So I had a few newbies this week, I want to thank my new reviewers/readers lilacooper, Hobo49, XxblaahhxX, Stubborn Pear, and IsuzuRin101. There are some of you that I haven't heard from in a very long time. Are you still with me? TheNerdiBarbieDoll, Vero Diaz, Brightmoon3, Bananahsplit, Moonlight16, Isabel Wayland Cullen Hudson, ian4ever, SapphireMind, DisneyVampire, sapphirenight12, MistakenSoul, MrsSchmeisser, Lou McBryde, Val, sarah,

KATE, EvaCJM, lamia-amo, .., maxride08, Laziness

I hope I hear from you all again….

OUT OF CONTROL

AFTER THE BREAK WAS OVER we reassembled out on the field again. Luckily it was overcast. Had the sun been out we would have been baking.

Nate sat on the end. I sat between him and Ian. Sunny and Kyle sat on the other side of Ian. Colonel Jeffries and Sergeant Woodfern introduced themselves to Kyle and Sunny. Kyle and Sunny introduced themselves to the Colonel and the Sergeant.

"Kyle, I hear that you and your brother have resorted to violence quite often in your lifetime."

"Well, Ian was always the calm one. He didn't become violent until the takeover. I've always been a rough and tumble kind of guy. That's probably why I played football in college."

"Are you dangerous now?"

"I think everyone has the potential to be dangerous. Am I violent? No, I haven't been violent in close to two years. Pretty much since Sunny came along."

The Colonel focused on Sunny. "Sunny, would you tell me how you came to be on this mountain?"

"My host was a woman named Jodie. Jodie and Kyle were in love. She knew exactly how to handle Kyle. My memories of him were very strong. One night, Kyle came through my bedroom window. I was so excited. He wanted me to come with him. I was so in love with him, I went without a fight. He told me that they were going to send me to another world so he could have Jodie back. I didn't want to go. I was so devastated. Why didn't he want me?"

Kyle took Sunny's hands in his. "Sunny, it's not that I didn't want you. I didn't know you. I was in love with Jodie."

"What about now?"

"You know I love you. Why do you think I was so upset when you left?"

Ian stood up. "Guys! We could be dead in another hour. Do you want to spend your final hour arguing about whether or not you love each other?"

The Colonel interrupted Ian's tirade. "Why do you keep harping on the doom and gloom?"

"Why? Since the day we caught your surveyor watching our friendly baseball game, it's the only thing any of us have thought about. My wife is having nightmares about the outcome. How am I supposed to console her when I'm scared to death of being without her? Do you have any idea what this feels like? We were going to be a family…" Ian's emotions caught up to him. "You son of a bitch!" He walked away about twenty feet and collapsed to his knees with his back to us.

"Go to him," Nate said. I was gone before he could say anything else.

I fell to my knees in front of him. "Ian, please," I begged him. I didn't know what else to say. "I love you so much." He pulled me to him and sobbed into my hair. "I don't know what to say to help you." I spoke in a little voice.

"It's okay. I just feel sick to my stomach." His face telegraphed so much pain. Then he chuckled through his tears. "And you're the pregnant one." He held my face in his hands. "Jamie did pick the perfect host for you. I want you to know that." He pressed his lips to mine and kissed me long and hard.

When he finally pulled his lips away from mine, I whispered. "Everyone is watching."

"I don't give a damn."

I wiped the tears from his cheeks. Ian helped me to my feet and then stood up as well. We turned and walked back to the table.

"So you decided to join us again," the Colonel declared.

"Yes, he's better now."

"Amazing, how you can heal a distraught man with just one kiss. You should have been a comforter."

I blushed before I spoke. "I was really hoping to be a wife and mother."

"Sergeant, please get us back on track here."

The Sergeant scanned his computer. "Ah, here we go. 'I went without a fight. He told me they were going to send me to another world so he could have Jodie back. I didn't want to go.'"

Kyle took over the story. "I brought Sunny back here. Sunny was very sweet. I wanted to make sure she went somewhere nice. When they took her out and placed her in the cryo tank, I kept her with me. We waited and waited for Jodie to return but she didn't. Jodie's body was just an empty shell. I asked them to return Sunny to the host. In the beginning she was like my little 'pet'. It was Wanda who helped us to take the next step and go to the next level. Now, Sunny rules me."

The Colonel looked at me. "So, you're a matchmaker too."

"I suppose. There's only one person I haven't been able to match up with anyone." I glared at Nate.

Nate spoke. "In my defense, I love only one woman."

The Colonel looked from Nate to me, and then to Ian who was rubbing his forehead with his fingertips. "Mr. O'Shea, you have your hands full with this one, don't you?"

