Of Brick and Stone (open)

(I was thinking that Trent and the others would introduce the plan to the rebels and then Aaly (Or shotgun) could say she has someone in mind (or tell Trent privately). Of course there would be some backlash, but then they could say why the idea is a good one. And go right ahead, messed up characters are always the funnest ;P)


"Not exactly,"Derrick confessed. "But we should present the plan to everyone else. Take volunteers and then go from there," he suggested.


"I wouldn't trust her either," Shotgun said. "What's that saying?" Shotgun asked, then remembered. "Oh yeah, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Maybe it we ignored her, she'll just go away," the young rebel said hopefully, but doubted it.


“Noelle Damon? That can’t be right.”


Instead of going straight home Halo had stopped at Crisis’s house. He had to tell someone what he had just seen.


“I’m telling you Crisis it was her, or someone who looked a lot like her,” Halo reassured her. Crisis was dressed in her blue pjs with white bunnies all over. She looked like she had just woken up, which she had.


“So the president of FlyBird just murdered a random man in cold blood?” Crisis asked, still skeptical.


Halo didn’t blame her; he wouldn’t have believed him either if he hadn’t just seen it with his own eyes. “Crisis I’m telling you, it was Noelle Damon!”


Crisis thought about this. “Why would she kill him?”


“I don’t know,” Halo shrugged. “He said something about doing business. She was saying something too but I didn’t stick around to find out what.”


“Well let’s just hope she isn’t going around killing everyone that works for her. That would be bad for my mom and dad,” Crisis said, sarcasm in her voice.


“Where are your parents anyway?” Halo asked, it was almost midnight.


Crisis’s eyes lit up as she remembered something. “Noelle came here earlier today,” She then grinned. “She didn’t look at all like a cold-hearted murderer.”


“Why was she here?”


“She sent mom and dad on a business trip; they seem to be going on a lot of those lately.” Crisis got up and disappeared into her bed room. “Speaking of death, did you hear about the car crash?” she called to Halo.


“I’d have to be living under a rock to have missed that,” Halo said.


“How crazy right? I mean a glitch in the Grid? When has that ever happened? And what bad luck for District 1. First a bombing and now their king and queen are dead—“ Crisis gasped. “What if District 2 is behind the crash? I mean killing is not exactly beneath them.”


“Huh,” Halo said. He hadn’t thought about that. “Well one things for sure, they’re celebrating the deaths of the leaders of District 1.”


“Aaly’s probably organizing a party,” another gasp. “You know I talked to her today, about the chips.”


“And?”


“No dice, I swear that girl had no manners. She had the nerve to say that I had nothing to trade for them.” Crisis scoffed.


Halo smiled and shook his head. Crisis was used to getting everything she wanted. “What would a rebel want?” Halo called into the bedroom. She had been in there for a while, what was she doing?


“Aside from complete world domination?”


“I think the word you meant was freedom.” Halo could actually head Crisis roll her eyes. “Give her the security codes for FlyBird. I’m sure she would love that, and it’s not like you couldn’t get them,” Crisis was a grade A hacker, getting those codes would be a breeze. And it helped that both her parents worked for the company.


“And commit treason against my own district? I’ll pass.”


“I didn’t say the current ones, give her some old ones. Didn’t you say the codes change every seventy-two hours?”


“Halo that’s brilliant! You see, this is why we’re friends.” Crisis came out of her room dressed in jeans and a tee, her once messy bed-head had been brushed and pulled into a braid which hung over her left shoulder.


“Why are you dressed?” Halo asked.


“Because I want to see the crime scene,” Crisis said like it should have been obvious.
 
(Ok! ^^ Then I shall introduce him! x3)


Trent nodded and sighed as he stood up "That's a start. Shall we get going then?"


"Yeah" Relena stood up as well, though she still had an undeniable scowl settled on her face.


"Would you really believe that?" Aaly crossed her arms, a bit irritated "I don't like that girl. Ticks me off every time I talk to her"


"Oh, yeah?" Nate leaned his back against the wall "You should have thought that through when you let her escape"


"Yeah well, I won't make that mistake again" She told him with a shrug.


"So this is District 2" A girl from among a relatively big group of people commented as she stared out of the window of a big hover car that approached the Rebel District.


"It's. . . Not really what I had in mind" The guy who was beside her pointed out.


"Well, this will be our home now, you know?" The girl said, turning to look him.


The guy sighed, leaning back on his chair "Just for the time being, it's not like I'm planning on living here forever. I'll go back to my District eventually"


The girl huffed lightly "It was our only choice, Jilian. At least, you managed to get here, some were not that lucky" Her eyes lowered to her hands, an underlining sadness portrayed on them.


Jilian glanced at the girl and wrapped one of his arms loosely around her "I know. But I'm sure Hev was ready to face death ever since the very beginning, he was the boss after all"


A small smile settled on the face of the guy who was sitting in front of the couple as he laid his hands on the Rebel base. He rested his chin on top of the palm of his hand. "Cheer up guys. We did it" He said reassuringly as he pointed down with his chin


(I think I'm a bit too lazy to do another profile xD So here goes the guy's picture at least)

1327177972.6668.jpeg
 
(Lolz, I'll put him up now)


“There’s no body here,” Crisis said. “And no sign of murder at all.”


