Waves rolled gently on the horizon, lapping the shore quietly off in the distance. The water reflected the sky; the surface was smooth and glossy, like a photograph. The ocean showed a gentle mauve and blue, with a tint of pink visible in each wave. Fishermen had turned in early for the day, their outriggers gliding lightly across the water with hardly a ripple.

Sergeant Torn sat cross-legged on a small pier, watching as the city closed down for the night, squinting in the fading sunlight. Above him, the Palace lights glittered like far away jewels. He sat with his shoulders raised slightly, his jaw clenched; his whole body seemed to be tensed. A deep frown had creased his face as he watched the sun steadily sink into the ocean.

He heard the shuffling of footsteps and sighed, never taking his eyes from the horizon.

"Torn?"

The voice belonged to Mik, who sounded both worried and apprehensive. He knew how his brother could get when he was angry; sometimes it was best just to leave him alone. But something was different about him, then.

"Yeah, Mik?" Torn sighed.

The boy edged closer to him, ratty sneakers scratching at the boards. Torn could tell he'd just slipped them on without tying them and smirked. Mik fiddled with the Krimzon Guard I.D. bracelet Torn had given him before he left for Basic Training, which bared his recruit number. The nine-year-old hardly took off the damn thing.

"Are…are you mad at Tessie?"

"No."

"Are you mad at me?"

Torn laughed lightly. "No, I'm not."

Mik frowned, a breeze blowing his hair. He looked out across the ocean, watching as the last of the outriggers floated back to their respective docks. Mik sighed and went back to spinning the bracelet around his thin wrist. Torn suddenly laughed at him, and he looked up with a frown.

"What?"

"C'mere."

Mik walked up to him and sat in his lap, something he hadn't done in a long time. Being small for his age, Torn had always been able to pick him up and give him piggy back rides or throw him over his shoulder when he was in trouble. But sitting in his lap was different- he'd only done it when he was littler, or whenever he was sick. Mik sighed and leaned back against his brother, watching the sunset. Torn slung his arms around him and placed his chin on Mik's head.

"I'm worried about you, Torn."

"Really? How's that?" he seemed surprised.

"You're acting so weird lately," Mik admitted, tapping his fingers over each number on the bracelet, "And you've been…I dunno…more angry ever since I started school."

The boy turned to look up at Torn and stared at him with somewhat pleading brown eyes. Torn smirked.

"You wanna know the truth? I'll tell ya if you want to know…we're brothers, and you have a right to know, I guess."

Mik nodded. "Yeah. I promise not to tell Tessie." Before Torn could say anything, Mik spoke up again, "Are you in love? That would make a lot of sense!!"

The oldest made a face, shaking his head. "No! That's not it at all."

Mik looked slightly disappointed. "Fine…"

He turned back to face the ocean, watching the waves roll on through Haven Coast and back to the shore. A small sigh escaped him as he waited, leaning back against his brother to hear what he had to say.

"I'm actually worried about you," Torn admitted, "You're nine, now. That's how old I was when you were born…and you were born two months early. You were a really tiny baby, and now," he sighed, looking up at the Palace. Hugging Mik unconsciously, he said, "You're bigger. It just occurred to me that you're going to grow up, that maybe you'll hate me when you're say- seventeen. And you'll get taller and have acne…and girlfriends."

"Eeew!!" Mik cringed.

Torn laughed. "See what I mean?"

His little brother turned to gaze up at him and seemingly studied him for a moment. The fading sunlight showed pink on their skin, and the waves crashed on the shore ahead of them. Mik bit his lip before speaking, as if in thought.

"But don't I have to grow up, Torn?" he asked. When he nodded his reply, Mik frowned. "Why are you afraid of it then? I don't get it."

"…Because. You'll either join the Guard like me, or be a racer, like I don't want you to be-" and Mik smiled, "Or, you'll be something else I haven't thought of yet, and there's plenty of things I don't want you to do."

Torn shook his head as the thoughts filled his head. "I'm not even sure I want you to be a Guard."

"Maybe I'll be an artist like Mom was," the boy offered with a sigh, closing one eye as Torn ruffled his hair. "She'd hate your tattoos."

