For a few moments Patrick was silent he then gave his head a slight shake. "Anyway! The treatment Lucy developed is almost done with testing. I have to say the candidates are showing remarkable results with some difficulties."

"Like what?"

"They eat a lot."

"Ah well the extra mass has to come from somewhere."

"That is true but they still eat a lot even after they quit developing. Their mass is abnormally high compared to the volume and it takes a lot to feed them. Fortunately Miss Angeye is helping us with that though she doesn't realize it. The plant life she's developed is proving extremely helpful in keeping them fed."

Sara couldn't help but chuckle as she shook her head. "I swear. You buy your food from a civilian developer that uses materials provided by Miss Angeye. So you're not using materials developed by her for military use rather the middle man is using them. That's an awfully thin way to get away with it. I'm sure she could make a fuss of it if she wanted to."

"You're probably right but materials she's produces are used in so many materials we could argue it can't be helped. The military is going to end up benefiting from her work one way or the other no matter how much we try to avoid it."

"Yeah and that does seem to satisfy her. Still, I have to wonder. What do you think we'll do if she does die or is dead?"

"We'll begin developing an entirely new class of jets, tanks, ships, submarines and everything else by employing the technologies she's developed. There will be a huge rush to secure the computers at her home and main industry so we can learn how she produced some of the materials as well. Of course this would be done for national security as there is no way to justify it legally. I'm certain that her family would be quite upset at seeing their daughter's place of business and home torn apart."

"Well that's an awfully negative prediction."

"Yet I'm certain it would happen."

"You're probably right but do you believe that she's recorded just how those materials were produced? She may be the only person that knows how they were made."

"It's possible but our only hope of learning would be to secure as much of the materials developed by her as we could. This includes the machinery she used to produce the materials. Of course if she does have the information recorded on company computers I can only imagine the type of security she'd have protecting that information."

"Oh wouldn't that be terrible? We develop a whole new class of jet aircraft produce a few hundred of them and then learn we can't make more. Why? Because we can't make certain key components so whenever these aircraft are lost to us that's the end of it."

"That's a rather possible scenario. Now you have me thinking Sara. Lucy knows that she was widely hated but none would risk moving against her. Would she have just relied on her own strength and assumed she'd always be able to keep her family safe or would she have taken measures to insure their safety? Perhaps they have access to information they don't even know about that could be used as bargaining chips."

"Possible but it's also possible she could have believed she'd outlive them all and never taken such measures."

"If Miss Angeye believed she was going to die though I have to believe she would have taken more concrete steps to insure the safety of those close to her. Okay that's enough speculation."

"Ah how come? Speculation is fun."

"I don't want to let it get out of hand. It's okay to plan for possibilities but basing too much of a decision on speculation is folly."

***********************************************************************************

"I can't believe this." As Phillip spoke he currently set in the office Lucy had assigned to Karen and Claude. Sandra was a short distance away watching the television screen. "They're trying to break down the door on national television. They're openly breaking and entering and the police aren't doing anything to stop them. So much to serve and protect."

In response Claude shook his head. "This won't end well. Whenever Lucy recovers she's going to be more then a little upset. I wonder if the police will try to protect those that were foolish enough to try to invade her home while they believed she could not defend herself."

No one dared say if Lucy was alive not even Sandra. The thought wasn't a pleasant one. "I wonder what she's going to be like though. From what." Sandra grew silent as she noticed a ringing. She started to reach for the phone but remembered who's it was and let Karen pick it up instead.

"Hello?"

"Hello Misses Angeye, please put me on speaker phone."

"Sure thing. It's Albert." As she spoke Karen clicked the speaker on.

"Hey everyone I just wanted to let you know how Lucy was doing. Her body has continued to shrink. Her. Well her hands and arms. They're entirely gray now and shriveled. They look. Well like stone. That and well. The heat around her stomach has continued to go up but I'm alright. I'm not sure exactly what is going on but the thermometer I've been measuring the temperature of her stomach with melted. Also, when I woke up this morning her legs are like her arms now. I touched her legs and well they're solid."

"Albert, where are you now?"

Right now? I'm standing near her thigh I had to leave my cell phone and other things away from her. They started to burn up."

"Your things. You mean you got close to her stomach?"

"Well yeah I did."

