Picture Perfect- Part 2 Time And Place Verse (Verse 8)

by MistyMay6886

Simons 1st day at Oasis. working with Military professionals, crazy scientists led by their fearless and fabulous leader Magnus, a picture perfect 1950s family thats anything but perfect and a supervillianish boss intimidating and flirty is a lot. But Simons nothing if not adaptable…Thats good…Between the Mags-sanity, Becks helpfulness and Raphaels secret hes REALLY gonna need it.

10. Chapter 10

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*~8~*

Chapter 10:

Romance, Robots and Revelations…

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*-Other-*-Other-*-Other-*- Other-*Other-*

***-Kasey-***

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Woah! Far out!

This place is completely out of this world! Like literally! It's like something out of one of his comics.

They're still on the introductionary tour making their way over to the Travelers Quarters while Divya is going over what sounds like an avalanche of paper work they'll have to fill out but oh my god he doesn't even care about that right now. I mean really who the heck cares about boring old paperwork and all that when you're getting to see sci-fi geek heaven?

He would sign anything under the sun if it meant he got to spend more time here and see more. This place is like his own personal heaven. There are nearly a dozen different dinosaurs and saber tooth cats and unbelievable technology that looks like it's straight out of a movie and a crazy shark tank with terrifying sea monsters and ray guns and like six different things that he's certain are alien spacecraft.

Yeah, yeah, sure fine whatever; Alec told them there were no aliens but he is SO not buying that. Two centuries in the future or not there is no way all this is totally human technology. Half this stuff makes the things in his comics look obsolete! There have got to be aliens involved here. It's gotta just be like super classified or something.

Raphael said they're not allowed to share future knowledge and that would be pretty major knowledge. They gotta just be covering it to keep from messing up the time stream or whatever.

Hey maybe this is actually an alien facility!

Like it's disguised as a cutting edge human tech company but in actuality it's really a secret alien base here on earth! Oh that's totally it! Maybe the company is like part of a galactic alliance or something and they're in cahoots with the government or have some kind of treaty or arrangement.

Ooh! Maybe that's why that Raphael has all those government contacts! Oh and! And He'd even said something about having bases off earth! Yeah, yeah he was totally just screwing with his dad but he may have slipped up there.

Maybe it's like an alien exchange program! Like where some aliens work on earth and then some humans get to actually go and work on their planet. Oh that'd be so cool! And it would totally fit! Yeah, that's totally it. They probably just can't tell them cause it's future knowledge and all that. That'd actually make total sense, and it'd explain SO much.

O-or maybe most of them are aliens, or all of them…ooh! Maybe the rift actually led to a totally different planet! Maybe they're not even actually ON earth right now, just like some earth like planet that seems enough like it to pass with aliens that look human…only like weirdly attractive humans. Or maybe they don't and those are like human disguises they use for the meet and greet thing to keep the whole alien thing under wraps.

Hey, maybe here Kasey and his family are actually the aliens!

I mean that would actually TOTALLY fit! Really the only ones who don't seem totally alien are Alec and Izzy. And Alec did say he hasn't been working here long. Maybe he's one of the humans in the exchange program! Maybe Magnus was stationed on earth first and that's when they met and fell in love and then he transferred to the alien world when Magnus went back in order to work with his husband and sister.

Aww! Maybe Alec and Magnus are like literal star-crossed lovers! Oh that's so freaking adorable! Like some kind of awesomely gay, sci-if Romeo and Juliet only with flashier style, more sass and a happy ending.

Huh…wonder if they have to actually live on the other planet for an extended time or if they have a quicker way to commute back to earth?

Maybe there are like wormholes or controllable rifts or dimensional transports or something where they can jump between the two quick. I mean that'd kinda makes sense cause there does seem to be a pretty strong human presence here but they still seem like the minority abs it'd be pretty hard committing to living on a totally different world for months or years at a time.

Yeah, there's gotta be some kind of connection between the alien world and earth. There's too many humans for their not to be.

Like there's plenty of totally normal, geeky looking scientist types with the glasses and the lab coats and all that but then mixed in with them there's also people with crazy, off the wall hairstyles with spikes and weird angles and neon colors and a few that glowed like those freaky bioluminescent jellyfish they saw pictures of in science class and people covered with tattoos, sharp looking jewelry, weird metallic sleeves and holographic makeup and a few wearing what kind of looks like electrified animal ears, horns, wings and tails and more random piercings then he could have ever even imagined. Plus he knows damn good and well he's seen at least two people with cat eyes and five others with serpent eyes.

Yeah, yeah Divya tried to wave them off by saying something about fashion trends and stylized contacts and how the 'electrified spirit animal aesthetic' was really in style at the moment and something or other but come on…they're totally aliens.

It really is a truly bizarre mix and the more Kasey sees of these people the more the alien exchange program seems the most plausible option cause no way all these people are just humans. Bindy was SO freaking terrifying and her girlfriend was somehow even more so and Simon with his cute, crazy octopi alien looking robot Becks and Magnus totally seems like something straight out of this world in every way possible.

Ooh! And that Raphael? Oh holy cow! No way that guy is totally human. Like seriously, come on; he's not even that much taller than Kasey and that man flat out owned that room. I mean it was…w-well…o-okay so, yeah actually like weirdly hot…but also like super, duper freaky. He had Ritchie and his dad so twisted they didn't know which way was up.

Oh man, and that whole intimidation thing? That was totally freaking insane- and again like seriously, stupidly hot {He SO could not fault Simon for getting all twitterpated- he was right there with him}. And not only that but he like full on read his dad's mind, pulled out all that crazy info that even he didn't seem to really remember until he brought it up.

Like that freaking 'Skippy' thing? How the hell did he come up with that? Yes, his dad chalked it up to Raphael using his fancy, dancy government connections to snoop on his military records but would something that completely random and unprofessional even be in there?

That just didn't add up to him.

It was totally something else. He's never seen his dad so flummoxed. He legit looked totally freaked. And then there was the total control the man had over the room. He absolutely owned that room-w-well…I mean, he did – like literally - it's his company and his office after all but you know what he means. The man was absolutely spellbinding- like to a nearly unnatural degree. He swears a few times his dad and Ritchie were like full on enthralled.

Yeah, no way that man is just a human.

He is SO totally an alien or vampire or telepath or robot or…something…Ooh! Hey…maybe he's like a combo of all of them! Oh that would be so cool! Like a telepathic, robo-alien vampire! That is so freaking awesome! And oh my god, it would SO totally fit too!

Yeah, that's it. He totally has this figured out. He's not gonna tell his family though; he doesn't want them to panic any more than they already are. Well, he might tell Blake what he's thinking if they get some time to talk in private but other than that he's keeping the theory to himself.

Though thinking about it Ritchie and his dad might actually feel less confused if they found out they were on a whole new world being enthralled by a robotic, alien vampire rather than just on earth a few centuries ahead having their heads uncomfortably turned by some unsettlingly beguiling gay male supervillian. But then again maybe them thinking this is the future of earth could work in his favor.

Maybe seeing how happy and comfortable with themselves the people here are can kind of open their eyes and make them a bit less twitchy about him. He knows they'll never get to the level of comfortable the people here are with gay people but it might help ease them up just the tiniest bit. Hopefully this will work as a bit of a learning experience for them a-

And tha-wait… where are they?

He started, blinking himself out of his sci-fi heaven, alien, gay friendly stupor, looking around in confusion.

Oh crap! He didn't see his family or Divya anywhere!

He's standing almost completely in the center of the central hallway Divya had told them about. It looks like a huge perfectly clear glass tube giving a seamless view of the fantasy looking park like area. He doesn't see them anywhere in the hallway. He sees people everywhere but no one he actually recognized.

Oh man, this is SO bad!

Kasey scrabbles, rushing down the tunnel, stumbling to a fumbly stop, very nearly smacking into the glass at the end of the hallway. Oh crap, he's at the end of the hallway! It ends at a connector to other corridors. A LOT of other corridors. There's two hallways that go either direction, both going about thirty feet before splitting off into seven different hallways each, all the new tube like hallways wrapping around each other in a weird, complicated maze of confusion. Some of them are clear tube hallways like the one he's standing in, others are bright pops of neon colors, some are an odd frosted, translucent glass and a few are mirrored silver metallic.

Kasey swallows, blinking in shock, looking out the glass side, seeing how the oddly sinewy halls, tracks and tunnels seem to spiral, twist and curl back on each other looking like a bizarre giant spider web of glass, neon, steel and chrome. Divya had explained the tubes were a kind of sheathe type thing. If you're in them you can see all of the tunnels and hallways but if you're outside them they're basically invisible unless you have special sensors to see them.

Oh damnit! That was really cool when she was talking about it but now it just really freaks him out. If they're outside the tunnels they won't even be able to see him in here! And why can't he spot Raphael's office?!

He should see it, the tunnel he's in goes right through the center of the exhibits. He should be near directly across from his office and yet he doesn't see anything except the fake rock wall encircling the park like area.

Oh wow…that is super freaky…huh…m-maybe he got turned around and he's not where he thinks he is….or they have two of the same exhibits…or a kind of mirrored version of them? That's umm…

Yeah never mind that's just making it worse; it's kinda making his head hurt. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his head, pushing through the panic he feels rising, trying to get his bearings- and with any luck a glimpse of his family. He swallows, moving closer to the side of the tunnel, peering out, looking hopefully through the see through glass hallways swirling around the area hoping against hope that he'll just miraculously catch a glimpse of someone he recognizes but he doesn't see anyone familiar.

Oh damnit! What the hell does he do now?

He's lost in an alien facility centuries in his future. How the hell is he going to find them? What does he do? Stay put? That's what you're supposed to do when you're lost…right?

Yeah…he paused, glancing around. The tube is really busy, Divya said it was the central hub of the facility. Just standing around awkwardly here seems like he would really be in the way. Also just standing in a central hub of the place seems like he could end up hearing or seeing something he's not supposed to. I mean if his theory is right and this is actually an alien world then maybe they keep the really alien-y stuff away from the eyes of the traveler tour group.

If he just stands here who knows what all will wander past. Maybe he should ask someone for help? He glanced around, seeing many people milling about; darting here and there, stopping by the windows looking out at the facility, using all kinds of random tools, crazy projections and weird glowing objects, clearly very much in their own worlds and hard at work.

Yeah, maybe don't bother them. They're doing their jobs; it's not their fault he got separated from the tour thing. Maybe he should go back the way they came?

Hmm…They did pass the security bay not too long ago. He thinks he has a pretty good memory of where they were. He can go back there and Bindy and Val can contact Divya and let her know where he is. Maybe one of them could even take him to the group or over to the barracks so they don't need to backtrack.

Y-yeah that's probably the best option. He took a deep breath, turning back the way he came, quickly making his way down the clear tube hallway, turning into the silvery corridor leading to the security bay, kind of picking up the pace.

Hmm…let's see…it was left, left right…right? Or was it left right, right? Or maybe it was right left, left, or was I-Oof!

He startled as he turned the second corner fairly quickly and slammed right into someone coming the other way.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed, flailing and scrambling to keep on his feet, catching himself by reaching up, grasping the other persons shoulder.

"Woah! Careful!" the person gasped, reaching up, steadying him.

"Oh man! Sorry buddy…" Kasey shook his head at his clumsiness, giving a nervous little laugh, shrugging helplessly, apologetically beginning to glance up, hoping the other person wasn't gonna be too harsh about it and that he didn't mess up any of their work or bust any expensive looking futuristic techie things.

"I didn't see y-uh…" he began but trailed off when he actually saw the person he'd run into.

O-oh…oh woah….

Wow…

Kasey gulped, totally forgetting what he was saying right along with the entirety of the English language. Everything in his mind screamed to a flat stop, only one thought registering in his flummoxed mind, cycling though on repeat.

Wow…

The guy standing in front of him is without a doubt the most beautiful person he has ever seen in his entire life. He's a few inches taller than Kasey, lithe and graceful looking. He looks pretty close to Kasey's age, somewhere in his later teens, with striking, sharply pretty features, thick, shoulder length blonde curls and the deepest, most beautiful soulful brown eyes he has ever seen. His pretty brown eyes are ringed with metallic black and pink eyeliner and his lips have a soft holographic pink shimmer.

He has a holographic silver book bag with bright neon colored rainbow pins and jewels scattered around on it reinforcing the teen thing. The beautiful guy is wearing a soft looking pink top with rainbow mesh around the arms and along the hem, dark blue jeans dusted with sparkly accents that look like stars along with a shimmery rainbow necklace, a stack of brightly colored, iridescent holographic bracelets, a rainbow holowatch and multiple rainbow colored earrings in both ears.

"Hey, no problem…you alright?" The pretty rainbow guy laughed softly, the sound warm and bright.

It's dizzying and kinda makes Kasey's head spin and his stomach do a little summersault. The beautiful guy shifts, flashing a warm, breathtaking smile, reaching up, resting his hand on Kasey's shoulder, squeezing gently, dark, distracting gaze flickering over Kasey in amusement and faint concern.

Kasey swallowed, nodding dumbly, feeling his cheeks warm.

"Y-yeah-uh-s-sorry again."

The pretty guy chuckled, waving him off, patting his shoulder before slipping back just the tiniest bit, reaching up, brushing a few loose blonde curls behind his ear, a cute flash of dimples flickering distractingly, glancing up, catching Kasey's eye.

"It's no problem. I should know better than to walk this close to the wall, you can never see who's coming and everyone here is in their own little world. I know this place is pretty distracting." He smiled, head tilting, dark eyes flickering over Kasey again, a bit slower this time.

He blinked, those pretty brown eyes shifting over Kasey once more, smile tugging up cutely at the corner, settling back a bit closer.

"Hey, you gotta be new around here, yeah? I know I haven't seen you before. Are you a traveler?"

Kasey gulped, nodding dumbly, fidgeting, reaching up, nervously tucking a few messy locks of auburn hair back, subtly trying to get it to look slightly less chaotic.

