Lulu Hussock was having a meeting with the Commanding Officials, Sergeant Timothy Gainor, and his superior, Beta Captain Cole Negrete. She was Radikal type who always spoke her mind, but Con-serve enough to still be respected. She had freckles and platinum blonde hair. She had a habit of blinking her green eyes whenever she was speechless. They were in the middle of discussing Abbie and the situation with Robert Cortelli.

It wasn't easy being the Chancellor of the Region, but she considered it to be an honor.

"Abigail Forrest proceeds to evade my team. Her efforts have left us puzzled. That Veer and her fellow criminals have me at my wits end. Robert Cortelli has done the same." The Captain stated

"Fret not Captain, I have a Plan B. I've assembled a new team of combatants--I call them Scouts. They've been undercover for some time now. Next year their existence will be made public in a Press Conference later." Lulu replied in her Southern accent.

She reached in front of her to the intercom on the table.

"Reginald, contact my Public Relations team. Also, push back all my new appointments until next week. My son's recital is this evening." She said

"Of course, Madame President." He replied

She turned her focus back to her meeting and it's attendants.

"Anyway, my Scouts are skilled, like Informers." Lulu explained

"Unacceptable! Our Informers are Veers--it's too much risk!" Monica Coursen explained in her Southern accent.

"I disagree, besides--what makes you think my Scouts are ALL hu-man? Seven ARE Veers and I'm doing what's best for the Region. My Scouts will also be around to keep the Rangers in line."

Sergeant Gainor jumped from his seat, he was outraged.

"Ridiculous!" He shouted

"Forgive me, ma'am but I'll have to agree with Sergeant Gainor on this one. What you're suggesting is preposterous." Valerie stated.

"If you think my men are going to just sit back because you developed some form of fighting freaks! I--" Lulu interrupted his outburst by rising from her seat.

"Sergeant Timothy Gainor! Sit down now!" She ordered with a bang on the table, he did just that

"I understand your hesitation, truly. I warn YOU though, Ranger to mind your tongue. Don't forget, I have some old friends from my college days who owe me favors. All I have to do is mention YOUR name. Do not EVER use the word freak, monster, or ANYTHING derogatory again. Hu-man or Veer! Is that clear, Sergeant?" She asked, he nodded

"Good. You are dismissed Sergeant." She stated

"But Madame!--"

"I said LEAVE!" She ordered, and watched the Beta Captain leave.

He nodded apologetically, and glared at Timothy.

"Officials, I'm sorry we couldn't reach a consensus. However, my decision is final and I need you to trust me." She said

The Commanding Officiates rose and headed toward the door, Monica dragged her feet. She glared at the Chancellor from a distance.

"Good to see you again, Monica." She said to the table.

"You too, Lu." She said to the door.

"He warned us. Carlos knew what would happen. He SAW it." Monica explained

"Yeah. Well, I plan to change all that. This future WILL change." She stated.

She closed her eyes at the sound of the slamming door and listened as her sister's footsteps faded.

    Ben pulled up to Sebastian's cabin. He watched Noelle's reaction to her new scenery. "No worries, you're safe here." He stated

"A log cabin in the middle of nowhere? Oh! And there's trees everywhere, I feel SO safe already." She replied sarcastically.

He exited the vehicle and walked around to the passenger window.

"Sit here, I won't take long." He said and headed to the property.

[That's what you said the LAST time you saw me--when we were kids. I didn't see you for years.] She thought.

"No way I'm staying here by myself." She said and headed towards the cabin.

    Minutes later, He and Sebastian emerged from the office. Ben touched her shoulders and gave her a stern expression.

"I gotta go now, Sebastian will take care of you--he can make room for you." He said

"But--how do I get home? To school? My job--" She asked

"He'll get you there. Promise." He stated and hugged her tightly.

She plopped on the couch as she watched him leave. She looked at her new guardian angrily.

Sebastian stepped closer but stopped when they hear footsteps.

[Ben--he came back!] She thought and smiled.

She frowned when she saw someone else instead. Bailey through her arms up in exasperation, and looked at Sebastian.

