"Stay here. Please, dear God, stay here, Rika."

"…Why?" she asked, folding her arms against her chest.

"I don't want to be here. I don't even want to be in this area. Please, just trust me when I tell you to stay here."

She leaned against the tree. "Make it quick. The sun isn't exactly providing any relief from the breeze."

I let out a held breath, glad that she'd given up the argument so quickly.

This area gave me the creeps. Old memories—good memories, bad memories—old friends… I slowly and reluctantly walked away from Rika toward an old apartment I knew well. I used to live in this complex… Someone else does too, and that's who I'm here to see.

I carefully took each step towards the door, reaching up to knock. At first I was afraid, but I realized it had to be done. Something had to be done…

I turned around, looking at the surrounding trees while I waited for an answer at the door.

"…Ben? What are you doing here?"

I looked over my shoulder before turning around. "Hey… Julie… I need your help."

She hadn't changed very much since I'd last seen her… It was awkward to see her again, but it couldn't be avoided. I need everyone's help with this, and that meant anyone I trusted that was willing to lend a hand.

Julie sighed, shaking her head. "Ben, if you're talking about what I think you're talking about, I'm done with that. I got over it that you didn't want me around, but I stopped helping anyone with these types of escapades a long time ago. I'm sorry, Ben… I can't help you."

"Then why do you still have Ship?" I asked, seeing the cute dog-like alien peer out from behind her.

Julie glanced behind her and sighed. "Ship is a pet. He's always been a pet."

Ship stepped out from behind her, cautiously walking up towards me. He remembered.

"I'm trying my hardest to make things work but I can't do this without your help—without everyone's help. Rika is going to die… we're both going to die if this doesn't turn out well."

"Rika?" she asked, crossing her arms just like Rika had.

"…It's better not to ask. It's a little complicated right now."

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"I'm not being selfish, all right? I'm not asking you to help save my own ass. Okay, well, I am, but I'm asking you to help save Rika too. They're going to keep killing people off until they get to us. So technically… you'll be helping us save like… everyone…"

"You're still that stupid, gullible, 'take action first' Ben I knew back then. You haven't changed," she sighed, gripping the door.

"Julie, wait. Please. I'm begging you to help us. I don't care if you never speak to me again once this is said and done, but I need your help. Please…"

Julie narrowed her gaze, digging her nails into the metal door. "…. Fine. One chance. I'll help you out. Screw this up and you can kiss my ass 'cause I'm done."

I smiled. "Thank you, Julie!" I ignored Ship and the foreboding doorway, rushing up to hug her. "You have no idea how grateful I am."

Julie hesitated to hug me back, but before she had the chance, I turned around and began running back off toward Rika and my bike. "Meet us and Central park in an hour!" I told her, waving as I ran off.

"So, who was it?"

"Forget it, let's go."

Rika laughed sarcastically. "Old girlfriend?"

"…Yes. Now let's go," I urged, pulling on my helmet.

Rika growled.

I looked up from the bike and laughed as I climbed on. "Jealous?"

She huffed, stepping off the edge of the curb onto the bike. "No," she grumbled.

I laughed again. "I'm sure…"

ooo

"How much longer?"

"Just a few minutes. Why are you so anxious?"

"I like Gwen. She's really nice. Plus, I want to know how my cat is doing."

I laughed. "We're not going to their house. We're meeting them back were we first landed. All of them."

She sighed. "Kevin too?"

I nodded. "And a few people you haven't exactly met yet."

"Like who?"

"Just be patient, Rika…"

ooo

"Ben! We're over here!" Gwen waved, alerting Rika and I of everyone's whereabouts.

"Are you going to tell me now?"

"In a minute, hold on."

We reached Gwen in only a moment and she latched herself onto me for a moment. "Glad you're all right," my cousin smiled, redirecting our attention to the people standing around.

"Right, right. Rika…," I smiled. "This is Cooper. He's helped us out once or twice."

Cooper rolled his eyes. "More like saved your butt countless times It's nice to meet you, Rika." Now, if anyone's changed since I'd last seen them, it's Cooper. He took Gwen's—or was it Kevin's—advice to get in shape and stuck to it. He looks quite decent now.

"Ben, it's nice to meet Rika again," Paradox chimed in. "We've had some great—and not so great—meetings. This is the former. Very nice to meet you," he smiled, holding a hand out to Rika.

Rika just smiled, shying away from the Earth greeting. "Nice to meet you to…?"

"That's Alan. He's something of an alien."

Alan waved from his seat in the grass and Rika waved back.

"Ben, some of these people creep me out," Rika whispered to me through clenched teeth. "Especially that guy in something of a medic outfit."

"Paradox? Yeah, he's very aptly named… Gwen… where are Helen, Pierce, and Manny?"

She smiled, though it seemed inappropriate. "They're busy."

"With what?"

"Something in the Null Void, I guess."

"And Grandpa?"

