A/N: I've gotten much of the characters back round information from the book, Gorillaz Rise of the Ogre. It's a great read! Enjoy the chapter, reviews are always appreciated.

Chapter 13

The Truth?

Lihn dashed out the office door. She pushed herself through the few people that had already gathered in front of the staircase which split the hall and ended in the foyer. A young woman was lying at the bottom grasping her leg and crying while another girl was talking to her. It must have been the two she'd heard upstairs a few moments ago.

"What happened?" she asked crouching down to check the girl. It was obvious her leg was broken, human legs don't bend at that angle.

"Something pushed her!" the other girl yelled hysterically. "It was small and black and it came out of no where and it pushed her!"

Lihn eyes narrowed. "You'll see, there's nothing' ta worry about." Murdoc's words echoed in her mind. More people from the party were starting to come down the hall. She stood quickly and took the hysterical girl by the arms. "You are talking nonsense!" she said loudly. "Calm down." The first group of people entered the foyer and she turned to them taking the role of command. "You." she nodded at the tall dark haired man in the front. "Go, call an ambulance. This girl has fallen down the stairs and broken her leg. There is a phone in there." she nodded toward the sitting room. Looking at the girls behind him she said, "Go with him, bring the couch cushions, make her as comfortable as possible."

More party goers were entering the hall and Lihn gave tasks to the first few, sending one for a bucket of ice, another for a towel to wrap it in. She put someone in charge of the hysterical friend telling them that she must have drunk to much and to just keep her calm. She sent a small group outside to watch for the ambulance and sent someone to find Murdoc.

All the while she was watching out the corner of her eyes for the shadow. She inwardly berated herself for not being able to take care of it already. She was letting herself get distracted too easily. A simple shadow demon should have been child's play for her, but the mystery surrounding Noodle, and then the thing with Russel and Del, were taking up her attention, not to mention the new issue with that Jimmy fellow. "Jimmy." she thought darkly. As if on cue, he entered the foyer followed by his herd. He scanned the scene almost dis-interestedly until his eyes fell on Lihn. She watched his face change from bored to concerned as he crossed over to her.

"Lihn, what happened?" he voice dripped with mock concern, "Did someone get hurt?" he put unnecessary stress on the last word and his eyes changed slightly as if to say, 'take the hint'.

She opened her mouth to confront him but just at that moment, Murdoc entered loudly demanding to know what had happened. Spotting Lihn in the center of things, he stalked over to her, his attitude toward her much changed from just a little while ago. "Whot the hell happened?"

As Lihn turned her attention to the angry host, Jimmy and his friends took the opportunity to slip form the room. "The girl fell on the stairs. She is injured, an ambulance is on the way to care for her." Lihn stepped in closer so that only he would hear her. "The other girl says she was pushed by a shadow."

The irritated man waved a hand dismissively, "She's probably on something, all these kids are these days."

"Is Noodle on something?" she hissed, "she saw it too! The first day we were here. And I have seen it as well." she grabbed the front of his shirt, "You know very well it was real!"

He looked at the hand on the front of his shirt with distaste before swiping it away. "I'll take care of it." He growled. "When this blows over." he glanced around at the crowded foyer.

"Damn right, you will, and I will be there to make sure of it." Lihn turned and walked away before he had the chance to protest.

She moved to the injured girl, some of the other guests had propped her up on some cushions, but the poor girl writhed in pain. Kneeling, she held the girls hand and placed the other on the girls forehead. She whispered soothing words and subtly pushed a calming energy into the girls head. By the time the ambulance arrived, the medics found the girl breathing calmly, though still pale from shock. Lihn moved aside to let them do their job and went back to Murdoc's office hoping to find Del and Russel still there.

As she reached for the door knob, the door was yanked open. The native New Yorker almost walked into her as he exited the room angrily. He looked down at her and opened his mouth to say something, then clamped it shut as if he'd thought better of it. He turned toward the front hall but seeing the crowd there, he headed the other way, toward the back of the house.

