Though she had shared much of the previous night's strangeness with the twilight patrons of the Cliffside Cafe, Audrey had still not shared the greatest mystery.  Just at the moment that the Greenbriar Lights, the mysterious aurorea that had heralded her birth, returned, she had been at the beach to witness and old friend, Solomon Majumdar, burn white hot and launch into the air like some kind of rocket.  A few others had seen this light show as it -he, rather- streaked across the sky, back and forth for hours.  But nobody had been able to tell her where he might have gone to after he finally hit the horizon, not to return.  

Audrey herself had gone home that night, for the first time in two years.  She was immensely revealed not to have made her homecoming with her father or grandfather, however.  It was her grandmother who had opened the door when she knocked.  She had told her husband and son, both lazing in front of the TV in the living room, that it was a mistaken knock, while quietly ushering Audrey up to her old room.  It had hardly been touched, and nobody had any reason to go in, so Audrey was safe from facing her estranged family until a later date.  After they both left to open the shop, Aud crept out of her room, thanked her grandmother, and made her way to the alley down the street where she had parked her motorcycle.  

The town was visibly changed, already.  The most obvious change was the newcomers.  There were reporters, photographers(too late for the lights, but hoping for something print worthy) and a whole slew of scientists.  There were also some suits.  Mysterious folks who, though they didn't seem to be doing anything in particular, were immediately pegged as outsiders by the locals.  Though the lights had appeared only last night, the miracle of the internet ensured that everyone who might want to come take a look knew about the event within minutes.  Some of these had surely driven in from as close as Seatle, but Audrey reckoned there must be a few who had caught a midnight flight from the other Washington.  

Audrey walked her bike out of the alley, but didn't mount it yet.  She was caught up watching some of the strangers pass her by on the street.