There were supposed to be nine, John thought, looking across at their motely group. Now five was the most they would ever have. Already down to five, and the battle hadn't even started yet.

"Then now what?" Teresa asked. "We were trying to get all the Lorien together. This is all of us, we're all together. So, now what do we do?"

"Now we need a new plan." Six said. "Now we defeat the Mogs once and for all."

"We can't wipe out an entire race, Six." Patrick said smoothly. "Then we'd be as bad as the Mogadorians."

"Besides, it's impossible, considering our respective resources." Netoya said briskly. "What we can do, however, is destroy the contingent that has been stalking both us and this planet." Patrick nodded his agreement. "With them gone, we will then be safe to return to Lorien."

Six dipped her head once. "That's a start." She crossed the camp, sitting down and beginning to sort supplies into her pack. "Then we head further into New Mexico."

"Why New Mexico?" Tyler asked. "How do you know they'll be there?"

"We don't." Six said firmly. "But that was where this all started. So it might as well be where we end it too."

"That's where your ship crashed." Sam said faintly. "My dad was right."

"We'll leave at sunrise." Patrick said with finality. "But for now, we all need sleep."

He turned to Netoya, "I can get you a sleeping bag." She nodded, following him, and everyone gradually settled back into their places.

After a few minutes, Ella and Daniel drifted over to Netoya.

"Yes?" She asked, looking up at them.

"Hi." Ella said, crouching down. "I don't' want to intrude, but I was just wondering, have you ever visited us before tonight?"

Netoya stared steadily at her. "Why?"

"Well," Ella explained. "One of my legacies is that I can kind of sense when other people are around, and there was someone, non-human, who I've felt nearby a couple of times before. Was that you?"

Netoya was silent for a moment. "Yes." She said. Ella nodded slowly. "I watched you a few times before. I'm sorry if I alarmed you. That was not my intention."

Ella shook her head. "Not at all."

"I had been scouting around. I wanted to make sure that you were really Lorien before I approached you."

"That makes sense." Ella said, nodding again. "Thank you. I'm sorry for bothering you."

"It was nothing." Netoya said, inclining her head.

Ella stood back up again. "Goodnight," she said, and left Netoya behind, walking away with Daniel.

"Don't you think she's telling the truth?" Daniel asked once they were out of earshot.

"I think so . . ." Ella said slowly, looking straight ahead. "Something just seems off. I think she is, but there's also something else . . . I don't know, maybe I'm just imagining it. But also, it always seemed like the Lorien just appeared out of thin air. It would have made more sense if she was scouting around like she said she was, then I would have been able to feel her coming and going"

"You think she might not be who she says she is?"

"No, she is. I think." Ella glanced at him. "Why? Don't you remember her?"

Daniel shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. I don't really remember any of them. I didn't know them before that day, and I never saw them again after that. But I trust you."

Ella smiled. "Good. I'm probably just paranoid, because I can't believe all that randomly sensing someone else actually turned out to be good."

"I'll keep a lookout anyway."

Netoya was glaring at him, but that seemed to be her fallback expression, so John ignored it. That was one thing he was pretty good at.

"Yeah, I'm still here." He said, cupping the phone closer.

She had this crazy idea that the Mogs could track them through all their technology – including cell phones. So now those all had to go. But John hadn't been about to let go of his, his last link to the normal world, without one last call.

And Netoya was begrudging him every second of it. All thirty six hundred of them. And counting. If Six didn't hate her so much, they would make a good pair.

"You can still talk, right?" John asked. "I'm not keeping you away from class?"

"Eh," Sarah said. Maybe he was imagining things, but he swore he could hear the smile in her voice. "I'd pass up listening to Mr. Eckleroad any day to talk to you. Especially if it's going to be the last time for a while."

"I'll call again as soon as I can, I promise." John insisted.

"I know." Sarah said. "What about you? How much longer until – Netoya? – breaks your phone?"

"A while yet." John said, grinning.

"I still can't believe that this other person you were searching for isn't even alive," Sarah said sadly. "It's so awful."

"Yeah." John agreed. He was sad. It was disappointing. But, it honestly didn't affect him that much. Of course he was sad. But he had never known Number Nine. What was the point in mourning?

"I guess I never really thought that Lorien could get sick." Sarah said. "Human sicknesses, just like us. Or me, I guess. You just seem," she made a strange noise, huffing through her teeth, "So much stronger, better, it just didn't seem like that could happen."

"Yeah," John said. "I'd never really thought of it before either. It was kind of a surprise."

Sarah was quiet for a moment. "How long do Lorien usually live?" she asked.

"Our lifespan's a bit longer than humans', on average." John answered. He'd asked Patrick the same question once. "But they're pretty much the same."

"So," Sarah started another question. "What do you do . . . when a Lorien dies?"

John thought for a second, kicking a pebble out of his path. "I don't really know." He answered. "When Henri died . . . well, we were kind of in the middle of a battle. I didn't have time to do anything. And, I guess I wouldn't really have known what to do even if I had."

"I'm sure that's what he would have wanted." Sarah said softly. "He died to keep you safe. He wouldn't have wanted you to put your life in danger, wasting time burying him, or something."

"Yeah." John agreed, even as an uncomfortable feeling stirred in his stomach.

