The morning at Drake's Café went by without much incident. Arden and Reagan had all but taken over the kitchen. At first, Jack watched their every move. At some point, however, he had let out a satisfied grunt and let them be. Arden did most of the cooking. Reagan would come out now and then to help out elsewhere. To the great delight of the guests, he would sometimes juggle glasses. Jack wasn't too happy at first, but after realizing that his guests were enjoying it, he didn't say much.

Alegra and Sahara took orders. As usual, Alegra was trying her hardest not to just about murder every guy who hit on her. She also received IHMs written on napkins from guys who hoped she would contact them. To Sahara's amusement, she noticed that Alegra had developed a system where she would accept the numbers with a smile. However, when the next guy gave her his IHM, she would give him the previous guy's one in return. The guys would be delighted, thinking that were getting her number. It would be enough for them to leave her alone.

"As long as you don't chase the customers away," Jack had muttered when he noticed what was going on.

"Oh, they'll be back," Alegra assured him.

Jack paused by Sahara. "Just why are they all hanging around you?" he asked.

Sahara looked up in surprise.

"First that boy who brought you here, then her," Jack nodded at Alegra, "and now those two," he jerked a thumb towards the kitchen from which an awful lot of clanging was coming at the moment. "You...you aren't involved in a boarder crew, are you?"

Sahara didn't reply. She tried to keep the guilty look from her face.

Jack shook his head. "I just hope you know what you're getting into," he told her seriously. "Despite what you may think, the racing world ain't so pretty." He leaned back. "It's not uncommon for some to lose their lives...and even though the Creed is there....well this city is still a pretty lawless one. And some of the crews..." he shook his head. To Sahara's surprise, his hand landed on her shoulder. "Just look out for yourself, you hear?"

Sahara nodded.

With a satisfied grunt, Jack went back to the kitchen, probably to check out what all the clanging was about.

It was around noon when the doorbell chimed and Naomi flew through the door.

"Alegra!" she cheerfully ran up to her.

"Hey there," Alegra smiled at her as Naomi hugged her legs. "You here for lunch?"

Naomi nodded eagerly.

Sahara saw Terrell come through the door. He looked exhausted and completely out of it as he dragged his feet across the floor and sat down at the bar across from Sahara. He dropped his head into his hands.

"Oh, so you're still alive?" Alegra asked.

"Look, look!" Naomi eagerly pointed at the necklace around her neck. "Terrell got me this."

Alegra raised an eyebrow.

"She just never shuts up," Terrell said as he raised his head. He looked in shock.

"Who? Naomi?" Sahara looked at the little girl. She hadn't found her to be that talkative.

"It means she likes you," Alegra informed him.

Terrell looked mortified at the thought.

"You here to order?" Jack asked as he walked by.

Terrell shook his head. "Actually," he pointed a finger right at Sahara, "I came here for her."

"Work's not over," Jack informed him.

"Flexible hours," Terrell replied.

Jack grunted.

"Come on," Terrell told Sahara as he got up.

"Where?"

"Practice."

"Now?"

"Yes, now," Terrell told her impatiently.

Sahara hesitated. She looked over at Alegra who was delivering a tray full of drinks.

"She'll be fine without you," Terrell assured her.

Sahara took off her apron. She put it away and then joined Terrell outside. They grabbed their boards. Sahara was about to head for the courtyard when Terrell stopped her.

"Follow me," he told her.

Sahara did as he said. To her surprise, Terrell lead her away from the city. The further they went, the fewer people they came across. Soon, they were back in an area that looked familiar to the one where Sahara had first met Terrell.

Terrell turned on his board to shoot a glance back. "Keep up!" he yelled before increasing the pace. He didn't go too fast, but definitely faster than what Sahara had had gone before.

To her relief, Terrell didn't take any sharp corners. He was going in a path where she could follow. Sahara noticed after a bit that he was heading for a cluster of tall buildings. They looked out of place in the area with small houses. Perhaps they had once been apartment buildings, Sahara didn't know.

When they rounded another corner, Terrell boarded right through the open door of the largest building in the cluster. Sahara followed. She paused when Terrell crouched to hold onto the side of his board, and then easily began to board up a flight of stairs. He paused at the top and turned to face her.

"Come on," he urged.

Sahara gave him an uncertain look before going forward. Her board bumped against the bottom step and she shot Terrell a hopeless look.

"Lean back and push down, just like you would to go higher, but not as much," Terrell told her.

Sahara hesitated.

"It's easier than trying to go higher," Terrell encouraged.

