Chapter 5:
Meanwhile at Simutech, John Vanders along with Donald and Hanna Robertson had arrived and were in the office of the CEO, Sam Hanson, ready to get down to business.
"Mr. Vanders. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson. I'm glad that you all are here.", Mr. Hanson said as they all shook hands before taking their seats.
"Glad to be here.", John said. "Isn't there suppose to be someone else here with us?"
Just then, the office door opened to show an elderly man dressed in a black suit using a cane to walk. The head of the cane was of a silver dragon's head.
"Ah! Mr. Riddle!", Mr. Hanson said as Riddle walked up to him. "You're finally here!", he said as they shook hands.
"Sorry for being so late.", Riddle said with a kind smile. "I woke up a bit late this morning. Plus, the traffic was a mess."
"Don't worry about it.", Donald said as he and Riddle shook hands. "Traffic was crazy for us, too."
"Mr. Riddle, this is Donald and Hanna Robertson.", Sam said introducing the Robertson's to Riddle. "And this is John Vanders."
"Pleasure to meet you.", John said as he shook hands with Riddle.
"Like wise.", Riddle said before taking a seat. "I'm glad to meet the people who created the chip that'll change the world."
"Thank you.", John said. "The three of us have worked long and hard on the chip. So I have to ask, what does the FBI want with our chip?"
"A good question. Mr. Vanders.", Riddle said. "It is true that I work with the FBI. But, as of late, I'm part of a special unit that works on the protection of special technology. And in this case technology that can help make some of our computers a lot more better than what they are now."
"So in other words, you want the chip to improve the computers of the FBI.", Hanna figured.
"Oh I think there's more involved here that the FBI.", Donald said. "I'm guessing that the military is involved in this as well."
"Perhaps.", Riddle said. "But know this, if this business venture works out, then your technology will be used for more productive matters. Like in hospitals, as well as in robotics, and many ways of transportation."
"So in other words, the ends will justify the means.", John said seeing where Riddle was going.
"Pretty much.", Riddle replied.
"What do you two think?", John asked Donald and Hanna. "In the end, we will end up using our tech to help people."
"True.", Hanna replied.
"And we will have control over how our chip is used.", Donald said. "Won't we?"
"Of course.", Mr. Hanson said. "It's your tech. You will have full control over how it is used. Right, Mr. Riddle?"
"Indeed.", Riddle said with a kind smile.
"Then let's get to work.", John said as he shook hands with Sam and Riddle. "One more thing. You have an employee named Susan Vandom working here. We'd like for her to be involved in on this as well."
"Vandom, huh?", Sam questioned. "I've heard about her work progress. She is good. Very well, Mr. Vanders. She's in."
"Thanks you.", John said.
"No let me show you the lab where we have everything set up.", Sam said as they left the office. "We have everything from computers to vehicles to work with."
"Sounds promising.", Hanna said.
"Only time will tell.", Donald replied as they walked down the hall.
"I wonder how the kids are doing in school.", John pondered as they got into an elevator to go to the floor where the lab was on.
Back at Sheffield, it was now Lunch and for a change Cornelia, Cassidy, and Alchemy were having their lunch outside with Elyon, Drake, and Aldern under the shade of a tree. Needless to say that the three Guardians were surprised by Aldern's glamoured look.
"How did you do it, Elyon?", Cornelia asked still looking at the glamoured Galhot.
"Thank, Halinor and Alfor.", Elyon said. "They gave Aldern a ring that puts up the glamour around him.", she explained as Aldern held up his right hand to show a metal ring in his ring finger.
"So, as long as he's wearing that, he'll look the way he does now.", Alchemy said figuring things out.
"Pretty much.", Aldern said.
"It looks nice.", Cassidy said. "But I like you normal look better.", she said making Aldern blush a bit. "But I guess you do what you have to do to forefill your duties. And I can respect that.", she said with a smile that Aldern returned.
"You should have seen how Caleb reacted to seeing Aldern here.", Drake said.
"What happened?", Alchemy asked.
"Well...", Elyon began to tell.
Flashback a few minutes ago...
"Once again the school's food sucks.", Irma complained as she stirred her mashed potatoes.
"Which is why I brought my lunch from home.", Taranee said as she bit into her sandwich.
"Lucky you.", Irma said while poking at the piece of chicken on her tray.
"Is that... Elyon and Drake?", Caleb said as he spotted the Meridian queen and his good friend.
"Yeah, it's them.", Hay Lin said. "But who's the other guy with them?"
"No idea.", Matt said as they came up to their table. "Hey, guys."
