Sahara had no idea on what to expect when it came to their new home.

The twins led the way, jostling each other just enough to wobble but not fall. Orion was a little way behind them, ignoring the twins to the extent as though they weren't there. When they got to close to him, he kept his path, leaving it up to them to avoid him.

Sahara doubled up with Alegra after being promised that her own board would be waiting for her at home. Naomi sat on a board, lazily following after the princess in a tow. Mo was firmly held in her arms, looking pitifully at the world around while no doubt plotting his escape.

They headed for the fifth area. Even as they entered, Sahara noticed the increasing amount of attention given their way. They were going slow enough for people to get a glimpse, and by the looks of it, crews all around were recognizing the fifth Omega.

A group lounging around lifted their heads, eyes following. Two talking girls lapsed into silence, doing the same. Three friends goofing around halted when one nudged the other and nodded in the direction of the Falcon crew.

Reagan puffed his chest out. "Guess who's back, suckers!" he exclaimed not all too silently.

Arden responded by smacking extra hard into his board. He let out a chuckle as his younger brother struggled to regain his balance.

"You're so dead!" Reagan exclaimed once he was back on track.

"Only if you can catch me." Arden shot off.

"Children." Naomi shook her head from where she sat cross-legged and relaxed.

Alegra didn't comment while Orion just continued to stare ahead.

Sahara shifted, somewhat uncomfortable by the attention coming from eyes all around.

"Don't worry about them," Alegra spoke as she read the fifth Omega's body language.

"Is there any way we could go a bit faster?" Sahara requested.

"It'll do them some good to see the head of the area around," Alegra responded. "Make them remember you exist and kill those circulating rumors."

"Rumors?" Sahara saw a large group eye her. The guys sat on hovering boards, a few leaned against propped up ones. They looked somewhat intimidating in their dark clothes and spiked hair.

"You've been gone a while," Alegra replied as she turned a corner. "They thought you've been beaten or left with Lithium," she explained, "and then there were some downright crazy rumors." She turned another corner, taking a moment to shoot a deadly glare at a boy who whistled in her direction.

Naomi backed her up with an equally deadly glare, growling under her breath to get her displeasure across. Mo hissed, struggling in her arms.

Blinking, the guy shrank against a wall while those around him laughed and thumped him on the back.

"Do you think they'll start issuing challenges?" Sahara asked the question on her mind.

"Not yet," Alegra responded. "I'd give them a few weeks. They'll be cautious now that they've seen you around." She turned, showing Sahara her side profile. "Besides, you still have quite a reputation as a boarder amongst other things."

"Other things?"

Alegra turned back to the front. "They say you've tamed a Phantom," she spoke, sounding not all too happy.

"Is that what they call it?" Sahara asked. She couldn't help the smile that made it to her face. Tamed a Phantom, she repeated the words in her mind.

"We're here." Alegra's words turned Sahara's attention to the front.

Orion had already disembarked, his board tucked under an arm as he waited.

The princess got off first, and Sahara followed, eyes glued to the tall building they stood in front of.

It was amongst the tallest and shiniest, smack dab in the middle of the fifth area. While the warehouse had been inconspicuous, this building announced its presence to anyone for miles around.

Sahara tilted her head back, feeling uncertain at the height looming above her.

"Who chose this location?" she asked.

"Alegra," Naomi chirped as she skipped by, a board bigger than her in tow. The cat in her arms had given up its struggle, seeming resigned to its fate.

"You coming?" Alegra called from the glass doors.

Sahara hurried to join her. Orion was already inside.

They walked into a large lobby. It looked clean, much like the entrance to a luxury hotel.

Alegra walked straight to a glass elevator very similar to the one in Rayne's building.

"We could just board up," she told Sahara. "But we like to enter the more civilized way."

Sahara raised her eyebrows at that.

"Reagan almost died boarding up there," Naomi interpreted with a straight face. "He almost went splat." She smacked two hands together to emphasize. "It wasn't pretty."

Orion hummed in agreement.

The four got into the elevator.

"So, boarding was banned," Naomi finished as the elevator started up.

Alegra nodded.

Mo meowed, as though in agreement.

Sahara couldn't hide the giggle at the image playing in her mind. She could see Alegra's reasoning. If the twins couldn't behave, it was a good idea to enforce some sort of rules.

"Do you remember the whole rule?' Alegra quizzed Naomi.

The girl nodded as they continued to ascend. "No boarding up or down from the room unless it's an emergency," she recited. "Or," a little finger was lifted in the air, "you want to eject someone annoying the fast way."

"Good girl." Alegra ruffled her hair while Naomi beamed.

Orion's lips twitched.

Sahara didn't ask.

When the elevator came to a stop she took a double take of the floor they were on.

