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The A12 has been closed near Chelmsford this afternoon (Friday, December 7) due to a two-vehicle crash near the A130.
Shortly before 3pm, two-vehicles were involved in a collision on the northbound carriageway between junction 17 for the Howe Green interchange and junction 18 for Danbury.
The entry slip road from the Baddow Bypass (A1114 Essex Yeomanry Way) was also closed by police.
Essex County Council's Traffic Control posted on Twitter at 2.56pm: "A12 Northbound – CLOSED between Junction 17 (Howe Green Interchange) and Junction 18 (Danbury) Following a two vehicle accident. The Entry slip from Baddow Bypass (A1114) has also been closed by police at this time."
Less than ten minutes later, a follow-up tweet revealed that all lanes had quickly reopened.
"UPDATE - A12 Northbound – ALL LANES REOPENED between Junction 17 (Howe Green Interchange) and Junction 18 (Danbury) Following a two vehicle accident. Long delays remain." | slim_pajama |
Candy Candy 1. Miedo: el inicio
1
El sonido y el movimiento la despertaron, su cama tenía vida propia. El ruido era horrible, Candy se tapó con las sábanas y se enrolló sobre sí misma. En su mente y su boca, una sola palabra, un solo nombre, Albert.
Cuando todo cesó, rodó por la cama y corrió, descalza, hacia la puerta del apartamento. Abrió y frente a ella sus vecinos pasaron corriendo hacia la escalera. Bajó con ellos, la luz de la luna llena iluminaba la ciudad de Los Angeles que había quedado completamente a oscuras.
La gente del edificio donde vivía desde su traslado de hospital se reunió en la entrada y de a poco comenzaron a hablar. Algunos llevaron velas y otros vasos con agua para calmar un poco los nervios. Tras una hora de espera en la intemperie, Candy se decidió a subir a su departamento y cambiarse de ropa. Aunque sus vecinos estaban bien, había visto pasar un par de ambulancias y seguro su destino era el hospital.
Se puso su traje de enfermera, guardó una botella de agua en su mochila y partió. El conserje la acompañó un par de cuadras y se ofreció a contestar su teléfono apenas volviera la señal. La joven caminó las pocas cuadras; a cada paso el miedo atenazaba un poco más su sorprendida y asustada alma.
Todo oscuro, algunas paredes en el piso, gente en la calle, asustada, con linternas, abrazados, llorando, rezando. Durante su trayecto otro temblor movió el piso, se alejó de las paredes de las construcciones y apuró el paso. Sacó su teléfono móvil y marcó el número de Albert, nada… su móvil también estaba muerto.
Con el corazón en un puño, prácticamente corrió las últimas dos cuadras. Las calles estaban silenciosas y oscuras y eso era suficiente para alimentar sus temores, ¡ojalá Albert estuviera con ella! Pero se había portado como una tonta…
_Mi celular comenzó a sonar, lo ignoré, luego de unos minutos, el teléfono de mi habitación empezó a repicar insistentemente. Saqué un brazo de la cama y levanté el auricular._
_- ¿Si?_
_- Señor Andrew, tiene una llamada desde Chicago, dicen que es urgente._
_- Está bien, pásemela._
_Por el auricular se filtraba un llanto desconsolado, casi histérico, _
_después la voz de la tía llamando a la calma y finalmente Archie, dándome la noticia._
_- Ha sucedido un terremoto en Los Angeles, la falla de San Andrés… tú sabes… perdimos contacto con Candy. No contesta sus teléfonos, CNN dice que la ciudad está sin luz._
_Me levanté inmediatamente, calcé mis zapatillas de levantar y salí a _
_golpear la puerta contigua, un adormilado George apareció en el umbral. Le resumí la llamada de Archie y le pedí que pidiera nuestro avión particular, no lo uso nunca pero ahora era extremadamente necesario._
_Regresé al teléfono, los gritos de Annie prácticamente cubrían las palabras de su esposo. Entre ellos pude entender la dirección del hospital donde trabajaba y el nombre del conserje del edificio donde vivía._
_Mientras me cambiaba de ropa, George ingresó para decirme que el espacio aéreo estaba cerrado en nuestro punto de destino. Buscamos un lugar intermedio y pedimos un auto para ese lugar. Mi fiel ayudante estaba listo, había habilitado mi teléfono satelital y el auto ya estaba cargado con algunas provisiones sacadas directamente de la despensa del hotel, a veces es bueno ser el dueño._
_Subí al auto y tuve que subir un poco el cuello de mi abrigo, ese halo frío era como el de mi corazón, de puro miedo. ¡Si hubiera hablado cuando tuve la oportunidad!_
2. Miedo: reaccionando
2
El hospital era un caos, las enfermeras y los médicos corrían entre las camillas de los recién llegados y los que esperaban atención, el _triage _ parecía no funcionar adecuadamente pues el número de personas era notoriamente superior al tradicional. Ni para los meses de invierno, cuando atacaba la influenza existía tanta demanda.
La chica observó desde la entrada el extraño espectáculo frente a ella. Absorta en ello, no se percató del guardia que casi la bota.
- ¡Tenga cuidado señor… , ¿Candy?
- Señor Petersen, disculpe no lo vi.
- ¡Enfermera, traiga un suero!, ¡rápido!
Candy salió corriendo hacia el dispensario de insumos médicos, cogió una bolsa de suero y aún con su mochila en la espalda corrió hacia la sala de urgencias, donde tenían a un hombre con un golpe en la cabeza, inconciente.
Fue como volver al pasado, Albert, igual que cuando llegó herido al Santa Juana, Albert… ¿dónde estás?, te extraño, te necesito, tengo miedo… La voz del médico la sacó de sus recuerdos.
Tiró su mochila al piso, tomó unos guantes y se puso a trabajar. Recién cuando estabilizaron al hombre, se dieron cuenta que no tenían habitación para trasladarlo, una parte del hospital estaba casi en el piso y se hacía peligroso tener gente allí. Lo dejaron en el pasillo y recibieron a una mujer a punto de parir presa de un ataque de pánico.
Junto a la mujer ingresó un hombre que se instaló a su lado a darle ánimo. La revisaron, la cabeza del bebé estaba casi fuera. Se sintió una réplica y la matrona perdió el control, comenzando a chillar. Candy la empujó a un costado y junto al esposo de la mujer recibieron a la criatura, era una niña.
La revisaron rápidamente, esperaron el alumbramiento de la placenta y consiguieron trasladar a madre e hija hacia un rincón del pabellón de niños, donde aún quedaba espacio. El hombre no dejaba de agradecerles.
La luz pestañeó, parecía que el equipo de emergencia también estaba dañado. Y de pronto todo se volvió negro.
* * *
_ Apenas bajamos del avión, intenté llamarla a su móvil una vez más. Nada. Probamos con el teléfono satelital y el resultado fue el mismo. Al parecer las líneas estaban completamente cortadas. Crucé los dedos para que ella estuviera bien, sana y salva._
_ No importa donde estuviera yo la encontraría, no la perdería de nuevo. Fui un tonto al no hablar antes, realmente un tonto._
_- Tranquilo William, ya verás que está bien._
_- Eso espero George, si le pasara algo sería… terrible… me sentiría tan culpable._
_- ¿Culpable? William despierta no es momento de preocuparse sino de ocuparse. Vamos, el auto está listo._
_ Las horas pasaron lentas, con el radio del vehículo encendido nosenteramos de los detalles. Aunque la ciudad estaba sin luz, había agua todavía. Los primeros informes hablaban de un centenar de muertos y personas desaparecidas bajo los escombros de algunos edificios._
_ Imaginé a Candy en una de esas construcciones, atrapada en el ascensor, entre las puertas de algún departamento, mil imágenes pasaron por mi cabeza, mi estómago se hizo un nudo._
_George se percató porque comenzó a hablarme de negocios, como una forma de distraerme. Las primeras luces del alba comenzaron a aparecer en el horizonte, de un tono tan gris como las noticias que daba la radio. Sentía un frío que brotaba desde mi interior. _
_ Paramos en un Starbucks y volvimos con un Machiatto doble. Miré el reloj, ya estábamos cerca. En el camino nos encontramos con un par de patrullas policiales. No tenían mucha información._
_ Intenté una vez más con el móvil y nada, ¡maldición! Apenas encontrara a Candy, me la llevaría conmigo, aún si tuviera que amarrarla y después… después…_
_- Puedes hablar con el Ministro de Telecomunicaciones. Tu apoyo a la investigación en mejoras de comunicación debiera servir de algo – agregó George._
_- ¿Perdón?_
_- Después que te lleves a Candy amarrada, claro…_
3. Miedo: la luna
3
Alguien apareció con una linterna y rápidamente los encargados del aseo encontraron otros ejemplares y algunas velas que sirvieron para iluminar el recinto. Las enfermeras y los paramédicos se paseaban entre la gente revisando, analizando, derivando y consolando a cada uno de los presentes.
La ambulancia llegó con un anciano, tenía un infarto y parecía que no saldría adelante. Candy y el médico de turno se hicieron cargo del hombre y se lo pelearon a la muerte palmo a palmo, pero no hubo caso. La chica lo cubrió con una sábana y rezó por él internamente, una lágrima resbaló por su mejilla.
- No se preocupe Candy, esto va a pasar – le dijo posando un brazo en su hombro.
- Lo siento doctor Robertson, estoy… asustada, jamás había vivido algo así.
- Si sigues trabajando aquí tendrás que acostumbrarte, la falla de San Andrés suele jugarnos bromas, aunque esta vez se le pasó la mano – le guiñó un ojo.
Eso la animó, botó los guantes y se dirigió nuevamente hacia la entrada de
Urgencias, recibió a una mujer con un niño pequeño, estaban muy asustados. Los revisó, no tenían más que algunas magulladuras y mucho miedo. Tuvo que hacer a un lado sus propios sentimientos para calmarlos.
Luego habló con el único asistente social presente y los trasladaron a un albergue. Candy se sintió sola una vez más, alrededor todo era caos; por suerte un grupo de eléctricos estaban reparando el equipo de emergencia.
Sacó su celular del bolsillo del pantalón y marcó el número de la única persona que quería en ese momento, Albert. Pero no hubo respuesta. Se sentó en la puerta y miró el cielo, la luna llena era la portadora de escasa luz.
"Soy una tonta Albert, te amo, te he amado siempre y ahora te necesito, te quiero aquí, conmigo, que me digas que todo estará bien, si tu supieras… si tu supieras que sin ti tengo miedo…"
* * *
_Lo miré extrañado._
_- ¿perdón?_
_- Estabas pensando en voz alta William, hasta Edward escuchó lo de traer a Candy amarrada._
_Miré al chofer que sólo asintió con la cabeza y una sonrisa. En ese momento_
_la radio comenzó un extra de prensa, le pedí que subiera el volumen._
_"El Servicio Sismológico de Estados Unidos señala que el sismo que ocurrió a la una de la mañana en Los Angeles, tuvo una magnitud de 8 grados Richter. Algunos especialistas se aventuran a decir que es "el gran sismo" que esperaban hace años. Respecto a los constantes movimientos telúricos posteriores, han comentado que son réplicas del primero._
_Las autoridades llaman a la calma y piden a la población que permanezca en sus hogares, a menos que tengan una persona herida o su domicilio se encuentre en mal estado. La policía está patrullando las calles de la ciudad para evitar problemas y ayudar a la gente._
_El gobernador ha dicho hace algunos instantes que el sobrevuelo permite ver que hay zonas de la ciudad que resistieron bien el movimiento sísmico y solicita que no atochen los servicios de emergencia de los hospitales pues hay varios con problemas, por escasez de personal y serios daños de infraestructura. En unos momentos más información, quédese en sintonía de WXZ, la emisora de las noticias, porque el mundo cambia a cada instante"._
_Cerré los ojos y suspiré, cada informe radial era peor que el anterior. Cada minuto que pasaba era de mayor preocupación, ¿cómo estaría mi Candy? Mi Candy, ojalá pudiera ser mía algún día, pero mi tonto orgullo se interpuso._
_Miré la luna, estaba llena y brillaba, su luz era preciosa aunque le daba cierto tinte tétrico a la noche. Para el último cumpleaños de Candy había luna llena._
_-.- Flashback -.-_
_- ¿Recuerdas cuando eras pequeña y me enviabas botellas con mensajes a través del río?_
_- Sí._
_- Pues cuando estés sola y quieras hablar conmigo, mira la luna. Y yo estaré allí, contigo._
4. Miedo: lágrimas
4
El paramédico la llamó desde la puerta, y le avisó que una de las enfermeras de pediatría estaba con una crisis de pánico. Como la subjefe del equipo – y sin la presencia de su superiora - Candy debía hacerse cargo de la situación.
La enfermera era un poco mayor que ella y lloraba desconsoladamente en un rincón de la sala de descanso, a ratos se ponía a gritar "¡vamos a morir!". Uno de los paramédicos trataba de calmarla y hasta la señora del aseo le sostenía la mano y le hacía cariño.
Candy les pidió que las dejaran sola. Preparó un vaso con agua y azúcar y se sentó frente a ella, le ofreció el vaso y tomó su mano libre.
- Francesca, tienes que estar tranquila, no vamos a morir.
- Pero Candy es horrible, hay tanta gente que atender y el piso sigue moviéndose… Candy… yo… tengo miedo… y volvió a llorar.
- Yo también tengo miedo Francesca, pero debemos ser fuertes. Aquí hay gente que nos necesita. Tenemos que calmarnos porque la estabilidad de los niños de tu sala dependen de ti.
- ¿Y si tiembla de nuevo?
- El doctor Robertson dice que lo más probable es que sea suave y que no debemos preocuparnos. En todo caso no estás sola, Lilian y Jennifer estarán contigo por si requerimos cambiar a los pequeños. Ahora bebe el agua y lávate la cara, que los chicos no se den cuenta de tu miedo.
- Pero Candy y ¿nuestras familias? No he podido hablar con mi esposo, ni mi madre.
- Están bien. No te preocupes, yo tampoco he podido llamar a mi familia, parece que los teléfonos están descompuestos.
La joven siguió sus indicaciones y salió de la habitación. De un rincón surgió el doctor Robertson y la felicitó.
- Eso es lo que necesitamos ahora. Yo tampoco he podido hablar con mi madre pero espero que estén bien. Aunque unas palabras de aliento no me harían mal. Bien, la dejo unos minutos, la espero en pabellón en diez minutos, descanse también la necesitaré alerta.
- Sí señor.
Apenas la bata blanca desapareció, Candy rompió a llorar.
* * *
_George interrumpió mis recuerdos para avisarme que estábamos llegando a la ciudad. Me enderecé en el asiento, estiré mis brazos hacia delante y abrí la ventana, el frescor de la mañana me ayudó a disipar el sueño._
_En la entrada de la ciudad había una patrulla cuidando el ingreso y salida de la gente. Después de la intervención de George con una extensa conversación con el oficial a cargo y el jefe de la ciudad, nos dejaron pasar._
_Mi corazón latía cada vez más fuerte. Candy tienes que estar bien, pensé. Tienes que estarlo, no te preocupes ya estoy aquí._
_Avanzamos lentamente mucha gente desobedeció las órdenes de quedarse en casa y estaban en la calle yendo hacia las casas de sus familias o amigos para verlos. La noche se iluminaba con los faros de sus vehículos, las tímidas luces de las bicicletas y el rugir de las motos._
_Nos demoramos una eternidad en llegar al edificio donde vivía Candy. Apenas Edward detuvo el auto, me bajé y corrí hacia el interior. No había nadie, busqué en mi chaqueta mi Palm donde había anotado el número que me entregara Archie. "Departamento 201". Subí corriendo la escalera y me detuve en la puerta, estaba entreabierta._
_Entré, la pequeña sala de estar estaba en completo desorden y las revistas médicas desparramadas por el piso. Allí también encontré una foto de Candy y sus tías, la señorita Pony y la hermana María, prácticamente sus madres. Ellas se habían hecho cargo de ella luego de la muerte de sus padres._
_La llamé, mi voz salió un poco más aguda de lo habitual, no hubo respuesta. Veloz crucé la sala hacia el dormitorio y el baño. Nada. En su velador había dos portarretratos desmayados. Los levanté, eran fotos nuestras, una de su cumpleaños y otra del mío. ¡Se veía tan bella! Lucía el vestido verde que le traje desde Italia, directamente de Milán._
_Me senté en la cama, deshecha, y dejé que las lágrimas bañaran mi rostro. Mi Candy, ¿dónde estás?_
_
* * *
_
_**Nota al margen: queridas amigas lectoras esta historia surgio para "exorcisar" de cierta manera lo que nos sucedio en Chile el 27 de febrero de este año. Escribi un capitulo por dia y las palabras brotaron solas, de alli su extensión. Sin embargo, han de saber que esta compuesta por tres partes (hasta ahora), las otras son un poquito más largas. Debido a que son capítulos más breves de lo habitual iré actualizando más veces en la semana (siempre que el mundo laboral me lo permita también).**_
_**Agradezco sus palabras y comentarios, los he leído todos.**_
_**Cota**_
5. Miedo: por mí
5
La última cirugía se extendió más de lo esperado pero los esfuerzos valieron la pena, el adolescente estaba fuera de peligro y una ambulancia lo esperaba para llevarlo al patio de un colegio cercano donde un helicóptero lo trasladaría a otra ciudad.
Candy suspiró, botó sus guantes a la caja de desperdicios de material quirúrgico. Salió a paso lento del box de urgencia, una suave luminosidad llegaba desde la ventana. Finalmente amanecía.
Caminó entre la gente revisando quienes estaban atendidos, quienes aún faltaban. Al rato gente del casino empezó a repartir vasos de café y leche para los niños. El director del hospital había dado la orden de hacerlo, para mitigar en cierta forma el dolor de las personas que seguían llegando.
Había mandado a Francesca a dormir y apenas funcionaran los teléfonos ordenarían el nuevo sistema de turnos, necesitaban todas las manos que pudieran acudir. El doctor Robertson la esperaba en una esquina con una taza de café caliente.
Apenas el líquido pasó por su garganta, la joven se sintió mejor. La bebida calentó su cuerpo y su ánimo. Hasta cierto punto, aún faltaba algo para completar esa sensación, Albert.
Robertson la felicitó por el trabajo realizado en esas horas de locura y caos. Le contó también que después de su última cirugía había podido contactar a su madre y estaba bien. Candy se alegró por él, pero sus ojos se llenaron de lágrimas.
- No se preocupe Candy, ya verá que pronto podrá hablar con su familia.
- Eso espero.
- ¿Y qué hará si le piden que regrese?
- No puedo irme, este es mi trabajo y aquí me necesitan, no me iré.
- ¿Está segura?, ¿no hay nadie que pueda disuadirla?
- Ehhhhhhhhh…
- ¿No te irías por mi Candy?
La rubia giró la cabeza al escuchar la pregunta. En el umbral de urgencias, con el pelo desordenado, unos pantalones arrugados y unos ojos con grandes ojeras estaba Albert. Su Albert.
* * *
_Después de revisar minuciosamente el departamento me convencí de que había salido. Bajé y allí encontré al conserje que había regresado por unas frazadas para la gente que no quería volver aún al edificio._
_Me presenté y me contó la reacción de Candy apenas pasado un tiempo del sismo. "La vi partir con su mochila al hombro y me encargó que contestara su teléfono para decir que estaba bien y que llamaría apenas pudiera. La acompañé un trecho del camino, pero no había nadie en las calles. Así que debe estar en el hospital"._
_Le agradecí enormemente la información. Con ella el alma volvió a mi cuerpo; mi Candy, valerosa como siempre, estaba bien, pero no me sentiría completamente tranquilo hasta que la viera con mis propios ojos y la abrazara._
_Quiero tenerte en mis brazos Candy y anclarte en ellos por siempre. Este terremoto afectó tu casa y mi corazón. Te encontraré y hablaremos, es hora de hacerlo._
_El auto pasó por las calles ahora tenuemente iluminadas por un amanecer lento y grisáceo. Cada cuadra que quedaba atrás era un obstáculo menos para verla. Tomé otro sorbo de mi Machiatto ya frío, George me sonrío._
_- Ánimo, ya falta menos, verás que ella está bien._
_Si, estaba bien, bien acompañada. Llegamos al hospital y un guardia me indicó que pasara por la entrada de urgencias y apenas me asomé pude verla. Tenía el pelo completamente desordenado en un moño con más cabellos sueltos que amarrados. Su delantal estaba manchado y conversaba sonriente con un médico que no le quitaba los ojos de encima._
_Me molestó, ¿celos? Sí, muchos. ¿Pero que iba a demandar yo si me quedé callado? Me acerqué un poco y pude oír su conversación, nada romántica porque le preguntó si se iría y si alguien podría convencerla. Y las palabras salieron solas de mi boca:_
_- ¿No te irías por mi Candy?_
_Ella giró hacia mí y abrió los ojos de forma desmesurada. Después todo fue en cámara lenta. La caída de su taza, su impulso, sus pasos y de pronto la tenía en mis brazos, llorando._
_- Te necesito tanto Albert, te extrañé tanto, sin ti tengo miedo… Luego levantó su cabeza y declaró: Te amo._
6. Miedo: contigo
6
Albert la sostenía entre sus brazos un poco sorprendido por la declaración que acababa de escuchar. Pero no la soltó, la atrajo aún más hacia si y besó sus cabellos. La entrada de urgencias había quedado en silencio, todos pendientes de esa pareja que estaba abrazada.