"Hey, Matt.", Elyon said with a smile. "Hey, guys."
"What are you doing here?", Will questioned still surprised to see Elyon and Drake on Earth. "I thought you were staying on Metamoor."
"I did, but after talking with my parents I decided to finish my education here on Earth.", Elyon explained. "And just to make sure that I'm safe Drake and Aldern are here to watch over me."
"Is that really you, Aldern?", Caleb questioned looking at the bald African-American boy who stood next to Elyon.
"Weird, huh?", Aldern asked. "From what Halinor and Alfor told me as long as I have this ring on, I'll look the way I do.", he explained as he held up his right hand to show a metal ring in his ring finger.
"So why weren't we told about you guys coming here?", Irma asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I told Alchemy and asked her to tell you guys.", Elyon replied.
"Oh.", Will said in a not to happy tone. "Well... we're not..."
"Let me guess.", Elyon said. "Still not speaking to them."
"Nope.", Irma said before drinking some of her milk.
"Really guys?", Elyon questioned. "It's been how long?"
"I'm sorry, Elyon. But it's not something that you can just forget!", Will said.
"I can understand that, Will.", Aldern replied. "But after talking with Halinor about what happened, I feel that Cornelia was as much of a victim as you were. Not physically, but more mentally."
"So you're taking her side now, my friend?", Caleb questioned.
"We're not taking sides, Caleb.", Drake said. "We're just saying that after what the Oracle said about the new danger that's coming, maybe it's best that you all should at least try to get along."
"How did you know about that?", Hay Lin asked.
"I told them.", Elyon replied. "If Drake and Aldern are going to be my bodyguards, they I had to tell them everything. Not to mention my parent, and the rest of my Honor Guard."
"Well when it comes to Cornelia and 'her' fellow Guardians, don't expect us to be all buddy, buddy with them anytime soon.", Will replied. "You guys can sit with us though."
"Thanks, but Alchemy and Cornelia asked if I could sit with them earlier.", Elyon said with a kind smile. "Maybe next time.", she said before she, Drake, and Aldern walked off.
End Flashback
"So, they still don't like me.", Cornelia said.
"From what I could tell, it's Caleb, Will, and Irma who have some strife with you.", Aldern replied. "Taranee and Hay Lin are another story."
"Well, that's some good news.", Cassidy said.
"Maybe. But I don't think it'll take long before they end up joining up with them as well.", Elyon replied.
"Don't be so sure.", Drake said. "Taranee and Hay Lin are stronger than you give them credit for.", he said as he placed a comforting hand on Elyon's shoulder and gave her a smile that she returned.
'He so likes her.', Alchemy said to Cornelia and Cassidy telepathiclly.
'Totally.', Cornelia and Cassidy agreed smiling along with Alchemy.
Minutes earlier, in the Lunch Hall...
"Well, that was fun.", Irma said sarcastically.
"This is serious, Irma!", Caleb said. "The more time Elyon spends time with Cornelia, Alchemy, and Cassidy the more she'll side with them about them staying Guardians!"
"So?", Taranee questioned.
"So, we have to find away to have Elyon side with us about getting the Oracle to take their powers and give them to us.", Will replied.
"But didn't Baldy say something about us having too much power was a bad thing?", Irma questioned.
"That isn't what Endarno thinks.", Caleb said.
"Maybe but, I think having more Guardians is a good thing.", Hay Lin replied. "I mean, since they've been Guardians, we don't have to go off and fight who knows what for who knows how long. We have more time to ourselves that what we would have if it was just the five of us."
"I have to agree with Hay Lin on that one.", Taranee replied. "And further more, I think that the real problem you three really have is that Cornelia is a Guardians again."
"What was your first clue?", Irma asked sarcastically earning a glare from Taranee.
"It's not just that, Taranee.", Will admitted. "It's also the fact that Elyon went behind our backs and asked the Oracle to make Cornelia a Guardian again. Knowing how we felt about her!"
"Well, we can't do anything about it now.", Taranee said. "So I say we just let it go and try to get along with them."
"Yeah!", Hay Lin said. "Besides. I have more important things to do."
"Such as?", Caleb questioned.
"Learning more about my future cousin and his family.", Hay Lin said with a smile. "Speaking of which, where is he anyway?"
"With Matt and the guys.", Irma said.
"I asked him to keep Angelo, Micheal, and Selece busy with them while we talked about this new threat the Oracle told us about.", Will explained. "But then, Elyon showed up and... well... you know.", she replied just as the bell rang signaling the end of Lunch.