"Oh, come on! More? We're already a Sanctuary for ONE hu-man who in MY opinion is a traitor! Now we've got a teacher and someone ELSE! Aren't we at full capacity here? Too many Skelts--!" She shouted.

   She jumped when Noelle started yelling at her in Italian."The name's Noelle, and who the hell are YOU to talk to me like that? " She asked, she heard running footsteps from outside.

The others ran inside in case a referee was needed. They knew that no one dared to start with Bailey, until they met CJ.

They figured she was here now. Everyone was shocked to see a new face in their blended home.

"You don't do Radikality ANY justice, new girl." Bailey said calmly

"At least I don't dress like some rock band reject!" Noelle shot back, they were all speechless and ready to restrain her if necessary.

"Hmm, you're witty and sorta mean. If you're staying here, you can bunk with me." Bailey said and extended her hand out.

"I'm Bailey." She said with a friendly tone, but Devin jumped in front. He was blinking rapidly.

"Whoa! Robert Cortelli?" He asked and looked at Sebastian

"Devin--" Sebastian warned

"Sorry, I can't just TURN off all your thoughts." He explained, Noelle rushed over to him.

"How do you know about my dad!?"

"Your dad's the infamous Robert Cortelli? You're DEFINITELY bunkin' with me!" Bailey expressed, and walked to the front porch.

"There's nothing to be done now. So as of this moment, you all get time off." Sebastian stated

In minutes everyone, including Bailey went to opposite directions as they left the premises. Nate helped Cassidy to the couch, where his father had sat. He smiled at his new guests.

"Welcome, my name is Sebastian Talbot." He said

    CJ was in the powder room, she was resting on the toilet bowl. After talking to Peter, there was a lot of things that bothered her. She vomited into the toilet. The taste was hot and bland in the back of her throat, and her eyes were tearing up. She could hear Brenda cooking something cooking in the kitchen, she never could cook quietly.

CJ heard the front door open, she figured her father had come home.

She turned the sink on and splashed some cold water on her face and the back of her neck. She hated bad aftertastes, so she gargled with mouthwash. She opened the door and winced at the twinge from her wrist. She could see a visitor waiting in the kitchen.

She knew that uptight posture. Worst of all, she knew that ponytail. Bailey was in her house. Again.

CJ gathered her somewhat strength and walked toward her. She noticed her guest had a book and a tiny backpack.

"Don't ever say I never gave you anything--happy birthday." She said, and handed her a notebook.

"It's not....my birthday."

"No? Well somebody was born on this day. Anyway, here." She tossed her the notebook and displayed a small box. "Talbot said you might need these, soda crackers."

[Wow! He's good--still hate needles though.] CJ thought and looked around frantically

"Uh--where's Brenda? Did you DO something to her!?" She asked

"NO, she's freaking out upstairs, apparently she's scared of me now." She said

"Gee, I wonder why." CJ said sarcastically

"Think that notebook might solve your 'death problem'. If anyone asks, you didn't get it from me."

"Can I tell Will?" CJ asked

"Fine. But NO ONE else, or I'll scare YOU."

"You already scare me. Bailey, THANK you for this though." She said

Bailey glared at her and headed for the door. She stopped and grabbed the doorknob.

"Stop reading into stuff--this doesn't make us friends. Talbot said to remember to take your pain medication, and since we're NOT friends; I won't tell you that Peter was a witness in your mother's death. " She said and went out the door.

"WHAT!?" CJ was in shock but she closed the door.

She stared at the notebook skeptically, and snacked on some crackers. She heard Brenda coming downstairs.

"I-Is she gone?" She asked

"Yeah, you look jumpy."

"M-Me? Okay, maybe a little." She said, she saw her giggle.

"You're LAUGHING at me?" Brenda asked with a smile

"Uh, sorry?" She grabbed the book and crackers. "She won't hurt you, I promise." She said and headed to the stairs.

"I don't want you think I'm saying you can't have friends over--" CJ was climbing, she stopped abruptly from that sentence. She looked Brenda in the eyes.

"We're not friends, I don't even like her as an acquaintance." She ascended the stairs again.

"Have you thought about going to the Junior Gala?"

"Don't think I'm goin' to that." She replied

"You could change your mind." Brenda hoped

"Maybe." She responded and started the stairs again.

