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Arden immediately looked away when Raye opened the door. He certainly wasn't expecting...that. He waited for her to enter the bathroom before stepping into the room leaving the door to the hallway open.

He folded his hands behind his back and looked around. He chuckled to himself as he thought of how often he ended up in Raye's room. They really should find a better place to talk. A bedroom seemed a little innapropriate.

"I'm sorry, I should have assumed you were resting," he said as Raye reentered the room now fully clothed. His eyes dropped to the bruise on her chest and he felt a rush of guilt wash over him. "Oh God..." he said walking up to her and lightly touching the spot on her collar bone. "Maybe I should have another look at that bruise..."

Rayken followed Kyla out of the kitchen and wandered down the hall. He let his mind wander back on the events down below them. He didn't know that the lower levels were off limits but he found out rather quickly. He also found out how Raye acted. She was a fireball wasn't she? Rayken snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed that Kyla had stopped.

Rayken smiled when he saw they were in front of the library. This room calmed him. He watched her walk in and followed soon behind her. He sighed and sat down in a chair, "This place seems to be pretty full of drama doesn't it?" He liked the comfort of being surrounded by books upon shelves. It was a nice change from the harsh light of down in the lab. He wondered if Raye was ok and where she had run off to. He wondered how Kyla got along with Gwen and The Colonel.

As Arden touched the spot of her bruise Raye flinched in pain. It had grown more and more tender while she had been soaking in the tub. She grabbed Arden's hand and looked up at him. "Don't worry about me. I am fine. It was my fault I didn't have my bracelet on." She noticed her wrist was still missing the beautiful bracelet that usually adorned it. She had dropped it on the way to the training room following Arden. She wondered if anyone had picked it up yet.

Raye looked back to Arden, "I am sorry I snapped at Gwen too." She lowered her eyes a little, "I just wish she would take the time to know us before she tried to command us. Maybe I shouldn't go to the ball. I don't want to get upset and do anything stupid." She sighed. Her confidence was faltering, something that Raye had never felt before. She wanted to impress everyone for Arden but what if one of them got to her? It would leave her as the laughing stock of the whole government.

Kyla sighed. She found one of the small sofas near the chair Rayken was in and threw herself down on it. She pushed off her sandals and drew her legs up onto the cushions, curling up near the arm of the sofa. At the boys words, she had to sigh and agree. "Yes... I guess so... I think a lot of people are losing their patience with each other. Some of them are very frustrated with each other."

It would've been stupid on her part to play blind to the emotions sparking everyone's attitude. She didn't like in the least. Something like this, that could only make another person exhausted, was a reason why she hated fighting. She hated getting angry, even if she wanted nothing better than to smash someone's head against a wall and beat them with a metal baseball bat.

She didn't like it. She didn't like that side of her, nor did she like seeing it control the others.

Leaning against the arm of the sofa, she turned so that she nestled her arms atop it and looked at Rayken. "...Besides what just happened a minute ago, how are you taking to being back here? What do you think?"

"Raye," he said sternly and lightly gripped her upper arm, careful to avoid her bruise. He sighed. "No...I suppose I can't scold you for not wearing your bracelet. I guess you and I are more alike that I thought. But truthfully, you should let me look at the bruise. At least...let me try to help heal it. I feel responsible," he admitted. "I have no problem pushing all of you to a breaking point when I know that you're safe...but I didn't make sure that your bracelet was on and that' my fault. Any harm that comes to you is my responsibility.

"And don't worry about Gwen. She's taken her fair share of verbal abuse in the past, I'm sure that you didn't hurt her feelings. I have the same sentament that you do. She should get to know you better...if you'd let her, I'm sure she would love to," he said with a raised eyebrow.

Rayken watched in amusement as Kyla slipped off her sandals and curled up on the couch. She looked so young and frail in that position. He just wanted to reach out and hug her and make the cruel world go away. But they both knew that it wouldn't be easy to change the state the world was in right now. She shifted and rested her arms and Rayken thought she just looked so innocent that way too. He smiled at her as she asked him about being back here.

