As the narrator is anxious to get onto the next adventure, she will not dwell on the various reactions of the various members of the Applebus to Daphne's discovery - you can probably figure them out on your own (Myki and Daivi - interested and curious, as well as pleased; Blake rolled his eyes).

     The Applebus crew rested up and lazed about the house for several days. Every day they discovered a new corner, some new and fascinating aspect of their new domicile.
     But after a while, they began to get restless. The excitement and perpetual motion of travelling in the Applebus had infected their systems, and though they loved the house, they soon agreed to head back out again.

NOTE:Ananda Daydream is no longer to be held (entirely) responsible for what happens in the rest of the adventure... she's allowed her imagination to run, and the story truly has taken on a life of its own now. So this is not Ananda writing, nor is it Naomi or anyone, but the story itself. (Either that or Reûic's put Ananda under his spell, too...)

     "Ready?" asked Maik from the driver's seat. A chorus of "yes"es and "ready"s responded.
     "Mind if I push a button this time?" Naomi asked.
     "Sure."
     She came up from the back, and pressed a black amoeba-shaped button embedded with star-like gold glitter.
     Once again, the Applebus was shrouded in darkness, but this time, it was worse. The darkness brought not only a chill breeze, but a sudden feeling of fear and trepidation.
     When the bus stopped, it remained dusky, both inside and outside the Applebus. Our heroes/heroines (such as they are) slowly ventured into the murky ¯twilight¯
     "So. You have arrived." A low, sultry female voice greeted them.
     Ten pairs of eyes frightfully peered into the dark mist, but could make out nothing at first as they climbed out. Then, the voice again, a powerful, commanding voice:
     "You are now in the presence of Ràspia (raah-spee-uh; aa = a in apple), ruler of this land and many others, supreme sorceress without rival."
     The mist suddenly parted before the hapless ensemble of the Applebus.
     A red-orange glow revealed two figures, one female, one male.
     The guys of the Applebus stood transfixed, hypnotized by Ràspia. Tall and slim, with a perfect feminine figure. A finely chisled face, smooth and flawless and strong as if carved from pure marble, toped [toped? Topped? topaz meanderings... funky... dinna ken from whence it came...!] [TOPPED, dangit, stop distracting!!! *later note: yes, this's where the title of our blog came from! ^_^;] with a blaze of luminous red-orange hair the colour of flame. Her hair could nearly have been said to have a light of its own, so bright was it, and it shone healthy and luxuriant. Her dark eyebrows arched high over narrow eyes, but her eyes seemed to glow with flame even more intense than her hair. Her lips were deep red, somewhat thin, but still beautiful. She wore a black leotard-suit with scarlet designs and several well-placed holes and cuts. A red-gold chain looped somewhat loosely around her waist, resting on her hips, and her feet were in knee-high black boots.
     The girls, however, hardly noticed Ràspia in all her fire-goddess glory. Their full attention was drawn instead to the figure beside her. He was also tall, and well-built, though not over-muscular. His golden locks of hair were shoulder-length on the back of his neck, and they tapered from his forehead down the side of his face and his neck. His eyes were a deep orange-brown, glowing golden-orange, though not so fiercly as Ràspia's. He was clean-shaven, with his face as perfect as Michaelangelo's David's (at elast [at elast...ic?*g*] [You mean at least, maybe, 'Nanda? *g*][yeah..*sheepish grin*], so Naomi thought, having seen the real thing a year or so back). A thin gold chain was around his neck. He wore no shirt, only a dark vest, left unbuttoned. His tight black leather pants were cut a bit low, and fit perfectly. A scarf that shimmered orange and gold and black rounded his waist. He wore heeled boots that rose to mid-calf.

