The house shared by Hannah Schellden and Sevarenia Firawen Monday June 24th.

The sparkle of sunlight on bottles drew Sev's eye.. The liquor cabinet was well stocked. Too well stocked. Sev hadn't seen Hannah in days, and usually Hannah's not being home meant a dry spell in the house. Harley their third house mate was a major lush and Sev never could handle Harley when she was on a bender. Call it a semi-puritanical upbringing but alcohol and the redhead did not mix well. Just take last year's Christmas party. Two drinks and Hannah had Sev stripped to her new red teddy, (Sev's one real weakness, pretty undies) and settled in the boss's lap kissing him under the mistletoe and proclaiming herself the spirit of 'Christmas Presents'.

"Han? You home Girl?" It was a vain hope, Hannah hadn't been home in days. Time to take some action. A quick search of the rooms and Sev had what she needed. Hannah's day planner... something she never left home without when she went on vacation.

Headquarters

Allan Brody, aka Captain or Boss depending on which girl you asked was settled behind his desk, reading a report on the teams latest mission, when a pair of dusty jackboots kicked open a his door. Followed less than a moment later a black leather day planner thunked down on his desk.

"Dammit Sev, why are you the Only member of the team who never knocks?"

"F*ck that Boss, Hannah's missing." There was a somewhat hysterical edge to the redhead's voice and jackboots were pacing back and forth across the floor in a erratic tromp.

Brody waved Sevarenia to a seat, then leaned in to quietly question the girl "How do you know Sev? You know she was scheduled some R&R after last weekends blowout."

"First off, She didn't pack anything and I have most her ready cash. She handed it off to me to grab the groceries this week and I hadn't gotten it back to her. Next, The Liquor cabinets unlocked.. and Han never leaves Harley with an open bar... She knows I can't handle Har drunk. And third, Her day planner was still hidden under the baseboard in her bedroom closet, " not going into how she knew it was hidden there in the first place "Hannah Never travels without that book." Hysteria still there, obvious worry for her friend, but the technophyte has a conspiracy theorists logic behind each statement.

With a nod Brody picked up the phone and dialed. A few low toned questions, and he set the receiver down. "No ones seen Hannnah since after the operation. Neil says she went into the ladies at O'Riley's and he never saw her come out."

The pair discussed the matter a little while longer, hushed tones and furtive glances at the door. It never did the team any good when one of their own went Missing.

A final nod and the redhead slipped to her feet looking back at Brody. "Thanks for not discounting this out of hand Boss." She headed off on, intent on finding some answers.

Gustave's Lab.

"So basically, to take advantage of this 'Vanishing Point' of Sev's we need to run a high frequency current in a 'Gate' formation, preferably around the spot where Hannah ditched. If we get the frequency just right, we can not only open the weak point, but hold it open for around twelve hours at a time. After that its going to take several hours to reset the equipment before we can re-open the gate." Gustave was good at explaining complex problems so that even non-Technophytes like Allan Brody knew just what the lay of the land was.

This and Sev's reccomendation was why Gustave had been hired to work with the team in the first place.

"And this means we are set to get Hannah back? Once you get this all up and running?"

"It should boss. Once we have the back door open so to speak I want to make sure we get our lines of communication established first thing." Sev was nearly out of her seat, eager to get this project started. " I already req'd the gear I'm gonna need. Supply says it will be down by supper. Gus and I can have this ported over to O'Rileys and set up within an hour of the gear arriving."

"Good. Make it happen. And Sev? Come see me in my office before you power all this up. I have some things for you." Brody spun on his heel and headed for the stairs, he never had really liked the lab.

Room 14, Red Dragon Inn, Rhydin


Attn: Allan Brody, right side of the rabbit hole.
RE: There's no place like home Toto....

Hey Boss,

What in hells name was I thinking when I signed on for this mess? You know I'm not a field agent. Heck Han's constantly hassling me because I won't carry unless I have to. Gotta love Hannah and her "you can fix anything with enough bullets" mentality eh?

This place is bigger than we thought. Its full of some of the strangest shit I have ever seen. There are actual living breathing dragons acting like god damned house cats here!

I've been tracking leads on those un-solveds we though most likely to be connected to the 'vanishing points' Which I've started calling Rabbit Holes because I feel like I took a bad left at Cleveland and ended up in Wonderland. The leads look promising and I'll attach what I've found to this email.

