Megan sat in the corner with Mira and Jace. The three had become close friends over the last three years.

Jace still hadn't completed his one hundred missions, because he'd almost died again.
Luckily, Megan had been in the lifeboat and had refused to leave him for dead. Mira somehow avoided ever going on missions. It was a bit unfair sometimes. Despite their differences, they got along really well.

Megan had gained some control over her ability, which acted up now again. She could tap into it whenever she wanted, but it wasn't as strong as when she totally lost control. No one could explain her power and no one had seen anything like it. It was different from the Shaping powers that everyone else in the Outskirts had.

Twitch walked over, carrying a plate of food. He was a Grinaldi, a native to Elloweer - another one of the Five Kingdoms of the Outskirts. In his true form, he had grasshopper legs and insect wings, but, outside of Elloweer, he couldn't go into his true form without the help of a magic ring he found while on a mission. He was a scout too.

The four of them sat together enjoying their meal, when a lookout burst into the room. "The High Shaper's men are coming."

Everyone jumped into action, cleaning up food and tidying up the room.

The High Shaper, Stafford Pemberton, was the most powerful shaper in the Outskirts. As such, he became the High Shaper, or the king, of the Five Kingdoms. He was power-hungry and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Why were his men here?

Megan could see Mira's visible panic. Who could blame her? Most people around here counted themselves lucky if they never met the High Shaper, or his men.

Before long, a procession of armed soldiers marched into the room. One of them approached Adam Jones. "We come in the name of the High Shaper."

Jones looked down on the soldier from his throne-like chair. "I know who you are. Why have come here?"

The soldier smiled. "Our needs are simple." He pointed across the room at Megan. "We've come for the girl with a mysterious power."

Jones glared at the soldier looking from Megan back to him. "And what makes you think you have the right to take her?"

The soldier smirked. "The High Shaper has authority over even you, Adam Jones. Your slaves are as much his property as they are yours, perhaps even more so."

Jones grinned. "Who ever said she's my slave?"

The soldier looked at him in confusion.

Jones turned to Megan. "I was going to give his to you tomorrow, but now is as good a time as any." He crossed the room and stood before Megan, placing some papers in her hand. "Megan, from this moment forward, you belong to no one."

Megan unfolded the papers. She noticed one word repeated over and over throughout the text - "free."

The soldier glared at Jones. "You'll regret this."

Jones moved back to his chair. "I never regret freeing one of my people. Now, get out. You have no claim here."

The soldier turned on his heel and left the room, his men trickling out behind him.

Megan just stood there, staring at the paper in her hands. She was free.