40. The number blinked on a holographic screen.

The doors slid open and Alegra and the kid led the way. Orion followed.

Sahara trailed behind, eyes taking in the super white hallway they were in. Bickering voices of the twins drifted from up ahead.

"Nooooo!" Reagan wailed from behind large black double doors.

Near them, Alegra swiped her hand.

The doors opened on their own, sliding into the wall on either side rather than swinging.

Naomi jumped in, releasing the cat in her arms. Mo darted off to safety almost immediately.

As Sahara stepped through, she felt her breath catch.

She stood in what she could only imagine a penthouse looked like.

Light flooded in from windows that turned the walls to the outside into glass. The view overlooking the city was breathtaking, but at the moment Sahara didn't have enough eyes to turn her attention to it too.

Lights, not needed in the day, were embedded into the ceiling, with nothing hanging and thus being in danger of getting broken during the twins' rumbles. The two were currently running around what looked like the living room. Several black couches hummed softly as they hovered across from each other. A tea table hovered in the middle, gadgets strewn across.

Orion dropped his board to the side of the door and headed straight for those gadgets. Reagan made a beeline for him.

"Help me," he pleaded.

Sahara didn't give the situation any attention as she continued to take in the area.

The classy walls looked somewhat not so classy with holographic images of Serina changing in and out of their frames. One moment it was Serina smiling with a coffee cup in one hand. The next Serina was shyly peering out from behind a wall. Then she was fast asleep, her makeup as perfect as ever in her slumber. Sahara had no doubt who was responsible for the decoration, and the current topic of argument.

Arden was trying to change the images while Reagan was gathering support and giving all his reasons as to why they needed to stay.

"She motivates me!" Reagan yelled into his twin's face. "M-o-t-i-v-a-t-e-s!" he spelled.

Sahara turned her attention to the left. An open kitchen and dining room were built to the side of the living. As in the warehouse, a countertop had several chairs hovering around it. The surface looked to be made of marble.

"She's my reason to liiiiive!" Reagan's voice wailed.

"You need help," Naomi announced as she strolled by and disappeared again.

Sahara's eyes wandered to the stairs winding up to a second floor. She could see the back of another couch, making her suspect a second living room.

"You want to deny me my oxygen?" Reagan demanded of his brother. His voice drowned out all others.

"I'll show you around." Alegra placed her hands against Sahara's back and pushed her in the opposite direction of the kitchen. "The living room down here is where the twin's sleep," she spoke as she directed Sahara.

They reached another door.

"Downstairs bathroom." Alegra swiped her hand and it slid open.

A spacious room appeared.

Inside was the largest bath Sahara had ever seen. It faced glass windows giving a perfect view of the city stretched out below.

"Darken the windows from outside when you're in here," Alegra suggested. She tapped against the large window and a menu popped up. With another tap, ripples seemed to spread across the glass. A green light flashed in the corner. "Green means no one can look in," Alegra explained. "Red and anyone boarding at this height has a free show. Every window has the same function."

Sahara nodded as she took in the large mirrors, spotless counters and a toilet behind a stunning holographic aquarium.

"How do you keep it so clean?" she murmured.

"Drones," Alegra replied as she motioned to turn back the way they came. "Though, the twins have to be reminded to turn them on every time." She scowled. "What's so hard about pushing a single button?"

They emerged back into the living room to find it strangely peaceful.

Orion was working on the gadgets, Arden lounged on a couch, browsing a holo-screen on his bracelet. Naomi had disappeared, and Reagan seemed to be waiting. His face shone with triumph. The pictures of Serina showed why.

"Show her upstairs." He bounced up and down in excitement.

"We're getting there," Alegra replied calmly.

Apparently, it wasn't fast enough for the younger twin. He grabbed Sahara's arm and dragged her from Alegra, pulling her toward the stairs.

"Your room is up here," the boy spoke. "Arden and I sleep in the living room back downstairs," he repeated the information Alegra had already shared. "Orion sleeps in the living room here."

The two reached the top to see a smaller living room. Couches faced the window overlooking the city. They led to a glass balcony.

Sahara's jaw dropped as she caught sight of the clear blue water rippling outside.

"The pool." Reagan pointed out casually.

The fifth Omega didn't reply as she stepped toward it. A glass bottom made the water look like it was floating atop the city. At that moment, Sahara realized she'd never been both so eager and terrified to go swimming before.

Reagan stopped her mid-journey, pulled her past a closed door to a second one. He motioned to it. "But here." He paused dramatically in front of another door. "Is your room." A swipe of his hand and the door slid aside again.

Sahara stepped through in a trance.

Even as he feet sank into the cloud like carpet, a large white room greeted her. The lack of furniture made it seem even more spacious.