"Albert! Are you okay?! How badly are you burned?"

"Relax, I'm alright.

"How did you know the thermometer was melted?"

"I noticed whenever I came to check on it."

"How long ago was this?!"

"Just a few hours."

A sigh escaped Claude as he rubbed his forehead. "How close have you gotten since then?"

"I got close enough for my clothing to ignite and had to take it off. The strange thing was I couldn't feel the heat." A slight chuckle escaped Albert as he shook his head. "I'm sure that Lucy is alive. I don't know what's happening inside of her but how else could I have gotten so close without being burned if she wasn't alive?"

It was hard for Claude to keep a level head as he listened to Albert. He wanted to agree with Albert on so many levels but there were other possibilities. "Albert, you know Lucy modified your body."

"So? She didn't make it more durable then normal just so it'd heal faster."

"Albert, there could have been a fail safe. If Lucy died she'd still." Sandra was made to go silent upon hearing Albert.

"Ouch! That hurt."

"Albert? What did you just do?"

"I burned myself with a lighter." A slight chuckle escaped Albert as he looked at the rapidly healing injury. Despite the pain he couldn't help but grin.

No one in the room was quite sure how to respond at first. Karen was the first to break the silence. "Albert, do you believe those parts of Lucy's body that have gone gray are still alive?"

"No, they're too cold and brittle looking. Something is going on but. She's alive! I know it."

"Albert, you don't know what's happening for sure. This could just be part of Lucy's body breaking down as she dies. Perhaps it was her final way of insuring no one was able to gain knowledge she didn't want them to have from her body. Or perhaps it's her bodies way of insuring no illness born from within her was able to escape."

"No! She's alive.!"

Karen actually gave a slight jump whenever the phone suddenly clicked off. She then glanced over towards her husband. "I know that he's right."

"So do I."

***********************************************************************************

It was late, he needed to sleep. Yet Albert couldn't bring himself to do it. Light filled the room though not from any mechanical fixture. It was coming from Lucy. It had happened some time while he had nodded off. A massive amount of light had began to radiate from Lucy's stomach. As he watched it Albert took in a deep breath. He knew that the others could be right. This could be the way Lucy's body died, slowly burning itself away so that she couldn't be studied. He didn't want to see her studied. What would happen whenever her body faded away though?

Images of the heat escaping from her and burning everything in and around the building to ash entered his mind. Albert liked this thought. If Lucy had died then he could at least keep hoping and believe that she was alive until the flames consumed his body. Then he wouldn't have to face the fact that she was dead because he wouldn't be around to endure that pain. He no longer believed that she could have breached the threshold. He had never heard of someone's body behaving in such a strange manner upon breaching it though Lucy was an abnormal case.

At last Albert had to take his eyes away from her stomach and gazed up towards her head. As he looked upon her face he felt his eyes lock into place and his jaw fell open. A small stream of crimson could be seen flowing from Lucy's mouth. A few droplets fell down landing upon her clothing and setting it aflame nearly instantly giving some hint at the energy contained within Lucy's blood. That wasn't Albert's concern though. "No. No! You can't be bleeding." As if in response to his words Albert heard a sudden cracking and his gaze turned to Lucy's right arm.

A massive crack tore throughout the limb quickly growing to the point that Albert could see it from such a distance. Thousands of tiny tendrils burst from the main crack which held solid for only seconds. It was only moments later that the limb gave out and Albert watched as it tumbled towards the ground. The sound of that limb striking the earth was nearly deafening but Albert didn't reach for his ears. Shock had overcome his body and he found it impossible to look as he looked upon the broken bits of what once was Lucy's arm.

As Albert looked upon the broken bits his hand slowly moved towards his chest. Pain seemed to burst throughout Albert's body concentrating in his cheat and his throat. It quickly became painful to breath as he fell to the ground tears welling up in his eyes. As he went to scream though no sound left his lips as he could not find the breath to do so. His body was made to tremble. The pain was so great that it had already brought him to his knees and he thought would bring him to the ground.

Was the pain born from a physical wound? Was he more closely tied to Lucy then he realized so that her death would mean his own? Or was it purely mental. Albert didn't know or care. "She's not dead! Lucy can't be dead she wouldn't leave me alone!"As Albert cried out he didn't know who he was speaking to perhaps he was trying to convince himself as he trembled.

