The twins left for the café first thing in the morning. Sahara gave them the virtual key so they could get in before Jack, and clean up. Orion, Alegra, and Sahara sat down to eat breakfast. Naomi was still fast asleep, clutching Mo so tightly that the cat couldn't move an inch. Terrell hadn't stirred either.

"So..." Alegra twirled her steaming drink, which was neon orange, while she had her chin propped on her hand, "how many more points do we need before we start racing for status?" The question was directed at Orion.

He promptly pulled up a screen on his bracelet.

Alegra rolled her eyes and turned to Sahara. "What do you say, leader?"

Sahara pointed a finger at herself.

"Yes, you," Alegra told her. "You are in charge after all."

Sahara turned to Orion with a look that pleaded for help.

"It depends on how much we make in the next race..." Orion mused.

"Stop wasting time and start racing for status." At the sound of Terrell's voice the other three turned around. They found the boy standing on the staircase. He was yawning, looking like he was still half asleep. "Otherwise you're going to all be a bajillion years old by the time you get around to it."

"Well you're up early," Orion commented.

"Why don't you race then?" Alegra asked Terrell.

Terrell turned his bleary eyes on her. "There's no one interesting enough to race." He began to walk down the stairs. "No one worth the challenge." He came to sit down beside Sahara.

"Well someone certainly thinks highly of himself," Alegra told him sarcastically.

Terrell nodded in agreement, not seeming bothered in the least by the accusation.

"You really think we should go for status already?" Sahara asked.

Orion leaned forward, anticipating the answer that would come out of Terrell's mouth.

"Sure." Terrell yawned again.

"Alright then," Orion seemed to have a sudden change of heart. "Guess we'll give it a go." The words were barely out of his mouth when the door burst open and the twins tumbled in.

"We get the day off!" Reagan yelled happily as he bounded over.

"What?" Sahara asked.

"Jack said he's gonna close the store for today," Arden explained.

"That means we can go have some fun." Reagan grinned.

"We just decided to have a status race," Alegra informed them.

"Oh," both twins said at the same time as they looked at each other.

"There's a moonlight gathering tonight," Orion told the group.

"Great. Until then...let's have fun!" Reagan wasn't giving up on the idea.

"And what would you see as fun?" Alegra asked.

Reagan looked thoughtful for a moment, then, his face lit up. "Try finding the limited edition of Serina where she's wearing..."

"Wait!" Terrell sat bolt upright. Before Sahara knew what was happening. Terrell clamped his hands over her ears. "Must. Keep. Her. Innocence. Intact!" he yelled as Sahara she tried to break free. Upon finally managing to do so she turned to glare at Terrell.

"If it's my innocence you're talking about it was already taken a while ago!"

Terrell eyes widened. "By who?" He exclaimed as he looked around frantically. "Who was it that took away her innocence?"

"You, you idiot!" Sahara replied as she pointed a finger at him. "When you kissed me!"

"You kissed her?" Alegra asked sharply.

Both the twin's mouths fell open and Orion looked somewhat puzzled.

"No!" Terrell defended himself. "Well, maybe," he added sheepishly.

"Oh...so that's what's going on," Arden nodded as though confirming something as he looked between Sahara and Terrell.

"So...mummy and daddy are really together then?" Reagan asked.

"What?" Sahara's face had turned red. "N...no! It was a mistake!" She suddenly regretted bringing the past up.

Terrell had sprung from his chair, his eyes wide as Alegra approached him; she looked like she would pounce and kill him at any moment.

"I knew it," Alegra hissed.

"Hey! She kissed me!" Terrell yelped. "She was the one who fell onto me!"

"Go Sahara," Arden whistled.

"Pervert!" Alegra screeched.

That was when Arden lost it and began to laugh uncontrollably. Orion simply turned his attention back to the screen on his bracelet, seeming to lose interest.

Reagan crossed his hands protectively across his chest and was staring around in horror. "Where?" he asked in response to Alegra's outburst.

