We walk inside the elevator. Strangely enough, the place is still in one piece. We know that the Mogadorians are here too. What we don't know is why they haven't blown this place up by now. The Mogadorians are a strange race.

We finally reach the top floor to be welcomed by a guy about my age, probably older, along with another man in his early to mid-forties. They were with Sarah, fighting off Mogadorian scouts.

We immediately jump in to help them. I'm still very weak so all I manage is to blandly kill a few Mogs with my telekinesis. Despite the fact that I'm in my weakest state yet, I was still greatly amazed at Ella's newest Legacy.

She was just fighting off Mogs with her telekinesis, like me, when suddenly, a thing beam of red light shoots from the tip of each of her fingers. They looked like lasers. Immediately, the Mog in front of her disintegrate into ashes. Soon, all of the Mogs have been killed and we had a little celebration for Ella.

"Whoa kid! Good job!" Nine exclaims. Ella grins proudly in return.

The little celebration was soon cut off when reality slapped us in the face; reminding us to pack our bags and go.

We all walk to our individual rooms.

I start stuffing my clothes, Chest, a notebook I always keep, and the map inside my newly-washed backpack.

After that, I walk inside the bathroom and stare at my reflection.

I didn't know why I was doing it but I kept at it for at least three minutes.

When I finally understood that I was just basically stalling, I walked towards the door. I say a little good-bye to my room before closing the door.

I plop myself down on the black leather couch beside John with Six speaking in front of us and asking us where we should go next.

"How about we go to the Philippines? I've been there before. Never seen a Mog sneaking around. I just left because I wanted to travel. It's a nice place. This time of the year, it's hotter than usual, but sunny is better than stormy." I suggested.

They all nod and think about it for a while.

"I think it's a great idea." John says.

"As far as I know, there are no bases, and nothing extraterrestrial has happened there recently. The Mogs have no reason to go there at all." He explains.

I smile at him, as if to say thank you.

Soon, the others were agreeing and we were then driving towards the nearest airport.

All of us were quiet inside the minivan. Nine insisted on taking one of his Cêpan's expensive cars but Six argued him out of it by saying that all of us won't fit inside a cherry red Ferrari.

John was driving, with Sarah next to her. Sarah's hand was on top if his and she was looking wistful down the road. I smile. Ella was next to Sarah. The shotgun seat was big enough to hold two people.

I'm behind John's seat, Marina next to me, with Adam and Six in tow.

The other boys (or "gentlemen" as they like to call themselves") are snuggly fit inside the back.

I still don't completely trust Adam. Yeah, he helped us defeat a huge wave of Mogs but it just doesn't feel right.

"Why are you helping us?" I ask sternly.

He sighs and begins to explain.

He said he was trapped inside Number One's mind because of an experiment to know more about her and was in a coma for three years. When he saw what the Mogadorians did to Lorien in one of her memories, he had an epiphany and realized that he doesn't believe in the Mogadorian cause; that he was meant to side with the Loric. He saw Number Two and Number Three get killed right in front of his eyes but didn't do anything because he said that even if he gave them a fighting chance, they still wouldn't get away alive. And then he's been on the run ever since and found Malcolm Goode along the way, helped him rescue Sam, and now he's here.

Surprisingly, the others believed him just as quickly as I did. Even Nine.

We drove the rest of the way in silence.

…

The plane ride was decent, but it was awkward.

Sarah sat with John.

Marina sat with Eight.

Six, Ella, and Adam sat together on the three-people seats.

Sam and Malcolm sat together.

And that leaves me with Nine.

I was in the window seat, admiring the clouds and other airplanes passing by. I was bored, to say the least. I tried sleeping, reading, anything really but I was still bored. It was a 16-hour long trip.

I decided to talk to Nine a little bit.

I tap him on the shoulder. He was listening to rap music using the headphones provided by the airplane staff.

He turns to me.

"Yeah?"

"What happened to your Cêpan?" I ask. He sighs. I immediately regret asking; it seems to make him uncomfortable.

"I…I'm sorry. You don't have to answer if you don't." I say, looking away.

"Nah, it's okay. I'm over that now. He'd want me to be." He assures, patting me on the shoulder.

I nod.

"Sandor was an amazing Cêpan. The best, in my opinion but I guess I'm biased. I mean, he was really strict at times and sometimes, he was unreasonable, but all in all, we were like brothers. He was good at computers and all those techy stuff. He made all those drones and robots we use in training. So anyway, a Mog captured me and I was sent in one of their bases. Sandor went looking for me and got captured too. Every day, they would make me watch as they torture Sandor to make me tell them information about the Garde. I didn't say anything, of course. Then, when the Mogs were all wracked up in some Mog business, I ran up to Sandor and killed him. It was all I could do for him; to give him an easy death."

I just nod again. I didn't know how to respond. People don't give Nine as much credit as he deserves.

Finally, I hug him. I felt a sort of sympathy mixed with pride for what he did. He doesn't understand but hugs me back anyway.

I turn away eventually and we soon land.

We step out of the plane.

Welcome back, I whisper to myself as I inhale the familiar smell of this barren land.