I'm very proud to have finally reached his chapter, I've had a few of the scenes in this part stashed in my head probably since I posted chapter 5 or 6, and now I've finally written them down here in 15. Wow, 15. I remember when I didn't think I would ever write a fiction. I remember when I didn't think I'd make it past 10. XD Lets so where it goes next!
Please, if there was something you liked for disliked about this chapter, let me know in a comment/review! I love comments to death, and would love to know your thoughts on this chapter. I mean, if you want to comment that is :) If you don wanna you don godda.
Also! New record for me - 5,187 words! Wooh! C:

Chapter 15: Racing Thoughts

The principal jumped nearly three feet in the air when the teleporter stationed behind his desk hummed to life and someone materialized on its platform. The last time the thing had been used was back before the former principal had been employed at this shool, so this was the first time he had seen it activate before. It was fair to say his heart was forever weakened by the surprise. An even bigger surprise, however, was the person of authority who had used the teleporter to show up behind him unannounced.

"A-guh," he struggled to form words, "A L-Logic? Why, whu-why would a Logic be sent here?"

"Are you the Wisest in Administration for this educational facility?"

"Why, yes, I'm the principal, but –"

"Good. I require the addresses and permanent records of every pupil enrolled here. Once I have those documents, my Thoughts and I will also conduct a thorough patrol of this building and we expect to not run into any complications for the duration. My party of six will be materializing shortly."

The principal stood up and began towards his monitors immediately. "I-If I may, my Wiser, what is this all about?"

"Nothing to worry about, I assure you," The Logic stated, "Simply a new procedure constructed by The Minds to review the efficiency of our institutions. Random reviews will be conducted every so often. We must make sure our youth is being taught in the most effective ways within the most ideal environments. Don't you agree?"

"Of course, it should have been obvious. Forgive my ignorance, my Wiser." The whites of the principal's eyes flashed as he avoided contact with The Logic's violet brown eyes, handing a type of memory card to him. "Here is the information you requested."

"Relax, Lesser. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about and your facility is top-notch."

As the principal began to sweat, The Logic stepped off of the platform and walked out of the office. He was followed by two other men and four minions, all streaming out of the teleporter single-file. Once in the hall, he gave the order for them to split up, and they all went in separate directions.

The Logic was tall man with an angular cranium, finely polished. He had square chin with a closely shaven beard that didn't go higher than his powdery lower lip. The brows above his sharp eyes were equally as groomed, and he kept his shoulders stiff as he strode through the hallways of the shool. The uniform he wore was tight fitting with decorative silver shoulder pads that matched the pads on his elbows, knees, and heels. The rest was stone grey with black trimmings.

Pupils began flooding the hallways when class was let out for the next, and everyone expertly avoided the man. It was well known that a Logic was not someone you wanted to be involved with ninety-five percent of the time. He scanned the crowd discreetly, looking for that one unmistakable person…

"Unkle!" Suddenly there were arms wrapped around his middle, and looking down he was met with two violet eyes that matched his own. He frowned, this was not who he was seeking. "Don't make me hurt you, Lil'Viv,"

"You know father wouldn't stand for it," Vivinie teased, but let go of him anyway. She looked him up and down once, and spotted the card in his hand. She raised a hand to her chin and smirked, "That looks confidential. Who are you after this time, hmm? Not a pupil?"

"You're right, it is confidential." The Logic walked passed her, but she followed quickly, Tasslers at her side. Felleta and her own minion, as well as a few others, were a fair distance behind. "Oh please, you know I can keep a secret," After receiving a dubious glare, she rolled her eyes and continued, "I can keep secrets, if I try."

She ran ahead and blocked his path, "Wait," His knuckles cracked as they formed fists, and she hesitated a moment. "Unkle, I can help. I know everyone in the shool, even the staff. Whoever you're looking for, I'll be able to point you in the right direction faster than you searching and going through digital files. And- and you'll no longer have to act secretive!"

He thought a moment, and then gave a crooked smile. "Everyone, you said?" Vivinie nodded enthusiastically. A dark chuckle sounded from his long neck, "Perhaps you could be of help, so long as you don't repeat this to a single living, or nonliving, thing."