Naomi, who had chosen the moment to wake up and come and join the group, looked up at Terrell with serious eyes. "How could you?" she asked.

"Death!" Alegra yelled as she charged for Terrell.

Terrell leaped into action, he jumped over the couch, putting it between him and a fuming Alegra. "Now, now," he tried to calm her as he picked up a pillow and held it before him in defense. "It wasn't a big deal..."

"Big deal?" Alegra glared. "You can do whatever you want with all those other girls. But Sahara is off limits! She's too sweet for someone like you!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Terrell asked as he lowered the pillow.

The twins looked at each other.

"Let's get him," Arden said.

Reagan nodded and the two charged towards Terrell.

"Hey!" Terrell protested as he scrambled away.

Sahara watched the entire exchange with a smile on her face. Lately she had been noticing that bit by bit, Terrell was changing. He was becoming more relaxed and almost...more open. He would joke more freely and play along with the twin's humor at times.

"Grownups," Naomi solemnly shook her head. She was sipping on a carton of strawberry milk she had chosen to get in the moment when Terrell was distracted. "Sometimes I don't understand them," the little girl said as she clambered into the chair beside Sahara.

The twins had caught up to Terrell and tackled him to the floor. Arden was sitting on him, holding him down while Reagan was trying to hold down his legs. Alegra had paused to watch them wrestle, satisfied that the twins were doing fine without her.

"Alright, I give in!" Terrell yelled.

Alegra walked up to him and crouched down before him. She lifted his head. "Say it," she told Terrell.

"Say what?" Terrell asked as the twins continued to hold him down.

"Tell Sahara you're sorry for taking away her innocence...and admit that you're a pervert," Alegra told him solemnly.

"What!"

"Pervert," Naomi mimicked as she shook her head.

Arden was chuckling and Reagan was grinning. Sahara giggled at the look on Terrell's face.

"Say it," Alegra told him.

Terrell sighed. "Fine," he muttered. "I'm sorry for taking away your innocence," Terrell told Sahara. He paused. A grin suddenly appeared on his face. "Though I wouldn't mind another kiss..."

Sahara's face turned a shade redder.

"Ouch!" Terrell exclaimed as Alegra whacked him over the head. "Alright, I'll say it!" He paused. "I'm...I'm a..." he didn't finish as he suddenly twisted. Arden was dislodged from his back. Terrell's legs snaked around and he caught Reagan between them in a choking grip. He did the same to Arden with his arms.

Alegra had taken a surprised step back.

"Ugh..." Reagan let out a choking sound. "No air!"

"Say you give up," Terrell told him calmly as both twins struggled to get free.

"Okay!" Reagan yelled while Arden continued to struggle. "I give up!"

Terrell at once released his grip around Reagan, yet he continued to hold Arden. "You too?" he asked innocently.

Arden stopped struggling. "Sure," he gasped.

Terrell let go. He got to his feet while Arden coughed.

"You're crazy," Alegra muttered as she retreated to the table.

"I think," Orion closed the screen on his bracelet, "this is a good moment to take up Reagan's offer on fun."

Terrell shrugged.  

"So...where are we going then?" Alegra asked,

Both twins glanced at each other. "The inner city!" they both announced at the same time.

The group got ready and set off. Sahara was enjoying every minute of the journey on her new board. She swayed back and forth on it, wondering how different it was compared to the other board she had been using.

"How is it?" Terrell asked as he came up beside her.

"Amazing!" Sahara responded enthusiastically. "It responds to the slightest movement..." she wobbled slightly as she said it.

"Don't try too much, get used to it first," Terrell told her.

Sahara nodded.

Upon reaching a more crowded area with shops and stands, the group got off their boards. Reagan at once dragged his unwilling twin along to try and find a hologram of the famous icon, Serina. Orion got hung up in a store selling some sort of odd looking technology, and Naomi was taking all of Alegra's attention as she set off on a doomed mission to find Blue her hologram wale.

