Starre knew deep in her heart that John would not be safe until he was in America. However, Starre was with her father again, and, right now, that was all that mattered.
John still seemed a bit bewildered as to what was going on, since no one had bothered to tell him anything. He looked questioningly at Gana, who smiled.
John, Gana explained, your daughter here helped rescue you from the Kin prison! The woman who helped is Nina, Starre's foster mother from America. They're here to take you to America with them, so that you may live a safe life.
John was still confused. America? He looked over at Starre.
"America," Starre repeated. "It's another country. Kin have the same rights as people there. We can do everything they do - go to work, go to school...anything!"
"America," John whispered. "I've heard of it. How do we get there?"
A hush fell over all present. The same thought was going through everyone's minds. Now that John was out of prison, what did they do with him?
The answer was quite apparent. They'd somehow have to smuggle him out of the country. And that would be no easy task. If they tried to get him a passport for a plane, it was sure to be discovered that he was Kin. If they went out in public at all, the same thing would happen.
All individuals present thought their hardest about what to do. At one point, stowing away was suggested, but, with John's ill condition, that was out of the question. They would have little access to food and water.
"Guys," Starre said quietly, "our only option is to find some kind of disguise for dad. If we can get him back to the hotel, we'll have a quieter place to think."
This plan was agreed upon. After a long discussion, it was decided that Nina would head back to the hotel, get some sweatshirts and pants under the excuse that she was cold, and bring them back for John to put on. She also said she'd bring some towels and washclothes to clean him off, and John happily accepted that addition to the plan. Then, the party would catch a cab to get back to the hotel. Almost nothing could go wrong.
Nina slipped out of the clearing, and began to push herself through the trees. The rest could only wait in total and complete silence while they awaited Nina's return. Fifteen hour-long minutes later, Nina returned with a bundle of clothes. She carefully pulled a sweatshirt over John's weak, frail wings, and gave him a pair of sweatpants to put on. He then scrubbed his face with a washcloth, rubbing away the years of dirt, pain, and starvation that had covered up his good looks. As he washed himself, it was as though he was growing younger every second. Soon, the water had a patch of dirt floating in the middle of it, and John's pale, creamy face was fresh and clean.
It was true that he had a few more wrinkles than he did 10 years ago, and that his eyes were baggy and sunken-in from lack of sleep, but he was still one of the most handsome men that Starre and Nina had ever seen. His dark eyes flitted from Starre and Nina, to the dragons, and back again. He grinned, and said, "I think I'm going to need a toothbrush, too."
"We'll get you all showered up back at the hotel," Nina promised. "Now, are we ready?"
Yes, said Gana, standing. Now, let's get this party started.
Remember, just act like this is just another taxi ride, Kivo whispered under her breath as the six walked through the trees. We dragons will sneak in the hotel through the back. Room 25, fifth floor? We'll meet you there.
Hush, we're almost to the road, Ionkori hissed, stopping. Gana, Kiki, let's go.
DON'T call me KIKI! Kivo hissed, following Gana and snapping violently at Io as she walked. Io, you jerkwad....
Don't you dare call me Io....
Nina smiled as the dragons crept out of sight. They really were quite funny. She found herself wishing that they would return to America with her, but she knew that that wasn't possible. It would be hard enough to sneak out of Eurasia without three gigantic Dragons in tow!
The dragons had been correct in their prediction. After a few more minutes of walking, they reached the street. John immediately tensed as he saw the Kin prison. He made a move as if he wanted to run back into the trees.
"Hush," Starre whispered. "They don't know who you are. Just...walk fast, I guess."
They did walk fast - very fast, in fact. John could see the guards returning to their posts, muttering about not finding the Kin that girl had told them about. One guard hailed Starre, and John was sure it was over, but she replied with something about finding her kitten, and how it was safe back at home.
After an agonizingly terrifying walk, the trio reached the corner of the sidewalk. Nina, trying desperately not to tremble, raised her arm to hail a taxi. In a moment, one pulled up. It was the same man that had picked up Nina and Starre at the airport.
"Well, 'allo you two!" he said cheerfully as the three sat down. "Ah remembah you! Yeh were at the airport, and Ah picked yeh up! Who's this here man with yeh?"
"My father," Starre said without blinking. "He was on a business trip here, and we met up with him. He works in Microsoft, and he was working on sales promotion."
Apparently, the cab driver didn't know what Microsoft was, and he was quiet for the rest of the trip. John was staring avidly out the window, watching the big buildings and tall trees in yards fly by him. Starre knew that he hadn't ridden in a car in 10 years. He was like a little child, discovering life all over again. Taking him to America to live would no doubt be quite...interesting.
"Here yeh are," the driver said as Nina paid him. "Hotel. Enjoy yehr stay 'ere."
As the three got out, he drove away.
"Come on, dad," Starre said, grinning with glee at finally being able to really use that word. "It's this way, follow me."
