Hands in pockets, I drag myself down the hallway and through the door leading into the different stairwells. Looking up, I notice something rather odd. The door to the regular stairwell is as still as ever, but the back door is swinging lightly, like it had been recently used. I cock my head. Those stairs lead to the West basement! No one ever goes down there unless the Drama team needs to get props or costumes for the plays! I exclaim. And in any case, no one was around except for me, Jack, and Tiare.

Staring at the swinging door suspiciously, I decide to investigate, heading down the dusty steps into the pitch black basement. Arriving at the bottom of the stairway, I open the door cautiously leading into the basement. Peeking inside to make sure the room was empty, I step down the three ladder steps, and close the door behind me.

Just as the door clicks closed, I hear voices in the distance behind me. Talking. Footsteps, slowly getting louder and louder. Someone's coming this way! Thinking quick, I duck under the door, behind the ladder steps, praying that my pitch black fur is enough to blend me in with the pitch black basement. I sit as quietly as I can, shutting my eyes closed, knowing that their bright green glow may give me away if I dare keep them open. Unable to see them, I listen to their voices.

"This is a mess, Tiare! If you ever plan on finding your little 'friend,' this certainly isn't the way to do it!" A strange voice exclaims.

"You got a better idea?" I recognise Tiare's stern voice.

"I'm only saying that these idiots are not any use to you. They're just as clueless as any other planet! And just as dead!" The first voice exclaims. I strain my ears, trying to identify the other voice speaking. I force myself not to gasp when I hear the clip clop of feet climbing up the ladder steps, and I know they're only inches away from me. I wait and listen as both of them climb up the steps, and then I hear the door above me close shut. I hold my breath, keeping my eyes shut tight. For a while I sit there, still as can be, flicking my ears in all directions, trying to confirm that I'm alone.

Finally accepting the silence, I peek one eye open, looking around. Unfortunately, that does me no good. Looking through the darkness is like trying to see through a solid wall! I crawl out from behind the ladder steps, and start making my way step by step through the basement. Is this just where they come to meet and discuss... whatever? I ask myself, taking a peek through a shelf full of drama costumes. As I do, I begin to notice something. There is an eerie bluish-white glow from the other side of the rack. Taking the clothes, and pushing them apart, I find myself confronted by the wall of the basement. At the bottom of the wall, I can just make out the screened cover of a vent, in which the light illuminates from. Crouching down on the floor, I peer through the vent. The first thing I notice is that the vent opens up on the other side of wall, into another part of the basement. Although, I wasn't sure how to get over to that part of the basement - or if it was possible at all. Well of course it's possible! If all else fails, there's always the... I trail off, groaning in annoyance. Great, I think, here goes. Irritated as ever, I yank the vent cover off and throw it to the side with a loud clang.

"Klere?" I freeze, but the voice didn't sound angry. In fact, it only took me a few seconds to recognise who it was.

"Mary Kate?!" I exclaim at the blackness.

"Klere, what are you doing down here?" MK questions me.

"Uh... I, uh... needed some, uh, props." I stammer.

"For what?"

"I just needed them! Ok?" I snap. MK smirks.

"Fine. You need some help carrying them out?" She offers sarcastically. I then hear footsteps as she makes her way towards me. Beginning to panic, I try to think of a reason to shoo her off.

"N-n-no! It's, uh, a surprise. No one's allowed to see it. Completely classified. Now get out of here!" I exclaim.

"What's that?" MK asks, stepping around the clothes rack and spotting the soft glow coming from the air vent.

"I don't know! Now, shoo! What's it going to take for me to get you to go away?" I demand in frustration.

"I thought we were warming up to each other?" MK teases.

"Things got colder when you started poking around in my business! Now, scram!" I retort.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what that is." MK declares, stamping her foot into place defiantely.

"I don't know, Mary Kate!" I exclaim, my frustration boiling into anger. "Look, if you absolutely must stay here, then stay where you are. Don't you dare move from that spot." I warn her. MK looks to the side awkwardly, then back at me.

"Um, ok." She replies unsurely. With that, I give her a quick, warning glare, and then crawl inside the air vent, shoving the screen cover off of the other side and crawling out.

"Are you sure it's safe over there?" MK calls from the other side.

