Z-29 followed the stream of Lyra walking to school for a few moments, before deciding that, fascinating as it might be to watch all the in-and-outs of Lyra's day, she'd actually rather not do that. It'd take too long, for one, and she'd never get to the point of watching these streams. Besides, with the number of different people and locations involved, she'd probably have to jump around a bit for the full picture of what happened today, so just focusing on Lyra wouldn't make sense.

She tapped the console a few times, returning Lyra's feed to the smaller frame and showing the other feeds, following the rest of the family. She started fast-forwarding through them, scanning each one as the scenes flew by. "English…geography…basic-ass algebra…daw, Lizy's doing finger painting. Little Liz is too adorable. Oh oh…looks like this might be something fun…"

...

"Eeee, I'm so excited! Today's going to be so much fun! Aren't you excited too, Lemy?"

A resigned look was plastered on Lemy's face, contrasting with the sunshine coming forth from the elegantly dressed gothic girl behind him. He didn't even glance back at her before he grumbled, "Oh, overjoyed, Gloom."

Lina, walking beside this two-man comedy duo, rolled her eyes at her brother. The school day was over, and after the bell had rung, she went to follow up on making sure her scatterbrained half-sister hadn't forgotten about Lulu's birthday party at the Loud residence and would actually be showing up on time. Fortunately, it appeared she didn't need to worry about Gloom, as she was quite ecstatic for the Gathering of the Louds that would be happening.

Lemy, on the other hand, was being a bit of an issue. Which, as was natural for Lina, meant that he was going to be her issue. Such was her job as his half-sister-cousin-also-kinda-step-sister-this-is-confusing.

"Ah…wait, you're being grouchy-Lemy again, aren't you?" It took a moment for the little hamster wheel in Gloom's head to turn, but it eventually dawned on her that her brother was not being entirely honest about his enthusiasm.

"What, me? Noooo." Lemy started laying the sarcasm on extra-thick. "You know that I am nothing if not hyped at all times to deal with the latest pile of bullshit that's put on my plate, Gloom."

"Oh, come on, Lemy, don't be like that!" Gloom puffed up her cheeks. "This is a fun day! Everybody's gonna be there! Not just you guys at Dad's house, but Terry and Sonnette and maybe even Panther and Marla! Don't you know how hard it is to get everyone together like that? And we're finally gonna be able to hang out with them all at once! It's going to be soooo much fun!"

"Heheh…well, you are right about all of that, Gloom." Lina felt now was a good time to interject, wrapping her arm around her half-sister's shoulders and pulling her tight as she spoke. "The party today will indeed be a lot of fun, there's no doubt about that. But it's not the fun that Lemy's thinking about when he's looking at the situation."

"Huh?" Gloom looked back at Lina. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you gotta look at it from Lem's perspective a bit." Lina waved her arm towards their brother. "Sure, it's cool that the whole fam's gonna be together at one place. But just like you said, it's hard to get them all there. Both because everyone's got their own schedule, and because they…don't always get along, you know?"

"Oh. I guess…" The look on Gloom's face implied that hamster wheel in her head was spinning again.

"So, once we're all together in the same place, there're good odds that somebody's gonna get ticked off over some dumb shit," continued Lina. "Like Lupa and Leia scrapping, or Marla getting pissed Lacy's around. And when that happens, guess who'll have to break it up?"

"Yo," called Lemy, hand in the air. "This guy."

"Huh?" Gloom glanced between Lemy and Lina. "Why would Lemy have to do that?"

"Because he doesn't take any guff, he's tenacious when he has to do something, and he can take a licking and keep on ticking." Lina rattled off her brother's good points. "Anyway, that'll be the excuse. The actual reason Lemy will have to do it is because Lyra's going to tell him to."

"Yuuuup." Lemy nodded solemnly. "And boy, lemme tell you how little I want to deal with any of that crap. But given that the only other option is going to be having to listen to another one of Lyra's moralizing speeches, it's not really a choice. I've heard more than enough bullshit about 'my responsibilities' and 'helping out'."

"Well, I suppose I can understand that…" The smile returned to Gloom's face as she looked back to Lemy. "But still, we should look on the bright side! At least for Lulu's sake, because she's so cute and precious and it's her big day!"