The rest of the operation went smoothly. They took the elevator (which completely fascinated John, resulting in several rides up and down to satisfy his curiosity) and reached their room.
Greetings, Gana said, smiling with relief. We were getting worried.
Yeah, slowpokes! Io ranted furiously. What in the world took you so long?
"That fascinating thing out there," John said happily, "the...elevator? I wanted to try it out some more. Wonderful thing, really."
Bah, that's old news, Kivo said, grinning. Wait until you see the computers! Why, if I had one of those things....
"Later," Starre said quickly. "For now, it's shower time. Dad, the shower's in the bathroom. There's soap and shampoo in there if you want them. Any questions, um...ask me, I guess."
John nodded, and scurried eagerly into the bathroom. The door clicked shut, and a moment later they heard the shower come on, accompanied by a cry of "OW! Hothothothot...."
Starre looked at Nina. Nina looked at Starre. They both burst into hysterical laughter. John came storming out, a towel around his waist.
"This is most definately NOT FUNNY!" he said furiously. Starre went in to fix the shower temperature, while John muttered, "All those darn knobs, didn't know which to turn...."
**--**--**
Approximately one hour of small talk later, the shower turned off. They heard John humming cheerfully while he dried himself off. He then pulled on the clothes Nina had found for him - maroon silk pajamas. She had told him to put the shirt on backwards, so he could unbutton the back and let his wings out.
The door slowly swung open, and everybody cheered. John looked almost exactly as clean and healthy as he had ten years ago! He was a bit on the slimmer side, of course, and his dark, black hair was long and unkempt. But he looked radiant, beaming with delight and showing off even, glistening teeth. Starre giggled with joy, and Nina let out a joking whistle.
John flopped down on the bed, looking perkier and more alert than any present had ever seen him. "Okay," he said quickly. "Let's talk business."
"Right," said Starre. "Here's my idea. Nina, do you have Stevan's passport in The Bag?"
The Bag, where Nina kept all of her essential traveling supplies, was in the hotel room safe that they had been provided. Nina walked silently over to the safe, opened it with the key around her neck, and pulled the old leather backpack out. She reached inside, and produced a passport.
"Right here," she said, handing it to Starre. Starre opened it, and flipped through the pages. Steven's picture was there, but it was slightly battered and wrinkled. She held up the passport, and compared Steven's black-and-white face with John's confused one.
"We'll be fine," Starre said, relieved. "They could be father and son, really."
Exactly, Ionkori drawled. In case you hadn't noticed, it says there that Stevan was born fifteen years ago.
Yes, it does, Kivo said miserabley. How are we supposed to pass John off for a fifteen-year-old?
Starre bit her lip, thinking, until her face brightened with an idea. "I don't know if this will work, but it's worth a try. Nina...it's shopping time."
**--**--**
Six hours and three strip malls later, Starre's plan was coming into effect. John stood in front of a full-length mirror in the hotel room. His black hair was combed over his face to almost fully hide it. He wore a massive, baggy black shirt that fully disguised his wings. His matching pants sagged low on his waist, and they were artfully strung with dozens of chains. He wore spiked bracelets and necklaces with large pendants of crosses and skulls.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Starre said, beaming with glee, "meet Stevan Matthews."
John walked across the room and back with a much-practiced swagger, chomping on a piece of imaginary gum. As soon as his little walk was done, he shook his hair out of his face and beamed.
"Bingo!" Starre laughed. "We just need to get you some dark eye makeup and lipstick, and you will be ready to go."
"But..." John began, "...must I be so...goth?"
"I think it's genius!" Nina said, patting Starre on the back. "Stevan will flip when he sees this, that's for sure!"
With that, Nina whipped out a camera and took a picture before John had a chance to dodge or duck it. Starre burst into tearful laughter.
The dragons were also appreciative of the idea. Io in particular found the concept of gothic John quite amusing, and Gana had sealed the deal with his comment of Who in the world are you? Some heavy-metal freak?
"Well, our tickets say we leave Saxvistan...tomorrow," Nina said, confirming the arrangement. "We'll get John a ticket as well. So get a good night's sleep, and be ready to go by 10 in the morning tomorrow."
You're leaving? Kivo asked in shock. Apparently, that little detail had not shown itself to her the entire time.
Of course they are, dip, Ionkori said dryly to his earth green friend. Why else do you think they went through all the trouble of disguising John? Yoo-hoo, anybody home in that hollow head of yours?
Kivo gave him a dirty look, but before the argument could progress any further, Gana interrupted.
I'm sure we'll meet up again soon, he said. With that, all three dragons began a rapid discussion in their minds, using a language which none of the others present could understand.
"Well," Starre said, "it's late, and I'm tired. I'll go brush my teeth, and then I don't want to be disturbed until morning. Is that clear?" She grinned, and scurried off to get ready for bed.