"Maybe. I don't know him. I mean, there's three of them, aren't there? I don't even know which one it is!"

"I think it's the middle one."

"I actually have no idea, which one is the middle one."

"Saaame. I've seen them at functions and everything, from across the room, and they are so identical. You know I don't even know his name, or any of their names."

"They have two apiece. One for Elan and one for Earth."

"They're from Earth? I didn't know that... which is further proof that I am not the girl for them- him, whatever."

"Okay. I know you use willful ignorance to annoy mom, but everyone knows that the triplets' parents changed universes after the triplets' uncle died... After falling from a balcony... Likely on purpose."

"The willfull ignorance thing has a side effect of me not knowing stuff that everyone knows, obviously. I'm committed to it and it has served me well. But also: sad. Poor uncle."

"Yeah. It's not that well known among people of our age. I just know because I heard they're from Earth and I was curious if mom set up so Tiuten could have access to technology or something and asked around."

"Ahhh. Our mother, always looking to for an in."

She stops suddenly and looks at the sky. "Uh. Speaking of Tiuten... what time is it?"

He checks his watch and tells her. "Why?"

"Tiuten was supposed to be home already... did you see him in the house?"

"No... what did you do?" He asks alarmed.

"He begged me to let him go by himself! You know how he gets.... I mean, he's twelve and a genius...."

She looks panicked. "We should go find him."

"Yes!" Guli says acerbic. He stands up. "Do you know where he wanted to go?"

"He said there was a new shipment of Earth-tech that he wanted to check out..."

"Ah, okay. That narrows down to Little Terra." He grabs his motorcycle keys and walks out.

"Do we super have to take the bike? Last time you nearly ran into that Arano kid."

"It's faster than the car at this time of the day. And asking to borrow the car is going to take longer even if Mom does not pass out of anger on the spot."

"This is true. And as much as I love to get under her skin... I don't want to be murdered."

So they go the district filled with Earth products, media, food and miscellaneous Earth-related stuff. There aren't that many Earth-tech stories around. Any sign of Tiuten?

Nope. But someone might have seen him half an hour ago heading in that direction.

Guli thanks the person politely and goes in that direction.

He wishes his breath-gift could distinguish people well enough at a distance. Sigh. They search for him.

Niya uses her breathe-gift to telepathically send whispers out to try and catch their little brothers attention. Unfortunately it's very short range and its nearly a full hour before they get a response.

"Uh. You're gonna be mad." She gets off the bike quickly and starts heading in the direction of a dark looking shop front.

"Also, the sky is blue and fire is hot."

What sort of shop?

The shopfront only has the name 'Smith' on it. Doesn't say what they sell.

And the door is locked.

"Break it open. Now."