Maya lingered by the corner. The library was just beyond it. That's where Nox was, and Maya was apprehensive of walking in there. She wanted to talk to Nox, but she didn't know how. So much time had passed and it felt awkward. Perhaps awkward isn't the right word, but nevertheless it was strange. Just when Maya had finally made up her mind and was about to walk into the library she let out a yelp of surprise.

"Nox," Maya breathed heavily, "Don't… Don't do that…" Nox had snuck up in front of her. Or at least Nox had walked up to Maya without her noticing.

"I'll try not to," Nox smirked sheepishly.

"Good…" Maya tried to catch her breath. It was weird a feeling for her, having her breath taken away by being startled.

"What's wrong?" Nox furrowed her eyebrow, "You seem… Pensive…" Nox tilted her head slightly, trying to figure out what was wrong. Then it hit her.

"I'm not… Well I was wondering…" She didn't know how to say it.

"Is there something you want to talk about, Maya?" Although she asked she already knew the answer.

"Yes… Can we go somewhere else though?" the blue haired girl nods.

Once again Maya and Nox sat at the cove. Together, side by side, they sat watching the sky, ocean, birds, and anything really. Not one of them spoke. Both were unsure of what to say. Finally Maya gathered up the courage to speak, "Nox… You've been away for so long…"

Nox sat back and listened and thought at the same time, Why does everyone say that I've 'been away?' Seriously, do they not remember I was chased out by a mob of pitchforks and torches? Honestly…

"And…" Maya continued, "You've changed, Nox… I… I don't really know who you are any more. It's like you're a stranger…" She finished.

Exhaling softly, Nox smiled, "You've changed too, Maya... I may have changed but some things stay the same. I'm still the same Nox… Just… Older, wiser, and…" her voice trailed off. Maya had rested her head on Nox's shoulder. Nox hadn't even noticed. "Maya… I…" Nox found herself struggling for words, "I've missed you…"

"I've missed you too, Nox…" Maya mumbled. A thought crossed Maya's mind, "Nox, where did you go?"

Gulping Nox took a moment to think. There were things she couldn't tell Maya, so many things to be exact. Finally Nox spoke, "I did some…" Nox found it weird to say 'traveling' all the time but it was the only way she could explain where she went, "traveling…"

Something about how Nox said 'traveling' made Maya suspicious but Maya knew better than to pry at it. Everyone has secrets; even best friends. "What did you do in your 'travels?'" she asked.

Once again, Nox had to think before she spoke. When she came upon a reasonable answer she spoke, "I did some thinking." Maya seemed content with Nox's answer for she hadn't spoken a word. Instead she sighed and smiled. And for one second, one tiny second, it felt like they were kids once again. That nothing had happened, and in that moment of innocent bliss, it felt wonderful and carefree. Unfortunately that moment was interrupted by Maya's X-Com.

"Maya," Boomer's voice came out of her X-Com, "We've got a kairu deposited."

Maya pressed a button on her X-Com, "Okay, Boomer, I'll be right there." With that both Maya and Nox went running towards the monastery.

Before Maya got into the X-Scaper she ran into Boaddai. "Hey, Master B." she said somewhat dazed.

"Hello, Maya, on your why to the kairu deposited?" He chuckled.

Regaining her state of mind Maya asks, "Can Nox come with us on this mission, please?" Ky was standing in the X-Scaper's doorway. He had a look of disgust on his face. On Boaddai's face, however, was a look of worry.

"Actually," he said trying to find the right words, "I was thinking Nox should stay here. I still have some things to discuss with her…" He shot a look at Nox.

Maya pouted, "All right… Fine, maybe next time?"

"Maya," Ky's voiced called from the X-Scaper, "we need to hurry…"

Wrapping her arms around Nox, Maya smiled, "See you later!" With that Maya hopped aboard the X-Scaper and Team Stax was off.

Once Mookee's spaceship was out of sight Boaddai turned to Nox, he seemed angry, "Did you ask Maya to ask if you could join them on their mission?" His voice was stern and accusing, just like the Redakai Boaddai didn't trust her, although he did trust her more than most.

Nox frowned with false sorrow, "I'm insulted that you, of all people, could insinuate such an accusation." She knew that Boaddai still did not trust her.

Boaddai lowered his eyebrows, "Then why did she ask?"

This time, Nox really was annoyed, "Maybe she actually wanted me to join them one an actual mission…" Something about Boaddai's expression made Nox feel like he doubted her. And she knew that was true, nobody ever trusted the freak, "Boaddai, I understand the terms of my sentence. I'm under house arrest," she laughed the last part.

"You are not under house arrest, Nox," Boaddai sighed.

"No? All the Redakai did was change the name to something more appealing to them. That's all. And the only reason why," Nox crossed her arms, "is because you guys don't trust me."

A chill ran up Boaddai's spin. Nox was right about the Redakai not trusting her, but that's not why she was here. "Nox," he tried to explain, "The dark power inside of you is highly unstable… Should you have another…" Crimson orbs known as Nox's eyes were staring into his own. All of a sudden he found it difficult to talk.

"Another what, Boaddai?" Nox tilted her head in confusion. "Another tantrum? Boaddai, I'm not the same girl I used to be. That girl is gone. Dead." Boaddai stood shocked. How Nox could say such a thing he had no idea. Just then Nox let out a hollow laugh, "Stop and smell the roses… Life isn't like that…"

"Nox…" he couldn't understand how Nox could feel this way. "Life-"

"Life's a callous bitch, Boaddai… That's one of the biggest lesson you…" she paused, there was a certain name she didn't want to mention, "You and the Redakai ever taught me…" Nox said that with such emotion Boaddai couldn't tell if it was anger or something else.

