So, I'd like to send out a big thank you to Crime Scene Fairy for giving me my first review! Whoot-whoot! *does happy I-got-a-review dance* Keep the reviews coming! It's so awesome to know that my story is appreciated. Yay!

So while things may be going well in Fiore, in Almia, there's a certain mushroom-haired boy who is experiencing a bit of a crisis…

Isaac

The one time I actually took a break from my work long enough to go home and sleep there, instead of on the couch in office, I get woken up anyway. I'd ended up getting my own house in Pueltown a few years ago, but I barely even go there. I mean, I'm 21 years old, and I can hardly still live with my parents.

It started with a knock on the door. For a moment, I was in a flashback to before I had even gone to Ranger School, when it was Melody who used to knock on my door and wake me up every morning. But then I sleepily remembered that Melody was off being a Ranger in Fiore and didn't have time to beg me to play with her anymore.

Next it was the doorbell, and I couldn't ignore that for too long. I stuck my head under the pillow, swearing under my breath.

"Professor Isaac," I heard a voice call, and I realized if it was someone from Altru, I couldn't ignore them. I peeled back the covers slowly and got up out of bed, realizing with a certain level of stupidity that I was still in my lab coat.

"Yeah?" I said as I swung open the door, blinking the sleep out of my eyes.

"Sir, there's been a situation at Altru and you weren't answering your phone," he said frantically, apparently afraid I was going to be mad.

I took my cell phone out of my pocket for a second, looked at it, then put it back. "Yeah, it's turned off."

"Um, I know it's early, but I thought you should know as soon as possible that there's been a break-in at Altru."

I was immediately awake. "In my office?"

"Yes, sir," he answered hesitantly.

I went back inside for a second to grab my shoes and then grabbed my keys, made sure I wasn't forgetting anything, and returned to the Altru worker outside. "Let's go."

***

Altru security was crawling all over the lobby of the building and I was sure the rest of the building as well. I found the head of security, who seemed to at least flinch when he saw me.

"I'm terribly sorry about this," he apologized right away.

"Just tell me what you know," I answered, trying not to show how freaked out I was.

"It was Meagan, sir."

I felt like I was punched in the gut. Meagan was my lab assistant. She had been working with me for the past two years. She was the best assistant I'd ever had- the only one that had really been able to keep up with me intellectually.

"What do you mean?" I asked, realizing it was the only thing I could get out.

"According to the security officer at the door, she came in saying she had some numbers to check for you. She took the elevator up and while she was up there, some pink-haired lady who kept flipping her hair came in with a Magmortar. It was chaos, sir. A few of my men were badly injured."

"Did you see her go out with this pink-haired lady?" I could barely believe what this guy was saying. How was this possible?

"Yes, Professor," the man answered, "I wouldn't make the assumption that this was Meagan unless I saw it."

"What did she take?"

"All the papers from your lab room. I also saw her with some computer disks and other equipment."

"She would take everything of importance," I sighed, hating the fact that I always seemed to get tricked. "Have you called the Ranger Union yet?"

"Yes," he replied, relieved that I had asked him a question he could give a positive answer to, "We could at least do that that right."

"Isaac!" I heard someone call behind me and I felt like a load was taken off my shoulders.

"Sven," I answered in relief, clasping his hand, "I'm so glad to see you. This whole thing has been so surreal."

"Well, Prof, I can take it from here," Sven grinned broadly, "Let me just take a quick look around and we'll get you to the Ranger Union. You'll be staying there for a while." I was about to object when he interrupted me with another grin. "For your own safety, Isaac. I know you don't like being baby-sat, but hopefully I can find someone cute enough for your liking. Maybe Rhythmi." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and I scowled.

"I've already tried that, Sven, and let me remind you that it didn't end well," I said sourly.

"Oh, yeah, I do remember Little Miss Sunshine bawling her eyes out for days," Sven smirked, "Maybe we should keep you two apart, at least for our sanity's sake. Let me just say, Rhythmi may not do it often, but when she does cry, it's like nothing I ever want to experience again."

I nodded mutely, not wanting to think about Rhythmi crying right now.

"Well, kid, I can see this talk is depressing you," Sven said, patting me on the back, "Let's move along. We can head to your lab first." We walked to the elevator and I entered my floor. As the doors closed, Sven starting talking again.

