-Forty Three-

"And d-don't forget Alexand-dria Mark-kov."

"Oh, yeah, and her brother, Karl, and his wife Heather." Mal said. I was just amazed we were still remembering anything after going at this for... well... days, it felt like.

"What's her ab-bility again?"

"Water manipulation."

"Oh, yeah, that's right. Goes well with his air manipulation skills."

"And what does Alexandria do?" One of the generals reluctantly asked.

"Something to do with flame." Tai muttered. "She never did explain it very well."

"It's complicated." Mal explained. "Even more complicated after she lost her arm in some fight with a government employee. The other government, I mean, not--"

The president nodded. "I have to say, I'm impressed by the names you--"

"Tara McLaley!" Tai suddenly announced.

I looked at him, confused. "Who?"

"I don't see her much, even at meetings I barely see her. She's a couple years older than us, and doesn't say much. I think there's issues at home."

"Right."

"Also, she can't turn her gift off, and it's not exactly... normal. But that's besides the point. The point is that I didn't see her at the meeting at all."

"You might have just missed her." Mal insisted.

Tai chuckled. "She has bright purple hair styled in a mohawk. Kinda hard to miss."

Mal chuckled. "Oh, her. She seemed kinda odd, never did talk to her much."

"I only did through a very weird set of events.... but I'm a bit worried. She never misses those things.... ever."

"What are her gift-ts?" I asked.

"Well, her purple hair is part of it, though I don't know why. Course, I didn't ask for clarification. The other part is that she touches objects and they change color, and it's always random."

"That explains her gloves, and the reason why they never match." Mal agreed. "But I don't--"

"When she touches people she erases their short term memory."

"Damn." Mal muttered. "That would suck. So why are you so worried?"

"Cause her parents aren't aware of the gifter community, and her mom's touched her so many times she's, well, missing pretty large chunks of time.... and not being allowed to tell... well..... and from the way she speaks, I think there's more problems than just her gifts as far as her home life goes. But that in itself... well.... it's caused serious issues. Last I heard, she was debating whether to tell her parents... and she had a feeling her dad would completely freak out if he found out... but she said he also was seeing some sort of pattern, and was starting to put things together."

Mal nodded. "That's.... not good. We can check up on her if you'd like."

He nodded. "After we're done."

"D-did we miss anyone?"

Tai thought it over for a bit, as did I, but I couldn't think of anything...

"No, I think that's everyone."

I nodded.

The three of us looked at the president and his generals then, Nali giving the generals a know it all, I told you so, grin they were appearing not to notice. "I think that's all we need for the time being." The president said. "Especially since you three seem to have plans..."

"Thanks." Mal said.

"No, thank you."

She nodded and pulled out her mirror. She looked at me. "Want a ride back?"

I nodded, got up, and grabbed her bars. We said our goodbyes to the others and quickly teleported back. Tai teleported after us.

"Do you have a feeling that he only called us, you, whatever, because he had no other option and then...?" Tai asked.

Mal nodded. "It seemed pretty clear from the get got that that was all he wanted us for, don't know why, seeing as we know as much as anyone else.... but I have to say that I'm kinda grateful. That took long enough as is, and you have a girl to check up on."

He nodded. "True. But didn't he agree to your assistance?"

"Well, he d-did ask for it. And we d-did d-deliver more than he probably thought we would."

"That's because he doesn't know anything."

"Exact-tly."

Tai chuckled. "Okay, you have a point. But it sort of makes this whole thing into a vicious cycle."

Mal nodded. "I think I know how Dad felt, now."

I chuckled. "Yeah, c-crazy, out of his mind, and frust-t-trated."

"Sad thing is, I don't think much has changed." She admitted. "He goes through that with every administration, it seems."

I nodded and looked at Tai. "So d-do you know where she lives?"

"Sort of." He admitted. "I know what gate she uses, which narrows it down."

"You mean you act-tually know the rhyme and reason t-to it?"

He shrugged. "Not exactly, just enough to help us in this case."

"Just trust us." Mal said. "You'd get it more if you could use a mirror."

"Ah, one of those things."

"So do we have a plan yet?" Mal asked.

Tai sighed. "Working on it. I know how to find her, and that's going to be the easy part, hard part will be convincing her family to let us in, and... yeah, which makes me wonder if I should go by myself first, hopefully so as to not scare them too much... except I'm an elf and that changes things there...."

Mal nodded. "But she knows you best, maybe you should go by yourself. I have my mirror if you need us, besides, if you're jumping in through her mirror--"

"I won't be, I'll be popping out of the portal outside her house, I think."

"You think?" Mal asked. "That's not--"

"I know, but don't worry, I know I won't get lost, besides, I doubt the government is still watching the mirrors like they were when--"

"Still." She insisted. "We don't need you falling off the grid."

"All the better reason for me to go alone."

"Tai!"

"Mal, trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"Even though you've never tried this before, right?"

"Look, I know this is going to work, alright? I'll even contact you when I reach the other side."

She sighed. "You freaking better. I still say you're wrong about that stupid freaking prophesy."

He shrugged. "I have no intention of dying today." He said as he pulled his mirror out. "I'll contact you in a minute."

She didn't say anything.

He looked into his mirror and disappeared.

Mal sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "He better be wrong about that stupid prophesy."

I didn't say anything.

"You believe him, don't you?"

"I-I d-don't know what t-to think. Honestly I-I dd-on't want t-to, either."

She sighed. "I wish I could turn that part of my brain off."

I didn't say anything, Mal's face twiched and she pulled out her mirror.

"Hey, I arrived in one piece." Tai's voice sounded from it. "But I'll tell you what, it wasn't fun. I'm using your mirror to get back once this is over."

She nodded. "Sounds good, contact me if you need help."

"Will do, sorry for worrying you, but--"

"I know. I'm just glad it worked."

"Me too. I'll see you both later."

"See you." She agreed, and a moment later put the mirror away. She looked at me. "Do you want to play chess?"

I stared at her. "Since when d-d-do you play chess?"

"Since now."

"I only b-barely know how, you know."

"Enough to teach me?"

"Maybe. Why--?"

"I want something seriously distracting."

"You're really worried, aren't you?"

"I don't know why, I just have this feeling today isn't going to end well."

"We could always--?"

She shook her head. "Our presence won't help... this just feels too much like a destiny thing. I hope I'm wrong, but--"

I nodded. "I'll go see about finding the chess set."

"Thanks."

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I can't believe it's been almost a year since I updated this. Guess it was long overdue, huh? Heh. Hopefully THAT won't happen again....

Mya