"And there goes Lunch.", Irma said as she finished her food. "Oh well! I guess we'll talk about this new threat later?"
"Looks like.", Will said as they threw their trash away and headed out of the Lunch Hall towards their next classes. "Later!", she said as she and Caleb walked off.
"Later!", Irma said as she headed to her class.
"See ya!", Taranee and Hay Lin headed to their classes.
"We so have to get everyone together to talk things out.", Hay Lin said.
"I couldn't agree with you more.", Taranee agreed. "But how?"
"No idea.", Hay Lin said. "But if we put our heads together, we can think of something.", she said with a beaming smile, that Taranee returned as they headed into their next classes.
Minutes earlier, in the Lunch Hall...
"Thank goodness they had pizza as a second choice for lunch.", Micheal said as he, Selece, and Angelo sat with Matt, Nigel, Eric, and Martin.
"You can say that again.", Nigel said. "School meatloaf is not my thing."
"So, what do you guys do for fun?", Selece asked.
"Well, Nigel, Eric, and myself have our band.", Matt replied.
"Cool.", Angelo said. "What about you, Martin?"
"I work at the school's radio station.", Martin answered.
"I thought you sounded familiar.", Selece said. "You were doing the sports and school announcements. You guys are pretty good."
"Thanks.", Martin said. "But we can't get everything told with the time limit we have. If only we had a newspaper club to run the newspaper."
"This school has a newspaper club?", Angelo asked.
"More like had.", Nigel replied.
"Yeah.", Martin agreed. "We just couldn't find enough people to do the paper."
"You two thinking what I'm thinking?", Angelo asked Selece and Micheal who nodded.
"What are you two thinking?", Eric asked.
"Well back at our old school, in Fadden Hills, we helped ran the school paper.", Selece explained. "We covered stuff from school topics, to what the newest movies were."
"Not to mention music, TV shows, the latest video games, sports, and other stuff.", Micheal added.
"And if this school needs a newspaper club, then I'm in!", Angelo replied.
"Why not?", Micheal questioned. "This could be fun. I'm in too."
"Same here.", Selece agreed. "Now our folks can't say we're not doing anything."
"If that's the case, then I have your first ad.", Matt said. "We so need a keyboard player and a new drummer."
"Yeah!", Nigel said with a grin. "Our last drummer and his family moved."
"A keyboard player and a new drummer, huh?", Angelo questioned looking at Micheal and Selece with a smirk. "You don't say?"
"What?", Eric asked.
"Well, Micheal is a great piano player!", Angelo replied. "And, believe it or not, Selece can play the drums like it's no bodies business!"
"Please tell me he's not joking!", Matt pleaded with Micheal and Selece. "We sooooo need a drummer and keyboarder!"
"Well, we're good.", Selece said.
"But, we're not sure we're band material.", Micheal added.
"You never know until you try.", Eric said. "Trust me when I say I've been in your shoes. I was nervous when it came to joining Wreck 55, but once I did, it was awesome!"
"Wreck 55? I like it.", Selece said.
"I guess we can give it a try.", Micheal replied.
"Great!", Matt said. "Just let us know when you can tryout."
"How about tomorrow?", Micheal asked.
"You guys can come over to my place to play in the garage.", Angelo offered. "We just have to move Selece's drums set there."
"No problem there!", Matt said just as the bell rang signaling the end of Lunch.
"And now it's back to schooling!", Eric said sarcastically. "Joy.", he said getting a laugh out of the others as they threw their trash away and headed to their next classes.
Meanwhile at Simutech, John, Donald, and Hanna were looking around their new lab and were quite impressed with it all.
"I hae to say that I'm impressed with this lab, Mr. Hanson.", Donald said. "We can do a lot of work here!"
"I agree!", Hanna replied. "And if things go well, we can use out tech to benefit the world!"
"First things first.", John said with a grin. "We have to make sure to get our chip up and working right."
"Well, that's why we're all here.", Riddle said. "If we can pull all of our resources together, the chip that you three created can be used to benefit all of humanity."
"Then let's hope for the best, Mr. Riddle.", Hanna said with a kind smile.
"Then let's get to work and see what we can get done today.", John said.
"Don't have to tell me twice.", Donald said as he and Hanna were ready to get things started.
'Yes. The sooner you get started the sooner I'll get to my true goal!', Riddle thought to himself as he watched John Vanders and Donald & Hanna Robertson begin to work on their projects.
Later that day, after school, Angelo invited Will, Selece, and Micheal to his place to hang out. All three agreed to go, but Micheal was a bit down seeing as he didn't get the chance to find his online 'friend'.
