By noon they had managed to find a place where they could stay, the owner of the pawn shop knew a guy who knew another guy who rented an abandoned loft without asking too many questions. In fact it was supposed to be a large office building but the investment money run out leaving only a one store construction without electricity or gas but at least it had running water. They could afford a very expensive hotel but that would require ID's, neither Duncan nor Teela had one and Marlena's said she was 74 years old.
With an engine electric generator they managed to get their hands on an electricity supply that could power up stoves and a portable kitchen, lucky for them the Eternians had a large resilience for cold temperatures. Now they sat at a café inside a large mall after changing their appearances, planning their next move. A black elixir named coffee rested on their hands and the group was pleased with how invigorating it was.
Duncan said: -"I am intrigued at this wonderful new world, I have dwelled into the very available technology the planet has to offer, hard to believe that something this advanced is sold on several posts in a plain market square or "mall" as you call it. While terra is far behind from Eternia in the weapons department and has a very dangerous and polluting way of transportation, the communication devices here are more advanced than either we could expect. Terrans still hadn't managed to pull a good holographic picture because they rely more on screens but unlike people on Eternia, this communication devices (or cell phones as you call it) are available for the general public not just the military and the rulers."-
-"It has gone a long way from the telephones in my days"- Marlena was amused –"But I'm still not sure if we need all those devises you bought"- The woman said looking at Duncan's new appearance. He looked much younger with his face shaved and well combed hair. Casual jeans and light colored sports jacket made him look far less imposing than his usual dignified self. By his side several bags rested on empty chairs filled with computers, tablets, smart phones and every new terran device he could put his hands on. -"You went into a shopping spree I guess"- Marlena said chuckling.
She had to admit, it felt good to be back home. She had changed into some blue jeans, form fitting shirt and sweater and a very warm coat, like Teela she cut her hair for practicality's sake. She thought she would never be able to wear something that comfortable again. In spite of how dire the situation was, no longer hiding her true self behind a pile of lies felt quite liberating.
-"Father uh… I mean dad is right terrans don't depend on closed libraries; information is very accessible through these devises and just might make it easier for us to find Adam. This "facebook" by example is a virtual platform were terrans for some reason willingly publish every banal aspect of their life, all we need is a name and this square device called "tablet" could show us were Adam is"- Teela seemed to have gone a little too far in the attempt to portrait and average teenager. Her hair was really short, right below her chin and dispersed a little wildly from her face, the hairdresser called it modern. Emulating a model she saw on a magazine her makeup consisted on smoke eyes and pale lipstick and she wore an indecently short denim skirt with thick black leggings and a dark green sweater, the outfit was complimented with knee long black boots and a leather jacket. When her father first laid eyes on her he was surprised at what he saw, but part of the adaptability spell made him very open minded at new developing and information.
-"I know dear but we have browsed already and all these social networks show no reliable information that might lead us to Adam."- Marlena said sadly
-"Perhaps like any other eternian the idea of reveling his privacy to the general public might be insensible or he just changed his name."- Duncan comforted her, while deep down he feared that the poor boy left to his fate, without proper resources might have perished under this hostile world.
For crying out loud in this planet even crossing the streets is dangerous! Marlena explained him that the heavier gravity makes it impractical for aerial transport in small personal scale and is only used in large airplanes, leaving people at the mercy of heavy metal chariots that cross the crowded streets driven sometimes not by the trained pilots eternian laws require but drunks and overall, reckless drivers.
Duncan emulated most terrans in the way he seemed mesmerized by the little electronic square in his hands, eyes rarely darting away from it. He seemed incredibly frustrated -"I have searched in every public network but I have found no clues about Adam's whereabouts! Still there are several findings on terran technology such as GPS location and large databases that go by the name of "Google" and Wikipedia which could be very useful for us."-
-"Dad, Marlena is right this planet is too big it's unlikely that we find him so easily but we just have to keep trying"-
-"We do have a deadline Teela, if Adam is not back on Eternos by the end of the third day Randor will storm New York with at least a dozen warriors!"-
The queen groaned at the image of her pigheaded husband being subdued by the American army, FBI, CIA, SEALS, NASA or any other force that would be thrilled to put their hands on a group of aliens and their advanced weapons.
-"It's okay, one of the advantages on the time difference in this planet is that we have nine days to find him, that's a lot more time than we expected."- Teela tried to comfort the older woman.
The television screen beside them turned red, calling imperiously for their attention on a news flash. A blonde serious woman sitting on a desk had begun her announcement:
-"Armand Swanson, well known billionaire and entrepreneur has suffered from yet another catastrophe when his apartment located in the fifth avenue was burned down by allegedly an electric malfunction. After losing millions in the Wall Street market and his car crash last month he seems to keep dragging bad luck to himself. Luckily he was in a party when the fire happened and there were no casualties whatsoever. There are several rumors that claim his misfortune is caused by an item called "The sword of bad luck" which is a medieval type of sword that he bought in an auction two months ago. No one knows the true origin of the weapon, experts cannot recognize the precise era it was produced and have trouble deciphering the exact alloy of metal involved in its making. It is known though, that it has changed hands on countless occasions since its owners suffer from several misadventures right after purchasing it."-
A handsome dark haired man in his mid forties with a petulant expression appeared on the screen
-"First of all I'll like to clarify that this is not such a big tragedy as it seems, my insurance company will take care of everything and second I don't believe in urban myths, my sword is a beautifully crafted weapon made of such durable elements that has survived the fire intact and I shall keep it as the centerpiece of my collection. I refuse to get rid of it because of superstition."- He proudly showed it in front of the camera.
