We both took a seat on the floor again, this time at the foot of his bed.

“See, and you guys told me I was overreacting when I said that I didn’t like this planet” I grinned.

“What are you talking about?” Kev was still wiping the tears from his eyes.

“So many things happened here, it feels like we could divide our lives in two parts, before and after coming to K-Tawoor.”

He bit his bottom lip. “You want to see him again, don’t you?”

“No” I shook my head. “I thought I wanted but I prefer to leave things the way they are.”

“I’m sorry Alex.”

“I know” I sighed.

We heard a knock on the door and before Kevin could even respond a timid Nick opened it and stuck his head in.

“May I come in?”

Train nodded and Nick entered the room and stood in front of us but didn’t say a word.

“Come here, buddy” Kev said patting the floor at his side.

He seemed to be doubting.

“Take a seat Nick,” Kevin repeated.

Kaos sat down at Kevin’s side without making any eye contact with neither of us.

“Just say it Nick.”

He finally looked at Kevin and took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m sorry Kev. I shouldn’t have done what I did and I understand why you got mad. But please don’t get mad with Brian, I hate when you guys fight. He doesn’t even want to talk to me. He locked himself in our room and doesn’t want to let me in.”

“I’m not mad with Brian, Nick. I’m not even mad with you.” You are not? “You have to understand that I’m mad with what you did not at you.”

“Isn’t that the same?” I commented just to receive a disapproving look from Kevin.

“No, AJ, it’s not the same. At least not for me. The fact that I think you did something stupid, Nick, doesn’t mean I think you are stupid.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You already said that Nick, and I know you mean it but you have to understand that what you did is too serious. You risked your life. I know you think not letting you have a gun is unfair and maybe you are right but you can’t go an do something like that.”

“Did you just say that maybe I was right?”

“Nick!” Kevin scolded. “Is that all that matters to you? Yes, I said it. You are not the only one making mistakes, Nick. I was wrong too but that doesn’t make what you did any more acceptable.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know little man,” Kevin said in a softer tone taking him by the neck in a playful headlock. “And I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.”

“Hey, maybe we can get something good from Nick’s experience,” I meddled in.

“Something good?”

“He was working for the Empies, right? Maybe he knows something you guys don’t.”

We both looked at Nick who just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think I have any important info. It’s not like I did too much for them.”

“Don’t be so sure about that Nick. I think AJ is right. We could compare your info with what the rebels have, just in case.”

“Okay.”

“Tomorrow you will go with me to the rebel base.”

“Tomorrow? I thought we would be leaving tomorrow,” I interjected.

“We are, but I am going to the rebel base for the last time early morning. I have to pick up some things, and more important, some people.”

“People? Aren’t we traveling alone.”

“No. There are some other rebels going with us to Trinsuet.”

It didn’t surprise me too much. We were used to transport people, other outlaws, from time to time, just that this would be the first time we would do it with me knowing for sure those people were rebels.

“Kevin?”

“Yes Nick?”

“You are not sending me away, right?”

“What? Of course not.”

“If you think it’s the best.”

“I don’t think it’s the best Nick. I was talking shit when I said that.”

“Yes you were,” I said and stood up quickly before Kevin could cuff me around the head.

“You are risking your luck,” he said but he was laughing. Just in case he wasn’t joking I took a seat in front of them.

Nick didn’t smile.

“What is it Kaos?” I asked him.

“Brian,” he sighed.

“Don’t worry little man.” Kevin messed his hair.

“I will talk to him,” I offered; after all that’s what I had planed to do since the beginning.

“No.” Kev shook his head. “I’m the one who have to talk to him, and sooner the better,” he added getting up. “ I will go right now.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

We all looked up and found Brian at the door.

“I think I owe you an apology, guys.” Although he had said 'guys' his eyes were fixed on Kevin.

“Aww, someone call Howie and let just have a group hug.” I tried to relax the atmosphere.

“I’m here too, AJ.” Howie said coming from behind Brian and standing at the door.

“We are not having a group hug, are we? I was just kidding.”

They all smiled.

“Why don’t you and Nicky come with me and we let Brian and Kevin alone so they can talk.”

“No,” Brian said taking Howie by the arm so he couldn’t go. “What I said before I said it in front of everyone and now I want to apologize in front of everyone too.”