  (larger version)    Ràspia observed the girls' gazes with a cool air that belied her fiery appearance. "I see you have noticed my, ah... associate, the three-l lllama, Reûic." (ray-OO-ik)[Well, if he's the three-l lllama, someone just lost their bet...*g* Note to any confused readers: The "three-l lllama" bet has to do with a strange song that Ananda and Daffodil sang for choir. Having been banished to chorus, rather than the more prestigious choir, for lack of sight-reading ability, Laurel did not sing this song, and had to have it explained to her, too. So Reûic is not a llama, or Lama. He is a--well, he resembles a human, anyway. Just to clear up any confusion there. Apologies for the interruption. Back to the story.] After a moment (during which the Applebus members continued staring - not being able to think of anything else to do, and Ràspia and Reûic appeared to take stock of both their reactions and their physical appearances), Ràspia continued in that voice which, somehow, no-one dared disobey. "Come, dear guests. We have awaited you for some time, eagerly anticipating your arrival."
[Cue the scary music! Dun-dun-dun! *g*]
     As she spoke thus, she moved towards Aubrey, and caressed his cheek with her hand. Aubrey turned his head brusquely away.
     "Oh," she said, though not surprised. "Perhaps you prefer a different kind of touch?"
     At this, Reûic, who had moved behind Aubrey in the meantime, placed his hands on Aubrey's shoulders, and began to slowly massage them, his lips moving close to Aubrey's neck. Aubrey tore himself away, and pushed to the other side of the group, pulling Ianthe with him and then close to him, glaring defiently [I thought it was defiantly...*g*] [whatever!!] and semi-hatefully at Ràspia and Reûic.
     For a fraction of a second, Ràspia's face seemed to fall, but she instantly regained her composure. "Ah, I see. You prefer the company of that one. You will please forgive me for the mistake - few women have visited here, and so we are unused to anything unlike brash male conquistadores."
     Aubrey's anger seemed to subside, but by very little, and he still held Ianthe close (though her gaze was already drifting...). [Schnierf!!!! Daffy is very unhappy with that!!!][*Exactly* the point... why d'you think I had sooo much fun with all this? *veg*]
     "Please," Reûic said, speaking for the first time. "Allow us to redeem ourselves in your eyes. Dine with us this evening. We shall have a feast such as mortal eyes have never seen!"
     The eyes of the male population of the Applebus lit up at the prospect of much good food, and looked to Ràspia for confirmation (except Aubrey). The girls' eyes remained set on Reûic, for though his act towards Aubrey had vaguely frightened them, his voice drew them back - a rich baritone, sweet and smooth as honey. There was also an enchantment about the place, though the Applebus crew knew it not. It was a spell set long before, in anticipation of their arrival. Though they had been there only a very short time, the enchantment had already begun to set in, as they allowed themselves to be split up (guys with Ràspia, girls with Reûic) and led through seperate chambers in what was presumably a mountain, just out of sight of the Applebus.
     The two groups parted at the base of the mountain, Ràspia leading the guys into a tunnel to the right; Reûic, the girls, into a tunnel to the left.
     No-one said goodbye as they parted ways. [I feel so evil now... *eg*]

     Reûic led the girls into a stone tunnel. The walls and floor were polished smooth, and in several places there were strange-looking inscriptions (the girls would've thought they had an evil look to them, but the enchantment grew as they neared the heart of Ràspia and Reûic's stronghold, and the carvings look to be of pleasant things). The tunnel branched off often, and the girls soon lost track of the twists and turns Reûic took them along.
     All the time that they walked, Reûic talked with them, telling of the feast they were to have that evening, of the luxurious comforts they would have while resting there, and any number of other pleasant things...
     No-one mentioned the other members of the Applebus.

