Author's Note: Thanks so much to everyone who's responded so far and to tribebohemian for all the kind words about the artwork and the story. I appreciate all the feedback and so sorry that it's taken me so long to post an update. Enjoy the new chapter and please let me know what you think. :)

Chapter 24:

Salene looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms. He was so innocent, so peaceful, so blissfully unaware of what was going on around him. If only she could be that lucky. She felt as if her world had begun to fall apart. May's revelation about the baby's real father had shocked and angered her, but before she had had time to process everything the explosion had hit the mall.

Now the ragged tribe of Mallrats was gathered on the hill overlooking the city to bury another friend and tribe mate. In the years since the virus they had gotten very good at funerals. Every few months it seemed they were burying another friend. Now they stood here before Sammy's grave.

"Does anyone want to say anything?" Amber asked the group.

Salene looked around her. May sobbed quietly to her right while Gel stood solemnly on her left with her eyes fixed on the mound of dirt before her. The others all watched the proceedings in respectful silence. Salene clutched the baby a bit tighter, took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Sammy was a very special boy. He was still young, with so much to live for. He deserved better. He should have been able to grow up with loving parents in a house on a quiet street. He should have gotten to go to school and have friends and play sports. Instead he had us and the mall. He was a Mallrat and he was proud to be a part of us. And I was proud to have known him." Salene took a steadying breath before continuing on, "I'm sorry Sammy…I'm sorry that we failed you. I'm sorry we couldn't protect you from all the pain and hurt and sorrow in this world. You're with your parents now…I hope that you've found your peace."

As she stepped back to her place, Gel leaned over and draped the traditional nameplate necklace with Sammy's name on it over the makeshift marker.

"Goodbye, Sammy," she murmured softly.

May let out a sob and turned away from the touching scene. It was too much…her guilt was consuming her, she had to get away. She had only taken a few steps when she felt a hand on her arm, stopping her progress. She turned to see Trudy standing behind her wearing a look full of understanding and sympathy.

"It's not your fault," Trudy said softly.

May simply stared at her, shaking her head…it was her fault, there was no other explanation, no alternative. Trudy didn't understand. How could she? But then something in Trudy's eyes reminded her…She had had a secret once too; Zoot. As her mind raced and her feelings whirled, Trudy reached out and pulled her into a hug.

For the first time May thought that maybe, just maybe, the Mallrats might understand. They might forgive her. After all, they had been through something very similar before. But then, Trudy had always been more a part of things then May had. Hadn't she?

"It's nobody's fault," Amber spoke from behind them loudly enough for the whole group to hear. "This was simply a terrible tragedy. Mega's attack was harsh and brutal. We've lost so many friends. But to lose one of the children like this…well, we need to be on our guard in the future. We need to watch out for each other and stick together. We're still a tribe. We're still Mallrats. Zoot and the Guardian, Mega and the Technos, none of them can take that from us."

Lex rolled his eyes, "Such a touching pep talk."

"Lex, now is not the time," Jay warned in a low voice.

"When is the time, Jay?" Lex countered. "We're just supposed to go back to the mall like a happy little tribe and try and make believe that it's not a death trap."

"The mall is not a death trap. Stop being dramatic," Amber chastised.

Lex waived his arm toward the freshly dug grave and gave Amber a patronizing look, "Then how do you explain this?"

"Lex, stop it," said Jay in his best commander voice. "We'll be more prepared next time. We can take steps to make the mall a safer place for everyone, but we need to stick together. Our success depends upon it."

"My success depends on staying alive," said Lex forcefully.

"Enough!" Salene yelled at the top of her lungs. "This is a funeral, not a meeting of the war council. We're supposed to be remembering Sammy, not trying to tear each other apart."

Salene's loud outburst had taken everyone by surprise, including Little Ryan whose cries began to fill the air.

"I think it's time for us to go home," Trudy suggested to the stunned group as everyone shifted their gazes from Salene down to Sammy's resting place.

After a last round of goodbye's the little group made their way down the hillside and back to the only home some of them had known since the virus…the mall.

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Ruby pulled the truck to a stop and stared in shock at the scene of destruction before her. The street in front of the mall looked like a war zone and the mall itself looked like it had taken a direct hit. Panic gripped her as she looked frantically around for signs of life.

"What happened here?" Lottie's voice quested from behind her.

"Stay here, Lottie. I'm going to investigate." Ruby ordered.

"Not by yourself," Lottie said worriedly.

Ruby got out of the truck and walked around to the back to check on the unconscious Techno. He was still out cold. Lottie looked scared and worried.

"It's ok, Lottie. I'm sure the Mallrats are around somewhere. I'm just going to go in first and look around. I'll be right out. Besides, someone has to stand guard over our prisoner."

Lottie didn't look convinced, but nodded her agreement anyway.

Stepping slowly and carefully around fallen debris, Ruby made her way to the entrance of the mall. "Hello…Hello," she called out into the eerie silence. She walked a bit further, passed the open grate and into the lobby area. The phoenix statue had been damaged; a wing lay on the floor in pieces. Was that…blood? Oh no, what had happened here?

"Hello," she called again, "Is anybody here?" She was beginning to feel sick to her stomach, but she wasn't yet willing to give up hope. "Amber…Jay…Lex…"

"You won't find them," Came a voice behind her.

Ruby whirled around in shock and came face to face with her Techno prisoner.

"What do you mean? Do you know what happened here?" She asked angrily.

"Technos," Was his only reply.

Lottie came running through the open door and skidded to a stop next to the broken wing. "I'm sorry Ruby. I wasn't paying attention and he got away."

Ignoring Lottie's outburst, Ruby advanced on the Techno, "I want answers now! Where are the Mallrats? What's happened here?" She yelled at him in uncontrolled fury.

"Mega…he planned an attack on the mall. He had a bomb built. It looks like it worked," he said in an almost weary voice as he looked around the mall at the destruction.

"But where are they?" She screamed at him again.

He looked at her then, a look of pain and guilt showing in his eyes. This was what his tribe was about…causing pain and hurt to others. This was what Mega had done to them…and he didn't want to be a part of it anymore...couldn't be a part of it anymore.

"I don't know where they are," he answered her honestly, "If they're alive, I'm sure they have been taken as prisoners."

"No!" Ruby yelled in pain and hurled herself at the lone Techno. He lunged backward trying to avoid her but tripped over a piece of debris and landed hard on the ground. Ruby began to pummel him in the chest, but her screams and cries were doing more harm to him than her fists. Her pain tore at his heart.

"What's this?" Amber's voice interrupted her tirade, "Lottie? Ruby, Is that you?"