"Oh, don't worry, once we're around Lulu you'll see happy-funny-keep-the-baby-smiling Lemy come out," Lemy hastily inserted. "All part of my long-term plan to get on her good side and avoid being eaten."

There was a beat in the conversation before both girls gave Lemy a questioning look and asked, almost in unison, "…eaten?"

"Hey, you guys don't live in the same house with her. YOU didn't see what she did to that cinnamon roll. I've got damn good reasons to worry after that." A bead of sweat trickled down Lemy's cheek as the image flashed in his mind. Lemy shook his head, trying to clear it from his brain. Fear is the mind-killer, Lem. Fear is the mind-killer. "Anyway, yeah, you don't have to worry about me being a party pooper. Lulu's gonna have a fun party, and all. I'm just…not looking forward to the insufferable nagging I'll have to go through once Lyra gets into organizer mode."

Lina rolled her eyes and threw her arm around her brother's shoulders. "Well hey, what's the point in getting bummed by it right now, then? So you're gonna have to deal with some crap later. Doesn't mean we can't blast that outta your mind by having some fun now, right?"

"No…I suppose it doesn't." Lemy smirked as he returned Lina's gaze. "Why, what kind of 'fun' did you have in mind?"

"Hmmm…" Lina put her finger to her lip, playing like she was giving the idea deep thought until she finally answered with a grin, "Wanna go to that convenience store on Wilbur St. and jam outside the store until the old guy comes out swinging a mop at us for 'driving away the customers'?"

Lemy grinned back at his sister. "You know, that's what I love about you, Lina. It's like you can read my mind."

"Ain't that the case." Lina offered Lemy her fist, which he responded to by bumping it with his own, followed by both of them making a 'pow' noise as they pulled apart. Lina then turned back to Gloom, who watched this routine unfold next to her, before asking, "Hey Gloom, what do you say? Wanna come with us and see how the cool kids have fun after school?"

"Oh…sure!" Gloom cheerfully nodded. "That sound like fun! So…who are these cool kids?"

Both Lemy and Lina gazed back at Gloom, whose innocent smile betrayed the fact that she didn't even realize what a white-hot burn she had just dropped on her siblings. They were both quiet for a moment until Lina turned to Lemy, then back to Gloom and said, "I mean, I get why you'd think this guy isn't cool enough to qualify, but…"

"Pfft…shut up." Lemy reached up and ruffled Lina's hair to cut her off.

"Hahaha…kidding, kidding." Lina gave Lemy a light tap on the shoulder, before wrapping her other arm around Gloom and pulling her close as well. "Just come with us, Gloom, we'll have fun and kill time until Lulu's party."

"Oh-kaaay!" The cheeriness from the gothic girl continued unabated as the trio walked towards the gate out of school. "This'll be fun! I don't usually get the chance to hang out with you guys!"

"Yeah, well, we're usually busy with the band and all. We're just a little freer today because we got told to help out with the party today." Lemy thought for a moment, then glanced back at Lina. "Speaking of, weren't you supposed to try and get Marla to commit to coming tonight?"

There wasn't a response right away, as Lina appeared a bit lost in thought at the moment. After waiting a second for a reply, Lemy looked over to Lina and said, "Uh, Earth to Lina? You there, sis?"

"Hmm? Oh! Yeah, Marla." Lina came back to earth for a moment to answer. "I asked earlier and she kinda blew me off, so I called in a ringer to get her to come. I'm sure it'll all work out. Maybe."

"O…kay…" Lemy's eyebrow arched. "Lina, you doing okay? You kinda started spacing out there."

"Eh…just…you know." Lina thought to herself about the best way to phrase what she was about to say, before shrugging and muttering, "I was just really enjoying the feeling of being pressed between you and Gloom. It's pretty great. Maybe we should do this more…"

"Aaaand I'm out." Lemy wriggled out from under Lina's arm and walked a few paces ahead of the girls, sighing and shaking his head. "Man, of all the ways you could be like Dad, why is that the thing you chose?"

"Aw, spoilsport." Lina laughed.

Gloom glanced between the two of them. "Huh? What does he mean, Lina?"

"Oho…curious, are you?" Lina's smirk took on a slightly more…predatory nature. "Well here, lemme tell you all about…"

"Please don't go corrupting Gloom now, Lina." Lemy sighed as he glanced back. "She's only eleven, she doesn't need to deal with…"

"You. The boy there. Stop."

