The race was way too easy for Noah. Sahara couldn't believe it when he left the guy he was racing in dust. It didn't seem fair to the other guy as he didn't stand a chance. Noah left him after the first corner, boarding in a way Sahara had never thought possible. He finished way ahead of the other boarder, so much so that it made the other crew shoot each other uncertain looks. Even Orion looked impressed.

"That was a lot more boring than I thought it would be." Noah calmly boarded over from the finish line. A red bandana covered the bottom half of his face, yet Sahara was sure that it wouldn't stop his crew from recognizing him...not with his flashy hair that was still visible to all. "So...what did you think?"

"Just where did you learn to board like that?" Sahara asked; she was still breathless from the race she had just witnessed.

"There are people out there who could board before they walked...sadly I'm not one of them." Noah winked. Sahara wrinkled her forehead, not sure what he was trying to say.

"Let's just call it talent mixed with endless, not to mention painful, practice and leave it at that," Noah told her. He jumped from his board. Seeming to realize that the other crew was not dispersing but was hanging around and shooting glances at him, he cringed. "Did I overdo it?" he murmured as he ran a hand through his hair. "I could have gone made it close if I had slowed down somewhat and then taken the lead at the end..." he shook his head. Reaching up he pulled the bandana off his mouth and stuffed it into a pocket.

Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of wearing it? Sahara thought as she noted the other crew. He just exposed his identity.

"Very impressive," Orion spoke up from where he had been silently standing next to Sahara. "You made it seem like racing at this level is nothing at all." His eyes narrowed. "Race much in the upper league...say Omega status maybe?"

"Does it seem that way?" Noah asked as he gave a sheepish grin. "I'm flattered, but I'm afraid to say there are others out there that are better." He shrugged. "Maybe it's because this is no man's land that you don't have the top boarders here...they tend to go to the Omegas turf to find more of a challenge...no offense."

"Then if it's not that hard, how about staying till we reach the top?" Orion asked slyly.

"Ha," Noah replied. "Nice." He grinned. "I see what you tried to do there. Sorry but this is where our journey together ends." He snapped his fingers as he turned to Sahara. "That reminds me, that favor..." His grin widened.

Sahara swallowed.

Noah opened his mouth when his bracelet began to vibrate. He shot a glance down at it only to have his eyes widen. "Oh snap." He looked back up. "I have to go." Not giving Sahara a chance to say anything he reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm getting your IHM," he told her as he held his bracelet next to hers. He pressed something and there was a beep. Dropping Sahara's arm, he climbed on his board. "Don't worry; I won't forget to call you about that favor later today." He turned his board around. "Thanks for the fun," he called before whizzing off.

Sahara watched him go.

"Seems like he had something urgent to do," Orion commented.

Sahara nodded.

"Well," Orion pulled up a screen on his bracelet, "looks like that race gave us another boost. We really aren't that far from reaching the top."

Sahara turned to him.

"I'm sure by now we'll have gained quite a bit of attention from those above."

"Because we're near the top?" Sahara asked.

"That...and because of the rate we've climbed up," Orion replied. "Want to head back?"

Sahara nodded. She couldn't think of anything better to do.

They boarded home without incident. Once in the warehouse Orion once again sat at a table to the side with a bunch of gadgets. What he was always doing Sahara had no idea. She didn't ask as she plopped down on the couch. Mo appeared, jumping on her lap and purring as he rubbed against her.

"Haven't seen you in a while, boy," Sahara murmured as she scratched him under the chin. "I thought you'd left too."

Mo purred even louder.

Letting out a sigh, Sahara leaned her head back. Mo proceeded to get comfortable, cleaning his face with his paws before curling up.

"I wonder what everyone else is doing," Sahara said as she stared at the ceiling above.

Orion glanced up. "The twins are probably up to no good...that's if they're not sulking."

Sahara bit her lip. "They're probably feeling betrayed. I should have told everyone..."

Orion picked up another gadget and looked it over. "More like immature. They need to get over it. No one stays forever anyway. As for Alegra..." he paused, a smile spreading across his face. "I wouldn't be surprised if some Keeper caught up with her after witnessing her or Naomi nab something. They're probably getting ready to explain themselves to Rayne right now."

