Uriel stirred. She had slept horribly and felt stiff all over. She stood up carefully, disgusted by the grime clinging to her. She was glad that they would leave this level today. Even if level 5 wasn't much different, it couldn't be this bad. The alien was about to turn to wake Ryan when she realized he was gone. It didn't make sense that he would leave without saying anything--not while he was under the influence of her blood. Her body went cold with a sudden worry, and she hummed into her Taelek.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #BF80FF">"Velneir,"</span></span>she started quietly, hoping he was awake.<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #BF80FF">"Ryan's gone."</span></span><br/><br/>There was a moment of silence before his response came. He sounded like he'd just woken up.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"What do you mean he's gone?"</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"I mean exactly what I said,"</span></span>she replied, slightly irritated.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"We went to sleep and I woke up and he wasn't here."</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Well what do you want me to do about it? He doesn't have a Taelek on him or anything so I can't track him."</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"I..."</span></span>she hesitated. She didn't know what she expected Velneir to do.<br/><br/>Anak must have been awake, because suddenly he chimed in.<span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Well, he's infatuated with you, so it's safe to assume he hasn't just run off. You think he was taken, correct? Who might have done something like that?"</span></span><br/><br/>She sighed in relief. Anak's calm and collected logic to the rescue. She knew what had happened to Ryan now.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"He's a wanted criminal,"</span></span>she said.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Somebody probably carted him off to prison. Can you find where that is?"</span></span><br/><br/>Velneir sounded surprised.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"What do you intend to do? Break him out? Why? You've known him all of two days."</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Just so he can get a chance to prove himself to you? I can't imagine that being enough of a reason for you. Have you found something in him worth saving?"</span></span><br/><br/>She shook her head, eyes shut peacefully. Anak had such a bad habit of asking questions he already knew the answers to.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"I did, actually. Turns out, he's a crossbreed."</span></span><br/><br/>On his end of things, Velneir balked.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"A crossbreed of what?"</span></span>he asked, dread in his voice. Anak had already figured it out.<span style="color: #8080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Of us. Ryan is half Vortian."</span></span><br/><br/>Uriel's eyes gleamed.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Let us meet back at the base. We will devise a plan to save him."</span></span>Velneir hummed slightly in discontentment and Anak gave a slight chuckle. Meanwhile, Rhofel had just woken up.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Hey what's with all this chatter?"</span></span><br/><br/>Uriel laughed.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Change of plans, Rhofel. We're meeting at the base."</span></span>