"I won't," She ensured, "You have my word."

"I don't have to make you promise, do I?" The Logic's eyes narrowed threateningly.

Vivinie swallowed thickly and she rubbed her throat, "No, no that won't be necessary."

"Okay, then," He kneeled down and she bent over so he could whisper in her ear. When he was done, she straightened and her expression was gleefully malicious. "Oh," She almost laughed, "I can most certainly help with this."

It had been a while since Roxanne actually went to shool. She used to go every day, but began skipping days even before the povoirians landed. Afterwards, she hardly went at all, mostly to spend time with Bernard, but also because it wasn't good for her to go to crowded places anymore. Nannarry continued to say she shouldn't be seen for her own good, so eventually she quit going all together. Not that she was complaining, no one thought he could learn anything anyway – not on scirian level.

Roxanne, with Abraham on her shoulder as per usual, walked slowly down the street she always did, which was comparatively less busy than most days. She walked past the crocalator and even past the Life Center. Her destination was a far one, but not an impossible one, and she had walked there other times before. Igneefe was at a little passed noon in the sky, she was confident she could make it there and back home before night came.

She was coming from another one of her get-togethers with Bernard. As she walked, she thought back to the conversation they had. It had been really awkward when she brought up the topic of reproduction; Bernard had nearly dropped the E.E.D and looked at her like she had suddenly become blue and bald. Yet, it turned out that Bernard wasn't interested in her that way at all, and the thought of having children never crossed his mind. It was a relief to them both that they weren't expected to save the human race by the other.

Bernard had made the comment, "Even if we did have kids, we wouldn't be able to produce a substantial population. Not without incest and the help of science."

Roxanne had replied by telling him the story of Adam and Eve, and how it was told their sons and daughters were the beginning of the human race. But then she had said, "But we aren't living in a time of miracles and supernatural beings. I'm not even sure scirians have a concept of god. It's as you said, it wouldn't be possible without science and experimentation."

They agreed that was not something either of them wanted. She had taken his hand and thanked him for being so understanding, and they shared a tender, platonic hug. The conversation ended with her offering to get him an E.E.D, since he had become so attached to hers.

Huge satellite dishes loomed over a cluster of dome-shaped buildings, all sprouting various antennas and telescopes and such. Roxanne quickened her pace at the sight, she was close.

After walking up to the door, she stood herself in front of a screen and pressed a button to be scanned and granted entry. The screen flashed and a minion appeared – a creature which resembled a puffer-fish with the eyes of a hammerhead shark. It blinked at her once and then puffed up in excitement, shouting "It's Ms. Ritchi! Ms. Ritchi is here!" In the distance someone yelled, "Well let her in already!" The minion pressed a button and a beam of light scanned her body, followed by the front door sliding open for her.

She walked down a long, plain hallway. Roxanne reached the next door on her path, but before she could even try, it opened up on its own and the same minion from before attacked her in a big hug, lifting her off of the floor.

"Ooohhh, here's my favorite alien! How have you been? Are you well? Wait!" The fish looked at her seriously with one eye, "Have you eaten lunch yet?"

"Well, no, but –"

The fish puffed up again with a gasped and dropped Roxanne as if she were burning hot; she had to struggle to not fall on her butt. "That! That won't do – don't go far, I'll be right back with some food!"

Roxanne could only smile and shake her head as the minion sped off. She continued her journey into the building until she came to two men sitting at hug monitors. She coughed into her hand to announce herself, "You two have time for a short visit?"

The men turned around and rose with smiles, "Roxanne!"

She shifted on the balls of her feet bashfully, "Hey there, Derex, Reggen." She shared brief hugs with the two men who found her floating in space.

Derex ruffled her short hair, "So the news didn't lie, you really did cut your hair. It's nice."

She laughed, batting him away and fixing her hair, "Yeah, so I did."

"What's the occasion?" Reggen asked, peering hard at Abraham. "For your visit, I mean. Scruffy isn't glitching again, is he?"