Sahara would have been fine with exploring the area by herself, yet for some reason Terrell seemed to be tagging along. He followed her to every store. At one point he even yawned.

"Isn't there something more fun we can do?" he asked.

"You don't have to be here," Sahara replied calmly without looking up. She was currently looking over the small trinkets that were displayed in the window of a store.

"Why?" Terrell's face suddenly appeared super close beside hers. "Don't you want me to be here?"

Sahara turned away so that he wouldn't see her face turning bright red. She made her escape towards a stall, trying to calm her beating heart. What's wrong with me? she wondered. She didn't react this way when the twins or Orion got close. Lately it only happened with Terrell.

"It's so crowded here," Terrell muttered as he stayed standing and peered into the window at the objects inside.

"Hey," a girl standing by a stall called Sahara. She could have been no more than fourteen years old.

Sahara headed over to her.

"Looking for something to buy?" the girl asked hopefully.

Taking in the girl's dirty face and not all too new clothes, as well as the hope in her eyes, Sahara felt like she had to buy something to help her out.

"Um..." her gaze moved to the objects that lay displayed before her. There were a few bracelets, some cheap looking necklaces, and otherwise design changer programs she could download and use to change the design on her board.

"See anything?" the girl asked eagerly.

"I'm not..." that's when Sahara's eyes landed on the silver chain necklace with a medallion at the end of it. Reaching out, she picked it up to examine it closer. The medallion was a hollow circle; in the middle of it hung a single feather crafter out of silver.

"It's for guys," the girl told Sahara as she watched her.

Sahara looked up.

"But hey," the girl quickly added, "you can wear it too." She seemed more than eager to make a sale.

"How much?" Sahara asked.

"30 points," the answer came right away.

Sahara's eyes widened.

"But for you, I'll make it 25," the girl said with a sly smile.

25? Sahara knew that was still expensive. She considered it for a moment. When her eyes met the girl's she couldn't resists. "Okay."

The girl looked like she couldn't believe her luck as Sahara reached out her hand with the bracelet and they exchanged points.

"Come again," the girl told her happily as Sahara took the necklace.

A hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her. As she was whirled around, Sahara found Terrell staring down at her.

"Did you just buy something for 25 points?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

 "I had to," Sahara defended herself. "She looked like she really needed the points."

For a moment, Terrell simply stared at her. Then he shook his head. "Psh," he muttered. "She looks and acts the part so that you'll buy something out of sympathy. They all do that. Trust me, tonight she'll be wearing some expensive dress and partying with her friends."

Sahara's mouth dropped.

"Usually it's only the idiots that fall for it," Terrell added. He grinned. "Guess that makes you one."

Sahara punched him on the arm and Terrell laughed. For a moment the two stood and it got somewhat awkward for Sahara.

"Here," she broke the silence as the held out the necklace. "For you."

A look of surprise crossed Terrell's face as he took it from her. "You spent 25 points on this?" he asked as he raised an eyebrow and held the chain up.

Sahara shrugged.

"Well, well. What did I do to deserve this?" Terrell grinned as he spun the medallion around.

"It's your crew symbol," Sahara told him.

Terrell raised his eyebrows.

"You're the only one that hasn't decorated you're board with a falcon," Sahara said. "If you have another symbol on you, you don't have to put one on your board." She didn't add what she really thought. However, lately she had the suspicion that Terrell didn't want other people to know he was in the crew. He had resisted at the start after all. The necklace would be a way for him to have a symbol and yet let it be one that he could easily hide from others. Yet, Sahara wasn't about to tell him that.

"My symbol, huh?" Terrell asked quietly as he suddenly got serious.

"You're part of the crew after all," Sahara told him.

Something flashed through Terrell's eyes and things suddenly felt awkward again.

"And besides," Sahara quickly added, "The seller said it was for guys."