"Oh uh, y-yeah. Hi, I'm Kasey. K-Kasey Aldean. Me and my family just got here today…um…"he paused, an awkward, sheepishly nervous little laugh slipping out, glancing around, scratching nervously at his neck.

"I-I kinda got distracted and ended up getting separated from the tour."

The pretty guy smiled reassuringly, again reaching up, resting his hand on Kasey's shoulder, squeezing gently.

"No worries, it happens all the time. I got ya." He smiled, gesturing towards his shimmery, rainbow holowatch, hitting a button on the side, lifting it up, flashing a dizzying little smile and wink at Kasey.

Kasey just barely managed to cover an embarrassing giggle with a faint cough, feeling his cheeks and ears warm.

"Hey, Div, think you misplaced something." He chuckled, glancing back up from the watch, catching Kasey's eye.

"She should get back to us pretty quick."

Kasey swallowed, nodding like a bobblehead, feeling the ball of tension that's formed in his stomach ease while simultaneously another totally different one formed, him feeling kind of buzzy and a little light headed. He flashed a grateful smile, a faint, kinda high pitched little laugh slipping out making his cheeks warm even more. He swallowed again, nodding, shyly glancing up gratefully at the beautiful guy.

"Oh man, thank you so much for that. I really didn't know what I was gonna do.

I seem to have got all turned around. I thought I could figure out about where I was in this place. I tried to spot Raphael's office to get back to where we started but I couldn't spot it anywhere even though it really seems like I should be able to see it from here but then again but maybe I'm just turned around even more than I thought and in a totally different part of this place and I was trying to make my way back to the security desk cause it was at least in this section but I think I already got turned around again and I was gonna just stand there and wait cause I know when you get lost that's what you're supposed to do but I don't know if that's what you're supposed to do when you get lost in a super-secret, crazy high tech alien base type facility.

I thought if I stayed where I was I'd likely end up seeing something that was like SUPER classified or whatever so that seemed like a bad idea but if I tried to find my way back I run the risk of walking into somewhere I'm not supposed to so it was kind of a damned if you do damned if you don't thing but honestly I can't sit still too long without going stir crazy so I tried to go back but I think I already got turned around a…and I already said that like four times and I am babbling-like a lot…s-sorry…" he trailed off, again feeling the heat rising in his cheeks and clear up to the tips of his ears, sheepishly glancing back up.

The pretty guy laughed, shaking his head, waving him off, settling even closer.

"No worries dude. And don't be too hard on yourself about getting sidetracked and separated. It really does happen all the time. Most of the employees here will keep an eye out for unfamiliar, confused looking faces…" he huffed, glancing around at the bustling clamor of people hurrying about their business.

"Well at least the ones of us who aren't lost in our own little world." He said loudly, pointedly cast an annoyed glare at the few who even bothered to look up before shifting his focus back to Kasey, shrugging.

"And it really does happen all the time. Don't worry though. It'll get a lot easier once you get your own holowatch. All you have to do is put in where you want to go and it'll direct you right to it. It's a breeze then…till then you can just stick with me." He chuckled, flashing that dizzying smile.

Kasey gave a bright, nervous, kind of giggly laugh, shifting nervously.

"Oh uh…w-well I most likely I'm not getting one of those. Raphael said something about spoiler alerts s-"

The beautiful guy blinked.

"Spoiler alerts? Wh-oh! Y-you guys are going back? That's like…possible?"

Kasey gave a kind of flaily shrug.

"I-uh y-yeah…I guess…I-don't really know the details. Simon explained a lot of it but I couldn't understand it and the guy talks really fast. I think he said something about candle rifts and the head scientist said it'll open again tomorrow at 2:34…S-so um…yeah…definitely not getting the super awesome space watch thingie…" he trailed off, again shrugging.

He blinked again, nodding slowly, somewhat shifting back.

"O-oh…wow…that's …that's something else…" he flashed another not quite as bright smile, reaching up, brushing a few loose curls back.

"Well t-that's really great for you. I know the time jump thing is a crazy adjustment. I don't know any travelers who've actually got the chance to go back. That was a real lucky break." He paused, head tilting, deep, shimmery eyes flickering over Kasey once more curiously.

"So where-or rather when are you from?"

Kasey smiled, nodding for some reason that he doesn't know except it helped with his fidgetiness.

"Oh uh…1958."

The pretty guy started.

"Oh wow…no wonder you got so thrown-this place has to be a total overload."

Kasey laughed, nodding animatedly.

"Oh buddy, you have no idea. It's a total trip. Between the techie stuff and Simon and his cute robo-octopi sidekick and our totally off the wall largely terrifying super gay rescue team and the terrifyingly hot telepathic, robo-alien vampire supervillian boss it feels like I fell into one of my comic books, or into an entirely different world- like literally…pretty sure there's some kind of alien, earth exchange program going on here."

Isaac laughed brightly, shrugging, nodding.

"Yeah, I can see that…far as I know that's not the case but I may not be in the loop for everything."

Kasey smiled, shrugging, brow quirking.

"Well not like you could tell me even if you were- spoiler alerts, right?"

Isaac gave a surprised laugh, head tilting concedingly, smirking.

"Fair point…" he paused, head titling the other way, cute smirk picking up a tic, brow quirking.

"So do you think I'm an alien?"

"Well you do seem pretty out of this world." He smirked before starting, groaning, reaching up covering his eyes.

"Oh my god, I can't believe I actually said that out loud. That was so embarrassing- sorry that wa-"

The pretty guy laughed, a distracting little flush warming his cheeks, flashing that head spinning dimpled smile, waving him off.

"Absolutely adorable. Thank you, that's really sweet. And y-" He trailed off as his holowatch makes an odd little chime.

He shifts, glancing down at the screen, flicking through something before shifting his focus back to Kasey, smiling, gesturing towards the watch.

"That was Divya; they're just now moving past the biosphere generator, just about three quarters done with the tour. I'm thinking we'll just take the transport over to the Barracks and meet up with them there. We can just catch the transports at the end of the hallway.

It's just down the third hall over, come on, I'll show you the way. Oh!" He chuckled, glancing over, giving a fluttery little wave.

"Hi Kasey, I'm Isaac by the way…Wow-looks like you're not the only one getting tripped up today. At least you have an excuse. It's really nice to meet you." The pretty smile grew all the more, dark eyes flashing warm and bright, flickering over him again, once more in that slow, kind of dizzying way, making Kasey's head spin and his heart race.

"Y-you too…uh I mean me too…I-I mean…ah hell, I don't know what I mean…"he groaned, trailing off, feeling his cheeks burn even more, glancing away.

Oh my god he is such a dork! The prettiest guy on the freaking planet talks to him and all he can do is babble like a brain-dead bobblehead, blurt out an embarrassingly obvious super cheesy pick up line that sounds like one freaking Ritchie would use or stumble over barely even half a sentence! What the hell was that? He w-

His internal flailing is cut off by a pretty, warm laugh and a soft, distracting little sigh.

"Kasey? Relax, breathe…you're totally fine. It's been one hell of a day for you. Totally understandable to be a bit scattered. This place can really do a number on a person when you're not used to it."

"Hell, it can do a number on you even when you are…"

Kasey started at the voice just to his side, jumping faintly, turning, spotting another teen walking along beside him. He was a bit shorter than Kasey with medium brown hair and oddly light, hazely grey eyes. The guy is pretty cute-not Isaac levels of beautiful but definitely attractive- but there's something about him that seems oddly familiar though he can't quite place it.

The guy gave a cheerful laugh, placatingly holding his hands up, flashing a bright, slightly crooked smile, oddly light eyes twinkling in amusement, brow quirking, giving a fluttery little wave.

"Sorry for the start dude; totally unintentional. I wasn't trying to sneak up on you or anything. I've been here the whole time. Guess I just kind of blend into the background when next to certain people…" He chuckled, rolling his eyes playfully, nodding over at Isaac before relaxing, shifting the dark blue book bag on his shoulder.

"I'm Max by the way."

Isaac huffed out a faint laugh, waving the shorter guy off with a little smirk and a fluttery wave, brow quirking playfully.

"Hey, don't blame me for that short stuff; that's your own damn fault. I've offered to give you a makeover like a hundred times. A little bit of makeup, some pizazz to your hair and a decent pair of heels and there'd be no missing you."

Max snorted, shaking his head.

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Especially when I trip over my own feet with the heels, blind myself with the no doubt glittery makeup and end up igniting my very colorful, glittery and extremely flammable hair. I'm good being a wallflower thank you very much."

Isaac huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh it wouldn't be that b-"

"Dude in the science fair you showed how that glittery hair spray of yours could double as a flame thrower."

"It was not that bad!"

"It's been five months and Mr. Sanderson STILL hasn't got his eyebrows back! He's still drawing them on and the dude sucks at makeup even more than me! He can never get them on to where he doesn't have a quizzical expression!"

"You seriously burned off your teachers eyebrows?" Kasey exclaimed before starting, glancing over at the shorter guy, flashing a smile and a geeky little wave.

"Oh, hi Max. It's good to meet you too." he paused, glancing around curiously, shifting back to Isaac.

"So seriously, you did?"

Isaac rolled his eyes, giving a dismissive wave towards Max.

"Oh he's making it out way worse than it was. Besides I did take first place."

Max snorted, rolling his eyes, brow quirking.

"Well of course you did- you're employed at the most cutting edge company on the freaking planet. I told you it wasn't fair for us to enter."

Isaac scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Hey there's no rule against it!"

"Only cause they don't know!"

"Well what they don't know won't hurt them."

"Think that Mr. Sanderson guy might disagree…" Kasey laughed before pausing, glancing over, head tilting curiously.

"Wait. Employee? I thought you were a traveler too. Can't believe this place hires high school students." he started, placatingly holding up his hand.

"I-oh uh crap- that was rude. I didn't mean it like that it's just I thought you were like my age and it seems pretty crazy somewhere like this would have teen employees-…oh no offense I j-"

Isaac smiled, again reaching up, resting his hand on Kasey's shoulder, squeezing, flashing a reassuring smile.

"Kasey, you're fine. It's a valid question. And you're right; this place having high school students on the payroll is pretty insane. And it's not a common thing. We're the only teens who work here.

And technically we are both just interns; At least until we graduate in June and become official. We can't do the rift stuff or other big time things until we're over eighteen and have passed all the tests and training they decide to throw at us- and I've been here since I was fifteen so they've had a lot of time to prepare.

And you were right about me; I am a traveler. I'm from 2250, so three centuries ahead of you…" he chuckled, nodding over to Max.

"He just followed his big sister, stumbled onto a case and saw too much even for Divya to cover up. Well that and nepotism…His sister basically pushed it on through and even Raphael's hesitant to get on Izzy's bad side. Girl's a force of nature."

Kasey blinked in surprise.

"Wait, Izzy?"

Max smiled, nodding animatedly.

"Yeah, my sister; she's the head of –"

"Medical, Alec's sister. Yeah I met her." He laughed, bouncing lightly on his heels, glancing over at the shorter guy.

"Oh, holy cow! That's why you look so familiar! Thought I'd lost my marbles if I thought I was recognizing someone two hundred years in my future."

Max laughed, nodding.

"Yeah I can see that being a bit jarring. So you met Izzy and Alec?"

Kasey practically beamed, animatedly nodding.

"Yeah; Izzy, Alec and his husband."

"Husband?"

Kasey nodded, smiling, glancing over at him.

"Yeah Magnus; Alec introduced him to us when me and my family got here." He paused, head tilting at the faintly confused look.

"What? Do they usually not tell travelers?"

Max started, a flicker of something in those oddly light hazely grey eyes before giving a faint shrug and a bit of a wave.

"Well they're usually pretty discrete at work. I'm just surprised, that's all."

Kasey nodded, giving a bit of a shrug.

"Yeah it was kinda my fault. Bindy had already mentioned she had a girlfriend and the way they were talking it kinda seemed like they were together and I asked Alec and my dad and brother totally flipped their lids about disparaging a military captain. I think he told us mainly to shut my dad and brother up…or piss them off…either way it worked really well." He laughed, glancing over at the other two, flashing a smile.

"My dad bout hit the root and I'm pretty sure my brother is still confused but then again it took half the trip back here for him to stop saying 'but they're girls' about Izzy and Bindy so not too shocking."

Isaac laughed brightly, pretty dark brown eyes sparkling impishly, a cute little smirk tugging at his lips, head shaking, startling as they reached the end of a hallway, reaching up, pressing his hand against a weird square light up pad. There was a soft chime as a weird, pale blue egg looking thing rotated around, lining up with the door, a soft hiss sounding as it slides open. Kasey shifted, head tilting curiously, blinking in confusion. Isaac smiled, waving him forward reassuringly.

"Oh dude I bet. That had to be one hell of a show." He paused, glancing over, brow quirking.

"Kay, I think we need to hear this story from the beginning. How did you guys end up here in the first place?"

Kasey smiled, glancing curiously around the clean pastel colored egg looking thing, following the other two guys lead, settling on the soft robin's egg blue bench running along the edge of the transport thing, nodding, reaching up, tucking a few loose auburn locks behind his ear, beginning.

"Well it all started at my brother's football game…"

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*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*

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"Hey, there you are!"

Magnus started faintly at the rich, deep voice barely a foot away, just barely managing to keep from fumbling his holotablet. He gasps, hand going to his chest, blinking himself out of his techie spiral, looking around in confusion before his gaze lands on the speaker.

"Oh! You scared me the hell out of me! That damn soldier stealth of yours, I didn't even hear you come in." he shifted, resting the glimmering violet device down in front of him, shifting his focus more to the other man, flashing a warm smile.

"Sorry gorgeous. Did you need something?"

Alec smiled, leaning against the 3D drafting table Magnus has his electric green Plexiglas barstool pulled up to.

"Yeah, you."

Magnus blinked in confusion.