The gruff voice called out to Lemy as they walked out of the gate and turned the corner. Lemy turned back so he was looking forward again, where the voice had come from. Standing there was a tall girl with red hair, wearing rather warm-looking clothes for the nice spring day. Especially the hat, Lemy thought, a furry thing that looked more like what you'd wear while shoveling after a big snowstorm. The boy looked up at the girl and asked, "Uh…you mean me?"

"Да…" The girl muttered something that Lemy missed, then pulled a note out of the pocket of her jacket, which…seriously, she should be sweating bullets in that thing, and it wasn't even that hot out. She scanned the note for a moment, glancing up at Lemy periodically, as if to confirm something. "Light brown hair…and headband…this one. You are Loud, yes?"

That only confused Lemy more, not helped by Lina muttering, "Well, Lem, clearly she's already pegged where your volume knob is locked to."

"Can it, you." Lemy rolled his eyes at Lina, who just giggled in return. Turning back to the redhead, he asked with a sigh, "Are you telling me I'm too loud, or…"

"Huh? No…Тьфу, грамматика..." The girl clicked her tongue and muttered again in a language that Lemy didn't recognize. "I mean your name. Is Loud. This is true?"

"Figured. Yeah, that's me. Lemy Loud." Lemy put his hands in his pockets and tried to look tough. Tried, we should stress. "You need something from me?"

"Да, yes." She nodded, answering yes twice, and helping Lemy figure her out to be Russian with that much clearer 'da'. "I am looking for a man. I have heard that you could help me find him. You will help, yes?"

Lemy didn't respond right away. Something about this girl was making him uneasy, and he figured the sooner he could get away from her, the better. "Maybe…who are you looking for?"

"A man named Loud. Ah, a different one," the girl replied. "Name is Lincoln Loud. Do you know where he is?

Hearing his dad's name set off a couple flags in Lemy's head. The first was irritation, because dammit, he really didn't want to think of the old man if he didn't have to. The second was concern, naturally, because it really wasn't an everyday occurrence for giant Russian girls to pop up and ask where your dad is. And then third was really WILD concern, because anyone outside the family asking about Dad was worrisome.

Beyond that, there was the immediate concern behind him. Lina and Gloom were still standing back there, and while Gloom still looked cheerful, the playful smirk was gone from Lina's face, replaced by a slightly worried look. Lemy didn't know what trouble this big Ruskie was involved in with Dad, but at the moment, every brother instinct in his body was shouting at him that he had to at least get the girls out of this situation.

"Sorry, never heard of him before." Lemy turned on his heels and walked to Lina and Gloom, putting his hands on their shoulders and walking with them in the opposite direction of the redhead. "You're asking the wrong person, I'm afraid. Anyway, I've got to get going now…"

"Wait…" The Russian called out to him before he could get too far. "I was told the Loud boy who goes to this school is family to Lincoln Loud. You must know where he is. Now tell me, where…"

"I dunno who told you that, but like I said, you've got the wrong guy." Lemy didn't look back as he responded, instead leaning closer to Lina and whispering into her ear. Once he had relayed his message, he yelled back. "Anyway, you shouldn't trust everything people tell you, it could get you in trouble one of these da-!"

Lemy's words were immediately cut off, as a hand reached out from behind him, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and quickly lifted him up…straight off the ground.

He was then spun around so that he was now facing the Russian girl, who retained the bored and disinterested look she had on her face when she was just asking for information, not physically accosting him. She sighed a bit before she spoke again, saying, "Perhaps there has been miscommunication. This is not a request. You will tell me now: where is Lincoln Loud?"

"Ghk…!" Lemy choked a bit as he struggled against her grip…shit, she was damn strong. But he only really needed to distract her for a second…

"There is no point is resisting. Now, I will…" The Russian began to ask again, but stopped, as she realized what Lemy was doing. She looked over to where the two girls who had been with Lemy had been a moment ago, but they were gone. Looking down the street, the Russian saw the back of Gloom's frilly dress for just a moment, before Lina, who had her hand tightly gripped, turned the corner, taking her sister with her out of sight.