"Really?" a voice asked dryly.

Sahara started, making Mo let out a protesting 'meow' as he jumped from her lap. Turning around her eyes widened as they landed on the figure in the door.

"Because the way I see it, a Keeper would never be able to catch up with her." Alegra stood there, her hands on her hips as she glared at Orion. Naomi's head popped out from behind her.

"Sahara!" the little girl squealed before she sprinted over to Sahara.

Sahara stood just in time as the girl flew into her arms, giving her a giant hug.

"You came back," Sahara said in shock as he eyes went to Alegra.

"Took you long enough," Orion muttered as he turned his attention back to what he was doing.

"Yeah, well..." Alegra ran a hand through her hair. "Noami wouldn't stop bugging me that she wanted to come back. Apparently this place," she waved a hand around the warehouse, "is home."

"Oh," Sahara said, lowering her eyes.

"And," Alegra began. "Well...after thinking about it I realized that the future doesn't matter."

Sahara looked up again.

"Not as much as now, anyway," Alegra told her softly. "I thought 'why not enjoy the time we still have together instead of fretting about the future?'"

Tears filled Sahara's eyes.

"I mean...you should have told us earlier, but I guess I understand why you didn't." Alegra let out a sigh. "There are things we don't always want others to know about because we think they'll change things."

Sahara sniffed and Naomi looked up. Seeing the tears in her eyes she turned to Alegra.

"You made her cry!" the little girl exclaimed with an accusing glare.

"No, it's ok," Sahara replied as her arms tightened around Naomi, "I'm just happy you came back."

A smile spread across Alegra's face. "Well I couldn't just leave you here. Living alone with two boys," she shook her head, "honestly, who knows what could happen."

Orion snorted and Alegra shot him a glare. Then, she paused as her eyes swept the room. "Speaking of which," she turned to Alegra, "Where's the extremely annoying one?"

Sahara looked away.

"Hasn't been back in a while," Orion spoke without looking up. "When he does grace us with his presence he just comes to grab something or sleep...though lately it hasn't even been that."

Alegra's eyebrows rose as she walked into the room. "Really? What's his problem? Guilt? I mean, he was in on the whole not telling us thing so he is partly to blame. But why would he suddenly stay away?"

Orion didn't reply but shot a look at Sahara.

"We had a fight," Sahara murmured.

"Ah," Alegra replied.

Seeing Mo, Naomi left Sahara and sprinted after the cat who turned tail and ran for his life.

"Lovers spat," Orion muttered.

Alegra glared at him and Sahara's cheeks went bright red.

"They are not lovers," Alegra told Orion fiercely. "That boy doesn't deserve her." She came up to Sahara and threw her arms around her in a hug. "If he doesn't stick around after something like this then he obviously isn't worth it," she murmured.

Sahara didn't reply.

"So," Alegra pulled away from the hug first. "Catch me up, what's been going on?"

"Jack's been threatening to fire you," Sahara told her.

"Ha, his sales must have dropped," Alegra replied as she plopped down on the couch.

"We also won another race today," Sahara added.

"Really?" Alegra looked towards Orion.

"I didn't race it," he told her.

Alegra turned to Sahara with raised eyebrows. Sahara shook her head.

"Noah did," Orion added.

"Blue the second!" Naomi yelled from where she was desperately trying to reach a hissing Mo who stood on a shelf just above her head.

"Noah, as in Terrell's friend?"

Sahara nodded,

"Is he in the crew?" Alegra looked far from pleased at the thought.

"He just lent us his help," Sahara told her.

Alegra shook her head. "What did he want in exchange?"

Neither Sahara nor Orion replied.

"I asked what he wanted in exchange," Alegra repeated.

"A favor," Sahara murmured.

Alegra's eyes narrowed. "What favor?"

Orion shrugged.

"We don't know yet," Sahara told her.

Alegra let out a groan. "Seriously?" she asked. The question was directed at Orion. "I'm gone for a few days and you get Sahara indebted to some stranger asking for who knows what?"