"If so, I think you should go with that nice friend of yours--um, Peter." CJ stopped again

"H-He's not my friend either." She said and started up the stairs again

"Oh, well your father will be here soon. Make sure your homework's done, sweetie." CJ was already at the top of the stairs.

"Yep." Was all she said and went into her room.

Brenda sighed and went back into the kitchen to finish cooking. An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Malcolm had a key, she wondered who it was. She opened the door to familiar face.

"Hi, Brenda. It smells really good in here." He said

"Come in, Will--and thank you. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"That'd be great, but I gotta see CJ first." He said with a smile as he ran upstairs.

"Hmm...guess I could clean 'till Mal gets here." She said and gathered some cleaning supplies.

                                                                       ~~~~

    Brenda was upstairs. She was in the hallway, she stared at the family photos in the Simu-mages on the mantel. The ones that drew most of her attention, were those of Patrice.

She held it in her hand and froze the image. She slid down the wall slowly.

"Girl, if only you were here now. CJ's so big and smart--and Radikal just like you." she chuckled.

"I am so sorry about everything. What happened between all of us? It wasn't right. Your daughter doesn't like me, but I don't blame her. To her, I was probably just Malcolm's mistress or something. It's not that I haven't tried, it's just--I can't find commom ground with her. She is beautiful, but I just wish she could see it herself. She's made friends--Veers included." she chuckled again.

Will was processing the good news. CJ was babbling happily, he smiled at her enthusiasm. He had gotten there as quick as he could, given her urgent message. He had no idea what he was in in for.

"Whoa! Ceej this is--" He was frazzled

"Great, right? There's a chance--there's HOPE! There's this guy named Silas Evers, he INVENTED the Veer formula! This 'Delegator' person, is supposed to his successor. It said that it's supposed to be his only known relative. All I need now is to be eligible for his TREATMENT. It'll be easy 'cause I'm perfectly healthy." She explained

[I won't tell him about Peter...he's happy right now.] She thought.

"Except for the deadly virus inside you."

"That's a technicality, Mr. Ranger. The point is--I'm gonna live!"

"I'm happy for ya. How can I help?" He asked

"I need for YOU to find out where Choices are made." She answered

"Done." He said

Brenda was close by, heading slowly back to the mantel. 

                                                      ~~~~~

    "I-I can't help smiling like a goofy idiot!" CJ expressed

"You're not...goofy." Will joked, and lunged for her but she kept her distance.

"Shut up." She ran into his arms, the impact caused a loud bang to her door. They smiled at squeezed each other.

The noise alerted Brenda and she stayed close to the door in concern.

They let go of each other and CJ punched his arm playfully. Brenda smiled with relief and walked away.

"How's your hand doing?" He inquired

"Fine, except for a little pain here and there." She replied

"Guess what? I'm goin' to the Junior Gala." CJ stated proudly, Brenda smiled and headed back downstairs.

"You? You're going to a high school DANCE?" Will asked

"I'm feelin' really optimistic so--yeah, and why not? A second chance at life is cause for celebration, right?" She explained

"Yeah, absolutely." He agreed

"Besides I already found my 2D--code for Dream Dress." She showed him the media primer she bookmarked.

"Wow it looks great, Ceej." He said

"Thanks." She said

"Where'd you say you got the notebook again?" He asked

"I didn't--Bailey gave it to me." Will wasn't expecting that little detail.

"Anyway, you should get out of here if you're gonna help save my life." She said as she shoved him.

"Unfortunately, I'm stayin' for dinner--Brenda invited me." He boasted

"Fine, after dinner then." She said and pushed him out of her room. "Possibilities--maybe even me and Peter, I'll ask my Pop. Bad idea, but maybe Brenda could convince him."

She took the notebook and hid it on a shelf in plain sight. She knew her father wouldn't notice a notebook with nothing written on the spine. She was about to head down, until she heard her HC Receiver chime. "Incoming Message" the robotic voice said: HEY THERE, JOY--IT'S YOURS TRULY. I'M IN TOWN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AFTER SO MANY YEARS. SEE YOU SOON. CJ stood still, panicked.

"Liz." She said fearfully