Slowly, Sahara attempted to do as he told her. She was surprised when the front of her board lifted and she began to ascend. However, with her board tilted, she was beginning to slide off the back.

"Hold onto the side and go faster!" Terrell yelled.

Sahara tried to do as he told her only to wobble dangerously. "Whoa!" she yelled as she half fell and half stumbled from the board. Luckily, she caught herself on the rail. Yet her board shot forward without her.

Terrell jumped off his own board. Grabbing Sahara's, he walked down to where she was.

"If you go faster, you won't fall," he told her as he handed her board back. "Then again..." he looked thoughtful, "perhaps since it's your first time we should add a bit of the gravity pull."

Sahara was surprised that said so.

Terrell nodded to himself. "Put it up to level one point five," he told Sahara.

She nodded and began to do as he told her.

"But..." Terrell added. "Only this once. Next time we take stairs you'll do it without."

Sahara nodded.

"You won't have time to tinker with the gravity pull if you're in a hurry," Terrell explained as he walked back to where his board was waiting. He got on and turned to face her. "Start again from the bottom."

Sahara did as he told her. She got on her board and repeated her actions from before. Her eyes widened in surprise when she realized how easy it felt with a little gravity pull to help. She had absolutely no trouble following Terrell as he turned and went up the next flight of stairs.

She felt in awe as she easily kept up with Terrell.

"Is it easier?" Terrell called back as he turned up another set of stairs.

"Yes!" Sahara replied. "But how?" she wondered aloud. "Last time I used gravity pull I almost died."

"Like I said. Not using it helps you develop talent," was Terrell's only reply.

They went up more and more stairs until Sahara wondered if there would ever be an end. Then, they broke into the open. Terrell shot out before Sahara. She followed only to find that they were now on top of a flat roof.

Terrell had come to halt facing away from the city.

"What are we doing here..." Sahara trailed off as she pulled up beside him. "Whoa," she breathed as she took in the view.

Before them, after a few more houses, there were what looked like fields. They were, however, unattended to. Whatever crops had once been grown there had withered away years ago. A few patches of grass grew here and there, and Sahara even saw some trees.

However, what lay beyond them was what her eyes were glued on. The city's glass bubble came to an end. Beyond it, Sahara saw nothing but miles and miles of red earth. It was dry and cracked to an extent, while other parts of it were sandy.

"So...that's what's outside of the city," Sahara breathed.

Terrell didn't reply. Instead, he got down and lay on his back on his hovering board. His arm dangled over one side and he closed his eyes as he simply enjoyed the sunshine.

Sahara watched him in surprise. "Aren't...aren't we going to practice?"

"We're taking a break," Terrell replied without opening his eyes.

For a moment, Sahara watched. Then she sat down on her board, staring at the scenery ahead. She remembered what Terrell had told her about the area outside of the city not being safe to live in. It looked like it was just a vast area of nothingness.

They simply stayed there for a while. Sahara thought that Terrell had drifted off to sleep when he spoke. "Tell me about your city."

Sahara hesitated. "My city..." she murmured. "Terrell..." she paused, wondering if she should share the following bit of information with him. He's helped me so far. If there's anyone I can trust it's him. She took a deep breath. "I don't think I'm just from another city...I think I'm from a different world." She held her breath, waiting for him to tell her it was absurd. However, when no reply came she turned to look at him.

Terrell's eyes were still closed.

"Terrell?" Sahara whispered.

"I guessed as much."

Sahara blinked in surprise. He believes me? "H-how so?" she asked him.

Slowly Terrell's eyes opened. "You don't know anything," was his simply reply.

"Ah..." Sahara fiddled with her fingers. "Then...if it's really the case...do you think Rayne can still help?"

"If anyone can...it's him," Terrell murmured.

Sahara let out a sigh as she tipped her head back. "I just wish there was a faster way to reach him."

Had she been looking over at Terrell, she may have noticed the brief look of guilt that flashed across his face.

"So...what is your world called?"

Sahara stopped playing with her fingers. "Earth."

"Earth," Terrell repeated. The word sounded foreign on his tong.

"What's this world called?" Sahara asked curiously in return.

Terrell shrugged. "It probably had a name at some point. It's long been forgotten. Now the name's just whatever the name of your city is." He turned his head to stare at Sahara and she saw curiosity on his face. "What's this earth like?"

Sahara took a moment to consider this question. "Well...it's big...and...and it's round."

"Round?"

Sahara nodded. "Long ago people used to think it was flat."

Terrell looked intrigued.

"Also, we have cities. But not like this," Sahara motioned with her hands. "We don't have these bubbles around them."

