Organization IV

I yawned, and rubbed my eyes, dull with exhaustion. Nexan was still pacing angrily. I couldn't tell what was bugging her, nor did I have the sense to ask. But perhaps it was sense that kept me from asking.

She was muttering to herself, articulating her words with tension and frustration.

A question suddenly popped into my mind, but I took a minute for me to acknowledge it.

"Wait... why am I here?" I looked quizzically at Nexan. No one else was here but me and her.

She glared at me, and then motioned dismissively, pacing again. "Because, III! If something goes wrong, I need our strongest member to end it all."

"Oh..." I sat up a bit straighter in the chair I was sitting backwards in, though I still rested my chin on the back (which was in front of me).

Nexan ignored me and gave a frustrated sigh. "What's TAKING so long!?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but realized it was rhetorical.

The door opened. I raised my head in anticipation, and Nexan turned and stared tensely.

Xahnan walked out, mopping her brow. She smiled brightly at me, and I returned the smile. Then she turned to Nexan with a straight face.

"He's fine." she sighed. "Just unconscious." She smiled a bit sheepishly. "You've got a good punch, Superior."

"Who's fine?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by the conversation.

Xahnan turned to be and was about to answer when Superior cut her off. "No one, Max. You can go back to bed now."

Now I was stubbornly curious. "Who is it? Was a member hurt? Was it Mickey? Is he dead?"

Xahnan gave me a disappointing stare as excitement crept into my voice at "Was it Mickey? Is he dead?". The hope still glimmered in my eyes, though, as I looked from one to the other.

Superior sighed, though a smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. "No Max, no one was hurt and Mickey, as far as we know, isn't dead."

"Go to bed Max, you still have weeks of sleep to catch up on."

I "hmph"ed rebelliously before stalking out of the room. Sleep indeed! If only they knew what kind of thoughts and ideas sleep produced in my head. Maybe then they'd think twice about telling me to sleep!

I spent the rest of the night lying in bed, unable to rest while thoughts whirled in my head. I hoped I would learned what that night's events were all about; and soon!