"He's proud of you." Sarah assured him. "From, heaven, or wherever he is. He'd be proud."

"Thanks." John said. "I don't – I don't know where Lorien go when they die. I don't know if we have a heaven."

"You must have something," Sarah ventured. "Every culture has some kind of myth, a story of the underworld. On Earth, at least."

"Another thing I should have asked Henri, I guess." John said, attempting a laugh.

Sarah didn't join him. "What if," She said hesitantly. "I know this is getting a little morbid. But, we're two entirely different species John. We come from two different planets. What if . . . we don't go to the same place when we die?"

Life after death wasn't something John had ever given much consideration. But the thought of being separated from Sarah – permanently – that gave him a pause.

"That's," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "That's deep."

"I know," Sarah laughed a little. "It's just," He wished he could see her right now, wished they could really be talking about this instead of having to rely on the phone. "It's so hard being away from you now. I don't know what I'd do if we were ever really separated like that. It scares me."

"It'll be okay." John instantly assured her. "Even if we don't go to the same place. No matter what happens after we die, I'll find you." He'd never thought about it before, but he knew what he was saying was true. There was no question, if they were ever separated like that, he'd never stop searching until they were together.

"Really?" Sarah asked, her voice relaxing.

"Always.

"These Lorien were not raised."

Patrick turned his head. Netoya was walking alongside him, facing straight ahead.

"They were raised on Earth." Patrick said. "Under many difficulties."

"Yes." Netoya conceded tartly. "We've all had obstacles to overcome. That's no reason they should continue to be held back."

"They are moving forward now." Patrick pointed out. "Trying to take charge of their destiny."

"They're running wild, Patrick." Netoya snapped.

His eyes flickered over to her scowl. "It's unfortunate that so many cepan died. But we are lucky that so many of them have survived."

"They are not continuing the legacy of the Lorien." She insisted in a sharp voice. "That Six considers herself a warrior."

"We will all have to be warriors to fight the Mogadorians."

"That's not a Garde's place."

"We aren't on Lorien anymore." Patrick said stoically.

"But we're going back." Netoya retorted. "And we won't be able to start Lorien society again if they keep this up. John's still infatuated with some Human girl – I'm surprised you've let him live in that delusion for so long."

Patrick was silent for a second, looking at John smiling at the phone.

"He's going to have to forget about her, might as well be sooner rather than later." She crossed her arms.

"They are nearly adults, Netoya." Patrick said. "They make their own decisions."

"They aren't adults yet – and even if they were, he'd still have to leave her when we go to Lorien. But that's not nearly as troubling as Ella and Daniel."

Netoya's mouth twisted into a thin line as she glared at Daniel.

"They obviously believe they've imprinted on one another." She accused.

"They have never said any such thing." Patrick said calmly.

"They don't have to." Netoya insisted. "It's going on right under your nose, and I cannot believe that you've been allowing it. It's completely inappropriate."

"Or business is not in their private lives." Patrick said testily. "We are their protectors, not their match-makers."

"So you consider all of this to be in their best interest?" She demanded. "And Tyler –"

"Tyler is alive." Patrick said firmly. "That's more than can be said for Number Nine. Isn't it, Netoya?"

She was silent.

"It's weird." Sam said, looking around and absently scratching Bernie on the head.

"I thought you said you'd gotten used to it." Six said without looking up.

"No – not that." He corrected himself. "Just being here, in New Mexico." He was silent, contemplating the horizon. "I wonder if my dad ever saw this."

Six glanced up, then immediately back down again.

"Impossible to say."

"I know." Same said quietly, "But it's just – weird. Like I said." He took a seat on the ground next to her.

"I guess, like father like son." Six said abruptly.

Sam grinned. "Wow, where'd you pick up that Earth saying, alien?"

Six glared. "I was trying to be nice. I won't bother next time."

"Yeah." Sam sighed. "But being like my dad isn't exactly a compliment – ran off, leaving family behind for some wild goose chase, and never came back."

"You don't believe that." Six stated, sitting up. "Then you wouldn't be here."

"I'm allowed to be bitter occasionally."

Six shrugged. "Your dad did what he thought was best for you at the time. Just like my parents did. In hindsight, maybe not the best decision, but it's the past. It's over. We can't have any regrets, especially not for things we didn't even do. We just live with the consequences."

"Do you remember any of this?" Sam asked abruptly. "Coming to Earth? Do you have any idea what we're going to find?"

Six shrugged. "Not exactly. We'll find out when we get there." She nodded at the motorcycle in front of her. "And with this, that'll be a lot sooner."

Sam looked at it, and grinned. "Nice. Bust something tells me Netoya isn't going to go for that."

Six's grin widened. "Hadn't even thought of that." She said, her tone suggesting the exact opposite.

Sam shook his head. "She's . . . she's interesting."

"Interesting," Six's mouth contorted. "Not the word I would have chosen. Don't tell me she doesn't get under your skin too."

"I dunno." Sam shrugged. "She pretty much just ignores me. Like, all the time. I don't think she's ever spoken to me."

Six snorted. "Elitism. Probably thinks she's better than humans."

Sam didn't reply immediately. "Guess you can't exactly blame her." He said lightly. "After all, I like hanging out with you guys better than with humans anyway."

"You aren't too bad for a human." Six agreed. "Toss me that wrench, will you?"