Seeing as the streets were, for the most part, empty... the drive to the "Playground" was largely uninhibited, leisurely, and most of all, peaceful.

The car remained in a somewhat comfortable silence.

As the car passed through the city, Max took a look at Hypercity from outside the car.

At that point, it had occured to him that he'd never really taken time to try to see the whole city around him.

Some new buildings he'd never seen before popped up.

The X-corp tower could be seen from a distance, slowly getting repaired.

And shortly after, he noticed that there was yet another tower.... a Y-corp tower.

Max: There's an X-corp and a Y-corp?

Ken: And a Z-corp.

Max: Huh....

That concept sounded entirely ludicruous to him.

Max: Are they all connected?

Ken: Yes... and no.

Max: Huh?

Ken: They're all competitors producing baby products. That is all.

Max: O....... K......?

As if it couldn't get any weirder.

Max: Man, Hypercity is one strange town.

Ken: (nodding) True, true..... (sighs), but we protect it all the same.

It took an extra second for Max to suddenly say...

Max: Hey, wait a minute. You think Y or Z-corp created the spider bots?

Ken: Hmmm.... unlikely, but not impossible.

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Max: Well.... I guess so....

This question had Ken already asked himself, but he'd long since deemed it unlikely. After all, did a baby product company have enough technology to create such a thing? No, it had to be something far more sinister.

Silence returned to the car, but only for a little while before Rose, who had been working up the nerve to say something, finally spoke.

Rose: Ummm.... Max?

Max: Yeah, Rose?

Rose: Well, I mean....

She was about to back off of the question, but her eyes fell on Max's wrist. Her custom alien arm band was still there.

In a way, that gave her confidence. Enough that she could say what was on her mind.

Rose: Did you and Mrs Hunter....

Max: Yeah?

Julianne Hunter.

The sheer mention of her name sent chills down the spines of the then silent teens.

If they were only barely paying attention before, they were certainly paying attention then.

Had Luke been an even slightly worse driver, he would have sent them all skidding towards the pavement.

Rose: ..... I mean... did she enjoy the ribs we cooked? I mean... she never tried them when I was still around.

Around? That word only served to unnerve the others more.

"What on earth was she doing with that woman in Max's home?"

That statement was in all their minds as Max replied with a smile.

Max: Oh yeah.... It was great! Mom said she loved it. Thanks.

Rose: I'm glad.

She gave a gentle smile before being ruthlessly interrupted.

Ken: Hold on... did you just say.... that....?

Luke: Yeah, I wanna know what's going on too?

They were careful not to make any rude allegations. For one thing, she'd done them no wrong, and for another, her son was right there.

But, as most people would not, they would not forget what had happened that night, and also her dubious behaviour in the morning right after that.

Max: Huh? What's wrong?

Tiffany, Ken, and Luke all held their tongues.

As they'd all figured, Max didn't know what had happened.

And as for Rose, she just went along with it.

Ken: We're just.... curious....

Luke: Yeah....

Tiffany remained silent.

Max: Hmm?

Perhaps Max would have questioned the strangeness of the situation further had Rose not immediately interjected.

Rose: Oh, yesterday, I gave Julianne Hunter a visit.

Yet again, Luke's driving skills paid off. Perhaps because he'd already been expecting a crazy reply, had he been prepared for such a situation.

As a result of all this, the car only swerved ever so slightly.

Tiffany's eyes widened massively, like she'd seen a ghost.

And Ken, keeping his cool...

Ken: Oh, really.... and how was it?

Rose: Oh, she was sooooooo nice! And she gave me some really good advice. And then.... we cooked together.

Ken: Really now.... (thinking: You don't say.)

Rose: Uh huh....

She seemed so chirpy and happy that anyone who'd seen her talk would have thought the other three had no reason to be worried. However, as evidently seen in the eyes of Luke, Ken, and Tiffany, none of them had any desire to correct Rose or even to interject further.

They'd all heard enough. And would all rather that it stayed that way. After all, why ask follow-up questions?