- ¡Qué hermoso joven!, qué lindo reencuentro con su señora.
Fue la frase mágica, Albert se separó un poco y ella levantó su mirada llena de agua, sin soltarlo.
- Lo siento, no debí haberlo dicho, tú estás saliendo con Juliet, lo lamento.
- No, Candy, terminé hace mucho con Juliet y debería habértelo dicho cuando te fuiste. Es mi culpa que tuvieras que pasar esto.
El diálogo fue interrumpido por la llegada de una niña con una crisis de asma. Candy lo miró y el asintió con la cabeza, la joven enfermera se perdió por el pasillo con la camilla rumbo a los box pediátricos.
- Lo felicito señor, ella lo adora y lo necesitaba.
Albert giró para ver quien le hablaba y era… ¿el doctor del café? El hombre se presentó y le contó un poco lo que había realizado Candy durante las últimas horas.
- Realmente es excepcional, tenía miedo pero lo controló por cuidar a sus pacientes, les dio ánimo cuando más lo necesitaban. Sí, señor, es usted muy afortunado.
- Gracias doctor Robertson, lo sé, ella ha sido especial siempre. Es una gran mujer.
Candy apareció sonriendo, la pequeña estaba bien, con un poco de oxígeno y descansando. Se acercó a los hombres y comentó que la jefa de enfermeras había llegado recién y estaban viendo los horarios, pero que al parecer ella tendría unas horas libres.
Robertson la miró, les sonrío a ambos y golpeó el brazo de Albert:
- Llévesela, no ha parado de trabajar y necesita un poco de aire.
Fue todo lo que necesitaba Albert, tomó de la mano a la joven enfermera y salió casi corriendo con ella que reía feliz.
* * *
_Sentí sus lágrimas y fue un alivio, yo también quería llorar, pero me contuve, ya habría momento para hacerlo y conversar y besarla. Sí, besarla, me la quería comer a besos, decirle que la amaba, que olvidara todo lo que habíamos pasado, que se fuera conmigo._
_Y el sorprendido fui yo, entre su llanto y su abrazo me dijo que me amaba. Y quedé helado, sin palabras. La apreté contra mi cuerpo y besé sus rizos despeinados._
_Después la magia se rompió con el comentario de una anciana: _
_- ¡Qué hermoso joven!, qué lindo reencuentro con su señora._
_La separé un poco y la miré, ella se disculpó, habló de Juliet, ¡como si meimportara Juliet! Lo único que importaba era ella, allí, conmigo. En eso llegó una pequeña con crisis de asma y Candy desapareció con ella. _
_Entonces el hombre del café se presentó y estuvimos conversando. Cuando Candy regresó me dijo que me la llevara y eso hice. La tomé de la mano y salí corriendo con ella._
_Subimos al auto y nos fuimos a su departamento. George y Edward salieron a buscar víveres y algún alojamiento cercano, yo no lo dejaría sola y me quedaría con ella._
_Cuando entró su rostro se puso lívido, estaba tan desordenado todo, me tomó la mano y yo se la apreté para darle confianza. La acompañé a su habitación y le mostré las fotos del velador._
_- Yo también te amo Candy y quiero un montón de estas fotos de aquí en adelante._
_- ¿de los cumpleaños?_
_- No cariño, de todos los días que nos restan por vivir. Quédate conmigo, cásate conmigo._
_Se lanzó a mis brazos y la alcé para besarla. Suavemente y muchas veces. Mela llevé al living, seguir en la habitación no era una buena idea. Nos besamos por largo rato._
_- Sí, me dijo, me quedaré contigo, me casaré contigo porque te amo y contigo nunca tendré miedo._
_- Mi Candy. _
* * *
_**Nota al margen: queridas amigas aquí finaliza la primera parte de esta historia. Se que los capitulos han sido breves, pero espero que los hayan disfrutado.. Mil gracias a todas por sus comentarios, los he leido todos. **_
_**Nos vemos la próxima semana con el inicio de "Esperanza".**_
_**Cota**_
7. Esperanza: Todo de nuevo
1
Han pasado un par de semanas desde el "gran terremoto" de Los Angeles, Albert y Candy están viviendo juntos en el departamento que renta la rubia.
Después del reencuentro ambos habían tenido una extensa conversación sobre sus sentimientos y lo sucedido previamente.
_ Flashback_
_Candy había recibido la oferta de convertirse en sub jefa de enfermeras en un buen hospital de Los Angeles. Lo había pensado y conversado muchas veces con sus tías. Ellas creían que era una buena oportunidad y que no debería desperdiciarla._
_La joven no estaba muy segura, Albert venía saliendo de una grave bronquitis durante invierno y esos días de vela y poco dormir le habían aclarado sus propios sentimientos. Lo amaba profundamente y lo único que quería era que se recuperara para conversar de ello._
_Pero justo llegó Juliet, la joven ingeniera que salía con Albert. Y empezó a convertirse en su sombra. Hasta la tía del joven estaba aburrida de su presencia. _
_Finalmente, Candy aceptó el puesto y Albert fue el último en enterarse. Se lo reprochó duramente y sólo consiguió una fuerte discusión con la mujer de sus sueños, que terminó con ella dando un portazo y tomando el último vuelo hacia Los Angeles. _
_Fue cuando intervino su tía, la hermana de su padre que había sido su mayor apoyo durante su infancia, lo invitó a tomar té en un buen restaurant y le planteó directamente:_
- _Juliet no será parte de nuestra familia William, te conozco y sé que no la quieres._
- _Es cierto tía y tampoco he pensado en que convierta en parte de la familia. _
- _Me parece porque la próxima señora Andrew será Candy._
- _Tía, ella se fue ni siquiera me comentó sus planes. _
- _Te equivocas, trató de contártelo una vez que empezaste a reponerte pero tú no la quisiste escuchar. Y el día que discutieron sólo se oían gritos y el portazo de Candy cuando se fue. _
- _Eso no cambia nada_
- _Eso era todo, si ella te hubiera dicho que la oferta era para el puesto de sub jefa y además la posibilidad de tomar un curso especial en medicina de urgencias, ¿qué hubieras hecho?_
- _Habría tratado de disuadirla._
- _William, ¿qué querías decirle cuando despertaste?_
- _Quédate conmigo._
_ Fin Flashback_
Después de la angustia para reencontrarse y verse, abrazarse y declararse mutuamente su amor, habían optado por compartir el departamento.
Albert dirigía sus negocios desde una oficina en el hotel de la familia y pasaba parte de las tardes ayudando a las familias que habían perdido sus casas. Candy iba a verlas todos los días para cerciorarse de su estado de salud.
Las noches estaban destinadas a extensas conversaciones y plagadas de besos y abrazos. Aunque dormían juntos, el sexo no era un tema todavía. Candy despertaba a mitad de la noche, tiritando. El la abrazaba y la mecía hasta que el sueño se apoderaba de ella nuevamente.
La ciudad seguía temblando, menos y cómo lo había predicho el doctor más suave cada vez, pero ella aún caminaba temerosa por las calles y llevaba una muda de ropa, una linterna y una botella de agua en su mochila, por si acaso.
La joven había decidido terminar el curso aún cuando toda su familia y la de Albert trataron de disuadirla. Y mientras ella estuviera en la ciudad, él estaría con ella.
* * *
_Fue maravilloso cerciorarme que estaba bien, y una vez que eso pasó nos quedamos allí en su departamento. Pronto llegó George con mi laptop y el teléfono satelital, desde donde llamamos a las tías de Candy y a mi familia._
_Fue un largo suspiro de alivio el que emitieron las mujeres cuando tuvieron noticias de nosotros. Tratamos de convencerla de regresar a Chicago, pero la tozudez de mi Candy fue implacable. Me dijo que podía viajar yo, que todo se estaba arreglando y que le quedaba muy poco del curso._
_Pero me rehusé terminantemente. La había perdido una vez por no hablar a tiempo y no lo haría de nuevo, no señor. Archie, mi primo menor, me envió ropa y Stear, su hermano, llegó con un grupo de constructores e ingenieros para revisar las dependencias del hospital, el edificio y algunas otras edificaciones._
_Stear se alojó en el hotel, mientras nosotros pensábamos qué hacer para ayudar. Pero no fue necesario, las redes de apoyo del gobierno funcionaron bien y rápidamente la gente vio cubiertas sus necesidades básicas y todo empezó a volver a la normalidad._
_Entre las visitas de Stear al hospital conoció a una sicóloga infantil, que está trabajando con mi Candy; se llama Patricia y aunque es un poco tímida se nota que es simpática. Se llevan bien, conversan y parece que hasta han salido un par de veces. Resultado: mi primo no quiere volver a Chicago tampoco._
_Hoy se cumple un mes desde esa aciaga noche en que temí por la vida de la mujer que amo. He pensando en prepararle algo especial en la habitación presidencial del hotel, para sacarla de este departamento y ver si logra dormir… aunque si he de ser honesto no quiero que duerma._
_La pasaré a buscar temprano porque está saliendo de un turno de noche. _
Horas más tarde
_La mujer que duerme a mi lado es la más hermosa del mundo y la amo. Profundamente, intensamente, con pasión, con locura. Esta noche me ha demostrado ser una mujer apasionada y extremadamente vivaz. Hemos hecho el amor de una forma increíble, nos hemos entregado en cuerpo y alma, aunque creo que esto ya lo compartíamos._
_Me ha dicho que sólo le queda un mes del curso y que no está segura de seguir trabajando en el hospital. No se queja de los médicos, de sus compañeras, ni de la carga de trabajo o de los pacientes. Pero no quiere vivir esto de nuevo, el miedo la atenaza aún y huye al más mínimo movimiento._
_Yo la adoro y no estoy dispuesto a ver cómo su vida queda marcada por este maldito sismo. Así que apenas termine el curso nos vamos. Se lo dije anoche, cuando su respiración volvía a la normalidad._
_- No dejaré que te quedes, así te tenga que llevar amarrada, regresa conmigo a Chicago._
_- No necesitas atarme amor, si tu vas a Chicago, yo iré contigo. No pienso alejarme de ti nuevamente._
_Rodamos juntos por la cama, besándonos, llenos de felicidad. Toda la familia está feliz de saber que estamos juntos de nuevo. Mañana es su día libre así que lo aprovecharemos al máximo. _
_Por primera vez en meses me siento completamente feliz, tengo todo lo que quiero y más. Es extraña esta sensación cuando ves que a la puerta del hotel todos los días llega un grupo de gente a pedir los restos de la comida o buscar empleos._
_Los colegios aún no vuelven a la normalidad, hay varios con daños y otros aún están en reparaciones, los niños lo han pasado mal. Pero una fundación de médicos al estilo Patch Adams les trajo juegos y eso ha servido para disminuir el impacto de la realidad en su vida._
_Mi Candy, ahora sí puedo afirmar que es completamente mía. Y no la quiero compartir, con nadie. Está bien, soy un poco egoísta pero esa noche fue tan eterna, que cuando la recuerdo aún tiemblo al pensar en lo que podría haberle pasado. Mi Candy…_
_- Buenos días amor, ¿cómo estás?_
_- Bien cariño y tú._
_Feliz mi Albert, feliz._
_
* * *
_
**_Nota al margen:_**
**_y bueno queridas lectoras aquí parte Esperanza, o continúa Miedo... como ustedes quieran :)_**
**_Espero les guste como su predecesora y hay capitulos de todas extensiones._**
**_Cariños y gracias por sus reviews._**
_**Cota**
_
8. Esperanza: un día normal
2
Los días pasaban cada vez más rápido, Candy habló con el director del hospital respecto a su renuncia al puesto y el hombre con mucha pena la dejó partir.
Después de lo que le habían contado algunos colegas respecto a su trabajo la noche que nadie quería recordar y el encuentro con el hombre que claramente era su sombra, la renuncia de Candy era algo que veía venir.
Sin embargo, la joven siguió trabajando como siempre, alentando a los enfermos, cuidando a los más pequeños, repartiendo risas y alegría entre sus pacientes.
Albert la esperaba y la pasaba a buscar después de cada turno, sin importar que fuera de noche o día. Se iban a pie o en el auto hasta el departamento y en el camino conversaban de lo acontecido durante las horas de separación.
El curso de Candy estaba ya terminando y ella ocupaba gran parte del día a estudiar y poner en práctico lo nuevo. Albert la dejaba tranquila y trabajaba desde su laptop en la pequeña habitación contigua de la joven, que ocupaba el comedor.
Esa noche la había convencido de salir y dejar el estudio un rato. Se veía cansada y ojerosa. La había pasado a buscar a la salida del turno de 24 horas, y le había confesado lo complejo de la jornada. No habían parado.
Al llegar al departamento, la chica sufrió un mareo y no terminó en el piso porque los brazos de Albert la sujetaron. La levantó en brazos y la llevó hacia el departamento, la recostó en la cama y casi la obligó a dormir.
El veló su sueño toda la tarde, preocupado por la palidez de su mujer. Una suave réplica interrumpió su sueño y él se recostó a su lado para calmarla. Lentamente, cayó en brazos de Morfeo él también.
* * *
_Mi celular comenzó a sonar y a regañadientes tuve que atender, no quería despertar a Candy, se veía tan cansada. Era George para decirme que la tía Elroy había sufrido un alza de presión y estaban tratando de estabilizarla._
_Me senté en la cama para despejar mis ideas y decidir qué hacer, aunque mi Candy quisiera acompañarme a Chicago, no podía dejarla. Su prioridad era terminar su curso. Las dos mujeres más importantes en mi vida me necesitan, ¿qué hacer?_
_Le pedí a George que me comunicara con Archie. Mi primo estaba un poco nervioso pero me dijo que al parecer estaba todo controlado. Ya había escuchado a la tía dar órdenes a las enfermeras._
_- De todas formas, preguntó cuando vuelven_
_- Ya luego primo, Candy está por terminar el curso y presentó su renuncia. Apenas finalice todo, nos vamos. ¿Estás seguro que la tía está bien?_
_- Sí Albert, no te preocupes. No vayas a dejar sola a Candy, sé por Annie que anda muy nerviosa porque tu futura cuñada le envío una receta anoche para cuidar su estómago._
_- ¿Su estómago? Qué raro la he visto comer como siempre._
_- Bueno, quizás era para uno de sus pacientes. O puede que esté nerviosa por salir bien en sus exámenes finales, sabes lo preocupada que es._
_- Eso debe ser._
_Te dejo, la tía llama._
_- Avísame cualquier cosa._
_Volví a la cama, ella dormía profundamente, su respiración era tranquila y algunos rizos cubrían su rostro. Besé su frente y salí de la habitación para hablar tranquilamente con George y reservar una mesa para cenar y entradas para el cine._
_Abrí mi laptop y revisé mi mail, además de unos contratos que estábamos revisando con George. Queríamos hacer un gran cambio en las empresas Andrew, para promover el teletrabajo y así ayudar a las familias._
_Para eso habíamos empezado a analizar cada contrato de quienes trabajan para la familia. Es una tarea larga, tortuosa y a veces aburrida, pero si podemos terminarla en los próximos dos meses, seremos pioneros en mejorar las condiciones de trabajo._
9. Esperanza: ¡sorpresa!
3
Candy despertó y giró sobre sí misma, Albert no estaba a su lado. Y el departamento se encontraba silencioso. Se levantó lentamente y se dirigió al baño para refrescarse un poco.
Cuando salió escuchó la voz masculina en el living. Sonaba un poco preocupado, pero tranquilo. Algo hablaba sobre su tía. Se acercó tímidamente y lo vio en la mesa del comedor con su laptop, la palm y su teléfono móvil.
- Cuídala Archie, dile que apenas Candy termine todo aquí nos regresamos.
- ¿Tan rápido?
Albert la miró, sonrío y se despidió de su primo, desconectó sus audífonos especiales para Skype, los colocó sobre su cabeza y se levantó. Avanzó hacia ella y la abrazó.
- Buenos días mi bella durmiente, ¿estás bien?
- Si Albert, dormir fue maravilloso, me siento muy bien. ¿Por qué?
- No, por nada, como te mareaste cuando llegamos.
- ¡Ah! Bueno, eso fue porque trabajé mucho y no desayuné hoy, nada terrible.
- Pero cariño cómo no desayunaste y no me dijiste nada, vámonos.
La tomó de la mano y salieron, en la calle el auto estaba listo, Edward había llegado temprano a petición de George por si su amigo decidía viajar a Chicago.
En el restaurant les tenían una mesa reservada en un espacio privado. Allí podrían comer tranquilos, ya que varios reporteros y empresarios estaban tras los pasos de Albert.
Tras pedir un plato de ensalada para comenzar y un exquisito risotto de champiñones, llegó una botella de champaña y una tabla de queso. Candy estiró la mano para alcanzar uno y descubrió una cajita tras el cubo.
- Tenía que hacerlo oficial cariño.
* * *
_Su rostro de sorpresa era indescriptible. Abrió la caja y descubrió el _
_anillo con una esmeralda y nuestros nombres grabados en su interior. Tomé su mano y lo deslicé en uno de sus dedos._
_- Albert no era necesario._
_- Sí, había que hacerlo bien. No quería que tu familia o la mía hiciera algún comentario._
_- No me digas que te pusiste conservador, no es la primera vez que vivimos juntos._
_- De acuerdo, pero pensé que era una forma de decirte que lo de casarnos es en serio._
_- Yo no lo dudaría, eres un hombre de palabra y de todas formas, sino lo hubieras hecho yo seguiría a tu lado. Te amo Albert._
_La besé, ¿cómo no quererla después de esa declaración? Pensé que eso era __lo único que me había importado siempre, estar juntos. Incluso cuando estuvo saliendo con mi ex amigo Terry durante la universidad. Yo había escuchado cada uno de sus temores, peleas y días buenos._
_Había sido el primero en enterarme que habían terminado, en mis brazos se había refugiado a llorar, en mi departamento había pasado todo el fin de semana escondida, durmiendo, llorando y hablando. En esos dos días no comió y cuando el lunes volvió a la universidad su ropa le quedaba grande. __Antes que se fuera, la había llevado a comprarse un poco de ropa nueva. Todo para que su hermana, Annie, no se percatara de cuánto le había afectado la separación._
_Y un par de meses después estaba sonriendo como siempre. Se había dedicado a realizar prácticas para no tener tiempo de pensar ni sentir. Y siempre volvía a mí. _
_Fue una de esas tardes de extensas confidencias que descubrí que la amaba, que no soportaba verla llorar y que empezaba a detestar a Terry. No por haberla tenido de pareja, sino por no saber hacerla feliz._
_Y mi Candy nunca ha pedido grandes cosas para serlo, un día soleado, un ramo de flores y las risas de los niños ya la hacen sonreír. Pero yo quiero que eso sea estando conmigo, a mi lado._
_- Te amo mi Candy, te amo – le dije y la volví a besar._
_
* * *
_
**_Nota al margen: tengo claro que mas de una querrá colgarme por lo breve del capítulo, pero prometo subir el que sigue luego luego. Ay chicas... el tema del heredero... bueno ya veremos, ya veremos..._**
**_Calemoon, Monapecosa, Anilem, Abi y todas aquellas que siguen esta historia dejen o no review más que feliz cuando escriben alguna observación respecto a la historia. Los leo todos._**
**_Cota_**
10. Esperanza: tiempo
4
El último día había llegado, Candy se levantó, semi a regañadientes peleando consigo misma y la alarma del celular que no dejaba de recordarle que debía levantarse.
Caminó hacia el baño arrastrando los pies. Se paró frente al espejo y se miró, tenía todo el pelo desordenado y con volumen, mucho volumen. Y empezaba su turno a las 8… eso era media hora más.
¿Media hora?, abrió los ojos ampliamente y miró el reloj del celular. Las siete y media. Corrió hacia la ducha, la abrió completa y fue cuando el agua tocó su cuerpo que se dio cuenta que no había prendido el calefont. Ni manera, dos minutos después salió del baño con el pelo chorreando agua y a medio cubrir por la toalla.
Abrió la cómoda buscando su ropa interior, sacó lo primero que encontró y se lo puso.