Crisis and Halo had traveled the forty minuet hover board ride it took to get back to the dark alley where Halo had witness a murder.


“Are you serious Sherlock?” Halo asked in mock astonishment. “You mean they didn’t leave the body or a pool of blood around for some random teenagers to find?”


Crisis rolled her eyes at Halo’s sarcasm. “I was just expecting something more than a dark alley. And who’s Sherlock?”


Halo gave her a look. “You don’t know—“ he shook his head. “I told you they cleaned up, you wanted to come here.”


Crisis put her hands on her hips and looked around. “Hey, there are cameras here.”


“So?” Halo asked. The whole district was littered with cameras. Big brother was always watching.


“So, it must have captured what was going on in the Alley. If I can get into the system then we can see what it saw.”


“Crisis that’s genius,” Halo exclaimed.


Crisis smiled. “Isn’t it?”


Crisis pulled out her d0t hack, she never went anywhere without it and that included midnight strolls in dark alleys, and went to work on hacking into the camera system. Meanwhile, Halo was scanning the skies for curfew bots. All persons under the age of eighteen needed to be inside by 9pm. Everyone else, no matter your age, had to be inside by 11pm unless authorized otherwise. Neither Crisis nor Halo was supposed to be outside.


“Here, I got it,” Crisis said bringing his attention back to her. Halo peered over his best friend’s shoulder to the small screen of the d0t hack. “What time did you say this took place?”


“About 10pm,” Halo said.


Crisis fast forwarded until the time stamp read 9:58pm. On the screen a tall slender man dressed in all black and reflective glasses was walking down the street towards the alley.


“That’s him,” Halo said.


The man turned into the alley and then nothing else happened. The alley stayed quiet, no one came out, and certainly no one got shot in the back of the head. After five minutes of watching nothing, Crisis fast forwarded the footage until she saw someone in a jumpsuit run past. Crisis stopped, re-winded, and then played.


“Is that you?” Crisis asked.


“Yeah…” Halo said slowly, confusion written all over his face. “Wait, I don’t understand what just happened.”


Crisis rewinded again and stopped as Halo ran past the camera. She checked the time stamp; it read 10:40pm. “I think I do. They must have put the cameras on a loop.”


“A loop?”


“Yeah, they made it so it played the same footage over and over again until they left. Hmm, smart.” Crisis shut off her d0t hack. “Is it bad that you’re caught on camera?”


Halo shook his head. “No, it just looks like I’m running to catch the last train.”


“Ball bombings, royal crashes, and now erased murders? It begs the question…” Crisis stared.


“What the hell is going on?” Halo finished.


Shotgun sighed. "Yeah Nate, and I'm sure that you would have handled that situation with flying colors," sarcasm dripped from his words. "How about you get off on the judgment train, yeah? I sure the situation isn't half as bad as it seems..." his voice trailed off as he noticed Derrick, Relena, and his fearless leader enter the room. Shotgun kept his eye on the three as they made their way to the front of the room. Finally, he thought.


Derrick stood front and center, arms crossed over his broad chest, waiting for the room to quiet. Once it did, he began. "By now, I'm sure all of you have heard about the crash."


Cheers all around.


Once again, Derrick waited.


"And I'm sure that you realize who the new ruler of District 1 is."


Angry mutters.


Then out of nowhere, someone yelled, "We're not scared of that pampered brat!"


The room was flooded with yeah's!


This time, Derrick allowed a smiled, he commended them for their courage. This is what he loved about Xiii.


"On that note," the doctor said moving to the back. "Trent has important information to share."


Derrick moved to stand by Relena, giving Trent the floor. But as he did so, an older female rebel who Derrick knew as Tera, walked up and spoke in Trent's ear."


"A hover car from District 6 has just landed."
 
(Ok! ^^ His name shall be mmm. . . Maurice! xD )


Trent turned to look at Tera and nodded "Send them in" He might as well welcome them there. First he had to be done with the announcement though. After Tera had left the main hall he turned to the rebels again "I'll be brief everyone. . ." With that Trent went through the whole explanation about the weaponry and what they were supposed to do about that. After, what he had believed, had been a proper explanation he made his way to the center, stopping on his heels as he reached it "So, we will be recruiting a few of you to be part of the groups which will be planting the bombs, the group which will hack into the factory's system and send the information and the group which will be retrieving whatever Relena tell us she needs. Also, the one who will be posing as the fake worker. This 'worker' however, should preferably be someone with specific characteristics" He explained some of the things Derrick had recommended "I know that many of you would like to volunteer. So I'd like you all to think this through and come and see either of us through the day or night. We will consider our options and shall let you know who would be accompanying me on this mission by tomorrow morning"


As soon as Trent was done with his 'speech' the main hall's doors were opened once again, a group of people, strangers to the District 2 rebels, walked in, following Tera. Some of them looked amazed, others excited, scared and above all curious. Trent turned to them and nodded, for once, a welcoming smile settling on his lips.


