Teylon: Takes his turn to save someone


    How the bloody hell was Sarsaparilla able to save Kaydence like that? – Ah, right.


    Right. That''s an unexpected development, I must say.


    not a clone?"


    obviously must have been clones, they said so!"


    The stupid twit is in denial, isn''t he?


    I had better keep charge of this conversation before anyone blows up.


    Indeed, why. If we assume that the star ship business is for real, then, then, hmm, what sort of people sign up for a one way trip to die alone, eleven light-years away from Earth - I mean Mars?


    Actually, for the time being, let''s first concentrate on saving the second girl.


    If it really was Esmeralda helping Sarsaparilla save the first girl -


    Teylon’s Direct Message from Esmeralda


    Teylon:


    Thought so. So do I help the second girl -


    Teylon’s Soul Reading of: The second girl


    Teylon:


    Sigh. Devina is still protecting any innocent creature from me. I wonder what her dark past is?


    Teylon’s Soul Reading of: Juniper


    Teylon:


    She''s certainly taking all of this calmly, unlike Kaydence. The memory wiping or brainwashing or whatever must have affected her differently.


    He''s sounding as if he might be breaking down at any moment. So, he''s not psychopath after all. Boy oh boy, does he have some problems then.


    She looks like she can''t bear the thought of getting up close to him again. I suppose Francesca could burn off the manacles, but that could burn his skin. Probably Francesca wouldn''t care, but I think...


    Devina: Is determined to take care of Juniper also


    My life is no longer worth anything, I''m beyond saving. But, Teylon has, somehow, managed to return Juniper''s memories and save her from Shane. So she can be saved.


    What do I do now? I no longer know how to comfort someone.


    And why does Teylon keep getting that blank look on his face?


    And what on Mars do I feel? I don''t know. The pain I got has blotted out everything gentle and tender in me. I no longer know how to feel my own emotions. This poor girl, left alone and forced into some horrible programme and turned into a clone. I can''t help myself, so how can I help her?


    I can''t cry myself, I no longer know how to.


    But Juniper can still cry. At least when Teylon reminds her of her memories.


    I will protect this girl.


    It''s the only thing I have left to do.


    Francesca: Bemused


    I wonder what is going on?


    Sarsaparilla brings Kaydence back to reality, and then Teylon does the same with Juniper.


    Surely if some evil bastards had programmed those girls to think themselves as clones, and to believe it so strongly that they would calmly allow themselves to be killed, surely it shouldn''t be that easy to reverse the effects of the conditioning?


    And now Teylon''s managed to get Devina, of all people, comforting a crying girl.


    Devina looks spaced out, but she''s still comforting Juniper.


    Just what is Teylon?


    That angel of death business again. I still don''t believe it, but I suppose this adds a little more proof...


    Does she really? My, this is getting interesting, not to mention complicated. And, why did Sarsaparilla explicitly put herself and Adalace into separate bedrooms...


    So, those two are girlfriends, I bet. Adalace looks like she can barely retain her curiosity.


    Everybody comes to the realisation that the difficulties have only just begun


    Adalace: I definitely don''t have a dark past, and I forbid you from getting any soul readings about it!


    Really, think of it as being just like when we went on the trip to Ironbark Dome. Well, apart from the fact that then we also had Maggie with us. Nothing to worry about.


    But, that''s not the main thing we need to talk about, is it?


    My girlfriend has an Angel of Death talking to her. And giving her soul readings. Oh, shit.


    She has a freaking Angel of Death giving her advice, and she wants me to calm down?


    alleged dark past, isn''t it? She''s implying that it might push me over the edge."


    definitely not dark past, but today is not that day."


    Sarsaparilla’s right, she''s the one that really needs the support now. This is not the time to worry about my dark past being found out.


    I totally thought getting someone special would be so much simpler than all of this!


    Tamara: Having an intense discussion after lights out.


    Devina must have turned over in her bed twenty times by now. Definitely more than I have.


    I did already know that.


    How do I offer my support?


    What did I do with my sister?


    That''s right, I gave her hugs.


    But, it feels so inappropriate to just give Devina a hug like that...


    What if I ask to see some of her scars?


    Is that too creepy?


    Well...


    Actually, it is creepy.


    Yeah. Scars. Lot''s of small scars and one or two bigger ones. That man must have been the absolute shits.


    Is that all I can manage? I''m pathetic. I''m sure I did a lot better when I was comforting my sister.


    We really don''t know each other at all, do we? Maybe it''s time to change that.


    We''re broken beyond repair. I suppose Devina is even more broken than I, but, that doesn''t really help either of us, does it?