-Candy…
- Ahora no Albert, estoy atrasada, mi turno y examen final son en media hora.
- Cariño…
- En serio, estoy apurada… ¿dónde habré dejado las zapatillas?
- ¡Candy!
- ¿qué?
- Los boxers no te quedan linda.
Lo miró sorprendida, ¿los boxers?, ¿qué boxers? Albert la observaba divertido y sólo señaló su trasero. Bajó la mirada y descubrió que en el apuro se había puesto la ropa interior de Albert.
Con la cara roja de vergüenza regresó a la cómoda, sacó un par de calzones y volvió al baño. Regresó ya completamente vestida y con el pelo en un moño que dejaba todo mojado a su alrededor.
Albert se había despertado con el ruido que hacía la rubia al correr por la habitación. Se había acostado tardísimo analizando unos papeles y se veía cansado. Tomó su celular y llamó a Edward para que llevara a su rubia al hospital. Pero no alcanzó a marcar el discado directo, la puerta del departamento se cerró con un fuerte portazo.
* * *
_¡Ay!, ¿quién me manda a dormir con ella justo la noche anterior a su examen final? Cuando me fui a dormir el reloj marcaba las 3 de la mañana y Candy no dejaba de darse vueltas en la cama, se levantaba, revisaba sus apuntes, se paseaba y volvía a acostarse._
_Cerca de las tres y media cayó rendida y yo también. Por suerte hoy no me tenía que levantar temprano, así que apoyé mi cabeza sin culpas sobre la almohada y me dormí. _
_El ruido de su celular me despertó, eso y una lluvia de ropa que cayó sobre mí. Abrí los ojos y la vi completamente acelerada, nerviosa y con mis boxers puestos. Era divertidísimo, aunque se ve bien con ellos… y sin ellos…bueno, traté de advertírselo y no me escuchó hasta que tuve que gritarle. _
_Cuando se percató se puso roja… ¡se veía tan linda! Para que no se pusiera más nerviosa todavía quise llamar a Edward, el chofer, pero no fue necesario mi joven enfermera favorita salió despavorida del departamento._
_Puse el teléfono en el velador y seguí durmiendo. Cuando desperté ya era mediodía. Me levanté con la sensación de que un auto había pasado sobre mí. Nota mental: no trasnochar de nuevo, a menos que sea con Candy, de preferencia sin tener que dar exámenes al día siguiente._
_Prendí el televisor para escuchar el reporte de prensa de mediodía, mientras iba por un café. Miré el reloj, las 12 y cuarto, Candy estaría libre para comer a la una. La iría a ver para saber como le fue en el examen final. _
_Cuando llegué, la sala de urgencias estaba tranquila. Al pasar me saludaron los paramédicos, el guardia y uno de los doctores de turno. Prácticamente conocía a todo el personal. _
_Mandy, la enfermera jefe del hospital me vio y se acercó. Cuando vi su rostro preocupado y un poco sombrío supe que algo estaba mal._
_- Por suerte ha llegado Albert, hemos tratado de contactarlo toda la mañana._
_- Lo siento, he dormido y creo que el celular estaba en silencio. ¿Pasa algo?_
_- Sí, Candy… está… en cuidados intensivos._
_Quise morir._
11. Esperanza: hechos
5
La carrera de la joven por las escaleras había desabrochado una de sus zapatillas, por eso al cruzar la calle con el semáforo casi en rojo cayó frente a un auto que venía pasando.
La policía había llegado rápidamente y al ver su identificación como sub jefa de enfermeras la habían derivado velozmente hacia el hospital. Los médicos que la vieron ingresar no podían creerlo, la joven que alegraba el día de todos estaba gravemente herida e inconciente.
La pasaron a uno de los box de urgencia, los mismos donde ella participaba diariamente. Y después de una serie de exámenes descubrieron que lo peor era el golpe en la cabeza y su hemorragia vaginal.
Tras una ecografía se dieron cuenta de su estado. Comenzaron entonces a buscar a Albert, como su pareja debía saber lo que había sucedido. Pero no pudieron dar con él, el único numero de discado directo que tenía el celular de Candy decía Albert y todos lo conocían como tal. Simplemente Albert, sin apellidos, sabían que trabajaba en un hotel de la ciudad, pero con el puro nombre no había posibilidades de encontrarlo.
Intervinieron y trabajaron durante un buen rato, hasta lograr estabilizarla. Acto seguido la enviaron a Cuidados Intensivos y los más cercanos elevaron una plegaria para que Albert apareciera pronto.
Cuando lo vieron llegar fue una alegría para el grupo. La enfermera jefe le dio la noticia y lo vieron ponerse pálido y casi caer. Siguió a Mandy sin chistar hacia el piso donde estaba su Candy.
- Albert, hay algo que debe saber.
- Dígame.
- El bebé… bueno, no estamos seguro de salvarlo, pero estamos haciendo todo lo posible. Necesitamos que esté tranquila y quieta, quizás no recuerde todo cuando despierte.
- ¿Cuál bebé?
- El suyo. Candy tiene cinco semanas y media de embarazo.
* * *
_Me tuve que sentar cuando Mandy me lo dijo, estaba sorprendido, __anonadado, casi petrificado. ¿Un bebé?, ¿Mi Candy espera un hijo?, ¿mi hijo? Por eso andabas tan extraña estos días, con esa palidez matutina que atribuías a dormir mal._
_Chiquilla inconciente, de haberlo sabido te habría obligado a alimentarte y descansar bien. Como cuando terminaste con Terry, habías bajado más de diez kilos cuando prácticamente te secuestré para que comieras decentemente un fin de semana siquiera._
_Debería darte un par de nalgadas como si fueras una niña. ¿Cómo no pensaste en nuestro bebé hoy cuando bajabas corriendo las escaleras?, ¿por qué no esperaste un minuto a que llamara a Edward? El te habría traído segura al hospital. _
_Y yo, ¿porqué no te traje yo?, me quedé acostado viéndote correr de un lado a otro. Que egoísta fui. Mandy pareció adivinar mis pensamientos, porque tomó mi brazo, lo apretó un poco y me dijo._
_- No es tu culpa. No lo pienses, ahora te necesita._
_Llamé a George y le informé lo sucedido, le pedí que le contara a Archie, pero que mantuviera todo en estricto secreto para Annie y sus tías. Que excusara una extensión del curso o un viaje de negocios para no volver inmediatamente. _
_Robertson me trajo un café horas más tarde y estuvimos conversando. La tenían un poco sedada todavía pero ya comenzaba a moverse. Robertson se acercó a chequearla y levantó su pulgar hacia arriba._
_- Todo irá bien, Albert, nuestra amiga se recuperará._
_- Gracias amigo._
_Me fui a sentar a su lado, aún se veía pálida, pero respiraba tranquila. __Parecía dormir profundamente, porque ni se movió cuando toqué su mano. La besé en la frente, apoyé mi oído en su vientre y me dormí._
_
* * *
_
_**Nota al margen: bueno chicas, finalmente aparece la figura del/ la hereder... disculpas por este capi tan cortito, hoy es feriado en Chile y he aprovechado de descansar y dormir, previendo una semana un poco movida.**_
_**Gracias a todas por sus reviews, monapecosa, anilem, abi, Scarleth... si alguien mas lo lee gracias por seguirlo.**_
_**Cota**_
12. Esperanza: despertar
6
La joven estuvo todo el día durmiendo, George llegó en la tarde para acompañar a Albert y saber del estado de Candy, también para contarle cómo habían resultado las llamadas a Archie y Stear para mantener el secreto.
Albert le contó lo del bebé y su rostro se ensombreció. George trató de darle ánimos recordándole que la mujer que estaba en cama era fuerte y animosa, que se recuperaría y siendo el hijo de ambos, dudaba que el bebé tuviera mayores problemas.
La noche fue lenta, a ratos, la joven se movía inquieta y después volvía dormir. El veló su sueño en todo momento y se rindió a Morfeo con las primeras luces del alba.
A las seis de la mañana pasaron el médico y la enfermera a chequearla, al verlo dormir en la silla de al lado de la cama no lo quisieron despertar. Todos habían sido testigos de su presencia casi adherida a la cama.
Cuando Albert despertó, la enfermera de la sala lo acompañó a un baño de visitas y le dijo que el especialista quería verlo. Se lavó la cara, estiró un poco la camisa y partió hacia el despacho.
El médico lo tranquilizó al decirle que por lo visto el embarazo continuaba en buenas condiciones, dado que su mujer era sana y fuerte. Pese a ello resaltó la importancia de que hiciera reposo y descansara lo suficiente para asegurarse.
Albert le prometió cuidarla y contratar una enfermera si fuera necesario. Después de eso, acudió a conversar con Robertson que venía llegando a su turno.
Le preguntó si Candy podría repetir el examen una vez estuviera repuesta. Robertson le dijo que tenía que consultarlo, que quizás le pedían horas extras a Candy en vez de un examen.
Mientras, Robertson lo invitó a un café, no creía que la rubia fuera a despertar todavía porque el cuerpo estaba dejando los sedantes. Ambos hombres se dirigieron a la cafetería del hospital.
Estaban conversando cuando llegó Mandy para avisar que su compañera de trabajo había despertado.
- Y pregunta insistentemente por ti – le dijo a Albert.
_Cuando Mandy me avisó que Candy había despertado corrí por el pasillo _
_hacia Cuidados Intensivos. En la puerta me atajó una de las enfermeras para decirme que tenía que esperar porque la estaban aseando._
_Entre dientes le dije que no vería nada que no hubiera visto ya, y que esa mujer era mi esposa. La hice a un lado lo más delicadamente posible y entré. _
_Mi Candy estaba sentada en la cama, poniéndose esa bata tan fea que entregan los hospitales a sus pacientes. Ya le traería yo uno de sus pijamas o esa camisola coqueta con florcitas… bueno, ahí si tendría que traerle una bata para que los doctores no me envidien mucho._
_Me acerqué para besarla y la abracé estrechamente. _
_- Mi Candy, debiste haberme contado, te hubiera cuidado mucho más._
_- Quería estar segura amor, segura de que estaba bien y que el embarazo iba a continuar, recuerda que soy primeriza._
_- No importa, yo estaré siempre contigo._
_Se colgó a mi cuello y me besó. "Lo sé, lo sé", me dijo y siguió _
_besándome. La acompañé en su desayuno y no permití que dejara ni una miga de los alimentos._
_Me preguntó por el examen y le comenté lo que me había dicho Robertson. Lo tomó con cierta tranquilidad y suspiró._
_- ¡Había estudiado tanto!_
_- Podrás repetirlo, tranquila, ya verás. Ahora lo importante es que te quedes quieta y cumplas todas las indicaciones para que regresemos pronto a casa._
_- ¿Regresemos?_
_- No pensarás que te voy a dejar sola. Cuando te pasen a una habitación privada, George me traerá el laptop con 3G para acompañarte. Y si yo no estoy, él se quedará vigilándote jovencita._
_Alegó un buen rato, pero no dí mi brazo a torcer. Supo que había perdido _
_cuando la trasladaron y descubrió dos camas y una mesita con ruedas. No la dejé protestar porque cubrí sus labios con mis besos._
13. Esperanza: en sus zapatos
7
Finalmente le dieron el alta, casi una semana la dejaron quieta, porque todos sabían que apenas le dieran el alta, volvería a correr por los pasillos y a preocuparse de sus pacientes.
Robertson la convenció de tomar unos días libres para asegurarse que estaba bien y Albert se dedicó a consentirla. Candy aprovechó de dormir hasta tarde, comer bastante – siempre que no tuviera náuseas – y estudiar a escondidas, cada vez que su adorado hombre salía del departamento.
No es que Albert no supiera que ella seguía estudiando, había encontrado sus libros en una mesita del living. Y salía justamente para no molestarla. Pero prefería que ella pensara que él no se había dado cuenta.
La joven decidió hablar con el director del programa para ver otra fecha de examen y quedarse un tiempo más. Le preocupaba que Albert llevara más de tres meses lejos de su trabajo en Chicago, aunque él asegurara que no era necesario estar en la ciudad pues gracias a la tecnología podía hacerlo desde cualquier parte. Pero ella sabía que siempre habría algún detalle que resolver personalmente.
Y no era justo que se quedara allí sólo por ella. Además Stear estaba en la ciudad, viviendo en el hotel de la familia. Albert podría viajar sin problemas, en caso de necesidad podría acudir con calma a su primo.
No sería la primera vez, cuando se conocieron en la escuela durante su adolescencia formaron un equipo muy particular, la alegría, extroversión y gusto por la naturaleza los había reunido y de allí en adelante no se habían separado más.
De hecho, su hermana Annie había salido con Archie durante todo ese tiempo y aunque estuvieron un tiempo separados en la universidad, se habían reencontrado y casado.
Ella también había salido con Albert, pero como amiga, lo quería mucho pero antes de decir ambos nada apareció Terry y después Nick y mientras, Albert también tuvo sus parejas.
Ciertamente debía hablar con él, así tuviera que jurarle sobre la biblia que se cuidaría, lo convencería de que regresara a Chicago. El amor entre ellos continuaría y para eso la mejor muestra era su embarazo.
* * *
_Salí pensando en qué hacer, Archie había llamado en la mañana para decirme que necesitaban mi presencia para cerrar unos acuerdos con el sindicato._
_No quería irme y dejarla sola, si recién un par de semanas antes estaba hospitalizada. Pero este tema del sindicato había que dejarlo cerrado, así nos asegurábamos de no tener huelgas durante el año. _
_También quería revisar las instalaciones de la sala cuna que poseía la empresa. Aunque me he preocupado del tema, lo cierto es que no había estado nunca en una de ellas. _
_Y hoy cuando vi la ecografía, escuché el corazón de nuestro bebé y el doctor me mostró sus pequeñas manitos, me asusté. ¡Son tan frágiles! Candy me había contado que algunos hospitales tienen guarderías para los hijos de quienes trabajan en sus dependencias, pero me daría miedo dejar a mi hijo con un grupo de personas desconocidas._
_Así que he decidido que revisaremos las guarderías de las empresas Andrew para hacerlas lo más acogedoras posibles para los padres y los niños. Pues, si conozco bien a mi Candy, y la conozco, apostaría que volverá a trabajar después del nacimiento de nuestro bebé._
_No es que me queje, creo que será una madre perfecta, moderna, y como todas las mujeres del mundo que trabajan. Es excelente en su trabajo y no se ha preparado en vano. _
_¿Cómo se lo digo?, no quiero que crea que estoy huyendo, que estoy aburrido, cansado o cualquier otra cosa que pueda pasar por su cabeza. Sino que entienda, que pese a las tecnologías, esto tengo que hacerlo en persona._
_Esto es contradictorio, la amo y no quisiera separarme de ella nunca más. Fui un tonto cuando éramos adolescentes y no me atreví a hablarle de mis sentimientos. Fue cuando apareció Terry. Y ella se obnubiló con sus sonrisas, su forma de ser medio rebelde, sus chaquetas de cuero y su andar en moto. _
_Cuando terminaron, escuché cada una de sus penas y sueños rotos. Le dejé espacio y fui su mejor amigo. Parecía estar bien, todo solucionado, su corazón sanó y me fui de viaje por dos semanas por negocios. Y al regreso estaba con Nick. ¿Cómo le digo que siempre la amaré, aunque no esté con ella?_
14. Esperanza: hablar
8
Curiosamente ambos se preparaban para lo mismo, separarse un tiempo. Y pensando en la felicidad del otro es que desgranaban mil ideas para plantearlo de la forma más amable posible.
Candy ordenó el departamento, recogiendo algunos papeles de Albert que habían caído al suelo por la brisa que se filtraba por la ventana y los puso en su maletín. Al fondo brillaba algo, una peineta con una hermosa mariposa con pequeños circones incrustados.
¿Y eso?, qué raro… ella no tenía peinetas, ¿de dónde habría salido? No le dio mayor importancia y siguió ordenando. Salió para comprar flores frescas que dieran un suave aroma al lugar. Se detuvo en la puerta, ¿y si dejo una nota?, No para qué Albert no regresa temprano y no me demoraré tanto, pensó.
Bajó tranquilamente las escaleras y en la puerta la detuvo el conserje para conversar un rato, amablemente se zafó de ello y continuó su camino hacia una plaza cercana donde, todos los días, se ponía una señora con un carro con flores.
La tarde era agradable, no hacía ni frío ni calor, caminó lentamente sintiendo cada paso, cada ruido y cada olor de la ciudad. Se detuvo a conversar con el cartero que llevaba un paquete para su edificio y se ofreció a entregarlo para disminuir el camino del hombre, que aceptó gustoso.
Compró fruta en un almacén cercano y un poco de pan fresco. Pasó también por pechuga de pavo asada y unas verduras. De allí se acercó al carro con flores. Estaban hermosas, de muchos colores y formas. Escogió las más silvestres del grupo, y regresó lentamente con sus compras.
Mientras caminaba pensaba en lo que diría Albert cuando viera el orden del departamento y la comida, sabiendo cuánto le aburrían las tareas domésticas. En realidad prefería estar horas en una cirugía que estar arreglando su hogar, pero bueno, de vez en cuando había que hacerlo.
Si se convertía en la señora Andrew eso sería una ventaja, aunque no quisiera reconocerlo, que alguien se preocupara de la casa mientras ella trabajaba o cuidaba a su bebé, no era mala idea después de todo.
Al llegar al edificio le entregó al conserje el paquete del cartero y comenzó a subir con sus compras. Se apoyó en la puerta porque las bolsas algo pesaban y sacó la llave para abrir, pero no fue necesario. En el umbral apareció él, ceñudo.
* * *
_¡Dios, dame paciencia!, me vine temprano al departamento para conversar sobre mi viaje a Chicago y cuando entré no había ni rastro de ella. Ni una nota, nada. _
_Había estado ordenando y limpiando, cuando le dijeron que no hiciera mucho esfuerzo. ¡Tan porfiada que salió!, no tenía de qué preocuparse ya había hablado yo con la señora del conserje para que realizara una limpieza profunda el fin de semana._
_Me senté a esperarla porque no sacaba mucho con llamarla, su móvil estaba en el velador. Llamé a Edward para pedirle que me pasara a buscar a primera hora para llevarme al aeropuerto, George y Stear ya estaban en antecedentes del viaje y prometieron cuidar a Candy._
_Pasó una hora, ¿cuándo habría salido?, pasaron otros 30 minutos y empecé a preocuparme. Sentí su risa cantarina en el primer piso y me quedé agazapado tras la puerta. La escuché suspirar en la entrada y abrir la cartera en busca de su llave. Entonces abrí._
_Tenía la llave en la mano, en el brazo traía un ramo de flores silvestres y en el piso un par de bolsas. Sé que no está enferma ni nada por el estilo, pero ¿por qué no se cuida un poco más? Realmente debería dejarla sin pastel de chocolate a ver si aprende._
_- Gracias por avisar que salías, me tenías preocupado. Llegué temprano y no estabas._
_- Lo siento, no pensé que fuera a tardar tanto. _
_Cogí las bolsas y entré, ella pasó directamente hacia el living a poner las flores __en agua. Luego se acercó y me dio un abrazo._
_- No te preocupes Albert, estamos bien y queríamos darte una sorpresa, es un poco aburrido mi departamento, ¿sabes?_
_Bueno, yo pensaba en hacerlo más entretenido, pero según el obstetra todavía __no era bueno. ¡En fin! Esperaría un poco más, ¿qué más da después de todo lo que hemos pasado?_
_La llevé al sofá y la besé. Le regalé sus chocolates favoritos y saqué de mi maletín la peineta con una mariposa que descubrí por casualidad en una joyería. Me sonrío, feliz y me acarició el rostro._
_- Albert, tenemos que hablar. _
15. Esperanza: partir
9
Era la frase más temida por todos. "Tenemos que hablar" suele traer aparejados cosas no muy buenas. Y cuando son dos, el panorama, ciertamente, se ve peor.
La chica le indicó un espacio a su lado en el sofá. Tomó su mano y aclaró su garganta, luego lo miró fijamente.
- Cariño necesito saber si necesitas viajar a Chicago.
- ¿Porqué, sucede algo?
- No. Pero sé que aunque trabajes desde acá en un montón de temas, siempre hay detalles que revisar en persona y no quiero ser un tope para ello. Ambos estamos bien y te queremos mucho. Si necesitas viajar sólo dilo, te esperaremos o te acompañaré apenas pueda.
Albert la miró mudo, en algún minuto pensó que Candy le estaba leyendo la mente. El quería decirle que tenía que viajar y ¡ella lo estaba impulsando! Su discurso, ensayado frente al espejo, se quedó en sus labios, a punto de salir.