Rayken let out a slight laugh, "Well it is alot more interesting than being stuck back in my apartment. The people here all seem to be nice or accepting in the least. Raye, yea I don't really know her but something says I might just keep my distance until she cools off a little bit." He smiled at the last comment and shook his head at the thought of trying to talk to Raye when she was upset. He didn't like the image that came to mind. "So, what did you do before you came here, Kyla?" He wanted to get to know this girl. She seemed very genuine and he needed someone real in his life.

Raye sighed as Arden gripped her upper arm. He seemed truly concerned about her well being. She felt bad about not having her bracelet but she didn't want Arden to go worrying about her so much. She was a very independent girl and she liked it that way. She didn't need a guy there to help her but Arden was different and Raye finally gave in to his plea. She looked up at him, "If you insist. You like to be stubborn don't you?" She giggled, "Its cute.." She cut the sentence off before she said too much. Her feelings was what she was worried about. She didn't want Arden to find out.

Raye gently removed Arden's hand from her arm and sat on the edge of her bed. She knew he would want to look at it and try to fix it so she got to a level where he could see it easier. She slid the tank top strap off her shoulder so there was nothing hindering the area near the bruise. She shook her head at Arden, "You worry too much, Arden." She shook her head again with a small smile, "And yes, I will try to talk to Gwen somehow. I do feel bad for screaming at her but I was tired."

Kyla smiled at him, glad he wasn't too put off from all the stuff going on to walk away from here. Last thing they needed was for someone who'd just come back to leave again. As if there weren't enough problems going on already.

Resting her head on her arms, she gave a small hum of thought at his question. "Well, I come from Hawai'i and being on an island like that gives you lots of opportunities to do stuff. Of course, water is my life, so many of the things I did involved it. Because I'm fortunate enough to be well loved by my people, they think highly of me and in the years past have asked me to participate in the ceremonies worshiping Lady Pele. Those days where when I worked my powers the most, and I enjoyed it."

She let her cheek press lightly against her arm as she turned her head. "But that's not all I did. I helped my people apart from just the ceremonies, but I also did things on my own. Playing, dancing, singing, swimming, regular things that most girls are interested in. I just had the help of water to make it more fun." She gave a small laugh, remembering the days. Those times by herself soothed her greatly. Just being on her own, near or in the water made her feel at home.

Looking at Rayken, she lifted her head a little and asked, "What about you?"

Arden knelt in front of her and surveyed the bruise with careful eyes, "alright, I'm going to try something," he said glancing up at her. "Just...hold very still." He rolled part of his sleeve up and gently placed his hand directly over the bruise. He kept his eyes focused on it not daring to even close his eyes.

Ar first nothing happened. It took nearly a minute before a gentle silver glow illuminated behind his hand. He concentrated harder until he felt the engery leaving him at a rapid pace. He felt a small sting in his hand and jerked it away. "Sorry," he said hoping that the shock didn't travel into her body as well. He smiled to himself as he looked at the skin where the bruise had been. "It's not fully healed, it takes some time to heal the interior, but at least you won't have the mark."

Scion went back to his room. He sat on his bed. He had the flash drive in his hand. He was going to tell Arden what he'd done. He didn't want to risk the lives of Kyla, Arden, Ryan, Zach, Rayken, or Raye. If cmoving the files could lead down a harmful path for them then they needed to be fixed at once. He just hoped Arden would come soon. The longer it took the more screwed up it could get. He breathes out a large sigh. "I'll probably be thrown out for this. Still I tried to keep my promise to Kyla... I tried..."

Raye was amazed at the power Arden had. He could heal people too? The silver glow from his hand was soothing and cool on her usually hot skin. Her body temperature had always been higher than others because of the fire within. He pulled away with a smile and she glanced down at her skin. The mark was nearly invisible. She gasped and looked up at Arden, "That's amazing!" She stood up and walked into the bathroom to look at it closer. It was gone.

Raye walked back out and smiled, "Thanks. So, about this ball thing. Can me and Kyla go shopping or would you rather design our dresses? Oh and.." Raye paused wondering how her words would affect Arden, "Can I be your sort of date? I really want to impress everyone and I know that if I'm close to you then you can help me keep a level head." She had started to talk faster showing her nerves. She looked at the floor for a second to recompose herself then looked back up at him hoping for a good answer.