Terrell looked horrified. "Then, how do you survive?"

Sahara cracked a smile. "Our land isn't destroyed like here. You can go anywhere. There aren't any walls stopping you."

"Really?" Terrell looked like a child on Christmas morning who had discovered a present. "So...your sky. You could board as high as you wanted?" he asked breathlessly.

"Well..." Sahara thought about it. "I guess you could go pretty far up...that is until the atmosphere starts getting thinner."

Terrell wasn't listening to the last part. He had turned his head and was staring back up at the sky. "A world with a sky that's got no limit." He reached up a hand, as though trying to grab it. There was a smile on his face.

"We don't have hover boards though," Sahara said.

Terrell's smile dropped somewhat. "None at all?"

Sahara shook her head. "Nope," she popped the 'p'. "In fact, I would have to say that we're years behind in the technology you've got here. I mean, we still use cars, normal fridges, showers you have to turn on yourself, and we're definitely don't have these." She lifted her hand with the bracelet on it.

Terrell was listing intently. Sahara realized that she had his rapt attention.

"Though if we keep up the pollution and all that, I'm sure that hundreds of years down the road we may end up having to live like you do...under bubbles of glass."

"Intriguing," Terrell murmured. For a moment the two were silent. "You can't tell anyone," Terrell suddenly said. "No one else can know."

"No one?" Sahara asked in surprise as she thought of Alegra and the twins.

Terrell shook his head. "I've told you before. If you're not from the city and others find out...you won't be welcomed. Besides...I doubt that they'll be as quick to believe you about this other world." He closed his eyes again. "Until we find a way for you to get back it's our secret."

"Our secret," Sahara repeated. She turned to look at Terrell only to see that he once again had returned to looking fast asleep.

It wasn't long after that that Terrell suddenly announced that they were heading back. He didn't even seem bothered that they hadn't done much training, and Sahara didn't mind too much either. In fact, she was sort of refreshed after the break.

They headed back the café only to find that it was closing.

"Done early?" Terrell asked Jack as he and Sahara entered.

"Going to get dark soon," Jack replied.

The last few customers were leaving.

"Where'd you go?" Alegra asked Sahara.

"She was training...with me," Terrell told her. "Got a problem with that?"

Alegra raised an eyebrow. "You so sure about having him teach you?"

"Huh," Terrell snorted. He walked towards Jack, leaving the two girls alone.

"Why do you say that?" Sahara asked Alegra.

"I mean..." Alegra shot a look in Terrell's direction. He was talking to Jack. "How do you know he can board?"

Sahara felt surprised. "He boards every day."

Alegra shook her head. "No...I mean really board."

Sahara wrinkled her forehead.

"Being able to simply board around and really being able to board...such as in races, are two completely different things," Alegra explained.

Sahara shrugged.

"I'm just curious," Alegra told her. "I mean, he doesn't seem to be in a crew...nor does he want to join one. So how do you know he can even board all that well?"

"I trust him," Sahara replied.

Alegra laughed. When Sahara's expression didn't change she paused. "Wait...you're serious?"

Sahara nodded.

Alegra whistled. "I haven't heard anyone admit that in a long time," she said. "Trusting someone isn't done that much in Regona anymore."

"Why not. I mean...I trust you, and Arden, and Reagan...and Naomi."

Alegra looked at a loss of words. She then cleared her throat. "So...what's he been teaching you?" she asked as she picked up a rag and then began to wipe down tables. Sahara joined her.

"Well...at first it was mainly about keeping balance," Sahara explained. "It was super hard at first. The board just kept slipping out from under me..."

"Wait..." Alegra paused and eyes narrowed. "What about gravity pull?"

Sahara shook her head. "Today was the first time he let me use it. He also said it would be the last."

Alegra looked towards Terrell in disbelief.  "He's crazy!"

"Why?"

Alegra looked back at her. "Riders use the gravity pull, even if just a bit. It helps with the balance. And yet he's teaching you with none at all. Just what is he trying to do, kill you?"

"Maybe that's the way he rides," Sahara shrugged, "with no gravity pull that is."

"Impossible," Alegra shook her head.

"Why?"

"There are only two people who ride like that, and they're both Omegas. I've seen them...It's dangerous. They use the pull when they go to extreme heights. There are also some experts who don't use gravity pull at ground level either, but once they go higher it's a must, it's pretty much suicidal if you don't. One slip, and your off and falling to your death."

"Terrell said something about not having real control if you use the gravity pull...but maybe he uses it when he goes higher too..." Sahara's eyes widened. "Does that make him an expert?" she whispered.