"No, nothing like that. I was actually wondering if you could make another one of these," She held out her Earth Encyclopedia. The device was worn from years of use and abuse, but still functional.

"For the human boy?"

"Yes, that's right." Roxanne nodded. "Can you do that?"

Derex made a pffft noise with his mouth, "Can we do that? Puh-leeze. We still have the blue prints for this thing, Reg?"

When Reggen nodded, Derex snagged the E.E.D from Roxanne's dainty fingers, "Give me half an hour, Rox. This a one-man job."

Reggen rolled his eyes and Roxanne chuckled, "Thanks Derex, I appreciate it."

When he left, Reggen faced Roxanne. His face was more serious that before. "So…how's shool?"

She crossed her arms, "I haven't been going lately,"

"Good. You really shouldn't be seen by anyone anyway, not after –"

Roxanne groaned exaggeratedly, "Ugh! Not you too! I get enough of this kind of grief from Nannarry!"

"Fooood~!" The pufferfish like minion came back and shoved a levitating tray with a full meal in Roxanne's face, "Here, eat this."

"Foomers, calm yourself," Reggen smiled tiredly and pushed her away gently, "She might now even be hungry."

"But she needs nourishment! She's so ill-feed, her hair's falling out!"

He pinched the ridge between his eyes, "You know as well as I do it was cut, Foomers. Now be gone with you, silly fish."

Foomers huffed, "Even so. A growing girl needs food. Please help yourself, Lovey, if you're hungry." The fish turned to leave.

"I'll be sure to do that, thanks." Roxanne said as she went. She then turned back to Reggen expectantly. "Well? Aren't you going to rant at me some abstract reason I shouldn't be seen?"

"Sit down," Reggen gestured towards a chair at the control panels, his voice cold. Taken aback, Roxanne blinked and did as she was told. Reggen took a seat after her and leaned forward so he could rest his chin on his hands, arms propped on his knees. His fingers tented as he stared at her with steely grey brown eyes, his round face was hard where it was normally soft and approachable. "Perhaps Nannarry hasn't been as clear as she could be," he began slowly, "and perhaps that's not something she can control, but she does have her reasons to worry. And believe it or not, we do too."

Nannarry coughed harshly into her fist and the violent action kick-started her daily headache. She swallowed thickly and coughed once more; her throat was more swollen than usual today. She found it odd, but it wouldn't be the first time it had acted up without reason. She had just finished her inspection for the day, and everything appeared to be in order. Nannarry didn't do much with the animals and specimens held at the Life Center anymore, but she still did her rounds. She had hired hands to do the physical work around the place; all she did was act as manager.

She was now sitting at the old table in the simple kitchen, in the dark holding her head in her hands. The migraine was escalating by the minute. Why was it hurting so badly? It hadn't been this bad since the day of Deciemesh.

A knock came from the door. Roxanne? She would only ever call the human child that lived with her by her first name in her head. Did she lose her keyband again? Nannarry slowly rose, but still her brain pounded in her skull in protest. She stifled a cough and managed to say, "Coming."

Reaching the door, she leaned against it for a moment to let her vision come back into focus where it had failed after walking to fast. Finally she opened the door –

A spidery gloved hand made its way in, and before Nannarry had time to register those weren't Roxanne's familiar peach fingers, the rest of the body followed through. She staggered back with a slight wobble. "You," She rasped, "You."

"We meet again, Nannarry." The Logic purred sinisterly.

"You," She tried to speak again, but failed. Swallowing sharply, she tried once more, "You, you're not welcome here."

"Oh," he said, with a slight chuckle, "I really don't think that matters. Now tell me," The Logic took a threatening step forward, "Where is the human female?"

"What do you mean?" Roxanne asked timidly, though she wasn't sure she really wanted to know Reggen's reasons to worry about her being seen.

He sighed and leaned back a little in his chair as he gathered his thoughts. His brown eyes were morose when they met hers again. "Back before you were found," he began once, then backtracked, "No, years back before you were even born, there were four men working in this facility – Derex and I, and two others. We were a great team."