"You say that all the time, kid. I'm well aware of it."

Mik smiled, feeling protected and strangely at peace sitting in his brother's lap. He spun the bracelet around his wrist until Torn was annoyed by it and stopped the noise himself. Torn put his chin on Mik's head once again, watching as the color drained from the sky. He sighed, wondering why it had taken this long to realize Mik growing up was inevitable. It had just hit him that day, while Tess had been waving the grade card in front of his nose; the writing in red that informed them Mik had developed a bit of an attitude with his math teacher…

Torn's first thought had been, Oh God-he's almost a teenager. And then it had gone bad from there…

"I'll try not to grow up," Mik suddenly said, watching as a gull circled above them, perching on a hut in the distance. "But I don't think it's going to work…"

Torn grinned. "I appreciate the effort- that's all that counts. And about your math teacher…"

Mik tensed, looking slightly worried.

"Yeah…?"

"I understand completely. Math is a pain in the ass."

The nine-year-old giggled, leaning back against his brother's shoulder in relief. He looked up at him and smiled.

"I knew you'd understand!"

Torn nodded. "Believe me, I do. Sergeant Simo's still mad at me for messing up those shipment charts a few months ago."

Mik sighed, stretching out so that his feet were in front of him. He moved them from side to side, watching the laces bounce on his shoes. It looked like the sun was setting between his sneakers and he smirked at the thought.

"…Thanks, Torn," he suddenly said.

His brother gave him a small hug. "Don't mention it, Mik…"

*******

Torn slept for close to two days after the incident in the Wasteland, which wasn't normal for him considering all the work he did on a daily basis. Ashelin remained in the safe house for as long as she could, coming back between shifts in the KG to check in on him. Hector stayed with Torn and the doctors, acting as somewhat of a bodyguard; the Guard had launched a series of extensive patrols and the streets were packed with soldiers and Cruisers for two days. Errol remained in the Palace, apparently plotting a new way to eliminate the Underground for good.

Of course, Torn had been more than anxious to leave the safe house and head back to the Underground hideout, where he would feel more at 'home.' Hector would be taking him back close to sundown, as they would be less conspicuous in the semi-darkness. He was working on loading up the zoomer with everything they needed to take back, muttering swears at he did so.

"How much crap do we need to take back?" he huffed as Torn walked into view, hauling a bag stuffed with medical supplies.

"As much as we can," was the reply.

Hector made a face and practically threw himself on the back end of the car to close the trunk. It snapped shut and he tapped it contentedly with a relieved smirk. Torn rolled his eyes, hopping into the passenger's seat.

"Never a subtle man, right, Hector?"

His friend jumped behind the wheel and the whole car seemed to sag from his added weight. He started up the engine, shaking his head.

"Never in my life, dude," he said.

They traveled onward through the city, taking the back roads to avoid the KG patrols as much as possible. Torn held a small box in his lap, wincing every time they hit turbulence or stopped too fast.

"It'll be fine," Hector sighed, "It's just an animal."

Torn grumbled and peeked into the box, where the muse's terrified green eyes looked back at him. Hector shook his head.

"She'll be fine."

They turned a corner sharply and Torn swore as the car swerved. Hector leaned on the horn and shouted at the driver in front of him.

"What the hell is wrong with you, man?! Get in your own damn lane!!"

"Hector-"

Torn watched as the driver in front of them presently stuck up his middle finger, causing Hector accelerate angrily. They cut across the other driver and sped up the remaining stretch of space. As they left him behind, Hector returned the rude gesture and turned the corner into the Industrial sector.

"For God's sake," Torn blurted, "I don't want to get arrested for something stupid like that!!"

"That guy was really out of line, dude."

Torn rolled his eyes leaning against the door and attempting to cross his arms. The car continued on to the slums, and they maintained a relative silence for the rest of the trip. Billboards flashed brilliantly above them, and the street lights began to snap on as they went. Hector suddenly reached into his jeans pocket.

"Here- Ashelin wanted me to give you this."

Torn frowned as his friend handed him a picture. He grunted a laugh.

"Where'd she get this?"