    Teylon: In the middle of the night he realises that he is enmeshed in a very sticky spider web


    So, I''m supposed to do something about the evil in this society. Which I suppose I am. Or at least, I''ve identified some actual evil, even if I have no clue as to how to deal with it. But, was I supposed to end up in such a messy, complicated, tangle of relationships?


    I mean, what am I to those kids? Or what are they to me?


    I certainly can''t claim to be a leader. Leaders spend their time accessing their followers and the situation, and then leading them somewhere. I''m just being dragged along by Esmeralda, like a puppet on a string, and things just happen between me and the kids.


    It''s not quite friendship - hmm, possibly I''m friends with Sarawatch, but with the kids?


    A mentor? Father figure? Nyah, after their fun in deconstructing my past, I don''t think I can claim either of those.


    A voice of reason to temper their hormone charged teenage lives?


    Ah, not really.


    And now we also have the three Girls in Pink, who are quite happy to go around murdering men who are deemed evil enough. But only if they get enough money.


    Why is Esmeralda doing that to us? At least, I presume we are not in any more danger from them.


    What is the relationship between them and us? Enemies after the peace has been declared?


    Esmeralda! I didn''t have any such connections to people in my life on Earth!


    Well, apart from Emilia.


    Yeah. Right.


    That''s what''s really happening, isn''t it?


    This is part of my judgement. I''m making up for my lack connections on Earth. I''m being forced to join up and be responsible for a bunch of people on Mars. Wether I like it or not. Irrespective of how much pain it causes me.


    This sucks. Although, as punishments go, I suppose I can''t complain. It''s not even remotely in the same league as that shit Vicanef''s.


    So, I now have a lot of fellow companions on this trip. Which just so happens to be organised by my own personal Angel of Death.


    Oh, that''s right, Esmeralda is now talking directly to Sarsaparilla also.


    And now Sarsaparilla is using her powers to look after Kaydence. And I''m using mine to look after Juniper.


    Two more girls to look after.


    Where is all of this going to end?


    I bet it''s going to involve more money.


    You know, I might as well give up on the shocked routine every time I have to pay something. It''s getting a little overdone. And it''s obvious that those kids have been designated as the natural recipients for my ill gotten gains, so I might as well get over it already.


    Leroy: Deciding he is not worthy


    Kaydence. Kaydence and Juniper almost were killed by that horror.


    And Sarsaparilla had an Angel of Death talking to her and helping her save Kaydence.


    Just what sort of friendship group have I ended up in?


    Not to mention three killer ladies.


    And, how do I keep Kaydence from future harm?


    I really, really feel for her.


    Wait a minute, I''m really really obsessing over her, aren''t I. Yeah, I am...


    The damsel in distress syndrome. I have it bad.


    But, but, do I deserve someone like Kaydence? Do I deserve to be in a relationship?


    I don''t, do I?


    So what am I going to do?


    For God''s sake, she is not my girlfriend and nowhere near being one. Just pretend that I''m just looking after her, just like the others.


    In fact, how are we going to do that?


    Devina: Looking at her future and seeing nothing.


    Oh hell, it''s still not morning.


    And now Tamara knows about my pain. About my father burning me, scaring me.


    I must ask her not to tell anyone else, except, maybe Francesca. Especially not those young teenagers. And most definitely not Teylon, for god''s sake.


    Oh shit. And for that matter, not Juniper. Nor Kaydence. In fact, I, that is we, must keep the Girls in Pink''s past jobs a big secret from those two girls. Considering how innocent they appear to be, and how fragile their personalities may be, we must keep it a secret from them.


    Also, I need to have a private talk with Francesca. I can''t go on any more ''jobs'' can I?


    Would Juniper like me if she knew the truth about me?


    Can''t see how she would.


    Maybe I should withdraw from this, let Teylon look after her...


    Teylon, a man. But, he is a nice man, isn''t he? But, but, I can''t just let her go. I can''t. If I do, that is my last hope gone for myself.


    I will save Juniper!


    But only Teylon can give her memories back. Apparently.


    So, I will force myself to work with him. And the others.


    Kaydence: I wanna go shopping!


    I''m back with Sarsaparilla! That''s wonderful!


    But Shane was supposed to kill me! What am I going to do?


    No! He won''t! Sarsaparilla will save me! And Leroy. He seems like a really nice boy.


    But I no longer live at the orphanage. Or in those horrible dormitories. I hope that boss man who gave me that dodgy drink meets with a nasty accident.


    And where will I live?


    But Sarsaparilla will be with me! And Leroy. And the others, they all seem such nice people.


    Along as they keep me away from Shane.