"Ah ha!" Terrell exclaimed. "So the real reason comes to light!"

Sahara simply stuck out her tongue in reply. Terrell chuckled.  He lifted the china and put it over his head. Just like Sahara had expected, he slipped the medallion under his shirt so that it was hidden from sight.

"Come." His hand suddenly grabbed hers.

"What?" Sahara asked.

"Let's have some real fun," Terrell told her as he began to pull her along to where they had left their hover boards.

"Terrell, where..."

"Just follow me," Terrell replied with twinkling eyes.

They grabbed their boards and, with Terrell leading the way, headed further into the city. Sahara followed, wondering what on earth Terrell was up to. When they reached what looked like a large abandoned courtyard, Terrell pulled to a stop. Sahara looked around to see not a person in sight.

"Where is everyone?" she asked as Terrell got off his board.

"They don't come here because they don't think it works anymore," he said as he walked. He came to a stop by a small pole. "The things is...if you know the trick..." he pulled up a screen on his bracelet and began to move his fingers rapidly, "then you can easily surpass the system and get it to work."

"Get what to work?"

Terrell ignored the question. "Of course, we won't be able to stay long as the Keepers will most likely come to shut it down again. Rayne doesn't like excess stuff to be on." He made the screen disappear and turned around with a satisfied look on his face. "Alright." He got back on his board. "Let's get this party started." Without further explanation he began to board straight into the courtyard. "Come on!" he called back to Sahara.

With no clue what was going on, Sahara followed. She didn't get far when suddenly, to her right, a jet of water erupted from the ground. She let out a yelp as it flew a few meters into the air before dropping again, splashing her as she flew past.

Terrell laughed at her reaction. In the next few moments, water began to erupt randomly all around them in the courtyard. Sahara's eyes widened. The eruptions were so random that she had no clue where they would be. In front of her, Terrell turned a hard right to avoid a jet stream of water that suddenly shot out before him. More and more were happening.

"This is crazy!" Sahara yelled as she tried to follow Terrell, who was dodging in an out of the water jets with ease. There was a grin on Sahara's face as she took the challenge and tried to do the same.

Suddenly, she felt her board being hit from below. It hit it on the right side and sent it toppling to the left. Not using gravity pull, Sahara fell. She braced herself for impact. However, she felt surprise fill her when she landed on a soft floor. Blinking, she sat up. Her fingers traced along the ground only to find that it seemed to indeed be made of something soft.

"Giving up already?" Terrell asked as he skidded to a stop beside her. Unlike Sahara, who was soaked, he only a few wet sprinkles on him.

Sahara got to her feet. She motioned for her board and it shot towards her. "What is this place?" she asked.

Terrell shrugged. "Just a hangout spot. Families used to come here with their kids and spend the afternoon."

A jet of water shot up right beside Sahara. She let out a surprised scream. When it came back down, it drenched her completely.

Terrell chuckled. "You're supposed to try and avoid getting wet," he told her.

"Hah," Sahara replied as she proceeded to get back on her board.

"It's good practice by the way," Terrell added. He moved his board forward just in time to avoid a jet that erupted behind him.

Sahara looked at him in surprise. How did he avoid that?

"Helps your reaction time," Terrell explained with a grin. "Since you're not using gravity pull...if you're not fast enough you fall."

"So we're training and not having fun?"

Terrell grinned. "Tell me you aren't having fun."

"I'll be more fun once you get wet," Sahara replied. She leaned forward and shot towards Terrell, her intention to make him fall. Terrell, however, let out a whoop before he flew off. "Hey!" Sahara yelled as she followed. In the next few moments, she chased him through and around the water jets, trying to avoid getting hit while trying to catch him. However, Terrell kept away from her with ease, managing to abruptly avoid a jet of water only to have Sahara get hit by it and fall off.

When she fell off, for what felt like the hundredth time, Sahara lay on the floor panting. She was getting tired of clambering back onto her board all the time. How Terrell managed to stay on, she didn't know.