"Russel?" she called. "Damn that Delayne." He must have told what he knew of her, which wasn't much, but still… Things were getting out of control, quickly. Less than two weeks into this new 'life' and things were already messy. She had to deal with this Jimmy character, the shadowy demon creature, close any gaps these fools had left open with their summoning circle, and now she had to run damage control on a new relationship. All she wanted was a quiet normal-as-possible life.

She stopped mid stride, at the end of the hall and watched Russel move into the great room. "I don't have to do any of this." she thought. "I could just leave. Right now." She glanced around. No one was paying her any attention. She could 'port' out and start somewhere new. Perhaps she would just go home for a while, take some down time, the Powers That Be knew she could use it!

She had her mind made up when Noodle entered through the patio doors her face still screwed up in anger, and the older woman's resolve crumbled. Fate had brought her here for a reason, most likely to tie up this loose end, but she had to be sure first...

In her mind she saw another little girl coming toward her, smaller but wearing the same face. She had a delicate sword poised to strike. As the girl moved in her direction, her pulse began to quicken. What if she was wrong? Her mind cleared and her eyes saw again the scene before her.

What if she was wrong? Suppose Noodle is just some unfortunate girl with amnesia longing to know who she is. Then the only link she has to her past shows up and after little more than a week, disappears into thin air. It would likely crush her. "Damn human emotions!"

That was the difference between Lihn and others like her. She hadn't been born this way. She been born human and had never learned to let go of human emotions. It was her curse. She still craved their company and was always getting wrapped up in their petty lives. Look where it had gotten her last time. Or was it still this time? What if she was right? But if the girl couldn't remember anything, was she really a liability?

Either way, if she wasn't going to port out, she had things to do. She watched Noodle as she passed down the hallway, making a show of not looking in her direction. The young woman was still angry that Lihn had not taken her side against Murdoc. The older woman turned as she watched her. "Did I mis-count? Could I have missed one?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand dropped her shoulder. "Whot's all the to do? Somebody get 'urt?" It was 2D! "Sorry." he grinned a bit sheepishly, "Din mean ta scare ya."

"It is OK." Lihn replied pulling herself together. "Yes, a girl fell on the stairs."

"Shit! She all right?" he seemed genuinely concerned.

"No." Lihn shook her head, "she broke her leg. But the ambulance has already arrived. She will be fine."

"Are you alrigh'?" he asked looking into her face. "You look… well," he wracked his brain an appropriate word, "Frazzled." he grinned as he said it, making Lihn grin as well.

"Origato, I am fine." she lied. "I must find Russel, though. I need to speak with him."

"Oh" he looked disappointed for a moment but it passed quickly. "I fink I saw 'im go inta da music room."

She gave his arm a squeeze, "Thank you, 2D-san." she said as she moved away.

'D watched her until he was distracted by another curvy body, he was pretty sure he had a chance with this one…

Russel pounded the bass peddle with his foot while his arms moved seemingly of their own will, playing a beat. This was where he was most comfortable. This was where he came when he was upset. The beat always helped him to feel better.

The world had a rhythm. Sometimes it felt chaotic and rushed, other times it was slow and methodical, but most times it was somewhere in between. The beat was real, it was truth. It was the sound of Mother Earth's heart. It was the only place Russel Hobbs found comfort after the disturbing happenings of his past.

He was nervous about coming back to America when they'd been on tour. He was afraid that someone would recognize his name and the stories would come out to torment him again. And here they were now. Even on the opposite coast, he was nervous. Stories about boys mauling their classmates don't die that easily.

Russel had always been a beacon to the nether-side. When he was a boy, attending the Xavier Institute for Young Achievers, he'd been possessed by a cruel demon and, using his body, it had gone on a rampage, injuring and even killing some of the other students. Afterwards he spiraled into a depression and fell into a catatonic, coma-like state. He was like that for four years. Then his mother, against his father's wishes, had a priest come in and exorcise the demon from his body.