A queen size bed floated in the middle, two steps leading up to the raised floor it floated on. Nightstands were to either side, their surface rippling as though they were the surface of a pond.

A hammock hung near the large window looking outside. Other than that, no other furniture existed.

An open door to one side revealed a private bathroom, however, Sahara's eyes were on a large logo of a falcon on the wall over her bed. They went from it to a familiar blue hoverboard propped up against one of the nightstands. She walked toward it, a hand reaching out.

"Do you like it?" Reagan asked eagerly as he joined her inside.

Sahara traced her finger along the board, realizing just how much she missed it. Her eyes rose to the simple and yet gorgeous room. "It's beautiful," she breathed.

A grin spread across Reagan's face. "She loves it!" he yelled as he darted out the door to deliver the news.

"I'm glad you like it," Alegra spoke softly. "Naomi and I sleep next door."

Sahara turned, hand still resting on her board.

She saw the other girl leaning against the doorway, a smile on her face.

"It's amazing," Sahara said.

Alegra nodded.

"This is so..." Sahara struggled to find the words as she motioned to the room.

"Luxurious?" Alegra finished.

Sahara nodded.

"It is," Alegra agreed. "But as open and flashy as it is, it's not exactly easy to reach undetected," she revealed. "We can see anyone who doesn't belong approaching the moment they come near."

"Oh." It made sense.

"The height will also make anyone think twice about boarding up and causing trouble. Besides." Alegra's eyes twinkled. "The security is pretty tight." She snapped a finger. "Code Falcon Down!" she called.

"Initializing defense," a voice spoke.

Sahara jumped as black shutters banged down, protecting the windows from outside. Lights flickered on, lighting up the interior which would have otherwise been pitch black. The now dark windows lit up with images showing the interior and exterior of the building from all angles.

"Locking all entrances and exits," the automatized voice continued. "Defense drones on standby. Level at stun, non-lethal."

With a smile, Alegra walked to the window. "Show me the lobby," she commanded.

The image immediately changed to show an empty downstairs lobby.

"Wow," Sahara breathed.

"Orion designed most of it," Alegra revealed. "We've tried it out before. It basically becomes an impenetrable fortress."

"Defense! Defense!" Naomi screeched from somewhere while Reagan's terrified scream blended in with her voice. It was abruptly cut off with a smacking sound and Arden telling him to shut up.

"So...we get locked in?" Sahara asked as she eyed the windows.

"Ah." Alegra pointed a finger up. "There's always a way out.

Sahara followed it but didn't see anything.

"Open escape," Alegra ordered.

The ceiling seemed to momentarily shimmer. Sahara rubbed her eyes. However, nothing had changed.

"Believe it or not," Alegra spoke. "You can pass through it now."

Sahara's disbelieving eyes darted to her.

Alegra chuckled at the reaction. "Naomi, hun. Come here a second!" she called.

Footsteps thumped on the stairs and the little girl skidded into the room. "Are we under attack?" she screeched.

"No, it's practice," Alegra replied calmly. "Can you show Sahara the way out?"

A wide smile spread across the girl's face. She disappeared out the door only to reappear a moment later on her board. Jumping on it, she shot straight up to the ceiling.

Sahara let out a warning cry, stepping forward to stop her. However, it was cut off as the girl was swallowed by the ceiling and disappeared.

"What...?" Sahara spluttered.

The whole top ceiling becomes like that," Alegra spoke calmly. "You can only exit, not return." She lifted her bracelet and dialed. A moment later, Naomi's face popped up. "I'll open the windows, come in please," Alegra told her. "Release Falcons Down," she said right after.

The ceiling shimmer once more and the shutters on the windows immediately retracted. The live images of the building disappeared and the city outside came into view.

"Falcon Down Released," the voice from before spoke. "Drones standing down."

Naomi appeared before the window, calmly swinging back and forth at a height no child should be.

"It's voice-controlled," Alegra said as she unlatched the window. A gust of wind entered along with a beaming Naomi. Alegra closed the window again. "We'll have to put yours in the system," she added.

Naomi jumped off her board and zipped out the door with it in tow.

Sahara tried to let everything she'd just seen sink in. "U-um," she managed to get out. She waved a slightly shaking hand at the windows. "Is all this really necessary?"

"After what happened with Lithium," Orion's voice spoke. "We aren't taking any chances."

Sahara turned to find the boy now standing in the room.

"You made all of that?" Sahara asked him in disbelief.

"Most of it."

"That's amazing!"

The boy coughed into his hand. The tips of his ears looked somewhat red.

"How is everyone here such a genius?" Sahara murmured as she shook her head.