Acarició tiernamente el rostro pecoso de su mujer y la atrajo hacia su cuerpo. Besó sus cabellos y se limitó a hacerle cariños durante varios minutos, mientras pensaba qué contestar.
- Linda, la verdad es que llegué temprano porque tengo que decirte que debo viajar a Chicago por unos temas con el sindicato. Pero regresaré en la noche, me voy en el avión privado y George y Stear quedaran a tu pendiente.
- Albert no necesito que me vigilen, no te preocupes. En realidad me preocupaba esto de quedarte aquí tanto tiempo, conociendo tu forma y ritmo de trabajo.
- Pero cariño, no quiero dejarte sola.
- Si dejas a Stear y George no lo estaré y no te preocupes, haz bien lo que tengas que hacer y regresa.
Albert la besó con más ganas, eso era lo que le fascinaba de esa mujer, su calidez, su comprensión, su capacidad de ponerse en los zapatos del otro, su generosidad.
La comida fue agradable y se durmieron abrazados, Candy se refugió en su pecho y él la cubrió con su cuerpo, como una manta.
* * *
_Me levanté temprano y traté de no hacer movimientos bruscos, Candy aún estaba pegada a mí. Cómo la extrañaré durante el día, estoy demasiado acostumbrado a verla siempre, todos los días, dormir con ella, comer con ella, pasear con ella, ducharnos juntos._
_- Es sólo un día Albert, no será tan terrible._
_De nuevo pensé que me leía la mente, apoyada en un codo estaba mi Candy __mirándome fijamente. Repitió sus palabras y la miré, un poco embobado, quisiendo memorizar cada detalle de su rostro en la mañana._
_El pelo suelto y desordenado, sus ojos con rastros de sueño, su nariz con un millar de pecas producto del sol del verano y en su mano el anillo que le regalé y que no se quitaba nunca._
_Puse mi frente sobre la de ella y le pedí que se cuidara, que yo me demoraría lo menos posible. No necesitaba saber detalles, nunca me los ha pedido y tampoco le diría que uno de los motivos era ver las guarderías de la empresa, pensando en el futuro de nuestro bebé._
_Le pedí que no se levantara y durmiera otro rato, pero alegó que eso era poco factible porque no estaría yo a su lado y se había acostumbrado a dormir entre mis brazos._
_Ergo, me bañé, vestí y revisé mi maletín con el laptop, la palm, el móvil y el teléfono satelital. Dejé este último sobre la mesa del comedor y la hice prometer que cualquier cosa me llamaría desde allí. Aceptó a regañadientes._
_Tomamos desayuno con calma y después se fue a vestir. Salió del baño con el cabello húmedo, si no lo amarraba pronto se volvería una leona por el volumen que posee._
_Edward pasó a buscarme junto con George y ella insistió en acompañarnos. Me dejó en el hangar del avión y me dio uno de esos besos inolvidables, antes de subir me entregó un sobre y musitó: vuelve a mí Albert, vuelve._
_- Por supuesto amor, ten paciencia, como tú dijiste es sólo un día._
_- No te quiero lejos, pero ya luego estaremos en casa. Ya falta poco. _
_Me subí al avión y vi que lloraba, sus lágrimas son algo que no puedo soportar. _
_Traté de no mirarla y pensé que el tiempo de separación era corto y que ambos lo entendíamos. El piloto comenzó a avanzar por la pista, abrí el sobre. Tenía una imagen de la ecografía y un mensaje: es una niña._
_
* * *
_
_**Nota al margen: he visto sus reviews chicas y si, este par suele tener problemas de comunicacion, a veces no lo entiendo y a veces si. Pero de que es mejor hablar, pues es mejor.**_
_**Cota**_
16. Esperanza: ver
10
El rostro de Albert se iluminó al ver el mensaje, y durante el viaje se dedicó a soñar despierto e imaginar cómo sería tener una niñita, ¿tendría los ojos de Candy o serían como los de él?, ¿sería igual de traviesa?, ¿querría los animales cómo él?
Abrió su laptop y se entretuvo un rato jugando con Photoshop y las fotos de ambos. Una niña, ¿sería muy frágil de bebé?, podría llevarla a cabalgar con él ¿o eso también sería peligroso?, ¿cómo sería ser padre?
Le dio mil vueltas al tema y no supo cuan rápido pasó el tiempo hasta que el piloto le avisó que iban a aterrizar. En la loza ya estaba esperándolo Archie. Después de saludarlo y contarle las buenas noticias respecto a la salud de Candy, le pidió discreción sobre su estadía en el hospital.
Lo que no le dijo fue lo del bebé, ya sería el momento y quería que fuera una sorpresa para la familia que pudieran dar en conjunto. Así que se limitó a escuchar el informe de Archie con detalle de las peticiones de los trabajadores de los sindicatos de las empresas de la familia.
Ninguna petición le pareció descabellada, sino realmente lógicas.
- Archie, no era tan terrible, esto podrías haberlo hecho por ti mismo.
- Pero Albert, el gerente de esto eres tú.
- Vale, pero podíamos decir que sí y evitar este gasto en avión.
- La verdad es que los representantes querían cerrar el trato contigo, así que tu presencia era imprescindible.
El resto del trayecto, Archie le habló de las novedades del círculo social, tema que solía aburrir de sobremanera a su primo. Albert se evadió pensando en qué estaría haciendo Candy, ¿seguiría en el departamento o habría salido?, ¿George la acompañaría?
- Archie, recuerda que tenemos que visitar las guarderías de las empresas.
La cara de su primo fue de sorpresa, ¿había escuchado bien?, ¿Albert quería conocer las salas cuna?
* * *
_El rostro de Archie fue divertido de ver, estaba evidentemente sorprendido y de pronto algo le hizo sentido porque me felicitó. Me hice el desentendido, Candy tiene razón es primeriza, mejor nos aseguramos y de allí hablamos, además compartir el secreto lo hace tan emocionante. Por el momento es nuestro, exclusivo. _
_La visita a las oficinas centrales fue casi un mero trámite, luego nos reunimos con el jefe de Recursos Humanos para visitar las salas cuna. Hay una en cada edificio, pues no tenemos problemas con contratar mujeres, suelen ser muy responsables. _
_Traté de pasar desapercibido, pero mi secretaria estaba en una de ellas, no recordaba que tenía un bebé. Era un pequeño moreno de cabello ensortijado que apenas aprendía a gatear. Se sorprendió al verme allí y más todavía cuando me puse a conversar con una de las mujeres presentes. Le hice un guiño para que resguardara mi identidad y ella comprendió._
_- Si pudiera pedirle al dueño de la empresa algún cambio para usted y su hijo, ¿qué pediría?_
_- Que mi esposo pudiera acompañarme a los controles médicos, sino el trabajo se hace un poco complicado, porque tengo que combinar mi horario con el del pediatra. _
_- ¿Le gustaría que hubiera un pediatra para los niños dentro de la empresa?_
_- Sería ideal señor._
_Conversé con otras madres y las encargadas, miré detenidamente el espacio, __era un tanto pequeño para mi gusto, con poca luz natural y sin acceso a un patio por estar en un cuarto piso, ¿a quién se le ocurriría cuidar a los niños así?_
_Me fui con muchas ideas dando vueltas en la cabeza y Archie me llevó a casa donde mi tía me esperaba para tomar té. Ante la consulta obvia sobre el regreso de Candy a la ciudad le dije que le faltaban unos días de trabajo. Aproveché de anunciarle nuestro matrimonio y sonrío feliz._
_- Par de cabezotas ya era hora._
17. Esperanza: esperar
11
Tal como lo había prometido, Albert retornó ese mismo día a Los Angeles, pasaba medianoche cuando llegó a su casa, la luz del living estaba prendida y Candy dormía en el sofá.
La tomó en brazos y la llevó a la habitación. Ella abrió levemente los ojos para verlo y darle la bienvenida, apenas se recostó en la cama, siguió durmiendo. El se puso pijama y se acostó a su lado, abrazándola como todas las noches desde que se habían reencontrado.
Los suaves rayos de luz que se colaban por la ventana despertaron a la enfermera, los brazos de Albert aún la rodeaban. ¡Qué guapo es!, le dio un beso en la frente y se recostó nuevamente, tranquila hasta que miró el reloj de su velador.
- ¡Las ocho!, diablos estoy atrasada.
- ¡Ey!, palabrotas no – gruñó el hombre abriendo los ojos ante el grito.
- Albert, suéltame, hoy regreso al hospital.
- No quiero soltarte.
- Vamos, no seas así. Sabes que tengo que volver.
- ¿Qué me das a cambio de soltarte?
- ¡Albert!
- Está bien, está bien, pero espérame yo te llevo.
Ambos salieron de la cama raudos hacia el baño, mientras se vestían Albert pidió a Edward que les llevara un café y leche con chocolate a la puerta del hospital.
Al llegar, el chofer les esperaba, Candy tomó su vaso y se dirigió con paso veloz al interior del lugar. Se devolvió para darle un beso a Albert y corrió esta vez hacia Urgencias.
El equipo le dio la bienvenida y empezaron nuevamente a trabajar.
* * *
_No quería soltarla, un ratito más, unos minutos más de paz, por favor. Pero esta mujer que me vuelve loco se revolvía en mis brazos. La dejé levantarse y le exigí que me esperara, no iba a salir corriendo como loca otra vez._
_Edward nos esperaba en la entrada del hospital con un café y una leche con chocolate para mi rubia atolondrada que en el camino había logrado trenzarse el cabello ._
_Se tomó rápidamente la leche, me besó e ingresó a su espacio de trabajo. Si mis cuentas eran correctas, este trabajo y la evaluación final del curso no le deberían tomar más que un par de semanas._
_Y de allí, de vuelta a Chicago, a nuestra casa, porque ahora no sería sólo mía, sino la de ambos y de nuestra niña. Espero le agraden los cambios que encargué. _
_Cuando llegué al hotel, George me esperaba para continuar nuestro trabajo y conocer más antecedentes de mi viaje a Chicago. Le comenté mi intención de mejorar la sala cuna y de tener un médico para los hijos de los trabajadores y se puso inmediatamente manos a la obra._
_A las cuatro de la tarde me despedí pues Candy me llamó para advertirme de una ecografía a las 5 y no pensaba perderme ninguna. Así que tomé mi auto, me detuve en una confitería para comprar algunas golosinas y tomé rumbo al hospital._
_Tuve que esperarla porque estaba atendiendo una urgencia infantil. Abrí mi laptop y me puse a buscar nombres de bebés. Porque no podíamos decirle bebé a secas, en un sitio web leí que los niños escuchan todo desde su gestación y quiero que nuestra hija sepa que estamos felices con ella._
_Nombres, nombres, veamos: Sally, Sunshine, Mary, Stephanie… no, no me gustan. Nuestra niña merece un nombre especial como el de mi Candy, obviamente no el mismo. Bien, haré un listado._
_En eso estaba cuando apareció Candy para decirme que estaba lista. La seguí hacia la consulta y la ayudé a subir a la camilla y ví su cara de frío cuando le pusieron el gel en el vientre. _
_De repente apareció la imagen en la pantalla, era de esas nuevas en 3D que te permiten ver al bebé como si pudieras tocarlo. Cuando vi sus deditos de la mano, tal como si estuviera al lado mío, una serie de imágenes pasaron por mi cabeza._
_Candy sola, recorriendo las calles mientras el piso se movía, a oscuras tratando de llegar al hospital, trabajando sin parar entre gente tan asustada como ella misma, intentando consolar al resto cuando ella misma lo necesitaba. Y después, nuestro encuentro, nuestro amor aún cuando la gente tenía tanto dolor y miedo, y empezaba a levantarse. _
_Nuestra hija era producto de un hecho fortuito que nos volvió a reunir, era el resultado de un amor contenido por mucho tiempo y de la esperanza de tiempos mejores en conjunto. _
_Acaricié los cabellos de mi Candy y le susurré quedamente. _
_-__¿Sabes?, creo que le he encontrado el nombre ideal a nuestra niña, Hope__[1]__._
_- ¿Hope?, Sí, ella es la esperanza de muchos. _
_Puso nuestras manos sobre su vientre y se lo declaró:_
_- Te esperamos Hope. _
* * *
[1] Hope = Esperanza
* * *
_**Nota al margen: bueno amigas aquí termina la segunda parte de esta historia, "Esperanza". Espero les guste como ha ido desarrollandose esto y las vere en sus siguientes comentarios cuando comience "Alegría"**_
18. Alegría: ¡sorpresa!
1
Albert y Candy regresaron a Chicago un día de invierno. Estaba frío y nuboso, cuando la chica salió al hangar, una ráfaga de viento abrió su abrigo, mostrando su vientre, el secreto más guardado por ambos.
George había solicitado que llevaran el auto directamente y al bajarse, Edward se hizo cargo del vehículo y las maletas. Albert se acercó a la mujer y la tomó de la mano para acompañarla al auto.
Una vez arriba, la atrajo hacia sí y besó sus cabellos, la joven cruzó sus dedos con los de él y le sonrío.
- No te preocupes mi tía debe estar fuera de casa. Así que podemos llegar tranquilos y descansar un rato. ¿Cómo te sientes?
- Bien cariño, el viaje no fue tan terrible. Pero si necesito descansar para estar bien mañana cuando vuelva a mi trabajo.
- Pensé que regresabas la próxima semana.
- Bueno, la verdad es que hablé ayer con mi antigua jefa y me pidió que fuera antes. Me siento bien, así que mañana estaré en el hospital nuevamente.
El hombre suspiró quedamente pero no dijo nada, lo que menos quería era una discusión. La tranquilidad de su mujer y su hija era lo principal. El chequeo antes de partir había demostrado que ambas estaban en perfectas condiciones.
El viaje hasta la casa de Albert fue tranquilo y lento. Al llegar, un mayordomo corrió a abrir la puerta y hacerse cargo del equipaje. Subieron las escaleras tomados de la mano e ingresaron al lugar.
Una joven se acercó para ofrecerles un té antes de subir a la habitación. Pasaron a un salón de té y ¡sorpresa!, allí estaban todos, las tías de Candy, Annie y Archie y la tía de Albert, Emily.
La audiencia quedó muda cuando vieron a Candy con un pantalón y una blusa maternales.
- ¿Qué sucede aquí? – preguntó la anciana.
* * *
_También nosotros quedamos mudos, pensábamos descansar un rato y __citarlos a todos a una reunión familiar para contar toda la historia y dar nuestra maravillosa noticia, pero nos ganaron._
_Dejé a mi Candy en uno de los cómodos sillones y me senté a su lado, luego comenzamos a hablar. De a poco brotaron las palabras, los hechos, los recuerdos y la aventura de encontrarnos._
_- Y decidimos casarnos y justo después de eso supimos que seremos padres de una niñita – les dije completamente orgulloso_
_- ¿Por qué no lo contaron? – inquirió la señorita Pony._
_- Queríamos darles una sorpresa – Candy les guiñó un ojo. _
_- Y vaya que así ha sido – comentó su hermana - pero te ves linda Candy, pareciera que tuvieras luz propia. ¿Te has sentido bien?_
_- Muy bien, Hope es encantadora._
_Almorzamos en familia, todos muy felices por estar juntos y bien, por ver __que teníamos un futuro en conjunto. Después, prácticamente rapté a Candy, pretextando la importancia de que descansara y me la llevé a la que sería nuestra habitación._
_Quedó fascinada, es amplia con mucha luz natural y una pequeñísima fuente, con el ruido del agua al correr se relaja. También le mostré la gran bañera que pedí instalaran en el baño, para que podamos compartirlo._
_Casi la obligué a dormir un rato, pero considerando que mañana regresa a trabajar y lo estresante que puede ser eso, creo que es más que necesario. Además ahora podrá dormir tranquila, acá no tiembla nunca y es imposible que suceda._
_Cuando realmente se durmió bajé para conversar con Archie y mi tía. Annie se había retirado a su trabajo de maestra universitaria y sus tías habían regresado a su negocio, una florería muy pintoresca._
_Mi primo me recriminó el no haberle contado la llegada de Hope y se río mucho al ver mis intentos con Phothoshop para descubrir el rostro de mi hija. _
_- Pero ahora entiendo lo de la sala cuna. Te ves feliz, primo._
_- Lo estoy, Archie, lo estoy._
_
* * *
_
_**Nota al margen: Bueno chicas aqui comienza "Alegría", espero les guste y me dejen sus comentarios y observaciones tal como lo han hecho con "Miedo" y "Esperanza". Cariños.**_
_**Cota**_
19. Alegría: miedos
2
Candy volvió a trabajar, con su traje de urgencia, varias personas pensaban que había subido de peso y ella no trató de cambiar dicha idea. Recién cuando le tocó otra ecografía comenzaron las felicitaciones.
Como siempre, Albert la acompañó para observar, embobado, como su hija crecía a ojos vista. A veces no tan vista, porque les dio la espalda y no pudieron mirar mucho.
Como siempre también, después se fueron a comer algo y esta vez incluso fueron al cine. Al regresar la joven subió directo a dormir y Albert se quedó un momento a solas en su despacho.
Allí lo encontró su tía, sumido en sus pensamientos sin siquiera percatarse de su presencia, hasta que la mujer se hizo notar.
- ¿En qué piensas?
- Tía, ¿usted cree que yo puedo ser un buen padre?
- Por supuesto, eres un buen hombre.
- Pero tía, yo veo a Hope en la pantalla y es tan pequeña, ¿le haré daño si la abrazo?, ¿podré mudarla?
- No veo porqué no. Si Candy te enseña no te costará mucho. Además es un bebé no una pieza de cristal. Y te falta un buen tiempo para tocarla.
- A veces siento miedo, es algo ¡tan grande!, pero no quiero decírselo a Candy, tía, capaz que ella se asuste y conmigo ya basta.
- Creo que deberían hablarlo, recuerda que ella es primeriza y puede estar tan asustada como tú.
Después la anciana salió de la habitación y lo dejó más complicado todavía. Cerca de medianoche sintió que la puerta se abría y el perfume floral de Candy se coló por su nariz.
- Cariño, ve a dormir, ya subo.
- No puedo Albert, tengo miedo.
* * *
_Me levanté del sillón para acercarme a ella y verla de cerca. Mi Candy, __¿miedo? Pero si aquí no tiembla. La abracé y la llevé hacia el sofá, viéndola lentamente me percaté que una lágrima corría por su mejilla, algo que nunca he soportado._
_- Preciosa, ¿de qué tienes miedo?_
_- Albert estoy asustada. Mira. _
_Tomó mi mano y la llevó a su vientre._
_- Se mueve, hace un rato la sentí, Hope se mueve._
_- Se supone que debe hacerlo, ¿cierto?_
_- Si, pero… tengo miedo Albert. ¿Te das cuenta?, es una gran responsabilidad tener un hijo._
_- Lo es._
_- Y yo… yo no sé… no sé si estoy lista… ¿y si no sé que necesita?_
_- Pero cariño, tratas con niños todos los días, has ayudado a parir a muchas mujeres._
_- Ya sí, pero no eran míos, Hope es nuestra hija y tengo pánico de no ser la mamá que todos piensan._
_Y bueno allí estaba, mi Candy tenía los mismos temores que yo. Entendí __las palabras de mi tía, tenía que hablar, porque no era el único asustado con la llegada de Hope._
_Se lo confesé con mucha calma, y parece que por un momento fue peor. Comenzó a llorar con más fuerza y se alejó de mí. La abracé nuevamente y traté de tranquilizarla._
_Parece que el llanto fue escandaloso porque de repente vimos llegar a mi tía, servirle un vaso de agua a mi mujer, pasarme uno de wisky y sentarse frente a nosotros._
_- Par de cabezotas, entiendan, ustedes aprenderán juntos a ser padres y me atrevo a decir que les irá bien. Son buenas personas y con eso basta._
_- ¿Tanta fe nos tiene tía?_
_- Debo hacerlo, Hope es mi nieta y toda una Andrew y aunque tú, chiquilla revoltosa y mi sobrino son un poco especiales, son ideales para esta bebé. Quién sabe, en una de esas pagan todas las travesuras…_
_
* * *
_
**_Nota al margen: queridas lectoras, finalmente un nuevo capítulo de "Alegría", espero que les agrade. Supongo que todas tenemos los mismos temores al enfrentarnos a este episodio de la vida (lo supongo pq no soy madre) Cariños a todas quienes me dejan sus review y a aquells que no se animan a publicarlo._**
**_Cota_**
20. Alegría: confidencias
3
La conversación fue larga pero con buenos resultados. De a poco la anciana les ayudó a disminuir sus angustias. Les aseguró que sus temores eran los tradicionales de cualquier pareja primeriza, pero que Candy era una mujer sana y no debería tener problemas.
Les recordó sus buenas actitudes y postura ante la vida, el respeto de sus valores y lo principal: el amor que se tenían. Hope era simplemente el producto de eso, del inmenso amor que se profesaban y que había resistido una serie de situaciones increíbles.