Hannah seems to be settled here better than I anticipated. I think having distance from home and Mark's memory is going to be good for our girl. Now if I can just get her to stop trying to dress me like a two dollar hooker and get me married off with a dozen babies everything will be peachy.

We made contact with a transplant by the name of Kier Harding, he and Hannah seem to have hit things off. He seems to have a soothing effect on Han. (see attachment number 2, She actually HUGGED him! Thank god for camera phones) He also is a great cook. I think we can get some good use out of him for our new transplant team if things go well, if nothing else he can keep us fed, you know me and my never ending stomach.

Another person of interest who might be worth cultivating for the team a "Local" meaning not a transplant form earth by the name of Siren VonLostia. He fits in here a bit better than Hannah and I, and I think might give us an in where we wouldn't fit in (as in places where women might night be welcome) I'd trust him at my back in a pinch.

I'll keep in touch as I have more to report.

Sev

Sev sent the report to Brody, along with a copy of the picture she snapped of Hannah hugging Keir when they weren't looking. All in all this assignment wasn't that bad. Maybe in the morning she would go out looking for an office space they could rent, they couldn't always work out of their rooms. It worked for now but when things kicked up? Sev would just as soon not be bringing work "home" with her.

Paula's Puppy Palace, Baton Rouge

"Aww look at those ones Keir!" Sev pointed to a pair of puppies chasing a ball around a small fenced yard. "I like the one with the black eye patch. He looks like a little Mexican bandit."

Keir had to laugh at Sev's enthusiasm. Times like this one might mistake the six foot tall redhead for an overgrown child. She just seemed so innocent.

"Come on Sev, lets go talk to the owner and see what they have."

Paula of Paula's Puppy Palace was actually a rather sweet little old lady. When Sev explained to her what she was looking for she took the pair back to a pair of kennels in the back "Now these two litters are almost three months old, The one on the right was sired by a service dog by the name of Friar Tuck, they wanted to see if his good traits bred true. I'd say of the five puppies maybe two have the father's temper. Those are the ones you want to look at Missy."

Sev looked over the little labrador retriever puppies with a smile, then leaned down to pick up a little chocolate colored one. "Hey little fellow, you are smaller than the rest, but I just bet you are the smartest of the lot aren't you?" She looked to Paula for confirmation. The old woman nodded and smiled.

Keir was caught by the litter in the next kennel, a trio of little bloodhound puppies, all females.

Paperwork didn't take long, and the pair walked out with two puppies.

The Beach House, Rhydin

"No! Puppy you can't be biting Harvey. He's not a chew toy." Sev darted across the living room to grab Keir's little bloodhound pup and set her in her lap. "What in heaven's name prompted us both to buy puppies?" She cast a desperate look across to where Keir stood in the kitchen whipping up a late night batch of pancakes.

Keir shook his head, "Ahh come on Sev, you know you love them already."

A pretty pout from the redhead "Well Duh." She tossed a throw pillow from the couch at him. "How's your room? Harv says he put a pea under your mattress to test if you were a princess in disguise."

Some people might find having a small pumpkin headed creature playing housekeeper odd, but Sev was actually starting to Like Harvey, she was thinking about asking Elly if she could keep him around longer.

"Hannah should be back from her shopping trip soon. I'm sure you'll find yourself with all new bedding and painted walls, weather you want them or not then." Sev watched Keir for a reaction to that. All she got was a smile and a stack of pancakes set on the coffee table in front of her, which she had to scramble to rescue from both puppies.

After she finished off her snack she headed to her room, taking the lab pup out through the private entrance into the yard before settling in at her computer.

Attn: Hesperia Firawen
RE: What do we call the new puppy?

Sis, picked up the new puppy we talked about this morning, a little chocolate lab. I think you'll like him. Talked to Doc Lewinson, he's cleared it so I can bring the puppy home to you on our birthday. So you have till September 1st to get back to me.

Love and Kisses,
Sev

Sev attached a picture of the puppies to the email and hit send, then crawled into the queen sized captain's bed. It was nice to have Keir and Harvey in the house, made it not so lonely anymore.

Baton Rouge, Earth

Doctor Owens the team physician held the ex-ray of Sev's sprained ankle, which turned out to be a broken ankle. "It's a fracture Savy, you know the drill, six weeks in a cast. You really should be more careful." The Doc motioned over the nurse and in short order they had the ankle set and casted and Sev on her way with a prescription for painkillers.