***********************************************************************************

Patrick couldn't help but smile as he read the report. Sara was continuing to make rapid progress at least from what they could tell. Several pieces of testing equipment had become obsolete and were having to be redesigned and built a new to test her current limits. It was impossible for him to keep from imagining what it would be like if Sara proved to be progressing too quickly to be accurately tested. Perhaps by the time they had the new machines finished she'd be beyond even them.

His mind was taken from these thoughts though with the ringing of his phone. It only took him a moment to recognize the number. "Hello, Patrick speaking."

"Hello this is Misses Angeye. I hope you don't mind me calling but you were the only person we could think of."

"Misses Angeye I must remind you that my relationship with your daughter is purely business and on a limited scale. I can't simply devote military resources to her plight without good cause and permission from my superiors."

"I know but. You were the only one we could call. You see. I. We want help forcing our way into Lucy's home."

"Huh? That's a very strange request. May I ask why?"

"Up until now we've been keeping in touch with Albert who was inside. It's been several weeks now since we last had contact and he isn't responding to our attempts to contact him. However, while we want inside we don't want to let every news hound and vulture inside. I was wondering if you might be able to help us."

"Mm I take it the situation with Lucy is far worse then we realized."

"I'm not certain."

"Misses Angeye while we are interested in Lucy's condition I can't agree to what you ask. If you were to provide more information I may be able to convince my superiors that it's in our best interest to secure the house hold and find out exactly what is going on."

"I understand. Sandra is preparing a detailed report as we speak."

"Then I'll see what I can do. However, you may want to consider obtaining the services of a more mercenary organization."

"Why would you say that?"

"We are quite aware of your daughter's temperament Misses Angeye. While your request might help us in reasoning with her should she recover and we force our entrance if she's rational. There is a chance that she won't be rational and should that be the case forcing our entrance could bring on quite an unpleasant series of events."

"I understand. Albert even advised against us coming there before we lost contact but. We can't wait anymore."

"Very well. When should I be expecting the file from Sandra?"

"Very soon even what we know is very limited. She included some."

"Please don't say theories. I would prefer if you only included the information you know is accurate as limited as that may be. A decision like this can't be based on the speculation of others."

"Okay I'll inform Sandra."

***********************************************************************************

"You know Lucy I don't believe that I've ever felt pain like this before. I swear it feels like any second now my heart would burst through my chest. Maybe it would be best if that happened. You told me that my true body is contained within your body after all. So if I destroyed this body surely I would be returned to it in an instant that or I would be dead. Then again I suppose your if body isn't dead mine wouldn't be either."

As he was speaking Albert made his way over to the edge of the seat Lucy had remained on for months now and looked down at the ground. "That fall should be good and fatal to this body. I know this body heals quickly but surely it couldn't recover from being splattered all over the ground." Once again Albert grew silent though this time he gave his stomach a quick thunk with his fist. "Still pretty solid, all that exercise you made me do is really holding up. I'm actually kind of surprised I haven't lost weight. I know I haven't been eating like I used to whenever you were taking care of me."

For a moment Albert found himself extending his right leg over the edge of the seat. Slowly he leaned forward shifting his center of gravity so that the most delicate of pushes would send him slamming to the ground. As he held the limb over the edge though he was made to shudder. "Why can't I do it?! Why can't I end this pain?" Even as he cried out Albert found himself bringing his leg back and placing it next to the other.

"It's because. It's because I can't leg go. How could you be dead? You brought down an entire army with your own two hands. How could someone who held so much power just die like that? You can't be dead! How can I help you though? The satellite hasn't been finished and your body has deteriorated so far." As Albert was speaking he didn't even notice the sound of people trying to force their way in. He had grown numb to that noise long ago and now automatically shut it out.

***********************************************************************************

"What is that?" It was impossible for Claude to keep the shock off his face as he watched the heavy machine moving towards his daughter's home. The massive device was positively dwarfed by the building however it was still imposing.

In response to the question Patrick turned to Claude. "A one of a kind of weapon developed for testing using many materials produced by your daughter."

"What?! Lucy had forbidden such testing though."

"Not exactly. She forbid weapons using her materials this was built purely for testing."