Marlena, Duncan and Teela gasped in surprise when they saw Adam's sword on the LED TV screen, they also noticed how an inscription materialized in its blade made of a subtle green light "For its rightful owner alone" the message said.
-"The sword! Of course the sorceress said that the sword would lead us to him!"- Duncan said exited
-"Did anyone else saw that message?!"- Marlena was startled –"Because if they did they would have freaked out"-
-"That is very strange; I didn't know that sword was so special. After all it's not like Adam ever uses it"- Teela mused –"I didn't even know it was magical back in Eternia I can't believe it would still be magical in here. You gave it to him for his last birthday dad, where did you get it from?"-
Uncomfortable by that train of thought and the conclusions that might led her to he told her seriously: -"Now is not the time for that Teela we must retrieve the sword so we can find Adam"-.
The girl fumed, it was common for her father to be secretive and deny her of answers. Usually she accepted his silence but now she was getting frustrated by his attitude. After the bizarre image she saw back in castle Greyskull she hoped to speak to her father about it once their mission was over. After all she didn't want anything to distract them from their goal so she kept quiet this time, once they went home she would show him what it's like when someone knows a secret but won't give it away.
Marlena was already heading for their loft and they could see she was thinking furiously, her back straight, shoulders tense and a commanding voice informed them of her plans.
-"I'll go change more coins, we will try to buy the sword from him, I need you guys to get as much information about Mister Swanson as you can. Then we are going to get some weapons just in case, if he doesn't give it to us the good way we'll take it the bad way"-
-"Wait! Are you saying we're gonna steal it from him?"- Teela said shocked, not in a million years she thought she'll plan a crime with her righteous father and the honorable queen.
-"We will make him a very generous offer dear hart, but if he refuses we cannot afford to waste time in negotiations. It is hard to accept but sometimes the end does justify the means"-
And that end was Adam, lost and abandoned in this chaotic place and utterly alone. Yes the end does justify the means. She would never say it aloud, her pride does not allow it, but for Adam there was nothing she wouldn't do. She wondered where he might be, and if after a long year he still waited for them…
…
Caleb and Malik sat in the basement Ronnie liked calling his office, the neglected awful place was only a façade, the afro American dealer made good money and lived in an expensive apartment near the Bronx. He liked to look imposing and act like a mobster when he was in fact a college dropout raised in the suburbs, he begun using and selling marihuana to his college buddies but his contacts in the mayor's office and the police made him take over the ecstasy branch and before he knew it he was a "gangster". As ridiculous as he looked he did have a good mind for business and a ruthless psychopathic personality, not to count on the chemically enhanced cocaine he was putting now on the street.
-"So Malik I am glad that you took my orders now, good job here's your money"- The man tossed the boy several hundred dollars
-"You mean poisoning Liliana?"- Caleb said lifting an eyebrow
-"Yeah sure, you got a problem with that punk?"- Ronnie said aggressively
-"Now all of Esteban's people are out to get me, if it wasn't for Caleb I'll be dead by now"- The kid protested
-"That is why I'll like to get in the business, not only I'll be able to watch on Malik but I'll make some extra cash as well"- Caleb said relaxed –"But we need protection"-
Ronnie looked at the tall muscular blonde man, covered in tattoos all up to his neck and a few piercings in his face, his hair shorter on the sides and a bit longer in the middle giving the impression of a subtle mow hack. He would be a great asset for his company; the only sight of him would scare more than a few.
-"Sure thing, never be said I didn't watch my buddies backs. Welcome to the family!"-
Two hours later both kids returned to the tiny apartment building they lived on, Althea was there waiting for them and didn't greet them with anything more than a nod. The concern on her eyes whatsoever was evident, she knew of their plan and was worried sick about it, but it seemed like the only way out. If she wanted to play heartless Caleb would let her, yet the shaking in her hands as she tried to cook for them broke his heart in pieces.
"She does care, she doesn't want us to know it but she does care about us" So leaving his ego aside her gave her a big hug and was surprised when she hugged him back. It was perhaps the first sign of affection she ever showed him.
Time dragged by until mister Jones tapped on their door. A woman joined him; she looked like a stereotypical junkie. Her very dark skin seemed cracked by age and half of her face was hidden behind a hoodie.
Caleb's math teacher made the introductions:-"This is my sister, Officer Shaundra Jones, as you can see she's working on the narcotics department deep undercover"-
The shrunken "Junkie" changed her posture and now showed a very confident serious woman, after a few more polite introductions she told the boys
-"I heard you had good Intel on Ronnie"-
Caleb merely gave her the small recorder he hid below his T shirt during the interview with the gangster. He wanted a secure police officer to have the recording and none was safer than his favorite teacher's sibling, this was crucial since rumor was that Ronnie had several cops on his payroll
-"Let me be honest with you guys, Ronnie is just a front it's impossible that a momma's boy like him got so far without some big strings behind him"-
-"I just want to get him out of the street"- Caleb said determined "And Esteban out of our backs" he thought.
-"I'll do my best but if this isn't handled right you could be in a lot of danger"- The policewoman told him worried.