Chapter 18:

"So, how are things going between you and Ruby? You seemed to be getting along pretty well," Slade asked Ram as they journeyed toward the city.

Ram shook his head at the question, "Oh Sladey boy, gentlemen don't kiss and tell."

"I don't see any gentlemen here, do you?" Slade returned.

Ram chuckled lightly, "Well, I think she's finally forgiven me for lying about your brain problem. And our uh…discussions…seem to be getting more and more heated."

"Heated you say," Slade began, "does that mean that things are starting to get serious between you two?"

"Oh, I don't know, Slade. I think that Ruby and I need to take it slow for awhile. You know, I'm not exactly prepared to jump into a relationship again…I mean, I did have three wives. Two of them have just recently passed on and the other one is shacked up with you, so I think I probably need to take a break from marriage for awhile."

Slade laughed, "Yeah, you're probably right."

"So how is life at the mall treating you?" Ram asked.

"Oh, you know the Mallrats, never a dull moment. May was in labor when I left."

"Really, isn't it a bit early? Is she ok?" Ram asked.

"I don't know, actually, I set off for Liberty from the hotel without going back to the mall." Slade replied.

"Hmmm…interesting…" Ram sad mysteriously.

"What Ram?"

"Well, May's supposed to be only six months along. What if she's carried full term? Who was she involved with nine months ago? I'll wager it wasn't Lex," answered Ram.

"I don't care that much about May's sex life, Ram," said Slade.

"I think you might if you thought hard enough about who May was hanging out with back then."

"What are you talking about, Ram? I haven't known the Mallrats that long. Does May have some dirty little secret? Was she sleeping with Jay at the time, it seems that everyone else in the mall was…" Slade said, showing his frustration with the whole conversation.

Ram shook his head and looked at his traveling companion sadly, "May was working very closely with Mega for a time to overthrow the Mallrats; she was his spy. They threw her out of the mall for her betrayal. It just so happens, that was about nine months ago…"

Slade's eyes widened at the implications of Ram's story…Mega…Josh…could it be? "But how do you know all this? Weren't you in Liberty with me at the time?" Slade asked incredulously.

"Well, yes, I was. But you left me alone with only Lex for company, while you ran off to the city to play with Ebony. And Jack and I worked together for quite awhile and he likes to talk." Ram explained.

"So, you really think that my brother and May…that he might be the father of her…that I might be an uncle…?"

"Well, I'm not saying anything definite of course," Ram said reasonably.

Slade shook his head in an attempt to sort out his thoughts, "Listen to us," he said with strained lightness, "we sound like gossiping old women."

"Yeah, you're right, just put it out of your mind. None of our business anyway." Ram replied.

"Yeah. None of our business…" Slade said slowly, letting the conversation subside into silence. But as they walked toward the city his mind was filled with thoughts of his brother. Where was he? What was he doing? Was he the father of May's child?

"Hi Jack," Gel said as she sat down across from him at the café table.

"Hi Gel," Jack answered back distractedly.

"Jack, I was wondering about something."

"Yeah, what about?" Jack queried.

"Well, how close are you to May? How long have you known her?" She asked him.

"Oh I don't know, I think I've known her about three years. She moved into the mall the year after the virus." Jack answered.

"But how close are you?" Gel asked again.

"I don't know Gel, she lives here, we're Mallrats; she's a friend. Don't you consider her a friend?" Jack replied.

"Her?" Gel said with a touch of disgust in her tone, "What I meant was, have you ever been more than friends?" Gel said, sidestepping Jack's question.

"No Gel, I've never dated May and I don't intend to. I'm in a relationship if you've forgotten," Jack said looking up as Ellie entered the room.

Gel turned and glanced at the newcomer and stood up abruptly. "Bye Jack, see you later." She said as she flounced out of the room and almost collided with Sammy.

"Hmfff…Sammy, watch where you're going," Gel said huffily.

"Sorry, Trudy told me to take this tray up to Salene" Sammy offered as an excuse. "You wanna come? Maybe she'll let us hold the baby for awhile."

"No thank you, babies really aren't my thing," Gel answered, wrinkling her nose a bit at the idea, "I didn't think they were yours either, what's your fascination with this one about?"

"What do you mean?" Sammy said warily.

Gel eyed him for a moment and then asked, "Just how close are you and May?"

"Did you hear that?" Slade asked Ram quietly.

"What?"

Slade scanned his surroundings carefully then shook his head, "Never mind, must be my imagination playing tricks on me. Come on, we're almost there, we should be at the mall by nightfall." Slade said, picking up the pace a bit.

A sound behind them caught Ram's attention this time, he turned just in time to see a Techno step from behind a nearby bush. "Slade! Watch out." Ram called.

But Slade had already seen them, the Techno who had stepped in front of him had gotten a fist in the face, he turned toward the next assailant to see a laser pointed at him, he ducked just as the shot was fired. As he came up he caught his attacker in the chest with an uppercut, sending him sprawling to the ground.

A laser shot from behind Slade went shooting past his ear and he turned just in time to see another shot hit Ram in the chest.

"Ram!" Slade yelled and began to run toward his fallen friend. He tripped and fell to the ground just as one of the enemies he'd fought with earlier regained enough sense to strike back. As Slade struggled to his feet he saw two Technos dragging Ram into the back of a truck.

Slade managed to avoid another laser shot by ducking to the side, but got a jab in the chin that sent him staggering backwards. Regaining his balance quickly, he pulled a knee up and connected with his opponent's groin, sending him crumpling to the ground.

Slade turned back towards the truck just as the Technos were driving away towards the city with Ram.

Turning back to the defeated Techno still laying on the ground before him, he grabbed him by the hair and screamed at him, "Where are they taking Ram!"

Though beaten and defeated the Techno refused to answer.

"Tell me!" Slade yelled again, "Where's Josh?"

A blank look was his only reply.