     "Here you may freshen up, if you so choose," Reûic said, in his voice as golden and smooth as his shining-rich hair. "Though you're all so beautiful, I don't see why you would need to," he added with a wink, as he brushed his fingers along Ianthe's cheek. [*Daffy whimpers* This isna right!!! Only Aubrey is allowed to touch Ianthe's cheek! It's... it's no' ethical!! *her accent has thickened with the trembling o' her feeling* I's no' fair!!!][What accent? You don't have one in real life!][Sure I have an accent... To people who dinna live where I live... I also have a really strange way o' speakin', an' I happened to slip into an accent from the British Isles...*g*] Ianthe blushed, and the others glared jealously at her.
     Reûic opened the heavy wooden door, and then closed it behind the girls as they entered, telling them that he would return for them in a half-hour.
     The girls looked about the room. It wasn't particularly large, but richly furnished. Nearly everything was of red velvet and gold, and what wasn't, was of a deep mahogany. There were no windows, but several lamps about the room provided sufficient lighting. Along one wall were four wooden tables, beneath mirrors that hung on the wall. Upon each table was a porcelain washing basin, with soap and towels set next to it, along with combs, brushes, and other paraphenalia. Along another wall were four chairs (of the Usurper series), each of which had a dress of silk [Daf doesna usually wear dresses...] [And Laurel despises 'em! And hey, what on earth are Usurper chairs? We're not all furniture experts here!] [From the Monkees... I canna think o' the name o' the eppy right this moment...] [Hey, I don't like dresses either, but they fit the mood/story.. an' it's "Royal Flush", aka "Here Come the Monkees"] [Oh, okay.] laid upon it.
     Just as the four had finished washing up and changing, and were touching up their hair, etc., there was a soft knock at the door. After final glances in the mirror, the girls left the room with Reûic.
     Reûic, who was now in a white, ruffled shirt with puffed sleeves and tight, golden glittering pants, led them a short distance further down the stone passageway, to a large dining hall, where a superb feast was laid out.
     There were five chairs.
     They sat down, and enjoyed the excellent meal (which I will not describe, as many of the dishes were foreign to the girls, and so, would be to the reader as well). While they ate, a young boy of about nine or ten years old entered the room, and, sitting in a corner, serenaded them with a sweet boy soprano and a small, harp-like instrument. When he first touched the strings, Elisay stirred uneasily. He shouldn't be playing that! There's someone else...someone else... She struggled with the half-memory for a moment.
     "Does something trouble you, my sweet Elisay?" Reûic asked, caring and concern on his fine features.
     Elisay shook off the troubling thought. "No," she replied, smiling again.

     After the meal, Reûic led each of the girls to a seperate chamber in a hallway off the one they had come down.
     The evening had gone similarly for the guys, but with each believing themselves more and more in love with Ràspia (including Aubrey [*Daf screams, tears forming in her eyes (which is verry near to the truth)* NOOOO!!!!! I will no' believe it!!! I' canna be!!! Ye're jess tryin' to fool me, tryin' to hurt me... an' i's workin'!])[::exasperated sigh:: Daffy, Daffy, Daffy--goodness, it's fiction! Lighten up!][I canna lighten up! Wot means this "fiction"? I've never heard the word before!*g*][SEE what we all hafta DEAL with?!][I know! Sheesh, Daf, really!], while the girls were pulled more and more towards Reûic.
     Naomi's room was the last one to be reached, and as she began to enter, Reûic caught her hand.
     "May I enter with thee?" he asked quietly, locking those molten gold eyes with hers of pure blue.
     She nodded, a small smile on her lips. [Thou mayest, and perchance I may hap to brush against thy hand, an I am a fortunate maiden this night...Sorry, his "thee" thing set me off.]
From here on, we shall follow Naomi for a time, as she was the more forthcoming with what transpired. Though we can be sure that the rest experienced similar (the girls with Reûic, the guys with Ràspia).
     They entered the room. The dècor was similar to the other rooms Naomi had seen - red velvet and gold. There was a lareg [lareg... hmm... must be foreign...*g*] canopied bed, a deep mahogany bureau with a large mirror atop it. A short passage led to a large bathroom. Next to the passage was a rather large walk-in closet, filled with clothes of every description, and all appearing to perfectly suit Naomi.
     Naomi kicked off her shoes, and her toes happily sought comfort in the thick red carpet. "Ah..." she sighed. "Much better. I've never felt entirely comfortable being dressed up-" She stopped abruptly, as, at a snap of Reûic's fingers, her silk dress changed to a white short-sleeved hippie shirt and comfortable flared brown cotton pants (like Micky's in Instant Replay pics)[Ri-i-i-i-ght, like I remember *that*...but I won't get after you, considering all the obscure Whose Line references *I* make...].
     Reûic smiled gently, amused at her bemused expression. "Better, sweet child?"
     Naomi began to sputter various "but how?"s, which Reûic silenced, putting a finger to her lips and a hand on the small of her back. "Shh," he whispered as he pulled her closer. "The three-l lllama has many, many talents." By the end of this statement, his face was barely an inch from Naomi's, his finger having moved slowly from her lips to her back, while Naomi's hands had moved up to Reûic's chest and shoulders. Naomi quickly found herself in caught in a passionate, bordering on desperate-hard kiss and embrace..... without a thought of Blake. [*Daf squints eyes* Is it over? Daf refuses to believe that Ianthe or Aubrey behaved such!!!][Well, the story doesn't say here, but ah... I wouldn't put it past 'em... an' I wrote it, so I know. *such a happily evil grin*]