After that was when he began to attend the Brooklyn High School. He remembered nothing of the incident but he remembered the stares and the whispers. Life was difficult for him until he fell in with Del and the crew. They taught him about music. They were street musicians, rappers, Djs and Mcs, they taught him that hip hop could save.

No matter how bad of day he had, the right beat could make it all go away, for a while at least. That was part of the reason he'd stayed at Kong when Murdoc first nabbed him. He could tell that Murdoc had the knowledge and the talent, he'd just never had the right group. 2D was full of talent and with his dark eyes and pale skin, he had that mysterious, other-worldly look that girls dig. He was a perfect front man. With right guitarist, they could really be something! And then his beats would reach other souls, other troubled kids, like he'd been, to find those brief moments of peace.

Peace that wasn't coming easy to Russel at the moment. "Damn! I knew there was something about her!" he chided himself. "I mean, there HAD to be something, din't there? Otherwise, I wouldn't have liked her." he hit the snare a bit harder than necessary.

Chill out man. Aybody'd fall for a pretty face. Can't blame yerself.

"Fuck you ,Del! You coulda said sumthin' sooner. Like, maybe before I screwed her!" He thought angrily, missing a beat.

Whatever, Dude, you needed dat. I wan't gonna mess it up.

"Needed that?! What if she turned out at be some kinda black widow? Steal yer seed and eat your face off."

Dell couldn't help but laugh at that. Relax, Russ. You know I wouldna let dat happen. Sides, whatever she is, she's fuckin' FINE.

"Yea, well, that don' make up for her hiding shit." He stopped his assault on the drums for a moment and sighed. "I know she only been around fer a short time, but I was really likin her. She's sweet, and smart. She got a thing fer music close to my own appreciation fer the art." he grinned inwardly and on the outside, "and yea, she's fine too." he began to play again, quiet for a few moments. "You really think she's not human?" he said aloud.

I dunno man. She could've come into some kind of power somewhere, but there's somethin' bout the way she moves and the way she seems to be lookin' in ya, instead of at ya. She sounded like she been alive for a wicked long time too. She just don' vibe right.

"But you said her vibe was like Noodle's. Ain't never felt nuthin' weird bout Noods."

Right, right… Maybe she's copyin' it.

"What?" the beat he played changed subtly becoming less energetic, steadier.

She says she's Noodle's aunt, but there ain't no way. Maybe she just picked Noods as some kinda disguise. A thought occurred to him, Wan't Noods the first person to run inta her back at Kong?

"Yea…"

All right, stay wit me, what if she's some kinda shape shifter?

"What?!"

Yea! And like, Noods is the first person she sees, so she copies her, only she don' wanna be exactly the same so she makes herself older, then all she gots ta do is listen and come up wit a story. Noodle made it easy for her, havin' no memory an all.

Russel didn't reply. He'd experienced enough odd things in his life for this to make sense. The moment they first touched, when she'd fallen in the bathroom at Kong, he knew there was something odd about her. Could she be some kind of shape changing creature? There enough oddities surrounding the old building they used as a studio that it was not that far fetched.

"But what could she want from us?"

Dunno Bro. She said, she just wants ta be happy. She don' seem dangerous, but neither did the little boy that tore up the Xavier Institute…

"Yea, bring dat up!"

Sorry, Russ. I'm just sayin'. She might not think she's a threat, but somethin' that can stop time? And who knows what else she can do?

Russel played for another minute letting his mind encompass the beat.

You gon tell the others?

The drummer shook his head. "No, not yet. We'll keep an eye her. Besides, I don' wanna upset Noods. She's been havin' a rough time and finding her aunt seemed to cheer her up. But I ain't hidin' from Lihn. I'm gonna tell her I know.

Just as he said it, the door opened slowly. The object of their conversation entered hesitantly. She closed the door behind herself. She didn't speak, just leaned against a wall, looking at the floor like a child who'd been scolded. She picked at the seam of her dress and unconsciously began tapping her foot in time to his beat.

