The boys looked at each other, except for Zac who was more interested in the view. The woman twisted around in her seat to look at them.
“Well?”
“I left mine in my other pants,” Isaac replied truthfully.
Well, he had. Just not the ID the woman was asking about.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What’s going on?” she demanded. “I’m an empath. I know something is going on.”
Isaac and Taylor looked at Tristan. (Zac was still getting too much boyish glee out of being in a hover car).
“What?”
“It’s your story,” Isaac said.
Tristan sighed.
“Ever heard of inter-dimensional teleportation?” he asked.
“Ahh. You?”
“Yes.”
“I see. When did you arrive?”
“A few minutes before you guys showed up.”
“And your friends here?”
“Picked them up a couple of trips ago. My dad and my uncles, actually, when they were young.”
She nodded.
“I’m Alica Hanson.”
“Hanson?” all four repeated (including Zac, who was actually listening after all).
“Ring a bell?” Alica asked.
“Tristan Hanson,” Tristan said, pointing at himself, and then at the other in turn. “Isaac, Taylor, Zac.”
“Oh!” Alica exclaimed. “Well, well.”
“What?” asked Isaac.”
“I have a sister, Fiona, who’s got that power. Fortunately, she came back after she finish teleporting around the world. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that you’re coming to the end of your exodus.”
“I am?”
“Yes. Fiona developed a theory… when you’re teleporting around, trying to get control, you’re always wanting to get home, back to family and friends, right?”
“Yes,” Tristan nodded.
“Well, Fiona noticed that towards the end of her trip, she was encountering family and familiar places more and more. You’ll probably encounter a lot more family as you go along.”
“Like you?”
“Like me.”
“What branch of the family are you from?” Taylor asked curiously.
“Yours actually,” Alica replied. “Great, great granddaughter.”
“Huh. Cool.”
“We have a place you can stay while you’re waiting for your next teleport. I hope it’s the one that takes you home.”
“Same,” Tristan nodded fervently.