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___Esprit cried, and loudly. Why did she have to leave home, why wasn't she allowed to bring more than one toy, why was mommy being so serious? Uenoh'ai looked down and shushed her, the little girl glared up at her mother with large swollen eyes and choked back her wails, burying her face within the pristine laboratory coat. The jacket her mother had put her in smelled of earth, but it was a beige that Esprit hated. She hated this coat, she hated being rushed, and at this moment she hated her mommy. She clutched a small ragged teddy bear to her chest. Uennie pointed at the large duffel bag and said quietly,
___"Put it in the bag." Esprit shook her head, looked absolutely betrayed. How could mama insist that she put Hanalei Bear into that horrible bag? Uennie pointed emphatically again and the girl shook her head furiously and shouted, "No, no, NO!" Her loud cries were cut short by a pained squeal, Uenoh'ai's knuckles had gone white as she clutched the child by the arm.
___"Honey Girl, I love you, but do not try my patience today." Her voice was stern, not cruel, but still frightening. Esprit solemnly placed the bear into the bag, and scraped her arm across her runny nose. Clinging to her mother once more, she allowed herself to be ushered out of their home and into the waiting car where Edwin was driving. Esprit flung herself at Edwin, desperate for some form of affection. He rewarded her with a smile, and hugged her gently. Uenoh'ai gruffly gave the orders to drive, and after her child was safely strapped into the backseat, he sped away.
___Their house was dark, and the small lantern outside it seemed to get smaller and smaller the further they got away. Large silent tears stole down the brown cheeks of the baby-child, and she cried quietly into her mama's arms.

Returning to her lab, Alinedra looked around quickly to scope out anything she might want to bring. The place had become a second home for her, so there were many sentimental items scattered everywhere. Her biggest concern at the moment however, was who was going to care for Kit-kat while her and Eden were gone. Kit-kat was very much a house cat, and while she was very tame and followed orders, she wasn't exactly sure wherever they were going was fit for the lazy feline. Picking up the phone, she dialed her neighbor's number and proceeded to explain her sudden absence and the need for a cat sitter. Kit had spent the day at home, and Ellen her neighbor had the key. It was too bad she couldn't say goodbye, but Kit would be just fine.

Turning to Edens' room area, she walked in and gazed at the little red head. He was standing in the middle of the room with Gong-Xi's cage in his arms and a smile on his face. Ali however, frowned.

"Hun, are you sure you want to carry that everywhere? I know you love him, but it might get to be too hard." Watching his face change to a frown, she added,"I could get Ellen to come pick him up though! She'd take good care of him, just like she'll take care of Kit-kat."

"Okay... i guess." Eden said, shuffling his feet a bit. He didn't like the thought of leaving his prized grasshopper, but Ali might just be right. "How about this. Go get your pillow that we made with his picture on it, and that way it will be like he's there with us." Pointing to the pillow on his bed, Eden suddenly smiled and ran over to grab it.

Going back into the lab, Alinedra finally pulled out two bags and started packing things they'd need. Formula, Eden's few clothes, and what ones she had there, the boots she used when working in the biodome.... all were placed in the bags. When it was all through she had her normal duffelbag and a smaller bag that Eden normally used for toting toys from one lab to the other to play with. Taking Edens hand, they walked hand in hand out of the Lab, turning the lights out on the way and not looking back.

___The large gates of Durem appeared to swallow the small car, as their mighty trek from the Isle through Barton came to an end. Edwin sped up slightly, the late hour a comfort in knowing there were few people on the streets. Esprit had long since fallen asleep, still crying and holding tight onto the bag. Uennie rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger, and then massaged her temples. She tapped him on his shoulder and motioned to an off-road path near the building, and he quickly turned and hopped the curve. Jennine spotted them and sent two of the guards over to open the side gate, locking it behind the small Possum. Uenoh'ai urged Edwin to turn off the headlights and to continue driving behind the expanse of the BioDome until they reached the small back door which had been purposely overgrown with weeds. Esprit shifted in her sleep, and delicately Uennie laid her down on the seat and left the car.