"You don't expect me to believe that. I suppose this was an attempt to develop a weapon capable of killing my daughter. You just produced one so that if it failed you could claim it was purely for testing."

"You're entitled to your theory Mr. Angeye. Regardless this should be able to break through the walls of your daughter's home."

It was impossible for Claude not to be concerned. As he looked at the weapon he couldn't help but wonder if it had two purpose. One being to get through the wall and the other being to kill Lucy if she was vulnerable enough to attack. At least the military had driven away all others. Of course that could have just been to insure that the murder wasn't on record. Unfortunately voicing these thoughts at the moment wouldn't do any good so that all he did was give a slight sigh. "I just hope that my little girl is alright."

"We need to move Mr. Angeye. It'll be a while before we can begin working but once we do everything in between that weapon and that building isn't going to be safe. That includes us." As he finished speaking Patrick began walking away from the structure.

"So what's taking so long?"

"The generator takes a while to be prepared."

In response Claude gave a slight nod. "I see. Any idea how long it'll take to get us through?"

"Unfortunately no. Whatever materials your daughter built her home from they were meant to endure a great deal of abuse. A requirement for the home of your daughter. We're not certain what kind of force it's going to take to get through but I'm certain this weapon will get us through."

"Just what is it like?"

"Mm I suppose it won't hurt to give the basic details. It's not like I could fully explain it anyway. It's basically a proton cannon. The amount of force it exerts depends on how many particles it fires at once though the velocity is the same for each. We plan on stepping it up until the wall finally gives way."

"Hold on a second! Albert is inside of there right now!"

"I am aware of this and we assume that's he is with your daughter. That's why we're starting here well away from were we believe them to be. We'll also turn off the weapon before we're entirely through the wall. However, this is the only way to get through those walls with anything resembling expediency."

"Damn it."

"Are you having second thoughts Mr Angeye?"

"Yes. How could I not be."

"If you wish you could take these thoughts up with my superiors. However, if we should pull back I doubt we'd be here to try again."

"I know. I know damn it."

***********************************************************************************

The roar had caught Albert off guard whenever he had first heard it. He was used to the sound of explosions and various objects striking the outer walls. What he heard now was a constant roar that never quite let up. He didn't know what was causing the sound and he didn't care he just wanted it to go away. He had other things on his mind at the moment though.

It hurt him to see Lucy as she was now but it hurt him even more to be away from her. Lucy had told him once that they were connected. That one of the reasons she could handle her body was him even to the point that she couldn't survive without him. It seemed Albert was in a similar situation though his wasn't physical. As he lay there he couldn't imagine a world without Lucy. If such a world could exist he didn't want to be part of it. Lucy wouldn't want him to take his own life though.

"I know you'd want me to continue to try and enjoy life but surely you know that I can't do that. Lucy you're a part of my life that I don't believe I can do without. I'd much rather not do without. I can't just take my own life though and I can't remain here forever. I'll stay here though, until. I'll stay until you finally burn out whenever your warmth has faded away then I'll go. I hope that's okay. I don't believe I can ever move on and love someone like I loved you but maybe I can do something to at least help your memory if you do indeed burn out."

A sharp crack got Albert's attention and once again he glanced towards Lucy's stomach. Moments later he heard another crack and then a light thump. As he looked upon Lucy's thigh he noted a fragment had fallen from her stomach. He didn't get long to look upon it though as a massive burst of light radiated from the opening. Instinctively Albert covered his eyes protecting them from the light yet he didn't turn his head away.

***********************************************************************************

"Patrick! Patrick!"

Even before Patrick could respond Sara was standing right in front of him. She had moved so quickly that he was made to stumble by the sudden dispersion of air. "What is it Sara?"

"The energy levels within Lucy's home suddenly shot up."

"Huh? Are you sure it isn't just due to the cannon?"

"I'm positive! I can't even tell you how many times greater then the cannon these energy levels are. We're having trouble actually measuring them!"

"I see. I wonder what's going on in there?"

"Who cares?! You need to get out of here."

"Why?"

"We don't know what's going on inside there! She could be about to explode for all we know and if these readings are correct it wouldn't surprise me!"

In response Patrick gave a slight nod. "Sara, you just indicated to me how high the readings are. Do you really believe we could put enough distance between ourselves and here to survive if that is indeed what's about to happen?"