El reloj dio las cuatro de la mañana y entonces la mujer decidió que ya había hablado bastante. Les dio las buenas noches y se retiró. La pareja se abrazó y subió así hasta su habitación.
Ante los primeros rayos de sol, Albert se levantó para llamar al hospital, Candy aún dormía y a él le preocupaba que se fuera a trabajar después de trasnochar. Habló con la jefa de su mujer y le explicó la situación, la enfermera comprendió el hecho y no puso problema alguno.
Albert regresó a dormir después de mandarle un mensaje de texto a George para que se hiciera cargo de los temas de la mañana. Se sumergió en las sábanas impregnadas del shampoo floral de Candy y se recostó sobre ella como una manta.
La chica se levantó un poco incómoda del peso extra en su espalda y los brazos que la rodeaban, o más bien la aprisionaban.
- Albert
- Mmm
- Albert, muévete
- Mmm
- ¡Albert!
- ¿Qué sucede? – el hombre abrió los ojos, somnoliento.
- Suéltame, me estás apretando y tengo que levantarme.
- Hoy no trabajas, no te preocupes, ya hablé con tu jefa
- Necesito ir al baño, amor, por favor suéltame.
El hombre la vio caminar hacia el baño lentamente, estirándose como un gato y sujetándose el cabello en un moño desordenado, sonrío y volvió a dormir.
* * *
_La vi levantarse y moverse felinamente para estirarse, me encanta. No importa que parezca león con el pelo enmarañado y voluminoso, verla abrir los ojos, anudarse el pelo de memoria, sujetarlo de forma imposible e invisible porque no sé cómo lo hace, es toda una experiencia._
_Después de eso va hacia el baño, abre los ojos y se mira en el espejo. Moja sus manos en el agua y se cubre el rostro, tres veces. Recién ahí parece que despierta. Abre la ducha y mete un dedo bajo el chorro de agua, ni muy caliente ni muy fría. _
_Busca en el mueble del vanitorio su gel de ducha de rosas, la crema humectante de nuez y las lociones faciales también de rosas. Se cubre el rostro con la leche de limpieza y se mete a la ducha. Nunca he sabido como logra que el pelo no se esponje ante tanto vapor._
_Una vez que termina de ducharse se pone la bata de algodón rosado que le regalé y se llena de crema rápidamente. Un poco de filtro solar en la cara, rimel en las pestañas y está lista. Se pone el uniforme o algún pantalón, suelto en estos días y asoma su cabeza por la puerta._
_- Buenos días Albert – grita desde allí y se devuelve para ponerse un poco de colonia de rosas o magnolias u otra flor que le agrade y de las cuales tiene una colección de botellitas._
_Yo le sonrío desde el vestidor donde estoy comprobando mi corbata o sacándole __brillo a mis zapatos. Espero que salga para besarla y quitarle ese labial de chocolate que últimamente le fascina y se coloca de forma casi permanente._
_Solemos bajar juntos y tomar desayuno en el comedor; a veces, pasamos por algún restaurant o Starbucks y bebemos chocolate caliente o café (descafeinado para ella) en el trayecto hacia el hospital. _
_No importa que alegue, me encanta pasarla dejar al hospital y besarla en la entrada. Sé que hablaremos durante el día, si ambos tenemos tiempo y si no, nos veremos en la noche, o temprano en la mañana si es que le toca turno de noche._
_No me complica que trabaje de noche, siempre lo ha hecho, pero ahora si me preocupa porque sé que a veces el ritmo de una sala de urgencias es vertiginoso y ella necesita dormir._
_Cerré los ojos para visualizar su cuerpo en la ducha y me quedé dormido._
_
* * *
_
_**Nota al margen: mil disculpas por la demora en actualizar, he estado colapsada de trabajo, pero prometo por lo menos dos veces a la semana. Cariños a todas y gracias por sus review.**_
_**Cota**_
21. Alegría: último día
4
Han pasado dos meses desde el arribo de ambos rubios a Chicago, el tiempo ha pasado rápido entre el matrimonio por el civil y su publicación en el diario oficializando la relación "que tuvo un enlace simbólico antes del terremoto de Los Angeles".
Annie y Archie han celebrado su tercer aniversario de matrimonio con una gran fiesta donde aprovecharon de anunciar el embarazo de Annie. La familia completa no puede estar más feliz.
Las tías de ambas chicas están agrandando su florería y el invernadero donde las cultivan. El tiempo ha sido benévolo con ellas y la alegría de vivir y la energía parece no tener fin en ellas, además de siquiera aparentar su edad.
Candy está a punto de tomar su permiso pre natal y Albert cuenta los días para que lo haga. Han decidido tomar dos semanas de vacaciones y relajo en un centro de spa y después de eso preparar la habitación de Hope, que ya patea fuerte, según la madre.
Los últimos controles han demostrado que todo va bien y Candy ha decidido tomar unas clases de respiración y de apoyo con una matrona especializada en partos en el agua. Ha escuchado que eso relaja mucho y disminuye el dolor. Y Albert ha prometido que no le dolerá mucho traer al mundo a Hope.
La tía de Albert está feliz, pues todo parece ir de maravillas. Stear ha avisado que volverá a Chicago, ya que Paty, su nueva pareja, encontró un trabajo en la ciudad y está pensando en instalar su propia consulta.
Stear empezará a trabajar en un laboratorio de experimentación del cual la familia es socia. Ha decidido dejar sus otras labores para buscar algo más emocionante, según sus propias palabras.
George es el apoyo de todos, pero principalmente de Albert, conoce prácticamente todos sus pasos y ha sido también el alto para alguna de sus locuras antes la inminente llegada de su hija.
El día que Albert mencionó la idea de adquirir un pony, estaba marcando el teléfono de Candy cuando su amigo prácticamente se lo quitó de las manos.
- Ni lo sueñes, Hope es un bebé, un pony es muy peligroso. No.
Y Albert le hizo caso.
* * *
_Ha llegado, ha llegado el último día de trabajo de mi Candy, desde mañana __será mía, solo para mi. ¡Que egoísta sueno! Pero es verdad quiero aprovechar de no tener que compartirla aún con la pequeña Hope. Soy muy conciente que después la beba tendrá toda su atención. Bueno, espero que no toda, sino solo un pedacito._
_Fui a la florería de sus tías y las invité a cenar, hay un restaurant de comida italiana nuevo y a ellas les gustará, estoy seguro. Me entregaron un ramo precioso para mi mujer, son margaritas de un amarillo deslumbrante. Se verán hermosas en nuestra habitación y a ella le gustarán estoy seguro._
_No contesté sus llamados porque esto es sorpresa. En la oficina mi secretaria también es cómplice y tiene que decirle a Candy que estoy ocupadísimo. Valdrá la pena el secretismo por ver sus ojos cuando vea esto._
_Annie y Archie nos tienen un obsequio y no sabemos que es, un completo misterio. Parece que eso es un punto característico de esta familia. Stear y Paty han regresado y están buscando un departamento para vivir juntos. Mi tía no está muy convencida, pero ha decidido no hacer escándalo, porque en este momento su única preocupación es Hope._
_Llega a ser un poco empalagosa, esta semana comenzó a tener jugos naturales y leche extra calcio para Candy. La pobre no la quiere contrariar y se lo toma todo, pese a que el olor de los cítricos le causa náuseas. No lo sabré yo, que la acompaño al baño todas estas mañanas para sujetar su cabello mientras ella apenas resiste el famoso jugo._
_¡En fin!, a ver haré un repaso mental: flores, listo, cena, listo, aviso a la familia, listo, regalo extra… mmm creo q todavía no me convence ese collar de esmeraldas aun cuando le haga juego a su anillo de compromiso… _
_¡Vaya!, esa joyería tiene una linda vitrina, ¿qué tendrá? Pasaré a ver, ¿me alcanza el tiempo?, aparentemente sí, recién son las cuatro y quedé que esto sería a las ocho, porque mañana saldremos temprano a ese spa que nos recomendaron._
_
* * *
**Nota al margen: queridas amigas mil disculpas por el retraso, estoy absolutamente copada de trabajo y el nivel de estres sube y sube... espero poder subir el proximo capitulo durante el fin de semana. Gracias a todas por sus review, los lei en el telefono (gracias a Dios estos tecefonos nuevos!)**_
22. Alegría: cambios
5
Candy estaba un poco sensible, desde ese día su vida sufriría un cambio. Acostumbrada a tener siempre algo que hacer, vislumbrar casi tres meses de tiempo libre, le preocupaba. Quería decírselo a Albert, pero no contestaba su celular y la secretaria insistía en decirle que estaba en reunión.
Pero Albert no había comentado nada en la mañana respecto a su agenda. ¿Habría surgido algún imprevisto? Después de un rato dedujo que no sacaba nada con preocuparse y siguió con su rutina en pediatría.
Sus compañeros de trabajo la invitaron a almorzar a un restaurant cercano, porque se comentaba que la comida del casino ese día no era comestible. Realmente parecía un laboratorio y los médicos, enfermeras, paramédicos y demases, las ratas.
Cuando llegó el postre apareció un gran paquete de regalo. En su interior, varias prendas primorosas para Hope y un par de mamaderas y juguetes colgantes, porque "las vas a necesitar, te lo aseguro", le confidenció una de las pediatras que se había reintegrado hace poco a su puesto, después del nacimiento de su segundo hijo.
Después de eso, la tarde transcurrió con cierta tranquilidad. Los niños se portaron bien y no tuvo grandes urgencias que atender salvo una reacción dermatológica a la picadura de una hormiga.
Se iba cuando su jefa le preguntó que haría durante sus días libres.
- Bueno, con Albert nos vamos por dos semanas a un spa, según él necesito relajarme y descansar.
- Es buena idea, un recién nacido suele ser muy dependiente.
- El tema es qué no sé qué hacer después de eso. Armaremos la habitación de Hope y ¿después?, me voy a aburrir en casa.
- Ya verás que no te faltará y en último caso duerme.
- Eso ya lo hago, según Albert me he convertido en una marmota, pero no es mi culpa. Tengo tanto sueño.
La mujer se río y la acompañó a la puerta, el auto la esperaba. Edward se bajó para abrirle la puerta, pero adentro no estaba Albert. Una lágrima resbaló por su mejilla, ¿Albert no se acordaba?
* * *
_Edward me envió un mensaje de texto: "Señora triste, ya en el auto". Avisé a toda la familia que estaba en el salón y ellos corrieron a esconderse. Me dio pena saber que mi Candy estaba triste, pero ya se le pasaría, en cuanto viera la fiesta y los regalos y demás._
_Sentí al auto estacionarse y me asomé por la ventana, pero Candy no bajó. El que llegó corriendo fue Edward._
_- Lo siento señor, insistí en traerla pero no quiso._
_- ¿Qué Candy hizo qué?_
_- Se bajó a cuatro cuadras, en el parque que les gusta tanto y me dijo que caminaría. _
_- Esta mujer me va a volver loco, ¿le dijo porqué?_
_- No señor, pero se veía triste. Me pidió que trajera los regalos de sus compañeros._
_Le pedí a todos que se quedaran donde estaban, saqué mi móvil y empecé a __marcar su número. Nada, mala señal, si no me contesta y no está ocupada significa que está enojada o sentida conmigo. ¿Y yo que habré hecho?_
_Salí en mi auto a buscarla, estacioné a media cuadra del parque y me bajé. Estaba en un columpio, mirando a los niños que jugaban alrededor. Se veía bien, un poco triste, pero bien._
_Me acerqué y no me vio. La llamé y no me escuchó o no quiso hacerlo. Sentí que una borrasca caería entre nosotros. Pero no pensaba aceptarlo, no hasta que supiera porqué._
_- Candy_
_- (Silencio)_
_- ¡Candy!_
_Movió su cabeza hacia donde estaba y después me realizó un mohín de desdén. _
_Me acerqué para saludarla, pero esquivó mis besos._
_- ¿Te pasa algo?_
_- ¿Sabes que día es hoy?_
_- Es jueves, ¿por qué?_
_Y se largó a llorar._
23. Alegría: ¡a celebrar!
La mujer lloraba sentada en el parque, mientras Albert la miraba completamente desconcertado. ¿Qué habría pasado?, ¿cuál era su culpa? Se puso frente a ella bajo para que lo viera y tomó sus manos.
- ¿Qué delito cometí para que no me hables y estés tan triste?
- ¿Estás seguro que no sabes?
- Si no me lo dices no sé cómo adivinarlo.
- Hoy es jueves, mi último día de trabajo en el hospital ¡y no me hablaste en todo el día!
- Pero cariño, estuve con mucho trabajo, no fue mi intención no hablar contigo, en serio.
- ¿Seguro?
- Lo juro, ven acá lindura.
La atrajo hacia sí y la besó dulcemente, ella lo abrazó y dejó de llorar.
Caminaron de la mano hasta el vehículo del hombre, una vez dentro Albert sacó una cajita de su bolsillo y se la entregó.
- ¿Y esto?
- Es un regalo por hacerme un hombre feliz, ábrelo.
Candy lo abrió y quedó muda, era una cadena de oro blanco con un corazón y
dos piedras en su interior, una verde y una azul. Más lágrimas brotaron de sus ojos.
- ¿Y ahora porqué lloras?
- Es hermoso Albert, increíble.
- Me alegra que te gustara ahora vámonos, hay mucho que celebrar.
- ¿Y a dónde vamos?
- A casa, ¿o quieres acompañarme a cenar con ropa de enfermera?, es un día especial.
Manejó lentamente hacia la casa y tocó dos veces la bocina antes de ingresar por el portón para avisar que eran ellos.
- ¿Por qué tocas?
- Me pareció ver un gato cerca del portón, no querrás atropellarlo, ¿cierto?
- Por supuesto que no.
La ayudó a bajar del auto y avanzar hacia la puerta, ni bien entró un grito.
* * *
_¡Sorpresa!, un cúmulo de voces llenó la estancia. Candy llegó a saltar y buscó casi instintivamente mi mano. Se prendieron las luces y rieron todos a costa de ella que tenía una mirada muy asustada._
_- ¡Como se les ocurre darme un susto asi! pobrecita Hope puede haberse asustado._
_- Yo creo que la asustada eres tú hermanita, estás blanca como un papel – le dijo Annie._
_Antes que dijera nada más, la arrastré hacia nuestra habitación para que se __cambiara. La ayudé a buscar una blusa bonita mientras veía como tiraba su atuendo tradicional por toda la pieza y los zapatos quedaban en la entrada._
_Después de dar vuelta el vestidor optó por un par de pantalones y la blusa que había visto. Pasó al baño, se perfumó con sus frasquitos famosos y salió sonriente con mi regalo puesto en su cuello, le quedaba lindo, tal como había pensado, discreto pero elegante._
_Salimos todos en grupo hasta el restaurant que había elegido. Candy estaba contenta, sonreía todo el tiempo y no dejaba de acariciar mi mano sobre la mesa. Annie y Archie hablaban animadamente, de forma inusual, de algo que no fuera moda ni arte. Curioso. Stear y Paty estaban enfrascados en una intensa discusión con mi tía sobre los cambios conductuales de la gente y las tías de mi Candy no cesaban de sacar fotos de la ocasión._
_- Son para Hope, así verá lo esperada que es._
_Y resultó cierto, tienen una carpeta gigante en el computador de la florería __lleno de fotos de Candy. Tienen más que yo, aunque claro, ellas no tienen esa en que mi Candy posa con su mejor sonrisa, desnuda para mí. Y obviamente, esas fotos no las verá nunca mi pequeña Hope._
_La llenamos de regalos y volvió a llorar, ¡ay Dios!, si antes del embarazo era llorona, dormilona y buena para los postres, esto se ha triplicado. ¡Paciencia para mí!_
_La abracé y le sequé las lágrimas, le ofrecí agua y un trocito de la torta de chocolate con avellanas que acababan de servirnos. Me hizo caso y apoyó su cabeza en mi pecho, les sonrío a todos._
_- Les agradezco esto, ustedes son maravillosos, los quiero mucho. Soy tan feliz._
_
* * *
**Nota al margen: queridas amigas como esta semana estare de viaje, les he dejado dos capítulos seguidos de Alegría. Espero les gusten, sigo sus comentarios atentamente aunque no alcance a contestarles a todas. Cariños. Cota**_
24. Alegría: descansando
7
Salieron después del mediodía, Albert había insistido en viajar solos, así que él manejaría todo el trayecto hasta su destino. Era un lugar hermoso, lleno de árboles, con una piscina con aguas termales, un gran salón de descanso y una zona sólo para relajarse.
Los recibió un joven botones muy simpático que cargó sus maletas en un carrito y los acompañó a la recepción. Después de dar sus nombres y recibir sus tarjetas de ingreso para la habitación y unos vales para hidromasaje se dirigieron a su pieza.
Una amplísima cama les esperaba, el botones les dijo que el comedor estaba cerrado, pero que si querían algo para comer fueran al bar y los atenderían.
- No se preocupe señora, todo el hotel es zona de no fumadores, así no tendrá a nadie contaminando su espacio cerca ni el de su bebé.
Candy lo miró feliz. Ese era un detalle del que se había preocupado especialmente, que nadie fumara cerca. Ya bastante tenía con estar en un espacio atochado de gente, con un trabajo bastante estresante y con el tiempo en contra. Sumado a los cuidados de Albert de evitar el café, el alcohol y comiera lo más sano posible, todo estaba bien.
La joven sacó su ropa de la maleta, mientras Albert buscaba en el frigobar una botella de agua para ella y una bebida para él. Se sentó a mirarla desde la cama mientras movía sus cosas de un lado a otro.
Finalmente se sentó a su lado y se tiró de espaldas. Él dejó los vasos en el velador y se puso a su lado.
- ¡Qué agradable!, esta cama es muy cómoda, creo que podría dormir todo el día.
- Y conociéndote ni lo dudaría, ¿quieres dormir, comer algo, pasear un rato o hacerte un masaje?
- La verdad… es que… mmm… te quiero… a ti
La joven se dio vuelta para quedar sobre él y abrazarlo. Tomó el rostro masculino con ambas manos para cubrirlo de besos, jugar con su cabellos y reír de felicidad.
- Eres increíble Albert.
* * *
_Hicimos el amor lentamente, con mucho cuidado para que mi Candy se __sintiera cómoda. Cuando la cubrí con la sábana, se acercó a mí y apoyó su espalda sobre mi cuerpo._
_- Eres adorable Albert, esto es maravilloso._
_- Y tú eres exquisita._
_Besé sus cabellos, ahora sueltos y desparramados, mientras mis brazos la __rodeaban, puse mi nariz sobre su hombro desnudo para llenarme de ese aroma floral tan característico. Ella cerró los ojos y yo también, nos quedamos dormidos._
_Despertamos más tarde y salimos a caminar un rato por los alrededores, son hermosos, con árboles añosos que dan la apariencia de un bosque y algunas casas para quienes no quieren pernoctar en el hotel. _
_Cuando volvimos, salió a recibirnos una tremenda San Bernardo que se llama Linda. Candy la acarició y la perrita nos siguió casi hasta el interior donde uno de los conserjes de recepción la detuvo._
_Caminamos hacia el bar y solicitamos un té, que bebimos cerca de la chimenea prendida con una especie de fuego artificial, que adorna y no da calor. Fue un grato momento, se nos acercó una joven para comentarnos que el spa estaba funcionando y que si Candy lo quería podía hacerse un masaje de relajación. _
_Mi Candy, se ve tan linda con su jeans prenatal y el pelo en una trenza casi interminable. Le sonrío a la joven y le agradeció el gesto, luego me dejó en el lugar porque si aprovecharía de tomar un hidromasaje._
_Y mientras ella se relajaba yo me quedé en el bar disfrutando de la calidez del lugar. Después de un rato me fui a mi habitación para cambiarme de ropa y nadar un rato en la piscina con agua termal. _
_Maravilloso, cuando volví a la pieza, Candy estaba tirada en la cama con un montón de cojines tras su espalda y otro bajo sus pies. Lucía completamente relajada y semidormida. La miré detenidamente desde el umbral, parecía tener el cabello húmedo porque cubría todos los cojines y le daba una aureola angelical._
_- ¿Hasta cuándo vas a mirarme?_
_- Siempre cariño, siempre. No me aburre verte y ahora menos. ¿Cómo te sientes?_
_- Bien, maravillosamente bien. Relajada, descansada, yo creo que Hope está durmiendo porque dejó de moverse hace un rato._
_Puse una de mis manos en su vientre y le pregunté a Hope si dormía, un pequeño __movimiento la delató. Ella estaba relajada pero allí._
* * *
**_Nota al margen: de vuelta en Chile les dejo un capítulo nuevo con esta Candy enteramente sensible y un Albert adorable (cuando no cierto?)_**
**_Cota_**
25. Alegría: qué hacer
8
Candy y Albert volvieron renovados y felices a hacerse cargo de los detalles finales para la habitación de Hope, que sería prontamente habitada. Tenía un agradable bergere, una cuna llena de primorosos velos y muñequitos colegantes, un mudador amplio y todo suavemente iluminado ya fuera por la luz natural que entraba por la ventana como por las lámparas que gastan poca energía.