"Keira gave it to her. She said when she first came to the city, people sent her to Onin. Apparently, Onin gave her that picture and told Keira to find you."

Torn smirked at his old service photograph, remembering how he'd been late for the appointment. He was depressed by the fact he'd looked much younger and healthier two years ago. Curiously, he flipped the picture over and raised his eyebrows. The seal of Mar was stamped on the back.

"She was one of the kids we didn't get a hold of," Torn mused, "Remember, we thought the KG had caught all of 'em?"

Hector nodded. "I barely remember seeing Keria's picture floating around the HQ once or twice…I know Syd said it was a shame we couldn't get to 'em in time."

The car lurched down to the street level and Hector parked the car, sliding out to get some of the cargo from the trunk. Torn pocketed the photo and eased himself out of his seat as well, careful to not hurt his leg. It was doing much better than previously but it still hurt him dully every now and then.

The hideout was a welcoming place of safety and security. Torn had never been happier to set foot inside the crappy little building. After Hector opened the secret door and they walked down the hallway, Torn was bombarded with hugs. Tess, Keira and the boy had fastened themselves to him, and he now found it was getting a little difficult to breathe. Bill was sitting at the table, eating something; Jinx and Libby were leaning against the far wall and Syd went to help Hector carry his 'luggage' down the stairs.

"Alright…Can you guys maybe let go now?"

Keira released her grip sheepishly, muttering an apology. Tess squeezed him one final time, smiling. Torn picked up the child in his arms, relieved he could breathe again. Bill nodded to him as he walked further into the hideout.

"Good to see ya up and about, mate," he said, "Kept your seat warm for ya."

"Thanks, Bill," Torn smirked.

He set the box with the muse gently on the table and she slid out of it, stretching gratefully. Tess automatically scooped her up in her arms and cuddled her.

"Aw, I missed little Myra, yes I did!" she cooed.

The muse licked her on the cheek, as if trying to display enough affection for Tess to leave her alone. Tess had been the one to give her a name, and it seemed to suit her. The group in the Underground HQ all gave Torn a warm welcome back, and it was quite clear they had all been worried about him. He was flattered, to say the least. And he wasn't used to the sudden display of affection for him, either.

Darkness fell, and everything returned-for the most part- back to normal. Hector and Syd left to go on a reconnaissance mission; Torn needed to know where the patrols would be heaviest if he was going to send anyone else on an errand or two. Bill headed for the stadium, but left Keira behind. Libby agreed to take the boy with her, and Torn watched critically as she left with Jinx in tow. He smiled and waved to the boy as they left, but it soon faded after he watched Jinx sling an arm around Libby's waist. Before he could say anything the door closed and they were gone from sight. Torn growled. Keria giggled, moving to sit on the table beside him. Tess shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"They're cute together," she said.

Torn made a face. "Libby's going to kill me in more ways than one."

He gently pet the sleeping Myra on the head, who had curled up on the table next to his elbow as he forged traveler's documents. Torn found she was useful; he'd been able to think of fake names that didn't sound obvious- it had been getting harder to create them lately.

"You're so protective, it's funny," Keira smiled, "I almost feel sorry for Ashelin."

"She can take care of herself. I've known Libby and Tess too long to ever stop worrying about them," Torn replied, leaning back in his seat to stretch.

Tess made a face, hitting him on the shoulder. She gathered up her things from around the room and stuffed a small wad of bills into her pocket.

"I better go get a bunch of food before we all run out," she sighed. Seeing the look on Torn's face, she leaned forward and added, "Don't worry, I've got a pistol just incase, and I'll keep my eyes peeled."

"If you run into any trouble, there's a safe house a few blocks away."

"I know," Tess gasped, slinging her purse over her shoulder. She fluffed her hair a little and waved at Keria. She stuck her tongue out at Torn.

To Keria's surprise, he did it right back. Tess laughed and shook her head, walking up the small staircase to the door.

"See ya later, Max," she smiled.

Torn grumbled, crossing his arms. Keria tilted her head and frowned slightly as the door shut. She kicked her legs and asked,

"So what's your connection to Tess?"