Dusty was waiting for Sev in the waiting room, reading a copy of a popular fashion magazine. He looked up at the click-tromp noise of the crutches then frowned a bit at the new cast.

"You alright Sev?"

"Yeah, I'll be ok. Think you can put up with me being a lame duck for six weeks Dusty?" In a lot of ways Sev hated imposing on anyone because she had to. It was the lack of choice that bothered her.

Dusty smiled and slipped his arm around her waist for a quick hug. "I think I'll cope Sev. What's next on the agenda?"

"I have to report in, then we have some shopping to do."

Headquarters

"Sev! How's the missing person hunt going?" At the sound of his office door opening with no knock Brody knew it could only be one person so he didn't bother to look up from his report. "Made any progress?"

"You could say that Boss. I'd like you to meet Dusty Volensik."

Allan's head snapped up at that. He did a double take at the man standing next to Sev, and a triple take at Sev on crutches with a cast. "What the hell did you do girl?"

"I tripped over a pumpkin Boss, and a pair of puppies."

Brody asked a bunch of questions, and Sev and Dusty answered them as best they could. Until Brody asked the big one.

"What do you plan to do now Mr Volensik?"

Red Dragon Inn

"Hey Keir?" Sev was starting to feel the effects of the painkillers she had taken with lunch, but curiosity was eating at her.

"Hmm?"

"What do you really think of Dusty moving into the house?"

Keir opened his mouth to speak his mind, but thought better of it. It was time to calculate his response and cultivate the words carefully. Pausing to think, Keir closed his mouth again. Then, "I think that so far he seems like a nice guy. What you do with your house is your business and yours alone."

"See trouble is, its not just my house.. It's the team's house." She was a firm believer in knowing what issues were going to arise in the group dynamic they were forming here before they happened. She liked Dusty and felt he could fit in well on the team. And not just because she was sleeping with him.

"Okay..." Keir paused to think again, time to change tactics. "Then you want my honest opinion, Sev?"

"Yeah."

"Now, these are just my old fashioned ways of thinking speaking here... but... isn't it kind of soon to have him move in? Truth is, you don't know anything about this guy and while I'll be the last person to hinder a relationship, I do think that moving in to the same place is kind of reckless." Kier couldn't help the disapproval in his voice, frowning a bit knowing as he said the words they would probably sting Sev.

Sev was hurt by his tone, she hadn't said anything about her relationship with Dusty, just mentioned to Keir that he was staying at the house and working at the stable. She shrugged it off and tried to explain "He's been living in his car for the last three months Keir.. And you know I'm a god dammed soft touch.."

"Yeah but... geezus, Sev. The guy could be a murderer or something. You know I'm only looking out for you."

She knew that, not that she would ever admit to needing to be looked after "I have his file from Brody... there is nothing criminal in it."

"Nothing on that side... but what about here?" There was a tone of outright disbelief in Keir's voice now that was starting to grate on her already frayed nerves.

"I'm a big girl Keir.. I can take care of myself..."

"Which is why I haven't said anything until now, Sev." He shrugged and cracked his neck. "Like I said, it's not my place. You asked. Though, if he hurts you, I'll break his neck." This last said with a smirk and a derisive tone.

"I don't think he will.. he's been taking care of me since the moment I broke my ankle..." maybe it was the pain killers or maybe just blind hope, but her voice had a trusting quality when she made that statement. She really wanted to believe the best of Dusty.

"Then best of luck to you, Sevy." Flashing a charming if somewhat false smile Keir backed down. He could see the effects that the drugs were having on her and didn't want to press the issue when she might not remember.

A tribute to her dazed state Sev's next remark bordered on the absurd. "Hannah's gonna flip though.. Promise me you won't let her start planning a wedding the moment she hears about him?"

"I promise." Keir's smile was genuinely indulgent this time.

"I think you'll like him Keir.. at least I hope you will."

Beach House

Curled up in front of her laptop, her broken foot elevated Sev brooded over that conversation with Keir. She hated to cause strain among her friends and co-workers this way and had told Dusty as much that night as they sat on the tiny covered porch outside her room watching the waves.

She missed him after he had kissed her good night and retired to his own room. More than she had expected to after so short of a time sharing space.

Maybe some time apart would be good, Sev wasn't sure if her head was on straight anymore.