La pieza está al lado de ellos, conectada por una puerta y ya hay habilitados un teléfono y una especie de monitores para escuchar hasta el más mínimo ruido de Hope. Las tías de ambos han dicho que son unos exagerados, pero ellos alegan que es solamente por precaución.
Albert sigue con su vida normal y Candy busca qué hacer, dentro de todo y teniendo gente que busca ayudarla lo más posible, se encuentra con pocas diversiones y muchas horas libres. Las ha dedicado a leer, dormir (y mucho), caminar y juntarse con sus amigas.
Annie la ha llevado a comprar cosas para la bebé y ropa, pero al final ella sólo la acompaña, considera que Hope tiene demasiadas cosas. Aunque sí ha comprado algunas cosas para un hogar de huérfanos que hay cerca del hospital.
Lo conoció cuando una mujer que llegó a parir de urgencia falleció y la asistente social se llevó a la menor. Si Candy no hubiera estado embarazada habría buscado la forma de adoptarla. Sin embargo, decidió acompañar a la asistente y ver las instalaciones.
Había muchos niños dando vueltas en el lugar, que era atendido por un grupo de mujeres. Si bien ellas se comprometían mucho con los niños, se notaba que les faltaba apoyo para que el lugar fuera más cómodo.
Desde ese día, y sin contarle a nadie, visitaba el lugar casi todas las mañanas, llevando alegría, cariño y muchas risas para los infantes. A veces también llegaba con víveres, ropa o juguetes.
Nadie sabía su identidad, exepto su nombre, pero todos la habían denominado la "señora risas" porque nadie más tenía una risa cantarina que iluminara la estancia. Aún descontando diez días para el arribo de Hope, ella seguía asistiendo. Y a veces tanto ajetreo la cansaba, Albert ya le había preguntado qué hacía en las mañanas pero ella se rehusaba a contestar, total un secreto para sí no le hacía daño a nadie.
¿O no?
* * *
_Candy anda rara, oculta algo, estoy seguro. La conozco demasiado bien y además ella no sabe mentir. ¿En qué andará metida? Sé que sale en las mañanas porque Edward me lo comentó, alegando que "la señora no quiere que la acompañe"._
_Sale a pie, así que no puede ser muy lejos de nuestra casa, pero algo debe estar haciendo porque a la hora de almuerzo la veo bastante cansada y después de comer suele dormir una larga siesta. Tengo certeza de ello porque varias veces la llevo a la pieza ya dormida. _
_Se come todo lo que pilla, y no es que me asombre porque siempre ha sido una golosa, pero ahora es mucho más y no ha subido casi nada de peso desde nuestros días en el spa._
_Llamé al obstetra y le pregunté si eso estaba bien. Mi tía dijo que soy un aprehensivo de lo peor, pero me preocupa la salud de mi mujer y mi hija. El médico me dijo que me quedara tranquilo, porque Candy y Hope están bien._
_De todas maneras estoy intrigado, no ha querido decir dónde va. ¿Y si la sigo? Decidido, seré su sombra y sabré que está haciendo tan sigilosamente._
_Me hice el dormido intencionadamente y cuando se acercó para decirme que era un dormilón, alegué que no tenía compromisos de oficina y que podía pasar la mañana con ella. _
_- Lo siento cariño, tengo un compromiso._
_- ¿Te lleva Edward?_
_- No amor, es cerca, voy a pie._
_- ¿Te acompaño?_
_- No te preocupes, aprovecha de dormir._
_Y se fue, apenas salió me levanté con un buzo y la seguí, caminaba a paso rápido. Se acercó a una dulcería a comprar "cuchuflies" rellenos de manjar, la vi por el vidrio. Los guardó en una de esas bolsas reciclables que lleva plegadas en la cartera. Salió, yo estaba escondido tras un periódico en el kiosco frente a la puerta._
_Comencé a caminar tras ella nuevamente, avanzó hasta una frutería y adquirió varias manzanas, un chico la siguió con ellas y una bolsa con verduras. ¿Para quién sería tanta comida? _
_Avanzó dos cuadras y se detuvo bruscamente, yo medio distraído como estaba casi choqué con ella._
_- ¿Dígame señor, se le perdió algo? – me miró con los ojos entornados - ¿Albert?_
26. Alegría: el propio sol
9
El hombre quedó semi congelado en el lugar, tratando de inventar una respuesta. Se quitó los lentes de sol y le sonrío a la mujer que lo miraba un poco incrédula.
- Este… hola cariño… pasaba por aquí…
- Si, seguro… con buzo y siguiéndome por cuadras, ¿crees que no me dí cuenta?
- Bueno… pensé que no me habías visto.
- Me sentí observada y al girar mi cabeza vi un hombre con buzo y gafas caminar casi al paso y cerca de mi, detenerse donde yo lo hacía y volver a caminar cuando yo lo hacía. ¿Me puedes decir qué estás haciendo?
- Yo… este… ¿no quieres un café?
- No, quiero una respuesta.
Titubeando un poco, el hombre explicó en pocas palabras su preocupación y curiosidad. La mujer lo miraba semi divertida, semi incrédula; ver a Albert con buzo era todo un espectáculo y además con la cara cubierta de rubor tratando de explicarse.
- Y finalmente, lo que pasa es que me preocupas que andas sola cuando ya queda poco para que nazca Hope.
- Tranquilo, está bien. Ya llegaste hasta aquí, ¿en serio quieres saber qué hago?
- Sí.
- Acompáñame.
Siguieron caminando de la mano hasta llegar al orfanato, un lote de niños corrieron hacia ellos cuando la vieron llegar, varios se detuvieron al ver al hombre de buzo. Candy los presentó, mientras el chico de las bolsas iba como todas las mañanas hacia la cocina con su cargamento.
Después de un rato, Albert estaba integrado plenamente a los juegos de los infantes. Su mujer lo veía desde una de las ventanas del corredor, mientras acariciaba los cabellos de una niñita que había llegado el día anterior y aún andaba asustadiza por las dependencias.
La directora la llamó para conversar un rato. Era una mujer un poco bajita, medio rechoncha, que tras perder a su marido y ver sus hijos adultos se había dedicado a cuidar a todos esos pequeños que habían perdido de una u otra forma su familia.
Desde la llegada de Candy con la asistente social, cada vez que requerían un consejo médico, la mujer se acercaba a ella y Candy le ayudaba feliz. Tras la conversación, ambas mujeres salieron al patio donde Albert aún jugaba con los chicos. Candy se sentó en una banquita a mirarlo, cubriéndose los ojos con la mano como visera.
* * *
_Se ve hermosa sentada en ese banco y cuando los niños la recibieron pareció iluminarse más, ignoro porqué no me contó lo que hacía, pero estoy orgulloso de ella. Encontró una forma alterna de ayudar a los demás, distinto a su quehacer diario en el hospital._
_Después de presentarme, besó a cada uno de los chicos que nos rodeaban y repartió los dulces que llevaba en la cartera. Ellos salieron corriendo y una niñita de rizos oscuros y piel muy blanca, tomó mi mano._
_- ¿Juegas?_
_Miré a Candy, mi primer impulso era decirle que sí, pero ¿estaría bien? Ella me sonrío, besó mi mejilla y le dijo a la chiquilla._
_- Muéstrale todo Jaquie._
_Y la infante salió hacia el patio para presentarme de nuevo a los niños y dar un paseo por el lugar. Rápidamente me sumé a ellos, parece que pocos adultos juegan con ellos, porque estaban felices. _
_Jugamos a las escondidas, a trepar árboles, a saltar la cuerda. Después de un rato, nos tiramos en el pasto del jardín, que era bastante amplio. Cerré los ojos y sentí el sol en mi cara, ¡qué agradable!, hacía su tiempo desde que percibiera esa sensación de relajo absoluta (no estoy considerando nuestros días de vacaciones)_
_Uno de los niños, de cabello corto, castaño y rostro con muchas pecas, se sentó y me preguntó: _
_- ¿el bebé de Candy es tuyo?_
_- Sí, ¿cómo lo sabes?_
_- Ella dijo que ese bebé era un regalo de un hombre maravilloso- me dijo otra de las niñitas, una trenza larguísima le llegaba casi a la espalda._
_- La verdad es que Candy y mi hija son el mejor regalo que me ha dado la vida._
_Sentí su mirada, estaba sentada en una banquita y cubría sus ojos con sus manos. Se veía hermosa, deslumbrante y yo la amaba, la amo y la seguiré amando mientras viva, porque ella es mi propio sol y jardín en esta vida. _
27. Alegría: ¡alarma!
10
Cada vez queda menos para la fecha del parto, Candy y Albert están más nerviosos que de costumbre; de hecho, Albert no deja su casa y trabaja allí. Después de una fuerte discusión ha logrado que Candy vaya en el auto a sus visitas al orfanato.
Cuando ella regresa, es prácticamente estudiada con lupa. Albert está cada vez más aprehensivo y ella empieza a aburrirse. Le pide que la deje descansar un rato tranquila y sube a su habitación.
Está recostada con su panza sobre un cojín rectangular que le han recomendado para estar más cómoda. Siente una punzada fuerte, como si Hope la estuviera pateando. Acaricia su vientre y le pide a su hija que esté tranquila. La punzada vuelve a los minutos y no cesan, son cada vez más fuertes.
Ella trata de tomarlo con calma, ¿será que ya es momento? De pronto no siente nada, se tranquiliza, respira profundo y se gira para el otro lado. Después de un rato, las punzadas vuelven, ahora más agudas. Se sienta, se aminora el dolor, se levanta y camina hacia la puerta, otra punzada.
De acuerdo, ahora si tiene miedo, no va a parir sin Albert al lado. De ninguna forma, sale y empieza a bajar lentamente la escalera, al llegar al primer piso, se detiene, está muy cansada. Respira profundo y continúa.
Albert está en su escritorio, no muy pendiente de los papeles que debe revisar. Se siente nervioso, sabe que en cualquier momento tendrán que partir para el hospital, por ello la ropa de ambos y Hope lleva ya dos días en el maletero del auto. El número de la matrona y el médico están en su discado directo. Edward y el conductor extra están listos, viven prácticamente arriba del auto.
La habitación para el parto está reservada, Candy no quería, pero él había alegado que de algo le serviría tanto dinero e influencia familiar. Su hija podía nacer tranquila, lo haría en las mejores manos y con nuevas técnicas.
Les espera una tina con agua tibia, pues han optado por un parto en el agua. Después de mucho investigar, si eso ayuda a disminuir el dolor de Candy y a causarle menos estrés a Hope, así será.
Mira la cajita que guarda en su escritorio, son un par de pequeños aros con la letra H, junto a ellos una pulsera con tres corazones: uno verde, uno azul y uno de ambos colores.
Se escucha un golpe en la puerta. Da el pase y aparece Candy un poco pálida.
- Albert, ha llegado el momento.
* * *
_Me asustó su palidez y cuando la oí casi caigo en pánico. Hope va a nacer, ¿y ahora qué hago? Me levanto, me acerco a ella, tomo su mano y le pregunto si está bien._
_- Albert, esto duele un poco y Hope va a nacer, llévame al hospital por favor._
_Gracias a su lucidez, la tomo en brazos y la llevo al auto. Marco a Edward que aparece casi inmediatamente y se pone al volante. Llamo al médico, a la matrona, a George. ¡Mi hija va a nacer!_
_Entramos con Candy en una silla de ruedas, la llevan a la sala reservada y el médico la revisa. Me dejan fuera, pensando mil cosas hasta que la matrona sale y me dice que puedo pasar._
_Mi Candy está en una cama con unos cables en el vientre, me explican que es un monitor fetal para ver cómo esta Hope. Candy está más tranquila y yo tremendamente nervioso, no sé qué hacer ni decir. Ella me mira, me tiende su mano y me pide que me siente a su lado._
_- Mira, en ese aparato podemos ver los latidos del corazón de Hope. _
_- ¿Te duele?_
_- Un poco. _
_Pasan las horas y ni señales de Hope, Candy sigue recostada ya un poco aburrida de estar en la cama, pide que la dejen pararse y caminar un poco. Le quitan los sensores y damos una vuelta por el pasillo._
_Regresamos, la revisan de nuevo, nada ni un poco más dilatada que antes le dicen. Se nos va el día en eso, cuando la luna asoma, el doctor nos sugiere irnos a casa porque definitivamente "Hope no nacerá hoy". _
_Ha sido una falsa alarma, Candy se viste con su ropa maternal y volvemos a casa. Antes de entrar caminamos un rato por el jardín, ya no soporta estar acostada. Damos pasos pequeños y lentos, tomados de la mano. Ella me mira después de un rato de silencio y me habla._
_- Tranquilo cariño, no soy la primera mujer que tiene una falsa alarma. El mismo doctor te lo dijo._
_- Ya, pero igual estoy intranquilo y ¿si nace en la noche?_
_- No es tan rápido Albert y te aseguro que te enterarás. _
_Entramos a casa para cenar algo y conversar con la familia. Estoy ansioso, lo único que quiero ver es el rostro de mi hija y parece que ella no quiere aparecer todavía. Subo con Candy para darle un masaje en la espalda antes de dormir. Después de eso se pone un camisón, se acuesta y se duerme. Yo no puedo dormir._
28. Alegría: llega el momento
11
Pasan dos días antes de que Candy vuelva a tener contracciones. Está de visita en el orfanato, cuando empiezan las punzadas nuevamente. Se sienta en una de las bancas y le pide a los niños que llamen a una de las mujeres a cargo. Ellas llaman a Edward, quien rápidamente aparece con Albert a buscarla.
Esta vez las contracciones son más seguidas e intensas. Candy aprieta la mano de Albert varias veces, él no se queja simplemente acaricia sus mejillas y le dice que ya pasará.
Vuelven a la sala pero esta vez Albert no permite que lo dejen fuera, no se perderá minuto alguno de la llegada al mundo de su hija. Después de revisarla, la matrona le sonríe y le dice que al parecer ahora sí nacerá.
Candy está de nuevo en la cama con el monitor, las contracciones no cesan y por su rostro resbalan, rebeldes, algunas lágrimas que no quiere que salgan para evitar que Albert se preocupe.
El se sienta detrás de ella y empieza a masajear su espalda.
- Prometí que no te dolería, lo siento – le dice mientras recoge sus lágrimas con sus manos.
- No pasa nada cariño.
- ¿Qué puedo hacer?
- Sigue con el masaje.
Tras un par de horas aparece nuevamente la matrona y esta vez Candy es ayudada a ir hacia la gran bañera dispuesta en la sala. Albert va al baño y se cambia la ropa. Se sumerge atrás de su mujer.
El agua está tibia y Candy se relaja, incluso asegura que el dolor es muchísimo menor. El sigue masajeando su espalda, sintiendo que el agua los ayuda a ambos a calmar sus nervios.
Ingresan médico y matrona, ahora la mujer respira más agitadamente, las contracciones son más intensas y largas, Albert le recuerda los ejercicios de respiración. Inspiran y exhalan juntos. La matrona le dice a Candy que puje, ella aprieta las manos de Albert y lo hace, una y otra vez hasta que siente que se desgarra y que algo sale de su cuerpo.
Es Hope, ha nacido.
* * *
_Veo cómo se asoma su pequeña cabecita, al mismo tiempo que un líquido tibio toca mis piernas. Candy aún aprieta mis manos, no sé como no quebró mis dedos, ¡vaya fuerza! Ahora está apoyada sobre mi pecho, luce muy cansada. Y Hope está allí en el agua, la matrona la tiene sujeta, después de unos minutos, la saca del agua y finalmente la vemos._
_Es extraña, se ve toda arrugadita y un poco morada, ¿será bueno eso? Se lo pregunto a la matrona, que se ríe de mí. Cubre a Hope con una toalla y con un enérgico masaje la seca, al mismo tiempo que la limpian completamente. Y entonces la oímos llorar, como un gatito._
_Nos miramos con Candy y nos ponemos a llorar, ¡es precioso!, ese pequeño ser es nuestra hija. La matrona se la entrega a Candy y ella la pone sobre su pecho, la niña deja de llorar, yo suelto una de las manos de mi mujer para tocar a mi hija._
_Es tan pequeña, tan frágil, no sé cómo tocarla, estoy completamente atontado. Pero es linda, abre sus ojos y nos mira, ¿sabrá que nosotros somos sus padres?, ¿qué le hemos conversado y puesto música todos los días, desde que supimos de su existencia?_
_Candy me mira de nuevo, besa mi mejilla y me dice:_
_- Fíjate tiene tus ojos._
_La beso con pasión y le agradezco este regalo, Hope tiene mis ojos pero los rizos rebeldes son de ella. Como si supiera, ella nos mira y hace gestos con su boca. La toco con un dedo. Su piel está arrugada todavía, la matrona nos la quita para vestirla y ver el alumbramiento de la placenta._
_Todo bien, ambos salimos de la bañera y ayudo a Candy a vestirse, ahora tiene frío. La llevo en brazos hacia la cama y la arropo, pero ella sólo quiere tener a Hope. Me voy a cambiar de ropa y cuando salgo del baño, veo lo más increíble. _
_Hope está pegada a uno de los pechos de mi Candy y ella la acaricia, tranquilamente como si lo hubiera hecho siempre. Una enfermera que ha estado presente todo el momento sacándonos fotos, me pasa la cámara y entonces, me acerco a ambas y las fotografío. _
_Se ven hermosas, preciosas, increíbles. Cuando termina de alimentar a nuestra bebé (¿realmente habrá comido algo Hope?), Candy me la pasa para que la cargue. Me da pánico, es tan chiquita. Según el médico mide 50 centímetros y pesa tres kilos, ¡tres kilos!, ¡es pequenísima!_
_Ella me indica como tomarla y sigo al pie de las letras sus instrucciones. Cuando ya está en mis brazos, beso su frente y ella me sonríe._
_- Bienvenida Hope, soy tu papá._
* * *
**__**
**_Nota al margen: antes que todo mil disculpas por no actualizar, entre mucho trabajo y un pequeño desperefecto del laptop donde tengo esta historia guardada... pero ya... me estoy poniendo al dia, tanto que subire los ultimos tres capitulos de un tiron y asi tambien despediremos el 2010._**
**_Mil gracias a todas las lectoras y comentaristas de este fic, ya sea identificadas o no espero que lo disfrutaran._**
**_Cariños a todas y mis mejores deseos para el 2011_**
**_Cota_**
End file.
| fanfiction |
many physical , sociological and biological systems are represented by complex networks @xcite .
one of the important problems in complex networks is the fragmentation of networks @xcite . in this problem one studies the statistical properties of the fragmented networks after removing nodes ( or links ) from the original fully connected network using a certain strategy .
many different removal strategies have been developed for various purposes , e.g. , mimicking the real world network failures , improving the effectiveness of network disintegration , etc .
examples include random removal ( rr ) strategy , the high degree removal ( hdr ) strategy and the high betweenness centrality removal strategy ( hbr ) @xcite .
note that the best strategy for fragmentation ( minimum nodes removal ) is also the best for immunization since it represent the minimum number of nodes or links needed to be immunized so that epidemic can not spread in the network .
recently , a new measure of fragmentation has been developed in social network studies @xcite . given a fully connected network of @xmath7 nodes which is fragmented into separate clusters @xcite by removing @xmath8 nodes following a certain strategy .
we define @xmath9 the concentration of nodes removed and @xmath10 the concentration of existing nodes .
the degree of fragmentation @xmath0 of the network is defined as the ratio between the number of pairs of nodes that are not connected in the fragmented network and the total number of pairs in the original fully connected network .
suppose that after removal there are @xmath11 clusters in the fragmented network , since all members of a cluster are , by definition , mutually reachable , the measure @xmath0 can be written as follows @xcite @xmath12 here , @xmath13 is the number of nodes in cluster @xmath14 , @xmath11 is number of clusters in the fragmented network , and @xmath7 the number of nodes in the original fully connected network . for an undamaged network , @xmath15 .
for a totally fragmented network , @xmath16 . the quantity @xmath17 defined in eq .
