• The rain was absolutely pounding on the cobblestone streets, the gutters overflowing with runoff and people fleeing into shops in an attempt to escape the torrent. Celica's hair was soaked with it in seconds, and her jacket was soon more of a burden than a convenience as it began to absorb the cold water. "In here," Peter said in a hushed voice as he headed into a small cafe.

    It was pleasantly warm inside as they stepped through the glass door, which announced their arrival welcomingly with a cluster of bells which was attached. Several soddenly wet customers sat at small, round metal tables sipping steaming drinks, and a few of them glanced up at their arrival. They sat down at a table towards the back of the shop, and Peter took off his jacket.

    Celica hated herself for only wearing a tank top underneath, since she had only grabbed her jacket hastily as she pursued Peter down her street. She left her jacket on, and sat shivering slightly.

    "You look cold." Peter said, concerned. "I'll get us drinks." He pushed his chair back from the table and walked over to the counter where a kind-looking lady stood. "Yes, I'd like..." Celica barely heard him from across the room, and they continued conversing.

    She looked around at the patrons, who all looked like average people. She hadn't really gotten a taste of what people on Terra dressed like, so she was still clueless to whether or not she was back on Earth or not. The only people other than Peter who she had even seen from Terra were either in police uniforms, scary black full-body suits, and Amos, who had been wearing pajamas when they had met. Of course, there was also Michael, but his attire could not be considered normal anywhere.

    Celica's train of thought was broken as she heard Peter's voice growing louder. "What do you mean, you can't accept my money?" He was holding out a handful of coins, but not quarters and dimes. They were bronze and had the letter D printed largely on both sides.

    "We don't accept French money, here, sir. I'm sorry, you'll have to get some American money first." Peter, frustrated, looked despairingly at Celica, and she walked over, rolling her eyes.

    "Sorry, ma'am, he's not from this country." She said, digging through her pockets and pulling out a wad of bills. "How much is it?" She asked, looking at the two steaming cups in front of her and glancing at the menu.

    "Seven ninety-eight." She said, looking relieved that someone was going to pay after all. "Thanks," She said as she accepted the money and sorted it into the cash register. "Enjoy your coffee." She smiled sweetly and gave them their change and receipt.

    "Bartering is so weird here." Peter said under his breath as they walked back to the table.

    "Well," Celica said brightly, "At least we know we're on Earth now." She took a sip of her coffee. It was delicious, and warmed her body almost immediately as it seemed to spread through her veins. "We also know we're in America. Judging by everyone's accent, I'd have to say New England. The cobblestone streets seem about right, as well." She glanced out the window at the flooded streets, and added "What do we do now?"

    Peter took a large drought of the coffee and then exhaled. "I suppose we have to go back to Terra, when you feel rested enough. You're obviously able to travel between worlds again." He seemed deep in thought about something, frowning at the wall as he leaned back in his chair and sipped his drink.

    "Wait, wait, wait." Celica said, now frowning as well. "I just got home, and you're telling me to go back? I thought the whole reason I went through all that training was to get back here in the first place."

    "We need to find Amos." Peter said simply, not breaking his stare at the wallpaper.

    "Peter," She said, getting frustrated, "I have a life here. My dad is probably worried sick, I'm missing school, I..." She trailed off. "I really missed everything here, and now that I'm finally here, how can you ask me to leave?" She sounded very sad, more sad that she cared to reveal.

    "Listen," Peter said, finally making eye contact with her. "I know you have a life here, but at the very least, you need to take me back. I can't get back to Terra without you."

    Celica remembered how she had first seen Peter, walking in and out of trees. "What about your portals? In all the old trees? Can't you just go through one of those?"

    "For us that can't Jump," He said, looking back at the wall, "We need crystals to use portals. I had crystals all those times that you saw me. I can't just poof around like you can." He sounded contemptuous as his frown deepened, the wrinkles on his forehead becoming more pronounced.

    He sighed, leaning forward again and placing his cup on the steel tabletop. "Listen, I'll make a deal with you. You take me back, and then you can leave as soon as possible. I'll find Amos by myself, and you can get home safely. We all win." He said in mock cheeriness.

    "Fine." Celica said bitterly. "But what about those guys in black?"

    "You mean the POCC?" Peter asked as though it were fairly obvious what they were.

    "The ones that tried to kill us earlier." She added.

    "They're the People of Common Circumstance. It started as a government plan to lure all of the Unknown into one place for mass extermination. It was advertised as a place where people of "extraordinary ability" could congregate and live."

    "So they killed everyone who went? That doesn't explain why those people came after us." She said. If they killed everyone who was in the POCC, then who was chasing them?

    "Just wait, I'm not done. I hate explaining everything to you, you're so impatient." He said, a hint of a smile tickling the corners of his mouth.

    "More than just Unknown showed up. A whole new race that the government hadn't discovered yet. Strong, fast, nearly invincible, and stupid, just what the government needed. So they took all of these extra members, Eryie, as they're called, and had them help in the extermination. Instead of disposing of the Eryie afterwards, like they had originally planned, they changed their minds and kept them as agents, hit men if you will. They became "People of Common Circumstance", and so the name stuck."

    The thought of unstoppable monsters chasing after them made Celica shiver a little bit, even though she had dried off. "So what do you plan to do when you encounter them?"

    Peter seemed pretty nonchalant about the situation. "Oh, I don't know, use some of the old Unknown powers to knock 'em around a bit." He said as he lifted his remaining coffee out of the mug and spun the floating liquid in a mid-air ring.

    "Peter, stop! Someone will see you!" Celica whispered harshly through her teeth.

    He slowly lowered the coffee back into the cup, a look of calm boredom lingering on his face. "Well? You ready to go back?"

    "I suppose," She said, annoyed. "Come on." She led them both into the hallway where the bathroom was, out of sight of the people drinking in the cafe.

    Focusing hard, she thought of Terra in general, trying hard not to specify either Amos's nor Michael's house.

    The voyage through the void was much shorter this time, lasting only a few seconds before standing firmly again. Celica felt very tired, suddenly, and before she could get a good look at where she was, it began to fade. Her vision swam and vague colors and shapes bent and warped in front of her. The ground came up to meet her as she toppled over. The last thing she head was Peter's voice, although it said nothing in particular. Then it was dark.