"Don't sweat it, bro.", Selece said. "There's always tomorrow."
"Maybe.", Micheal said. "But I was so hoping to find her today."
"Well, look on the bright side of things, man.", Angelo said. "Not only are we on the newspaper club, but you and Selece might become part of a band.", he said making Micheal smile a little.
"You have a point there.", Micheal said as they neared Angelo's home.
"Always look on the bright side of things.", Angelo said. "For when you do, only good things can happen.", he said as they got to his home.
"This is your home?", Selece said getting a good look at the place. "It's huge!"
"Well, we do have a lot of people staying with us.", Angelo said as they walked up to the place.
The house was a two-story sky blue house with black shutters. It has a porch in the front and a large deck in the back with a pool and a hot tub. Also in the front of the house is a lovely thing of flowers that were planted there as well as a garden in the back yard. Not to mention a two car garage, basement and attic.
"So how big is you bedroom?", Will asked with a smirk.
"Big enough.", Angelo said with a grin as he took out his key to the house and unlocked the front door to the house.
Once inside they saw that Elyon was already there with Drake and Aldern.
"Hey, guys!", Angelo said getting their attention.
"Hi, Angelo!", Elyon said. "Hey, Will! Hey, Selece! Hey, Micheal!"
"Hey!", Selece and Micheal said with a smile.
"Cassidy not here yet?", Angelo asked.
"Yeah, she's here.", Elyon said. "She's in the Kitchen with Alchemy and Cornelia."
"Who?", Selece questioned as Angelo headed into the Kitchen.
"They're friends of mine.", Elyon explained.
"Oh snap!", came Angelo voice from with in the Kitchen.
"What the heck?", Micheal questioned as Angelo came running out from the Kitchen. "What's wrong with you?"
"Dawg! You won't believe who's in the Kitchen?", Angelo said to Micheal.
"Who?", Micheal asked.
"See for yourself!", Angelo said pointing towards the Kitchen.
"Oooookay.", Micheal said walking towards the Kitchen.
"Who's in there?", Selece asked.
"Someone he's been wanting to see all day.", Angelo said.
"No!", Selece said figuring out what Angelo was talking about. "She's in there?", she questioned getting a nod from Angelo.
"Did we miss something?", Elyon questioned.
"Before moving here, Micheal has been talking with this girl online.", Selece explained. "Turns out that the girl lives here in Heatherfield."
"And she's in the Kitchen now.", Aldern figured.
"Yep.", Angelo said. "Blonde hair and all!"
Hearing that shocked Will big time.
'Dear Lord no!', Will thought to herself as she headed towards the Kitchen with the others who wanted to see what was going to happen.
As for Micheal, he had just walked into the Kitchen to see, Cassidy talking with two girls. One had orange hair while the other was someone he thought he'd never see.
"Hey, Micheal!", Cassidy said to him once she saw him.
Alchemy and Cornelia turned to see Micheal and recognized him right away. Seeing this Cassidy figured that they must have met already.
"You guys know each other?", she asked.
Alchemy then whispered something in Cassidy's ear.
"Ooooh!", Cassidy said as a smirk grew on her face knowing things were going to be interesting.
As for Micheal and Cornelia, all they could do was stare at each other. After all this time, they finally meet face to face. And they don't even know each others name. Priceless, huh? Well, that was about to change as they walked up to each other smiling.
'After all this time.', Micheal thought to himself. 'She's hotter in person!'
'He's even cuter in person.', Cornelia thought to herself.
Once they were close enough, Micheal extended his hand to Cornelia and...
"I'm, Micheal Robertson.", he said introducing himself to Cornelia.
"I'm... um... wow!", Cornelia said gathering herself. "I'm Cornelia Hale.", she said introducing herself as they shook hands. "It's good to finally meet, you.", she said with a smile.
"Like wise.", Micheal said returning the smile.
"Maybe we should give them some space.", Cassidy said as she and Alchemy headed out of the Kitchen.
"Couldn't agree more.", Angelo said as he left the Kitchen with everybody else.
'Of all the people he had to get with, it had to be HER!', Will thought to herself as she left the Kitchen with the others, but not before giving Cornelia a scowl that she didn't even see.
A/N: Well, looks like Riddle has his own plans for John, Donald, and Hanna's technology. Question is, what does he have planned? And then there's Micheal and Cornelia. Is Will really going to try and break them up? And if so, how will she do it? And if she does, will it mess up her friendship with Micheal, Selece, and Angelo? Only time will tell.
Please review.