As the girls struggled to sleep, they knew not the significance of the phone call, though they could wager a guess. Tiffany Ascelene, their mysterious and yard-negligent next-door neighbor, was not really negligent - she was dead.

Buried poorly under the the lillipods and other things lay her meat-less skeleton, slowly decaying in the water below. Gunner and Skellig, Meethlite brothers, had seized her home as a hideout. The girls had no clue how much danger they were in.

To some credit, the two gangsters were not very smart. But the girls would have been underestimating to believe that was their only concern. If only they knew how close the evil had come to their own front door.



On the other side of the house, Gunner observed the opening of a Zeran pathway—Duke Arfaas was arriving soon on Earth, with his sister Harga Hebbleskin!

Arfaas: "Gunner!"

Gunner: "Yes, my lord!"

Arfaas: "Do you and Skellig have a confirmation?"



Gunner: "We've got something of one! The house next door! A gal confirmed there's at least one Flippo living there! Whether that's the Gifted One or not, she's gonna feel like a whack-a-mole!"



Harga: "I am sending in our man Don. He will take care of his old flame, Candice! We know that she was a witness when he was defeated by Emeraldon! Before he was put to death, he confessed to seeing a girl at the scene. We have confirmed reports that Candice Flippo has been seen with Emeraldon! I'm not 100% she's the Gifted One, but keep an eye out for her!"

Gunner: "There's probably another in there."

Harga: "We know Marina is in hiding with Matthew Baret. We doubt she is the Gifted One! The findings on her child are not impressive. Very strong, but no Centhuen DNA!"



Arfaas: "Miriam is also one to watch with caution! She is, after all, Sniperbadger! That little snoop invaded one of our web operations! She is clearly a threat to us, so we must be a threat back!"

Gunner: "So...what me and Skellig s'posed ta do in there?"

Arfaas: "When the ship flies overhead, and the sky turns dark and red, invade the Flippo's near homestead; and leave each found one dead!"



Come early daybreak, Gunner approached his brother Skellig inside the old bedroom.

Skellig: "What is it, man? I was just getting to enjoy myself!"

Gunner: "Today's the big day! If we find the Flippos at home... well, you know!"