"You have no idea," Ian replied.

The Colonel laughed a hearty laugh. "No wonder you're insane!"

"He's not insane!" I snapped.

The Sergeant addressed Ian. "Would it have been any easier if she wasn't a soul?"

Ian creased his eyebrows and looked at the Sergeant in a way that could only be described as incredulous. "Then she wouldn't be Wanderer. It's the soul I love. The packaging is just a plus."

The Colonel folded his arms across his chest as he declared. "That is the single most promising thing I have heard all day. The best part is you backed up that statement one hundred percent when you held her broken soul in your hands and wept. I have to admire that."

"Thank you, Colonel, Sir."

The Colonel took a deep breath. "Is there anyone else that we should interview?"

Nate spoke. "We have one more soul with a human girlfriend that you may want to meet."

"And who would that be?"

"Ice. His real name is Ice Conqueror."

"Kyle and Sunny, you may go. If you could send Ice and his mate to us, I would appreciate it."

The Sergeant stopped them before they were able to walk away. "Sunny? Is that your real name?"

"No. It's 'Sunlight Passing through the Ice' but no one calls me that anymore."

"Thank you and you are Kyle O'Shea. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's correct."

The Sergeant nodded and the couple departed. I got up to stretch. I was getting cramped sitting for so long. Ian followed me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just needed to stretch my legs." I stopped suddenly and turned to him. "And you are not insane."

"No, I'm just crazy about you," he joked.

"That sounds like something Nate would say."

Ian put his hands in his hair. "Oh no! I really am crazy!"

We both laughed. "I'm glad you are in a better mood."

He put his arms around me. "I'm trying to be optimistic."

"Good." He kissed me again like before. He obviously didn't care who saw our public display of affection and I didn't either. Right now, his lips were my whole world. He nibbled my lips playfully and I was about to explode with the adrenaline he was pulling from the very core of my being. We were both breathing pretty hard by the time he pulled his lips from mine. Nate was staring at us from a few feet away.

Ian noticed him staring. "What?" he demanded.

"A little decorum please?"

Ian marched right over to Nate. "Oh please, I'll kiss her if I want to. For all we know, it could be my last kiss. Tell me, if I said go kiss her right now, that you wouldn't run your little butt over there and plant one on her."

"Okay, you've made your point."

Ice and Heidi were on their way out to the table. I took both Ian and Nate's hand in mine and I walked them back to our seats.

"All right, it's getting late. Let's finish this thing up." Colonel Jeffries addressed the newcomers. "I'm told your name is Ice Conqueror."

Ice stood up and offered his hand to the Colonel. "You can call me 'Ice'."

"This human here is your mate?"

Ice laughed. "That sounds kind of 'cave man' don't you think?"

"I suppose it does. How did you end up here on the mountain?"

Ice laughed again. He was the only one who seemed to be amused by all this. "Well, here I was living this dreary existence of a life. No family, no prospects for one on the horizon, boring job." He looked over at me. He was still standing. "Then one day this lovely young lady came to the 'Home Depot' where I worked. She bought a ton of stuff and pushed it out to her van. What kind of a man would I be if I didn't help her out? She didn't want my help but I insisted. I thought not only could I do my job but maybe, just maybe I could get a phone number."

"I knew it," Ian snapped.

"Come on, Ian. Who wouldn't hit on your wife? They weren't even married yet. She had no ring. That was the first thing I looked for. Anyway, I digress. What I didn't know was these two guys were in the back of the van. As soon as I saw them, there was no turning back. They grabbed me and knocked me out."

"They hit you?" the Sergeant asked.

"No, chloroform. I was out like a light. Best thing that ever happened to me."

"You were forcibly taken from your life and you say it was the best thing that ever happened to you?"

"These humans respected me more than anyone in my entire life. Wanda showed me that I could be a vital part of all of these people's lives and I've finally found a lady who makes me feel loved. This place…it's good."

"Would you like to introduce me to your lady?" the Colonel asked. I thought it amusing that he chose the word 'lady'. He seemed to like Ice.

"Yes, of course. This is Heidi. We've only been seeing each other for less than a year but it's been the best year of my life."

Heidi offered her hand to the Colonel. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sir."

"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you as well."

The Colonel turned to Nate. "I think we have only one more person to see."

Nate looked confused.

"I believe you have been holding a hostage?"

"Oh, Eli. I forgot about him."

"Don't tell me he wants to stay here too."

Nate answered. "No. He has a family back where he came from. I wouldn't want to keep him from that."

Ian rose again. "I'll get him."