"What do y-"

Alec laughed, flashing a warm, knee weakening smile, dazzling hazely green eyes sparkling in amusement.

"Mags, It's nearly eight. I've already been clocked out for over half an hour. You about ready to head out?"

Magnus again started, blinking in shock, flickering through the settings on his iridescent, crystalline covered holowatch before finally landing on the time display, eyes widening, shaking his head.

"Oh wow…I must have been totally out of it."

Alec chuckled, nodding emphatically.

"Yeah, no kidding! I didn't even know you were in here. I'd glanced in here once already but with it being so quiet I didn't think you were in here. I almost missed you this second time too, I just happened to catch a glimpse of your hair through the shelves. I was just about to head down to the garage to see if you forgot we'd rode together today and had already headed down there to leave.

I can't believe you don't even have your music on. You hiding or something?" He chuckled before pausing, sobering faintly, head tilting in concern.

"Wait…you're not, right? Is everything alright?"

Magnus smiled brightly, quickly nodding, waving him off, bouncing lightly in his seat, gesturing towards the holotablet.

"Oh yes, most definitely! Everything's wonderful- sorry, wasn't trying to give you the slip- I'd never do that to you gorgeous. I was just going through Raph's newly formatted collection of Simon's ideas. I started in as soon as we got done in Raph's office, I planned on turning on my music but I guess I got distracted- well…obviously I did as that was nearly five hours ago."

Alec blinked, glanced around, gesturing vaguely.

"Man I guess. So why isn't it doing the whole dizzying wall of color thing?"

Magnus shrugged, giving a fluttery wave.

"The immersive set is quite engrossing and really aesthetically appealing and all that but it's also rather overwhelming. I'm just going through the holofiles. It's not anywhere as showy and flashy but it really lets me get to the heart of his work…" he gave a soft, disbelieving little breath of a laugh, head shaking.

"Wow, that boy really is something else. I just totally lost myself in it."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, nodding, settling closer.

"Yeah I'll say if you lost hours and you couldn't even pull yourself away long enough to start your music. Damn, really must be something else."

Magnus laughed brightly, bouncing lightly in his seat, animatedly nodding, bright espresso brown eyes sparkling eagerly, lifting up his holotablet, waving it animatedly.

"Oh gorgeous, you have no idea. Hell, I had no idea! I mean I'd went through a fraction of the original and it was amazing and really exciting but I have to admit even for me it was rather hard to follow- and generally I'm pretty apt at following technobabble and mental spirals. Simon's are just on a whole other level though. I could see so many wonderful ideas and threads and fantastical plans but it did take me a fair bit to decipher.

But this that Raph put together?

Oh my goddess, it's incredible. It's so clear and concise and so easy to see and follow all the details. It's like seeing a tangled up ball of Christmas lights verses seeing them perfectly fashioned into an incredible, intricate, interactive artistic display. Technically you're looking at the same thing but the latter shows you exactly what all that delightful chaos and flash actually has the potential to be.

No wonder I got so lost." He positively beamed at Alec, setting up, bright espresso brown eyes sparkling, again tapping the device, giving a soft little near giggle of a laugh, head shaking, grinning ear to ear.

"That guy is something else. There's so many fascinating ideas, so many possibilities that I can't wait to get into with him. I'm SO glad he's here. I cannot wait for our first official collaborative work…" he huffed, dramatically pouting, rolling his eyes.

"Even though I apparently have to wait in line for that…thank you Raphael. Can't believe he just swooped in like that! I mean I found the guy, I brought him on. It's only fair I get to collaborate with him first."

Alec chuckled, nodding.

"Of course babe."

Magnus huffed, nodding back, giving a fluttery wave.

"Exactly- and going by how he was acting it's not gonna be just a one and done type collaboration either. He's gonna have all kinds of project for them in the works. I'll be lucky if I can get my time in edgewise. I'll have to start sucking up to Becks to get him to push for me."

Alec laughed, giving a bit of a shrug.

"Yeah, though going by the smart squids reaction even that might be a bit trickier. But I do think he likes you better. Your style is way closer to his taste than Raphael's." He paused, head shaking faintly, glancing over, brow quirking.

"By the way, what's up with that? Not the weird robo-crush but with Raphael.

Like, I know he does his weird weaponized flirting thing and all that but this doesn't feel like it. I get that Simon is a different type then most here and it'd stand to reason he'd try to put on a nicer air around him as he doesn't really need to do the whole 'assert dominance, let them know who's in charge' type thing and he's past actively trying to scare him off but even so he should probably pull back a bit. He's gonna end up giving the kid the wrong idea.

I mean he's so odd around him; all weird and warm and encouraging and like…like playful…" he huffs, shaking his head, shrugging.

"Honestly it's kinda freaking me out. It's like those videos you see of a kitten playing with a pit-bull. Like they seem really sweet and cute and all of that but you just know it can go so bad so quick."

Magnus huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, smiling warmly.

"Oh it's nothing of the sort. He's just a bit smitten."

Alec sighed, nodding, giving an exasperated little wave.

"Yeah I know; that's what I'm afraid of. I mean did you see him when Raphael was doing his whole supervillian intimidation thing? I thought he was gonna full on swoon-and Becks pretty much did!

Guess it's not all that surprising though. I swear it seems like half the people who meet him are either crushing on him, terrified of him or some weird combo of both. Actually it's near always the weird combo thing-hell, I'm pretty sure even Walter and Ritchie gave him a double take- not that they'd ever admit or acknowledge it. I really don't get it but I seem to be in the vast, vast minority on that one.

I mean come on; even Becks gets all wobbly tentacled around him! The poor kid's got no chance. I really hope Raphael at least lets the kid down easy."

Magnus laughed brightly, brow quirking.

"Sweetheart, I was talking about Raph."

Alec blinked.

"Huh? W-wait…you seriously think Raphael's actually interested in him? Like for real interested, not just the usual Raph screwing with someone cause they're an easy target and he's a total ass but legit interested?"

Magnus laughed brightly, nodding, eagerly bouncing in his seat.

"Oh I am certain of it!Did you see him with the family? With the smirking and the flexing and the showboating? That was not for them- he barely even knew they were in the room. He was totally focused on Simon. He knew the guy was getting a major kick out of it. He was totally putting on a show for the cutie. It was like when a bird of paradise does that weird, flailing ballet like dance to impress its mate.

Trust me gorgeous that boy is GONE." He laughed, head shaking, giving a faint shrug and a fluttery wave, multiple rings sparkling in the light.

"I don't know why I'm even surprised- I should have seen it right off the bat. If I'd of met the guy anywhere but at an active investigation I would have already been playing matchmaker. Those two are absolutely perfect for each other. I mean the guy checks every box Raph has and then some.

He's brilliant, bold, imaginative, recklessly fearless and adorable to boot! And Raphael is…well…Raphael. He can pretty much have his pick- and going by the reactions during Raph's little peacocking display the cutie is very much good with being said pick.

I really cannot believe I missed that! I probably would have caught it a lot quicker if I wasn't totally convinced Raph was going to be doing everything he could to drive the cutie away." He paused, head tilting.

"Oh dear, do hope I didn't throw too much of a monkey wrench into the mix with warning Simon about the whole weaponized flirting thing." He chuckled, waving that off.

"Eh, it's fine. It is Raphael after all. Not like the guy's ever been too thrown by an obstacle or ten- hell he usually prefers it that way, he's never really that keen on anything that comes too easily- something him and Simon have in common come to think of it." He smiled, bouncing lightly in his seat, tucking his holotablet into his purple leather snake print messenger bag, beginning to gather up his things to get ready to leave, continuing on as he goes.

"I really don't know how I missed it. The cutie's a really unique mix of adorable, crazy, brilliant, brazen, sassy and stubborn. He's basically a cuter, softer, less sexual version of me. Poor Raph never stood a chance."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.

"Babe, gotta say I think you read this wrong."

Magnus blinked, quickly slipping the messenger back across his body, carefully adjusting his top and ensuring the strap isn't on his hair before shifting back to Alec, head titling curiously.

"And why is that?"

Alec laughed, eyes wide, the two making their way out of the lab and down the corridor towards the transport pods.

"Wha-are you kidding? Raphael is like a supervillian in the making and Simon i-"

"Is a comic book obsessed techie, sci-fi geek and an absolutely adorable, brilliantly imaginative inventor. They're practically made for each other."

Alec snorted, animatedly shaking his head, pausing briefly to reach forward, hitting the button for the pod before turning back to Magnus.

"Um…no? They're not. They are most definitely not. They would make no sense. That's like if the joker started making time with Robin!"

Magnus laughed in surprise, bright espresso brown eyes sparkling in amusement, gracefully holding up a finger, pointing.

"Oh that is….a-actually worryingly fitting but in this case could totally work!"

"No it can't !"

"Can too!"

Alec laughed, shifting as the transport bod shifts into place, turning towards them, the side silently swishing open, giving a cheery ding, signaling it's safe to enter. He shifted forward, resting his hand on the door, holding it as Magnus slips through before following along, settling into the little pod, hitting the configuration for the south parking bay, waiting for the signal that the command engaged before turning back to Magnus, smiling, head tilting.

"Mags, babe? You're delusional, there's no way."

Magnus gave a gasp, lightly smacking his arm before squeezing, rolling his eyes, waving him off with his free hand.

"I'm not delusional- I am a freaking visionary. And I know exactly what I see here. I see it clear as day."

"Then you need glasses."

"I do not!"

"Babe? They are complete opposites!"

Magnus nodded animatedly, concedingly tilting his head, brow quirking, triumphantly holding up a finger.

"Yes, they are. And opposites attract s-"

"Not this opposite."

"Yes, this opposite. Trust me gorgeous. Mark my words; those two are perfect for each other. They'll be an item in no time."

Alec snorted, shaking his head.

"Yeah, no. I'm not buying it. There's just no way."

"Twenty bucks says there is."

Alec blinked, head tilting, giving a slight chuckle, brow quirking.

"You seriously want to bet money on it?"

Magnus smirked, shifting closer, reaching over, resting his hand on Alec's arm, squeezing, gaze flickering over him, pointedly lingering on his lips before slipping up the rest of the way, catching his eye, brow waggling.

"Well…unless you have something else you'd like to wager…"

Alec chuckled, rolling his eyes, settling closer, flashing a playful smirk.

"Babe? You don't need a bet for anything like that."

"Mmm…good to know…VERY good to know." Magnus huffed out a soft chuckle that trailed off into a pleased little growl, hand slipping up Alec's arm, tugging him in for a slow, languid kiss.

Alec hummed softly, taking the kiss a bit deeper, hand slipping up, catching in Magnus's soft red tinted raven black curls, tugging lightly, shifting the angle. Magnus shivered, arms coming up, slipping around Alec, pull him close. Alec lingered for a moment before breaking the kiss, pulling back faintly.

Magnus whimpered, shaking his head, impatiently trying to tug him back in. Alec chuckled, bright hazely green eyes sparkling excitedly at the reaction, teasingly shaking his head.

"Uh uh…remember…none of that at work."

Magnus blinked rapidly, trying to clear his lust addled mind enough to muster a totally heatless glare, near pouting.

"You started it!"

Alec shrugged, smirking, giving a bit of a fluttery wave.

"No you started it. You kissed me first."

Magnus smirked, settling closer.

"Yes I did. With that comment you left me no choice."

Alec laughed, beginning to shake his head.

"I did n-"

"Gorgeous? You basically said you'd do anything I want. How else am I supposed to respond to that, hmm…?"

Alec huffed out a soft laugh, beginning to shake his head before pausing, head tilting concedingly.

"Okay, fair point. But regardless of who started it, I'm finishing it."

Magnus smirked, brow again waggling. Alec huffed, laughing, rolling his eyes, waving him off, nudging his shoulder.

"Not THAT kind of finishing it. Come on babe, you know the rules."

Magnus sighed, giving a fluttery wave.

"Yes, yes I know the rules…" he paused, head tilting, brow quirking.

"Hey, think I know what we can bet…"

Alec laughed, shaking his head exasperatedly, catching his hand, squeezing, flashing a bright smile.

"You know we have the rules for a reason."

Magnus pouted for a moment before giving a playfully exaggeratedly annoyed sigh, rolling his eyes, giving a fluttery wave.

"Yes, yes- separation of personal and professional, key to a successful relationship between coworkers. I know."

Alec smirked, brow quirking teasingly.

"You sure? I do still have the powerpoint and the other three versions of the quiz if we need a refresher."

Magnus started, setting up, quickly shaking his head.

"No no! No need for that- perfectly clear on it."

"You sure, now?"

Magnus huffed, giving a playfully sarcastic look.

"So that's just gonna be like a 'thing' for you, isn't it?"

Alec smirked, shrugging, pretty hazely green eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Hey you only have yourself to blame. You knew what you were getting into when you married me."

Magnus couldn't help a surprised laugh at that. He hummed, shaking his head, settling closer, reaching up, tucking a dark, silky lock of hair behind Alec's ear before leaning in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his cheek. He hums, nuzzling lightly, giving a softly contented, amused little sigh, pulling back.

"Mmm…I suppose you're right." He smirked, brow quirking.

"Although as you said Raph did write my vows, you really have no clue what exactly you agreed to. And, you know…now that I think about it I distinctly remember slipping in something about intimate interoffice interludes."

Alec smirked, brow quirking, an impish smile tugging at his lips.

"Oh you do, huh?"

Magnus nodded, brow waggling exaggeratedly.

"Yes, I most definitely do. You really should have read the fine print gorgeous."

Alec hummed, the sound trailing off into a soft chuckle, shaking his head, giving a faint snap.

"Damnit, knew that'd come back to bite me."

Magnus smirked, flashing a flirty wink.

"Nope that'd be me."

Alec laughed, rolling his eyes, nudging his shoulder.

"God you're incorrigible."

"Incredible?"

Alec hummed, nodding, smiling softly.