"No." I answer, looking around. My eyes land on something, obviously the cause of the eerie glow. It was a stone of some sort. In the shape of a perfect sphere. It was smooth and shiny, almost like a pearl. It was around the size of a small river stone. Picking it up, I examine the blue-white stone, fascinated by it's soft glow.

"Hello? Klere? Are you... dead?" MK calls nervously.

"No, I'm not dead, you imbecile." I snap. "Now, quiet! I'm concentrating." I command, turning back to the stone. My eyes trailing away from the stone, I notice a desk, and bulletin boards covering the wall. The bulletin boards and desk completely covered in papers. Notes, data, sketches, it looked like the world's messiest business man set up his office here.

Based on the notes, however, I could tell this was Tiare's doing. Skimming the notes, I find all kinds of connections and research - all about the Survival Gamers. I find some of the notes she took from previous planets the Gamers attacked to be most interesting. Jack's clue from Myrror was "a Survival Gamer's strength is its weakness" and Raven had already concluded that it's weakness was what it didn't expect. If I could get these notes back to Raven-- I stop, a chill running up my spine. The fur on the back of my neck prickles as I see something I should've seen a long time ago.

Looking down, I see a small tail that pokes out from under the desk. A generally bushy tail, striped red and white. Please tell me that's not who I think it is! I silently pray, swallowing in fear. Bending down, I peek my head under the desk, my heart sinking as my worst fears come true.

"Raven!" I screech. But it doesn't do anything. He's out cold! Maybe even dead! I shiver at the thought. Realizing there's not much else to do, I pull him out from under the desk, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him violently. "Raven! Raven! Wake up! Please!" I scream at him, but he doesn't budge. My panic rising, I press my hand up against his chest, sighing with relief as I feel the slow rise and fall as he breaths. He's not dead... He's not dead... just... passed out? Knocked out? It was Tiare. It had to be! Or that other freak that was with her! Gritting my teeth in anger, I look up at the empty air, screaming.

"Curse you, Tiare! I curse you and every bone in your worthless body! I curse you and all your cursive friends! I wish you would just fall down dead! Whatever you did to Raven, whatever you did to Jack's sweet seven year old friend, this will not go unjustified!" I scream. Pausing, I take a deep breath. "I swear it." I mutter to myself. So caught up in my fears and worries, I had forgotten all about Mary Kate on the other side of the wall. Until I hear her scream at the top of her lungs. Perking my ears up, I'm about to call out to her, but stop as her screams suddenly turn into laughs.

"Oh, it's you!" She exclaims, laughing.

"Mary Kate? What are you doing down here? Staying out of trouble, I hope?" I immediately recognise Daxter's light, bouncy voice, and sigh with relief. We'd better keep it quiet from now on, I tell myself, or someone's bound to hear us all screaming down here.

"Daxter?" I call through the vent. There is a pause.

"Klere? Klere! Is that you? When did you get here?" Daxter calls back.

"Not too long ago. How long have you been down here?" I reply.

"Um... a few hours, I think. I didn't bring a watch." Daxter answers, unsurely, then chuckles.

"Hours? What have you been doing?" I demand.

"Well, Raven and I came down here, after seeing Tiare sneak down here with some creep. Raven wanted to investigate, so we followed them down here, and then we saw the light coming through the vent."

"Wait, you were with Raven?" I exclaim. Daxter ignores me, continuing.

"So, Raven instructs me to go hide behind a stack of props and not to come out until he comes back, so I've been waiting there for a while. But he still didn't come back. Then I heard some girls screaming, so I decided to check it out before returning--"

"Daxter, Raven has been lying unconscious on the floor for who knows how long!" I scream at him in frustration. There's a long silence.

"Oh. I, well, I... I didn't know. I'm sorry, Klere." He apologizes respectfully. I sigh, telling myself to calm down.

"Ok, look, what happened isn't important anymore. What matters now is we all get out of here before Tiare and her 'creep' friend, or whatever, show up again!" I exclaim. "I'm going to push Raven through the vent to you, can you two pull him out on the other side?"

"Can do!" Daxter replies, the usual bright quality returning to his voice.

"Ew, I'm not touching that." MK mutters in disgust.

