the SEVEN-FIVE project

2004-02-13 - 2:18 a.m.

We pulled into a parking lot behind one of Redstone's many, many non-descript apartment buildings. I think there may be more apartments than people in Redstone.

Nikki didn't say anything when we pulled into a spot and she turned off the car. I followed her into the building patiently waiting an explanation of some kind, but none came. We walked up to the third floor and she knocked on the door for apartment 3-S. No answer.
We waited for about five minutes before she knocked again. This time someone screamed some random obscenities towards the door. I laughed to myself; Nikki shot me a dirty look.
Several latches and chains were removed and the door opened. A bright blue eye hidden behind dirty-looking black hair peered out at us. It scanned us several times before a hand reached out and grabbed Nikki's collar and pulled her into the apartment; leaving me in the hall.
After a few minutes of yelling Nikki re-opened the door. Her make-up was a little messed up and she had a nice case of quick make-out hair. I smirked at her as I walked into the living room. She punched me in the arm.
"Seven, this is Steph. Steph this is the guy I told you about." I reached out, but Steph ignored my hand and continued eyeing me.
"So you're going to try to save us all. Don't look like much." She turned to go into the kitchen. "Either of you want a beer?" She said over her shoulder.
"No thanks, I don't drink." I replied, taking a seat in a rather comfortable looking chair.
Nikki just shook her head as Steph looked at her over the refrigerator door. "Suit yourselves. If this goes like I think it might you'll wish you had had a drink." She joined us in the living room.
"Bad omens on the horizon?" I asked flippantly.
"You'll lose the sense of humor if you hope to survive this kid. This shit is serious." She shot me a dirty look.
"What's been going on that you didn't tell me last night?" Nikki leaned forward with interest.
"There's a lot I couldn't tell you last night. People have been disappearing lately. They disappear for a few days, and then reappear with no memory of where they were or what happened; they just feel drained. And it's only the people with some kind of magic talent or sensitivity. They haven't gotten me because I'm too low level for them to notice."
"I really don't want to say this, but shouldn't they be coming for Nikki right about now then. If they're after people with considerable power, wouldn't she have set off some kind of signal to them?"
"The most intelligent thing I've heard out of anyone in a while. But yeah, if what you told me last night is true then they should be looking for you by now."
"They probably are hunting for me. We should get moving and find Parker. Steph, we'll be in touch."
Nikki and I walked to the door. Steph shook my hand this time and gave Nikki a hug that lasted a little to long to be considered just friendly. Then we left in search of Parker.

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