Torn yawned. "She's my cousin. And the first to join the Underground with me."

He heaved himself out of his chair, taking a sip of water from one of the mugs on the table. Myra watched him lazily, then put her head back between her paws. Torn cringed at the taste, his eyes settling back on Keira.

"I suppose the only reason you're still here is because you want to apologize for some reason."

She winced. "You got me."

Torn laughed lightly, replacing the mug back on the table, shoving a few papers out of the way. Myra twitched and stretched as the papers gently tapped her fur.

"Well…you don't need to apologize for anything, kid. And I mean that. But you really should have thought about it more than you did."

"I didn't want them to kill you," Keira admitted.

"It takes a lot of guts to try and save my worthless hide; I haven't been that scared in years- congratulations to you," Torn said. He took a moment to look around the hideout, putting his hands on his hips. He looked back up at the teen sitting on the table and continued.

"And for your compassion…there's something I want to tell you…"

Keria slid off the table and her boots clapped against the concrete. Torn walked past her and led her outside the hideout. She frowned at him as he held out his hand for her car keys. She dropped them in his palm and they both clambered into her vehicle parked at the end of the alley.

"Where are we going?" Keira questioned as the car lurched into the air.

"Dead Town," was the reply.

The air was cool and the light had all but faded from the sky. The city had lit up considerably, however, and Keira squinted in several of the incandescent neon signs. They flew past a Krimzon Guard recruiting station, the insignia glaring brightly in the night sky.

"Have you ever been there?" Torn wanted to know.

Keria shook her head. "I've heard about it…apparently something bad happened to the place; the anniversary for it was only a few months ago. I remember asking Bill, but he didn't talk about it that much. Why is it called that?"

"...Four years ago, it used to be called Haven Coast. I lived there, in fact, with my little brother, Mik, and Tess." Torn smiled shaking his head. "People went on about how it was the 'safest place in Haven,' because it was protected by both the city wall and the ocean."

Keira could sense the hesitation in his voice, as if he was forcing himself to talk about it. She almost regretted pressing him further, but she was interested.

"The Metal Heads launched a surprise attack- it was in retaliation for when we tried to destroy their nest about a year earlier. We later found out there was a problem with the 'B' grid in the city wall; it was either sabotaged or somebody neglected to notice it was in need of repair." Torn paused briefly to change lanes, looking behind him as he did so. "Whatever the reason, the sector was completely destroyed… and it was the Baron's fault."

"How- how badly?" Keira asked, the wind blowing her hair.

Torn sighed. "You can't put it in words, at least I can't. Not after living in the first form of it…"

They flew into what appeared to be a dead end. Torn parked the car, and they both slid out of it on to the street. Keria realized there was a security door in a small ditch ahead of them. Torn pocketed the keys and dropped down carefully into the hole, helping Keira along. They stepped closer to the door and the gears began clicking to open it. A grim look had crossed Torn's face as the first security door opened. They stepped into the airlock together and waited. Torn looked down at her.

"You ready?'

Keria nodded as the door finally slid aside and a computerized voice said, leaving city safe zone. Torn walked ahead of her, and she caught up with him, not wanting to be left alone. What she saw caused her to slap her hands over her mouth.

The place was absolutely devastated. Amazingly, the lights in the area still worked, and they cast an eerie glow throughout the ruined buildings. The water left within the wreckage was a dull brown, the color of sludge. The ground was soft and crumbling; dust rose into the air with every step. All around them, buildings and walkways stood in disrepair, mere skeletons of their formers selves. The moon was bright, and cast long shadows through the debris piles. Keira circled around, gaping at the devastation. Torn scanned the area briefly, looking at his boots with a somber expression. He slipped his hands in his pockets and waited for her to say something.

"Oh my God," Keria breathed, "This is…horrible!"

Torn nodded, looking around grimly. "I came back here after the attack to look for my brother. All I found was this."

He dug into his pocket and presented something to her in his palm. Keria took it carefully in her fingers, inspecting it with a frown.

"A KG identity band," she mused, "Was this yours?"

Torn gave a slight nod, and Keira went back to inspect it delicately.

