Dimension Travelers

Chapter 28

"What happened after I passed out?" I ask Rick, who gives me water. I drink it gratefully.

"Seth flew you back here. He said that you got whacked in the head. He didn't appear to have any injuries but I made him sleep anyways." Rick answers. He looks at me with...is that concern?

"I'm sure that just killed him," I say sarcastically. "Did you guys get the weapons we found?"

Rick nods. "Yup, and the little smoke screen things too. Those will definitely come in handy. Good job."

"Thanks. I try."

He scarcely smiles. "You gonna be ok for tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

He shrugs. "Dunno."

"So, I've been dyin' ta know your little secret power. Would you care to share?"

He stares at me for a long time but then says, "I can run at the speed of light. But I don't use that...'power' too often."

"Why not? That's freaking amazing!"

"Yeah, I realized that. But back home, it doesn't do me much good."

"But here it might. It could help if--wait, why didn't you run at the speed of light when Hammer was chasin' us?"

"We were gonna fight him anyways. I didn't think I'd need to."

"If you say so."

Awkward silence.

"So you and Seth can morph into different animals?" Rick asks.

"Yup." I answer.

"Care to show me?"

"Not now. Maybe later?"

"Sure."

More silence.

"Why'd you come? To help us, I mean." I ask.

"I didn't come to help you guys. Not at first." Rick says and looks away.

"Then why did you?"

He doesn't look at me.

"Please tell me." I say.

He sighs. "My brother, he Traveled during a full moon about two years ago. I've tried and tried to find him, but I haven't. I thought that I might as well help Seth find you and that I'd maybe find him."

"I'm sure we will. Don't give up. That's the last thing he'd want you to do."

"You don't know that and you don't know him." Rick says angrily.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." I pause. "But we'll find him."

Rick looks at me as if I'm crazy. "Um, 'we'? Who's 'we'?"

"Seth and I. I'm guessing you told him about this. I want to help you."

"Well, Seth doesn't."

"I'm sure he does. And if not, then I'll help you. I love an adventure every now and then."

"Why would you help me? You barely know me."

"So you don't want me to? Is that it?"

"Just answer the question."

"Well," I begin, "for one thing, you helped Seth find me. Second, you've helped him stay alive. We didn't know it, but we needed your help--we needed you. Plus, I want to help you. It must be awful to know your brother's Lost. I just...I just wanna help you."