"Please, come on in" He said "As xiii leader I welcome you all to our headquarters"


"Have you ever seen that smile on Trent's lips? It's kind of creepy" Aaly whispered to Shotgun as she eyed curiously at the District 6 rebels, she presumed, who were making their way through the District 2 rebels that scooted back lightly.


One of the recently arrived, seemingly one of the older ones approached Trent as some others split up and started to talk with some of the District 2 guys or girls that approached them as well. Like that, the main hall was soon filled with separate chattering.


"That description Trent was talking about. Doesn't a particular person come to your mind as well?" Aaly finally turned to Shotgun once Nate had disappeared somewhere into the crowd.
 
(Lolzzz I feel so dumb, I put his name as Jilian)


Shotgun snickered at Aaly's comment as he took in the new arrivals. So there the were, the much anticipated District 6 rebels. They were not impressive. "You know, I was expecting something spectacular. You know, like trained assassins or something like that. But them... I don't know, they look depressing... and kind of weak." Shotgun shook, then he heard what Aaly said. "Come to mind?" he asked thinking. He did know some people who did factory work in the past, but none of them spoke any other language but English. So who could-- wait! "You're not talking about..." he snapped his fingers. "That Japanese kid, what was his name?" Shotgun had met the kid twice, but never bother to remember his name. "Whatever, anyway he couldn't," Shotgun stopped mid-sentence when a thought popped into his head. "Although he would know district better than any of us. But who's to say he want to help up? And who's to say we want his help? He is a member of District 5."
 
Aaly sighed "I know but. . ." However, she was suddenly cut off when somebody bumped into her. She blinked and turned around, her brows furrowed.


"Ah, sorry" A guy, who had come with the recently arrived group apologized.


"Nah, it's okay" Aaly said, tilting her head to the side as her eyes got locked on one small mole he'd got just bellow the outer corner of his right eye. This guy. . . He. . .


"Hmm?" The guy raised his eyebrow.


"Oh, sorry" Aaly apologized as she realized she had been staring at him "It's just that. Hey. . . Have I met you somewhere before?"


"Excuse me?" The guy asked, obviously amused.


Aaly couldn't help it but blush a bit. It sounded as one of those lame pick up lines "No, forget it" She cleared his throat looking to the side.


The guy couldn't help it but laugh "I thought you had changed, but you haven't done so much, now have you, Little Lyby?"


Aaly blinked at the way he addressed her and she looked back at the guy, eye-widened. It couldn't be. . . "Maurice?" She gasped, dumbstruck.


The guy, Maurice, smiled a bit as he shrugged "Long time no see"


"Quite" Aaly agreed, still a bit bewildered "I haven't seen you since. . . Since you were relocated" Oh, maybe he had been the same as her.


"Well, after my parents died I was sent to District 6" He stuffed his hands into his pockets "You should know what happened after that. I was really shocked when I found out you'd became a Rebel too"


"Yeah, well. . . I was sent to District 2" She stated the obvious "But wait, how did you know I became a Rebel?" She couldn't help it but narrow her eyes lightly.


"As soon as District 1 found out, I found out. There's nothing that can remain hidden from me. Hacker remember?" He smirked a bit.


Right. Maurice had been Aaly's dad business associate son. He had been just as genius as his dad. Ever since he was little he had been good at all of that stuff. How could she just forget him? Guessed he just disappeared one day when his parents died and Aaly just never saw him again. Still, he had hung out with her and Jonathan. They used to be pretty close, the three of them. My God! The world was indeed really small.


"Yeah. So Rebel, huh?" She said with a smile "Oh! I almost forgot because of the surprise. Maurice this is Shotgun, my best friend. Shotgun, this is Maurice my. . . well, childhood friend"
 
Shotgun had been completely and utterly confused by the whole conversation. He tried to think back to the conversations he had with Aaly, trying to remember if she had mentioned ever living in District 6. He was brought back to reality when Aaly introduced him to, her childhood friend? That meant back in the days of District 1 right? Just how many people turned their back on the Sky City to live a life as a rebel? He decided that he didn't trust this Maurice kid... or was that feeling jealousy? Either way, he really needed to say something quick as to not look like a complete idiot.


"Hey," Shotgun said giving him a chin nod.
 
"Hev is dead?" Trent's brow furrowed, his voice low as he asked


Jilian nodded, trying to appear serious "He was caught before he managed to get into the hover car" He declared calmly


"There was a raid?" Relena suddenly asked, equally concerned.


"It seems so"


"What do you mean by that?" Trent demanded


"We couldn't tell. Hev suddenly told us to run and then he was dead. We're not sure ourselves" Jilian allowed himself to scowl this time.


Trent shook his head "I'm sorry for the loss" He finally said.