"I gave it to him when he was eight, the day I let for Boot Camp. It was so he wouldn't feel bad when I was gone."

Keria ran her thumb gently over the blackened plastic band, which had no doubt been larger at one point in time. She could just see the faded numbers of Torn's recruit number: 8-21-52. Keria bit her lip.

"Is he…?"

"Yeah," Torn said, avoiding her eyes, "If he wasn't, he would've come back to get that from me."

Keria looked down at the bracelet one final time before passing it back to him. Torn smirked.

"Mik never took it off…"

"I'm sorry, Torn," Keira told him gently, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright." He looked up again, jerking his head to the ruins of a fair-sized house up ahead. "We used to live there."

Keira followed his gaze, wincing. The building was blackened, the windows blown out; the roof was gone completely. Torn reached up and pointed, jabbing his finger in the air.

"Mik's room, Tess', mine," he said.

Keira's eyes fixed on each gaping hole that had once been a room. She hugged Torn's arm and leaned against him. Words escaped her as she stared at the horribly twisted remains of what had once been a prosperous sector of Haven City.

"I'm so sorry," she found herself saying.

"It's not your fault."

Torn led her away past the broken homes and the slabs of concrete that had fallen from the structures above. A cool breeze whipped across the empty place, and Keria shivered. Her eyes settled on a ruined tower that loomed over them. A flag bearing the Baron's seal snapped loudly in the wind.

"What did the Baron have to say for himself?" Keira asked quietly.

Torn's eyes flashed with forgotten anger. "I'll never forget it, kid. It was pouring down rain, and the transports full of survivors landed in front of the Palace. We walked through the rain again up the stairs, and everyone huddled into the entrance hall. The KGs in the transports were livid. Tess and Hector were with us, thank God…" Torn winced. "But Mik wasn't."

"What did you do?'

"I was the first one inside, Keira. I was slamming open doors and throwing things across the room, screaming for Praxis to show himself. The Guards in the transports had all lost someone in the attack, and I led them screaming for a new leader. We were damn close to rioting. And when the bastard finally showed up, I wanted to kill him. If Damas hadn't of come to calm us down, I think we all would have."

Torn paused again, seemingly trying to calm himself, realizing his voice had gotten slightly loud. Keira still hugged his arm as they walked through the ruins, not really on a set course. The stars glittered brightly and the moonlight split their shadows into spindly shapes.

"Bill's talked about someone named Damas before," Keria spoke up, "He said Damas was the original leader of Haven City. His wife must be Jinny, right?"

Torn nodded. "Bill would know- he used to be their bodyguard. Damas punished Praxis for what he did and threw him in prison. We learned that Praxis had been in charge of the explosion that killed everything in this sector." Keria felt Torn's fingers clench into fists. He looked up at the banner and sneered. "Support was split between loyalists to Praxis and Damas. I left soon after that… I couldn't associate with that shit anymore. I formed the Underground a few weeks later."

"And I'm guessing the Baron didn't take too well to being thrown in prison. He…he did something to Damas, didn't he?" Keria said, fearing the answer.

"Praxis staged a coup," Torn explained with a nod. He kicked at a rock, and it skipped across the wasted ground, a trail of dust following behind it. "He was hell-bent on some kind of warped revenge; apparently he had enough followers to get it done quickly, but they screwed it up. Jinny was killed; Veger had wanted her to live, of course, so he took the baby instead."

"You mean, the little boy?"

"Yeah. I don't know how it happened, but Bill somehow got a hold of the kid, and gave him to Tess to take back to me. And then you came along two years later." Torn smiled humorlessly. "You're all caught up, now."

Torn went on to tell Keria how the Baron had fooled people into thinking Damas had been a traitor the entire time; how he'd let Haven Coast be attacked by the Metal Heads. Praxis stressed that he had been thrown in prison as a way of keeping the Truth from being told. The place had been the subject of an assassination attempt a few months before, and Torn was regretful of the fact no one seemed to catch on. Damas was exiled to the Wasteland and left to die; his wife was buried respectfully, and her baby had been reported 'kidnapped' by the Underground. What followed, Keira already knew.