     Naomi woke slowly and leisurely the next morning, smiling after some particualrly nice dreams the night before. After a shower she dressed in a shoulderless '80s-style cotton shirt and a pair of acid-washed straight-leg jeans (á la [Haha!!! Ye jess used French!!! *g*][shet up!] Bono's in "Pride" video), having decided she was in an '80s mood that day. Having pulled on some heeled black leather boots, she was messing with her hair when a soft knock sounded on her door.
     "Come in," Naomi said, still fussing with her hair.
     Reûic stood behind her, his hands (so strong, but so graceful!) on her shoulders.
     "Awright, that's it, I give up!" Naomi at last cried, folding her arms in exasperation. "My hair hates me."
     "Then I'll have to change its opinion of you, won't I?" Reûic crooned in her ear. Various glittering sparkles floated about as he took the brush from Naomi's hand and brought her hair to '80s-rock-star perfection. "See, it loves you after all. Now come, my rock goddess, and share breakfast with me."
     As he pulled her to his side, Naomi noticed that he, too, was dressed vaguely rock-starish, in a strangely-patterned sleeveless shirt, semi-low-cut with extra folds of fabric around the neckline [very hard to describe, also hard to draw; kinda like Matt's on Digimon] [Well, you lost me there, too.][More like Adam's on my one poster, I'll show ya next time yer over], and black leather pants and boots. The gold chain was still about his neck, and a sweatband kept his hair from touching his face (though not from hanging sexily before his eyes). [*swoon*]
     After this, Naomi lost all track of time, time having lost all meaning by now in Reûic's realm. Reûic was her only thought, the man always at her side, giving her everything she wanted. Many nights (or were they days?) he took her to concerts, she was in concerts with him (thinking all the while that no voice could ever match his). She never stopped to ask how - it was just one of his "talents"? They wandered through forests at night, Naomi within the protection of Reûic's strong arms. They tripped through time and space, surrounded by music (of the darker rock variety, some glam - all that was all-encompassing, consciousness- (and conscience-) stealing, dark and seductive and sexual. [::wrinkles nose:: That would creep me out.][Sorry, I s'pose this's kinda my darker side? ..an' he's evil, anyway, so..] [Well, whatever--your experience, not mine. I didn't mean it negatively for you--just that I wouldn't like it myself.] Whatever mood Naomi was in, they immersed themselves in, and took on the roles completely. They were hippies trippin' out at a Hendrix concert or Woodstock or club-hopping in Mod London. They wandered through a bit of '70s glam, fringes of the gender-bending subculture and lots of glitter. They hung around the underground of each decade Naomi knew, and lived it till a new thought reached Naomi.
     ...Reûic always knew just what clothes would please Naomi, what music she'd like, what art and movies she'd grok... And while Reûic was still an unfathomable mystery to Naomi, he knew Naomi inside and out, and grew physically closer by the end of each evening (morning? day?)...