"Likewise" Jilian nodded


"Tera. . . She'll take you all to your 'rooms' " Trent patted Jilian's shoulder "I've got some things to take care of. If you're to be the new leader, you're welcome to accompany me"


Jilian nodded "If that's okay with you, I'll do that"


"Hey there" Maurice nodded, holding out a hand for Shotgun to shake.
 
A pause, then Shotgun reached out and shook his hand. "So you are from District 1 as well?" Shotgun asked. "What made you want to join up with the rebels?"
 
Maurice smiled casually before shrugging "I was moved by the cause?" He then just raked a hand across his hair "I've been living at District 6 for 8 years by now. My loyalty towards District 1 is long gone. Guess it's the same as I suppose Bly's story was, I was shown how things truly were at the lower Districts"


"Hey, we've got to go now" The girl who had sat in front of Maurice said as she recognized him when she passed by "They are going to show us to our 'rooms' "


"Oh, I'm coming" He said as he turned to her before he turned back to Shotgun and Aaly "Well I've got to leave for now, bye" He then unexpectedly pulled Aaly into a hug "Bye, Bly. I hope we see each other soon" He added and pulled back, waving a hand at her as he left.


Aaly stood there, kind of frozen. Five years had gone by and she was by now not really used to hugs. Only from certain people she didn't feel as uncomfortable. She knew she would do that a lot when she was a child though. She shook her head before she finally diverted her gaze from the spot Maurice had just disappeared to look at Shotgun "You didn't seem to like him" She noted. She had seen a bit of distrust on Shotgun's eyes as she introduced him to Maurice, she was not really sure though.
 
Was he really that easy to read? That couldn't be good. Shotgun hid his feelings behind a grin. "Why do you say that? I just met the guy. Anyway," he said changing the subject. "About our little friend in District 5."


(Hey, I'm guessing that once school starts back up none of us are going to have any time for this anymore. So I wanted to turn (or at least try to) this rp into a book. I'd hate for it to just die when I have all these crazy story lines rolling around in my head :P do you mind if I do? Oh and I would love to hear your input on it... if you want.)
 
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Aaly placed her hands on her hips, brow raised. It was obvious she knew he was hiding something "Right..." She said, a bit skeptical "Halo, yes. I don't know" She rubbed the back of her neck lightly "Should we go to Trent and suggest it?"


(Gosh I'm sorry! Internet left us for the whole weekend and they weren't able to come and fix it until today early in the morning. Oh, no, of course not, be my guest :3 "Hear my input on it" What do you mean by that? Sorry, guess my english is still not that good to understand certain things :/ )
 
(Oh no! It's nothing like that. It's just that after summer I'm going to be starting college and with studying, clubs, and trying to find my way around, I don't think I'll have time for this anymore. I just assumed the same for you. And what I mean is like hear what you have to say about your characters and their backgrounds and if I'm doing them justice or not.)


"Yeah," Shotgun said nodding. "I think that would be best. I'm just hoping he hears us out and doesn't explode at the suggestion." Shotgun turned on his heels, searching for Trent in the crowd. When he spotted him he motioned with his chin for Aaly to follow. When Shotgun reached Trent he cleared his throat to get his attention. "Hey um, can we talk to you for a sec?" he asked.
 
(Lol no! I'm not saying that because of that either xD Because I disappeared during the weekend I just felt the need to explain myself. I understand, college is quite time consuming ^^ Oh! I see. Of course, sounds good :) )


Trent turned to face Shotgun when he spoke to him, brow raised "I suppose" He crossed his arms across his chest "What? Want to be part of the groups"


"Not exactly" Aaly said before looking around. It was not like she wanted to give him their suggestion there, where everyone could hear it "Would you mind if we do not speak with you over here?"


Trent's eyes narrowed before he glanced at Jilian "Would you mind?" He asked, as in, if he would mind waiting for him.


Jilian shook his head "Oh, no. Not at all. Please, do so" He said politely.


Trent nodded before he turned to face Shotgun and Aaly "Ok, let's go"
 
(okay I'll inbox you once I finish :) )


Shotgun led Aaly and Trent out into the empty hall. Once there he nervously ran his hand through his hair, not quite knowing how Trent would take the idea.


"Okay, just hear me out on this. It might sound strange at first, but it could give us an advantage. Remember that night when those two District 5 kids were... brought here? Well one of them, the boy, he was born in District 8. And me and Aaly were thinking why not use him as the fake worker?" Shotgun practicality blurted out the whole plan in one breath. He glanced at Aaly trying to get a feel of how he was doing from here face before looking to Trent.
 
(Kay! ^^)


Trent raised an eyebrow, but amazingly he didn't get angry, at least he didn't snap. He raised his right hand to pinch the bridge of his nose with its fingers before he let out a sigh


"How can we know if he is to be trusted?" He finally asked. He had told them he would listen to their suggestions, and there he was, doing so.