"Didn't the people know the Truth, or at least realize the Baron was lying through his teeth?!" she gasped in disbelief.

Torn shook his head and shrugged slightly. "I don't know, Keira, seeing as how people have practically ignored his disgraceful existence since taking the throne that fateful day…" He looked up at the moon and smiled slightly. "Maybe they're all stupid- I have no idea. But the Underground continues to expand everyday, and that I'm thankful for."

Keria gazed up at him and felt the need to embrace him; he'd been through so much, and she hadn't given it that much thought. She had new respect for him, now.

"Torn?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think we'll get enough people to overthrow Praxis?"

"We're close. He can't keep this up, not with the Eco shortage and the Metal Head threats; the people will catch on sooner than later. All I know is, he's making a mockery out of that Palace." Torn jerked a thumb behind at the infamous building. "I remember that place looking a lot better when I was a Guard."

Keira smirked. "I've never really looked at it with any-"

She trailed off and stopped walking. Torn's arm slipped from her grasp, and he came to a halt as well. A look of complete astonishment had crossed the teen's face.

"What? What is it?" Torn asked her questioningly.

"H-How…wha..I.."

"Keira, what's the matter?!"

"What is that doing here?!" she demanded, her voice cracking in a screech.

Torn followed her quivering finger skyward and turned. The Sage's ruined hut came into view, its straw roof punctured with holes, the wooden planks bent and splintered in several places. A small flock of black birds circled above it, cawing. Torn faced Keira, surprised to see she was genuinely disturbed by something.

"That's the Old House," he informed her, "It's where the Shadow used to live. He managed to save some of the people in the Coast and repel part of the attack."

"Are you sure?" Keria gasped, bringing her hands up to her cheeks and making little fists.

"Of course I'm sure." Torn took a small step closer to her, frowning in concern.

"Keira, what's wrong?"

"That's…that's my home-I lived there!" she replied, her voice catching in her throat.

Torn couldn't help laughing. That was impossible. But Keira refused to believe him, and she snatched Torn's hand in hers. Her grip was so hard, her knuckles were white.

"That is my house, Torn. That's my father's house!!"

"Keira, I don't think-"

She spun to face him, her expression grave, green eyes wide. Tears were beginning to well up, and they shined in the brightly in the moonlight.

"How do we get up there?!"

It was more of a command than a question. Torn couldn't say no to the look of desperation in her eyes. The former Krimzon Guard nodded wordlessly. With his hand still clenched in hers, he backtracked through the wreckage, squeezing between piles of criss-crossed support beams. After shoving a few rocks and decaying plants from his path, he was able to stand up straight. Keira followed, her expression a combination of fear, sadness and disbelief.

"Here it is," Torn said quietly, "The Old House…"

Keria's hand squeezed his, then let go running ahead toward the dilapidated hut. She put her hands over her mouth and shook her head. Her eyes brimmed with tears and as she looked back at Torn, he could see them slide down her cheek.

"I used to live here," she repeated in a quivering voice, walking gingerly up the planks leading to the hill. Torn followed, not knowing what else to do.

Keira sobbed, jogging up to what Torn remembered was the Sage's workshop of sorts. He sold several things there, each involving green eco in some way usually having some sort of medical purpose. Torn also recalled with a smirk how Mik had come to the shop one day with a bag of rocks he'd painted to look like Orbs; the Sage would gladly take them in exchange for a prize of sorts. But he saw right through Mik's scam and- with one flick of his wrist- made a tiny fern sprout from the top of Mik's head. It stayed there for a week, and Torn's brother never tried to cheat anyone again.

But that was a long time ago, and something about the house rang familiarity with Keira. Clearly it troubled her, and she now stood in the workshop, hugging herself. Her eyes scanned the scarred wooden floor and the scattered tools that were beginning to rust from exposure to rain. She hardly acknowledged Torn's presence after he walked behind her, kicking up a small cloud of dust as he went.

"This was my garage- this is where I built the A-Grav zoomer," Keria murmured softly, her voice still trembling, "This was where we reassembled the Rift Gate…"

Torn couldn't understand how any of this was even plausible, yet there was something about the way she said all these things; clearly she was remembering them from somewhere. Keria suddenly gasped again, running further into the shop.