"Well that goes without saying." He murmured, tugging Magnus in, leaning down, stealing a quick kiss, lingering before slowly pulling back, looking him over.

Magnus sighed, leaning a bit heavily against the wall of the transport, arms settling around his shoulders, nuzzling in against his neck.

"You know gorgeous, you make it quite difficult to stick to the rules."

Alec huffed out a soft laugh, brow quirking pointedly, bright hazely green eyes flickering over him, leaning in playfully, nipping at Magnus's lower lip.

"Look who's talking."

Magnus blinked, shivering eagerly, glancing up. Alec laughed, shrugging, hand settling on his hip, squeezing faintly.

"Don't look so surprised. You really think it's easy for me to just act all together and professional when you're being all flirty and take charge and doing that sexy, overly complicated technobabble thing? I can barely manage to keep my hands off of you- and that's on a normal day!

Add in us playing happily married and it just made it even harder. Having to be just flirty enough to foot the bill without pushing it too much. I was VERY MUCH ready to go home tonight." He paused, glancing up hopefully, giving a bit of a shrug.

"`Sorry about kinda putting you on the spot with that by the way. I jus-"

Magnus huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, tugging him back in closer.

"Hey all you did was beat me to the punch. Probably would have actually said it already if I thought the loudmouthed blowhard would have actually believed me."

Alec chuckled, sound trialing off into a soft hum, tugging him in a bit closer, hands trailing down his sides, settling low on his hips, squeezing.

"Well you most definitely were convincing. You even had me going a few times there."

Magnus's breath caught, he shivered excitedly.

"Oh is that so?"

Alec nodded, eyes sparking bright and excited.

"Mmm…most definitely." He hummed softly, settling a bit closer, hot, bright gaze slipping over Magnus again, a fair bit slower, lingering on his lips before shifting back up, again meeting his eyes, brow quirking.

"You know…I'm thinking we may need to keep up our little act for the time they're here. We have to be really convincing though. Don't want to slip up and give that loudmouth jackass a win by proving he was right about something…right?"

Magnus smirked, nodding, squeezing his arm.

"Absolutely…we can't have that."

Alec nodded, swallowing, squeezing his hips, tugging him a bit closer.

"Agreed…you know? The best way to do that would be for us to just stay in character. No chance of a slip up that way."

Magnus hummed, brow quirking, gaze flickering over him, hands slipping from around his shoulders, trailing down his arms, coming to rest on top of his hands still resting on Magnus's hips, squeezing.

"Mmm…well they are here till tomorrow afternoon. So I guess until then we should probably just behave as a married couple would…you know, just to be safe. It took a lot of convincing, don't want to undo that."

Alec nodded, squeezing his hips once more before turning his hands, catching Magnus's entangling their fingers squeezing tight as the transport pod slips into place. He squeezes once more, tugging Magnus away from the wall, the pair beginning out the door of the transport.

"So, tonight is our first night as a married couple. Guess that makes this our wedding night. How exactly are we going to spend our first evening of married life?"

Magnus smirked, humming softly, bright espresso brown eyes flickering over him, brow quirking eagerly.

"Oh I have a few ideas gorgeous."

Alec chuckled, brow quirking right back, reaching up, hitting the button on his holowatch, the engine revving, doors opening, hitting a few more buttons, the onboard navigation chiming to indicated the automatic mode engaging, windows and windshield shifting, turning to frosted, mirrored opaque.

"Me too."

{****************}

*-Other-*-Other-*-Other-*- Other-*Other-*

***-Blake-***

{****************}

"But what abo-"

Divya sighed, holding her hand up placatingly.

"I told you, he's fine. He ran into our interns and they're all already at the barracks waiting for us. We're almost there and then you'll see for yourself.

In the meantime since we have a few minutes left for the transport I want to go through a few things about the Barracks. I'm gonna say flat out, go through the paperwork and sign all the release forms first. If you do not sign we cannot legally help you. Until you sign you will not be able to use anything in the apartments and we will not be able to send you back.

Your best bet is to just fill them out as soon as you get in there and get them out of the way. All of the paperwork is loaded into the consoles in your Apartment. All you need to do is just tap the big red start button and it will walk you through everything from start to finish. There's even a little animation of a random cartoon character running a race at the bottom to show how close you're getting to the end.

It's totally intuitive and does take into account the level of tech available in your time. I know it will seem a bit daunting trying to do it on your own but you'll be fine."

Blake started, glancing over, head tilting.

"Wait? What do you mean on our own? You're not gonna stay with us to go through it?"

Divya smiled apologetically, shaking her head.

"No- I actually can't. I can talk you through it like this but policy dictates that all travelers fill it out on their own. It's a way to ensure there's no undue interference or influences whether conscious or subconscious. Just a little safeguard to preserve autonomy and ensure that whatever decisions you're making are purely yours." She smiled reassuringly, giving a fluttery wave.

"Don't worry, it is a bit extensive and tedious but it's really easy to navigate and each apartment comes equipped with a virtual assistant who can walk you through anything and answer any questions you have that aren't about future knowledge. If you have a question about the paperwork or anything else just hit one of the blue panels and ask it and it will answer." She paused, glancing down at her holowatch, flicking through some information before shifting back to them, gesturing towards the watch.

"So it looks like you guys are gonna be staying in 204- it's on the second floor with a lovely view of the courtyard. There aren't any apartments on the first floor that's reserved for maintenance and storage space; it gives the residences another level of privacy. It just makes everything a bit nicer.

It's already set up with your preferences and biometrics- uh- your handprints. All you have to do to open the door is press your hand to the blue glowing panel the same way we did when we were getting onto the transports. When an apartment is set for a guest they're the only ones with access to the space for the entirety of their stay unless they specify otherwise.

Depending on how long you're staying there is a housekeeping automaton system that can be scheduled but you would have to give them permission to enter the apartment- they will not be able to enter otherwise until after you have left and the apartment has reset to the default settings. This way no one else has access to your space while you're there."

Millie blinked in surprise, head tilting, flashing a faint smile.

"That's really considerate."

Divya smiled, shrugging.

"We understand how hard and unsettling all of this is. We know it's a lot to take in and being lost in time and completely tossed into a likely totally alien world can really be overwhelming.

We do whatever we can to make it as easy as possible and to give them as much freedom and control over their situation as we possibly can." She paused, head tilting concedingly, giving a bit of a wave.

"Now full disclosure; in the event of an emergency we do have an override but again that is purely for use in emergencies; unless one of you has a major medical emergency or there is some kind of natural disaster it's not happening."

Blake blinked, glancing distractedly away from the transport doors, nodding.

"Uh, yeah…kinda good with that."

Divya chuckled, nodding.

"Most people are."

"Understandable. So when are we going t-" she cuts off her sentence as the light above the transport door shifts to green, the doors swooshing open.

She blinks a moment, looking around at the vibrant, colorful courtyard in the center of the area, taking in the trickling fountain and explosion of brightly colored flowers and trees surrounding a cluster of benches before gasping, breaking out into a bright, relieved smile.

"Kasey!" Blake exclaims, a wave of relief washing over her as she catches sight of the younger teen setting on one of the wrought iron benches with two other boys about her age.

Kasey startles at the call, pulled out of some story the taller blonde guy was telling. He blinks, looking over towards the transport bay, spotting them. He smiles brightly, giving an animated, geeky wave, standing up to meet them, the other teens following suit. Millie slips around Blake, reaching him first, quickly pulling Kasey into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Oh sweetheart! I was so worried; we had no idea where you were!"

Kasey blushed, hugging his mom back, nodding.

"I know, sorry mom."

Millie smiled, shaking her head.

"I'm just glad you're okay."

Blake nodded, coming to a stop just beside them, looking curiously from Kasey over at the other two teens standing next to him before shifting back to her cousin.

"Yeah, what happened? One minute you were right next to me and then you were just gone."

Kasey gave a sheepish laugh, nodding, cheeks warming, reaching up, scratching at the back of his neck.

"Y-yeah, totally my fault. I got distracted and kinda spaced and then when I came out of it I looked around but I didn't see you guys anywhere. Sorry for the scare." He flashed a faint smile at Blake before shifting over at his parents.

"Really sorry."

Walter huffed, head shaking.

"Kasey how many times do I need to tell you? Pay attention to your surroundings. You can't just get lost in your own little world, you need to stay focused. Walking around with your head in the clouds is a good way to get yourself into a lot of trouble that you can't get out of."

He swallowed, nodding.

"I know dad; again really sorry. I'm trying to get better about it but this place is totally something else and I just got mentally lost…a-and then physically…" he gave a faint laugh, head shaking, giving a bit of a shrug.

The tall blonde guy next to him smiled, chuckling softly, reaching over, patting Kasey's shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Hey, again; don't beat yourself up about it. It really does happen all the time."

Kasey glanced over, blushing, nodding.

"I know but still I do it even when I'm not in sci-fi nerd Wonderland. Thank you though…" he trailed off, smiling, again looking at the taller guy, sighing faintly before starting, blinking, blushing even more, shifting back to the family.

"Oh um- like I said I just got lost in my head and then when I found my way back you all were gone. I was pretty freaked out, really didn't know what to do cause I know when you're lost you're supposed to stay put but it was back in the one super busy main clear tube thing and there were a lot of people trying to do work and just planting myself in the middle of what is apparently one of the highest traffic areas in the entire company just seemed like I'd be in the way.

I tried to go back to the security deck to see if they could call you guys and let you know where I was but I kinda got turned around and was really starting to panic…" he paused, glancing over, gesturing at the two boys.

"Thankfully I ran into Isaac and Max here."

"Literally in my case…" the taller blonde guy-Isaac she thinks- chimed in, smiling playfully, nudging Kasey's shoulder.

Kasey outright giggled, blushing brightly, rolling his eyes, giving a totally heatless glare and a fluttery wave his way.

"Hey I said I was sorry!"

Isaac laughed, waving him off, flashing a bright, warm smile, nudging his shoulder again.

"Relax dude; just giving you a bit of a hard time. Kinda what I do with my friends."

The shorter guy nodded, chuckling.

"Yeah, he does. A LOT. It's really obnoxious. Clearly I should have put more thought into this whole 'best friend thing'."

The taller guy smirked, winking, propping his elbow up on the shorter boys shoulder, giving a dismissive little wave.

"Yeah well too late short stuff; You're stuck with me now."

Max huffed, rolling his eyes, nudging him. Kasey laughed at their antics, deep green eyes sparkling animatedly before catching sight of his dads glare and Ritchie's scandalized, near disgusted look at the taller boy. He sobered faintly, clearing his throat, nodding, continuing along.

"Oh, anyways; this is Isaac and Max. They're interns here and they were super nice and really helpful. They even showed me around the barracks. Oh my gosh guys- they're SO cool! Kinda reminds me of a future version of that really nice hotel we stayed in when we went to Disneyland. It's really far out and there's this crazy automated system that actually talks to you and answers questions and everything.

It's really freaky but also super awesome." He bounced eagerly on his feet before pausing, glancing over at the two teens, smiling brightly.

"Guys? This is my family; my cousin Blake, my brother Ritchie, my mom Millie, and my dad, Walter." He smiled again, beaming, shifting back to his family, gesturing towards the two teens, pointing at each of them.

"That's Isaac and that's Max. They're really great, don't know what I'd of done if I didn't run into them. Oh and get this! Max is actually Nikki and Izzy's brother; how cool is that? It's like the family business!"

Max smiled, shrugging.

"Well, half the family business, anyways. Our parents have no clue about this place and our other brother Jace works as a gossip reporter/muckraker for a cheap National Enquirer knock off so he is VERY much in the dark. But still it is pretty awesome getting to work with Nikki and Izzy.

Hi, Kasey told us a lot about you, it's really nice to meet you guys." He smiled, giving a bit of a wave.

Blake smiled, returning the wave, glancing between Isaac and Kasey, brow quirking impishly. Kasey huffed, rolling his eyes at her, unable keep the blush from again rising in his cheeks. Ritchie scoffed, shifting closer, gaze flicking over Isaac condescendingly.

"Um…"

Isaac huffed, brow quirking pointedly.

"Yeah, no."

Ritchie blinked in confusion, kind of glaring, shifting back. Kasey muffled a faint laugh, glancing over at the taller guy, shrugging, flashing an apologetic smile. Isaac just shrugged back, flashing a playful wink. Kasey blushed again, glancing away, scratching at the back of her neck which was getting as pink as his cheeks.

Walter glanced between the two of them, brow quirking disapprovingly at the interaction, giving a faint nod.

"Uh huh…yeah, nice…" He said dismissively, giving a half wave to Max before shifting, looking over at the taller boy, expression suspicious and full of distain.

"And you? Are you also in the habit of keeping secrets from your parents? Do they have any idea what all you're getting up to?"

Isaac blinked, brow quirking pointedly, smile turning a bit less real, a little sharp, reaching up, tucking a few loose blonde curls behind his ear. He shifted, crossing his arms, giving a bit of a shrug, meeting the older man's eyes without hesitation.

"Well…no…Kinda hard to keep them in the loop when they won't even be born for nearly another century."

Walter blinked, faltering.

"What?"

He shrugged, giving a bit of a wave, nodding.

"Yeah, I'm a traveler too- or I was before I got my internship here. I was on a field-trip with my sophomore class and ended up getting lost in the Pine Barrens. I was lost for hours. It was winter and I was totally panicked and worried I was gonna freeze to death so when I saw this weird bright light through the trees I thought it was a transport or a search party and I ran to catch it.

It wasn't a transport or a rescue party; it was a rift and I ended up stumbling through it and some combination of the change of the weather, air pressure and likely just the sheer shock and panic of it all caused me to pass out. By the time I came to the rift was closed and I was a century in my past and on the other side of the country.

So no, my parents don't know what I'm up to. I'm not really sure what they know. I don't really know the physics of how time transpires with the jumps. It's kinda like Schrödinger's cat; either they think I'm dead or they think they just saw me that morning for breakfast and I will be home at the end of the day same as every other school trip. I kinda just try not to think about it, for obvious reasons.