"I see…clever." The Russian nodded before she returned her gaze to Lemy. "You told them to run, then? Well, is fine…I prefer not to have to do this, you see. Especially with girls."

"Really? That…so…?" Lemy barked back, as he continued to struggle. "Doesn't really…seem…to be the…case…!"

"Perhaps not. In any case, you still have not answered question. Now…" The big girl leaned in closer to Lemy, staring him straight in the eyes as she again asked, "Where is Lincoln Loud?"

"Told you…I don't…!" Lemy shouted as he continued to struggle.

"Stop playing game. You are his family, I know this." The Ruskie cut off Lemy's excuse before he could get it out. "I know you are stalling, hoping to let girls escape or draw attention. It will not work. Now answer my question."

"Guh…" Lemy clicked his tongue. Welp, so much for that plan. At least Lina took off quick, so she and Gloom should be way the hell out of here by now.

"Loud boy…I will say this once." The girl glowered, her voice becoming very harsh. "I do not wish to hurt you for this. But I will. If I must. Now, will you answer, or…?"

She lifted up her fist, its meaning obvious. Lemy glanced back, confirming that the girls were totally out of sight by now, before looking back to the Russian and nodding, "Fine, just…put me…down. Getting hard…to breathe…like this."

"Hmm…all right." The Russian smirked, lowering Lemy until his feet were on the ground, though she maintained her grip on his shirt. "This is better, yes? Now then, you will answer. Where is…"

Lemy moved before she could get the question out. With one swift motion, he grabbed the hand that was holding his shirt with one hand and quickly struck the underside of her wrist with the other, balled into a fist.

"Gah!" The quick strike surprised the Russian, whose grip gave way only slightly, but just enough for Lemy. He pulled her hand off his shirt, dropped down and raced around her, and immediately started booking it once he was behind her. She tried to spin around and grab him, but by the time she could turn he was already out of her range.

"Thank you Aunt Lynn thank you Aunt Lynn thank you Aunt Lynn thank you Aunt Lynn!" Lemy shouted as he sped away, thinking back to all those seemingly pointless self-defense lessons that finally came into good use.

"You…!" The redhead seethed, before collecting herself. She glanced back in the opposite direction, giving half a thought to trying to find the girls that were with him, before shaking her head and taking off in pursuit. "Come back here, Loud boy! You will talk!"

Lemy kept up the pace, quickly taking a corner down an alley and getting out of view, if only for a second, as she too made the turn and maintained her pursuit. And it was only at this point, once they were both out of sight, that Lina poked her head out from around the corner she and Gloom had just run past.

"Are they still there?" Gloom, who was standing next to Lina and trying to catch her breath, asked her sister. The girls had, as Lemy had muttered to Lina moments ago, immediately booked it at the first sign of trouble. But once they were certain that the Russian wasn't coming after them, Lina insisted they head back to school and see if they could help Lemy, arriving just in time to see him break from her grip and take off.

"No…they're gone. Just ran off." Lina clicked her tongue. "Dammit, if we'd gotten here a bit sooner, maybe I could have gotten Lemy out of there, or helped him out, or…"

Lina trailed off, shaking her head. She couldn't have done that, not with Gloom here. Lemy was right, protecting their little sister was the top priority. As much as Lina might have wanted to help Lemy out, she needed to stay with Gloom and get her somewhere safe.

"What do we do, Lina? We've got to help Lemy!" And yet Gloom herself was imploring her sister to do the opposite, of course. The girl's kindness knew no bounds and was probably a part of why Lemy told Lina to bail with her. If she had stayed, she'd have wanted to help out and gotten into this trouble with him.

"I know, I know…damn it. This is above my pay grade." Lina took out her phone and started going through her contact list. She reached Lyra's name, but stopped before she started the call. "Crap…Lyra keeps her phone off at school, and she's staying late for her study group. She won't see it if I call her."

"There's gotta be someone we can call for help!" Gloom implored her sister.

"Yeah, I know, just…" Lina kept looking through her contacts, when the idea of who to call popped into her head. She tapped the phone as she muttered, "Welp, desperate times and all…"

The phone rang twice before it picked up. "Hello, you've reached Leia Loud, cookie saleswoman extraordinaire. To whom do I owe…?"

"Lei, it's Lina." The older girl talked rapidly. "I need to call in my favor."