"I bet we'll catch these guys in no time," he said confidently, and although it was comforting, I doubted it. From what I'd seen, it looked like there was something more behind this. Let's just say that I had my suspicions.

"I think the pink-haired lady that was here before was Lavana," I said quietly, deciding to share these suspicions with Sven, no matter how crazy he might think I was.

Sven flicked me a side-glance, looking a little bit freaked out. "You sure know how to drop a bomb, Prof."

"The way that the guard described her," I answered, "And the fact that she had a Magmortar. You can't deny that there are similarities."

"Is there a reason she would want your research?" Sven asked, eyebrows drawn down seriously. Cause when he really got down to it, Sven was really one of the best guys to have in a pinch.

"If she was connected with Team Dim Sun," I replied, watching the floor numbers climb upward, "There's a possibility, yes."

Sven was still giving me that freaked-out side glance. "Do you want to share the results of this research and why Team Dim Sun might want it?"

"I don't want to repeat it 27 times, so let's save that for the Ranger Union when I can just say it once and get it over with," I replied evasively as the elevator doors opened. I walked out and Sven followed.

"Okay," he shrugged, "I guess that's cool."

Nope, I thought to myself grimly, None of this is feeling even remotely cool right now. I couldn't even begin to imagine right now what this all could mean for Almia and Fiore. If Team Dim Sun was back and had gotten their hands on my research... Let's just say nothing good could possibly come out of this.

Rhythmi

I was just getting up to relieve Linda's night shift when I passed by the Research Room. It should've been empty, seeing as it was too early for anyone to be up and about yet. Except there was a certain blonde mushroom-haired boy sitting exhaustedly in the corner, looking like he could fall asleep at any second, and yet not doing so.

My reaction was of mixed emotions, but finally my sympathy won out. He looked exhausted, and no matter the fact that I couldn't get over him, it wasn't his fault, really. Maybe a little bit.

"Isaac?" I called out warily.

His head jerked up, and his face lit up, just like it used to whenever he saw me. I used to wait for him every night outside his lab room, staying for even the few minutes I might get with him. Eventually, I just got tired of waiting. He was always so focused on his work, I felt like there's was no time for me. And that was the end of it.

"Hey Rhythmi," he said tiredly, smiling at me despite his exhaustion. I walked in the room hesitantly, wondering if this was awkward. It was a little bit, but I also was glad just to see him.

"What's going on?"

"All my research was stolen from my lab," he said quietly.

I couldn't help myself. I sat down next to him, deciding that Linda could wait. "That's terrible," I commented, watching his face carefully. He just seemed so… broken. The only time he had ever been like this was when he had found out that he was being tricked by Team Dim Sun and had been building a weapon of destruction. And let's just say that was a pretty dark time for him.

"The thing is, the person who stole it all was my own lab assistant. You'd think that a person couldn't get tricked this many times. You'd think that I would've learned my lesson by now." He smiled bitterly, flicking his eyes up at the ceiling.

I could see that he needed someone right now. He needed someone to tell him it wasn't his fault and that everything was going to be all right. Could I be that person?

"It's so frustrating to work so hard and have it all stolen from you and used for evil," he sighed, now just looking down at his hands, "Sometimes I wonder what good I actually do." I noticed that he wouldn't meet my eyes. I followed my instincts and just went for it.

"It's not your fault," I replied, smiling softly, "You can't blame yourself."

"I was too trusting. I always am," he still wouldn't look at me, and he was shaking his head, looking at the floor.

"I wouldn't want you any different," I didn't even think about it, just reached out and took his hand, holding it firmly. He was so surprised, his eyes shot up to meet mine. "It's who you are. It's who I fell in love with."

"Rhythmi, where the heck are you?" I heard Linda screech. I rolled my eyes, sending a look at Isaac, who actually grinned.

"I'll see you later, Isaac, okay?"

"Yeah, see you later, Rhythmi," he answered, sounding better. I nodded and let go of his hand, feeling his eyes following me out.

"Oh, and Isaac?" I said before leaving.

"Yeah?"

"You might want to go somewhere and get some sleep. I think you really need it."

Isaac nodded sheepishly and I left, feeling pretty happy overall. That is, until Linda called me again.

"Rhythmi, get your bubbly blonde butt up her so I can get some sleep!"

Yup, she's definitely cranky.