"'That' is my friend, you foul mouthed cockroach!" I snarl. There's no reply. Cursing under my breath, I position Raven in front of the air vent, shoving him through by the feet. It wasn't long before I could feel Daxter - and just maybe Mary Kate - pulling him from the other side. Letting him go, I watch, heavy hearted, as the last of him disappears through the vent. Trying not to think about all the dreadful things that could've happened to him, I crouch down, ready to crawl back through the air vent, then remember something, glancing back up at the desk full of papers and notes. I pause, considering whether or not I should take. Considering the consequences if I did, or if I didn't.

"Klere! Get over here! What's taking you so long?" MK calls impatiently. Unable to make up mind, I grab the pearl-shaped stone, and crawl back through the air vent. Crawling out the other side, I meet with MK and Daxter, who's examining Raven closely with curiosity.

"What's that?" MK asks me, nodding at the stone.

"Oh, this? I... I don't know." I answer. Daxter looks at the stone, then up at me.

"You don't think that's you-know-what, do you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow at me thoughtfully. I shrug.

"I don't know. I feel like if it were you-know-what they, wouldn't have it right here at the school where four of the 24 survivors hang around for half the day!" I reason. Daxter nods in agreement.

"True, true. But, just for the record, that definitely looks like a you-know-what." He comments. I laugh.

"That it does." I mutter, partially to myself. MK gives us questioning glares.

"We'll need to discuss this with you-know-who, you know." Daxter reminds me. I stare at him in bewilderment.

"Who?" I ask. Daxter gives me an awkward glance.

"You know..." he mutters, trailing off. Seeing that I still don't understand, he sighs. "V-I-E..." he begins spelling out her name.

"Oh! Right." I say, cutting him off.

"What? Vie?" MK questions us.

"Nothing." I answer swiftly.

"Klere, go round up Jack, you two take the stone to Vie--er, I mean, you-know-who. MK and I will take Raven to the hospital." Daxter says. MK shoots him a glare.

"Ugly says what?" She snaps. "I ain't taking this flea-bag nowhere!" I roll my eyes.

"For once, MK, would you just shush up and do the right thing?" I say, giving her a glare, as I leave to go find Jack. Dashing up the stairs, I throw the door open, running into the small area that connects the hallway with the two stairwells. Running back into the hall, I try retracing my steps.

"Ok, so the last time I saw Jack, was when I told him about Jenny, then he went that way." I think aloud. I start walking in the direction Jack had headed, which was towards the door on the other side of the hallway, which led to a third stairwell. Heading to the stairwell, I pause, trying to think. Where would he be... just need to think like Jack! I think to myself, then smirk.

"Oh, this is all so depressing! And you have to keep out of my business! Don't talk to me!" I say, in a deep, manly voice, then laugh. "Now that's what I call a terrible impression of Jack." I tell myself. Feeling light-hearted, and high-spirited, I decide to check the Lounge, in the basement on the East side of the school. There couldn't be too many aliens still hanging out there, right? I mean, of course after school and during lunchtimes they crowded the place, but this late in the afternoon? Not a chance.

Stepping lightly and merrily, I make my way down the stairs, then, reaching the Gathering Hall at the entrance to the school - where all the humans hang out - I cross over to the back door, and head down the stairs to the West basement. On arriving, I see there are still a few study groups left in huddles on the couches, working on whatever they need to. It doesn't take me long to spot Jack, but I stop, my smile fading. He was talking with someone... and not just any someone... he was talking with a human. A human girl!

"What the--!" I stop myself. Gotta get closer. What are they saying?! I think, sneaking towards them, and taking cover behind one of the ragged sofas. Then, angling my ears toward them, I strain to hear their conversation.

"I'm done playing games with you, Jack. Where are your friends?" The girl demands.

"I don't know." Jack answers calmly. "Whatever you and Tiare are after, you won't get it from them." He adds.

"Whatever you think you know about me and Tiare is a lie! You know nothing about what's coming your way! Quite frankly, I didn't think this was a good idea either, but Tiare's too stubborn to find a new plan. So for the last time, where are your friends?"

"What are you doing with her, anyway? She's not a Gamer anymore." Jack asks.

"Let's just say we have some unfinished business to settle. Now, I'm not going to ask you again!" The girl snaps, growing impatient.