Ian lumbered off the field followed by Ice and Heidi. He returned quickly with Eli by his side. As Eli approached, the Colonel rose from his seat. "I'm sorry you had to wait so long for us to come for you. I hope your family will understand."

"Considering the circumstances, I am sure my family will be happy that I am alive. I know I have been led to believe that the humans are dangerous, volatile creatures. My time spent with them has been an experience. Although it is true that some of the humans can be emotional, I feel that if put into the same circumstance that we, and I mean all of us, would react in the same way. It's basic survival mode, Sir. I have come to respect the drive and the endless battle that these humans and souls have to fight every single day just to remain on this earth."

I started to cry.

Nate reached out to shake Eli's hand. "Thank you Eli. If we survive this, you and your family are welcome to visit any time." Eli pulled Nate into a hug.

The Colonel spoke. "Corporal, will you please escort Eli off the field?"

One of the guards stepped forward and ushered Eli from the table.

The Colonel leaned forward. "Now, comes the hard part." He sighed. "I have to take two of you with me. Nate, you are the leader and therefore it makes sense that you would go. Wanderer, you are the most compelling young female I have ever met. If you are true to your community, I feel that you would be the best soul to represent them in a fight to save them. I am not the person who makes the decision. I am merely a fact gatherer. I can offer my opinion."

"She's not going anywhere without me," Ian asserted.

"Suit yourself but remember I am not the power once we leave here. You cannot lose your temper as you have done here. They will not look favorably upon that. This is my advice."

"I understand but my wife is not leaving without me."

"Fair enough. I'll give you thirty minutes to go back to your people and tell them that you are going."

"Where are we going if you don't mind my asking," Nate wondered.

"Washington D C."

"How long will we be gone?"

"I can't answer that question."

"Can we take our cell phones?"

"They will most likely take them from you and run the numbers to see who you've been calling. They probably won't give them back, but you didn't hear that from me."

"Colonel?"

"Yes, Mrs. O'Shea?"

"Can you promise me that nothing bad will happen to Ian and Nate?"

"By bad, you mean…"

"I mean promise me they won't implant them with a Seeker…with any soul."

"I will do everything in my power to avoid that from happening."

"Thank you."

We walked swiftly to our people and Nate called a meeting inside the cave. He explained that in his opinion, the meeting went well. He appointed Burns the leader in our absence and requested that everyone respect and adhere to his decisions. He made it clear that we didn't know how long we would be gone and if we didn't come back, it meant that we had failed. It was difficult for Nate to give the speech because he was so much the planner, the schemer and now it was all out of his control. At the end of the speech, there were lots of hugs and well wishes for us. Victoria had come down off of her perch on top of the cave. Nate again thanked her for having the restraint to stop the shooter on the other side without killing him. She grabbed him and kissed him and told him that no matter what may happen, the time they spent together was time she would never forget. It was heartbreaking. There were lots of tears. The half hour went by so quickly.

When it was time to go, Ian, Nate, and I held hands and walked across the field to the waiting soldiers. Colonel Jeffries and Sergeant Woodfern were nowhere to be seen. Another soldier came forward.

"I am Captain Rising from the Mist and I will be in charge of your escort to the Capital. Please do not be afraid. The guns are a precaution. This way please."

We followed the Captain into a waiting vehicle and we were on our way to the nearest shuttle port. We were escorted onto a military transport and whisked away to the Capital. Nate seemed excited about the trip. He saw it as a positive sign. I, on the other had, clung to Ian the entire trip. When they served us dinner, Ian had to force me to eat. The only time I left him was to go to the bathroom on the shuttle. We had armed guards around us at all times. We didn't talk much but Ian kissed me often. They weren't long passionate kisses but rather little kisses of reassurance. We probably told each other that we loved each other a couple of dozen times in the six hours it took us to go from the mountain to the shuttle port in Washington. We were escorted into another waiting military vehicle and driven to a military compound where we were turned over to another officer.

That is where everything I had hoped for was smashed to pieces.

"I'm sorry but we are under orders to follow protocol so we have to separate you."

"No!" I clung to Ian.

"This is my wife. We will stay together."

"I'm sorry. We have to follow the rules set by General Blue Flame."

It took four soldiers to rip us apart and I was crying hysterically. I was put into a room with a bed and a table with a lamp. There was nothing else in the room. I lay on the bed and eventually cried myself to sleep. I was awakened by a knock on the door and a meal was brought in. The Captain followed the soldier into the room.

"Your husband and friend are comfortable. Your husband requests that you eat. He said 'Tell her to please eat. She needs to think about the baby.' He turned to leave. "Oh, yes, and he said to tell you that he loves you." The door closed behind him.