Russel continued to play for a few minutes, but when she still made no move to interrupt him, he finished with a flourish and her head jerked in his direction. Her eyes were full of worry. Her brow had a little crease in the middle and she was biting her bottom lip. She certainly didn't look dangerous. "Looks just like Noods."

He sighed and dropped his sticks on the tom and stood. "I know how to get her ta relax." He crossed the room to where she stood and pulled a joint from his cigarette pack. He lit it, took a puff and breathed out, "So what's tha deal?" he held the joint out, offering it to her. She took it and breathed it gently. "Are you human or what?" he got to the point.

She seemed irritated by the question. "Am I human?" she spat. "I was born a human, but now?" she handed him back the joint. "I am not human enough for humans and too human for everyone else." she made an irritated sound.

Russ was a little surprised by her reaction to the question but pushed on. "You don' think that was somethin' you might have mentioned?" he passed the joint back to her.

"What of you?" she returned, "If I had not asked about Del, would you have volunteered the information?"

"Sure." he replied quickly. "Maybe I'd have waited till I knew you better…"

"Exactly," she cut him off. "Do you think not being human is something I advertise?" she passed back to him, "Have you met other humans? You are not all peaches and sunshine, you know."

He breathed out noisily. "All right. Point taken." he hit the joint again and offered it back to Lihn, who shook her head. "So if you ain't human, what are ya?"

She sighed. "Give me a cigarette, please.?" he pulled one out and handed it to her, before he pulled his lighter back out, she already had it lit. She slid down the wall, to sit with her back against it as she puffed. "I hope you are listening, Del. I hate to tell it twice." she said loudly.

I see how it is. Wouldn't tell me shit! You ask one time…

"He hears ya." he said sitting beside her.

She sighed again. "You have heard the story of Aladdin's Lamp, yes? Or some version of it, I am sure." Russel nodded. "Every version has certain similarities that never change. Aladdin is a poor boy who finds a 'magic lamp' that contains a magical creature that grants wishes."

"The genie." her companion added.

"Indeed." she glanced at him then back at the floor. "These facts never change because they are the truths. The details of the story may have been forgotten or embellished over the years, but the truths remain."

She sayin that's a true story?

"That is exactly what I am saying." she looked at Russel, answering Del.

The surprised man asked, "How'd you hear him?"

She held up a hand, "let me finish." she puffed the cigarette. "The story is true. It did not happen in this dimension, but it did happen. The one thing all stories gloss over though, is that the genie, or Djinn as we are known elsewhere, had a name. He had a family and a home before he was captured and made a slave. You see, the lamp was not the genies home, it was his cage, and eventually, his coffin."

Wait, wait, wait,.. WE?

"Yea, you said, "as we are called" so you're saying you're a genie." The big man asked incredulously.

"A Djinn, yes." she said taking a last puff off the cigarette. Then she seemed to snap her fingers around the butt and it disappeared. She chuckled at the surprise on her new friends face. "It is nice not having to hide for a bit."

Russel recovered. "But you said you were born human."

She nodded. "Yes. A poor, weak farm girl, trapped in a horrid life until she accidentally discovered an imprisoned Djinn. She helped him to get free and in exchange she asked only to be like him, so that she could be free of her hellish existence." she said vehemently.

"We're still talkin' about you, right?" Russ asked.

Lihn shook her head, "That is not me anymore. I will never be her again." her face was filled with determination.

Russel could sense it was a touchy subject and moved on, "So why'd you choose Noodle?"

"What?" she asked shortly, looking at him suspiciously.

"If you're a genie… a Djinn, you could look like whatever you want, right? So why'd you pick Noodle? You pick up on the amnesia thing?"

"Oh." she looked relieved. "No, It was the randomizer. I think it malfunctioned." she looked away from him again, staring at the carpet as she spoke. "I really had been Dr. Nori Lihn in Japan, but when I decided to jump, I was still the same person. It was just a coincidence." she looked everywhere but in his face. "It just made sense to use her as my excuse for popping up out of nowhere."

"What's a randomizer?" he didn't think she was being quite truthful, but he didn't have anything other than feeling to go on, so he let it go.