"I'm not going to tell you again." Jack responds. Unable to control myself, I jump out from behind the couch.

"You're Tiare's partner! You were with her in the East basement!" I exclaim. Jack looks at me, startled.

"Klere! What are you--"

"How did you know we were in the basement, hmm?" The girl asks me, skeptically. I wince, realizing I just said the wrong thing. Great. Now what? Seeing that I have nothing to say, the girl examines me thoroughly, her gaze stopping at my pocket, where I'd shoved the pearl.

"What's in your pocket?" She asks.

"An eraser." I answer quickly. Her gaze hardens, and she glares at me, our eyes making contact.

"What's in your pocket?" She asks again, slowly and more stern. I swallow hard, meeting her gaze silently in defiance. Finally, I see her hands slowly curl into fists. Ok, now we're in for it.

"Run." I mutter. Jack looks at me questioningly.

"What?"

"Run!" I shriek, and without waiting for a response, I grab his arm and yank him forward towards the door. I hear an angry yell behind us, and turn around to see the girl chasing after us. We dash up the stairs to the Gathering Hall, and out the front door.

"Klere, give that to me! You have no idea what you're up against! Do you hear me? Give it back!" I hear her call out at us. Rounding the corner, I spot a large trash dump. Grabbing Jack by the neck collar, I open the lid and throw him inside, jumping in after him and closing the lid. For a long moment, we sit in silence. I hear the girl round the corner and stop, breathing hard. Probably looking around to see where we'd gone. I silently pray that she doesn't think to look into the trash dump, and, to my surprise, I begin hearing her footsteps as she runs away. The pitter patter of her feet getting softer and softer until she's far enough away so that I can hear her no longer. Sighing with relief, I throw the lid open and hop out.

"What was that?" The moment is broken when I turn to face a very upset Jack.

"It was, uh, look. It's a long story." I stammer.

"Why were you spying on us?" He demands.

"Hey, the fact that you were with a girl is suspicious enough. But you with a human girl? That's not right!" I retort.

"'Me with a girl?' We were talking! Can you really say that's suspicious when you hardly even know me?" He challenges me.

"Yes! I may not know much about you, but I know enough! No more 'girls,' alright? That creep was bad news!" I snap. Jack scoffs.

"'No more girls,' she says." He mutters to himself, then pauses, and glances back at me, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "Are you jealous?" He asks. I feel my cheeks grow hot, and I stiffen. Jealous! What does he think I am? A lovesick boy magnet?

"No! Why would you even ask something like that? I may be a lot of things, but I am certainly not some googly-eyed puppy running around, chasing boys with lolling tongues!" I snap. Jack stifles a laugh. He's making fun of me! I think, gritting my teeth, my lips bared back in a snarl.

"I didn't say that." He says, trying to keep from laughing.

"What's so funny, lover boy?" I retort. He shakes his head, managing to regain his composer.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Now, I still haven't gotten an answer from you. What exactly is going on?" He asks. I sigh, relaxing myself.

"We saw Tiare and someone else, most likely that girl you were talking with, go into the West basement."

"West Basement?" He clarifies.

"Yeah. I found a secret stash of notes and whatnot back there. Notes about the Survival Gamers. I also found this." I add, digging in my pocket and pulling out the small pearl. Jack takes it, twirling it around in his hand.

"You don't think this is the stone? Do you?" He asks. I shrug, then remember something.

"Oh, yes. There's something else you should know..." I add, trailing off. "I also found Raven down there."

"So that's where he was this entire time?" Jack exclaims. I nod.

"Yes, but he's kind of..."

"Kind of...?"

"Passed out." I finish. Jack gives me a worried look.

"Passed out? What do you mean?"

"I don't know, I just found him knocked out cold. Daxter was down there too, but he'd been sitting in a corner all this time!" I exclaim, rolling my eyes as I recall the event.

"Daxter? Is he ok?" Jack asks. I smirk, opening my mouth to give some witty retort on his 'sweet, sweet relationship with his little Mirken friend,' then pause, thinking better of it. Best not do that, since they're obviously close. I think.

"He's fine," I finally answer, "he and MK took Raven to the hospital. They're going to meet us at the meeting place." Jack pauses, then nods. For the rest of the trip, we walk in silence. Taking the flying barrel over to Hong Kong, and walking at a relaxed pace to the abandoned school. Upon arriving, Vienna greets us at the door.