"We have to try!" Instead of arguing with Patrick Sara quickly reached down scooping him up in her arms. Immediately she noticed how his body locked up clearly surprised by her actions. She didn't care though as she began to sprint away. She had wasted enough time trying to explain things to Patrick they were leaving and they were leaving now.

Claude and Karen had by now received the information and both found themselves looking at one another. At last Karen spoke. "So what should we do?"

"I wish I could carry you away like she just did."

"The same to you."

A sigh escaped Claude as he shook his head. "That'd be nice but I don't see that happening. You know you'd think they'd evacuated the city whenever Lucy didn't make an appearance for months. They might have foresaw something like this happening."

"Yeah, so we're going to stay?"

"I don't believe we can get far enough away." Instead of saying more Claude reached out and wrapped his arms around Karen pulling her to himself. He felt her arms wrap around him moments later. "Besides? Do you want to have to pay for Lucy's funeral?"

Despite the situation a slight giggle escaped Karen. "No. I don't believe I'd like to see that."

***********************************************************************************

Unaware of what was going on outside Albert found himself being drawn to the light. As he drew closer he could feel the energy radiating from Lucy's body. It pushed against him and forced its way into his bones yet it didn't burn him. Rather as the energy pushed against him and reached into him he wanted to feel it all the more so that he moved forward. As he walked closer he could hear a great deal more fracturing and noted several smaller bits of Lucy's body falling away as the energy hollowed out her stomach.

Pain reached into Albert's mind for a moment and he quickly glanced to his shoulder. Much to his surprise he found that his shirt had caught on fire. Instinctively he moved to take off the garment pulling more buttons out then unbuttoning them as he removed the garment as quickly as he could. Upon tossing the garment to the side though he was shocked to see it burst into flames being consumed in mere seconds. While it had taken a while to burn at first the moment it left contact with him it seemed to just vaporize.

"Mmm."

All thoughts of his shirt vanished from his mind as Albert heard the sound. Instead of calling out though he pushed forward going from a walk to more of a run. He was actually surprised when his hands reached out before him and met something that felt like stone. It only took him a moment to realize what it was yet he found his fingers sinking into Lucy's now hardened flesh. What had seemed impenetrable when alive gave way easily and he began to tear away handfuls of the dried flesh as quickly as he could.

With each handful the energy seemed to grow stronger. As he tore away another chunk of the wall before him seemed to exploded. A massive burst of light radiated forth forcing Albert to close his eyes. Several chunks of debris struck him solidly sending him toppling to the ground. At the same time he could hear what sounded to be a building falling. For a moment he forgot about the moaning he'd heard moments before and prepared himself to be crushed as he realized that Lucy's body or at least part of it was collapsing and given how massive it was. It was indeed like a building collapsing.

It didn't happen though. Albert could feel little bits of debris striking him and he could hear it all around him. However, it wasn't landing upon him. At the same moment he found himself slowly regaining the ability to see as the light began to fade though it didn't go away. Even while the light was still too bright for his eyes to pierce he found himself struggling to open them and move forward. He didn't even stop to think about the heat he'd been feeling moments before.

What was going on? Something was touching her and indeed someone was touching her. Someone she trusted so that she didn't feel the need for any immediate response. It was a friend after all. However, after a short while she found herself being shaken not violently but enough to cause her to respond. At the same time she began to open her eyes she heard a voice and recognized a voice.

"Lucy is that you? I can't see."

Immediately Lucy felt a pulse of energy run throughout her body. Her eyes focused on Albert and she pushed off the ground more throwing herself into his arms then taking him into hers. "Albert!" As Lucy took hold of Albert she pressed her face firmly into his chest. "I'm so sorry!"

It happened before he could respond. As Albert had reached through the materials he'd found himself touching something. Something very warm and familiar. Then that object had moved and he'd heard the voice though he couldn't see yet. He soon had even more trouble seeing as tears began to fill up his eyes as he started to cry. "Lucy you're alive."

"I'm sorry Albert. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to go away like that. I didn't mean to not tell you anything I didn't know what was happening. I wasn't thinking and I didn't know."

"It's alright. You're back now." As Albert hugged Lucy he was surprised. He couldn't see her but from what he could tell she was much smaller then normal. At the moment he would have guessed her height at slightly more then two meters. "Lucy, what is that light?"