"He's not a stranger," Naomi announced as she trotted over. "He's Blue the Second."

"That's nice honey," Alegra told her without turning away from glaring at Orion.

"If you don't like it then maybe you shouldn't have left in the first place," Orion told her bluntly as he put down the gadget in his hands to stare right at Alegra. She didn't have a comeback.

Just then, Sahara's bracelet began to vibrate. She glanced down to see a number she didn't know flash across. However, she could already guess who it was. She pressed the option of picking up the call. A hologram of none other than Noah's face came up.

"Yo!" Noah chirped.

Alegra whirled around. "Is that him?" she asked with venom in her voice.

"Blue!" Naomi exclaimed from where she was watching. "Your hair!" Her face darkened. "What did you do to it?"

"Sounds like you've got quite the full house," Noah told Sahara with a chuckle.

"You!" Alegra exclaimed as she pushed her head up next to Sahara's so that Noah could see her. "Just what are you up to?"

"Ah, it's the gorgeous one," Noah winked as said it. "You might want to fix that scary expression a bit or you won't be finding yourself a prince charming."

Alegra glared. "What did you do to Sahara?" she growled.

"Hey," Noah held up his hands in defense. "I just helped out when help was needed. In exchange I'm just asking for a little favor."

"She's not doing it," Alegra told him.

"I haven't even asked yet!" Noah protested.

"Well whatever it is..."

Sahara gently pushed Alegra to the side. "I made a deal," she told her. She turned back to the hologram. "What's the favor?"

"Alright." Noah's head dipped down as though he was looking for something. "I'm sending you something...here."

As he said it, numbers popped up in the bottom of the hologram.

"What's that?" Sahara asked.

"Coordinates," Alegra told her with surprise in her voice.

"Coordinates?" Sahara asked. Am I meant to meet him somewhere?

"Yup." Noah told her cheerfully. "It was a pleasure racing for you...and though it wasn't quite as fun as I hoped, I still appreciating the chance you gave me. Now..." He looked down again. "My time's up; got to go before questions get asked."

"Wait!" Sahara protested.

Noah shot her a quizzical look.

"What are the coordinates for?"

Noah's eyebrows rose. "You really don't know?"

Sahara shook her head.

Noah looked amused. "Why don't you try and guess?"

"Um..." Sahara bit her bottom lip. "You want me to go somewhere to..." she trailed off. "Do something crazy that I'm going to regret?"

Noah cocked his head. "Seriously?"

"You did say you wanted me to do you a favor," Sahara defended her reasoning. "With this being Regona that could mean...anything."

Orion and Alegra nodded in agreement.

Noah grinned. He leaned in closer so that his face got bigger. "You were thinking I was going to ask you to do something bad, weren't you?"

Sahara avoided his eyes.

"Can't blame you," Noah chuckled, "I'm not exactly a role model..." He tapped a finger on his cheek. "Maybe I should repeat what I said earlier. I really wanted to race."

Sahara looked up and Alegra's eyes narrowed.

"And to rephrase what I said earlier...you're doing me a favor by letting me do you a favor."

Sahara's blank expression showed she had no idea what he was trying to say. However, Orion's eyes lit up as he caught on.

"It's cute," Noah grinned at Sahara. "How clueless you look."

Sahara's face reddened.

Noah sighed. "Maybe I should explain it in a clearer way." He pointed at Sahara. "Those coordinates are the current location of a certain Falcon member of yours."

Sahara stared blankly at him for a moment before realization filled her. Her eyes widened. "Terrell." she whispered.

"Bingo." Noah shot her with two fingers and winked at the same time as he said it.

"You know where he is?" Sahara asked. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Oh, I've seen him around," Noah told her. "Seems to be sulking or something. It's certainly not good for that handsome face of his...though it means the girls stay away which is a plus for me..." he muttered the last part. "Did you guys fight or something?" he asked Sahara curiously.

Sahara felt her heart sink as she remembered the last time she had talked to Terrell. Orion and Alegra stood by silently, making no effort to join in the conversation.

