Deep Underground


    lot of security coverage to wade through. There were twelve in Teylon''s group, and they certainly didn''t stick together all of the time. Also, only some of the time were they actually doing anything relevant. Most of the time, of course, they were doing the equivalent of asking for the salt to be passed across the table, or discussing the weather, or planning on whether or not to go swimming or a walk. Even with automated computerised systems, it still took time to go through them. And for this sort of surveillance, getting someone else to go through it was out of the question.


    all be paying us a little social visit." said Lenny.


    explosive diarrhoea!”


    really really want to know why Juniper was subject to what she experienced.” said Teresa.


    Devina you will be meeting? And Francesca?” said Arnold.


    Arnold: Keeps a little bit of information to himself


    very interested to hear that Sarsaparilla was the granddaughter of that bloke from whom he had stolen that logistics company, right before he became involved with the esp businesses.


    Let’s just keep quiet about that, shall we?


    Nobody else should pick up on that; after all, it was a third of a century ago.


    Wouldn’t want Sarsaparilla getting all judgemental about it.


    Teresa: Remembering how it all started


    These mothers, they get life endangering choices made for them, without any consultation at all. They don''t play any part in picking what esp ability they want for their baby, either.


    But then, I didn''t get any choice either.


    I walked the walk. I choose to go ahead with it, knowing the dangers.


    I mean, they can''t complain, can they?


    They shouldn''t complain. We are doing the best that we can. Yes, definitely the best.


    How did it go, again?


    That''s right, with that bloke leaving my life.


    Flashback time for Teresa: Chooses her future


    How cliché. The memory of a door being slammed as he disappears from my life.


    Face it Teresa. He was just using you.


    All of that starry eyed love? Purely a construct of my own imagining, my own desires. Yeah, didn''t he play me like a maestro. I never noticed how he was so perfect in every way. Perfect because he was faking it, fitting his behaviour to my expectations.


    And then he dumps me.


    Just before I was going to tell him that I was pregnant.


    Maybe I should just go and get an abortion. It''s not too late, although I had better do it soon. And never tell him anything. He doesn''t deserve to be told.


    And now I''ve got one more thing to give me sleepless nights.


    Lucy dying - what a shitty thing to happen.


    Maybe that''s a way out of this. I''m one week short of precisely 100 days. So why don''t I volunteer? If it fails, I die.


    Do I really care?


    Well, maybe I do. But, still, it feels like a reasonable risk to take. For me. Right now.


    Or, maybe the foetus dies. Well, that''s just like an abortion, isn''t it?


    Or, or, I give birth to the first human with genuine esp powers.


    I suppose that certainly might make me feel better about things. Surely?


    Terrence: Remembering the past


    Again, I wasn''t of much use, was I?


    Bloody hell, this time I''m up against an Angel of Death!


    Or at least that is what Teylon says.


    It was so much more fun sleeping next to Teresa - pity that ended long ago.


    Flashback time for Terrence: Someone to admire


    Now that''s - gutsy.


    I wouldn''t have thought she would have the balls to do that. Err, I know what I mean.


    There must be more to her than just that colourless flat exterior.


    I suppose, because I''ve only know her for a few months, I haven''t seen anything more.


    Lucy''s death has really flattened him. He really doesn''t care, anymore.


    Should I tell Teresa to get ready...? On the other hand, let''s just get this over and done with as soon as possible.


    Oh bloody hell, that''s a relief. Now all we got to do is wait for the birth.


    I don''t think I could have done that. She''s actually quiet admirable.


    Flashback time for Teresa: The first esp mother


    Futures City. What a grandiose name for what is just an empty expanse of rock floor a few kilometres below the surface.


    This is exhausting. If I put him down, he''ll just wake up. And if he is startled too much, something will burn.


    incidents. And there was a scorch mark on the ceiling.


    I only narrowly avoided that one. At least I''m getting a feel for when he is likely to burn something.


    Glorious future my arse. I was thinking of some wonderful esp power like levitation, or seeing the future, or anything, something useful and inspiring. Instead, I spend my time dodging flame bursts. And my baby is severely mentally retarded.


    I don''t blame Prakash for his attitude at all. Why should I have to pay such a high price for humanity''s introduction to esp? When we get it right, if we get it right, there will be happy doting parents with happy little kids doing wonderful and productive things - maybe pushing space ships along, or helping build wonderful new domes to live in, or, or, lots of things. Instead, I''m stuck here with a baby who will barely recognise me when he grows up, and I''m in constant danger of being burnt to a crisp.


    He''s having fun, I''m sure. While I''m certainly not.


    Yeah, rub it in, bloody hell, he doesn''t even realise it, does he?


    Yep, he''s having fun. I thought that he was dedicated to helping baby and infants. But, in reality, he''s dedicated to the study of baby and infant symptoms and diseases. And, right now, he is fanatically dedicated to the study of esp powers.


    I wish I could have fun, too.


    That''s an idea. I could get a little fun after all. Even if it will never make up for Keltain''s condition.