"My bedroom! Oh, Torn…this was my bedroom!"

She fell to her knees in front of a ruined doorway, clawing at a pile of rubble that prevented her from entering.

"Keira…"

"I have to see it, Torn!"

"No, it's dangerous!" he said, more forcibly this time.

Keira wouldn't have it. She kicked at a cinder block and it shot out from underneath the pile with a grating scrape. The wall crumbled and Keira forced her way through. Torn reached for her, but she was already inside, and he watched through a gap in the ruins curiously. Keria sobbed, her hands on her cheeks as she gazed around the room. She sank into a pathetic-seeming bed by a blown out window, her head in her hands. Torn couldn't stand to see her this way. He tried to go after her, but he was too big to wedge through.

"Get out of there, kid," he advised.

She didn't respond, instead falling down on her hands and knees, searching under the bed for something. Torn could hear her coughing from the dust as she crawled completely beneath the bed. He pursed his lips.

"Keira."

He heard the sharp snapping of wood, followed by a muffled swear. He sighed in frustration, crossing his arms. Keria straightened up, squeezing back through the hole she had previously made. A small box was clenched in her hands.

"You still don't believe me, do you?" she asked Torn, her voice coarse from the dust.

"You're starting to worry me," was the reply.

Keria shook her head, so hard her hair went flying back and forth.

"Just look, Torn! This is my keepsake box- mine! Not anyone else's- my father wasn't even supposed to look in it, okay?"

Torn watched her pry open the weakened wood with a shaking hand. His eyes widened; Keria sobbed again, and she pulled out an object gently.

"This is a seashell, from when I found our swimming spot…" she searched again, a tear dripping from her cheek, "This is a necklace that the sculptor in our village made me; he had a Muse, too. She was a pesky little thing…"

Torn couldn't believe it. He shook his head as Keira rummage through the box once again. It was apparent the Sage had no idea about the secret storage space under the bed. Keira had pulled out something to show him- a wilted plant with browning leaves and crinkly petals. She let out a half-laugh.

"This was a weed my friend Daxter gave to me on my birthday- he thought it was a flower."

Torn smirked, but he still found it hard to believe what Keira was saying; how could he know she was telling the truth? But she seemed so earnest about everything…

She was reaching for something else, having dropped the 'flower' back into the box. Keira bit her lip as her hand closed around a small leather bound book. Tucking the container under an arm, she carefully took the book in her palms and opened it, hearing the binding crinkle as she did so. She sniffed back a fresh wave of tears as she flipped through the worn yellowing pages. Gently, she passed it on to Torn.

"That was my journal," she told him weakly, "The last time I wrote in it was two years ago- or at least, in relative terms…"

Torn flipped through the pages carefully, his eyes scanning the slightly curved handwriting, smiling slightly at the distracted drawings he found- hearts, stars and scribbles. There were actual drawings of machinery, things she was building and places she'd visited. A quickly sketched drawing of a windmill came into view, complete with birds and palm trees. Shaky-lined doodles of people were also visible. Torn stared at it a long while, it finally dawned on him that Keria was right…somehow. He closed the journal with a small snap, slinging an arm around Keira's shoulders as he handed it back to her.

"I'm sorry I brought you here," he said, his voice low with regret.

Keira shook her head, wiping her eyes. "No, it's okay, Torn. I'm kinda glad you did, actually."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Keria nodded, running a hand over her journal, "Now I know what happened. We're…" she sighed, shaking her head again. "I'm in the future- somehow."

They walked up the small boardwalk to the Sage's actual hut. Torn gripped Keira's shoulder soothingly.

"I still don't understand how that is, but…I believe you."

"Thank-you," Keria replied, smiling gently.

She sobered up at the sight of the entrance to the hut, leaning slightly against Torn as she looked up at the rafters. The building was charred and twisted; the windows were blown inward and a thick layer of dust caked the floor. Keria bit her nails to stop a new wave of tears. Torn's grip on her shoulder softened.

"Can I go inside?"

"I don't see why not."

