Disclaimer: Well… um… all I can say this time is that the ghost has once more eluded me and I'm at a dead end. However, I know that I will get him and get my certificate back… just you wait and see…

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

((…)): my opinions

AN: Umm… while I dodge all the veggies thrown at me I have to say that I am so, so, so sorry that this update is so late. The reasons are that I had musical to get through and that was a real pain in the ass; add on to that exhaustion to the millionth degree and a lot of homework along with studying for finals and preparing for graduation and you have a long overdue, very late update… again I apologize so now enjoy!

Chapter 8: News from the Doctor

Crockett residence, New York City, planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy- December 2, FC 72, 7:35 AM

"Is Shirley going to be okay doc?" inquired Chibodee, who from first glance looked completely calm but was in reality having a nervous breakdown. Dr. Collins, who was examining the still unconscious Shirley on the couch, where Chibodee had moved her after catching her as she fainted, didn't answer as he was still examining her. Shayla and Casey had been sent to their room with the gift they had snatched from their parents' room earlier that morning and both had their ears pushed up against the door, trying to listen in to the conversations.

After a few minutes Chibodee opened his mouth to yell the question to the older man, figuring he hadn't heard him, when Dr. Collins let out a sigh of relief and put his medical equipment in his bag. He then turned to the impatient Gundam fighter behind him.

"Is Shirl going to be okay or not?" Chibodee yelled, his voice echoing through the penthouse apartment, its sound resonating two floors down to where a sleeping Daniel and Janet Ruthford were, waking them up.

>

Ruthford Residence, New York City, planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy- December 2, FC 72, 7:45 AM

"Did you hear something?" Daniel asked, his fighter-sensitive senses picking up on the scream from above.

"No; did you have too much to drink last night?" mumbled a sleepy Janet, trying to bury her head under her pillow again but failed when Daniel asked her another question.

"Janet, hon, remember- I don't drink; I believe you're referring to Michael and Jamie, who drink quite often; almost every night if I remember correctly."

Janet's eyes opened a bit more and realized Daniel was making sense. "Yeah, what was I thinking? Anyway, I didn't hear anything so please go back to sleep. Remember, we have an appointment with the doctor today."

Daniel smiled and nuzzled his wife in the crook of her neck, eliciting a soft groan from her. "You are right, of course. Let's get some more rest, okay?" When Daniel got no response he shrugged and buried himself under the covers again and drifted off to sleep, his arm wrapped around his wife, who had fallen asleep almost instantly.

Crockett residence, New York City, planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy- December 2, FC 72, 7:48 AM

Back in Chibodee's penthouse Dr. Collins put a gnarled old finger to his lips, glaring at the impatient young man before him and motioning him into the kitchen.

Once there, Chibodee asked again, making sure to keep his voice down to about a whisper, "What's wrong with Shirley?"

Dr. Collins placed his medical bag on the kitchen counter and folded his hands together, a gesture that made Chibodee shift uneasily. "Mr. Crocket, let me ask you something- was your wife ever exposed to anything dealing with the Dark Gundam incident almost twelve years ago?"

Chibodee's eyes narrowed. "What d'you mean doc?"

"What I mean, Mr. Crocket, is that was your wife Shirley ever exposed to any DG cells?" Dr. Collins black eyes narrowed to match Chibodee's patented glare, to which he turned away from.

"I… I don't know… I mean, Domon Kasshu and his wife Rain were both exposed to the DG cells more than the rest of us, although the rest of the Shuffle Alliance, myself included, had some bad experiences with that stupid machine… being controlled by that thing is no joy, let me tell you. No, not that I know of was Shirley ever exposed to DG cells. Why d'you ask?"

Dr. Collins sighed and ran his hand through what was left of his salt-and-pepper hair and looked at Chibodee wearily. "Mr. Crocket, in all my years as a doctor your family is one of the most interesting I have ever encountered. Your children have telepathy and some signs of telekinesis while you and your wife also have telepathy and also the ability to control small amounts of metal. Now, this is only a theory but you say that all the people in the Shuffle Alliance and their respective others have some kind of power, correct?"

Chibodee frowned and asked, "Telepathy, telekinesis, metal-control? What in the hell are you talking about?"

This time Dr. Collins frowned and took out his flashlight and quickly checked Chibodee's eyes and mouth. When he'd finished he looked over at the now thoroughly confused Gundam fighter and stated, "Mr. Crocket, three years after the Dark Gundam was destroyed on the Neo-Japanese space colony all those in the Shuffle Alliance and their respective others developed strange, mystical powers. All of them seem to have telepathy with each other and their children, and each couple has a different power. From what I learned over the years from listening to you and Shirley the Kasshus have the ability to control any small amount of water and the Gulskiis can generate heat around them and those they choose to keep warm. The De Sands can control the time it takes for a flower to grow and die, the Saishis can manipulate the earth to a degree, and the Holgers can control small amounts of electricity. But, oddly, none of your other crew from that time have powers and yet Shirley does."

Chibodee blinked, trying to take this all in, and finally asked, "I can control metal!"

"Yes… but you should have known this, right Mr. Crocket?" Dr. Collins asked, his black eyes once more boring into Chibodee's.

"Yeah… anyway, what's wrong with Shirley!" Chibodee changed the subject quickly and turned his emerald eyes to the back of the couch, where he knew Shirley was lying unconscious.

"Her body is starting to react to changes caused by the mixture of her powers and her emotions going haywire. Mr. Crocket, did you know that Shirley is pregnant?"

It took a few moments for the news to register but when it did all anyone could hear for miles was, "What the hell!"