"We don't" Aaly declared honestly "But regarding the traits you've asked for, frankly I can't think of any person here at our District that would have those. Nor I've seen any of the newcomers having those either"


Trent's brows furrowed as he slowly lowered his hand, back to his side "I tell you what. We'll consider it. If by the end of the night we truly can't find anybody else fit to this role. Only consider it. I won't make promises"
 
Shotgun was shocked, he expected a little more convincing was install, but pleased nonetheless. He nodded, "Yeah, of course. We'll be waiting for an answer."


(I'm going to skip to the next day)


When Jonathan was nine and Lux fourteen, Lux was sent to take a test. All the first born kids of the District 1 royal family had to take, and pass, a test if they wanted to become king. The test was a mock war; it was supposed to examine ones decision making and strategy skills. Lux had been preparing for it his whole life. Only he hadn’t really been. Jonathan knew that his brother thought the whole thing stupid. He had even once told him that none of this crap would truly prepare you for a real battle. You were either born with the skills to rule, or you weren’t. On the day of the test Lux was taken by a group of fifteen teachers and administrators to the place where he was supposed to take the test. And even though he wasn’t allowed, Jonathan snuck after them. He wanted to see if his older brother was born to rule. Everything had been set up for the big war, everyone was in their place, and Jonathan was safely hidden away on the second floor of the room. But before the test started Lux called all of fifteen teachers and administrators to him and spoke to them. He spoke so softly that Jonathan had no idea what he was saying, but he did see fifteen faces turn bone white. When Lux was finished they left the room without a word, leaving Lux standing there alone. Then he did something so unexpected Jonathan still gets chills today. He turned around and looked directly at where Jonathan hid.


“You see dear brother?” he asked with a smile. “That’s how you win a war.”


Lux passes the test with the fastest time ever recorded and he never even lifted a finger. Their father couldn’t have been prouder.


That was what today reminded Jonathan of. As Lux stood front and center in the


throne room at the Transfer of Powers ceremony; for the entire world to see a new king being crowned. Mere hours after their parent’s funeral. Jonathan couldn’t help but remember that fourteen year old boy, and how he scared a room full of adults into doing what he wanted.
 
"What did you bring me here for? I was sleeping" Aaly complained as she buried her face on Maurice bed's pillow.


Maurice shook his head with a smile, slipping his hand bellow the pillow beneath Aaly's head "You're just a sleepyhead. But this is good, I swear" He pulled out what appeared to be a sphere.


Aaly pushed herself up into a sitting position, though she still leaned her back lazily against the headboard "Is it really?" She yawned. It was early in the morning and he had went to her room and dragged her all the way there. She doubted some Rebels were even awake "What is that?"


"Well not really. It is something worth seeing maybe?" He then followed her gaze to the object on his hand and smiled "Well you could call it a. . . Dot Hack. It kind of works like that, though it can do other things. Anyway, it really doesn't matter" He pressed the sphere's dark blue button. It opened in half before it flattened, a big hologram appearing right above it.


Aaly blinked, her eyes narrowing lightly "Is that. . . Lux?" All sleepiness from her voice gone for a moment.


"Yep" Maurice nodded "It's 'Transfer of Powers Ceremony' time" He declared as he sat in front of her and dropped his flattened sphere on the space between them.


"Well. . . That was bound to happen eventually" Her interest seemed to be gone again while she rubbed her eyes "Either way, it must be on the feeds right? Why all the secrecy?"


"Well they are not broadcasting it over here. At least not at the base" He crossed his arms across his chest.


"Ugh what a pain. I can't believe he got to be a King so soon" Aaly stated.


"No kidding. When we were kids his 'smile' really did creeped me out. But Jonathan seemed to admire him and well you. . . " He snickered a bit "You 'admired' Jonathan. So I couldn't really say that in front of both of you right? I couldn't really bath-mouth my ' childhood friend's ' brother"


"Don't remind me of that" She scowled. Now that she thought about it, what would Jonathan think if he found out his other childhood friend had turned into a Rebel as well?


Maurice shrugged a bit, giving out an amused smile "Does it hurt to recall an unrequited love?" He asked, teasingly.


"It was a crush! No love there" Aaly's scowl deepened. Hey! Maurice was not supposed to be the teasing type! He used to be so kind, cute and sweet. If he didn't resembled his 'child self' as much as he did right now - the mole beneath his eye being the most evident similar trait - she would've even doubted his identity "Anyway, you brought me here just for that?"


"What if I said that I wanted to show you this while we talked a bit?" He said innocently


"Do you really, Maurice?" She raised her eyebrow.


Maurice couldn't hold back a grin and he turned off his apparatus, tossing it to the side "It was one of the reasons. To be honest, I heard that you're plotting something. I also heard you need a hacker. I was wondering if you could help me get that role"


"I don't know" Aaly rubbed the back of her head lightly "I'm not sure if Trent would allow a 'newcomer' to go on a mission so soon" She admitted.