"It took some time, and a lot of testing," Orion quickly spoke. "There's still a few things here that need tweaking. It's not perfect yet. Maybe when Terrell has some time..."

"You think too little of yourself," Alegra cut him off. "No one could have done it better."

Orion looked somewhat at loss with what to do at the shower of compliments coming his way. He shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.

"The twins don't activate it randomly...do that?" Sahara asked.

"They do and they'll be ejected," Alegra replied right away. She walked to Sahara and slung an arm around her shoulder. She pulled the girl along to the window. The two stood there, staring at Regona stretched out before them.

"Welcome back," Alegra spoke.

A shiver of excitement ran up Sahara's spine.

Below them, the city bustled. Teens boarded and lounged around. Crews made their ways lazily through the streets, seeming content with doing absolutely nothing. Somewhere, Terrell tried to unsuccessfully leave his crew behind only to get dragged back by those unwilling to let him go.

In outskirts of the city, in the scaffolding of a tall building that had never reached completion, several teens sat. Masks covered the lower half of their faces. Every mask had the same design, a skeletal smile covering their own.

A boarder streaked to the location. Eyes watched in disinterest as he dismounted and sprinted inside.

In the interior of the building, several more teens lounged. A figure with a hood pulled up, sat on a torn-up couch in the middle of a dirt ground, cards held in one hand. Across sat another teen, also holding cards.

The boarder from before burst in, slightly out of breath.

A teen with shaggy dark hair, with crazy red streaks in it, looked up. He blew a cloud of smoke from his mouth. An old-fashioned cigarette was clutched between two fingers as he watched the heavily breathing boy draw closer to the couch.

"You'll never believe..." the boy began excitedly.

The smoking teen narrowed his eyes, gaze on the distance from the newcomer to the couch.

"Who just popped up on the radar," the boy continued, unaware of the watching eyes.

He took one more step.

The cigarette dropped. Before it was even halfway to the ground, the smoking teen was across the room. He grabbed the newcomer's face with one palm. The poor victims back slammed against the wall at the same time as the cigarette bounced off the ground.

"Were you given permission to approach?" the attacker growled into the terrified boy's ear as more smoke escaped from his mouth.

A hand lifted from the hooded figure. He flicked his fingers.

The attacker tightened his grip. Then, with a grunt, he let go. A terrifying grin spread over his face, eyes alight with a slightly crazed look. "No harm meant." He dusted the now shaking boy's shoulders.

"Why don't you let him speak?" the boy sitting across from the hooded figure spoke. He lay a card down on the growing pile set on a hoverboard between him and his opponent.

"Sure." The shaggy-haired boy stepped back and motioned. "Speak!" he demanded when the newcomer didn't move.

The victim jumped. He dared not advance.

After deliberation, the hooded figure picked a card from those in his hand.

"H-he's re-appeared," the messenger finally stuttered.

The hand, with the card halfway to the board, froze.

Eyebrows from the attacker rose and a fresh grin made it to his face. The boy across from the hooded figure leaned back, throwing one leg over the other.

"The Phantom is back," the messenger blurted, as he thought he hadn't been understood the first time.

"Well, well," the teen leaning back spoke. He sounded amused.

The attacker from before licked his lips, an excited chuckle escaping.

A tremor passed through the hand holding the card. It hesitated a moment longer before placing the card down. The hooded figure stood and the other followed at once. Cards were dropped, forgotten, as the teens turned.

The newcomer stepped back, shrinking to the side as the figure walked by.

From the heart of the incomplete building, hands in pant pockets, a hooded figure appeared with two teens slightly behind on either side. One tipped his red striped hair back, wild hyena-like laughter escaping him as he even added a skip to his pace. The other two ignored him.

As the three walked, teens dropped from scaffolding all around. They landed on the floor, some boarding down from high places, and fell into rank behind. The group walked, their feet barely making a sound. The hooded figure looked up ever so slightly. A streak of light showed a cold smile.

It was all far away from the leader of the Falcons who gazed at her home. From where she stood, the sky was clear, and a peaceful city greeted her eyes.

And then there was Rayne. The young man sat leaning back in his chair. He let a sigh escape him as on the screen before him numbers ran too fast for the human eye to follow.

A beep made him turn his attention to the screen. Something flashed across. The young man sat bolt upright. He leaned forward, eyes reflecting the screen. His hand trembled on its own as he reached out.

He tapped something, changing the view before him. A handsome face paled as his shaking hands gripped the edge of the table. "That's...impossible," he choked out.

"It's good to be home," Sahara spoke from her new room.

On a board in a skeleton of a building, a card lay on top of a pile of others. If one looked closely they would see the figure on it. It stared back at all who looked, smiling endlessly its skeletal smile.

It was the grim reaper.