"It's me. Don't worry I'll have it under control in a little bit then you can see me. For now just hold me and let me hold you."

***********************************************************************************

It was hard for Albert to accept what he was seeing. Lucy's had been the first body that he'd found but they were several others around them. At first he thought they must be duplicates but as he gained the ability to see he realized they weren't. They had features that Lucy never had. "Lucy who are these people?"

"They're the children."

"Children?"

"The ones that entered into my body in Mizia. They wanted bodies of their own again. That's why I started feeling tired so often well that and other things."

"What? Why?"

Before speaking Lucy reached up and placed a hand against Albert's cheek. "They weren't welcome."

"Huh? But you didn't seem to mind them being there."

"You did."

"What? I. I never. I never even thought of them."

"That was your way of dealing with the situation. You wanted me to be stronger to enjoy all the power I could but you didn't want them there. So you tried to pretend they weren't there. Your spirit wouldn't though. I didn't even realize it at least not on a conscious level."

"So this is? This is my fault."

"No Albert. I should have known better. I shouldn't have ever let them in." As she finished speaking Lucy brought her face close to Albert's using the hand against his cheek to insure he didn't move his head. She then pressed her lips firmly against his for a moment nearly inhaling all the oxygen out of his lunges. Instead of letting him back away though she held his head steady and breathed into his mouth filling his lunges with air from her own lunges and something else.

It took Albert a moment to respond when Lucy released her hold on his head. "What was that?"

"Just a little gift from me to you."

"I don't get it though. Why did you lose so much of your body just to form them new bodies?"

"It wasn't because of them that my old body had to die."

"Then why?"

"I'll tell you later Albert. First there is something I need to take care of outside."

***********************************************************************************

Claude and Karen could hardly believe their eyes as they looked upon the device or what had been the device. Just milliseconds earlier they'd seen it engulfed in a bright light. Moments later it had appeared again though this time as a puddle. There had been no slow melting, falling apart or sputtering. It had just been engulfed in a light and a few moments later reduced to a puddle that still bubbled and boiled. Yet they didn't feel anyway heat until the device had actually been melted. There wasn't much time to think about what had happened though.

"Mom, Dad come around to the front door and be careful that stuff is hot."

Both Claude and Karen immediately forgot about what they'd just saw as they found themselves looking around for their daughter. "Lucy is that you?"

"Mmhmm now come on around the front and I'll let you in"

There was no thought of asking how it was Lucy or wondering how they could hear her. Both parents had heard their daughter and both responded. They more sprinted towards the front of Lucy's home though due to the scale of the structure it would still take them some time to make it there. Neither of them gave this much thought as they rushed to see their little girl.

"Albert, I need to take a moment to clean up before my parents get here."

"Huh? Oh sure. How are you going to do that?"

"Oh like this." As she spoke several tendrils of light extended out from Lucy's back and struck the remains of her former body. After meeting the flesh the light began to spread engulfing the husk that remained behind. "I bet you'll be glad to see this thing go as well."

"Well I don't like seeing what I thought was your corpse."

"Say no more."

Albert's jaw nearly fell open as he saw the wall of light that had engulfed Lucy's body grow brighter. At first he could see through to the husk, then the light brightened until only the outline of the shell could be seen. Moments later the light began to retreat back into Lucy's back loosing none of its intensity as it did so. As the light faded away though the husk seemed to just vanish as if it had been consumed. "How did you do that?"

"Ate it."

"What?!"

"Ah well not like you would think of eating normally. Err well it's not exactly different either." Before she could finish some commotion off to her side got Lucy's attention "Well hello there sleepy head."

"Mm big sister?"

"Yes." As she spoke Lucy reached down and placed her hand against the child's forehead until she raised her head up and met her gaze.

"Where are we?"

"You're all in my home still but you're in your own bodies now."

Before continuing the young girl proceeded to raise herself into a seated position. She then glanced down at her hands rather surprised by what she saw. "Big sister these hands aren't mine."

"They're not? They sure look like yours." As she spoke Lucy took hold of the child's hands and moved them so that she was looking at her palms then the top of the hands then back again. "I could swear that they're your hands."

"My body wasn't like this though."

"I know your old one wasn't but don't worry these bodies are yours now."