Rayken listened quietly as Kyla told him about her life. She was from Hawaii? He usually could pick out accents but she hid hers very well. He was amazed at how involved she was with her community. He had been too but he knew how that turned out. Kyla had a very animated way of telling the history which she enjoyed so much. It made her face light up when she spoke about how life used to be. It almost seemed that nothing bad had ever happened to her. She seemed full of life and happy to be here. Rayken smiled at her.

Rayken heard her ask about him and his eyes sort of clouded over with the darker memories. He decided he would start happy just as Kyla had. He smiled and started his story, "Well, I was born on a very small island kind of like you but it was only a single island. I was considered a 'special' child since I had been born with purple irises. They were a sign of honesty and the village elders would come to me for advice. I was only seven so I didn't know too much." He laughed a little bit before continuing, "When any male villager becomes sixteen he must go through an extremely hard training course to enter manhood. My father held the record of finishing it in 3 days. Well since I had powers I used them to help me and I finished it in sixteen hours."

Rayken smiled at the memory. "Since I was the new record holder the elders gave me this spear as an award." He tapped the end of it. "I found that the spear combined with my Earth powers would let me make plants live or die. I could kill a plant by touching it with the tip of my spear and using the ground vibrations. I went to show the elders so I could be of more help to my home. The elders didn't believe me so I went to show them but the nerves got to me and I fumbled with my spear and couldn't do anything. They ran me out of town for being a fool and a disgrace..." He trailed off at this.

Rayken shifted a little bit but decided to continue, "Guards chased me into the forest and I was scared for my life. I shoved my spear into the ground and just called my powers to protect me. At that point everything went black and the next thing I knew I woke up on a ship. They said they had been passing the island when a light engulfed the whole thing. After the light faded the island was no longer there. They said that I was the only survivor. I think that I did it....I destroyed my home and everyone who I cared about..." He choked on his words as tears welled behind his eyes. His head hung in shame as he admitted his deepest secret to a girl he hardly knew.

Kyla listened to Rayken's story, amazed to hear his story. At first it sounded lovely to her. To be trusted like that was always a good thing. He must have had happy days back then. To learn that he could also grow plants as well as destroy them was also something amazing to hear. But soon, Rayken's tone had changed and his happy story took a downward turn.

Kyla slowly lifted her head as he continued, telling the tale of his banishment from his his village by the very people who had come to respect and admire him. They had such high hopes, and yet quickly dismissed that simply because he got the case of the jitters and couldn't perform for them at the time. And what more, they even chased him out. Did they threaten him? To scare a boy who had done nothing wrong...

She could hear it in his voice, how it nearly broke and wavered with emotion. She looked at him for a silent moment, then slowly shifted off the couch. She lightly padded over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close. "I'm sorry," she said softly, even if the words meant nothing to Rayken. "We've all done something wrong. I too had a time when I did something I regret. It's okay..."

Arden chuckled as he stood. He shook his head to rid himself of the dizziness that swept over him. Transfering his power was a new trick he was learning and it took a lot out of him. It was worth it though.

"Like I said earlier, I'd hardly be the man to ask advice from when it came to clothing. I'm sure Gwen will have everything arranged for you to go shopping at some point to pick your dresses out. As I understand, the dress is the most important part of the evening," he said with a small wink. "As uh...I know this is a big opportunity for you to make an entrance, but I'm not how appropriate...what I mean to say is..." he sighed to himself and smile, "Yes Raye, I would be honored to escort you to the ball if that is what you desire."

Raye was worried when he suggested Gwen to pick out a dress. Raye shook her head at the idea and decided that she would design her own dress instead. It would be Ruby red to match her bracelet once she found it again. She would go looking for it in the morning. The last line made her heart jump. He would be honored? Raye's face slowly blushed, "I would really like that, Colonel."

Raye stood up and came closer to him than she had intended. Instead of being nervous and stepping away she looked up at him. Her eyes had a mischievous gleam to them and she smiled slyly, "Do we have any access to computers? I want to custom order my dress instead." She ran a couple fingers down his right arm absently as she thought about ideas for her amazing dress type.