Her smile disappeared. "Same…"

"How'd you manage to get Cooper and Alan, then?"

She shrugged. "They weren't busy."

I sighed.

Rika laughed. "She acts like she wanted it that way. For the first three people, at least."

"Yeah, they aren't exactly her favorite people."

"Can we get on with it? You made us all come here and we're all bored," Kevin growled.

"I'm quite content, actually. Especially with the outcome of this meeting," Paradox laughed.

Cooper laughed as well. "Dude, this guy gets on my nerves. If you already know what's going to happen, why are you here? You already know your part in the plan, why aren't you out setting things in motion?"

"Because as soon as Ben lea— Well, let's just say I'm needed here."

"Looks like we're missing someone," Rika giggled.

"Yeah…," I looked around.

"She… went to get smoothies," Gwen nodded.

"Truthfully?"

"Yes, Ben, she didn't take off just because you were ten minutes late. She went to get Cooper, Alan, Kevin and I smoothies.

"Aw… I wonder why she isn't getting me one…," I sighed. "Well, in any case…"

"Guys! I'm back! They were out of blueberries, Alan, so I got you a—Oh… Hi, Ben. Sorry, I would've gotten you one, but I don't remember your favorite." Julie ran up, carrying a case of fresh smoothies.

Rika's grip grew tighter on my arm.

"Behave or you're leaving," I told Rika.

She growled.

Julie began passing out the smoothies that were ordered and everyone sat down on the ground. At least, everyone expect Paradox, myself, Rika, and Julie. Julie was wearing a skirt, so she was excused. Paradox… he doesn't need an excuse. Gwen was leaning against a rock rather than sitting down, so she didn't really have to worry about her skirt, and Rika was standing because I was standing. It was expected I would stand because I was supposed to direct this… meeting.

"All right, so I assume Gwen told you what's happening."

"No," Kevin laughed.

I took a deep breath. "Okay… So… In a result of our escape, they're going to kill everyone they suspect may know of where we are until we're captured." My proposed plan was beginning to seem quite trite now that I was hearing it aloud... "Well, point is I need all of you to set them back here on Earth. Rika… since you're the only one who knows where the ship is and how to fly it…"

"Wait, Ben, if we're keeping things down here on Earth, what are you going to be doing?"

"Shut up, bitch, when it's your turn to talk Ben will tell you," Rika grumbled. I knew Julie heard her by the look on her face.

"What is your problem?! You've been giving me the evil eye ever since I stepped foot into your view!"

Rika looked at me for permission to attack her, but soon looked away to take matters into her own hands. "I don't know who you think you are, but Ben was talking! Let him finish!"

"No, I'm beyond that. Right now, I want to know who you think you are! What the hell is your problem, bitch?!"

Rika quickly stepped forward, now in range if she decided to hit her, or worse… "My problem is you! You're… You're going to ruin everything!"

"Girls…," Paradox chimed. "Ben, I fear they're changing the outcome of this meeting…"

I sighed. "That's Rika… When she wants something and someone stands in her way, she won't hesitate for a second to take them down."

"So she thinks Julie is in her way to getting… you? Ben, if that's the case, you have no worries."

I looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Oh… wait… She has no worries… Hm."

I gritted my teeth.

"Can we get on with this, please?" Kevin asked.

"Hey, guys, I'm happy as long as I have my smoothie," Alan laughed.

Cooper agreed with a simple nod, though he seemed more interested in the cat fight.

I wanted to disappear.

"You only have a problem with me because you like Ben! You can have him, I got over him a long time ago." She folded her arms across her chest.

Rika gave a smug smile. "Is that why your heart beat suddenly picked up speed?" She matched Julie's motions, moving her arms to her chest.

"Are you accusing me of lying?"

"No, I'm saying that stupid pet of yours is peeing on that bush. OF COURSE I'M SAYING YOU'RE LYING!" She threw her arms down to her sides.

Cooper laughed. "Ooh. Good one."

Kevin groaned. "I think this is a little too sweet," he nudged Gwen, referring to his smoothie.

Alan stood up, quickly rushing away from the fight scene. "Ben…? Is this normal?"

"For Rika? Yes. For Julie? No…"

Alan tapped Paradox. "Is this going to turn out well or are we going to have to evacuate the area?"

Paradox smiled. "Possibly both."

Both Alan and I cringed at his words.

"Any possibility that Rika will kill Julie?" I asked.

"Seventy-four point six-five chance."

"Ooh, violence. Now I'm interested," Kevin laughed.

I walked towards the middle of the lopsided circle we created, watching Rika and Julie as their fight progressed. It seemed like Julie had finally set Rika off, key to why she's now yelling unintelligible words to my ex.

"You know what they say, Ben…," Cooper sighed. "It's never good to have your ex and your current girlfriend in the same room."

I looked at Cooper, confused. "How would you know?"

Cooper cleared his throat, taking a step back. ".... Right."

"Rika."