She moved her hand and a device appeared in her grasp. Its sudden appearance caused him to jump slightly, until she'd done that, the whole idea seemed unreal. The randomizer was black, and about the size of a TV remote. It had dials and markings on it and a one large button. "I picked it up on a planet that is like a giant market. People from all over the universe go there to sell their wares, I spend days at time shopping and I have not seen everything yet!" her eyes sparkled as she spoke. "The randomizer transports whoever is touching it to a random place and time, and I can synch my Talent with it to create an automatic persona." Russel nodded at her but was overwhelmed and confused. She must have noticed his discomfort, she waved her hand and the device disappeared again then she looked back at the floor as if embarrassed.

Ain't genies supposed ta be all powerful and shit?

"There are limitations. I am not a god." she said shaking her head.

Yea, but you could like, have money and cars and shit.

She smiled slyly, "and slaves, and armies to command. I could pick any planet and rule supreme!" she gave a theatrical 'evil laugh'. Both The man and the ghost felt a twinge of nervousness as she smiled at them and shrugged. "Been there, done that, as they say. You could say I was less than mature, when I first discovered my abilities. But I learned my lesson after my first run in with a boogey-man."

"Boogey-man?" Boogey-man? they both repeated.

She nodded again, her dark hair slipping over her eye. "Remember I said the genie in the story was a slave? The boogey-men are the slave traders. I do not remember what they are really called, but they are a race of people whose innate ability is to absorb other peoples power." her voice sounded a bit hollow, "When the creature touched me, all my Talents became useless, I may as well have been human. He was going to bind me to a locket and sell me to some rich Bollgian woman." she made a disgusted sound.

"How'd you get away?" The big man was fascinated.

Her eyes took on a far away look. "That was when I realized the value of friendship. They forgave me, they saved me, and we took care of each other until… until it was time for me to move on." Her sorrow was almost touchable.

"So you just pick a place and stay until the people you care for…" he left the sentence unfinished.

"Sometimes. If I care enough. Sometimes, I just feel it's time to go." she shrugged.

"How old are you?" He asked in wonder.

She smiled and bumped her shoulder against his, "You should know better than to ask a Lady her age!" she laughed a little.

Hundreds of years… Del echoed her words from earlier.

Russel couldn't read her look, it was something between embarrassment and irritation, "Does it really matter?"

Did it? Russel was uncomfortable. She was technically the same person that she'd been an hour ago, but…

Her eyes held a touch of worry, "Does it?" she asked again and touched his hand. He flinched at her touch, immediately regretting it, when he saw the look on her face. "Ok." she said, quietly, moving to stand. "I understand."

"Lihn, wait!" He moved to get his feet as well. "Beat it, Dell."

What?!

"Gimme a minute, man." He could feel his friend's irritation, but got the 'alone' feeling he was looking for. He stopped the other-worldly woman with a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry." she turned back to him, looking into his face, "It's just gonna take some getting' used to." He placed his other hand on her other arm, holding her in his gaze. "This is different than spirits, ya know? I been dealing with them my whole life. But I didn't even believe in UFOs. This is new ground fer me."

She seemed to relax a bit and nodded, "Sure." she said almost convincingly, "I'm used to it." she shrugged, "Just take your time, we'll go slow till you feel more comfortable."

He could see the doubt in her eyes as clearly as he could feel it within himself. He leaned his face towards hers hesitantly, feeling like the first night they'd kissed, but when her lips touched his, all nervousness left him. She kissed him back, but it felt somehow guarded, and after only a moment she stepped back.

"Must I tell the others?" she asked him.

He thought of Noodle and how upsetting it would surely be to find out she still had no real link to her past. Then he thought of Murdoc with the possibility of unlimited wish fulfillment at his disposal and nearly blurted out, "No!" he composed himself, "No. I think it will be alright to keep it between us for now."

She sighed, looking truly relieved, "Origato, Russel-san." She stepped in close and reaching up, kissed him as he slipped his arms around her.