Nice to meet you by the way."

Walter faltered, shifting uncomfortably, clearly not really sure what to say to that. Millie didn't have that same reaction.

"Oh sweetheart! You're here all by yourself? I'm so sorry." She gasped, hand going to her chest, soft hazely blue eyes misting faintly, looking over him in concern, clearly fighting the urge to hug the teen.

Isaac shifted over to her, shaking his head, smiling reassuringly, shrugging.

"Thank you ma'am but it's really not bad. At least not anymore, I've been here almost two years now. It was hard at first but overall I really do love it here. I do really miss them and that likely never will stop but overall I'm actually really happy. I have a lot of friends and a great found family and a nice place to live and I am set up for a dream job as soon as I turn eighteen next month.

I do really appreciate the sentiment though."

Millie sighed, nodding, flashing a warm, quintessentially 'mom' type smile.

"Well that is a relief. And thank you so much for helping my son. I really cannot thank you enough for that; I was worried sick."

Isaac smiled, giving a fluttery wave.

"Again it was no problem. It really does happen all the time. We're actually trained to keep an eye out for confused, unfamiliar faces. I was happy to help." He smiled, glancing over at Kasey, smile warming.

"Besides, it was a lot of fun. Kasey's awesome."

Kasey blushed, a cute, nervous little giggle slipping out. Millie flashed a wry smile, slipping her arm around her son's shoulders, squeezing.

"Well I've always been pretty fond of him."

"Mooomm!" Kasey groaned, blushing clear to his ears.

Isaac laughed, smiling warm and bright, nodding.

"And I can see why; he's a total riot. It was a blast getting to hang out with him. Kinda feel bad he had to miss the last part of the tour though- it's the best part. He probably would have gotten a real kick out of it." He smiled, giving a bit of a shrug, glancing up hopefully.

"Hey, I know you guys have the paperwork and all of that to do but maybe after you're done me and Max can take him around and show him all the stuff from the tour he missed? Oh, and maybe we could check out the theater room.

He had mentioned that the theater near you guys closed down before she could go see Planet 9 From Outer Space and we have it in the data library. I thought it'd be kinda nice for him after everything today…" he started, glancing over at Kasey, smiling.

"If you want of course."

Kasey blinked, gasping excitedly, animatedly nodding.

"Oh my gosh I'd love to! Can I go, please? Pretty please?" He gasped again, bouncing excitedly on his heels, looking pleadingly between his parents.

Millie flashed a warm smile, beginning to nod.

"That sounds lov-"

"No, sorry. He's not going. We have a lot to get ready for tomorrow." Walter cut in sharply.

Kasey deflated.

"Wha- But dad I really want to s-"

"Well that's why you're supposed to pay attention. If you hadn't been day dreaming you wouldn't have missed the tour."

Blake huffed.

"Oh come on Uncle Walter; the guy basically fell into a real live version of one of his comics. You can't expect him not to get side tracked. You can't punish him for something totally out of his control. It's just gonna be a couple hours and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

He shrugged.

"And if he was paying attention he'd have gotten the opportunity. But he wasn't and he missed it. You don't get second chances in life; that's why you have to pay attention the first time around."

Blake quirked her brow in challenge, head tilting.

"Like you were 'paying attention' when we were driving back from the game?"

Walter sputtered, glaring.

"How dare y-"

She scoffed.

"What? It's the truth."

He shook his head.

"You two distracted my by being smart mouths!"

She scoffed, eyes widening, gesturing between her and Kasey.

"WE were being smart mouths!? We weren't doing anyt-"

"Yes y-"

"No we weren't dad. Ritchie was the one w-"

"Hey my team won and I made the winning touchdown! It was a killer game and we pulled it out at the last minute!"

Walter nodded, gesturing towards the younger man.

"He's right. Players get riled up for the games; they have to. They're gonna have a bit of energy to burn off. He was just having some good natured fun, then you guys had to start in arguing-"

Blake gave a scoffing laugh, shaking her head, glaring, hands clenched.

"We weren't arguing! We were defending ourselves. Ritchie was being a total dick to both me and Kasey and you just let him because 'it was his night and it was his game and he got two whole runs and caught a pass and football, male idiocy, blah, blah, blah'. He was being a total prick and we finally had enough and so went back at him.

He was blabbering on for fifteen minutes straight and you didn't say a damn thing but the second either one of us so much as breathes in his direction you had to turn clear around and start bitching at us for not just setting there and taking it.

Wake up Walter; only reason we're even in this mess is because you couldn't stand a girl talking back to your brain dead by proxy there! You're just lucky it was a hole in time coming around the corner and not an eighteen-wheeler!"

Walter gasped, one hand clenching, other reaching up, pointing in Blake's face, leaning forward, glaring.

"Hey that's-"

"Okay I was trying to stay out of this but this is getting to be a bit much." Divya cut in, slipping smoothly between the teens and the older man, glancing up at Walter.

"You need to take a breath and cool down." She shifted, gaze slipping from Walter over to the teens, head tilting in concern.

"Kasey, Blake? I have plenty of room at my place. If you want the two of you can stay with me tonight."

Walter scoffed, glaring, waving her off.

"They're not going with you. They're not going anywhere except into the Barracks with the rest of us. This is a family matter. It's none of your damn business. They're fine here with us."

Next to him Ritchie folded his arms, standing up straight, chest puffing out, nodding insistently.

"Yeah."

"I wasn't asking you." Divya scoffed right back at the bigger man, brow quirking, folding her arms, mirroring Walter's pose, staring him down before shifting over to Ritchie.

"And I sure as hell wasn't asking you. I was asking them. It is their choice whether they stay here or go with me, not yours." She turned, sharp, deep eyes focusing on the two youngest family members, head tilting in concern.

"Kasey, Blake? Do you want a bit of a break from these two?"

The two looked at each other before shifting back, nodding. Divya flashed a sharp smile, nodding back.

"Then it's settled. You can just hang out with me till we head out. I have a pretty light schedule for the rest of the day, just another two hours then we can go. While I'm finishing up my paperwork you can fill out the traveler's forms. Again I can't interfere in the paperwork but there is a digital assistant programed into the tablets, I'm sure that'll be sufficient.

We can snag some food in the cafeteria and then I have a few errands to run but they're easy enough. I live just ov-"

Walter scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head.

"No it's not settled! And I thought you said you didn't interfere?"

Divya shrugged.

"We don't unless it's necessary."

Walter glared.

"Well it's not necessary here."

Divya smiled sharply, brow quirking.

"Again; that is not your decision to make. You are an agitated, irrational and combative fully grown adult man and they are two teenagers whom you have been harassing, belittling and borderline threatening for nearly a full day. The situation is volatile, you are behaving irrationally and I am not comfortable leaving them in this situation if they are not fully comfortable staying.

They are not; therefore they are coming with me."

Walter gasped, glaring, shaking his head.

"It's not up to you and it's not up to them. It doesn't matter what they say. Kasey's not going with those two and neither of them are going with you. They're staying here with the family and that's final. They'll be fine and how dare you insinuate my own kids aren't safe with me!"

Divya sighed, raising her hands placatingly.

"I'm not insinuating anything. I am simply saying this is a very stressful situation- a totally unprecedented situation for you- and you're all wound very tightly right now and I don't want anyone saying or doing anything that they otherwise wouldn't and potentially irreparably damaging your relationships. You all just need a bit of a breather, a break to get yourself in order, bring down the stress levels and get to a more even keel.

You were in the military- you know there are times when you need some space to deescalate a situation. That's all we're doing here."

He scoffed, looking her over sneeringly, glaring.

"Oh, so what, you're a military expert too?"

Divya blinked, head tilting, dark eyes flashing curiously, an odd, something resembling a smile but most definitely not a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Buddy? You have no idea the things I've faced, seen or that I've had to do; and believe me you are much better for it."

Walter blinked, faltering, shifting back, something in the look startling him, causing him to pause. Divya sighed, the odd look slipping, shifting to something somewhat sympathetic but unmistakably firm.

"Look Walter; I'm not saying you're an actual threat to them. If I had even the slightest inclination you were I'd have contacted Bindy and she'd of been meeting us here ready to escort you to the detention centers.

I know you're not that kind of guy Walter- I do. But right now you are very agitated and not thinking clearly and neither are they. Going through a rift is extremely unsettling. It can throw a lot of people and when people are thrown and scared they are less rational and more likely to say or do something that they'd never otherwise. But the thing of it is regardless of the situation and the extenuating circumstances once something is out there it's out there and there's not taking it back.

I've seen the stress and strain of this situation completely shatter relationships. I'm just making sure that doesn't happen with you guys. That's all this is. All of you can very much use a break and a chance to calm down. This is the best way to do that."

Walter blinked, seemingly shaking off whatever had thrown him, shaking his head, huffing, glaring disbelievingly.

"Hey I already told you they're not going anywhere. I swear, I don't know what's come of this world but I'm getting really sick of this blatant disrespect. They're not g-"

"Actually, Divya? That's one of the best ideas I've heard all day." Millie cut her husband off, flashing a faint smile at the younger woman.

Walter looked over, shocked.

"What? Millicent; no- they're not."

"Yes Walter; they are. And Kasey? if you want to go with them you're welcome to."

Kasey blinked, startling in surprise, hopefully looking over.

"R-really?"

"Yes sweetheart, you're fine."

Walter gasped, quickly shaking his head, shifting back to his wife in disbelief.

"Millicent what are you doing? You can't just go against my word."

She scoffed faintly, folding her arms, turning to face him, head tilting.

"Why not? You've been going against your word all day."

He blinked, head shaking.

I-wha-Millie? What has gotten into you?"

She scoffed, head shaking, brow quirking pointedly.

"I could ask you the same thing. This day has been insane, Walter; absolutely insane. It has been terrifying and overwhelming and amazing and humbling and a million other things and we are all in this together and yet you act like the only thing or opinion or feelings that matter here are yours."

"What? No I don't!"

"Walter, you have been snapping and snarling at Kasey and Blake and everyone else in your line of sight except for me and Richard this entire time. You started in on them in the car and you have not said one nice thing to either of them since we arrived. You have been picking at everyone you meet, snarling and grousing and posturing and no matter what I say or how many times I ask and beg and plead with you to stop you just keep right on going."

He sputtered, head shaking.

"Wha-I have not. I'm just trying to keep us safe-"

She scoffed, shaking her head, waving him off, irritatedly glaring, stepping a bit closer, looking him dead in the eye.

"Yes that's what you keep saying you're doing but I have yet to see it. You have not done one thing since we got here that hasn't been based solely on your feelings, your fears or your personal beliefs. All you've done this entire time is make everything harder, more uncomfortable and more nerve-wracking than it had to be." She huffed, head shaking, reaching up, rubbing her temples exasperatedly before looking back up at him, expression sad and frustrated, giving a helpless shrug.

"This is not you Walter and personally? I am getting really sick of your blatant disrespect and combative treatment of every last person you've interacted with here; including members of your own family.

Stop lashing out at everyone else. It's not their fault we're here Walter; stop trying to pass the buck. That's not the man I married."

He gulped, freezing, looking like he was struck.

"But Millie th-"

"No Walter. You need a break. Divya's right. You need to cool down. And they need a break from you and Ritchie and your constant picking, poking and prodding. You have been riding them all day, snapping at every last comment or look or move. You need to knock it off.

You're saying you're getting sick of the disrespect you're getting but ever since we arrived you have been nothing but rude, combative and disrespectful to every last person you've encountered. You were to the crew who came to rescue us from that abysmal island and to the owner of the company who is our only hope of getting back home and was nice enough to set us up with every possible amenity we could need and to Divya for voicing a very real, totally reasonable concern based on her years of experience dealing with people going through exactly what we are going through right now and you're even lashing out at two perfectly nice teenagers.

And for what Walter? For what? Because they were being nice and helpful and including our kid?"

Walter huffed, eyes widening pointedly, glancing over at the taller teen next to Kasey, shifting back to his wife, brow raising.

"Millie, you know it's not just that."

She groaned, giving a long, exasperated breath, head shaking, giving a helpless wave, continuing.

"At this point I don't care what it is Walter. You're trying to deny our son something amazing just because of your own feeling and your uncomfortableness. Again; everything you're doing is focused on you. Your feelings, your beliefs, your squeamishness. This isn't about you Walter and I'm not letting you rob our child of something that he would regret missing for the rest of his life just so you can try and shoehorn what you want into some overbearing, condescending lesson."

Walter blinked, head shaking faintly.

"Wha-I'm not-"

"Yes Walter; you are, and I am not done. I have been trying here- I really have. I've been trying to be patient and sympathetic and I tried to hold my tongue for as long as I could but this is a bridge too far.

I'm not going to let you deprive our child of something amazing just because you are spinning, spiraling and panicking. I'm not going to let you make him miserable and stifle and diminish him just because you don't know how to deal with your own issues." She took a deep breath, standing up straighter, once more meeting his eyes.

"I know this is a lot for you to process Walter and I get that it's hard for you-I do- but you need to get it together and get yourself in order. You keep saying you're trying to protect us but your actions are not matching your words.

I asked you multiple times to stop. I asked you to try. To try for me- for us and you've promised me time and again you would and then the second you encounter the slightest hiccup or twist or see another person you just keep going right back to it. It is rude and uncouth and it is embarrassing.

You went on and on about Nikki lying and not keeping her word and yet you have given me your word multiple times today and you have broken it every damn time.

I don't know if you're just off kilter and scrambling or if you're so scared you're not thinking clearly or if it's guilt because you were driving or if maybe the insane time jump has somehow managed to scramble your sense of judgment but you need to figure out what the hell is going on with you and get it under control. Now."

Walter swallowed, head shaking, gesturing vaguely towards Kasey and Blake who at this point are staring at Millie like she had just grown a second head- a surprisingly cool second head.

