Froggy and H.E.L.E.N. had done one hell of a job to create fake ID's for Froggy, Cass, Mera and Brett. They entered the club around the corner of their hotel without any problems and were instantly greeted by humming loud beats.

Anja who was a lawyer had not been very keen on the idea to take minors into a club, let alone let them drink but had given in at last. Most of them had no intention of getting drunk anyway.

"So, you think the trial could work?" Jason asked Anja as they managed to get a table in a corner far away enough from the dance floor to talk.

Anja nodded. "Yes, but don't get too enthusiastic. I sat in a lot of courtrooms and I saw a lot of cases turn out quite unexpectedly."

"Unexpected? How?" Neri wanted to know.

"The jury voted guilty although the evidence showed clearly that the accused was innocent and the other way round."

"I don't know what's more disturbing," Lena said. "It's horrible how far you can get by corruption."

Mera shook her head. "I don't think our people could be corrupt. The rebels are maybe brainwashed and some of them really believe in Malakat's ideas but we felt they don't want a war either."

"I'm not talking about your people," Anja said and addressed Jason again. "You said you want to include humans in the jury. You have to keep in mind, they might be the weakest link. To our expense."

"We have to include them," Jason replied. "De Souza will take care of it. And I doubt she will choose the participants lightly."

"Guys!" Mick cried and placed a plate with drinks on the table. "We are here to have fun! Bad enough you won't drink but do you have to kill the mood too?"

"Yeah," Cass agreed, "we can talk about the heavy stuff tomorrow. This is supposed to be fun! Can we just be young for one evening?"

"We are young," Neri responded.

"Maybe physically," Mick said and sat down next to Vanessa, "but with you guys, I rather feel like going out with my parents!"

"Come on, Jase," Brett begged, ignoring the irritated look Jason gave him. "I know you're still mad at me but for once, can you be my brother and not my Dad?" He shoved the plate closer to Jason which not just had their soda on it but also tiny glasses with a suspicious ruby-red liquid in it.

"Jason! Jason!" Mick began to cheer him on. Froggy, Brett and Cass fell in. Even Mera joined them and Neri laughed.

Jason grinned and sighed resigned. He grabbed one of the shots and drank it in one swallow. It was way too sweet with a hint of strawberry while burning down his throat at the same time.

Mick, Brett, Cass, Froggy, Vanessa and Lena cheered and drank their shots. Neri grabbed one of the glasses and smelled it with a confused look, then drank it down like the others who watched her in surprise.

She wildly shook her head and shoved the glass away from her with a disgusted expression. "This taste bad," she complained. "Why do you drink it?"

"It's not about the taste," Mick explained, "but rather about its magical ability to turn boring people into fun people." He winked at Jason.

"Or even more an idiot in his case," Vanessa pointed out.

"Oh, don't pretend you don't like idiots," Mick grinned at her, his tone flirty.

"Not all of them are so bad," she replied, locking eyes with him.

"Get her another shot quickly," Mick said to Brett. "Then I get her to admit she actually likes me!"

"Idiot!" Vanessa took him by the chin and pulled his face in her direction so she could kiss him.

"So Mick gets lucky tonight," Neri assumed quietly in Jason's ear.

"I guess so," he replied, his face close to hers.

"Noooo!" Brett tossed in. "This is NOT gonna be a couple's night. Everybody dance floor!"

Neri grinned at Jason who hid his relief that Brett changed the topic so fast. "You can dance. I remember."

"You wanna dance?"

"Yes," she insisted and took him by the hand to pull him up.

It was a good thing she didn't let go until they were in the middle of the dance floor, for it was very crowded. The beats were loud and the bass humming in a steady rhythm which was easy to follow. Neri mirrored his simple movements and Jason found himself surprisingly happy. This was certainly not a situation he had ever imagined them in but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Neri was radiant and even though he wasn't very fond of this kind of music, the energy around them was infectious and just ordered them to move along with the others. He couldn't stop touching her. Her hand, her back, her waist. Even while dancing he managed to place his hands on her without being inappropriate or lose touch. The pulsating rhythm of the songs made him feel somehow alive and awake.

Boldly, he took another one of those strawberry shots Mick offered them. It tasted still as disgusting as the first one and he began to feel a little dizzy but also lighter. The melody of the current song was somehow familiar and when he realised it was a cover from a classic rock song, he began to sing along. Neri laughed at him and Mick grabbed his shoulders as they both swagged back and forth to the tune. At some point, Jason stumbled over one line and the sight was starting to get blurry.

"You're okay, mate?" Mick asked, his voice a little slurred when Jason had stopped dancing.

Neri suddenly grabbed Jason, watching him with concern, clearly questioning his well-being. Grateful for her being so strong, he took some deep breaths to regain his balance. Neri put a hand on his forehead and his view cleared up.

"Thank you," he told her into her ear and she smiled.

"You can't hold your liqueur, can you?" Mick laughed and patted his back.

"I'm not exactly used to it," Jason replied loudly over the music then turning back to Neri. "I'll fetch us water, okay?"

She nodded and he made his way through the crowd to the bar. The air was warm and steamy, pregnant with a mixture of perfume and sweat. It made him feel sick. The last shot had clearly been a mistake.

"Two bottles of water, please," he told the barkeeper and put the money note on the counter.

"Let me guess," a feminine voice in his ear said, "the red club special?"

He turned in the direction and found himself next to a dark-haired girl in a black dress sitting on a barstool, her red and shiny lips curved up in a friendly, open smile. He grinned back and nodded.

"It's horrible," he admitted. "I don't know why I took the second one."

She laughed at him. "Because you don't feel anything by the first one and you tell yourself, it wasn't that bad!"

"Yeah, there's something on it," he responded when suddenly someone passed by and shoved her forward into his direction.

"Sorry," she said quickly, her hand on his arm to keep her from falling off her stool.

"No problem."

"So, in here for the first time?" she wanted to know.

"Yeah, I'm not from around here. Just visiting some friends," he explained and took the water bottles from the barkeeper. "I gotta go back to them. It was nice talking to you. Have a nice evening!"

"Okay, bye."

He made his way back and gave the other bottle to Neri who didn't look as happy anymore.

"I think, you just broke a heart," Mick told him and nodded in direction of the bar.

Jason shook his head and took a sip of his water. "Nah, it was just nice chitchat while waiting for the drinks."

"Oh no, she was checking out your ass when you walked back!"

Jason ignored him.

"Jason?" Mera asked who appeared next to them. "Can we go soon? We need to hydrate soon." She pointed to Neri's empty bottle. He gave her the rest of his water and Neri put some on her lips and forehead.

"Sure." He pulled Neri closer. "You're okay? You wanna go?"

"Yes, please."

He scolded himself for not being attentive enough. Of course he knew about the dehydrating effect of alcohol and he should have known it wouldn't do any good to someone who needed water as much as oxygen. He held her tightly on their way back out of the club.