Skye Prower

Skye looked at Tikal, and his posture and features soften somewhat. "Don't worry. I won't be gone long," he said in his normal voice. ---------- "So it's like a massive TV in a massive room? Cool. Any good films?" asked Melody. ----------- "We can see the girls," said Ziona through the radio. "We'll be with you in a second." She called over to Hope and Melody. ----------- "Of course I'm acting of my own will," said Anna. "Really?" Miles interrupted. "And you like the person you are now?" "Of course I do!" shot back Anna. "DO YOU?" shouted Miles forcefully. Anna blinked, and slowly she bowed her head. "No."

"It couldn't be worse," said Skye in the same cold voice. "Dylan. Do you still have your teleporter handy?" ----------- "What are those 'cinema' things?" asked Melody. ----------- "I think I saw them head over to that park," said Ziona as she set off in that direction. ----------- "I could think of a reason or two," said Anna in response to Hope, causing Miles to look up sharply. "That... didn't help my case did it?"

Skye was about to say something comforting to Tikal, but the moment Dylan mentioned Miles his whole demeanor changed. "Where?" he asked Dylan coldly. ----------- "I don't need to run that fast, but it'd still be faster than most public transport and still be safe," said Melody. ---------- "So did someone else teleport...?" began Ziona when her radio chirped. "Hello? Dylan? What's happening at the hotel? We've lost Crowley and Anna." ----------- Miles was fuming, yet did as Hope asked for now. Shaking, Anna was reluctant to talk to Hope, in case somehow she'd use that knowledge to turn her back into who'd she'd been. But at the same time, Miles was still there listening. Maybe if he heard, and if he understood... She began talking, but to Miles, not Hope. "It started... It started just after I came to the Prime Zone to try and discover what Shadow and the Zone Cops had been up to. I met one of my friends there, but she seemed... different. I couldn't quite put my finger on it at the time, because of her injuries... but then.... I met two others and I realised. My friend was a version of her from the future... and the two others... they were my... our... children..." Miles closed his eyes sadly. He'd suspected it, but now her was the proof.

"You put trackers in our boards and didn't tell us?" repeated Skye, sounding hurt.

"What's that plan?" asked Skye as he handed Dylan a radio.

"We could, but I think the girls went to the UF with Crowley," said Skye.

"Hi Dylan. Hi Spark," said Skye. "Do you know what's going on here?" ----------- "So I guess. But you don't need public transport when you've got me!" said Melody. ----------- "What flash?" asked Ziona. ---------- "No. After what you were saying about Mina earlier I am not leaving you alone with her."

"You mean it can sometimes be even busier than this?" asked Melody with amazement. ---------- "And it's not like they would have run off. Crowley knew what was going on," Ziona turned to look at Zamy. "So the question is how and where." --------- Miles glared at Hope. So much for her being a quick fix. "Fine. Do what is required. The sooner it's done, the sooner you don't need to worry about us." "Miles. please don't do this," pleased Anna. "I don't know what your planning, but please. Just let us go. For me?" For a moment, Miles hesitated, then he shook his head. "No. I'm doing this FOR you," Miles said.

(ooc: What on Earth makes you think people don't care about Glen? We just wanted to get the kidnap underway, and it wasn't as if anyone could have stopped it. Also, nice inter-dimensional radio there. Do they sell them in every store?) Skye started to make his way out of the penthouse. "I wonder what all that shouting is about?" he asked.

"This is a really nice park," commented Melody. "There's a lot more traffic around though. Everyone seems... so much busier." ----------- "I can't imagine that anything could have happened without a struggle," said Ziona. ---------- "I know," Miles replied, rubbing the side of his neck. "Okay Robotnik. You've got you specimens. Now just do the operation on Mina and we'll leave you alone." "Op... operation? Miles, what are you doing?" asked a terrified Anna.

Skye was too distracted with Tikal in the other room to notice the flash was different from Shadow's normal teleport. ------------ "Great idea. Let's go," said Melody ------------ "I thought he was planning to stay at the hotel," murmured Ziona, also looking around. "There's Hope and Melody, but no sign of Anna and Crowley." ----------- Anna gave a scream as she appeared held in chains. Miles finished his incantation and three wavy energy fields appeared around Shadow, Crowley and Anna. "Now then Hope, those fields can only be dropped at my command. And before you even think about killing me, a detail I forgot to mention. If I die, those chains disappear." He walked up to Anna. "Hello Mina, I've missed you," he said tenderly. "Wha... MILES? What? How? You were locked up! You... you... you look awful!"