Arden glanced at the hand that stroked his arm. "Raye," he said softly. What was there to say? A million things. He didn't understand why she felt like she had to use her feminine wiles to try and get something from him. Didn't he promise already to give her anything she wanted? It was beyond him to try and fix it. It was one subject he was purely masculine.

"I'll see what I can do about a computer. There should be one in the library you can use, but if you prefer a private one, I'm sure we could procure a laptop. Does that suit you?"

Rayken felt the girl wrap her arms around his shoulders and pull him into her. It felt good to be comforted. Her gentle words flowed around him like water in a stream. He enjoyed her company very much. She had mentioned that she had done something she regretted as well. He wondered if he should ask or let her tell him in good time. He wanted to be able to comfort her as well. He thought that they could put their powers together really well.

Rayken gently patted her arm. It was a precious moment that he didn't want to lose but also didn't know what to think of it. Did he care about her? Well as much as he could from a person he'd just merely met. She was easily liked as a friend but could more come of it? He didn't know if that would be acceptable in these close quarters below the Earth. His mind was racing with even more questions but he needed to seek out Arden and inform him of his return and the details etc.

Rayken finally broke the silence, "Do you think that Arden would let us use that other training room that he and Raye were in?" It was a random question he knew but he had no intention of fighting the other girl. "We could see if we could sort of combine our powers, I have earth and you have water. So if we could put both together couldn't we grow like crops and such?" It was a brilliant idea and maybe Arden would like to hear about it.

Raye was hardly paying attention to his words when she was in such close vicinity to the man that she had slowly grow to care about. Her heart was pounding and her head was spinning with the idea of going to the ball on Arden's arm. She would be the one to look at and she could dazzle everyone with her own designed dress. Just waiting for two whole weeks was going to drive her insane. But she did have any idea of what to do during that time. She snapped to reality when she heard him mention a laptop.

Raye nodded and stepped back from him so she could look him in the eyes, "A laptop would be nice but its a hassle. I can just wander down to the library for now. If you want to order one it would be greatly appreciated but it isn't an emergency." She smiled at him. "Well thank you for healing that bruise. It feels much better. I am going to wander down to the library and use the computer. I have some ideas for a dress that I want to mess with if that's ok with you. Did you need to talk to me about anything else?" She didn't know exactly why he had come up her in the first place but she didn't want to rush him off either.

Kyla had felt bad for asking Rayken about his past. She didn't know it would be painful. She should've figured that out even without asking, considering how the others had been about themselves. It seemed as if she was the only one who escaped without such a cruel past... that is, if one was to overlook that one part in her life when she became alone in this world. But Ryan told her to let go. So slowly, but surely, she was trying.

Pulling back slightly to look at Rayken properly, she was glad, at least, that he could speak with her. Though he was probably still a little sad, he seemed to be well enough to talk about something. Hearing his suggestion, she felt a smile curl her lips.

"Maybe. I'm not sure, but if it'll help build instead of destroy, maybe he'll let us do it." She never would've thought to use their powers like that. To combine them in such a manner, who would throw away such a golden opportunity to create life?

"It sounds like a wonderful idea. We could grow all sorts of things. The state of nature nowadays has been so bleak, so pitiful, new life might even help clear up the smog and horrible atmosphere clogging the cities." New York could look better with a few more fresh trees and bushes and flowers around. Maybe, if they ever returned to the surface, they could even rebuild the parks and putt a potted plant in every building, every home, every room.

Rayken was in full agreement with Kyla. If they could somehow figure out how to put the powers together they could help the world. It would make them seem less agressive and more passive in the war to end the world's condition and the crimes committed everyday. Rayken didn't know if Arden would let them use that room but he had a strong feeling that he would.

Rayken stood up and offered Kyla a hand up, "How about we go find Arden and ask him? Its the only way to get started?" He was rather excited about getting a chance to personally work with Kyla and also to see if they could come up with a plan to help growing things instead of just destroying things. He hated his destructive past and wanted to show the world that he was crazy, just at the time was uncertain and scared.