"Well I'm not new in this being a Rebel thing. Besides, you know I'm pretty good at what I do. I. . . " He looked down a bit sheepishly "I researched some of your companions. They're not all that bad, but I'm better, I know that! I'm also good at combat, some of your 'intelligent' guys over here are clearly not"


Aaly blinked. Maurice had done his homework "I'll. . . See what I can do" She finally promised with a sigh


"Thanks" He said and held her hands, too tightly to be frank


"You're hurting me Maurice" Aaly said softly as she as gently as she was capable off, tried to pull away
 
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Everyone was leaving now. The ceremony was over and servants were rushing around to get everything back into it's normal place. Lux had went off to speak with high ranked District noblemen and Sebastian was still on duty outside the palace gate. Jonathan suddenly felt very alone as watched the servants hurry about from his post on the seventh step of the mail hall's spiral staircase. Occasionally, a younger servant who needed to put something away upstairs would come by and the quickly turn away, not daring to ascend the stairs of which Jonathan sat. But then a male servant stood at the bottom step and didn't turn away. He just stood there, looking up at the young prince. Every muscle in Jonathan's body tensed and he felt the need to stand and demand just who this person thought he was. But there was something familiar about the servant so Jonathan remained seated, staring back at the man through narrowed eyes. A grin slipped onto the servants lips and he climbed the steps, sitting on the one directly below Jonathan's.


"Do I--?" Jonathan began to say, but was quickly cut off.


"Sorry about your parents kid," he said.


And then it clicked. His hair was shorter and dyed darker, and his eyes were a different color. But Jonathan knew the voice, and only one person dared to call him 'kid'.


"Prosper?" Jonathan said unable to hide his surprise.


"No no no," said Obsidian's cousin as he wagged his finger.


"Oh that's right, I had forgotten the new identity you have taken. Alabaster was it?"


A smile brightened up Alabaster's face. "You got it kid. Did you know I was back?"


"Obsidian mentioned that you stopped by... and robbed her," Jonathan added.


Alabaster laughed. "Hey it's hard out there with out your title and all the perks that come with it."


"Then maybe you shouldn't have left. How'd you get in here anyway?" The number of guards on duty had been tripled after the crash.


"Sebastian let me in," Alabaster said like it was nothing.


"I happy to see that he isn't doing his job," Jonathan said, but wasn't mad. "That servant's uniform suits you by the way."


Alabaster chuckled. "It's nice to see that you obtained a sense of humor in my absence."


A few servants, real ones, tossed off-handed looks at the servant who was talking with the prince as the passed, but no one commented on it.


"Why are you back?"Jonathan asked


"You know kid. I've been all over this great world of ours. I've see the vast deserts of District 9, and the beaches of District 7. I've even seen the toxic forest of District 3. You should get out more and travel. Oh wait!" Alabaster snapped his fingers like her just remembered something. "You can't!" he them burst into laughter like he had just made the funniest joke ever heard by human ears.


"How idiotic do you have to be to laugh ay your own joke?" Jonathan snapped. He didn't know why, but what Alabaster said really ticked him off.


"Man oh man lighten up kid, you're acting like someone like someone just died."


"I'll have someone show you out," Jonathan hissed standing. He was quickly pulled back down.


"Too soon?" Alabaster asked.


"I should punch you for your disrespect," Jonathan spat.


Alabaster cracked a smile for a second before his face fell. "I only tease. I am very sorry for your lost."


"No your not. You hated them almost as much as you hated your own parents."


Alabaster raised an eyebrow. "Was I that transparent? Anyway, I said I was sorry for your lost, not theirs. I know that you loved them. How are you holding up?"


"I feel like someone who just lost his mother and father on the same day."


"Right. Dumb question. How was the burial?"


"It was fitting, flowers came from around the world."


There was a pause as both boys watched the servants work.


"Lux looked majestic," Alabaster said breaking the silence. "Kingship suit him."


Jonathan nodded. "He took the thrown at twenty-four, quite a feat."


"And then we have little Sahara. Barely old enough to have her PIC and already ruling a whole District, youngest in New Order history. Have you spoken to her recently?"


"I sent my condolences, she sent hers."


"I had the honor of speaking with her parents in the months before their death. They had interesting ideas. They spoke of freedom."


Jonathan's head snapped up at the sound of the banned word. He quickly looked around to see if anyone heard. "What are you saying?" the prince whisper-hissed.


"It's very tragic that four of the most powerful leaders in the world died within less then a month of each other." Alabaster went on, ignoring Jonathan's panic. "Some would say that that's fate... or maybe bad luck?..."


Jonathan listened carefully to Alabaster's words. He felt the ex-noble was trying to tell him something very important. He wished that Alabaster would just come out and say it.


"...Maybe the word I'm looking for is coincidence, but the would be too kind for what is going on here. Corruption, there's a better word."


Jonathan shook his head. "I don't understand."


"Then maybe you should open your eyes," Alabaster snapped, maybe sounding more angry then he intended to. "Look, I need to go." Alabaster said standing.


Jonathan stood as well.


"Just tell me what I need to know," Jonathan said, almost pleading.


"You're smart enough to figure it out," Alabaster said, back to carefree self. "Besides, I don't have all the facts myself. Tell Sid I said bye. And do some research kid" He began walking down the steps. "Don't tell Lux I dropped by." Alabaster tossed over his shoulder before leaving the hall.
 