___She looked for the small marker that had been left, a white beach rock. Finally finding it, Uenoh'ai felt around on the ground for the metal panel that resembled cellar doors in the ground. Her fingers touched cold, and she began gently removing the plants from it and brought out her ID Card. Swiping it through the reader, the locks clicked open, and the air-locked doors slid. In a quick movement she ducked inside, hearing them close behind her with a hiss. The lights in the underground hallway beamed on, one by one, and she quickly walked down the stairs with heels clicking on the metal floor. Hands in her pockets, the walk stretched on and on, until a small old-fashioned elevator came into view. She slid her ID Card once more through it and pulled the grate closed behind her. This was the same elevator that went down into the Pod Hibernation Chamber, except this time, she was going up. Punching the button and turning an access key, the elevator lunged upwards, if she had not been expecting it the force would have tossed her to the floor. After a few moments of whirring and silence, the lift slowed and stopped, letting her out onto her floor, and not far from her office. It appeared they were already there, which was perfectly fine for her. She cleared her throat, and let her voice echo down to her doorway as she kept her strong stride and swept towards it quickly.
___"Sound off! Those who are here!"

Clearing her throat and shuffling her bag to the other shoulder, Alinedra called out.

" Ali and Eden, reporting for adventure!" She chimed in cheerfully. Eden gave a little giggle and made a sort of mocking salute to nothing but the air, clicking his heals together. She had tought him to do that one day when playing with some of the toy soldiers that were in his toybox. Having had questions as to what they were for, she explained all about them, trying to leave out the bothersome adult parts. None of it had stuck, escept that little salute.

Ali smiled around at the others, waiting for the quest to begin, and pleased to be out of the stuffy lab already.

___Uennie rushed past the people she'd kept waiting and grabbed a dirt-covered bag by the inside of the door. Slapping soil and small puffs of dust off it loudly, she tossed files, pens, and her personal notebooks in as a last minute packing. Opening her refrigerator she tossed a few cans of her chosen juices and a few preserved foodstuffs in as well, giving the entire area a quick surveying glance before closing it tightly. The woman turned to her plants last, giving several tender touches and inhaling a last aroma. Ixchel shot out of the flowers with handkerchief pouch in tow. She shot angry chatter at Uenoh'ai, for making her worry and think that the Assistant might actually leave without her. She demanded to know where Esprit was, and muttered a nasty remark when ignored.

___"Follow me." Uennie said loudly, sweeping out of the room with her bag and faerie. The door to her Laboratory slid shut, and she locked it swiftly with the ID Card. She slung the bag over her shoulder and began to go back down the hall, and holding the elevator door open.

Alinedra, taking the hint that it was perhaps not the right time to act quite as cheerful as she was letting on, put her hands out to pick up Eden. Reaching his hands up, she grabbed him up, positioning him comfortably on her hip, and walking onto the elevator with Uennie. Going as far to the back as possible to make room for everone else, she leaned on the back wall, feeling the cool wall through her t-shirt and lab coat. The sensation put shivers through her spine, and Ali felt the cheery feeling she had had before slowly freezing away with it.

___The elevator carried them quickly down, and Uennie felt her ears cloud and then pop. As she led them down the hall and up out of the metallic cellar door, the moon hid behind a great expanse of clouds. The car had been long since put away, and the lonely silhouette of little Esprit was stretched out upon the soft grass as Edwin stood guard. He noticed Uenoh'ai making her way over and began to gently wake the child. Weak and sleepy eyes opened to the warmth of the Caretaker, and he took her in his arms gently, rocking her awake. Awkward brown legs met the ground, and she stood, clouded mind protesting slightly and the daze fading away. A gentle caress to the cheek was rewarded to her, and she looked up at her mother, who was shedding the white cloth that had shrouded her for as long as memory served. Edwin gently took the coat from his leader, and offered her a longer heavier one.

___The golden pins from her hair were removed, and the long hair was pulled back into a tight bun, which was quickly hid beneath a bandanna and then a brimmed hat. In a few moments the strict scientist melted away into a woman who looked nothing more than an everyday hiker. Within seconds a large pack was placed upon her back, and Esprit had been equally suited up with burdens to carry. Edwin comforted the child once more as she complained of aching joints, and the moon came out briefly from behind the clouds.