I waited for an answer, or a silence to the incessant yelling between the two of them.

"Rika. .... Rika! Rika, shut up!" I yelled over the two of them.

Rika quickly drew her arms in toward her chest, grumbling what seemed like cursing in her native tongue under her breath.

"Look, I told you to behave."

"Not my fault," she growled.

I looked at Julie.

"I am not working with her. Ever. You can't make me stay on the same planet with that psychotic alien."

"Wait," Cooper interrupted us. "She's an alien?" Unfortunately… Cooper didn't stay as smart as we would've hoped. There was a give and take, and giving the most of his attention on staying in shape took away certain technological skills that might've come in handy. However, Technopathy is still an easily accessible power for him, he doesn't use it much anymore.

Rika pried the mask off her face, tossing it on the ground.

"Don't do that!" Kevin objected.

"Kevin, you gave me that mask—"

"For reasons we won't discuss," Kevin interrupted nervously.

I cleared my throat. "Fact is that's my mask. And Rika is mad. Be glad she isn't doing that to you."

Kevin sat back against the rock.

"Now… Yes, Rika is an alien… My God, people, are you really that stupid?"

Cooper sighed. "Well it's obvious, now!"

Alan nodded. "If it wasn't for the strange language, I would've never guessed."

"Ben, this isn't going to turn out well. You need to turn things around in the next five minutes or you're going to run out of time…" You know things aren't going well when even the master of time is worried.

I sighed. "Everyone just shut up and listen. Rika, sit down. Now."

She looked at me, turned around, and stomped off to where we originally were.

"Thank you. Now…" I brushed my hands together. "Kevin, Alan. You'll serve as a defense force. Julie, Gwen, Cooper… you will have to keep things as hidden as possible. No one is allowed to know. No one. If anyone finds out… I don't care what you have to do, but do it. Lock them up, kill them, get rid of them, as long as they're not of use to anyone looking for information.

"Paradox… You're the only one who knows how much time we have. You have access to things we don't."

"Ben, I don't necessarily always know how things are going to end…"

"But you have a better advantage over an uneducated guess by any of the others."

"Ben… What are you going to do?" Julie asked.

I looked at Rika, then towards Julie. "I'm going to get caught."

I think this was the first time that everyone was interested in the conversation, and everyone had an objection. Sadly, all the objections were shouted out at once.

I grasped the sides of my head. "Guys! Guys, stop, you don't understand."

Rika turned and gripped my arm. "You can't! Ben, they'll kill you!"

"No, they won't!" I stopped her. "I can't explain. I don't know how to tell all of you without worrying you."

"Worrying?" Gwen looked up. "If you thought Kevin and I were worried before, you have no idea now."

"Speak for yourself," Kevin laughed.

"Shut up, Kevin, you know you're worried, too. Ben, you can't do this."

Paradox turned towards me. "She's right. You don't know what you're doing."

Alan nodded. "Ben, you can't do it alone."

"They're not going to capture anyone else. Rika, maybe, but… I'm sending her somewhere safe…"

"Without… you?" she asked quietly.

I looked away, blankly staring out towards the group. "They're not going to stop looking here for Rika. I don't want you to convince them she's gone."

"So we're mindlessly going to fight them for a motive that doesn't really exist?" Cooper asked.

I shrugged. "If that's how you want to put it, then yes. Kevin, I'm sure you'll enjoy this."

"Normally, yes." Did that mean Kevin was actually feeling bad?

I sighed. "Rika… You're going home. They won't look for you there after the war."

Rika sniffled. "H-home? W-why home? I can't go back! Not without my brothers!"

Kevin groaned.

"Look, no arguments. This is how it's going to happen and I won't have any buts about it. Cooper, I need you to try and help everyone out here. Paradox needs to be able to stay in communication with Gwen, Julie, Kevin, Alan, and yourself. See if there's anything you can do."

"Got it, Ben."

"I have to go help Rika find the ship, assuming it hasn't been found already by anyone else."

Paradox nodded. "Don't worry."

"Good. Now, Paradox knows when they're attacking. And… I assume it's not just the feds this time."

He nodded. "We have the prison guards as well as American soldiers coming in after us. We should fight the extra terrestrials rather than spending the most of our time and energy on the humans."

I agreed. "I'll meet up with you guys in the fight. Come on, Rika…" I turned away from them, walking towards my bike.

Rika leaned over to pick up her mask, placing it on her face slowly. "Wait, Ben… Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Rika asked, quickly catching up with me.

I shook my head. "No more goodbyes. I'm coming back. I've already proved that once…"

Rika latched herself onto my arm, unwilling to get on the bike. She knew I was taking her to find the ship, and that meant flying herself home. Not to the apartment… Back to her home planet. "Ben, wait. I can't… go back."

"You have to. I already told you, all of you, no arguments."

"Well, you're going to have to listen to this one!"

I grabbed my helmet off of the bike, turning to face Rika.

"I need Aikka."