"You okay?" Terrell called to her when she didn't get up right away.

Sahara turned on her stomach. She caught sight of water beginning to seep out of the floor before her. It was slowly coming, and yet she knew that any moment it would shoot up. An evil grin came to her face. This is my chance! She thought.

"Owe," she complained dramatically as she sat up and clutched her elbow.

"Hey," Terrell began to board over. All the while, Sahara kept an eye on the jet that was building up.

Not yet, she pleaded. Just a little longer.

"Sahara?" Terrell asked as he came closer.

Now! His board was right before her and next to the jet. Sahara reached out and grabbed the board.

"What...?" Terrell never got to finish as the jet erupted. Water shot out right next to him. Unable to move, as Sahara was holding his board, he got soaked as the water fell back down. He stood in shook as Sahara fell onto her back, laughing in glee at her success.

"Oh you like that, do you?" Terrell asked as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.

Sahara nodded, still laughing.

"Of course you would," Terrell sighed. He jumped off his board.

Sahara's laughter ceased as she watched him approach her. Suspicion filled her. It turned to surprise when Terrell held out his hand.

"We should probably get going," he told her. "Keepers could turn up at any moment to check out why the jets are working."

Sahara took his hand and he pulled her to his feet. She was about to motion for her board when Terrell suddenly pulled her towards him. He did so just in time to help her avoid a jet that erupted right where she had stood. However, his action had also caused her to fall right into his arms so that her head was right against his chest.

Her heart pounded as, for a moment, Sahara stayed frozen. Slowly, she lifted her head. Terrell's eyes met hers. He raised an eyebrow in question and Sahara's face heated up. She quickly stumbled away from him.

"Um...thanks," she told him as she refused to meet his eyes. She motioned for her board. It zoomed over just as her bracelet began to beep. Seeing it was an IHM, she pressed accept.

A hologram of Arden popped up. "Hey, where are you?" he asked.

"Uh..."

"Never mind. We're getting hungry. Orion, Alegra, and Naomi are already here. We wanted to eat together."

"Are you coming?" Reagan's voice asked as a hologram of him appeared beside his twin.

"On the way," Sahara told them.

"I'll send you a guide," Arden told her. He was referring to a hologram guide which one could send. It worked somewhat like a GPS system. "Oh, and is Terrell with you?" Arden asked.

Reagan shot a look at his twin as though wondering what made him think that.

Sahara nodded.

"What!" a voice exclaimed. Alegra pushed Reagan to the side, making her hologram replace his. "Sahara, that pervert had better not be doi..."

"Bring him along," Arden cut her off.

Terrell's hand reached out and he ended the call. Sahara looked up in surprise.

"Let's go," Terrell told her simply as he got back on his board.

Sahara motioned for hers. She followed Terrell, successfully managing to dodge two jet streams on the way.

They made their way back and joined the rest of the group. When they arrived, the others stared in surprise at them.

"You look like you almost drowned!" Reagan exclaimed.

"What happened?" Arden asked.

Alegra was glaring at Terrell, seeming to realize it was his doing right away.

Orion simply showed no interest as he went to the counter to order food for the group.

"We were practicing," Terrell told the others as he sat down next to the twins.

Alegra pulled Sahara into the seat beside her. "Practicing what?" she asked in disbelief. "How to swim?"

Terrell ignored her. Instead, he glared at Naomi, stopping her in mid-path as she had tried to reach out to touch his wet hair.

"Did you shower with your clothes on?" she asked Terrell innocently.

"Maybe," Terrell replied.

"Oh." Naomi's eyes widened. "I want to try!"

Orion came back from the counter. "Food will be here in five," he said.

"Too long," Reagan complained as he laid his head on the table. His stomach growled loudly.

Arden shot his twin a look of disbelief. "You already ate five different things before we came here."

"I eat more when I'm depressed," Reagan moaned in reply.

"Depressed?" Terrell asked.