"Where have you two been? Where's your other two companions? Raven and - Daxter, was it?" She asks.

"Raven is... currently unavailable. Daxter should be here soon." I answer. Vienna nods in approval, and gestures for us to have a seat and join the group. "I just hope he doesn't 'accidentally' drag Mary Kate with him all the way over here." I mutter.

"Don't underestimate him. Dax knows what he's doing." Jack says in his defense. I smirk inwardly. Does he? We wait for Daxter to show up. I twiddle with my thumbs, nervously glancing at the door every five minutes or so. But he never shows. Finally, the clock strikes 11 in the morning local time - 12 at night back home. Vienna dismisses everyone to go home. There is a loud squeaking of chairs, as everyone gets up and files out the building. Jack sits in his chair, his expression tainted with worry. I sigh. Probably worried why Dax didn't show up.

I have to admit, I, myself, am bit curious as well. But that will have to wait. I have other matters to attend. I walk over to Vienna, who's tidying up the last of the notes and such. Clearing my throat, I address her hesitantly.

"Vienna?" She looks at me from over her shoulder.

"Ah, Klere. What's up?" She asks.

"Nothing much. I just... found something earlier. And I was wondering if it could be the stone we're looking for." I explain. Vienna stops, turning around to face me, and wiping her dusty chalk-covered hands on her white dress. That's smart... I think.

"Well, let's see it." She says. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the pearl. She takes it, examining it with fascination.

"Ah, a power stone indeed! Quite beautiful one, at that. Unfortunately, this is not the one we're looking for, but this is a power stone, just not the power stone." She explains. I take the stone back from her, letting it roll around in the palm of my hand.

"So this is a power stone, huh? What does it do?" I ask.

"Looks to me like a time turner. Sort of like a time machine, but it's all-natural. No assembly required." Vienna jokes, chuckling mildly.

"So, this thing can travel in time?" I say, staring at the small rock with a new fascination.

"Oh, my dear, it can do a lot more than that! The ancient mysteries stored up in that thing are capable of things beyond what our minds can comprehend. That stone, there? It holds power. Power not only able to turn time, it controls time! That is why these stones are so valuable." Vienna says, winking at me. My eyes widen, and I stare in awe at the hypnotic bluish-white glow of the small pearl. I can't believe I had this in my pocket... I think, partially anxious, partially exhilarated.

"Thanks!" I call over my shoulder, as I head back over to where Jack is still sitting, deep in thought. Sitting next to him, I find myself awkwardly searching for something comforting to say. But before I can say anything, I feel my phone buzzing off in my pocket. Stupid piece of junk! I think, cursing it under my breath. Reaching for my back pocket, I pull out my phone, to see a bunch of random numbers appearing on the screen.

"How does this thing even get through! I don't have cellular service in this country!" I exclaim. Jack points to the little red light flashing "emergency call." Right... I think, I forgot that since it's 2022, phone companies can do that. I think sarcastically. Jack narrows his eyes at the number displayed on the screen.

"What?" I ask, noticing his face.

"That's Daxter's number." He says, looking at me. Looking back at the number, I click the answer button, and hold the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Good evening!" I hear Daxter's bright voice greet me from the other side of the phone.

"Oh, thank goodness it's you. Wait--where were you? Why didn't you show up at the--"

"Look, I don't have a lot of time to explain, plus you have no cellular." Daxter adds. I smirk, chuckling. "But you both need to get over to the hospital, quick. Raven's dug up a lot of dirt, and when I say dirt, I mean dirt." He exclaims.

"Gee, sounds dirty!" I joke. Daxter laughs for, I kid you not, a solid five minutes on the phone. When he's finally calmed himself, I put the phone back up against my ear. "We'll meet you there as soon as we can." I say, and hang up the phone.

"So, what's going on?" Jack asks.

"Come on!" I say, getting up from the chair and heading towards the elevator. Jack follows me. "Daxter says Raven's got some intel for us. And, apparently, it's important." I explain. And with that, I dash to the flying barrel with Jack close at my heels. Part of me fears what Raven has to say. Daxter said he had intel for us. He didn't say it was good...