Late. Very late, in fact. Around 1 am. That was when they, in Luke's van, finally made it to Max's home.

Luke slowed down his car as he drove around the area.

There were no cars driving in the vicinity or even people. All was silent for the most part.

Luke: Is this it?

Ken: Yes. That one over there.

The house looked no different from the houses next to it.

Ken: I must say, it is quite the efficient hiding place. Not a single thing out of the ordinary in this house.

Tiffany: Hmph.

Luke: Let's get this over with.

Luke started to park the car into the driveway as there was no car there, but Ken suddenly interrupted him.

Ken: Hold it!

Luke: Huh? What's up?

Luke stopped the car.

Ken looked carefully around the surrounding area.

Ken: You trying to park here just set off some kind of alarm and signal.

Rose: Alarm?

They were all shocked to hear that.

Ken: Yeah.

Ken opened the back door of the van and walked outside without a response, much to all of their surprise.

Rose: Ken?

Luke: Hey, Ken. What are you doing?

Ken: Over there.

Ken pointed to the more developed parts of the city.

Ken: The signal is being received by something over there.

They all looked outside.

Tiffany: That means...

They all exchanged nods.

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That was definitely Max's mom, and she was definitely coming.

Tiffany: Ken?

Ken: Yes?

Tiffany: How much time do we have?

Ken: About half an hour. But given the fact that she's an alien like Max, I'd say we have minutes at best and seconds at worst.

Tiffany: I see.

Tiffany took a deep breath.

Tiffany: Rose?

Rose: Yes?

Tiffany: Bring Max outside!

Rose: Right!

Rose gently used her psychic powers to lift Max out of her lap and take him outside, where she sat on the ground with his head on her lap.

Ken: What are you planning on telling her?

Tiffany: I... I...

Luke: Hey, were in this together, remember?

Tiffany simply remained quiet.

Luke: Tiff!

Tiffany: I'm team leader, remember? I'll handle this, and that's an order.

Luke: Hey.

Tiffany: Ken?

Ken: Yes?

Tiffany: Keep calculating how much time we have left.

Ken: On it!

Luke: Ugh.

Ken looked back in the same direction.

Tiffany: Rose?

Rose: Yeah?

Tiffany: Keep Max safe.

Rose: Hmph!

Rose held him close to herself.

Tiffany stopped and looked at Luke, who was simply looking back at her.

Luke: (sighs) Don't push yourself too hard, alright?

Tiffany: I know.

The cold of the air passed through them for a while. It had been several minutes of uncomfortable waiting. They all waited outside the van. Luke let out a huge yawn.

Tiffany: Ken?

Ken: Yes, Tiffany?

Tiffany: Why isn't she here yet?

Ken: To be honest, it has been bothering me for a while.

Rose: (yawns) What time is it?

Ken: About a half past 1 am and about 10 minutes since the alarm had sounded.

Tiffany: Has she gotten any closer?

Ken: Yes. And at an alarming pace, but...

Tiffany: But what...

Ken: She, oddly enough, is actually slower than Max. At least from my point of view.

Tiffany: Slower?

Luke: (yawn) Isn't she supposed to be stronger and faster than Max?

Ken: Yes, that was the assumption. But even weirder, she seems to be moving while obeying traffic rules.

Tiffany: Maybe she's stuck in a vehicle with some other people.

Ken: Maybe. Or maybe my earlier assumption was wrong, and or I'm missing something.

Tiffany: Missing something?

Ken: Yes. It is possible that Max's mom does not actually have powers.

Rose: (gasp) So... so he's not an alien?

Ken: Well, maybe not.

Rose: Oh...., well, it's ok.

Tiffany: I see. Either way, keep your guard up.

They all nodded in agreement.

They remained silent in quiet contemplation as they waited in the driveway. The four teens went back into the van, waiting for her to appear.

Rose: Has he gotten any better?

Ken scanned him once more.

Ken: So far, 0.0017%. He's improving.

Rose: Hmph.

Rose nodded. At least he was recovering.

Several moments later, Ken suddenly got up, alarming all of them.

Ken: She's on this road.

They all walked outside the van, and from a distance, they could hear it.

The loud sound of a motorcycle engine "purring."

They looked in the direction Ken was pointing to and braced themselves for what was to come.

In the distance, a very determined Julianne Hunter was on her way.