"I don't know..." Alexis hesitated silently agreeing with the girl Can't I just give you the book instead? She said holding that out to him in place of device.
"You shouldn't give him anything at all." One of the guys added to the complaints. Alexander wasn't generally well liked among his sister's small group, and they usually only put up with him for Alexis' sake.

Alexander ignored her friends and took the book, "This should do, since it will help me learn more about the device then the device itself will." He commented then glanced around at her friends before returning his gaze to her. "Just don't let anyone play with it. Last thing I want to hear is an explosion or something."

"I don't think it would be explosive." Alexis said absently as she turned the device around in her hands as if looking at it from weird angles would tell her how it worked or what it did. "Why would they put explosives in with food?"

"What better to hide, then a powerful weapon or device for dealing with rebels." Alexander commented then put the book into his backpack. "Think about it, they would be expecting you to steal food not electronics. They also probably would not have expected my sister to be stubborn enough to dig for the good stuff."

"I suppose so. Alexis said looking at her brother and grinned "But why would they have a book with it? I think you're just being a worry wort again."

Alexander shook his head, "No just making a point. It might be something just to test if food is safe to eat. Either way it is best to wait till I know more, I would not be thrilled to hear the great Valkyrie has been slain." Alexander commented. He then gestured to her friends, "besides, I said do not let them at it. They are a little too... hyper to play with new toys."

"They'll probably break it before we ever figure out what it is." Alexis laughed completely ignoring the annoyed protests this caused from the rest of the group "Don't worry I won't let them play with it until I get to first."

Later that evening...

Alexander was sitting at his desk looking through the book his sister had acquired. He was amazed at the complexity of this little device. It ran on a piece of crystal but apparently the crystal was extremely rare. The device itself was designed to find more of the crystal so that guards could alert the palace to retrieve this dangerous gemstone. "Hey Alexis come here you got to hear this!." Alexander shouted to his sister, figuring she was too curious to be asleep yet.

Alexis took her sweet time finding her way to the room. When she finally did show she leaned against the door way with her arms crossed as she spoke "Finally figure out what that thing does?" She asked pretending to sound bored.

Alexander gestured for her to come over, "It is of some use. Apparently it was sent over for the guards to use to find some sort of rare crystal. They say it is dangerous and the palace is to be called right away to retrieve it if found. Only catch I have is, if it is that dangerous then why is it being used to power the device. A device that tiny couldn't keep anything contained safely." Alexander explained as he flipped through a few pages.

"Huh, sounds pretty suspicious to me." Alexis said giving up the act and sounding curious "What else does it say in there?" She asked as she joined him at the desk and looked at the book over his shoulder.

"Not a whole lot. Mostly on how to use it and repair it and what parts to avoid..." Alexander explained then suddenly went quiet. "Alexis, did you turn it on yet?" He asked sounding a little grim.

"Yeah of course." Alexis said looked at him curiously "It just made some random noises... Why? She asked sounding worried.

"Grab it and fill a backpack. I want the device and we need to get out of here. We are going to the caves, it should buy us some time."Alexander said as he quickly got out of the chair, grabbed his pack and was headed for his dresser.

Alexis hesitated slightly, she rarely say Alexander like this. "Why do we have to leave?" She asked as she started for the door so she could go and get her things as well.

"There is a homing beacon in the device. I need to remove it and we need to get out of here fast." Alexander said as he stuffed random items and clothing into his pack. "They are probably on their way now."

Alexis swore and bolted from the room, all signs of hesitation gone now. She returned a few minutes later a bulging pack over her shoulder "Are you ready to go?" She asked Alexander urgently.

Alexander already had his vest and cloak on with his backpack slung over his shoulder. "Yeah, lets go out the back windows and go that way. Just in case." Alexander suggested then held out his hand, "here give me the device."

"Good idea." Alexis said as she passed the device over to Alexander "I know a few shortcuts to the caves that will keep them from finding us if we need them."

Alexander popped open a small panel on the bottom of the device, pulled out a tiny chip and tossed it under the bed. "There that should slow them down but they will likely have something in the air that will spot us."Alexander said as he put the device in his pack. "I hope these shortcuts of yours are good, we might need them. Let's go, you lead."

"My shortcuts are always good." Alexis said cockily as she headed for the back of the house and slipped out the windows into the night. Alexis led her brother towards the caves, taking a roundabout way that kept them undercover and in the shadows.

Alexander wished this was one of the moments he was wrong, needless to say there was at least two airships flying above the town looking for anyone moving about. Which means they were spotted at least once and it was only a matter of time till someone checked in the direction they were going, thankfully this was an active town at this hour and there would be a few groups they would have to check at this hour that would be spotted. Once they were inside of the caves Alexander stopped to catch his breath and took out the device. "Okay, this time, I really thought I was being over dramatic with the airships when I suggested it." Alexander commented as he looked over the device.

"And for once I took you seriously, I think the world must be ending." Alexis joked trying to relieve some of the tension. "What are you doing with that now?" She asked curiously as she watched Alexander play with the device.

"I was curious, I wanted to check to make sure it still worked without that chip and it does. Must be in there to prevent theft or when they do not trust their guards." Alexander commented as he pushed a few buttons before the device started to beep noticeably. "This can't be right. The world must be ending, this actually says the crystal isn't too far from here." Alexander commented and held the device so Alexis could see the blinking dots on the opposite sides of the screen.

"I wouldn't trust the guards either. Alexis muttered, then perked up when she realized what Alexander had said "Wait what?" She said as she stepped closer to get a better look at the screen "We have to go and find it. I want to see what's so important about this crystal." She said actually forgetting they were being hunted at the moment.