"And he is?" Relena tilted her head to the side at the new guy Aaly brought with her "I don't recognize him" And she truly didn't, she didn't believe she had seen him before.


"Childhood friend, long story, I'll tell you later" Aaly said quickly before Relena got the time to ask "Anyway have you seen Trent?"


"Nope. Well, kind of. He's still discussing some things with Derrick, he should be out in half an hour or so" She said with a light shrug, she was still mad at her uncle and didn't want to hear about the bombing part any longer "I'm Relena by the way" She told Maurice as she realized Aaly lacked the delicacy to introduce them.


"I'm Maurice" He said taking Relena's hand "Nice to meet you" He smiled.


"Likewise" Relena nodded


"Damn. I have to discuss some things with him" Aaly said as she raised her hand to her mouth and bit her nail, an old habit of hers.


"You can wait here if you'd like. We should be dropping by as soon as he's done with Derrick, he told me so" Relena said with a sigh before she took a sip of her hot coffee


Aaly's face lit up a bit at that "Sounds good enough" She leaned back against one of the lab's desks "By the way, have you seen Shotgun?" Aaly wasn't even sure if he had woken up yet though.


"Not today? Can't stand a few minutes without seeing him?" She asked, teasingly.


Aaly rolled her eyes "It's not that. I . . . Well I just wanted to discuss some things with him"


"Why so much secrecy?" Relena smirked.


"Lena. Stop it" She said, a bit exasperated.


"Aw. Is our Bly in love already? They surely grow up in a blink of an eye" He grinned, joining Relena on her teasing task.


"Shut up both of you!" She snapped. She wouldn't have done so usually, but with them having said that she couldn't help it but recall Shotgun's confession. She didn't want that at the moment.


"Oh come on. Don't get mad" Maurice pouted before slipping his arm around Aaly's shoulder "Is she usually this hot heated?" He asked Relena, clearly entertained.


"You tell me, you're the childhood friend" She said with a smile.


"Only when I mentioned Jona-" But he was cut off as Aaly delivered a neat punch with her elbow on his side "Ouch! That hurt" He whined as he rubbed his side with his free hand.
 
"So you're thinking that the two deaths are connected somehow?"


Jonathan poked his head up from under the bed and looked at his best friend. After Alabaster left, the District 1 prince had wasted no time in telling Sebastian what was said. "I just don't know how I could have not seen it before, of course! I think that's what Prosper... Alabaster was trying to tell me someone is killing off the leaders of the New World Order. And I think I know exactly who." Jonathan said opening up the doors to his walk-in closet.


"Who?" Sebastian asked.


"Isn't it obvious? Xiii! Their finally targeting the royal families."


"What are you looking for?"


"My cell," Jonathan said turning on his heels and closing the door behind him.


"Right there," Sebastian said pointing to the dresser. "So Xiii's behind the bombing and the crash? That does make more sense than a 'grid malfunction'. But how do they have the tech to pull off a bombing and a car crash?"


"I wouldn't underestimate anything about that repulsive group," Jonathan said pocketing his cell. "I just can't believe she would..."


"Your friend, the one from the ball?"


Jonathan clenched his jar. "I told her everything. All my fears, my regrets, how I first felt about Obsidian and the engagement. We were close, really close. Our whole families was. We even spent Holiday together, every year! I just can't warp my head around why she would want to team up with the enemy. How does someone turn around and stab a friend in the back like this?!"


Sebastian shook his head. "Some people are just like that. They become warped up in one thing that they don't even care who they hurt anymore."


"I just didn't expect this from her," Jonathan whispered.


"Just goes to show you that you never know who a person will grow up to be."


"Yeah, you're tight." Jonathan could feel his blood boil. "If we ever meet again, I'll make sure she regrets every choice she ever made."


Sebastian smiled and slammed his fist into his palm. "Not just her, the whole of Xiii."


Jonathan returned the smile. "Right, the whole of Xiii."


Derrick looked over the marked up blueprint of the factory in District 8 and nodded. Everything looked to be planned out well. Every T crossed and I dotted. The five places where the bombs would be placed were pin-pointed and the five teams picked. It had been decided how they were going to get there and which group would land where. The only thing left to do was to pick out who would be playing the role of the factory worker.


"The one who Aaly brought here? That's who they suggested for the job? I don't know Trent. He's friends with Alice and William's daughter. Anything we say or do could be leaked back to them."
 
"I thought the same thing" Trent admitted "But . . . I can't think of anyone else to be honest. I even looked into the District 6 Rebels, nothing." He rubbed his temple with exasperation. "What do we know about this guy?" He asked, looking up at Derrick. If he was not wrong, he had been the one who had done the background research on him and his friend.


Aaly swung her legs back and forth with impatience "Why do they take so long?" She complained.


"Don't be so whiny. You should drink some coffee" Maurice commented as he raised the mug Relena had kindly give him.


