Outcast Villiage

"Yeah, don't remind me." Evelyn told him and her eyes suddenly had a strange red glow to them and she managed to get the device out with as little pain as possble.

Ephraim still shuddered at the pain that was caused by soon relaxed, staying ducked over for a moment.

"So now what?" Ranger asked quietly. "You want me to take the others, one by one, in and out in just a moment, and have the others make contracts to the ones they love, too?"

"That might be a good idea." Evelyn told him as she looked at Ephraim. "What are you going to have to do now?"

"Nothing. I just stay here with you, and, the next time I see Carla, punch her face in. There's nothing she can do to me. The old c-contract is gone, the device is out. I'm as free as I can be."

"Who would you want first? Or have you someone kind enough to save little Clockwork here?" he said little, but Clockwork was more on the verge of sixteen or seventeen years old.

"I could hold her contract as well right?" Evelyn asked. "Unless you think death would be better."

"It depends if you want to have complete ownership of Clockwork. They can't hold contracts with one another. But one person can hold them all. How much responsibility are you willing to have, Evelyn? How long will it be before you treat them less than equal because you have power over them? People who hold more than one contract go mad with it. Our current contracts are proof of that."

"Give me credit, madness cannot consume someone who's entire insides are metal, who technically shouldn't actually be alive right now, but Ranger, we have no one else but Moira, Alex, myself and Xander, you can be damned if you think I'll subject my daughter to it."

"No more than two contracts each," Ranger murmured. "I've seen what happens and I'm sure Ephraim agrees."

Ephraim gave a jerky nod, closing his eyes and tensing as if in pain just because of the memories. Ranger's expression had tightened in memory too, his eyes downcast and so dark it was if he'd lost the spark of life he was willing to hold onto.

"I'm assuming the obvious will go with the obvious?" Ranger finally mumbled. "Xander with his, Moira myself - if she doesn't hate me now - and Citlali to Alex. If you're taking on Clockwork that leaves...Death, Disaster and Patience left to be broken from contract."

Evelyn nodded. "So how do we get to the others?"

"I'll know where they'll be. We were kept in six separate bases worldwide. It won't take long to check them all. Five minutes, max."

"Alright, want me to get the others here, or do you want to pick up who we need on the way?"

"If you contract with Clockwork now, then tell me where you and the others went when escaping, I can take us there and then get the other numbers. I'll have to bring them all at once, otherwise I could get caught going in a second time."

She nodded and uncovered Clockwork, before she made the contract with her.

Clockwork watched Evelyn nervously as it happened, but as soon as it was settled she was fully healed from the impalement she'd suffered, just slumping against the wall and slowly regaining colour to her face. She muttered a weak thanks, but it was clear she was extremely grateful.

"Are you going to take the neck thing out, or should I?" Ranger asked. "Granted, my track record isn't the best, considering I tore mine out with a knife and nearly bled to death."

She nodded. "Anytime." She removed the neck chip as painlessly as she could, before she offered her a hand to help herself to her feet. "Done."

Clockwork, with Evelyn's help, managed to get to her feet, wobbling violently until Ranger stood and helped keep her supported.

"Can you visualise where you and the others were?" Ranger asked Evelyn quietly. "I can teleport based on someone else's projected destination if you see it clear enough in your mind. You all need to make contact or something; hold onto Ephraim." Ranger moved his free hand not supporting Clockwork to rest on Ephraim's shoulder.

She nodded, taking Ephraim's hand as she visualised where they were, it was a small flat seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

There was a soft pop and then they appeared where she had visualised, though Ranger was forced to his knees shortly after, clearly weakened by it.

Evelyn helped him to stand up and she brought them over to the door, knocking on it.

Ranger coughed up blood quite violently, hunching over and Ephraim gently rubbed his back with a muttered, "You're pushing it there. One more jump and you'll fall apart; how're you going to get the others?"

"I'll get them," Ranger said with sharp conviction. "I'm not letting any others suffer."

"Xander, can you help him?" Evelyn asked at her brother who walked out of a nearby room and he seemed quite placid at seeing Ephraim and Ranger, though he did nod and move his hand, Ranger having enough strength to do at least two more jumps.

"Who do I need to get first?" Ranger asked, rocking back to sit down with his back against a wall, wiping his mouth with his wrist.

"Everyone who was with us at the mansion."

"So, the four other numbers and the fiery one." Ranger rubbed a hand over his face. "Citlali, Disaster, Patience, Death and Chiquita."

SHe nodded.