"Thought so," Noah murmured. "Though an argument isn't usually enough to make him stay away..." He gave Sahara a thoughtful look. "You want the truth?"

Sahara didn't reply.

"If it's Terrell we're talking about, he's a sucker when it comes to a girl's requests...can't see to turn them down..."

"Typical," Alegra muttered.

"Though he may be immune to that one," Noah added in reference to Alegra.

"What do you mean?" Sahara ignored the last part.

Noah grunted. "Do I need to spell it out? Go get him to come back...that is if you want him back."

Sahara shot a look at Orion, yet he didn't offer her any help. Alegra simply shrugged while Naomi bounced up and down with energy.

"Also, I'd go by yourself if I was you," Noah added as he took in Sahara's instant reaction of looking to someone else. Alegra shifted, as though disagreeing. "It'll show your sincerity...if you really are." Noah paused, as though considering if he should add the next part. "Sometimes it's good to speak your mind. In the same way you can't always rely on others to save you...you know? Sometimes you have to do the saving."

"What do you mean?"

"That maybe it's time to stop relying on everyone else around you all the time. Grow a backbone of your own, you know?"

Alegra scowled and Sahara felt taken aback at how direct Noah said that. It hit her straight to the core. Is he saying I should stop being a coward?

"I'm also saying the boy looks miserable from the times I've seen him lately. Obviously he's not happy staying away. He would never say it out loud...but maybe he's actually waiting for you." Noah stretched. "It's just a thought so give it a think. But don't take too long."

"Hey, Noah!" a voice called.

Noah shot a glance behind him. "Oh boy," he muttered. "Well, it was fun," he told Sahara.

"Oi, where are you?" the same voice called.

"Coming!" Noah yelled back. He turned to Sahara once more. "Got to go. Looks like I'm needed." He winced as he said it. "By the way," he leaned forward. "When you become the fifth Omega I'll pay you a visit. Be sure to treat me to something nice." The hologram disappeared.

"An interesting guy," Orion murmured.

Sahara didn't reply as she tried to let everything that had just happened sink in. Slowly she lifted her bracelet to stare at the blinking coordinates that had remained behind.

"You going to get him?" Orion asked.

Alegra and Naomi both looked at her, seeming to be asking the same question.

Sahara swallowed. "Should I?" she whispered.

"Do you want to?" came Orion's reply.

Sahara knew the answer, yet she also felt hesitation. What if Noah is wrong? What if he doesn't want to come back? She shook her head before turning to look at Alegra helplessly.

Alegra shrugged. "It's your crew, so it's your choice."

I don't know, Sahara thought. I want him back but...even if I go, I don't know where to start. She let out a sigh. If Alegra or Orion told her what to do it would be so much easier to decide. Grow a backbone of your own, you know, Naoh's words echoed in her mind. Sahara felt realization fill her. Why do you have to be such a coward? She scolded herself. So what if Terrell doesn't want to come back? You'll never know without trying. Without a word she turned and walked towards her board. Besides, isn't he the one being mature staying away because of one small argument? She grabbed her board from the wall. Her mind was racing as all the things she had been holding in flooded through it. What's his problem anyway? Didn't he say he would take me to the top? She marched towards the door, determination in her strides.

Alegra made a move to follow but Orion grabbed her arm. "Let her go alone," he told her.

"But..." Alegra protested. "It's night time. It's not safe!"

"She'll be fine," Orion replied as he and Alegra watched her march to the door.

Sahara paused when she reached it. She turned around to face the others. "I'll be going," she announced.

Orion nodded.

Alegra paused. "Sahara, if he doesn't want to come back...slap him, okay?"

"Got it." Sahara turned and walked out of the door. She was ready. Her mind was set to go and give Terrell and piece of her mind about the way he had been behaving lately.

In the warehouse a worried Alegra turned back to Orion. "You sure she'll be okay? Shouldn't we follow and keep an eye on her or something?"

"Relax." Orion looked far from concerned. "She'll be fine."

"What makes you say that?" Alegra asked.

Orion smiled as he looked up, his chin resting on his folded hands. "I just have a feeling."

Alegra didn't ask.