"One week, Derex and I had to visit another station for a meeting. The other two and their three minions were left here to continue working. It only took one week for it to happen, less than that. By sheer chance, they stumbled upon something they shouldn't have; a discovery meant to stay undiscovered."

"The pair had found a star system with orbiting planets that maintained life sustaining conditions, potentially with intelligent beings. The star wasn't far from here, and they couldn't understand why it hadn't been discovered before. So excited where they with their find, and so eager to share it with the world, they contacted the Minds immediately."

Reggen looked away and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath before continuing. "When we came back from that meeting, they were already gone, taken away to some place unspoken, never to be seen again. No reason was ever given to us, nor was their fate, but it's safe to assume the worst."

When he met Roxanne's eyes again, they were full of fresh concern and confusion. "I'm only telling you this so maybe you'll take our warnings a bit more seriously. There is weight behind our words, Roxanne, we aren't just paranoid. I wish you visited us more often so I could have told you that story sooner."

"Sorry about that, I've been distracted…" She admitted sheepishly, and then she promised, "I'll keep my head down more from now on."

If it's not too late, Reggen thought grimly as a different minion entered the room carrying something, the odds aren't good. She didn't live with them, but he couldn't help feeling like she was family. Neither of them could, especially since they had found her has an infant. The feeling was mute but mutual.

"Here you are, Ms. Ritchi," The minion, a fish with the appearance of a sailfish twisted into the shape of a seahorse, handed her two shiny devices. He smelled of smoke and had black smudges all over his robotic suit; he looked a little displeased, "Yours has been updated, as well. Sir Derex would be handing them to you himself, but he's dealing with an, um, an operator's error – if you will."

Behind her, Reggen face-palmed, "Thank you, Sizzers. Tell him I said goodbye,"

The minion nodded and left the way he came, calling, "So long, Ms. Ritchi."

Roxanne dehydrated the two devices and stashed them somewhere on her person, and after one final farewell before Reggen went off to help Derex and his malfunction, went on her way.

The sky was now a blushing violet with fraying blue and red ribbons for clouds. Roxanne stared at it as she neared home. All along the way she thought back to what Reggen had told her. Each time sent chills running down her spine, as though even her goose bumps were trying to avoid the implied danger. It wasn't that dark yet, though it was growing darker, but still she felt like she was being watched, being followed. She quickened her footsteps.

It felt immediately wrong when she entered through the front door. Usually, Nannarry would come and greet her at the door to nag about something within minutes, but she didn't show. Roxanne waited at the door a few moments longer to see if she would round the corner of the hallway, but she never did. She took a step forward and paused when she heard some kind of spurting sound that made her start having controlled, fearful breaths. "Nannarry?" Roxanne called out into the darkness. On her shoulder, Abraham tilted his head and shifted his feet fretfully.

That was another thing wrong about this picture. Nannarry knew Roxanne didn't like the dark, and though she herself preferred it that way, there was always at least one light on. The star was setting on the horizon now, so no light peered through the windows to help pierce the perverse darkness of the building which set off Roxanne's imagination. She swallowed her fear and ventured into the hallway, where once again she spoke, "Nannarry?"

Another chocked coughing sound clued Roxanne in to looking towards the right, into the doorless cavity of the kitchen where her eyes focused on a figure on the floor looking back at her. "Nannarry!" Roxanne shrieked in shock and began to run to her side.

"No!" Nannarry cried, or something that sounded like it. She sat on her knees with her legs sprawled out to either side, her eyes panicked and her hands flailing in front of her desperately to ward Roxanne off, as if to say no no, please, stay back! Away! Roxanne faltered in her approach and stopped. Her expression was full of confusion and worry, everything in her body was telling her to run to Nannarry's side, but the woman was waving at her fiercely to leave.

Nannarry opened her mouth as if to say something, but instead her eyes bulged and her body curled forward as she began to dry-heave. Her hands went to her throat and she fell into a bout of gruesome hacks and coughs. Roxanne blanched as nothing but droplets of blood fell from her guardian's mouth; her eyes followed them as they joined the rest of the dark liquid on the floor. Nannarry had always had a cough, ever since she could remember, but never had she seen her cough blood.

