Maria looked around Michael’s apartment, six teenagers sprawled haphazardly around it. The other four had arrived in less than twenty minutes of Michael’s call, and Maria marveled at the memories this brought back, 12.06am and the whole gang was here, ready for action… whatever it might be. Max lay across the couch with Isabel perched on the arm. Tess and Kyle were on the floor. Lying on their stomachs with their heads in their hands like children watching television they stared straight ahead, but their legs swung back and forth consistently hitting the others and causing giggles to erupt from the both of them. From a vantagepoint of the armchair, Maria watched with amusement sharing knowing stares with Isabel as their two friends flirted unaware of an audience. In front of them Michael stood, his arms crossed in front of his chest, in one hand a chopstick. “So here’s how it’s gonna work, our point of entry is the back fence, now it’s electrified, but there are lots of trees, so getting over it won’t be a problem. Kyle and Max, you then make your way onto the roof, there are skylights here and here.” Turning, Michael used the chopstick to point at a rough drawing on the wall behind him. “Tess and Isabel; you’re going to make your way through the front gate. Two guards are posted there, but I’m sure the two of you will have no trouble. Tess you’ve got us covered if they need a little persuasion?” “Stocked and ready” she cocked her finger like a gun and blew on the tip. . Michael just nodded, not budging an inch from the soldier role he was playing, a part he was born to play Maria realised laughingly. Standing with his feet apart and hands on his hips he proceeded. “Ok, everyone has their roles assigned. Any questions?” Four hands shot in the air. Michael gave an exaggerated sigh. “Okay, Isabel first” “Do we have to wear khaki? It makes me look pasty.” Rolling his eyes Michael answered drolly “You can wear whatever you want. Max?” “Once we’re inside, what do we do if we encounter anyone?” “You take them out…by any means necessary, understood?” Max nodded, a bemused expression on his face. “Tess?” “Yeah, where do I go again?” Sighing heavily Michael used the chopstick cum pointer to tap the front door repeatedly. “Oh…okay” “Kyle?” “So..ah…Why are we doing this again?” Maria could see Michael struggling; he had had trouble explaining it in the first place. They had both decided to tell the gang it was a treasure hunt. A game they had played often in the past. Someone deciding something they wanted, be it a McDonalds Mop bucket or a painting from the city museum, working all together they had never failed to acquire the item. In fact the majority of the objects in Michael’s apartment were accumulated this way. But it went against everything Michael believed in to keep things from the gang. Everything. And Maria could see the pain etching his face, so she jumped in. “It’s a game.. they’ve got something we want.” “Does this have anything to do with the orb?” Leaning back in her chair Maria took a deep breath. Kyle’s question surprised her; She hadn’t figured Kyle to be that perceptive. It also brought enquiring looks from the others. “Ah…yeah…it does” Maria didn’t know what else to say, fortunately the vague answer seemed to satisfy him, and as it brought no questions from the others, Michael took control again. “Okay then, anymore questions?” Only Isabel’s hand raised this time. “Isabel, you can wear whatever you want okay?” She lowered her hand. “Okay people, we reconvene at rondevue point alpha in an hour.” “Rondevue point alpha?” four voices asked. Michael pointed at a star way down near the floor. “Star bucks guys! Star bucks!! Dismissed.” Staright away all four headed for the exit, their voices raised animatedly in conversation, excited at the challenge befallen them, “Coffee. Coffee is good” “I’m thinking black, it’s discrete, it sets of my hair.” “Can we eat first?” “Supply’s first, food later.” Their voices could be heard all the way down twelve stories, till Michael and Maria were surrounded by silence, and nothing but. Getting up from her chair, Maria crossed the room to Michael and his waiting open arms. “You make a very convincing soldier, Spaceboy” Circling her waist, Michael pulled her close, against her hair he muttered, “Do you think their gonna be okay with all this?” Knowing he wasn’t talking about the treasure hunt but rather the treasure. Maria sighed. “I don’t know…. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Smiling reassuringly at him, he returned it with a grin. “You know…we have a whole hour until we rondeveau” Michael raised his eyebrows and Maria only giggled, lifting her up he carried her towards the bed. TBC

Part 15