Woah…who knew prim, proper aunt Millie had that level of attitude in her?

Blake shook her head, a faint, impressed little smile tugging at her lips in spite of the tension of the moment, glancing over she sees Kasey has a near identical expression. He's looking at his mom like the woman hung the moon. Blake is in full agreement.

"I was j-"

Millie huffed, shaking her head, waving her hands.

"No Walter; enough. Just stop it. Stop lashing out at everyone. Stop snapping and insulting everyone. Stop making everything so much harder than it has to be. Stop trying to make our child miserable just because you're uncomfortable about something."

Walter shook his head.

"I-I'm n-"

"Yes, you are Walter, and it needs to stop. Kasey is a wonderful kid. He is bright and funny and sweet and kind and passionate and creative and a million other things that I wouldn't change for the world. All I want is for him to be happy and for him to be himself. Kasey has done nothing wrong; stop harping on him. It's not helping; all it is doing is making things worse.

I know you hate this. I know you're scared and you feel powerless and helpless and confused by everything and you don't know how to deal with that feeling but this? This is not how you do."

She paused, taking a deep breath, glancing over at Blake, giving a faintly apologetic smile before shifting over to Kasey and the two teens standing next to him.

"Thank you two for helping Kasey find his way around. And you're right; it was unfortunate he missed so much of the tour. I think it's a lovely idea for you to show him what all he missed and the movie. I know how disappointed he was he never got to see it.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help and hospitality. Thank you for making my son feel so welcome." She shifted over to Kasey, smiling soft and warm, nodding faintly.

"Go ahead sweetheart, have fun. Your curfew is still eight o'clock though. I expect you to call from Divya's by then so I know you made it there safely." She glanced over at the two teens, delicate brow quirking.

"Do you two know where she lives?"

Isaac blinked in surprise, standing up straighter, almost at attention, nodding, unable to stop a smile tugging at his lips.

"Yes ma'am. We actually live in the same building. I promise we'll have him back there by curfew."

Millie smiled, nodding graciously.

"Thank you. You two seem absolutely lovely. I'm glad I got the chance to meet you." she smiled again, slipping over, hugging Blake and Kasey, kissing both of them on the cheek, smiling softly.

"Have a good night guys."

The two hugged her back, Kasey holding on for a few moments longer, smiling brightly, nodding before pulling back, smiling soft and warm, eyes somewhat misty.

"We will mom."

"Absolutely aunt Millie, thank you."

She smiled, nodding, squeezing their shoulders.

"Of course. I should have said something earlier. I'll call you tonight to see how you're doing and I expect to see you bright and early tomorrow so we have plenty of time to get ready to go home."

"Yes ma'am." They caroused.

She smiled once more, turning moving over by the visibly deflated Walter and totally confused Ritchie, beginning for the barracks.

"Hey Millie?"

She paused, looking back at Divya.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to come too?"

Millie blinked in surprise at the offer, flashing a faint smile, giving a fluttery wave.

"Oh that's really sweet to offer but you don't have to feel obligated. I'll be perfectly fine here. Thank you though."

Divya smiled, giving a faint shrug.

"Are you sure? It's not an obligation. Just after all that it kinda seems like you could probably use a break too."

Millie laughed softly, head tilting.

"Well tha-"

"She doesn't need a break. She's fine. You've done more than enough, thanks." Walter snapped, standing up straight, puffing out his chest.

Millie shifted, casting an irritated look over at her husband, eyes widening exasperatedly before huffing out an annoyed breath, standing up straighter, shifting back to the younger woman, flashing a somewhat sharp smile, nodding, holding up a finger.

"Actually, on second thought? I think a break would help me quite a bit." She turned sharply, flashing one last quick look at the two dumbstruck men.

"Have a good night Walter, Richard. We'll see you two in the morning." She glanced over at Kasey, Isaac and Max.

"Come along boys, we'll walk you out." With that she turned on heel, striding towards the transport pods without even bothering to look back at the two completely gob smacked men.

Divya, Kasey and the teens blinked, looking at each other in shock. Isaac seemed to snap out of it first, glancing over at Kasey, huffing out a faint laugh, jabbing her finger towards the retreating figure in the pretty yellow polka dotted dress.

"Okay, your mom is awesome."

Kasey beamed, nodding.

"I know."

{****************}

*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*

{****************}

Okay forget Disney World: THISis the happiest place on earth!

Seriously, Raphael's lab is like a fantasy come true. He's half convinced he passed out on the transport and is actually dreaming. It is that insane.

For starters it is huge- beyond huge. Like hanger for interstellar travel type huge. It's easily the size of a football field but completely round. Next the lab is underwater- seriously; IT IS UNDER THE OCEAN! Apparently the reason the transport ride was so long is because it goes through a series of underground tunnels that link to undersea tunnels that stretch out nearly twenty miles into the ocean before it finally reaches Raphael's lab which is in a base built into a huge underwater cavern that is in the remains of a collapsed underwater volcano.

Again;the man has a base built into an underwater volcano. Yes it is a near certain huge check mark on the supervillian list- or like five of them- but oh my god who cares when the checkmarks are this awesome!

The base- because it's not a lab it is a freaking base- is built into the deepest part of the old caldera, nearly three thousand feet below the surface. At the very center of the base is a grand hall, its ceiling soaring high with intricate crystalline chandeliers hanging down, casting multicolored light across the polished floors.

There are multiple Workstations and even what looks like a small living quarters radiating out from the central hub, connected by winding corridors lined with transparent tubes filled with colorful, flowing liquids that pulse with energy. Raphael told him the tubes not only provide a constant power source but also serve as a transportation system for smaller drones and automated assistants.

There are observation decks and research stations placed around the perimeter of the dome, giving the chance to study the marine life and the unique geological formations outside- there's even a small landing area with a really sleek looking glossy black, red trimmed two person sub that Simon is 90% sure was the thing he saw in the last USO holofile uploaded on that stupid, cheesy Santa Barbara Sun gossip feed he can't seem to stop checking out.

This deep normally all you'd see was inky darkness but the dome emits a soft, incandescent light. It shimmers and flickers, illuminating the deep ocean around them, giving a perfectly unobstructed view nearly a hundred feet in all directions, bringing the alien looking world around them to startling clear, neon bright life.

Raphael said the light can't be picked up by tech or the human eye outside of the dome. If you're outside unless you have specialized equipment tuned to pick them up it's completely invisible, obscured by a projection of natural cover to seamlessly blend into its surroundings. It's the same technology they use to obscure the tunnels and walkways stretching through the interior of the company.

He knew before he started here that Oasis was into stealth tech but he had no idea it was anywhere near this advanced. Raph actually showed him on a screen from one of the underwater drones they have patrolling the area the view from any eyes or equipment not specifically calibrated for the tech and it was astounding. He flipped between the two views. The one uncalibrated view just showed a thriving natural reef springing up in the collapsed volcanoes caldera. With the calibrated for the tech view he could literally see himself through the dome waving. It was totally mind blowing.

And while the base is not visible to most any tech or the human eye it is most definitely visible to the eyes of the various see creatures that call this area home. The lights and the change in temperature seem to lure in all manner of creatures. Raph said it was because the heat of the place causes bioluminescent algae and proto plankton to grow and that in turn draws in the things that feed on those and so one but Simon kinda thinks he's just rigged it to insure he got to see all the really cool stuff.

Can't say he wouldn't do the same if he had any idea how to do it. Around the outside of the dome there's a brilliant reef that's absolutely bursting with color and life. So far he's seen sharks, whales, dolphins, stingrays, a few sea lions, some alien looking deep sea fish with the giant teeth and creepy dangly things to lure in prey and more fish than he can count.

He even saw an honest to god giant squid! It was near fifty feet long and it looked like it was so close he could reach out and touch it.

He seriously has no idea how Raphael gets anything done down here. He could easily lose an entire day just staring dumbly out the window. The view was absolutely breathtaking but no more astounding than all the rest of the place. It honestly felt less like a lab or even a base and more like some kind of fantastic hidden alien world tucked away beneath the waves. The glass dome was amazing but the glass was only on about a third of the structure. The glass like material was set back into what reminded him a lot of a real world version of the bat cave. Only underwater…and alien…and like a million times more awesome.

The glass dome like side is set into the smooth, obsidian black stone that made up the bulk of the shell of the base. Covering over half of the dome and lining the entire perimeter was what looked like a breathtakingly bizarre, alien garden bursting with a huge array of prismatic, multicolored crystals interspersed with soft hexagonal patches of bright green grass and a cheery array of wildflowers. Climbing up the sides of the largest crystals are a wide assortment of climbing, flowering vines climbing in some parts from the floor clear up to some of the hanging crystals and clear to the ceiling.

Some of the crystals are delicate and intricate, no larger than a fingernail, while others tower like fantastical geodic stalactites and stalagmites, reaching up twenty feet tall from the ground and nearly twice that from the ceiling. They sprout from seemingly everywhere. From the smooth sea floor and the black rock celling and even a few it seems from the glass dome itself, creating a surreal, almost cathedral-like feel.

The crystals are unlike anything he has ever seen. The colors shift, shimmer and pulsate with an ethereal glow. Raphael told him the crystals are more than just flashy decorations too; they are actually integral to the base's technology. Embedded within the crystalline structures are complex biomechanical circuits and conduits, channeling energy from the ocean's depths as well as the remains of the volcanic fissure below in order to power the facility. He said they're invaluable in the tech field-likely going to totally reinvent the tech landscape within the next decade.

Simon's never heard of anything like that but looking around this base he's guessing there's thousands of things here he's never heard of- things he's never even imagined. He hopes he gets the chance to see them all.

God, this place is absolute heaven…

Seriously? How does anyone get anything done when they're constantly surrounded by THAT? He has no clue but he's also not about to ask and risk Raphael decided he won't be able to focus on their project.

Besides as amazing as the setting and structure the labs built into is the actual lab itself is somehow even more amazing. Inside the lab proper- away from the distracting views and dizzying crystals and all the fun, crazy trappings- there are multiple structures springing up from the ground lined with sleek, metallic panels that house equipment the likes of which he has never even imagined.

Everywhere he looks he sees something new. Holographic displays hover, spin and flicker in mid-air, projecting data and three-dimensional models. There are multiple drafting tables, desks, three and four D printers, cryogenic stations, kilns for firing ceramic pieces and other things that he honestly cannot even begin to guess at but is dying to know every last thing about.

Even where they are, right this second. They're taking a little break from working on the plasma shield projector, lounging on a soft, terraformed platform covered in sweet lemon grass with a pretty little smattering of cheery little colorful wildflowers. They are stretched out on a seven foot hexagon of grass surrounded by wildflowers hovering fifty feet off the ground half a mile under the ocean.

Seriously, how is this even a thing? This place is totally out of this world.

Raphael chuckled, shrugging, flashing that stupidly pretty smirk.

"Again I did try to give you a heads up."

Simon started out of his daydream, glancing over in confusion before blinking, flashing a sheepish smile.

"Oh uh…sorry…another escaping inner thought."

Raphael gave a soft smile, settling a bit closer, nudging his shoulder.

"Was not complaining." He smirked, glancing over, brow quirking playfully.

"So labs' kind of a hit, hmm?"

Simon gave a soft, breathless laugh, rolling his eyes, giving a impishly sarcastic look, nudging him back. Raphael laughed, placatingly holding up his hand.

"Hey; I did try to warn you!"

Simon laughed brightly.

"Not really! You said you were taking me to your lab; not your space age, bat cave, underwater supervillian lair!"

Raphael laughed in surprise, eyes widening.

"It's not a lair! It's a lab!"

Simon giggled, shaking his head, animatedly bouncing.

"Dude! It is a functionally invisible underwater lab hidden under a false coral reef in the basin of an underwater volcano filled with lasers and super powered alien looking glowing crystals and high powered plasma energy. I bet you even have defense capabilities, don't you?"

He shifted.

"I-w-well…I mean, a guy's gotta be able to defend himself…"

Simon laughed, settling closer to him, brow quirking.

"Do you have death rays?"

Raphael shifted, beginning to shake his head.

"I-well no. I wouldn't go so far as to call them th-"

"A control room?"

"Well yes b-"

"Weapons arsenal?"

"Again; guys gotta be able to defend himself."

"Uh huh…high tech security?"

"Well of course but that's not supervillianny; that's just good sense."

"Yeah, totally…multiple escape routes?"

"Well that's j-"

"A training area?"

"I just don't like using the gym with everyone else!"

"Holding cells?"

"I refer to them as observation rooms."

"Oh my god dude, that sounds so much worse!"

Raphael laughed, shaking his head, nudging his shoulder, turning completely to properly face him, settling closer on the little tuft of grass.

"It's not a supervillian lair!"

"How is this not a supervillian lair? Name one thing a supervillian lair has that this doesn't."

"It doesn't have a...oh wait...it does." He paused, head tilting.

"Well it doesn't have a...oh um...never mind. Forgot about the upgrades last month...umm...W-well...it doesn't have a bio-wait...a cryogenit-no...a robotic-oh yeah...umm..."

Simon snickered, nodding.

"Uh huh...a what?"

Raphael huffed, rolling his eyes, unable to totally fight off the cute little amused smile tugging at the corner of his pretty lips. He gasped, turning, gesturing towards the terraformed platform they're currently lounging on, indicating the pretty smattering of brightly colored flowers.

"It has wildflowers! What kind of supervillian lair has wildflowers?"

Simon chuckled, head tilting concedingly.

"Alright admittedly that is a pretty non-supervillainish. At least so long as they're not somehow weaponized-wait...they're not right?"

Raphael laughed, rolling his eyes.

"Of course they're n-oh...um...well, not like fully weaponized..."

Simon froze, blinking, brow quirking.

"Y-you're kidding...right?"

Raphael shifted.

"Um...I want to say yes, but..."

Simon blinked before promptly bursting out laughing, shaking his head disbelievingly, giving a faint shrug.