Keria stepped inside carefully inside, her boots making the distressed boards creak. She still held the keepsake box in her hands as she gazed around the space, remembering how there used to be a large tree in front of her; how she used to be able to see the ocean on the outside of those windows, Misty Island sitting in the distance like a bad omen. She let out a shaking sigh, moving to sit where the tree used to be, the items sliding inside the box. Torn took a seat beside her, his uniform scratching against the wood. They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the faint lapping of the foul water below them and the distant sounds of the city behind them.

"I know what I'm fighting for," Keira suddenly said, "And I think I know what you're fighting for, too."

"Well, what is it?" Torn asked her, a faint curve to his lips.

Keria looked over at him, setting her box across her knees.

"Mik."

Torn avoided her eyes, crossing his arms. "…Yeah, you are right…"

He looked across the ruins of Haven Coast and continued. "Mik would be seventeen, if he were still with me. God…I can just imagine him, though. I think you'd like 'im, actually- you guys are pretty close in personality, only your more of a pain in the ass."

Keria made a face and nudged him with her elbow. Torn actually smiled.

"Anyway, in case you were wondering…that's why I didn't let you join the Underground. I couldn't lose someone so much like my brother again- and it doesn't help that you're a likeable kid."

It was Keira's turn to laugh. "Thanks, Torn."

"I'm serious. I lost my parents when I was thirteen, and it was hard enough for me to handle Mik as it was; try raising a three-year-old on your own. Mik had such strong memories of our mother, but it wasn't the same for our father. I was the only father figure he had- can you understand me not wanting to mess that up?"

"Oh, of course," Keria said softly, nodding.

Torn heaved a sigh, hugging his knees. "After what happened, I made a promise not to put anyone I cared about in a situation like that- ever. But you're so damn persistent, Keira."

She smiled at him, watching as he reached behind his head, as if about to scratch it. Instead, he unhooked a small chain from around his neck and piled it into her palm. Keria looked down at the necklace curiously, clinking two items together. Dog tags.

"Torn, what-?"

"It's just gonna have to do until I can officially accept you as a member," he answered with a smirk.

Keria looked up at him, her eyes wide in excitement. "So I'm in?! I'm an agent?!"

"Yeah. You know what you're fighting for, don't you?"

She beamed and clamped him in an abrupt hug, which he returned to her surprise. Torn laughed when they parted, tousling her hair. Keria slipped on the tags, loving the sound they made as they clattered together around her neck. She looked over at Torn with a pointed look and smirked.

"There's just one more thing I know…"

"What's that?" Torn grunted, narrowing his eyes.

"…Before we left, Tess called you something. She called you, Max, I believe. What's that supposed to mean?"

Torn winced, as if she had sworn in front of him. He heaved another sigh and massaged his forehead with a hand. Practically mumbling, as if the words pained him to be said, Torn replied,

"Max…is...ugh. It's my real name."

Keria giggled. "No kidding?!"

Torn rolled his eyes. "Nope. Unfortunately, I'm not kidding. It's my real name, but uh- I hardly go by it. Only Tess and Mik ever really called me that."

Keria giggled again, banging her heels slightly on the boards. Torn scowled.

"You shouldn't have told me that! HA! I'm so going to blackmail you now!"

Torn growled. Keria leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. Her hand went to the tags hanging around her neck and she fingered them noisily, smiling at what she'd learned. Torn suddenly punched her in the arm, and she cried out.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?!" she demanded, rubbing the spot.

Torn laughed. "For stealing my papers, that's what."

Keria glared at him, but leaned back against him anyway. Torn shook his head and slung his arm around her shoulders once again.

"You should thank me for stealing them," Keira muttered under her breath.

"What?"

She sighed. "Never-mind…"

They watched the moon rise high over the city, the Palace lights gleaming above them light strange beacons. Keira gently tapped her hands on her box of keepsakes and edged closer to Torn.

"Keira?" he suddenly said.

"Hm?"

"No word of this to the guys…or Ashelin, alright?"

Keira giggled a final time, hitting the back of his hand lightly. She looked up at him and grinned.

"You've got it, 'tough guy.'"