"I don't like coffee" She crossed her arms, scowling "Lena told me he'd drop by in half an hour, it's been almost an hour. Where's is she?"


Maurice took a sip of his mug before answering "She went to eat breakfast about ten minutes ago, I believe" He tilted his head to the side a little.


"Yeah well, I'm also hungry" Aaly snorted


Maurice snickered "Brat"


"Are you any mature?" She demanded


"Ain't that obvious?" He grinned before raising the mug to his lips again.


Aaly narrowed her eyes "You told me you wanted to go in this mission, yet you don't seem very 'eager' to talk to our leader about it"


"He's busy and I'm patient" He shrugged.


"Would you really be able to hack into the system and get the information quickly?"


"Easy" He said with confidence.
 
Derrick straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. "From what I gathered, He -Halo- was born and raised in District 8. Close enough to where the factory stands today to be familiar with the language. He has family in District 5, that's how he was able to move there. I'm not sure why he had to move, or why it was approved by the government. Other then the fact that he's friends with Alice and William's daughter -Crisis- I didn't find anything significant about him."


"Targeting members of the royal family?" Lux asked from his seat at the desk his father use to sir. Jonathan and his friend Sebastian had entered the study only moments ago to tell Lux of their new theory. How amusing Jonathan could be, Lux thought. It was a good thing Jonathan had so much faith in their late father, or he might have pieced together what had really happened. "You believe Xiii to be this clever?"


The younger brother nodded. "It would make sense, And after what they did at the ball--"


Jonathan was cut off by Noelle, who Lux has been speaking with before the boys interrupted, before he could finish his sentence.


"Those are two separate events," she said, her feet dangling over the side of the desk where Lux sat. "It sounds more like a coincidence to me."


Jonathan set his jaw, clearly not pleased by the face that Noelle had cut him off. "Coincidence is too kind a word." he said matter-of-factly.


Noelle rained a brow at Jonathan, it wasn't in his character to go against what he was told. And even though Lux felt the same confusion as Noelle, he did not show it on his face. Instead he stood and made his way over to his little brother, a careful smile on his face.


"Jonathan, I think you're looking to blame someone for what happened to mother and father. But we already know what happened. The grid failed, it was no one's fault. Just a tragic accident." Jonathan opened his mouth to reply, but Lux didn't let him get the first word out. Placing his hand on Jonathan's shoulders, he said, "But, It it will ease your nerves dear brother, I will look into it."


Jonathan smiled. "Thank you."


Jonathan moved for the door. "Your Grace," Sebastian said giving a bow before chasing after Jonathan.


"Oh and Jonathan," Lux called out stopping both of them. "You really should get out more, take your mind off of everything that has happened. The renovations on the main palace are almost finished and we are scheduled to move back in by weeks end. In the mean time why don't you take a trip to District 5, visit with Obsidian."


Jonathan nodded. "That sounds like a good idea.


"'Too kind a word'?" Noelle echoed after both boys had left. "What does that even mean?"


"I believe that he is becoming too suspicious for his own good," Lux said with a frown.


"Will he become a problem?"


"He shouldn't." Lux smiled once more. "Besides, all his anger is focused on Xiii. While he's busy looking over there, he'll have no time to look here. All his worrying will do more good than harm."


"Then why did you send him away?" Noelle questioned.


"Because, I don't want to leave anything to chance."
 
Trent nodded before a new worry and question popped up on his mind "How would Aaliya and Shotgun would even plan on convincing him?" He shook his head "I'm trying hard here. I don't want to rely on that kid. We don't know him and his 'relationships' may pose a threat if we decide to use him and . . . And he seems too damn perfect for this job" Trent let his face fall on his hand. One part of him just wanted to suggest to simply get rid of the boy as soon as he finished the work, if he did accept to do that for them, but Tydus would just keep haunting his mind, he would never forgive him if he did that to a boy, even dead, Relena would be there to remind him.
 
Derrick nodded. "You do have a point, how do we contact the boy? It's not like we can just walk up to the kid and demand he help us. Aaly and shotgun know him the best, I suggest that we let them get in touch with Halo and use their judgement to see in he can be trusted or not. Worst case scenario, we 'forget' him in District 8 when we leave."


Meanwhile in District 5...


Halo and Crisis walked to the train station. Today was Crisis' first day of work training so she was super excited. After classes, which would be shorter for her, she would leave to the Sector A hospital where she would begin training. She couldn't stop talking about it, she was so jumpy. Halo didn't think he was this excited for his job training. But then again, Her job was more interesting then his.


All of a sudden Halo let out a sneeze.


"Hey doesn't that mean that someone is talking about you?" Crisis asked remembering the superstition Halo had once told her.


Halo grinned. "Yeah, I bet it's a hot babe."


...


Derrick motioned for the door. "lets go find Aaly and shotgun. The sooner we know where we stand with Halo the sooner we can get on with our plan."


(Hey I finished the outline (but some of your characters I didn't know what to put (epically Aaly's father) but it got pretty long. Do you want me to send it to you here on through email?)
 
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