Nicky yawned as she sat down with her breakfast plate. I was in my usual spot while Nina and Daniel were already seated with their own breakfast. Nicky shook her head as she tried to wake up, "I can't believe how hard I slept last night."

I tilted my head slightly as I examined her, "Do you remember anything from last night?"

She blinked slowly as her eyes flickered briefly to our two companions, "Uh... No... My head hit that pillow and I was out like a light. Did I miss a party or something?"

I raised my eyebrows, "So you don't remember Daniel and me having an argument in your room in the middle of the night?"

Nicky's jaw dropped as she gaped at me, "What?! How could I have missed something like that?" She turned to glare at Daniel, "I don't recall inviting you into my room. Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"

He looked faintly amused, "I did knock the first time. You didn't answer."

Nicky glared at him, "The first time? Why the hell were you in my room to start with?"

He took a bite of toast, unconcerned, "The first time was to ensure that you were still in your room. The second time was to stop Trinity from kidnapping you."

Nicky narrowed her eyes, "Unless I was screaming bloody murder, then you don't have to consider it kidnapping if she is dragging me around. She had plenty of opportunities in the past when we were in the forest. Besides, I did holler and shout that one morning on the trip here when she threw me over her shoulders like a sack of potatoes and not one person so much as lifted a finger to help me!"

Daniel snorted, "You were clearly out of your mind at that point in time and we heard you loud and clear. That time we chose not to intervene. This time was different since that hot chocolate had been drugged so you would sleep."

He had the oddest ways of admitting what he had done. Nicky inhaled in shock as she glanced at my unimpressed expression. She turned back toward Daniel as her anger was starting to show more clearly, "Why the hell was it drugged?!"

Quite a few at nearby tables had been listening with wide eyes to the conversation. I guessed that only a couple of people had been aware of how close we had been to leaving. None were aware of that little fiasco last night. The loud thunder had possibly covered up the sounds that Daniel and I had made in our spat.

Daniel raised his eyebrow, "Your room was bugged with a small microphone and a certain conversation the other night prompted such a precaution."

Nicky stood up suddenly as her face contorted in anger, "You bugged my room? Where is that mic? I want to try out my yodeling skills. If they wanted me to audition, all they had to do was say so!" Heads started turning as Nicky stood up and her chair legs squealed a bit.

I growled lightly, "Sit back down wildcat. I am right beside you, so lower your voice. Daniel used up my daily allotment of patience last night. If you are going to attempt yodeling, wait until I am out of earshot."

Nicky dropped back into her chair with a grumble as she glared at Daniel. She glanced at me, "So what exactly happened last night? I must admit that I was quite confused by the red marks on my floor this morning."

The blood must have been from when I skinned my knees on the rough carpet. It would have dried within minutes so it wouldn't have been contagious. I sighed, "Long story short, I lost a fight with Daniel before he took me to Nina so they could tell me exactly what was going on in this place."

Nicky's jaw dropped, "Shit! There was a bottle of liquid soap in my backpack, you should have grabbed it. If I had been awake I had four cans of tomato juice in there as well." Daniel narrowed his eyes even as Nina's eyes lit up in curiosity.

I shrugged, "I didn't have enough time to get to it, although it wouldn't have delayed Daniel for very long if he was willing to run at night. Considering he had that flashlight, he probably would have followed."

Nicky sighed, "There is always next time I guess. I call the cans though. And what exactly is going on in this place?"

I raised an eyebrow at Nina, "I will let you repeat that information."

She nodded before bringing Nicky up to speed. Nicky's expression got more incredulous as Nina went on. Once she finished explaining Nina tilted her head, "So do either of you two have any questions?"

Nicky rubbed her forehead, "It is far too early to be dumping surprises on us like this. You are a scientist?"

Nina nodded, "Technically I was a medical researcher, but the title scientist works considering that what I do has spread out over a wider area."

Nicky shook her head, "I met a scientist once. I hope you are smarter than he was. He once told me that the world is made up of Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons. The idiot completely forgot to mention Morons and I have seen an awful lot of those."

Nina looked absolutely dumbfounded and I heard a couple of faint chuckles from eavesdroppers that were quickly being suppressed. Daniel smirked, "Nina is quite smart, even if you don't understand half of what she says once she starts talking in technical terms."

Nina glanced between Nicky and I in faint confusion, "I am kind of surprised that neither of you asked why we didn't tell you earlier."

Nicky snorted, "Why ask a question that I know the answer to? Sometimes Trinity's mind works like mine. If you had mentioned the words scientist, lab, or tests while we were on the road, Trinity would have pulled a vanishing act that no magician could ever hope to replicate."

I growled grumpily, "My mind works like yours? I highly doubt that." I could never pull off some of the stunts that she had done.

Nicky grinned at me, "How else could I get along with you so well?"

I nibbled on an apple slice and pointedly ignored her. Nina was a bit surprised at Nicky's deduction, "That was precisely why we didn't mention it earlier. We had hoped to finish everything before Trinity recovered and left. Needless to say, we greatly appreciate her giving us a chance."

