Tech sighed. First day and he already had spit all over his jacket.

"I just got this!" He complained to Hunter as they walked to gym class. "I really hope Ms. Cid retires soon!" Hunter laughed. "She always did have a spit problem. But I can't believe she followed us from middle school to high school!" Ms. Cid had been their eight grade teacher, and on the last day of school she announced that she was going to teach the high school. Everyone had left school feeling depressed. Now, it was the first day of freshman year. Ms. Cid had kept her promise and was teaching them again. It was sad.

Tech felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around. No one was there. His other shoulder was tapped on. He turned around. Hunter sighed in exasperation. "Tech, my dear dense brother; when someone taps your shoulder, you turn the way it was not tapped on."

Tech stared at him in confusion. "But that doesn't make any sense. If someone taps your shoulder, then you should turn to see who it is. Otherwise, the person will just keep doing it. Scientifically-"

"Will you please shut him up?" Crosshair groaned. Tech glared at his friend. "I am not something to be shut up. I'm trying to prove a point here." But before he could say anything else, Phee leaned up, and pecked his cheek. "Shutting up now." Tech turned red. Though he and Phee had been dating since June, he still turned red whenever she kissed him.

Crosshair stared at Phee. "Who is she?" His toothpick almost fell out of his mouth. Tech realized that Crosshair didn't know who Phee was, because he had been absent the whole summer. Tech and Phee had started dating in June. Phee smiled at Crosshair. "I'm Phee Genoa, Liberator of Ancient Wonders."

"Huh?"

"I recover artifacts to tell their stories."

Hunter piped up. "She digs holes in peoples backyards to find weird junk."

Phee glared at him. Her eyes narrowed angrily. Tech hopped in before a fight could break out. "Hey Phee, what's the newest artifact you've recovered?" Phee brightened immediately. "It was a pitchfork from the time people burnt witches!" Hunter sighed again. "It was a fork that you found in our backyard. You told Omega that it was a pitchfork and she tired out Mom with stories about witches. As if she isn't busy enough!" Omega was a child Hunter and Tech had found in a box in an alleyway. She was only 2 and half. They took her home, both Mom and Dad loved her. Then a year later, Dad died. Omega was only 3 and a half, so she was confused as to why Daddy wasn't home. That happened when Hunter and Tech were only 11. No one knew how he died, one day they just woke up, and he was gone. Omega is now 7, but now, it's only her, Hunter, Tech, and Mom.

As they walked to gym class, they passed Tarkin and his goons, unseen by all except Tech; Crosshair and Tarkin nodded to each other. Tech stared at him, confused. "Cross? What was that?"

Crosshair shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing. I was just telling him to stay away from Echo."

"Yuh, huh. Sure."

"I was!"

"Fine, fine, whatever you say,"

Wrecker leaned back, and got in Crosshair's face. "I like whispering too." Crosshair shoved him away. "Hey! Maintain personal space big tuna!" In front of them, Echo sniffed the air. "Ooh, tuna!" Tech inwardly face palmed. Crosshair was hiding something? Tarkin was involved? Now suddenly Echo liked tuna?! All these unsolved mysteries!