Alegra paused to think it over. Then she snorted as if it was absurd. "Nah."

"What makes you say that?" Sahara asked.

 "If he was, why wouldn't he be leading a crew?" Alegra asked her as if it was logic.

"Doesn't want to?" Sahara offered.

Alegra shook her head. "There's no one like that in the city," she told Sahara firmly as she returned to work.

Sahara, however, paused. She looked over at Terrell once more to see him drinking a glass of strawberry milk as Jack cleaned up around him.

I wonder, she thought. Just who is he?

Seeming to sense her eyes on him, Terrell turned. For a moment their eyes met. Sahara held them. I trust you, and yet I know nothing about you, she thought as though she were talking directly to him. But why do I suddenly get the feeling you're hiding something? Terrell turned away.

Sighing, Sahara got back to work. She and Alegra had just finished up with the tables when a face popped up into her vision.

"Hi!" one of the twins chirped.

 "Hey," Sahara replied.

"You ready to go?" the other twin asked from right beside her.

"Go where, Reagan?" Terrell asked as he appeared behind him.

Reagan turned around.

"We were wanting to take Sahara to scout a fifth member," Arden explained calmly.

Reagan nodded.

"There's no moonlight gathering," Terrell told them.

"We know. That's why we want to go into closer to the inner city. Look around there, you know?" Reagan told him.

Terrell scowled.

"Sounds fun," Alegra appeared. Naomi was close at her heels. "I think I'll tag along."

"I don't think it's such a good idea..." Terrell began.

"Hey, you're the one who refused to join," Arden shrugged. "We need a fifth member."

"And you need to find one today?"

"The faster we do, the sooner we can race and start earning more money to pay our rent," Reagan said.

Racing sooner means finding a way home sooner! Sahara jumped at the chance. "When are we leaving?"

"If you're all going..." Terrell muttered.

"All but you that is," Alegra told him.

Terrell narrowed his eyes.

"Naomi needs to go to bed," Alegra told him.

"Then let her go," Terrell shrugged.

"Someone needs to bring her home."

"She's a big girl, she can go by herself."

"And leave her there alone? Have you forgotten where we live?" Alegra asked in horror.

"Then you take her."

"If we're looking for another crew member I've got to be there. I'm part of the crew after all," Alegra told him firmly.

"So?"

"You take Naomi back with you."

"Why do I have to take the twerp?" Terrell scowled.

The twins shrugged.

"You're the manager...remember?" Alegra smirked. "Not exactly part of the crew."

Terrell sighed. "Fine...whatever." He shot Sahara a look.

"You don't need to worry," Reagan told him. "We'll find someone."

"That's what I'm worried about," Terrell muttered. "After all...I don't know what you're going to bring back this time," he glared right at Sahara as he spoke. "And we're running out of space in the warehouse."

"Oh, I'm sure we can fit one more," Alegra told him. "Actually...We could add ten if we needed to."

Terrell looked horrified.

"Come on. I'm sure if we find someone they'll have their own lodgings," Arden said.

"That's what I thought about all of you," Terrell muttered.

"Well then, we should get going," Alegra stated. She crouched down and gave Naomi a big hug. "I'll be back later, okay?"

Naomi nodded.

"Uncle Terrell's going to take you to bed."

"Uncle?" Terrell repeated.

"Would you prefer grandpa?" Alegra asked sweetly.

Terrell didn't reply.

"Be good, you hear?" Alegra told Naomi before giving her a kiss on her cheek.

"Well...see you later," Arden told Terrell as he and Reagan walked past. Alegra and Sahara followed.

Naomi turned to Terrell and took a firm hold of his hand. Terrell tried to shake her off.

"Let go!" Sahara heard him as she left the café with the others.

"Don't want to," she heard Naomi reply before they were out of earshot.

Once again, Sahara grabbed her board.

"When's the last time you went to the inner city at night?" Reagan asked Sahara.

"Actually...I've never been there," Sahara said before she could stop herself. When the others stared at her she quickly searched for a way to cover up her error. "I mean...since the virus hit."

The others nodded.

"Well, you're going to love this," Reagan told her as he got on his board.

Arden nodded. "The city comes alive at night. Especially more towards the inner city."

"Let's hope we actually find someone crazy enough to join us," Sahara murmured.

"Hey, we joined, didn't we?" Reagan asked. Sahara looked up to see the twins grinning at her. Alegra nodded in agreement.

"There's bound to be someone else out there," Arden commented.

Let's just hope so, Sahara thought as they set off.