"Mm." For a moment the child grew silent and withdrew her hands from Lucy holding them close to her chest. "What now big sister?"

"Well once the others wake up we're going to need to decide what you're all going to do. We'll need to find you new homes and everything."

"Could we go back to Mizia?"

"Huh? Why would you want to do that?"

"I'd like to live there again big sister since we couldn't remain where we were."

"We'll talk about it when you're all wake. Oh and let me introduced my most loved." As she spoke Lucy reached out and took hold of Albert's hand. "This is Albert."

"High big brother."

Albert couldn't help but feel odd as he listened to the child and Lucy talk. It was strange but he felt something of a connection to the child that made brother seem like a good name. For the moment he wasn't going to think about it too much. "Um hello there."

"Now you wanted to know why I didn't just form them new bodies. It's because you didn't want to weaken me but it felt unnatural for them to be within me while we were together. However, as I was you couldn't have one without the other. I couldn't help but lose some strength if I lost them and you'd never feel as if they truly belonged there."

"I. I guess I couldn't stand sharing you on that level."

"I know and it's alright Albert. When I had time to think about it and consider how you felt well. I admit I made a foolish mistake by allowing this to happen. It's just whenever I let them in the agreement seemed entirely beneficial. I didn't think of the other implications."

"Still." Before speaking Albert glanced over at the young girl. "I'm sorry for this."

A slight giggle escaped the child as she shook her head. "It's alright! It was fun while it lasted and we learned a lot while inside of big sister."

"That's good to know. Though I guess she isn't as big as she once was." As the words left his lips Albert couldn't help but notice Lucy giggle and the child's grin. "What are those looks for?"

"I believe big sister would prefer to show you."

"Why do I get the feeling that these kids know more about you then I do."

"Because you're being silly. They know some things about me you don't. You know more about me then anyone else though. Hm I believe I should let my parents in now."

"They're here?"

"Yep."

"Whe." Albert didn't get to finish as he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Where there had once been a wall there was now a massive open space and a clear view outside. He immediately noted two figures standing close to where the wall had been though he was too far away to see the shock on their faces. He had a good idea of who they were.

"Hi Mom! Hi Dad!" As she spoke Lucy waved her arm in the air charging it with energy so the limb was made to glow in order to get her parents attention. It didn't seem to work though as they remained standing there. "I guess I caught them off guard."

"How did you do that?!"

"I just moved it.."

"How did you do that!?"

A slight giggle escaped Lucy before she responded. "Okay if you must know. I pulled it apart on the atomic level and scattered the atoms."

"What? But that isn't." Albert caught himself and grew silent for a moment. "You couldn't do anything even close to that before."

"Albert, I've been asleep for several months now. When was the last time you saw me sleep that long."

"Never. I. What. What can you do?"

"Mm more things than I probably even realize. Hm it's taken those too long."

When the wall had suddenly vanished both Karen and Claude had been caught off guard. People had tried for months to break it down and gain entrance, now it had just vanished in an instant as if it was nothing more then a mist. It was a bit much for them to handle though they didn't have time to wait around. After a few moments both of them felt a slight pressure engulf their entire bodies. It wasn't crushing, rather it felt like the force exerted by water while in a swimming pool. Moments later they felt themselves lose contact with the ground and found themselves being drawn into the structure.

"Hey mom, hey dad."

This time both parents noticed as their daughter called out to them. It was Claude that spoke up first. "Lucy? Is that you?"

"Yep! Okay I imagine you have quite a few questions but I can probably guess what a few of them are. I'll answer them after this." As her parents came close enough Lucy reached out for both of them, wrapping an arm around either one of their neck's she pulled them against herself in a loving hug. "Hey Albert, how about we get your parents here as well. I'm sure Michael would love to hear what happened."

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As Albert set across from his father he couldn't help but feel rather embarrassed. He hadn't even realized that getting to Lucy had burned away all his clothing. Fortunately Claude had pointed this out before his father had arrived or he knew he'd be in for it. By now Lucy had everyone settled in.

"Okay Lucy, before we ask you anything how about you just tell us what happened?"

