9: Outside the walls surrounding the campus, all was in darkness, lit only faintly by the glow of the nearby crystal city. And one sector of the wall seemed nearly impermeable to that gleaming. A light approached that darkness, slowly reducing it until only its heart remained -- the form of a dark-skinned, dark-haired woman, who lifted her head to look at the light with suspicion. 'What do you want?" And the light answered. "Should I not be the one to ask that question of you?" "You know why I am here," the dark woman answered, her eyes burning with emerald fire. "It has already begun." "Yes." "She is more than she appears to be." "Perhaps." "And any minute now, there will be a knock at her door, and then --" "And then," the light continued when the dark woman trailed off, "what will you do?" A cruel smile lit her features. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?" Silence reigned for a moment. "I will do what I can," the light replied at last. "And you will no doubt do what you can. And she will do what she can. "But he will do what he can, as well. And he does not need you to do it this time, does he?" "No," she replied after a long moment. "Does that scare you?" "I won't dignify that with a reply." "Ah. Any minute now?" "No. Not any minute now. This minute. Now." END CHAPTER ONE TO BE CONINUED IN CHAPTER TWO