"I guess you're right," said Melody as she nosily looked over Hope's shoulder. --------- "It really... busy..." said Anna, also giving a slight shiver. "And tall. Much taller than anything..." -------- Ziona took a deep breath and nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be. I just hope it's paranoia we're feeling." ------- "1... NOW!" Miles activated the controls and the portals burst into life, as did the ritual chains at the same moment. Miles began incanting under his breath, making sure he had another bargaining chip against Hope.

"You don't know your way around?" asked Melody, grinning. ----------- Anna looked around the place, but refrained from asking too many questions as she followed Crowley. ----------- "Activating Portal's in 3... 2..."

(ooc: Sorry Spark. We weren't sure when you'd be back so Dylan took over watching duties.) "I-I-I... I really don't know. You decide... Or shall we get a map and look," said Melody with breathless excitement. "Sure thing Crowley," said Anna, trying not to appear too excited or nervous. -------------- "Look's like we'll soon get our opportunity," said Miles, as he locked on the system to Anna and Crowley. On another screen, a similar lock-on was being prepared for Shadow.

"Thank's Hope. I can't wait to see your home," said Melody looking around. "This is... kinda different," commented Anna. (ooc: Has Shadow gone with the group or is he still at the hotel?)

"Okay. C'mon, lets head to the hut," said Skye happily. ------------ "Great. Let's go!" said Melody happily.

"Now, do you want to see the small surprise I prepared?" asked Skye. ------------- "Great. See you later then," said Anna as she walked over to where the others were. "Are we ready to go?" she asked. ------------ "You seem very sure of that Glen," said Ziona doubtfully, then she saw Anna. "I think we are, yes."

"Good girl," said Skye, putting one arm round her for a half hug. ----------- "That's all we can do here. Though that assumes Miles isn't dead yet. In which case Anna is likely safe."

"Okay Angel, I won't," said Skye with a smile. "As long as you don't." ------------ "But we don't know where she is. She could be anywhere, in any Zone," pointed out Ziona. "And there are Cops looking for her as we speak."

"What do you mean by 'off'?" asked Skye. ------------- "Oh, and Dylan, Spark is trying to repeat a dream he had about some strange message. If he seems to be in trouble, wake him up," Anna explained. ------------- "And let's hope she never does," said Ziona. Though it was unclear exactly whether it was Glen or Zamy she was responding too. Maybe both.

"Think what?" Now Skye was really confused. ----------- "I... I think I will," Anna replied. ------------ "Wait, are you saying this version of Hope is somehow... somehow her or working for her?" asked Ziona incredulously.

"Uh... I don't want to use the word normal.... but that seems the closest I can think of... But the things you're saying are a bit far off from that," Skye tried to explain. ------------ "And that was Hope in the future. If she wasn't able to protect herself, she'd be dead before her reputation arrived. Or did you stop to think how someone like her would still be alive when Scourge tried to take over Moebius. Glen, the isn't just a rep. She can back it up. And I don't want to loose you either."

"Not bad... Just... You always seemed like such a...." Skye wasn't sure what to say. ------------ "Thank's Dylan," said Melody happily. "C'mon Anna. You've got a date!" "It's not a date," mumbled Anna embarrassed. ---------- "Well, it sounded as if you'd forgotten all about me," retorted Ziona. "And we don't even know if I'm gonna be put in any danger. Besides, if it was that easy to kill her, don't you believe someone would have done it by now?"

"Not... reprehensible, no..." said Skye. "Just... I really wouldn't have expected that kinda things..." -------------- Ziona aimed a solid punch square at the center of Glen's face. "We caught her once. We can do it again. And without you needing to throw yourself away because you believe you've nothing left to live for," said Ziona harshly.

"If you're sure Dylan. It does seem that way," replied Melody. -------------- "I hope you're happy," said Ziona tersely to Glen.