I didn't want to eat but I knew Ian was right. The baby needed me to eat. I ate what I could even though I felt sick to my stomach.

Several hours later, there was a knock on my door. The Captain entered. "The General and the President will see you in one hour. I suggest you make yourself presentable. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask. There is a soldier outside your door."

"I brought a bag. It had essentials in it. May I have it back?"

"I will check on that for you. I must warn you. There are cameras in this room. If you undress you should do it in the bathroom." I scanned the room but could not see any sign of a camera. It made me uneasy to think I had been watched.

After he left I went into the bathroom. I took a shower but before I put on my clothes I opened the bathroom door to let some of the steam out. My bag was sitting on the floor just outside the door. I snatched it up. Inside I had brought a set of clothes, shoes, make up, brush, toothbrush and toothpaste, and my pre-natal vitamins. In the bottom of the bag I had put Ian's bloodstained shirt in a plastic bag as proof that he had touched my soul. I had the forethought of packing Ian's favorite Babydoll dress. The Colonel said that I was compelling and in the dress I barely looked pregnant. I wanted to use what this body had given me to hopefully draw their attention and use it to my advantage.

When the Captain came to get me, he was pleasantly surprised. "You clean up well." He smiled and held out his arm for me to take. "Shall we go?"

"Yes." We began to leave the room. "Wait!"

I went back and grabbed the bag with the shirt.

We drove by limousine to the Pentagon. The Captain helped me out and escorted me to a vacant room. "Wait here until they are ready for you."

"What about my husband and my friend?"

"I'm not positive but I think they are here as well."

"I sat in a chair and waited. The longer I had to wait the more nervous I got. Before long I had to go to the bathroom. I went to the door and opened it. There was an armed guard posted outside. "Excuse me; I need to use the restroom."

"Yes Ma'am. I'll take you."

He walked me down the hall and walked me back when I was done. Once I returned to the room, there were several men waiting inside.

"You must be Mrs. O'Shea."

"Why, yes. I had to use the…" I pointed out the door.

"Perfectly understandable in your condition." The man in the suit replied.

"I hadn't realized it was so obvious."

"It's not. Allow me to introduce myself. I am President Halsden and this here is General Blue Flame." He crossed the room to shake my hand.

"It's an honor to meet you Sir."

General Blue Flame followed and did the same. "You are quite lovely."

"Thank you."

"Have they treated you well?"

"I don't want to complain but I was very upset at being separated from my husband and my best friend. I wish to see them if you don't mind."

"And you will. We wanted to speak with you alone before we bring each of them in."

"What is this? Divide and conquer? You already have us at a severe disadvantage."

The president walked back to his desk and picked up a thick stack of papers. "This is very interesting reading. Is it true?"

"Where is Colonel Jeffries?"

"He was pulled to another issue. He will be with us but not until later."

"He can back up everything that is in that report."

"It says your husband, a human, held your soul in his hands. He did not try to destroy it? I find that difficult to believe."

"There were at least half a dozen of your people who witnessed it and I brought you this shirt." I pulled the shirt from the plastic bag and handed it to the General.

He held it up and examined the blood stains.

"That is Ian's shirt. He was wearing it when I was shot by one of your men."

"Huh." He turned it and held it up for the President to see.

"Interesting. The Colonel writes that you were pivotal in creating bonds between the humans and the souls. Would you care to share your secret? Hypnosis or some other form of magic?"

"No. I just try to make everyone feel comfortable with each other. As a soul in a human world I don't need enemies."

"This human husband. He tried to destroy you. Is that true?"

"His name is Ian. He did try to destroy me but if was out of fear. You know it's funny. We have taken over the earth and yet we have this great fear of the few remaining human survivors. Do you believe that they could destroy us all? Our sheer numbers alone give them no chance in a fight. We have billions of us here on the earth. Why is it such a crime to want to salvage just a small number of them? Their race is not worth destroying. They are strong and proud and they have the gift of passion for what is important to them."

"But they are angry and volatile."

"I may be wrong but I believe on a planet such as this that in time, our souls will find the reasons to be angry and volatile as well. There are those not unlike yourselves that crave the power and the position that you possess. These humans that I love do not crave power. They just want to live and love and raise families. Why is that so wrong?"

"You believe that humans and souls can live together in harmony?"

"I don't have to believe it. I live it everyday."

There was a knock at the door. A soldier entered. "I have Mr. O'Shea waiting in the hall."

The President answered. "Bring him in."

Ian stepped through the door and I ran to him. He put his hands up to block my advance. It was then that I looked and saw the silver in his eyes.

"No! Not my Ian!" Everything went black.

9