"W-well-oh my god-I-I guess at least they go with the super stealth bee drones." He chuckled, settle closer to Raphael's side, glancing around in amusement before pausing, pointing at the flowers.

"Wait, I'm not gonna accidentally set them off, am I?"

Raphael laughed brightly, shaking his head.

"No Angel, you're good. It's a back up to about a dozen other backups. They're perfectly safe…see?" he shifted closer, reaching across Simon, delicately plucking a cheery daisy out of the cluster of flowers on the other side of Angie, holding it out to him, smiling softly.

Simon giggled, taking the flower, lifting it to his nose, breathing in the sweet smell, sighing softly. Raphael settled closer, smiling warmly before perking up, holding up a finger.

"Hey, want to see something really cool?"

Simon giggled, nodding. Raphael shifted forward, pretty deep eyes sparkling eagerly, gesturing towards the daisy.

"Hold the base of the flower to the ground, anywhere is fine."

Simon blinked, head tilting in confusion, slowly lowering the flower, touching the bottom of the stem to the ground, waiting. He gasped as the little flower kind of warms, little tendril like roots sprouting from the bottom, burrowing into the soft dirt. Around the base of it a few tiny little sprouts began to pop out around it.

"Oh woah!"

Raphael laughed, nodding, settling closer.

"It's something I worked out to use for Hyper-accelerated terraforming. Pretty cool, right?"

Simon laughed breathlessly, nodding.

"Oh boy I'll say." Simon breathed, slowly shaking his head, blinking, smiling impishly, glancing up.

"You definitely have the coolest supervillian lair ever."

Raphael huffed, rolling his eyes in playful exaggeration, nudging his shoulder, smiling prettily.

"It's not a supervillian lair- again it has wildflowers."

Simon's brow quirking, flashing a teasing smile.

"Yes it does. Quasi-weaponized, self-replicating wildflowers."

Raphael snickered, again rolling his eyes, head tilting concedingly, an adorable impish little spark lighting up those pretty dark eyes. He shakes his head faintly before pausing, setting forward hopefully, holding up a finger.

"Well it doesn't have a shark tank!"

Simon giggled, eyes widening, setting up next to him, gesturing animatedly to the glimmering, crystal clear dome mere feet above their heads and the wide array of sea life flitting in and out of the darkness.

"Raph? We're half a mile underwater in the twilight zone. I have seen blue sharks, two tiger sharks a hammerhead and two different white sharks. Also not ten minutes ago I saw a giant squid! You don't need a shark tank you are in one! That is inside a collapsed volcano! On the bottom of the sea! Y-"

"It is still not a Supervillian lair!"

"Oh please! Every supervillian WISHES they had a lair this awesome. This place is like a supervillain's wet dream!"

Raphael burst out laughing, the sound loud and bright echoing around the room. Simon giggled, settling closer to his side, settling a bit closer.

"Come on, just admit it…you know it is."

Raphael chuckled, settling closer, beginning to shake his head before shrugging, giving a bit of a wave.

"Okay yeah…admittedly it is a bit lair-ish…but it's all in fun. And it really does fit with my whole thing…I do have an image to maintain after all."

Simon giggled, settling closer, nodding.

"Of course, this maintains it beautifully…and amazingly…" he sighed, smiling soft and amazed, head shaking looking up again at the swirling, dizzying, shimmering natural world swimming by just inches from his head.

He swallowed, head shaking, feeling his breath catch before blinking, shifting back over to Raphael, smiling softly.

"Thank you for letting me see your supervillian lair Raph. I feel very honored."

Raphael nodded, smirking.

"As you should. I don't bring just any guy down here you know. Just the ones I really want to make a good impression on."

Simon smiled, settling closer.

"Well consider me VERY impressed."

Raphael hummed softly, settling a bit closer.

"Good…kinda what I was going for."

Simon giggled softly, giving a warm, contented sigh, gaze flickering over Raphael. The other man smiled, settling a bit closer, dark, dizzying eyes flickering over Simon near wistfully, a soft, growly little sigh slipping out. Simon felt his breath catch, head spinning at the sound.

O-oh…that look…um…wow…

He sighed, hand slipping over, resting lightly on Raphael's. The other man smiled, turning his hand, lightly catching Simon's fingers, humming softly, beginning to lean forward before startling, blinking, pulling back.

"Oh-uh…o-okay…think that's enough of a break. We need to get back to it. Think we're almost there." Raphael near babbled, shifting, kind of stumbling to his feet before turning back around, holding his hand out to help Simon up.

Simon blinked at the sudden change.

"Oh! Um y-yeah, yeah definitely." He swallowed, tucking a few wayward curls behind his ear, feeling his cheeks warm, reaching up, taking his hand.

He starts faintly as Raphael pulls, bringing him to his feel like it's nothing. He gasps at the quick yank, stumbling a bit, colliding into Raphael full force, hand coming to rest on his bicep, other bracing himself around his neck. Raphael gasped, hands shifting, one coming to rest on his shoulder, the other at Simon's waist, steadying him. Simon gave a soft breathless laugh, hand on Raphael's shoulder slipping down along his bicep, subconsciously squeezing.

"Oh wow…" he breathed, swallowing, feeling his breath catch and a dizzying little spin in his head and chest.

Damn….that's…oh my…

He gave a soft, breathless little laugh, shifting, glancing up, catching those dizzyingly bright, impossibly dark eyes, an excited little shiver slipping down his spine. He hums softly, eyes fluttering closed, beginning to shift closer before starting, coming back to himself, quickly shifting back, giving a nervous, sheepish little laugh.

"Uh-s-sorry I um-"

Raphael shook his head, blinking, a pretty warmth dusting his sharp cheekbones, flashing a soft smile, waving him off.

"N-no, totally my fault. Tend to forget my own strength…you alright?"

Simon giggled, nodding, reaching up, tucking a few loose curls behind his ear.

"Y-yeah, fine…just a bit of a head rush. Probably from the change in pressure. Sorry about that."

"Again, my fault."

Simon blushed, shrugging, flashing a soft little smile.

"We'll just share the blame; I shouldn't have been so clumsy and you should know by now how to reign in your supervillainous strength."

Raphael laughed, rolling his eyes, flashing that dizzying, knee weakening smile. Simon smiled back, giving a slight shrug, nodding, beginning to move towards the edge of the platform before pausing, shifting back closer to him, holding up a finger, glancing over at him.

"Umm…Raph? How do we get down?"

"Like this, just hold on- it's a bit disorienting till you get used to it." Raphael chuckled, settling a bit closer, once more resting his hand on his arm to steady him before shifting, tapping his foot twice on the hovering terraformed platform.

Simon gasps, starting faintly as the thing begins to move, drifting back down to the floor of the base. He shifts, settling a bit closer to Raphael, resting his hand on his arm, squeezing gently, glancing up.

"Sorry…"

"I'm not…" Raphael smiled, shrugging, settling closer, squeezing Simon's arm, tugging him a bit closer.

Simon giggled, rolling his eyes, nudging him lightly as the platform clicks back into place, blending seamlessly with the little garden section around the base of the largest crystal monolith. Raphael chuckled, catching Simon's hand, tugging lightly, leading him off of the platform, heading back towards the lab proper, making a beeline for the drafting table they had been working at.

Simon smiled, quickly falling into step beside him, bouncing eagerly, coming to a stop next to him, looking over the components before shifting back to Raphael, eyes bright and excited.

"So you really think we can get it up and running?"

Raphael nodded.

"I'm sure of it. Your design was really quite elegant and very well thought out. The only real issue was you didn't have a processor strong enough to run it. I think with the few minor adjustments we made along with my updated, crystal infused processor it'll be a snap."

Simon positively beamed, looking over the parts excitedly, gaze settling in on the little opalescent chip in the case on the edge of the desk. He can't help reaching over, delicately lifting up the clear Magnibox, looking over the delicate little contraption inside with fascination.

It's one of the oddest little things he's ever seen. It doesn't look much thicker than a dime, it's near perfectly translucent and yet when he runs his fingers along the edge of the box, amping up the magnification he can just barely make out delicate layers of slightly different colored slices of crystalline strata. Imbedded within the layers he can see circuitry and micro components that shimmer and spark like precious metals.

He swallowed, blinking, head shaking faintly.

"Oh wow. That is so cool…" he paused, glancing back over at Raphael, brow quirking.

"And It's really made out of the crystals? The kind that you're growing here?"

Raphael nodded, settling close to his side, hand reaching up, resting next to Simon's on the box.

"Yes, a few of them actually. Each type conducts different types of energies. When you layer them it compounds the processing power. This little chip right here? It can process over a dozen terabytes of data per millisecond."

Simon blinked, head shaking faintly.

"Oh wow that's j-" he startles at a squeaking, trilling series of beeps, boops and clicks.

He gasps, nearly fumbling the box, quickly clasping it securely before turning, glaring over at the snarking, snapping Becks.

"Damnit Becks! You scared the hell out of me! What are y-"

He's cut off by yet another barrage of clicks and boops. Next to him Raphael quirked his eyebrow, laughing faintly, glancing over at Simon.

"What's he going on about? I don't even think I've seen him for over an hour. Kinda forgot he was here actually."

He huffed exasperatedly, giving a fluttery wave towards him.

"Me too. And he's just spinning because he didn't know where I was. He thought I abandoned him down here. Apparently somebody fell asleep- yet again." He shifted, glaring pointedly at the little contraption.

Becks huffed right back, mimicking his pose, waving him off, gesturing between the two of them once again making the blah, blah, blah, motion.

Simon gasped, rolling his eyes shaking his head.

"Oh we were not!" he shifted, glancing over at Raphael.

"He said we were going on and on and it's apparently completely our fault he fell asleep because we were so boring."

Raphael blinked, glancing over at the little tridectopod, brow quirking in playful challenge, head tilting.

"Hey now little one. I've been called a lot of things in my life; boring has never been one of them."

Becks startled, scrambling, shaking his head, squeaking, animatedly gesturing towards Simon. Simon laughed, rolling his eyes, nodding.

"Oh no; apparently YOU were fascinating- the boring was all me."

Raphael laughed, nodding.

"Okay, just so we have that cleared up."

Simon gasped, giving a surprised laugh, eyes widening.

"Hey!"

Raphael chuckled softly, smiling, shaking his head, giving a fluttery little wave, slipping a bit closer.

"Relax Angel. I'm just kidding. You are about the farthest thing from boring. Little guy must have just overdone it today. That's probably why he's so cranky."

Becks gasped, squeaking, glaring and pouting.

Raphael held his hands up placatingly.

"Sorry little one but you are being a bit snappy. Maybe the nap was a good idea. Seems we may have woke you up too soon."

Beck glared, squeaking and trilling, turning to Simon, gesturing towards Raphael tentacles flailing about animatedly. Simon bit his lip to keep from laughing. Raphael quirked his eyebrow.

"What did he just say?"

Simon blushed, shaking his head.

"I-um…I-I don't think I caught it." He shook his head again, cheeks warming, flashing a too wide smile.

"Uh huh…you know Angel? If you're gonna be working in a top secret, clandestine company we're really gonna have to work on your bluffing skills."

Simon blushed brighter, feeling the heat clear up to his ears, reaching up, nervously scratching at the back of his head.

"Yeah…uh…probably a good idea. Sorry; he's kinda an ass sometimes. Like I said it's probably a really good thing people can only understand like five to ten percent of what he says. He gets me in enough trouble as it is.

Just try to ignore him as best you can. He's just cranky cause he woke up and didn't know where we were."

Raphael chuckled, nodding.

"Yeah, I could see that..." he smirked, shifting over to Becks, flashing a faint smile.

"We wouldn't just abandon you."

He started, squeaking, gesturing animatedly between him and Simon, huffing, kind of pouting. Raphael glanced over at Simon, brow quirking.

He sighed, shrugging.

"He said we already forgot him."

Raphael smiled, nodding.

"Yeah, sorry about that little one, totally unintentional. But just so you know we couldn't forget you down here. Whenever the transport is engaged it ensures all beings that arrived in it are accounted for. That includes cybernetic life forms. Still I am sorry for the start little one.."

Becks pouted, huffing, giving a bit of a shrug. Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, leaning in a little closer.

"Ah come on little one? You're not gonna hold a grudge over one little slip up are you?"

Becks seemed to think about it for a moment before sighing, giving a faint, halfhearted little shrug. Simon snorted, rolling his eyes, glancing up at Raphael, brow quirking.

"I have mentioned he's a bit of a drama queen, right?"

Raphael chuckled, nodding.

"Once or twice." He paused, smiling, shifting back to Becks, reaching over, lightly patting his head.

"Actually you know with that sass and attitude you'll fit in perfectly around here. Glad to have you on the team little one. Thinking things are gonna be a lot more interesting with you two here." He squeaked and trilled, happily booping.

Raphael laughed softly at the little guys antics, shaking his head, flashing a warm smile at the both of them. Becks squeaked, nodding, chirping happily gesturing between him and Simon. Raphael shifted back to Simon, brow quirking.

"That one safe to translate?"

Simon laughed, nodding.

"He just agreed, said we'll add a lot to the team."

Becks trilled, squeaking and clicking, shaking his head, waving at Simon before gesturing to himself, puffing up dramatically. Simon laughed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly, shaking his head.

"Oh, sorry HE'LL add a lot to the group; apparently I'm just here to be cute, transport him and open doors since he isn't able to on his own." He huffed, shaking his head, glaring heatlessly at the little tridectopod.

"Alright you little brat, I am not your personal Sherpa. I am the scientist with the job here; you're just my lovely assistant."

Becks squeaked, shaking his head, gesturing between the two of them. Simon scoffed, shaking his head.

"I am not! Is the craziness of this place frying your circuits? You're delusional."

Becks trilled, clicking and squeaking, waving him off, gesturing animatedly between Raphael and Simon and himself.

"Oh for heaven sakes! He already told you. We didn't ditch you! You fell asleep. It's not my fault you lost track of where we were."