    And we had such nice food here. All the ice cream I could eat. We never could do that back at the orphanage.


    And my clothes! I need to go shopping with Sarsaparilla for something nice.


    I never had much in the way of nice clothes before. I want to buy lots of them! All of those girls that rescued me seem to be wearing such nice things!


    I want it all!


    But what if that horrible Shane comes after me?


    Sarsaparilla and Leroy will save me!


    Juniper: Analysing what she has so far and what she needs to do in the future


    So, I''m not a clone after all. So why was I told I was?


    I can''t remember much.


    These memories are me, they are what I am.


    I am not a clone, I am a human, I deserve a life.


    But I have so few of my memories available. Perhaps Teylon can give me back some more?


    He is looking after me. And so is Devina. They are both very nice.


    Maybe I can give something back in return?


    Never mind. I''m sure it will work out.


    After all, I''ve already told Shane that I don''t want to be killed, so that problem is out of the way.


    I should get back to sleep now; I need to get some rest.


    And Kaydence is certainly moving about a lot in her bed. I wonder why?


    Sarsaparilla: Seeking some reassurance


    I''ve got my super power! But it''s terrifying! I have an Angel of Death who will sometimes loan me her powers. And she tells me that I might turn to evil if I don''t watch out. And Adalace is freaking out over the fact that I might read her soul. I hope I don''t lose her.


    And Adalace is making a lot of racket turning over in her bed like that. It''s not even morning, and we are both awake.


    Maggie: Waking up with the sun, and ends up with some help:


    Thank God Juniper and Kaydence were saved.


    I''m getting scared again. Damn these feelings! Maybe I should ring someone for company - Nyah, I''m too embarrassed.


    I can''t help those girls if I''m continually in a tizzy of fear about being abducted again. Although it is nice for Erasyl to offer his company for our walk to Teylon.


    Say... I wonder, exactly why did he ring me?


    I am not a perpetually grumpy old maid! I refuse to settle for that stereotype!


    So, now I''m actually friends with the not-any-longer obnoxious jerk? Wonders will never cease!


    But, that doesn''t help us with what do we do about Kaydence and Juniper.


    Erasyl: Starting to be hopeful:


    I think I can claim a budding friendship is in the offering here! But will it ever proceed any further?


    We shall stick with purely platonic friendship for the foreseeable future! It''s so much safer!


    Although I am glad for her streak of violence, it may come in use for protecting the girls.


    Francesca: Putting on her makeup and thinking about her future career choices


    Ugh, I look horrible.


    I think I had better apply a bit more makeup than usual, to hide the shadows under my eyes. Well, my right eye. You can''t really see any difference on the left hand side of my face.


    I wonder if the others slept any better than I did?


    It''s certainly interesting. Devina, who lives in a perpetual cloud of anger, with a lot of not quite hidden fear and pain behind it, and the occasional rage when we are dealing with our targets, who avoids anything but the most superficial of relationships, is suddenly wanting to look after that girl.


    What was her name...? That''s right, Juniper.


    What''s more, Devina is forcing herself to tolerate Teylon, a man, to do so.


    That''s - amazing.


    And Tamara is willing to help her.


    This is a lot more interesting than going out and killing a bunch of scumbags. That''s for sure.


    Hmm, Teylon has just paid us for a job that entailed not killing anyone. It would be nice if...


    Sarawatch: Finishing her breakfast and deciding it''s time to take back her life


    So Teylon managed to save those girls.


    That''s amazing.


    Whereas, pathetic little old me couldn''t do anything but cower in my mouse hole, wringing my hands in misery and having flashbacks about that girl dying.


    If they had done what I suggested, those two girls would right now be two more bodies in some morgue.


    God forgive me, I feel so inadequate.


    Right! From now on, I''m going to be proactive! I will do something to help!


    Oh, yeah. Like what? I''ve been through all of this before. I couldn''t do anything, could I?


    But Teylon appears to be managing something. I don''t know what the hell it is, but he is definitely making a difference.


    So, I shall follow his lead.


    It''s time to stop being frightened of what those anonymous bastards might do to me. If Teylon and co can save those two girls, then I''m going to help them to keep on saving them!


    I''m still frightened, but.


    Ignore it.


    Sigh. It''s a shame that his Angel of Death means that nothing interesting will be happening between him and me.


    And- what was that he said about Sarsaparilla also being chosen by Esmeralda?


    What does that mean?


    Teylon: Hosting breakfast for everybody


    Just as well I catered for a large number.


    It appears that Kaydence wants to go shopping, and Juniper is happy to follow, so how about we split up?


    So, they are actually getting along with each other. Good, good.