"Good. You're here." said my dad, "Eternalia!"

The crystals rotated, until one lowered. It cast a beam of light, ready for us to light leap. I checked all the greasers, making sure they all had a nexus.

"Step into the beam of light. Concentrate on yourself. No distractions." I ordered, before stepping into the light.

I stood silently, waiting for everyone else to arrive. The greasers started to arrive, in various states of awe at the glittering buildings.

"Whoa." Evelyn murmured, "It's so..." she paused.

"Glittery?" Tess asked.

"Yeah."

"I know. Totally gaudy. A Soc place for sure." she said, smirking. "I say we find some spray paint-"

"There will be no vandalizing." I cut in. We just finished rebuilding after Everblaze, the people wouldn't be likely to be able to rally again.

"Do you always eavesdrop on other people's conversations?" Tess snapped.

"When it involves vandalizing the capital of my world, yes." I said. I was tired of this. The Neverseen, causing so much fear in our lives. We're nearing our breaking point.

"Socs. Hate 'em. Hate their stupid glittering buildings, too." Dallas drawled, "This place is quiet."

"Too quiet." Evelyn said. Her eyes darted around, most likely searching for possible threats.

Sophie appeared next to me. "Everyone's here. We'd better go." she said, "Come on."

We headed to the crystal building where Tribunals usually were.

"This is where Tribunals are usually held. Luckily, you're not here for one." I said.

"Tribunals are nothing." Tam scoffed, "There's nothing as scary as facing an army of ogres, and relying on calculations." Tribunals were still bad, though.

"Hey! I did them just fine!" Dex protested, "We're alive." To which I'm ever grateful for. To have the chance to tell Sophie about my feelings.

"Barely." Tam said. We're so close to breaking, holding on by a few threads.

"Hey, we need to go." I said.

We stepped inside. All twelve Councillors sat on their thrones, their posture regal.

Councillor Alina narrowed her cold, blue eyes at the sight of us. Most likely, the greasers' clothing. I had tried to get them to wear Elvin clothing, but they weren't exactly cooperative. Especially Dallas. He threatened to kill me, if I forced him into 'stupid, Socy clothing.' I wasn't ready to lose my life over clothes.

"Miss Foster. Mr. Vacker." Councillor Emery's voice was clipped, "Miss Song. Mr. Song."

"Not my name!" Tam shouted.

Councillor Emery ignored him. "Are you aware that you've committed crimes against your world?"

"Like saving innocent people from dying?" Sophie asked.

"Now, I wouldn't call myself innocent." Dallas interrupted, "There's a reason them fuzz hate me as much as they do."

"I ain't gonna argue with that." Tess muttered.

"Silence!" Councillor Emery shouted, "You've committed multiple crimes, ones that cannot go unpunished."

"Or what?" Dallas drawled, "I changed my mind. I ain't afraid of a puny electric chair. Do your worst. I don't care."

"Dallas." Linh whispered, gently taking his hand.

Councillor Emery closed his eyes, probably mediating the debate in his head.

"I don't care!" Dallas shouted, "In fact, maybe I want those crimes on my record! Make it two miles long."

"Dallas." Linh said, "Please. You're scaring Evelyn." She was breathing heavily, and trembling. Pony gently rubbed her arm, but she was still terrified.

"Sorry, Evelyn." Dallas' eyes softened. "Hey. Come here." He opened his arms and Evelyn tentatively stepped into his embrace.

"Dal's hugging somebody!" Two-Bit shouted.

"Shut up, Keith." Tess growled, elbowing him sharply. "Just shut up."

"Jeez." Two-Bit said, holding his hands up.

"I thought we came here to get them enrolled in Foxfire." Dex muttered.

"We did." I replied.

"Oh." Dex frowned, "You'd think this was a Tribunal."

"We've decided that in hopes of working more closely with the Black Swan, you will all be pardoned, and they will start at Foxfire tomorrow." Councillor Emery declared.

"I ain't gonna go to some stupid school!" Dallas shouted.

"It's named after a fungus." Tam muttered.

"Ew! I don't wanna go to fungus school!" Two-Bit shrieked.

"Good grief." Sophie muttered, rubbing her temples. I sent a wave of mental energy, knowing she probably had a headache. She rubbed her temples every time she had a headache.

"And the fungus glows." Tam said, enjoying the chaos he was fueling.

"Glowing fungus?" Steve screamed.

"I ain't good at that type of thing." Soda muttered, "I'll flunk everything except for auto mechanics and gym."

"You might not have book smarts, but you've got more street smarts than him." Darry said, his eyes boring into Pony's back. Pony turned, and yelped when he saw Darry's fierce glare.

"I guess." Soda muttered.

"What level will they be?" Keefe asked.

"Two. At midterms, we'll reassess." Councillor Emery said smoothly.

Tara sidled up next to me, and whispered, "I don't trust him. Is the whole Council untrustworthy?"

"No." I said, "Sophie only has three Councillors that don't hate her, though."

"Ouch." Tara said.

"What about Jenny?" Two-Bit asked, "She's only eleven."

"She'll be placed in Level One." Councillor Emery said. All twelve of the Councillors rose stiffly, and strode out of the room. As Councillor Oralie passed us, she gave a slight, barely perceptible nod.

"Well, you're going to have to wear a stupid cape." Tam muttered, "I wonder what crest pins you'll get."

"I have no clue what the hell you're talking about, but capes are a deal breaker for me." Dallas said, storming away. Linh ran after him, presumably to prevent him from doing something stupid.

"Well." Two-Bit snapped his fingers, and a beer appeared in his hand. "That actually worked!" he squealed, popping open the bottle and taking a swig.

"Two-Bit, that's not how this works." Sophie said, sighing. "You can't drink here. It's not normal."

"Neither is not drinking. Or smoking. Or getting jumped." Two-Bit said stubbornly.

"Normal? We've never been normal." Tess said, "Ain't that always the case?"

"Yeah." Pony said, "But we gotta stay gold."

"It's a bit too late for that, I believe." Johnny said, his face tight. I knew he was thinking about the Soc he had killed.

"Aw, Johnnycakes, you'll always be gold too me. Always." Tess whispered, brushing some of hair out of his face. "Being resourceful, and finding hair grease, are you?"

"It was Dal. He just handed me some." Johnny said, "It ain't enough, but it's better than nothing."

"True." Tess said softly. Johnny smiled at her.

"Do you know anyplace where they're hiring?" Darry asked.