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Defiance

     The follower walked into Ashton's room. He looked irritated. Ashton knew why. She grinned and rolled over in bed to face him.

"Hi." The corner of her mouth turned up in a cocky half-smile.

The follower looked down in disgust. "You're in bed this late?"

"So would you, if you got whacked in the head as hard as I was." Her smirk never left her face.

"What in that do you find amusing?" the follower asked, perplexed.

Ashton let the smile spread to the rest of her face. "I was imagining that scene, with you getting thwacked on the head instead of me." She made no effort to hide the amusement she got from that.

"Get up." the follower commanded. Ashton made no move to comply.

"NOW!" The follower's face went from normal to scarlet to crimson. Eventually it seemed to decide on a rich shade of purple.

Ashton twisted her face in determination. Then, as an act of defiance, she jumped up, swung the cot, and threw the it at the follower.

"You made a mistake." came her calm voice. "You didn't bolt the cot down."

The follower roared. Purple Hair stared at Ashton, wide-eyed. Ashton shrugged and walked out of the open door. Purple Hair followed.

"Information for information." Ashton suggested. Purple Hair nodded dumbly. She was a little shocked about what Ashton had done but she went along with it. After all, it was her job.

"What's your name?" Ashton asked abruptly.

"That was out of left field." Purple Hair blinked. "About my name, it's pretty stupid."

Ashton didn't back down. "Well, what is it?"

"Nicole." She was clearly disgusted by the name. Ashton studied her. She did look like a Nicole. Sort of.

"Your name, now." Nicole stated, crossing her arms. Ashton noticed a large, thorny-looking rose tattooed on Nicole's left bicep. She decided not to say anything about it.

"Ashton."

Nicole nodded approvingly. "I'll call you Ash." she decided. Ashton shrugged.

"Fine by me." She had never been called Ash, but she decided that she'd just have to get used to it. Nicole didn't seem like the type to argue with.

She heard a muffled clatter, a string of curses, and a thud as the cot dropped from its perch on top of the follower.

A wild look came into her eyes. "Here's the deal. You need to tackle me."

"Waht?" Her face registered confusion.

"Tackle me. Hurry." She still looked and sounded vaguely panicked.

Nicole complied. "Why?" she asked from on top of Ashton.

"Because this way, your boss will still trust you and we'll be able to talk about the stuff that really matters." She glanced at the doorway. "If you hadn't wasted time not telling me your name, we might have gotten in some informantion. Oh well. Can't change that now. Keep me down until your boss comes."

Nicole nodded. "One more question, though."

"Yes?" Ashton prompted.

"Can I be part of your group?" When Ashton didn't answer, she started, "I know it isn't really something you just ask."

She thought for a while. Nicole thought she just wouldn't answer. Finally, Ashton spoke in a whisper. "Find my necklace and a knife. Carve your name into the necklace. When I see the team, I'll tell them." She chewed on her lip. "On second thought, I need to know I can trust you. Don't get the necklace now. I can't have any names crossed out." She stopped talking just as the door to her room opened. Ashton tensed. If anyone had heard what she'd said, she would be in an enourmous amount of trouble. Just to keep their cover, Ashton fought against Nicole with about 70% effort. Footsteps pounded like drums announcing her funeral.