Becks clicked, squeaked and trilled, shaking his head, gesturing around the lab dramatically. Simon scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh we did not abandon you! We were in the lab with you the whole time!"

Three little squeak and a feedback like trill. Simon huffed, gesturing over to where the terraformed platform was settled.

"We were up by the top of the dome taking a little break on one of the hover platforms over there. We were fine!"

Becks froze before his ocular sensor widened, flailing animatedly, shaking his head, tendrils gesturing between Simon and the platform in a near scolding gesture. Simon gave a disbelieving laugh, shaking his head.

"Oh don't be so dramatic, I was fine!"

Becks trilled again, near pacing, gesturing between Simon and the platform and the top of the dome and the ground, making a smacking motion. Simon rolled his eyes waving him off.

"I was not gonna fall-I was fine!"

Becks squeaked, gesturing over his shoulder.

"Oh it is not! The thing with the platforms and the dino pit was just a fluke. And again I was perfectly fine! I didn't fall in."

Becks trilled, tendrils flailing towards Raphael and back.

"Yeah, yeah Raph caught me last time but even if he didn't I'd of likely been fine. I'm not nearly as fragile and clumsy as you make me out to be."

Becks made a very distinctive 'pfft' sound, animatedly nodding gesturing again between Simon and the floor, waving, gesturing towards the various shelves, cabinets and drawers situated around the inner part of the lab.

Raphael laughed, nodding, flashing an amused smile, giving a bit of a shrug.

"Well if it'll make you feel better I have that whole cabinet over in the corner full of the kind we use for transporting highly volatile explosives-think that'd be strong enough…well maybe it would." he chuckled again, shaking his head.

Simon paused, blinking, glancing over in confusion.

"What?"

Raphael shrugged, gesturing towards a smooth black mirrored cabinet along the wall.

"The cabinet over th…" he trailed off, freezing, clearly just realizing something.

Simon and Becks froze as well, glancing between each other, bickering argument totally forgotten. Becks glanced over at the cabinet Raphael had pointed out, blinking, a blue x-ray light emitting, shifting over the contents of the cabinet before turning back to Simon, giving a hesitant little trilling boop, gaze shifting from the case back to Raphael. Simon blinked.

"Bubble wrap…Wait…d-did you understand him? Like for real? Did you hear what he just said?" he shifted, gesturing over at Becks.

Raphael looked somewhat confused before a faint blink and you miss it flash of nervousness. He shifts, the flicker of a start completely disappearing, the real smile slipping subtly, suddenly replaced with a perfectly innocent, somewhat confused, deceptively false one, shaking his head.

"Huh…I don't know. That was really weird. Something must have got crossed. My Rosetta chip is pretty advanced. It must have picked it up. Must have been some kind of fluke."

Simon blinked, shaking his head.

"Your chip translated him? That doesn't make any sense…"

Becks squeaked softly, shifting closer to Simon, nudging him. Simon huffed, shrugging him off, focusing back in on the other man. Raphael shrugged, again trying to wave him off, flashing an overly charming, purposefully disarming smile.

"I don't know, it's really not that crazy. My Rosetta Chip is a fair bit more advanced than the others- one of the many benefits of being the creator; I get the advanced model with all the extra bells and whistles. I can understand binary and a few other computer languages. It is pretty intuitive and adaptable. It must have just pieced it together. That's actually pretty cool.

I have to figure out how it did that, see if I can replicate it."

Simon blinked, shifting, head shaking slowly.

"Raph? Y-you're lying…"

He started, shaking his head, giving a convincing but false laugh, flashing a warm, beguiling, deceptively charming smile that instantly sets Simon on edge.

"What? No I'm not…why would you think that?"

Simon quirked his eyebrow, arms folding.

"Because you are. What I don't understand is why."

He shifted, shrugging.

"I told you the c-"

Becks again trilled, nudging him more insistently. Again Simon waved him off, shaking his head, shifting a bit closer to the other man, continuing.

"Yeah, no it didn't. There's no way it did. You didn't just recognize random patterns or familiar noise combos like for a name or something like that. You had a very specific very random word…how did you do that? How did you understand what he said?" Simon shifts, arms folding, looking him over.

Next to him Becks starts beeping and clicking, trilling incessantly, giving a litany of squeaks, reaching over, tapping on his arm again, trying to get his attention. Simon huffed, waving him off.

"Not now Becks!" He snapped sharply, giving an irritated wave towards him, focus zeroed in on the increasingly bizarre acting Raphael.

"Raphael, why are you lying? How can you understand Becks? What's going on here? What did you do?" Becks again squeaked, trilling, tugging frantically at his arm trying to get his attention but he continued to ignore him.

Raphael blinked, dark gaze flickering down to Becks quickly before shifting back to Simon, smiling that same damn disarmingly charming snake oil salesman like smile, shifting slightly closer, head shaking.

"Come on Angel, I'm not lying. It must just be some kind of fluke. I would like to explore it though and see if I can replicate it."

Simon scoffed, shaking his head, brow quirking.

"Yeah, no. Don't 'Angel' me right now. You're trying to distract me and you are lying through your freaking teeth. What the hell is going on here Raphael?

The truth this time."

He blinked in surprise, those dark, dizzying eyes shifting over Simon, an odd mix of impressed and annoyance flickering behind the false confusion and smiles. He shifts, beginning to shake his head before seemingly giving up on that, flashing a sheepish, clearly distractory smile, giving a graceful, fluttery little wave, settling a bit closer, holding his hands up placatingly.

"Damn you're good. You got me; I was lying. But it's nothing like you're thinking and nothing overly concerning. It's just a bit of an ego and image kind of thing. I don't like to let people see me plugging away and trying and failing. I always prefer my breakthroughs to look like effortless genius. I don't let people in on my projects until they're fully functional- I do have an image to maintain after all.

Apologies for the start- it's just a kind of go to move when you're used to keeping your projects under wraps. This one won't be ready for quite a while, and it's nothing I could market, completely specialized and purely for personal use. I'm sure I would have told you as soon as I got all the kinks worked out seeing as it involves your most incredible invention yet.." He flashed another one of those suspiciously charming, vaguely flirtatious smiles, slinking a bit closer, giving a little chuckle and a flickering wave towards Becks.

"I just couldn't help it. The little guy is totally something else. He seems to be chattering constantly and I was pretty curious exactly what he was saying-seemed pretty flattering- well at least where I was concerned and really entertaining when it comes to a lot of the others.

I would have told you once the logistics and all of that was worked out. See when I was looking through your files I came across some of Becks old schematics. My curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to see if I could make a way to communicate with him one on one. Like I told you I have a real knack with algorithms, I just made one to translate his speech and integrated it into my Rosetta Chip."

Simon shifted slowly, taking a casual step back.

"You edited your translator chip to understand him? The chip implanted in your head as we speak?"

He gave that same convincingly charming smile, nodding, visibly relaxing- clearly thinking this story landed-giving a bit of a wave.

"Yeah. And again-I know how that sounds but it's really not anything quite so dramatic. I have a back door to it for updates, routine maintenance and that kind of thing. It's really quite simple and totally safe. This update is still very much in the trial phase though; not even close to completely functional- doubt it will be for weeks.

Right now I'm just getting little blips here and there but it seems to be coming along nicely. That was the first full sentence I got translated. Quite fascinating really." He finished, once more flashing that overly charming false smile.

Simon swallowed, subtly shifting back.

"A-and you made your algorithm using his schematics?"

Raphael smiled, nodding.

"Yeah I-"

Simon swallowed again, head shaking.

"But you didn't."

"Wha-yes I d-"

"No. You didn't. You couldn't have. Becks could not have sent his schematics along with the rest because he does not have access to his own schematics. If he has access to them he could self-edit and that is wildly illegal and could get us both in a lot of trouble.

You couldn't have got his schematics from the data dump he gave you. He does not have that data."

Raphael shifted, shrugging.

"A-are you sure? Maybe there was a backup copy mixed in with all the rest? There was a lot- years' worth; seems like nearly a decade's worth. Thousands of ideas, blips, flits and flickers. You don't think in all that time the plans couldn't have gotten mixed in?"

Simon took a deep breath, trying to keep himself from spinning, panicking or spiraling, feeling a cold, icy chill slipping down his spine. He gulped, shaking his head, taking another cautious step back, starting as his back comes into contact with the drafting table Becks is setting on.

"N-no, there is no back up copy. I do not keep copies of his schematics. I deleted them over five years ago. Completely wiped my servers and did a complete reset, clean restart in order to ensure his plans wouldn't ever get out and there wouldn't be any copies. He was a fluke; turned out far more adaptable and far more advanced than I ever accounted for. Once I saw what all he was capable of I cleared all the digital footprints and wiped every possible trace.

The only thing I have for him is his maintenance reports and logs of his recalibration. All of those are kept completely independently on a separate server that isn't even connected to any outside data connection. I am careful as hell with his data. I may not know everything that's in my files but I know without a doubt what isn't- what I specifically –intentionally- left out."

Raphael blinked, swallowing, clearly seeing he's backed himself into a corner here, placatingly holding his hands up, trying again for the charming smile.

"I-uh-well maybe it just g-"

Simon gave a soft scoff, shaking his head again, feeling the panic intensify, fighting down a sickening feel of dread, having an idea he knows what's going on but really hoping he's wrong, continuing on unable to stop his panicked babble.

"A-and even if his schematics where in the data dump your story still wouldn't make sense. His language details wouldn't be in his original schematics because I never intended for him to be able to communicate at that level. We spent over a year and a half making our own language. And we made it after he was complete; after I'd completely deleted the schematics, when I really realized what he was capable of.

You couldn't have cracked it by just cobbling together binary and a random assortment of computer languages. It's not specifically based on computer language. It's not based on any set known language. It's a mishmash of computer language, old sci-fi and fantasy languages from shows and books, some little dashes of a fantasy language I invented for a D&D game I was workshopping in high school, various human sounds and an assortment of echolocation samples I was studying at the time when I was trying to figure out if there were any kinds of common links." He swallowed, shaking his head, wrapping his arms around himself, looking up scared, near pleadingly.

"Raphael, what is going on? What did you do? Wha -" he trails off as Becks starts, trilling loudly, flailing, tugging fearfully at his arm, all but screeching at him.

Simon huffs, pulling his arm away from him, looking over in annoyance, giving an angry wave.

"What?!"

Becks gives a scared sound, trilling, booping and clicking, animatedly gesturing towards Raphael. He blinks, shifting, blinking his ocular sensor once more before it glows brightly, showing a projection.

Simon freezes as the data shifting over the projection registers. It's running through all the complied data he has from his interactions with Raphael today…it's identifying the readings he's getting from him…they're registering as false…as a projection…

T-they are not registering him as human…

Simon blinks, freezing…turning back to Raphael in undisguised fear. Raphael, blinks, dark gaze shifting from him down to Becks cowering behind his arm and over the data projection still cycling through, clearly displaying artificial, non-human entity in blazing neon red letters.

Raphael takes a deep breath, holding his hands up placatingly…

"Okay…I can totally explain…"

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*~*~*End Of Chapter Notes*~*~*

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Flower language: {Couldn't resist sneaking in a tiny bit}

Daisy: Innocence, New Beginnings

Yay another one down!

Kay that was a lot- and if you can believe it it's actually shorter than I'd intended as I had a whole other section with Raphael and Simon meeting in the office and flirting on the transport ride to the lab…however when I got all the other necessary sections {And the fluffy Malec interlude} done it was over 20k words and while it'd of been cute and give more time for flirting and fluffies it didn't really add much beyond that.

Clearly we weren't in need of extra filler here.

There's really way too much to unpack here. I just really hope you liked it. I know it was a lot for one chapter but things just kept getting pushed and I ended up with this being the last chapter I was writing so if it was going into the story it had to go here. I really do love how this went. I loved Kasey's spiraling and crazy theories and the Malec flirting and cuteness and I freaking ADORE Millie. I know it might seem a bit out of character for a 1950's housewife but at the end of the day a mom is a mom and someone doing something that hurts their kids can trigger that mama bear instinct regardless of the era they're from.

I SO wanted to do more on Raph's lab/supervillian lair. I kinda wanted it to feel like the crystal caves in V5 but we had to put a different twist on it and we'd already did the throwaway thing about having a base in the Mariana trench. Thought this was a kind of fun twist.

I really love Raphael and Simon and I always adore Becks, he's just so cute.

I know this was a hell of a journey but we made it through!

As I mentioned this is the last chapter I had to finish writing. I know there's another two chapters however they are already completed so they will be published within minutes of this one!

So yes, this story is complete after five freaking years! I can't believe it took this long but you all seriously have no clue the amount of work I'm putting in behind the scenes on these things. I have backstories and all of the future plots worked out and about a million other things that while right now seem kinda time waste-ish will be super useful as we continue on and will actually help the other stories get done a lot faster.

Anyways, enough of that; here is the update list so you can get an idea where we're going next:

Nosey Neighbors {Ch9}*

*The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4}{10-12} *~Complete!

*Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch11-12}*Complete!

*You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch9}*

*Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch10-12}*

*Devil Went Down To Jersey {V5 –ch2}*

*Opposites Attract {V6-ch1}*

Nosey Neighbors {Ch10-12}*

*You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch10-12}*

Again, this is a very soft order. I plan on publishing chapter 9 for V1 next as it's the last one I have that I need to get to the final 3 chapters but honestly verses 5 and 7 have really been calling to me lately so I may end up getting the 2nd chapters of them out of the way first. Regardless we are really getting into the home stretch on this round {finally!}.

This chapter gets us down to only 10 chapters left. 10 out of 108! It might be a bit before my next update as I'm going to get the 12th chapters of the remaining three {I'm actually halfway through all three of them so it shouldn't take too long.}. Once I get those done we should really be cooking.

So what do you think so far?

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{ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*]8*- Future Fallout Verse*-8 [ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*}