( [ f_def ] ) can be regarded as the `` connectivity '' of the network . when @xmath18 the network is fully connected while for @xmath19 it is fully fragmented . in this paper , we study the statistical behavior of @xmath20 using both analytical and numerical methods and relate it to the traditional measure of fragmentation , the relative size of the largest cluster , @xmath2 , used in percolation theory . in this way , we are able to obtain analytical results for the fragmentation @xmath0 of networks .
we study three removal strategies : the _ random removal ( rr ) strategy _ which removes randomly selected nodes , the _ high degree removal ( hdr ) strategy _ which targets and removes nodes with highest degree and the _ high betweenness centrality removal ( hbr ) strategy _ which targets and removes nodes with highest betweenness centrality .
the hdr ( or hbr ) strategies first removes the node with the highest degree ( or the highest betweenness centrality ) , and then the second highest and so on .
these three strategies are commonly used in models representing random and targeted attacks in real world networks @xcite .
traditionally , in analogy to percolation , physicists describe the connectivity of a fragmented network by the ratio @xmath21 ( called the incipient order parameter ) between the largest cluster size @xmath22 ( called the infinite cluster ) and @xmath7 .
many properties have been derived for this measure @xcite .
for example , in random networks , @xmath2 undergoes a second order phase transition at a threshold @xmath23 . below @xmath23
, @xmath2 is zero for @xmath24 , while for @xmath25 , @xmath2 is finite .
this occurs for both rr and hdr in random networks and lattice networks @xcite .
the threshold parameter @xmath23 depends on the degree distribution , the network topology , and the removal strategy @xcite .
the specific way that @xmath2 approaches zero at @xmath23 depends on the network topology and removal strategy but not on details such as @xmath23 . in scale
free networks , where the degree distribution @xmath26 and @xmath27 , it has been found that @xmath28 for rr strategy @xcite while @xmath23 is very high for hdr strategy @xcite and for hbr strategy @xcite . for @xmath29 and rr , @xmath23 is finite .
next , we show simulation results of removing nodes in all strategies ( rr , hdr and hbr ) on er and scale free networks . fig .
[ f_kill ] shows the behavior of @xmath17 ( @xmath30 ) and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 for erds - rnyi ( er ) and scale - free ( sf ) networks with rr ( fig .
[ f_kill](a),(b ) ) , hdr ( fig .
[ f_kill](c),(d ) ) and hbr ( fig .
[ f_kill](e),(f ) ) strategies . as seen in fig .
[ f_kill](a ) , the network becomes more fragmented when @xmath1 increases and both measures drop sharply at @xmath31 .
note that @xmath17 shows a transition similar to @xmath2 at @xmath32 ; however , above @xmath6 , @xmath17 becomes more flat in contrast to @xmath2 , indicating the effect of connectivity in the small clusters which do not effect @xmath2 .
in contrast to fig .
[ f_kill](a ) , the transition in fig .
[ f_kill](b ) is not as sharp and therefore @xmath17 and @xmath2 do not show a collapse together .
the reason is that for @xmath33 there is no transition at @xmath34 @xcite and for @xmath35 , @xmath2 falls much less sharply compared to er @xcite .
for hdr shown in figs .
[ f_kill](c),(d ) , the transition is again sharp since after removing high degree nodes , the network becomes similar to er networks , which do not have high degree nodes @xcite .
a similar behavior is seen for hbr shown in figs .
[ f_kill](e),(f ) due to the known high correlation between high degree nodes and high betweenness centrality nodes @xcite . when @xmath36 and not too close to @xmath23 , following percolation theory , the infinite cluster dominates the system and @xmath37 , i.e. most of unremoved nodes are connected .
thus , we assume that the small clusters will have a small effect on @xmath17 compared to the largest one . using this assumption , eq .
( [ f_def ] ) can be written as @xmath38 therefore , we expect @xmath2 and @xmath17 have the relationship @xmath39 when @xmath25 ( but not too close to @xmath23 ) . when @xmath40 , the infinite cluster loses its dominance in the system and @xmath41 for large @xmath7 @xcite . here
significant variations between @xmath2 and @xmath42 are expected , as indeed seen in fig .
[ f_vs_f2 ] .
we test by simulations the relationship @xmath43 derived for @xmath25 in eq .
( [ f_f2 ] ) . in fig . [ f_vs_f2](a ) we plot @xmath2 vs @xmath42 for rr strategy in er networks and for several values of @xmath44 . as predicted by eq .
( [ f_f2 ] ) , the plot of @xmath2 vs @xmath42 yields a linear relationship with slope equal to @xmath45 when @xmath46 . the range of @xmath2 and @xmath42 for @xmath47 is due to the variation of @xmath2 for a given @xmath44 and the same variation appears for @xmath42 showing that the infinite cluster dominates and eq .
( [ f_f2 ] ) is valid .
however , when @xmath44 drops close to @xmath48 , the system approaches criticality and the one - to - one correspondence between @xmath42 and @xmath2 is not as strong .
this variation is attributed to the presence of clusters other than the infinite one , which influence @xmath17 but not @xmath2 .
similar behavior is observed for rr strategy in sf networks with @xmath35 shown in fig .
[ f_vs_f2](b ) . for @xmath35 ,
the variation in @xmath42 emerge close to @xmath49 .
however , for @xmath33 , percolation theory suggests that @xmath23 approaches @xmath50 for large systems . as a result ,
no significant variation is observed even when @xmath2 is as small as @xmath51 .
this observation supports that the sf networks with @xmath52 are quite robust in sustaining its infinite cluster against random removal @xcite .
[ f_vs_f2](c ) , [ f_vs_f2](d),[f_vs_f2](e ) and [ f_vs_f2](f ) show the results for hdr and hbr strategies in er and sf networks .
for these targeted strategies , the variation of @xmath42 and @xmath2 shows up at significantly higher @xmath44 compared to the random case , indicating that the infinite cluster breaks down easier under hdr and hbr attacks for both er and sf networks , as seen also in fig .
[ f_kill ] . at this point ,
the sf network with @xmath33 becomes no longer as robust as in the random case , as can be clearly observed in the large variation at @xmath53 . to further investigate the characteristics of the variation of @xmath17 for a given @xmath2
, we calculate the probability distributions @xmath54 versus @xmath55 for a given @xmath2 where @xmath56 is the average value of @xmath17 and the results are plotted in fig .
[ f_limit ] . in this case ,
@xmath57 , the most probable value of @xmath17 , is determined by the fixed infinite cluster size @xmath2 with @xmath58 , and the broadness of @xmath54 comes from presence of clusters other than the infinite one .
because the largest cluster size is fixed , the upper cutoff of @xmath54 emerges due to the limitation on the sizes of other clusters that by definition must be smaller than the largest cluster . for the rr strategy ,
the broadness of @xmath54 for er network is bigger than that of sf networks at the same @xmath2 , especially for @xmath59 where the system is always high above criticality and the variation is relatively small . on the contrary , for the hdr and hbr strategies ,
the broadness of @xmath54 for er and sf networks are of the same order due to the fact that for hdr and hbr , @xmath23 is also finite for @xmath33 .
this observation is consistent with the results shown in fig .
[ f_vs_f2 ] .
now we focus on the dependence of @xmath54 on the system size @xmath7 at @xmath23 ( fig .
[ f_n ] ) . from percolation theory and for er under rr strategy ,
the infinite cluster size @xmath22 at criticality behaves as @xcite @xmath60 since @xmath17 follows similar behavior as @xmath22 at criticality , we expect @xmath17 for @xmath32 to behave as , @xmath61 thus , we expect the probability distribution @xmath54 with @xmath32 to scale as @xmath62 where @xmath63 is a scaling function .
[ f_n]b supports this scaling relationship .
we calculate @xmath54 for rr strategy at criticality on er networks with @xmath7 values of @xmath64 , @xmath65 , @xmath66 and @xmath67 ( shown in fig .
[ f_n]a ) , and @xcitefind a good collapse when plotted ( fig .
[ f_n]b ) using the scaling form of eq . ( [ eq_pf_n ] ) .
the er networks and the sf networks that we have been studying are random ensemble of networks which are only determined by their degree distribution . it is known that many real networks often exhibit important structural properties relevant for percolation properties such as high level of clustering , assortativity and fractality that random networks do not exhibit @xcite .
we therefore test our results about the relation between @xmath17 and @xmath2 on an example of a large real social network .
the network we use is extracted from a data set obtained from statistics sweden @xcite and consists of all geographical workplaces in sweden that can be linked with each other by having at least one employee from each workplace sharing the same household .
household is defined as a married couple or a couple having kids together that are living in the same flat or house .
unmarried couples without kids and other individuals sharing household are not registered in the dataset as households .
this kind of network have been shown to be of importance for the spreading of influenza @xcite and are also likely to be important for spreading of information and rumors in society .
the network consists of @xmath68 nodes ( workplaces ) and @xmath69 links ( employees sharing the same households ) and , as shown in fig .
[ real_properties](a ) , is approximately a sf network with @xmath70 and an exponential cut off .
the network shows almost no degree - degree correlation ( assortativity ) ( fig .
[ real_properties](b ) ) .
however , the workplace network clustering coefficient @xmath71 is significantly higher than that of a random sf network with same @xmath72 and @xmath7 ( fig .
[ real_properties](c ) ) .
the average of @xmath71 is @xmath73 for the workplace network versus @xmath74 for the random sf networks , which is consistent with the earlier social network studies @xcite .
[ real_properties](d ) shows the node distribution @xmath75 of k - shell ( @xmath76 ) in the network compared to that of a random sf network with same @xmath72 and @xmath77 @xcite .
it is seen that in the workplace network there exist significantly more shells and the large shells are more occupied compared to random sf .
the distribution @xmath75 shows a power - law behavior with slope @xmath78 .
this indicates the structure of this real network .
[ real_properties](e ) shows the crust total size , the largest cluster size and the second largest cluster size as a function of shell @xmath76 .
it is seen that the largest cluster has two transitions .
one around @xmath79 and the other at @xmath80 . at @xmath81 , the largest cluster increase from zero to a finite fraction of the network .
this transition is related to the hdr seen in fig .
[ f_real](d ) ( see also @xcite ) .
the second transition at @xmath80 defines the nucleus of the workplace network which include about 100 nodes ( see fig .
[ real_properties](d ) , @xmath82 ) which are well connected to each other .
the jump of the largest cluster from @xmath80 to @xmath83 from @xmath84 nodes to @xmath85 nodes ( i.e. @xmath86 nodes ) is due to nodes which are connected only to the nucleus .
these nodes are called dendrites . fig . [
real_properties](e ) is very similar to the medusa model @xcite suggested for the as topology of the internet .
[ f_real](a ) and [ f_real](b ) show simulation results for several values of @xmath44 for @xmath2 vs @xmath42 .
the curves are linear , similar to fig .
[ f_vs_f2 ] for our model networks .
moreover , figs .
[ f_real](c ) and ( d ) show that @xmath42 and @xmath2 are almost identical above the criticality threshold @xmath23 for a typical configuration after both rr and hdr . for @xmath44 below criticality ,
differences appear which are especially obvious for hdr strategy where @xmath87 is relatively small .
while @xmath2 rapidly decreases to a very small value ( below @xmath88 ) , a plateau shows up in the curve of @xmath42 due to the influence of the small clusters .
in summary , we study the measure for fragmentation @xmath20 proposed in social sciences and relate it to the traditional @xmath2 used in physics in percolation theory . for @xmath44 above criticality , @xmath17 and @xmath2 are highly correlated and @xmath89 .
close to criticality , for @xmath90 and below @xmath23 , variations between @xmath17 and @xmath2 emerge due to the presence of the small clusters . for systems close or below criticality
, @xmath0 gives better measure for fragmentation of the whole system compared to @xmath2 .
we study the probability distribution @xmath54 for a given @xmath2 and find that @xmath54 at @xmath32 obeys the scaling relationship @xmath91 for both rr strategy on er network , and for hdr on scale free networks .
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e * 65 * , 057102 ( 2002 ) . s. carmi , s. havlin , s. kirkpatrick , y. shavitt and e. shir , cond - mat/0601240 ( 2006 ) . and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 on er and sf networks . for er networks , @xmath92 and @xmath93 .
for sf networks , @xmath94 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks , ( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks.[f_kill],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 on er and sf networks . for er networks , @xmath92 and @xmath93 . for sf networks , @xmath94 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks ,
( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks.[f_kill],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 on er and sf networks . for er networks , @xmath92 and @xmath93 . for sf networks , @xmath94 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks ,
( c ) hdr strategy on er networks ,
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks , ( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks.[f_kill],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 on er and sf networks . for er networks ,
@xmath92 and @xmath93 . for sf networks , @xmath94 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks , ( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks.[f_kill],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 on er and sf networks . for er networks , @xmath92 and @xmath93 . for sf networks , @xmath94 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks ,
( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks ,
( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and
( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks.[f_kill],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 versus @xmath1 on er and sf networks . for er networks , @xmath92 and @xmath93 . for sf networks , @xmath94 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks ,
( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks ,
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks ,
( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and
( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks.[f_kill],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 for er and sf networks with system size @xmath95 . for er networks , the average degree @xmath67 , and for sf networks , @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks , ( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks .
[ f_vs_f2],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 for er and sf networks with system size @xmath95 . for er networks , the average degree @xmath67 , and for sf networks , @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks , ( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and
( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks .
[ f_vs_f2],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 for er and sf networks with system size @xmath95 . for er networks , the average degree @xmath67 , and for sf networks , @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks ,
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks ,
( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and
( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks .
[ f_vs_f2],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 for er and sf networks with system size @xmath95 . for er networks , the average degree @xmath67 , and for sf networks , @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks ,
( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and
( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks .
[ f_vs_f2],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 for er and sf networks with system size @xmath95 . for er networks , the average degree @xmath67 , and for sf networks , @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks ,
( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks .
[ f_vs_f2],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] and @xmath2 for er and sf networks with system size @xmath95 . for er networks , the average degree @xmath67 , and for sf networks , @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
the graphs are ( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks , ( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks , ( e ) hbr strategy on er networks and ( f ) hbr strategy on sf networks .
[ f_vs_f2],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] versus @xmath55 for several values of @xmath2 and for er networks with @xmath97 , @xmath92 and sf networks with @xmath94 and @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks and
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks.[f_limit],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] versus @xmath55 for several values of @xmath2 and for er networks with @xmath97 , @xmath92 and sf networks with @xmath94 and @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks ,
( c ) hdr strategy on er networks and
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks.[f_limit],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] versus @xmath55 for several values of @xmath2 and for er networks with @xmath97 , @xmath92 and sf networks with @xmath94 and @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks ,
( c ) hdr strategy on er networks and
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks.[f_limit],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] versus @xmath55 for several values of @xmath2 and for er networks with @xmath97 , @xmath92 and sf networks with @xmath94 and @xmath33 and @xmath96 .
( a ) rr strategy on er networks , ( b ) rr strategy on sf networks , ( c ) hdr strategy on er networks and
( d ) hdr strategy on sf networks.[f_limit],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] on the system size @xmath7 with @xmath32 for ( a ) before scaling and ( b ) after scaling .
simulations are performed on er networks with @xmath67 .
[ f_n],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] on the system size @xmath7 with @xmath32 for ( a ) before scaling and ( b ) after scaling .
simulations are performed on er networks with @xmath67 .
[ f_n],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] ) .
( b ) the distribution of @xmath98 , the degree of the neighbors of nodes having degree @xmath99 .
( c ) the cumulative distribution of clustering coefficient @xmath71 .
( d ) number of nodes in shell @xmath76 .
( e ) size of largest and second largest cluster in each k - crust . in ( b ) , ( c ) and ( d ) the distributions of random sf networks with the same @xmath72 and @xmath7 are plotted for comparison.[real_properties],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] ) .
( b ) the distribution of @xmath98 , the degree of the neighbors of nodes having degree @xmath99 .
( c ) the cumulative distribution of clustering coefficient @xmath71 .
( d ) number of nodes in shell @xmath76 .
( e ) size of largest and second largest cluster in each k - crust . in ( b ) , ( c ) and ( d ) the distributions of random sf networks with the same @xmath72 and @xmath7 are plotted for comparison.[real_properties],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] ) .
( b ) the distribution of @xmath98 , the degree of the neighbors of nodes having degree @xmath99 .
( c ) the cumulative distribution of clustering coefficient @xmath71 .
( d ) number of nodes in shell @xmath76 .
( e ) size of largest and second largest cluster in each k - crust . in ( b ) , ( c ) and ( d ) the distributions of random sf networks with the same @xmath72 and @xmath7 are plotted for comparison.[real_properties],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] ) .
( b ) the distribution of @xmath98 , the degree of the neighbors of nodes having degree @xmath99 .
( c ) the cumulative distribution of clustering coefficient @xmath71 .
( d ) number of nodes in shell @xmath76 .
( e ) size of largest and second largest cluster in each k - crust . in ( b ) , ( c ) and ( d ) the distributions of random sf networks with the same @xmath72 and @xmath7 are plotted for comparison.[real_properties],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] ) .
( b ) the distribution of @xmath98 , the degree of the neighbors of nodes having degree @xmath99 .
( c ) the cumulative distribution of clustering coefficient @xmath71 .
( d ) number of nodes in shell @xmath76 .
( e ) size of largest and second largest cluster in each k - crust . in ( b ) , ( c ) and ( d ) the distributions of random sf networks with the same @xmath72 and @xmath7 are plotted for comparison.[real_properties],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] vs @xmath42 for ( a ) rr strategy and ( b ) hdr strategy and plot @xmath42 , @xmath2 versus @xmath1 for ( c ) rr strategy and ( d ) hdr strategy for the swedish network of workplaces with @xmath100 nodes.[f_real],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] vs @xmath42 for ( a ) rr strategy and ( b ) hdr strategy and plot @xmath42 , @xmath2 versus @xmath1 for ( c ) rr strategy and ( d ) hdr strategy for the swedish network of workplaces with @xmath100 nodes.[f_real],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] vs @xmath42 for ( a ) rr strategy and ( b ) hdr strategy and plot @xmath42 , @xmath2 versus @xmath1 for ( c ) rr strategy and ( d ) hdr strategy for the swedish network of workplaces with @xmath100 nodes.[f_real],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] vs @xmath42 for ( a ) rr strategy and ( b ) hdr strategy and plot @xmath42 , @xmath2 versus @xmath1 for ( c ) rr strategy and ( d ) hdr strategy for the swedish network of workplaces with @xmath100 nodes.[f_real],title="fig:",scaledwidth=45.0% ] | arxiv |
Why does hydrogen form on such a long time scale?
If we were trying to figure out the time scale for a gas-phase reaction between two hydrogen atoms in a molecular cloud (which has density $~\pu{10^4cm^-3}$), apparently the reaction would happen on a time scale proportional to the inverse of the density multiplied by $10^{15}$ years.
Aside from the cloud not being dense and the probability that a collision will surpass the activation energy is small, is the time elongated because you need to induce a dipole moment between two hydrogen atoms to actually bind them together?
I recently read somewhere that even if the reactants would go into the unbound state of $\ce{H2}$ they can't emit a photon that would let it go into the bound state of $\ce{H2}$. I guess they are talking about quantum mechanics, but it is not obvious to me what the bound and unbound states of molecular hydrogen are. (If someone could clarify that too)
>
> Why is the time-scale so long?
>
>
>
The time-scale is so long because the density is not just low, it's virtually nonexistent.
The particle density of any gas can be determined at any temperature and pressure using the ideal gas law ($PV=nRT$). Let's use air as an example. At $\pu{25 o^\circ C}$ ($\pu{298 K}$), and 1 atmosphere, the particle density of air ($n/V$) is:
$$ \frac{n}V =\frac{RT}P $$
$$ \frac{n}V =\frac{(\pu{0.08026 L atm (K mol)^{-1})(\pu{298 K})}}{{\pu{1 atm}}} = \pu{23.9 mol L^-1} $$
Converting to molecules per $\pu{cm^3}$:
$$23.9 \frac{\mathrm{mol}}{\mathrm{L}} \times 6.022\times10^{23}\frac{\text{molecules}}{\text{mol}}\times\frac{1 \text{ L}}{1000 \text{ cm}^3}=1.44\times10^{22}\frac{\text{molecules}}{\text{cm}^3}$$
The density of gasses we are used to dealing with is 18 orders of magnitude higher than the density you quoted. If we have a gas of hydrogen atoms at air density, then the timescale for formation of H2 is:
$$ 10^{15} \frac{\text{years}\times\text{cm}^3}{\text{particles}} \times \frac{1 \text{ cm}^3}{1.44\times10^{22}\text{ molecules}}=6.94\times 10^{-8}\text{ years} $$
$$6.94\times 10^{-8}\text{ years}= 2.54\times 10^{-5}\text{ days}=6.08\times 10^{-4} \text{ hours}=2.19 \text{ seconds}$$
At "normal" densities, the timescale is much shorter.
