Lance talked for a while with the others gathered at the Coliseum. Like him, most were drawn there by an inexplicable urge to be a part of whatever was happening. While most of the people of Rome were terrified at the mysterious column of light that had come and gone, Lance and the others here were elated. Most of the people he saw around him were younger, and physically in good shape. He couldnâ€™t help but wonder if this group might eventually form some kind of an army.<br/><br/>After a while it was clear that none of them knew any more than he. He said<span style="font-style: italic">addio</span>[/bye] to his new acquaintances and decided to head outside for a little air. By then the streets had quieted down significantly. It seemed that everyone who could had fled the Palazzo. Lance felt oddly alone in a city of millions.<br/><br/>Following his instinct, he turned a few corners and happened across a man and woman having a conversation. In the dim starlight it was difficult to make out much detail, but the man appeared to be of Eastern European or Russian descent. He couldnâ€™t see much of the dark haired woman, whose back was to him. At their feet were a fluffy white Samoyed and what appeared to be another, much more massive dog that looked pretty mean. Unarmed as he was, a sense of fear passed through Lance at the sight of the animal. Realizing that moving away might incite one of the animals to pounce, he decided it was best to greet the strangers.<br/><br/>â€I guess dogs still need to go out, even at the end of the world, huh?â€ he asked in a non-threatening way. "Excuse me, Iâ€™m sorry to interrupt, but do you guys know whatâ€™s going on around here?â€ Lance extended his palms for the animals to sniff, if they were so inclined.