"Nox," Boaddai couldn't understand where Nox was coming from with this, "You can't truly believe that…"

She laughed, "I've lived it." Boaddai found himself once again at a loss for words in a deathly silence while talking to Nox. Everything went wrong so many years ago, and he had no idea how to fix it. Beyond redemption: another word to describe Nox. "We both know life isn't all smiles and sunshine…" Nox sighed, "I'm going for a walk…" She turned and walked away.

Uneasy with leaving things on unfriendly terms, Boaddai had no idea what to say. The only thing he could manage was, "Nox, you're not permitted to leave the Monastery's grounds." Like that would make things better.

"Such distrust…" Nox scoffed.

Unpleasant feelings ran through Boaddai, and he couldn't pinpoint where this was coming from or what it was. Finally deciding keeping Nox caged up was not a good idea he calls after her, "Don't go too far…"

Brandishing her hand in the air as if to swat a fly with the back of her hand Nox chuckled, "Don't worry yourself…"

Boaddai stood watching Nox's back as she walked out of sight. It took moments for the old kairu master to discover the source of his unease. Just for a moment, even though it was slight, he was almost certain that Nox sounded something like Lokar.

Quantus teleported to the monastery, he knew Nox harbored negative feelings towards most of the Redakai and that was something he should check. Moving at a leisurely pace to Boaddai's personal cloister, Quantus found the aged master sitting on one of the benches that edged the stone carved walls that enclosed a grassy area, very much like a quart yard. "Hello, old friend," Quantus said happily as he sat down next to Boaddai, though he could sense something was wrong.

"Ah," Boaddai said with a forced smile, "Master Quantus, nice to see you." It was only natural that Boaddai knew that Quantus was here primarily for business.

"Something is wrong," Quantus stated more than he asked.

"Nox…" muttered the old man, although both men were much older now that years have passed. Boaddai then proceeded to tell Quantus about what had happened. When he finished there was a long silence between the two men.

"Boaddai," Quantus closed his eyes thinking, "You must be patient with her. With all that has happened I doubt she'd be her old self. Plus we still don't know what Nox is capable now that she is older."

Boaddai let out a sigh, "I know… But there's something about Nox… She's different. Before, when we rescued her from Lokar, I still was able to sense some good in her, even though it was small. Now…"

"You think she is evil?" Quantus inquired.

"I'm not sure. I don't know what it is. But I doubt it is good," he knew that one day one of his students would be drawn to the dark side. And Nox seemed to be one of those students; she was also one he had hoped would remain to the side of good. But his hopes seemed unanswered.

Watching his friend so uncertain hurt Quantus, "Do you believe she is working with Lokar? We know when Zane left, he harbored hatred towards you. He went and joined Lokar. Perhaps this is what you are sensing?"

Closing his fists in his robes Boaddai frowned, "After what Lokar did to her, why would she?" That was when a thought crossed his mind, "Unless if she thought Lokar could help her control the power he forced on her. I've never known Nox to hold a grudge, she never seemed like the type but she's changed… But I think there is more to it than that if she's working with Lokar… When she talked about him during her trail she did so with no enmity."

Quantus nodded, "What other motives do you believe Nox would join Lokar for?" They had to know all of the reasons as to why Nox could join Lokar for.

"Well," Boaddai tried to speak the words, for they seemed so unlikely, "This condition is possible… even for Nox… It could be that she might have developed Stockholm syndrome…"

Quantus sighed, "I've also thought of that possibility. Although highly unlikely for Nox, but it is not impossible." Both men thought in silence. "I shall put this in her post trail report," Quantus conclude.

"It is possible…" Boaddai agreed.

"We'll have to keep a closer watch on her," Quantus stood, "Where is she now?"

"She went for a walk about a half hour ago."

"You let her leave to grounds?" Quantus was shocked.

"Technically the trails are part of the monastery," Boaddai tried.

Long after the day's previous events, Team Stax returned. They had drained the Kairu energy from the relic, which was infused in an old car, and made it back before nightfall. They were very happy with the days find.

"Hey, Master Boaddai!" Ky's happiness was immeasurable.

"I'm assuming you've returned victorious?" Boaddai asks.

"You bet we did," Boomer chimed in.

Maya looked around and frowned, "Master Boaddai, where's Nox?"

"She's in the library," Boaddai frowned. He remembered that the book he was dreading was most certainly still in the library. They watched as Maya ran off to the library.

Quietly reading a book she haphazardly picked Nox sat at the table. Reading became an escape for Nox. It's how she learned to cope with things. Maya walked over and sat down next to Nox at the table. "What book are you reading?" Maya asked craning her head to try and to read the page.

"I honestly have no idea," Nox chuckled sheepishly, "I just randomly picked it…" Closing the book Nox turned to focus on her friend, the book instantly became unimportant. "How was the mission?"

"Good, we got the kairu energy," Maya exclaimed.

"That's great," Nox smiled, "I told you, you're going to be a great kairu warrior…"

Maya smiled. It was because of those words she did not give up. They became her inspiration.

Boaddai stood at the edge of the rocky cliff, overlooking the ocean. He sensed a storm was coming, and he had a feeling it had to do with Lokar. The words from his and Quantus's conversation still echoed in his head. He wondered, Is it truly possible that Nox is working for Lokar? It could be she has developed a sort of Stockholm syndrome… Or she might have thought he could help her control the dark power inside of her… I doubt she'd do that. Joining Lokar would put Maya at danger… Boaddai let out another sigh of great discontent, But then again Nox has always been unpredictable. Long debate of whether or not Nox was evil or good rattled Boaddai's brain long after everyone had gone to sleep. Finally, Boaddai himself, retired to his bedchambers.