     ...They reappeared in Naomi's room, which tonight was shaded and tinted by coloured lights and candles rather than lit. It had been a night of glam, each in tight pants and glitter, harlequins in face paint and glimmer. (Another effect of Reûic's presence - everything and everyone was beautiful. No-one was insecure about looks or actions or others' opinions - everyone accepted everything - no clothes too strange or revealing, no action too shocking...) As they threw themselves into another steamy kiss, their clothes changed again (as they often did with a change of location or mood or action) - Naomi now in a short, loose, thin '60s/'70s tank top and low-rise loose pants of similar material; Reûic's ripped white t-shirt and glam jacket disappeared entirely, the shimmery pants became an extremely tattered pair of pale blue jeans.
     Every night before, they had materialised outside Naomi's door, where Reûic had bid her good-night, and left her to dream of him all night. But this night, he stayed.
     Never untwining themselves apart, they moved over onto the bed, Naomi thinking of nothing but the moment and the heat and him. She knew (almost) every inch of his body, he knew (almost) every inch of hers. This was not the sweet romance of Ianthe and Aubrey, nor the fledgling loves of the others. They were Romeo and Juliet (reckless young lovers), they were Winston and Julia (without a Big Brother to catch them), they were Ormus and Vina (rock stars with a "higher love" enabling their actions to be wild and carefree, boundless passion). This was passion without love, touch without feeling, heart racing without beating. [*Daf agin covers her eyes*... Not Daf appropriate... Not Daf appropriate... No *way* are Ianthe or Aubrey doin' anythin' o' the like! I refuse to believe it!! Ye canna make me... afer all, ye're no' Big Brother!!!][Daf, you KNOW Ianthe an' Aubrey woulda done the same already, if you were brave enough to write it... so don't even. *sly glance* ..an' b'sides, can't *I* have some fun, sometime?!]
     But Naomi (was she still Naomi? She had worn so many disguises, taken on so many personas, was she Vina or Julia?) thought none of this. She had not seen or thought of anyone but Reûic since after that first dinner. The spell had nearly taken complete and permanent hold...
     ...He brought his hands to her face, guiding it towards his own...taking her lower lip in her teeth, gently biting it...then moving his hands down along her body, while she studied his firm chest with her fingers as a blind person might, though more delicately. But a song kept running through her head, refusing to leave. It took her a minute to place it, then remembered: the boy had sung it the previous night for them at dinner.
        Dies irae, dies illa
          Dies irae, dies illa
          Tuba mirum spargens sonum
          Decet in inferno
          Dies illa, dies illa
Once she had placed it, she tried to put the thought to rest, but it refused to quiet down. There was still something else about it, some other memory fighting to be recognised.
     Reûic looked carefully at her. "What troubles thee, my love?" he asked cautiously, then kissed her neck.
     Naomi sighed, first with pleasure, then with frustration. "I don't know... that song won't get out of my head!"
     "Which one, love?"
     "That 'Dies Irae'-thing Gavin sang last night. What does it mean? It seems I knew, but..."
     Reûic laughed gently. "There is no real meaning to it, sweet. Just something in his own tongue." He kissed her neck again, then lower, then lower...
     The answer didn't satisfy Naomi's mind, but her body told her mind to piss off and die, it was enjoying itself. [Well, then.]
     Reûic's fingers had been exploring the curves of her body, and were just rounding her hips onto the button to her pants, seeking to unfasten it, when...
     "I remember!" Naomi sat bolt upright, triumphant. "It's a U2 song! Well, part of it, anyway. And I don't know who sang that bit, I don't think it was one of them, but..."
     Reûic appeared confused, and looked at her as if she were a delerious [Okay, from now on, I'm just correcting. D-E-L-*I*-R-I-O-U-S!] child (though behind the facade, there was worry - worry that his spell had cracked).
     Naomi failed to notice this in her sudden excitment. "'Alex Descends Into Hell for a Bottle of Milk (Korova 1)'. I have no idea where the title came from, but it was a flip to 'The Fly' or summat..." Then memories came back. First the song, then U2, then Larry, then.....
     "BLAKE!!!!!" [The connections there are ones *I* would make... even tho prolly no-one else in the world ever could... U2->U2's drummer Larry Mullen->uh, "Blake", thru a dream an' a few similarities...]
     Instantly, the side walls shattered like glass and the pieces disintegrated. In a row down the hall were laid bare four rooms, each containing a girl from the Applebus and a dazed Reûic. The girls were again dressed as they had been when they arrived, and ran to stand together, tears of joy in their eyes. As they rejoiced in their forgotten friends, the four Reûics coalesced into one dark misty cloud, which disappeared through the back wall.
     Meanwhile, Blake had heard a faint - but very familiar - voice scream his name. A moment later, it dawned on him, and he sat bolt upright, startling Ràspia.
     "NAOMI!!!!!" The walls shattered similarly, except that six rooms were now conjoined, and six Ràspias vanished in small bursts of flame.
     Within seconds, Gavin, the boy, had run into the room with the guys, and two unfamiliar girls entered the room with the girls.
     "Come with me/us, we've got to get out now, while we can. Don't worry, we'll join the rest of your friends shortly." [Sure, I/we'd love to! *g*]
     The Applebus crew instantly became aware of the danger - they knew Ràspia and Reûic were powerful, and feared their wrath. They quickly followed their guides.
     They rushed through dark, twisting stone hallways, and so many times prayed (to a God they had forgotten, a God they now begged for forgiveness) that they would get out, get away, alive and together.
     At long last, the tunnel ahead seemed to lighten, and praise God! They were out!
     The guys burst out of the tunnel on the right, the girls from the tunnel on the left.
     They ran into each others' arms, laughing and crying and embracing and kissing... yes, even Daivi and Myki - each other, once they were shut out from the other couples - till they noticed the two new girls, two new beautiful girls... girls who quickly found themselves members of the overjoyed group.
     ...but Gavin, in a tattered t-shirt and jeans, kept looking back at the mountain in fear.

