So I currently do not have internet because my computer (BRAND NEW MIGHT I ADD) is dying a painfully quick death. I'm not exactly sure how I'll back up my information without internet but I'll get it worked out.

ooo

"Is that Jupiter?"

Rika nodded. "It's nice, isn't it?"

I shrugged. "Pluto's still my favorite."

She giggled. "That's not a planet, silly."

I rolled over onto my side, watching Rika. "Well, you're not supposed to exist, yet here you are. Just cause Pluto isn't a planet anymore doesn't mean I can't like it."

She let her head fall to the side, giving me a look. She raised a brow. "Don't be a smartass. You know the Earth government… people… well, they hide things from the general public just like you. You're no different, Alien Boy." She turned her head to face the ceiling again.

"Yeah, but I don't wear a suit, and I don't threaten to kill people who know too much," I laughed, looking back up towards Jupiter and the giant gateway in my ceiling.

Rika smiled, seeing Aikka stumble over her head. After many failed attempts and claws-out climbing over her face, Aikka made his bed on top of Rika's face.

I laughed loudly, finding it hard to keep my eyes open with the sudden laughter.

Rika picked Aikka up and moved him to her chest, where both she and the cat would be more comfortable with the kitten's slumber. The cat made himself comfortable on her stomach, rather than Rika's intended place, and was soon fast asleep.

"So what are we doing today, Alien Boy?" she asked quietly, pulling stray cat fur strands out of her mouth and off of her lips.

I sat up quickly, holding my head from the rush. "Well… There isn't much to do. I'm still awaiting responses for my job applications. There aren't any good movies out… What do you want to do?"

Rika hummed, undecided. "You have one boring planet. Then again, when we weren't studying back home, we were fighting the war. I guess I'm just used to always having something to do, even if violence was brought into it.

"Violence became a way of life for my brothers and I… When the war was over, I was forced to clean up the mess. Turned out I was creating the perfect scenario for my capture."

I looked over my shoulder toward Rika. "How did this turn into a story about your war?"

She sat up and shrugged. "'Unno. But we need to find something to do. I get destructive when I'm bored."

Only moments after Rika stopped speaking, the house phone rang loudly. The caller ID was unknown… I stumbled to my feet, rushing to the phone. "…Hello?"

ooo

Sorry, but I have to switch the PoVs here. Kevin or Rika… Hmm… Kevin.

ooo Kevin ooo

"Give the phone to the blue girl."

"…What?" Ben asked, confused.

"Don't be stupid, give the phone to Rika."

I could tell the phone was closer to the girl, now. Her high-pitched voice was easily heard through any other noise.

"Hello?" she asked, giggling quietly.

I cringed. "You might want to take it down a few notches. I don't want you to totally crash."

"What do you mean crash? Ben! Who is this?! …. Oh… You. What do you want?"

I looked around the garage, rubbing my neck with my free hand. At least she isn't so happy now. I think I might've died a little if I wrecked that overly-cheery mood of hers. With this news… I think I may even feel bad. Having to be the one to tell her makes it even worse.

I have to hear her reaction. At least I don't have to be the one to comfort her.

"Look, I don't have time for stupid shit, so cut the chatter and listen." I breathed in, letting it out slowly. Gwen would kill me if I was anything but nice right now, and knowing she's in the other room and could possibly be listening in on the other line…

"Damn it!" I shouted. "Damn it, I can't do this. Gwen?!" I quickly set the phone down, rushing into the other room. "I can't do it. I can't tell her!"

She looked up from her computer with stern eyes.

"You do it."

"I will not! You found out the news, you have to tell her. Plus, didn't the guy specifically tell you to tell her?"

"Well, but… Look, I can't do it, I tried. I can't…"

"What?" she laughed. "You can't break someone's heart? Come on, Kevin! You're as heartless as they come… mostly…" Gwen shook her head. "Well, still, it has to be done. If you can't do it over the phone…"

"Hey, what makes you think I can do it in person?" I sighed. "Fine. You told me to be nice. I could've told her otherwise."

Gwen smiled. "Sure, sure you could've."

I looked toward the front door, then back towards the kitchen. Phone, or not…

"Gwen, go hang up the phone. I'll be back later."

ooo

"You have five seconds to open the door or I'm breaking it down!"

"Go away!" Rika shouted from the other side of the door. "I don't like you!"

"You better shut u—" I stopped myself. Nice. Try to be nice. "Just open the door."

Reluctantly, Rika opened the door, a rather perturbed look on her face. "What?"

"You slam the door and I'll break it down."

"Get on with it. You're not exactly my favorite person. Not now, not ever."

I sighed. "Just-- .... Shut up and come with me." I reached through the doorway and grabbed her arm, pulling her through.

"Hey! Let me go! Ben!!!"

Sure enough, Ben's frantic footsteps passed through the doorway after us. I felt the resistance grow harder as Ben was added to the number of people I was dragging.

"Don't throw a fit, I'm not going to kill her. I just need to borrow your girlfriend for a minute." I didn't bother to look back, not even as the resistance lightened up.

"Look, I'm the only one allowed to yell at Ben," Rika growled.

"I've known the kid for eleven years. I think I've earned that right."

"Just get on with it!" she shouted, ripping her arm from my grasp.

I stopped walking, turning to face her.

"…You're stalling. What's wrong?" she asked.

"St-stalling?! You didn't even give me a chance to hesitate yet!"

She scowled, folding her arms across her chest. "I'm not isunlgit, Kevin."

"And I can understand you, so keep your blue mouth shut."

She quickly stood up straight and looked me directly in the eye. "You're avoiding the subject because you're afraid to tell me. Just get on with it before—"

"Rika, your brother's were murdered!" I cut her off.

That's when the awkward silence started.

"…They're after you both. They're going to start killing people off until they find you."

Rika literally dropped to the ground, however it was graceful. She managed to sit down, her legs out in front of her.

I stepped around her, sitting down on the ground where I could at least try and match her gaze. "Ben's up for new charges. He's not eligible for trial…"

Her blue eyes turned upward, watching me. A sudden glitch turned them golden, but in a moment they were back to blue. "They're going to kill him, aren't they?" Her voice was solemn, but it remained stable. The girl was more in a state of shock than anything. No emotions veered through.

"They're not going to take any chances this time. When they get their hands on both of you… Because you're a POW ((Which is Prisoner of War, in the slim chance that some of you don't know…)), they're not sentencing you to anything more than non-stop surveillance and a secluded cell.

"But Ben… He's up for lethal injection. I don't know whose brilliant idea it was, but they decided the worst irony would be to die by Earth's standards. They're not going to waste any time, either. The instant he's back on the prison base, he's a dead man."

Rika closed her eyes. "Who told you?" she asked.

Truth was, I didn't know the guy, but I knew he wasn't exactly human and that was enough for me. Either he wanted to make a deal, or he had something important to say.

Or… I was in serious trouble. Either way…

"I gotta go," I told her plainly. "I can't… help you… You can figure it out, but I did my job."

"Bye, Kevin," she whispered, watching me as I stood up.

Now I felt bad. I guess this is what Gwen was talking about when she said I 'must care about Ben deeeeep down.' By hurting Rika with the news… I'm hurting Ben…