"He didn't find a hologram of Serina," Arden explained.

"They've got to have the limited edition somewhere," Reagan muttered.

"Obsessing over a girl who doesn't even know you exist," Alegra shook her head. "I almost feel sorry for you."

Just then, a girl came by and brought their food. The twins dug right in. Sahara paused a moment before following their lead. She had long since learned to not ask about the meals in Regona anymore. She wouldn't know what they were anyway.

"So," Alegra spoke up after they all ate for a while, in silence. "I've been wondering about this for a while now."

Orion looked up, the twins continued to eat with their heads down, and Terrell was trying to fight off Naomi who had decided that she wanted to eat the food off his plate rather than hers.

"Usually in order to become of Omega status, you need to build your own status. Once you're rated high enough you can challenge an existing Omega and so become the new Omega."

The twins nodded in unison.

"No man's land has no Omega," Alegra continued.

The twins looked up.

"With no Omega to beat..." Arden began.

"How do you become the Omega?" Reagan finished for him.

"Exactly," Alegra told them.

Sahara looked up. Alegra had a valid point.

All eyes turned to Orion. When he said nothing, everyone turned to Terrell. Noticing their stares, he looked up. Naomi took the opportunity to snatch something off his plate. She retreated to safety to eat it.

"Why are you looking at me?" Terrell asked. "You're the ones wanting to do this whole thing."

"Yet you were the one to suggest we conquer no man's land," Alegra told him.

Terrell shrugged. "Build your status first. Once you reach a higher status among the better ranked teams in the area, you do what the first Omegas did when they first became Omega."

The twins, Sahara, and Alegra looked at Terrell blankly.

"I think what Terrell is trying to say here..." Orion pushed up his glasses, "Is that once you are of higher status, you've got to simply declare yourself Omega."

There was a moment of silence.

"You mean..." Reagan began.

"Like a dictatorship?" this time Arden finished off for him.

"Yup," Terrell told them calmly.

"That's crazy." Alegra scowled. "When you do that, everyone in the area that doesn't agree will challenge you. You'll be racing one after the other..."

"Which is exactly why no man's land doesn't have an Omega," Arden agreed. "Someone that's better always beats them. And they get toppled...no one even bothers to declare themselves Omega of this area cause it just doesn't work out."

Terrell nodded. "That's exactly why," he leaned back, "you've got to be at the level where you know you can beat everyone single crew that challenges you. You've got to be certain that you're the best."

"Crazy," Reagan said.

"Impossible," Arden added.

"Four others have proved it isn't," Terrell shrugged. "there are, after all, four Omegas." He put his hands behind his head. "When you're at such a level that you keep beating challengers, they grow to respect and accept you. At one point, challenges will diminish and people will take it for granted that there's an Omega in town."

"Well don't you make it sound easy," Alegra muttered. "It will take ages to reach that level."

Terrell shrugged. "With the small fry in no man's land it shouldn't take that long."

All eyes turned towards him.

Alegra's eyes were narrowed. "Small fry?" she asked. "Do you look down on all boarders?"

Terrell shrugged again, pretending he hadn't said a word.

"Hey, how about we hang out a bit more before heading to the moonlight gathering," Arden spoke up. He seemed eager to ease the tension.

"Sounds good to me," Orion quickly agreed.

Sahara nodded.

"You can help me look for Serina!" Reagan's face lit up.

"Yay!" Naomi cheered.

"I need to spend some time around normal people again," Terrell groaned as he leaned his head back.

"I'll buy you strawberry milk," Reagan offered.

Terrell shot out of his chair. "What are we waiting for? Let's go find that limited edition thing of Sarah!"

"It's Serina," Reagan corrected him as the twins got up and followed an overexcited Terrell to the door. Naomi ran after them.

"Guess it's decided," Orion got up.

Sahara and Alegra followed.

"I just hope they have as much energy for our status race later," Alegra commented as the two girls followed.