Roxanne lifted her foot and started to go to her again reflexively, but one of Nannarry's hands shot back out and waved at her again to stop. She took a step back, and gasped when she saw something move from in the shadows. A man came to stand at Nannarry's back and her coughing worsened; she pounded her fist against the floor as if it would help. The man was the tallest she had seen, with dark clothing which blended into the surroundings and silver guards that covered his shoulders, arms, and legs which glinted in the same way his eyes did – sharply and dangerously.

"I assume you're Roxanne," he said in a deep, polished voice. One of his gloved hands came to rest on the crown of Nannarry's head, and the weak woman was slow to flinch away from it as she wheezed. "Don't worry about her, help is on the way. Medics should be here soon." He took a step forward and Nannarry's silver eyes flashed as they followed him, flicking from Roxanne and back. "I came here to talk with you and I found her in this way, but she refuses to get up from the floor. Why don't you and I go sit at the table and discuss some things while we wait?"

Roxanne's feet were frozen as she watched the man carefully, and saw Nannarry's head bob heavily when she tried to shake it back in forth, "No," she rasped, and any other words she intended to say caught in her throat. The man glared at her, "Hush. You really shouldn't be speaking." He advanced once more in Roxanne's direction and she took a step back this time. "Come now," he coaxed, "I really feel you'll be interested in what I have to say." Roxanne saw daggers in the slight smile that followed.

"No!" Nannarry wailed, full of spit. She tilted her head back shoved her fingers down her throat and, all the while gagging, began clawing at something down deep. Finally, she removed her fingers and braced herself with both hands as blood mixed with vomit poured from her mouth. Roxanne watched in horror as Nannarry spat out something metal, it slid across the floor until it rested at Roxanne's feet – a pill sized object covered in barbs. "Run!" Nannarry screamed at her through tears, "Roxanne, please, just run!"

Roxanne turned on her heels and sprinted back to the front door. Behind her she heard a heavy thud followed by a slew of profanities and foot falls in her direction. She opened the door with haste, and screamed when she saw two pairs of metal hands reaching out for her from both sides. With a quick limbo move, she ran underneath of them; if she had been a head taller she would have been knocked out.

The two ambushing minions crashed into each other in their attempt to catch the human, blocking the Logic's path. "You let her get away!" He snarled, "Move! After her!"

There was no time to think, no time to look back. She could not risk slowing down, not for anything. The conversation with Reggen rang loudly in her head, taken away to some place unspoken, never to be seen again. But why were they even after her? What had she done? No, stop thinking! She ran faster in the random direction her feet had chosen for her.

Soon her lungs were stinging, and her abdomen and legs were burning from the sudden exercise, but she was certain they were still on her tail. She would have to stop soon, or collapse. Suddenly the croscalator came into view and she ran to the top. Risking a look back, she saw the minions from before had transformed their robot bodies into a new form; they were now in the shape of short dolphins, levitating so they appeared to be swimming through the air. They were also much faster now, and would reach her soon. She had to think of something, and quick.

"Ms. Ritchi!" Abraham grabbed her attention and pointed at an approaching vehicle. She understood instantly.

The minion's forced their bodies to move faster, they were almost within grabbing distance when Roxanne jumped over the edge of the croscalator and onto the back of a large cargo shuttle. The fish cursed in surprise and continued the chase.

Roxanne had landed hard on her knees, but only enough to cause bruising. She watched the minions following her from behind and she thought desperately about what her next move should be; there was no way she could keep running forever. At least now she could rest and catch her breath a moment.

Panic seized her when the shuttle began to slow down, and she looked back to see the minions getting closer. Where would she go? Would it slow down soon enough for her to jump off without getting caught? She looked around for a sign of hope – and found one: a bush. One of the very few decorating the streets and it was right in front of Nigmadem's place. Roxanne readied herself by getting into position and the shuttle slowed down further. She timed her jump for right before the bush passed her and landed squarely.

"Ah!" The branches scratched through her clothing a little bit, but other than that she was unharmed. She almost fell over as she tried to find her balance before dashing into the familiar building.

