back at the rage expressed.

"You promised it would be different here!"

Bowing her head, she spoke softly, still unable to move. "I'm sorry, Terra."

"Be lucky no one was around to witness this time, what would father say?"

"Please, forgive me."

"Do not apologize for such a gift Miss Roth."

Finding the energy at the sound of a heavy French-accented voice behind, Rachel turned, keeping her balance, to face Madame Rouge. She was surprised to see a look of intrigue on the headmistress's face instead of horror. It was the exact opposite of what she expected at home.

"Madame Rouge," Terra was the first to speak, "I apologize for my sister's… uniqueness, if you promise to keep quiet about this incident, I will be sure—"

The headmistress held up a red-gloved hand. "Do not apologize, as I've already said it is a wondrous gift that should not be suppressed."

Terra seemed speechless. Rachel did not. "If any thing Madame Rouge, I would like to be discreet about my…"

"Talent," Madame Rouge filled in, her all-knowing look never leaving her face.

"Talent," Rachel could play at least. "It is not something that most people would be comfortable with knowing."

Madame Rouge just smirked. "I am sure that you will find this school a bit different than Azarath, Miss Roth."

—

V: Roommates

Kori followed the rest of the girls into a side room, the boys in another. She breathed in. Now was the moment of truth: roommates. This would be the person she would spend at least until the end of the semester with, so she prayed for a good partner, more specifically: her sister.

Madame Rouge entered, and emerald eyes widened to see Rachel and Terra follow. At first the young woman thought the pale one looked flushed, but dusted it off. It did not concern her. Gripping her book tightly she waited.

"Welcome ladies, once again, to Jump University. Your dorms can be found on the East side of the campus, the boys on the West. I will tell you now that our rules on gender dorms are strict, any violations except under stricter circumstances will result in immediate expulsion."

The room shifted. Madame Rouge was serious.

"Now that those lines are thickly drawn, onto our dorms. For those of you whose parents could afford private rooms, I will call out your name and room numbers first, but do not leave. I'd prefer to give directions to collect your luggage all at once."

Madame Rouge read through the list, her heavy accent stumbling over some names, and Kori jumped when she heard her name.

"Kori Anders—"

She quickly raised her hand and spoke. "Excuse me Madame Rouge"—she curtsied—"but I am afraid there has been a mistake."

The headmistress arched a dignified eyebrow. "There has been no mistake Miss Anders." But before she could continue, Kori intersected again.

"But I am supposed to room with my sister."

Giving Kori an unnerving hard stare Madame Rouge, and the rest of the room, was silent for a few seconds. "Miss Anders, I am surprised at how little you know of your sister, who has become a great asset to this school and what it stands for. She is already rooming, with one: Katherine Moth. Now be silent while I finish—"

"I really must insist I talk with my sister!" Kori was inwardly shocked at her forwardness as she stood up toward the headmistress, who began to develop a deeply troubling amused look on her face.

"Very well, if you insist on having a roommate—"

"I insist!" she said earnestly.

"—then I have the perfect solution. I was going to ask a volunteer to room with Miss Rachel Roth, but now that that issue is solved, I can concentrate on other things. Thank you Miss Anders."

It was the final tone that hung in the room like a weight, daring anyone else to interrupt. Kori's will to fight was replaced by a numb sensation. She barely heard the instructions for her luggage and her room number. Walking toward her dorm, she couldn't help but feel her stomach sink even lower than her expectations for the New Year.

—

Rachel was not ecstatic for Madame Rouge's decision, but she would make due. Only a wall separated her from her sister's private quarters. Their father had been so busy tending to his youngest daughter that he had forgotten about his oldest, a recurring event. Madame Rouge had promised a solution, and Rachel would persevere.

She had to.

Rachel would prove herself better than Terra, better than this school. She swore on it.

—

End Part II