“Tell me that I’m not going to cry because I’ve already cried too much the last two days,” I joked.

“Shut up AJ!” Everyone laughed.

“You don’t have to apologize Brian.” Kevin voice was very low.

“I have. I acted like a jerk.”

“I acted like I jerk too.”

“Yes, but we are already used to you being a jerk.”

That almost cracked me up but I managed to refrain from laughing.

“That’s what you call an apologize, Rok?” Kevin said smiling.

Brian just grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

“Okay. Then I guess I should say the apology is accepted. Could you forgive me too?”

Brian nodded.

“I have been talking to AJ about starting things again,” Kevin kept talking. “A fresh start now that there are not secrets among us.”

If we were going to leave behind all the secrets there’s something I need to do. “We can’t do that if Brian doesn’t tell us what’s on his mind.”

“What?” If looks could kill I would be lying on the floor dead for the way Bri was looking at me. “AJ!”

“You said it Brian, we are used to Kevin acting like a jerk, not to you acting that way.”

“Hey, I’m still here, AJ,” Kevin complained.

“Sorry Kev but it’s the truth.” I stood up to look directly into Brian’s eyes. “Something is worrying you Rok and it has to do with the pyramid. Why don’t you just tell us?”

“Not now, AJ.” He looked down.

“Now Rok.”

“You guys already told us that we can change everything we have seen there,” Brian said looking at Kevin.

“But that doesn’t make it hurt any less,” Kevin answered probably sensing the same feelings I have sensed while talking to Rok the night before.

There was a deathly silence in the room. Howie took a seat on Kevin’s bed leaving Brian alone at the door, facing us all.

“I know what you all are going to tell me. It’s stupid being mad with you for something you hadn’t done,” he said still looking at Kevin.

“You are mad at me? For something you think I will do in the future? What did you see in the crystal Brian?”

“I really don’t want to say it Kev.”

“Brian!” he commanded.

“I...”

“Ahhh!” Howie suddenly winced in pain bringing his hands to his head and practically collapsing on the bed. We all ran to him.

“Howie, what is it?”

“The pain. I can’t control this power Kevin, it’s really hurting me,” he answered without opening his eyes.

We all looked at Kevin confused.

“It's his empathic power,” he said from his place next to Howie.

“Is this because of me?” Brian asked “Is this because of what I’m feeling right now, right? I’m sorry Howie, I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t worry Brian,” he said but it looked like he was short of breath “Just keep going, I’m okay now.”

“You sure?” Kevin intervened. “Maybe it would be better for you to leave the room.”

“No way,” he said sitting up and leaning forward, elbows on his legs and covering his face with his hands. “I’m the one who is suppose to control the power, not the other way,” he whined.

I couldn’t see his face but I knew he was still in pain.

“Howie...”

“WOULD YOU ALL STOP WORRYING, IT'S NOT HELPING.”

Nick and I took a step back.

“Sorry” he whispered looking at us. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. How ironic it is that I have the power to control minds and I can’t control my own?” He gave us a forced smile. “And what about my healing power? It’s useless too.” I knew what he was doing, all that talking was his way of hiding his pain.

“Okay, that’s it.” Kevin took charge of the situation. “Everybody leave the room, we will continue this conversation later.”

“NO!”

“Howie.”

“I’m okay Kevin, really. Brian, keep talking.”

Brian looked at Kevin.

“Just keep going!” Howie ordered. “The faster you said it, the better.”

Kevin finally nodded.

Brian closed his eyes and took a deep breath before spoken “I saw you hurting AJ.”

“WHAT?” we all asked at the same time.

“Nick was injured at your side and you were trying to kill Alex. You were injured too.”

“So, you think I will hurt Nick and AJ?” Kevin was standing in front of Bri now.

“No, I don’t know what to think.”

“You think I could hurt them?” He wasn’t yelling but you could notice that he was trying too hard to control his emotions.

Brian didn’t reply and just stood there shaking his head.

“You think I could hurt my family, Brian?”

My own visions in the pyramid came to my mind and I finally saw everything clear. Oh God!

“Not you, Kev, but I could.” I spoke so low that I wasn’t even sure they had heard me but everyone looked at me.

“What?”

“I will hurt you guys. All of you.”


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