The lobby was even more crowded than the last time she was here, Roxanne wasn't sure if it was a blessing or disadvantage. No time to consider, she dove into the array. She pushed people out of the way and shouldered them to the side, earning a few insults as she went. The back door was insight, but someone walked in front of her and she slammed face-first into their chest. She backed up and looked at him long enough to see it was a man with brown eyes and a beard-mustache combo. "s'cuseme!" She mumbled and darted around him.

Through the door covered in digital clouds, through the storage room, and through the jungle of wires. Finally, she was back outside and she was facing…a wall. She stared at it blankly. Was this wall here the last time? She tried to remember. Haffreck it! The last time, Minion helped me over! Roxanne heard something from the other side of the door and her heart lurched. She jumped and tried to grab the top of the wall but failed. She tried again, but it was too tall. Her heart felt like it would explode out of fear. One more try – she managed a loose hold with one hand and the other quickly joined it. The wall was slippery, and her shoes were smooth, but somehow she managed to pull herself up to the top.

The sound of a door slamming and feet hitting metal from the other side of the door she came through spurred her forward. She brought her leg to the other side of the wall, but the thinness of the structure caused her to slip off prematurely and she landed wrong. "Gah!" She yelped and bit her knuckles to silence herself. Pain shot through her leg – she had most certainly sprained her ankle. Badly. Tears picked her eyes and the struggled to stand. Abraham jumped down from her shoulder and hugged her leg, locking his limbs in a kind of brace. It helped, but only a little.

She began limping, trying not to think about how dark it was in the big woods, trying not to remember the last time she was here and she had had two guides and her eyes closed, trying not to think of how much closer her chasers had probably gotten, trying not to focus on the unbearable pain coming with each step she took that slowed her down. Come on, it's just a little pain, you can still run. She may not be able to learn higher level mathematics, but pain was basic. Pain was primitive. She could learn to deal with pain. Roxanne pushed herself and soon was running again at an odd gate.

Maybe she would be able to lose them in the trees if she just got far enough and found a place to hide. Not likely, though, considering the trail of broken twigs and crunched leaves she was leaving behind and how loud each of her feet were as they pressed into the underbrush, not to mention whatever tracking technology her targets had. But maybe, maybe I can – "Gasp!"

In front of her the ground had turned into the sky. It was nothing but stars and clouds at a perfect cliff, and she was going to fall – going to fall into an endless hole of sky and she wasn't going to stop in time. Her feet skidded, but the pain in her ankle made her trip, she let out a yelp. Suddenly she was waist deep in water and the sky surrounding her was distorted with ripples. Roxanne felt dizzy and she raised herself off her knees which had sunk into the mud at the bottom of the pond she found herself in.

Looking back at the shore, she saw Abraham pacing worriedly, looking back at the woods and then at her like he wanted to join her but didn't want to get wet. He had jumped off last minute when he saw where she was headed. "Ms. Ritchi, I – oh, Ms. Ritchi, what? What am I to do? What are you to do? To do?" It sounded like he was whining in distress and on the verge of a glitch.

Roxanne felt her lip quiver – from the cold of the water or from emotion, she wasn't sure. "G-go hide in the woods!" She yell-whispered, in vain, she could hear the crackling of leaves as her chasers neared. "I'll…I'll…" She looked around and knew she couldn't back track. Her best bet was to swim forward.

Pushing off with her good foot, she waded out into the depths and began stroking with her arms, aiming for the other side of the pond which was plentiful with boulders. She dove under the reflective surface and shut her eyes to the murkiness beneath, pushing outward with her hands and kicking unevenly with her feet, certainly making splashes. Closer to the end, she came up for a breath and dove again, reaching out for the stones. Roxanne opened her eyes under the water and saw the rocks; her hand went to touch one to get a grip and climb out.

She nearly inhaled under water in surprise when her hand went through the rock instead. Roxanne tested it with her other hand and felt around only to find it completely hollow, while all the other rocks were concrete. Breaching for a deep breath one last time, she made a decision. She stuck her head in first and her body followed into a narrow passage hidden behind the false bolder. At the same moment, the Logic, minions, and two other men burst through the tree line.