Nicky raised her eyebrow at me, "So we aren't running for the hills?"

Several people within hearing range tensed up at that question. Nina and Daniel were watching me closely. I turned my head toward Nina, "You don't have to hold your breath in suspense. I told you that I would give it a second chance." It was an extraordinarily shaky second chance, but I had my reasons to give it a cautious attempt.

Nina sighed in relief, but grinned as she was caught with her unconscious action. I turned back to Nicky, "I said I would give it a shot. Hopefully they can come up with a vaccine. If you still plan on following your dream of visiting every Stronghold in the country within ten years, I am sure they will approve your transfer."

Nicky gave me a disbelieving look, "As if I would leave while you are here. It is far more entertaining to hang around you."

Oh, lucky me... Just what I needed, someone who magically turns into a maniac with a sip of coffee...

Nicky just grinned at my disbelieving expression, "Who else is capable of putting up with me or dragging me back to the realm of reason if I go on an insanity blitz?"

Nicky turned to Nina with bright eyes, "Since Daniel claims you are so smart, how is it possible that the two of us manage to balance each other out when both of us are considered unstable and unpredictable?"

Nicky gestured between herself and me, "Just look at us. Trinity is a Nightstalker with temper problems, although you may not have noticed since she is more wary around Daniel, but Ben had a few close calls. I have a personality disorder that uncannily specializes in pissing people off in a fashion that shouldn't even be possible. Putting the two of us in the same area should be like putting a lit match in a box of dynamite, yet the two of us actually get along in a way that we don't even manage with normal people."

Nina blinked slowly, "You aren't the first person to ask that question. It has confused many. I haven't studied your interactions enough to give an educated hypothesis. We had noticed that you seem to take the edge off of Trinity's temper if she gets worked up. You are saying that she alters your temperament as well?"

Nicky shrugged, "It was Trinity who noticed that a big breakfast and no coffee makes a huge difference. It actually does more than the doctor's pills ever did and they sure never thought of that. In the past, nothing helped with the outbursts once they started though. You saw what I was like that morning when Daniel tied me up. I often become unmanageable. Ben and Hank can testify to it as well."

Daniel made a face as if he knew exactly what she was talking about. I was curious, "Was she really that bad?"

He gritted his teeth at the memory, "You didn't see her. I ended up tying her to a chair three times. I have never seen a human who was unafraid if I truly snarled at them."

I shrugged, "That could have been amusing to watch. Too bad you didn't videotape it. I just distract her, so it isn't as if I actually do anything. Just pretend she is a four year old with a short attention span."

Daniel shook his head, "You get to deal with her next time."

Nicky yawned, "Good. I'd rather deal with Trinity than you. She at least makes sense and I know where I stand with her. You are more unpredictable than she is."

Nina gave her a disbelieving look, "I fail to see that. Daniel is very predictable."

Nicky looked at her as if she was crazy, "On the surface or when he is calm maybe, but not when he gets stressed or angry. He tends to snap and act unpredictably. Regardless of how angry Trinity gets, I at least know how bad of a reaction she is going to have or if she is truly too dangerous to approach."

I guess Nicky noticed that Daniel didn't act like a sane zombie should. I wonder how she picked that up. Nina and Nicky were frowning at each other in obvious disagreement. I was in agreement with Nicky, of course. I had previously noted that Daniel didn't understand zombie rules and it affected his behavior when his instincts rose.

I decided to interrupt this debate before it got too out of hand, "So is there anything else I should expect now that the cat is out of the bag? Technically I am capable of doing more than just peeling vegetables."

Nina perked up, "Is there anything in particular that you want to do?"

I had thought about this last night, "It won't be long before my injuries heal enough that I will get too restless just sitting all day. I do want to try being a night guard, although I am not sure exactly what they do. I don't know what else I could do during the day, most animals won't tolerate me and I know nothing about vehicles."

Nina tilted her head as she thought, "The choice is really up to you since feral zombies don't pose a risk to you like they do to humans. You could sit in a guard post or you could patrol inside or outside of the fence, whatever you prefer. If you help guard from sunset to sunrise, then you have worked more hours than anyone else here does and you don't need to work during the day unless you get bored or want to."

Daniel added his own thoughts, "People here often just need a hand from someone stronger than them for a few seconds. The hunters would welcome you. The quads lure off the regular zombies every few hours, but even knowing that you are around will help the guards relax since they know that you will help if a Runner shows up and starts scaling the fence. Nina is right though, if you guard all night, then there is no need to work during the day. Most here don't work more than 9 or 10 hours a day."

I shrugged, "I will still help peel stuff today and I will start patrolling outside the fence tonight. Just let the guards know to not shoot at the zombie wearing sunglasses when it approaches the gate."

Nina nodded, "Certainly. Don't strain yourself though, it will be some time before your leg heals."

I nodded as I munched on my toast. I was looking forward to roaming the forest tonight.