     Maik, having just broken off a kiss with Daphne (for air, not by choice, don't worry Daph *g*) [Ooh, I hadn't expected us to have kissed yet--nice!][*g* yer welcome], happened to catch Gavin's expression. With an arm still around a rather flushed but very happy Daphne, he walked over to Gavin. "Somethin' wrong, son?"
     "We must leave, quickly, or they'll come and take us back. And they won't risk us getting away again. And it will be much worse, for all of us." He shuddered, trying to block out the memories of other visitors and their fates, and of Reûic...Reûic..... Gavin had been imprisoned much longer than anyone else, and had suffered in many ways (there are things worse than beatings and the like to be done to a young boy)...[but we won't go there 'cos then this'd get pushed beyond R...]
     "Then let's go. You too, Gav." [u2? *g* ask me where I got Gav's name from...] Maik quickly ushered everyone, Gavin and the two girls included, onto the Applebus (though it took awhile to get some peoples' attention - notably Ianthe and Aubrey and Daivi). Just as Maik and Daphne (the last two) were about to board and close the door, they and the bus were surrounded by a black fog, spits of flame crackling through it.
     "STOP." Ràspia and Reûic appeared, hair and eyes aflame.
     "Daphne, get on the bus," Maik commanded in a low voice.
     "Maik..." she began, holding tight to his arm.
     "Now."
     She did, meekly and much afraid [yes, I see the JoC connection there- unintentional, but cool anyway *g*][Hey, cool! I don't even know if *I* did!].
     "We've done you no harm, and you've done plenty to us already. So if you'll excuse us, ma'am, sir, we'll just take our leave now."
     Ràspia's expression changed in an instant from commanding to seductive. "My Maik," she crooned in a voice smooth as silk and lower than the valley of the shadow. "Come on back with me... just you and me for all eternity, with the universe - and me - at your will."
     Fear seized Daphne. Here was a woman who could give Maik everything he ever wanted, and was more beautiful and strong than anything in anyone's dreams - and a sorceress with power to match.
     But then Maik turned his head back, and a smile played across his lips as he winked at Daphne. [Must not have been too swoon-worthy, as I kept standing! *g*][How can ye be sure? It doesna say that ye kept standin'... mayhap ye swooned an' we didna ken 'bout it?] [Reûic would've picked me up and taken me off, and you guys would've had to have gone and gotten me, and things would have been just generally evil for a while. So I say I kept standing.]
     "Ah'm sorry, ma'am," he said calmly, again facing Ràspia. "But Ah'm afraid my future lies with another, a future where we shall have BADE you good-bye." [Cool. Not the best grammar in the world, but nice work with the BADE, there.]
     Lightening crackled in the sky, and Ràspia cringed.
     But when all were in the Applebus, the door refusd to close.
     Ràspia cackled, and Reûic's fine face was contorted with an evil grin.
     "Maik, the engine won't start!" Myki called in alarm.
     "And the door won't shut," Maik said.
     "Our spell over you may have cracked, but you cannot defeat the most powerful sorceress in the universe and the three-l lllama!" But Ràspia's evil laughter was cut short by a piercing trumpet heralding... something, though the Applebus crew knew not what.
     Then Gavin began to sing in the silence that followed.
         "Dies irae, dies illa
          Dies irae, dies illa
          Tuba mirum spargens sonum
          Decet in inferno
          Dies illa, dies illa"
     As thunder rumbled the door of the Applebus shut, and the engine started. Myki quickly pushed the button that would take them home, and Naomi finally remembered the meaning of the song.
       A day of wrath, that day
          A day of wrath, that day
          The amazing sound scattering from the trumpet
          As is fitting for Hell
          That day, that day
     She settled back in Blake's arms, content, and shared a knowing smile with Gavin.

     "So what are your names?" Daivi asked the two mysterious girls.
     "I'm Sandra, and this is Ananda." [So where were they all this time, if we haven't seen 'em?] [I don't think we need two of you, Ananda--one is enough! No offense, of course.][It's not me, it's not Naomi.. it's Ananda. *g* An' they were held captive, too, somehow, I think... I'll leave their stories for someone else?]
     Myki and Daivi looked at the girls in shock, then at each other, then at the girls.... and smiled.