"Mmhmm that sounds good. Well if you remember back in Mizia I grew a great deal. This was actually due to me absorbing several other awarenesses inside of my body. They gave me a bit of a power boost. However, this was something of a mistake as well. Who would want to share every moment with the one they loved most with others? Of course at first it was manageable until Albert and I began working on the bonds between us.

As they grew stronger it became harder to share until it became clear the awarenesses within me would have to leave. I couldn't just form them bodies anew though as that would have had two negative side affects. One it would have put me over the threshold and two it would have weakened me significantly. In order to avoid these happenings my body had to be redone entirely. Fortunately I learned some truths from Albert before hand that helped in this."

While it may have been rude Michael took this chance to speak up. "So does that mean you haven't been weakened?"

"Mm well over all yes I lost some of my power whenever I underwent this change. However, this body has far more possibilities then my old one. With my previous bodies I always had a massive physical presence to maintain. With this body that isn't the case."

"I see. I take it that the pool of molten medal in the front yard and the missing wall has something to do with these new abilities of yours."

"Um it'd probably be easier to just show you."

Before anyone could respond a massive light radiated out from Lucy and filled the entire room quickly surpassing the sun light. It wasn't blinding though and it was far more noticeable then sunlight. Michael was the first to speak on this. "It feels like I'm in water."

"Mm you're inside my body in a sense now."

"What? You mean your body is this" As he spoke Michael waved his hand through the air noting how the light seemed to move.

"Yep it seems most of my body is now in an energy state. Whenever I pulled the wall apart for my parents I was basically using trillions of tiny hands to grab each and every atom and pull them away from one another."

Albert had seen it happen but he hadn't been sure how it had happened. Now that he knew the how he had many other questions. "Um Lucy does that mean you could teleport people?"

"No! I'm not even going to try that right now. I've only had this body for a short while and that is a truly dangerous idea. I pulled a wall apart and could put it back together but I doubt every atom would be where it had once been. I don't know if I could put together a person correctly or if it would really matter."

"So that's why you carried your parents over here?"

"Yeah in one piece."

"So what did you do with the wall?"

"I scattered it about."

"I see. So what now?"

"Well first." Before she continued speaking Lucy leaned to her side and placed her head against Albert. "First we need to find the little ones a home. I'm not sure if we'll be able to find parents that would take them in. Their bodies aren't really the bodies of humans anymore and like they said they learned a lot within me. Emotionally though they're still children and that could be difficult."

"They couldn't stay here with us?"

"No. Just like you weren't ready to share me with them though you endured it. Albert, I'm just not ready to share you with anyone else especially after I was asleep for so long. I also want to get hold of Patrick and Sara."

"Huh? You knew they were here?"

"No. I didn't know they were hear I found out when I woke up though and had a few moments to look around."

"I see. Why don't you just bring them here then?"

"Mm can't. They're not within my body so I can't pick them up."

While Micheal had been just listening for a few moments once again he chose to speak up. "So your range is limited?"

"Mmhmm to about three miles outside of this building. Everything within that diameter though could be considered within me. That includes three miles into the sky and three miles down as well." As if to illustrate her point Lucy extended her hand out before her. A few moments later a bit of molten rock appeared in her palm.

No one was entirely certain what to say. It was Michael that found his voice first though. "Lucy is that how large you are now?"

"You could define that as my true volume yes. If I were to pull all of myself into this world that's how much volume I would have."

"Lucy you weren't nearly that large before."

"I was asleep for months."

"Ah yes. I take it that you learned some things from housing so many awarenesses within you."

"Yeah but mostly what allowed me to make this change is right here." As she spoke Lucy placed a hand on Albert's head. "It was better understanding the bond between Albert and myself that allowed me to modify my body to such an extent."

Even if he wasn't sure if that was true Albert couldn't help but grin. "I'm glad that I was able to help. But Lucy you know you've got a lot to take care of now. A lot of people were hoping that you were dead. It won't be long before they come back and once they see you as you are now I'm sure they're going to make some assumptions."

"Mm goody, some chances to test out what this new body of mine can do."

Despite what Lucy's statement suggested Albert couldn't help but chuckle. "I should have figured you'd say that."

"We'll take care of that when they return though. Then we'll find homes for the children and after that. Mm, you and I are going to experiment some."

As Albert felt Lucy's lips meet his cheek he couldn't help himself. "I hope they get back soon."

End Lucy's first little novel