Rochelle

Oh hell! Why do they always have to put me and Ethan together?

It's humiliating and uncomfortable! It almost makes me think they're doing this to humilate me!

Not to mention everytime he speaks there are little hints of the fact that maybe...he does have...oh no, here I go again! But then I have to ask myself, do I even wanna live if I don't have Ethan's suppport? What would be the stupid point?

Oh, double hell! Arkarian's now looking at me, and with a jolt of reality I come back. He read my thoughts! I gotta screen them better!

Oh, what a mess I'm in. I send Arkarian a jumbled message with my thoughts. Whatever you heard is just my way of coping with nerves. I mean, wouldn't you be nervous if someone who hated you goes on missions with you all the time? It gets hard to concentrate. He sends me a private message in return. Do not mistake Ethan's priorities. He just wants to look after you, Rochelle. Be assured of that. He is just confused about his feelings, he allows a bewildering smile, as are you.

Well, that clears things up. But we can't talk anymore, as Arkarian is needed to explain more of the mission to us. He turns to me first. "You are going to be transported straight to Martha's house, attaining the role of her closest friend." Then he speaks to Ethan. "You are going to be George's friend, so therefore you will be transported to his house, and both of you will get the job of convincing them for the next few days, only one day of mortal time." Good luck, and don't be nervous." He shoots a look at me and I cringe on the inside, noticing Ethan has seen this little exchange.

Ethan

What the hell is wrong with me this morning? I mean, why the hell am I even caring if Arkarian wanted to have a private little heart-to-heart with Rochelle early in the morning?

Anyway, maybe he's just reassuring her. She has almost died three times, and that would make anyone want to back out of a mission. Not that Rochelle's the type to do so. Plus, Arkarian's the only one she talks to. It's 'cause she thinks he's the only one who believes her loyalty to the Guard. But all of us know. We've seen her, and besides, Croc-face turned

out to be the stupid traitor. All the others have just fallen into a routine that they can't shake off. Matt is a little friendlier to her now that he's finally been able to move on and found Neriah. Dillion is still the only one she really talks to, except for Neriah and Jade occasionally. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get past the fact that she used me. True, she was working for Marduke at the time, and she had the guts to turn traitor to the Order. Finally noticing my surroundings, I see that everyone has left Akarian's chambers.

"Ethan, something is bothering you. Come and sit down so we can talk." Arkarian motions for me to sit on the stool that has suddenly appeared out of thin air. He, for some reason, is smiling. I groan, thinking there's nothing that gets past this guy.

"Look, there's nothing wrong with me. I'm just mad because the bloody Order won't quit bugging us!" I try to convince him. Arkarian, however, has known me for 13 years, and doesn't give up easily."

He speaks tolerantly, still smiling, and looking like a child who has a secret they've known for quite some time. His attitude has me intrigued. "Listen carefully Ethan, Rochelle was just worried about the mission, so I was trying to reassure her that, even if this is a pretty important mission, she needn't worry so much." I digest this information

carefully and speak.

"I didn't ask you about Rochelle." I don't see why you're trying to bring Rochelle up when I wasn't even wondering what you were talking about." His whole face beaming now, I get the feeling I'm missing something.

He pats me on my head like I'm still four years old, and says "You didn't have to."

Okay, now he's just giving me the creeps. I knew there was nothing he didn't know about.

"Do you want to know what happened while you were healing in one of the rooms here after you got back from the Cooke mission? "Everyone was so worried. We all were terrified of losing you."

I nod my head, wondering what this has to do with anything. "Be patient Ethan." He tells me. "Do you recall the partially disintegrated chair that you fixed?" "The one Rochelle had an 'unexpected burst of energy on'?"

He looks gently up at me, and I realize that he thinks he's let me in on a precious secret,but I've still got no idea as to how that relates to me. Shaking his head at me now, Arkarian grins at me and claps my shoulder. "No matter, you shall discover it on your own pace." Now I suggest that you get a good night's sleep, so that tomorrow evening, you are prepared for your journey into the past."