The second part of your question deals with the quantum mechanics of the activation barrier to this reaction, which I cannot do justice to at this time.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Can artificial sea water be prepared by mixing sea salt with water?
I am looking for ways to easily prepare artificial sea water. The chemical composition doesn't have to exactly match that of natural sea water. On-line I can find recipes to prepare sea water. But I was wondering, can I just buy natural sea salt and dissolve it in fresh water (Until I get the required salinity ).
The commercial shrimp farms in my region, that use natural sea water cause enormous environmental damage. That is the primary motivation behind my interest in artificial sea water. I want to explore if artificial sea water can be a eco-friendly sustainable alternative.
My intention is not to breed shrimp, but just to grow the shrimp that I get from hatcheries. And yes, I am planning to get the help of people with relevant expertise in this. I just want to gain some prior knowledge and experience before I go for their help.
Some of my present concerns are similar to those of oceanarium though on a much much smaller scale :-) Like them I also want to prepare sea water, which I can control to my exact needs. Locally we get these "raw sea salt" used for industrial purposes, which are claimed to be very similar to natural salts found in sea. They do not contain iodine, caking agents or any other additives etc. I am guessing probably the sea salts that oceanarium imports might be same as these (probably of much better quality).
Yes, it is possible though not easy to make artificial seawater by mixing sea salt and fresh water. An interesting example of this happens at [the oceanarium in Lisbon, Portugal](http://www.oceanario.pt/), which is [one of the largest in Europe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Oceanarium). After considerable investigation, it was found that the seawater present in massive quantities just outside the building could not be economically filtered, purified and adjusted to attend the surprisingly demanding and delicate needs of the marine organisms to be displayed. The chemical composition of seawater is actually quite complex, varying significantly with the location and time of collection. As with all life, marine life can be very sensitive to small changes in concentration of compounds, not to mention possible biological incompatibilities between the micro- and macrobiota present in seawater from different regions. The solution chosen for the Lisbon Oceanarium was to import some 16.5 metric tons of sea salt monthly from the Red Sea in Israel and mix it with local fresh water in order to replace the tank water. [[1]](http://www.oceanario.pt/cms/29) [[2]](http://www.luciamalla.com/blog/2014/04/oceanario-de-lisboa-o-melhor-aquario-mundo.html) (Couldn't find a reference in English)
Having said that, you really should consult people experienced in setting up seawater aquariums before trying anything yourself. Seawater aquariums have [significantly tougher upkeep and maintenance requirements](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_aquarium) compared to fresh water aquariums; you can't just mix any old cooking sea salt into water, it has to be in the right concentration, and replacement of the tank water has to be more gradual and frequent, not to mention that the salty water will corrode the actual aquarium more quickly. A good aquarium supplies store should be able to better inform you.
Edit: Now I realize you may actually be interested in cultivating shrimp rather than putting them on display. That's a whole different matter, many many times more difficult. You really need to contact some experts in marine cultivation.
Yes. If you do however, that would likely unsaturate the solution. I don't know if certain animals need certain amounts of salt, but doing this without adding salt might kill them.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
it has long been the goal of humanity to minimize travel time between two places , be they on earth or anywhere else for that matter .
technological advances in the past century or so have significantly cut down on travel time between two points on the earth ( e.g. , the invention of the airplane ) .
some more imaginative people have envisioned drilling a tunnel through the earth to get to the other side , and letting gravity do the work .
this so - called gravity train " has a facinating history@xcite , and the physics of it has been analyzed many times@xcite .
in fact , it is now a common introductory physics problem@xcite .
so let us reproduce here the usual calculation to find the free fall time through the tunnel , i.e. , with several simplifying assumptions .
first , assume the engineering project to build the tunnel through the center of the earth was completed , as was the task of evacuating the tunnel of air .
second , assume that the transport vehicle did not experience any significant friction along the side walls of the tunnel ( e.g. , perhaps the support rails were superconductors and the transport vehicle levitated above them ) .
third , assume the earth has a constant density throughout its interior and it has a gravitational field that varies linearly with radial position .
finally , assume the earth is spherical and non - rotating so as to not put undue stress from gravitational torque on the workers . with these assumptions , the free fall motion through the tunnel
can easily be found by application of newton s shell theorem .
let @xmath0 be the constant density of the earth so that the mass of the earth may be written @xmath1 where @xmath2 is the average radius of the earth .
let the mass of the falling body be @xmath3 .
when this mass is a distance @xmath4 from the center of earth , it feels a gravitational force arising from only the amount of mass of earth inside radius @xmath4 .
in other words , @xmath5 where @xmath6 is the mass of earth within a sphere of radius @xmath4 . thus the motion is described by the second order differential equation @xmath7 which is immediately recognized as simple harmonic motion with an angular frequency of @xmath8 and a subsequent period of @xmath9 since the gravitational acceleration is given by @xmath10 where @xmath2 is the average radius of the ( spherical ) earth , the period of oscillation may also be written as @xmath11 given these assumptions , the travel time from one end of the tunnel to the other via free fall is thus roughly 42 minutes .
beyond this overly idealistic situation , however , other authors examined the motion of an object traveling through the tunnel by relaxing one of the assumptions at a time ( for a few examples , see here@xcite and here@xcite ) .
our aim in this paper is to relax the assumption of frictionless travel through the tunnel .
first , we examine the case of travel through a non - evacuated tunnel in the specific case of quadratic drag and , given the extreme pressures and densities as depth increases , we show that this is a practical impossibility even when the drag coefficient is unrealistically small .
second , we calculate how much friction would be needed to make the tunnel travel cost - effective compared to a meridional airplane trip , which will give us the frictional force ( per unit mass ) we will use throughout the rest of the paper .
having ruled out the practicality of motion through a non - evacuated tunnel , we then consider travel through an evacuated tunnel but such that the transport vehicle experiences constant sidewall friction ( e.g. , along a set of rails ) .
for this case , we analyze the motion under three different density profiles of the earth : uniform density , a recent model by klotz@xcite which results in a constant gravitational acceleration through the earth , and , finally , to make the result more realistic , the preliminary reference earth model ( prem ) density data , which reconstructs the internal structure of the earth using seismic data .
in most everyday situations humans experience , when the pressure and density of the surrounding medium approximates those at the surface of the earth and before the onset of turbulence , the frictional drag force on a falling object can be modeled such that it is proportional to the square of the instantaneous velocity .
the quadratic drag force is found from @xmath12 where @xmath13 is the drag coefficient , @xmath14 the density of the fluid , and @xmath15 the cross - sectional area of the object moving through the fluid .
it can also be modeled such that the drag force is directly proportional to the instantaneous velocity itself , linear drag , described simply by @xmath16 , but for more realistic motion , we will only consider a quadratic drag force in the following analysis .
in the situation of the air in the tunnel through the earth , the pressure and density within the earth quickly rises to extreme values as a function of depth , so that the air in the tunnel can not be simplistically modelled as an ideal gas@xcite . modeling the air as a more realisitic van der waal gas also reveals that the density of the air increases dramatically with depth , but so much so as to severely stifle the motion of a falling body such that it would never get much beyond the center of the earth and would exhibit damped harmonic motion about the center with a maximum amplitude of only a few tens of kilometers . the barometric equation for a van der waals gas
is given by @xcite @xmath17 where @xmath18 is the molar mass of the gas within the tunnel , @xmath19 the gas constant , @xmath20 and @xmath21 the van der waals parameters , @xmath14 the density of the air within the tunnel , and @xmath22 is the acceleration due to gravity as a function of position ( depth ) .
if we assume the gas within the tunnel is nitrogen for simplicity , the gravitational acceleration profile @xmath22 is found assuming a uniform density of the earth , and allow mathematica to solve equation for the density @xmath14 of the air in the tunnel as a function of depth within the earth , graphing it reveals just how quickly the density of the air rises , nominally prohibiting realistic travel beyond a depth of 175 km , much less any kind of harmonic motion about the center of the earth ( figure [ density_as_function_of_depth ] ) .
and @xmath21 found in berberan - santos , _ et al .
_ @xcite).,width=529 ] finding the acceleration as a function of depth using equations and dramatically shows how quadratic friction effects the motion .
if we use realistic constants such that the cross - sectional area and drag coefficient correspond to that of an airbus a380 @xcite , the transport vehicle reaches terminal velocity almost immediately ( figure [ accvspos3 ] ) . to picture the motion more easily , we include the graphs of the speed as function of depth and the depth of the vehicle as a function of time ( figures [ speedvspos3 ] and [ depthvstime3 ] ) . as a result of the above analysis , we conclude that it is practically impossible to consider a tunnel through the earth that is not completely evacuated .
the more realistic quadratic drag forces dramatically impede the motion ; one can show that it takes @xmath23 seconds , or approximately 1.8 years , to reach the center of the earth , thus making it infeasible as a transport mechanism .
indeed , if technology made it possible to decrease the drag coefficient by six orders of magnitude , the quadratic drag forces would still impede the motion considerably , as figure [ depthvstime008 ] clearly shows , and makes the trip to the earth s center approximately 28 hours .
much worse , however , is the fact that the air deep within the tunnel can not be treated as a van der waals gas because nitrogen gas will solidify around 420 km down under the tremendous pressure @xcite .
henceforth , and quite reasonably so , we must consider motion through an evacuated tunnel . )
.,width=529 ] ) .,width=529 ] ) .,width=529 ] ) .,width=529 ] to keep the gravity tunnel competitive with other modes of transportation , for example , an airplane , would require that the energy necessary to bring the transport back to the surface from its resting place is less than the energy used by the airplane .
as an exercise , let us consider the airbus a380 with a loaded mass of 575,000 kg , an operating speed of 945 km / h , and an average fuel efficiency of approximately 0.0475
km / l for the flight while loaded with fuel and passengers@xcite . to travel half of the meridional circumference
, a journey of about 20,000 km would require at least 21 hours of travel time ( not to mention stops for refueling ) and approximately 500,000 liters of jet fuel or about @xmath24 j of energy .
as long as the energy losses due to friction in the gravity tunnel were less than @xmath24 j , the gravity train would be more efficient than an airplane , and shrink a trip of about 21 hours to 42 mins .
the energy lost due to friction would need to be added back to the train in order to avoid getting stuck well below the surface of the earth .
if we consider that energy to be the work done by friction , we can assume a frictional force of about 1,300,000 n ( the equivalent of 4 jet engines ) or about 2.33 n per kg of the transport vehicle .
using this value in the calculations that follow resulted in uniteresting results ( i.e. , the transport vehicle s motion is severely overdamped and quickly comes to rest at the core ) , so the value was lowered arbitrarily to about 15% of this value , roughly 0.35 n per kg of the transport vehicle , in order to reveal some of the more interesting aspects of the resulting oscillatory motion .
as a result of the analysis of the previous section , we now assume the tunnel is evacuated of all air .
( we do not consider the practical possiblity of keeping the tunnel evacuated , nor do we consider energy expenditure needed for this enormous task . ) to introduce friction in the tunnel , we assume a constant frictional force @xmath25 by way of contact with the walls of the tunnel or , say , between the transport vehicle and the rails upon which it travels . using this constant contact fricitional force , we now consider three different physical senarios describing the density of the earth . as in the introduction ,
assume the earth has constant density @xmath0 , which implies that the gravitational field within the earth is linear as a function of radial position .
the resulting equation of motion will be the differential equation , but because we have a tunnel with constant contact friction , the equation is modified by introducing a frictional term that depends on the direction of the instantaneous velocity : @xmath26 where sgn is the sign ( or signum ) function and @xmath27 note that @xmath28 is just the frictional force per unit mass on the transport vehicle , which , for efficiency purposes from section iib above , we are assuming to be @xmath29 n / kg . the general solution is found by joining the solution to equation , which is just simple harmonic motion , with a constant : @xmath30 such that the constant term is given by @xmath31 though this is the _ mathematical _ solution , a little thought about the problem shows the _ physical _ solution to be more complicated @xcite .
physically , the value of @xmath15 can not be constant throughout the whole motion ; otherwise the motion would exhibit simple harmonic motion of the same amplitude forever and the transport vehicle would never slow down .
mathematically , if @xmath15 were constant , the position in equation would be discontinuous at each turning point .
so equation really represents a family of solutions , and from the form of the solution in , the motion is simple harmonic between turning points ( within a half - cycle or at a half period of oscillation ) such that the amplitude decreases between turning points . note the turning points occur at regularly spaced intervals in time , given by @xmath32 where @xmath33 is the period of oscillation , and which occur with a frequency of @xmath34 in fact , we will show the amplitude of the motion @xmath15 decreases in a _ linear _ fashion between turning points of the motion .
assume the transport vehicle begins from rest at the surface of the earth at @xmath35 , producing @xmath36 in equation .
the first turning point occurs at @xmath37 and subsequently the @xmath38 turning point occurs at @xmath39 . during the half - cycle between @xmath40 and @xmath41 ,
the motion is given by @xmath42 at the start of the half - cycle , the amplitude is @xmath43 and , at the end of the half - cycle , it decreases to @xmath44 . to find the relationship between these values
, we could demand that @xmath45 be a continuous function and enforce continuity conditions at the turning points .
instead , we will derive it using the conservation of energy : @xmath46 from which we find @xmath47 or @xmath48 therefore the amplitude decreases linearly by an amount @xmath49 per half - cycle , from which we can conclude @xmath50 plotting this motion in mathematica results in figure [ const fric const density 1 ] below .
this relationship , in turn , enables us to predict exactly when the motion will come to a halt .
the slope of the enveloping line of the motion is given by @xmath51 } = \frac{a_n-(a_n - 2b)}{-\pi/\omega}=-\frac{2b\omega}{\pi } \label{slope_env_line_constdens_constfric}\ ] ] and since @xmath52 , where @xmath2 is the radius of the earth and the starting point of the transport vehicle , the equation of the enveloping line to the curve is given by @xmath53 we therefore conclude that after a time of @xmath54 the transport vehicle will halt , and its position will be at the center of the earth , @xmath55 . from this , we can also determine the number of complete oscillations the transport vehicle makes about the center of the earth .
since the @xmath38 turning point occurs at time @xmath39 , we can equate this and equation to arrive at @xmath56 where @xmath57 is the floor function ( or greatest integer function ) , defined as the largest integer less than or equal to @xmath58 .
equation gives the number of half - cycles of the motion , and , if we incorporate equation , we find the number of complete oscillations is given by @xmath59 it is an interesting exercise to compute the total distance the transport ship travels as it oscillates about the center of the earth , if nothing interfered with its motion . using equations , , and and the fact that @xmath60 , the total distance , @xmath61 , is given by @xmath62 both equations and can be verified in mathematica : the total distance the transport vehicle travels before coming to rest is 89,194,000 m according to mathematica , and equation gives 89,319,000 m , which has a percent difference of 0.14% .
the difference lies in the fact that the total distance may not be an integer number of oscillations ; the transport vehicle travels slightly more or less than the distance in an integer number of oscillations to come to rest at the core . a recent paper in this journal @xcite by klotz examined a simpler approximation than uniform density by assuming the density profile of the earth allows for a constant magnitude gravitational force throughout the interior of the earth .
in this case , the gravitational acceleration is always 9.8 @xmath63 , pointing to the center of the earth .
as klotz admits , this is a rather unphysical assumption , but it results in a travel tunnel time ( 38 minutes , 0 seconds ) that much better approximates the more realistic travel tunnel time using the prem density profile ( 38 minutes , 11 seconds ) , compared to the tunnel travel time using the uniform density profile ( 42 minutes , 12 seconds ) .
this analysis was done , however , without considering any type of frictional forces in the tunnel .
when constant contact friction is introduced , the motion dynamics of the tunnel transport vehicle using a density profile that gives rise to a constant gravitational acceleration still better approximates the motion using the prem density profile compared to the uniform density model .
the equation of motion in the case of constant gravitational acceleration @xmath64 with a constant frictional force per unit mass of the transport vehicle of @xmath28 is easily deduced to be @xmath65 with the initial values @xmath66 and @xmath52 , since we are assuming the transport vehicle is released from rest at the surface of the earth ( @xmath67 ) . upon direct integration ,
the position as a function of time is found to be @xmath68 due to the direction of the gravitational acceleration and the frictional force , this one equation actually represents four different equations per oscillation of the motion . breaking this down by which region of the tunnel
the transport vehicle is in , we have @xmath69 where @xmath70 , @xmath71 , and @xmath72 are constants of integration and can depend on time .
these individual equations represent the position of the transport vehicle as a function of time in four different zones .
equation describes the motion of the vehicle as it falls from the surface of the earth toward the center , equation is the motion after it passes the center and approaches , but does nt reach , the antipodal of its starting position , equation is the motion of the vehicle as it falls back toward the center of the earth in the opposite direction , and finally equation represents the motion as it passes the center of earth again , approaching , but does nt reach , its original starting position .
these equations only represent the first complete oscillation of the transport vehicle , and they are related by continuity conditions at the center of the earth given by @xmath73 and at the turning point , @xmath74 enforcing continuity generates the initial conditions for each zone ( save @xmath75 in equation ) , thus uniquely determining the constants of integration @xmath70 , @xmath71 , and @xmath72 . in figure [ earth_tunnel_4 ] below ,
zone i corresponds to the position represented by equation , zone ii to equation , zone iii to equation , and zone iv to equation , and all together these represent one complete oscillation in the tunnel .
moreover , all subsequent oscillations can be described by equations of the same form as , but each will have different constants of integration based on the continuity conditions . for simplicity ,
let @xmath76 and let @xmath77 .
then the complete motion may be described by the equations @xmath78 along with the continuity conditions @xmath79 for @xmath80 , where @xmath81 is some value representing the last complete oscillation , @xmath82{\mbox{\normalfont\tiny\sffamily def}}}{=}}}0 $ ] , and @xmath83 is the time for one complete oscillation . as evidenced by these equations , the motion is _ piecewise periodic _ , and difficult to solve analytically .
numerically , however , we can graph this motion in mathematica again , resulting in figure [ depthconstantgenv ] .
.,width=529 ] the prem data @xcite reconstructs the density profile of the earth from sesimic data .
the mass is now a function of @xmath4 and given by @xmath84 so that the differential equation governing the motion is @xmath85 as the motion of the transport vehicle in the tunnel under the prem density profile in equation can not be solved analytically due to the piecewise continuous nature of the prem density data , we once again utilize the power of mathematica to instead numerically calculate the position ( depth ) as a function of time .
the graph of the motion using the prem data is given in figure [ depthpremenv ] below .
we noticed several interesting features when comparing the transport vehicle motion between the three models used above . from the graph of depth ( position ) as a function of time , given in figure [ poscompare ] , note that the motion under the density profile corresponding to a constant gravitational acceleration better corresponds to the motion under the prem density profile since the oscillations do nt significantly deviate from one another until about 20,000 seconds into the oscillation .
on the other hand , the motion under the assumption of constant density appreciably deviates from the motion under the prem density profile after only a half - cycle of about 4000 seconds .
in fact , we compared the time it takes for the transport vehicle to reach the center of the earth under each model , without any friction and with constant contact friction for our value of @xmath29 in table [ times_to_fall_to_center ] .
note the greatest percent difference between the times with and without friction was for the assumption of a constant density earth .
more striking , however , is the percent difference between the times with and without friction for the density profile corresponding to a constant gravitational acceleration throughout the tunnel is the same as the percent difference between the times with and without friction for the more realistic prem density profile .
in addition , the time to arrive at the center of the earth was not that much different for the constant @xmath64 model compared to the prem data model , but the constant @xmath14 model differed significantly from either .
this leads us to the conclusion that , although the motion under the assumption of a density profile corresponding to a constant gravitational acceleration may be unrealistic , it more closely resembles the motion under the prem density profile , much better than the motion under the assumption of constant density with or without frictional forces present .
our analysis therefore further supports klotz s model of a density profile corresponding to constant gravitational acceleration as a better approximation of the gravity train motion than the motion under the assumption of a uniform density earth .
in addition , if we examine the graph comparing the accelerations of the three different models , the first features that are noticeable are the discontinuous steps that appear at the ends of each oscillation .
these correspond to the sudden changes in direction of the frictional forces that work to oppose the motion of the vehicle .
when the direction the the velocity changes so does the direction of these frictional forces .
the other feature that is notable , particularly at the later times displayed in figure [ accelcompare ] , is that both the prem and constant gravational acceleration models achieve larger accelerations than the constant density model , but for shorter lengths of time .
this results in initially remarkably similar travel times but also allows friction to affect each model differently .
this then results in greater increases in the travel time for the constant density model due to the fricitonal forces and a shorter core stopping time than for the other two models .
.time in seconds to arrive at center of earth [ cols="^,^,^,^ " , ] [ times_to_fall_to_center ]
building a gravity train tunnel through the earth would not only be prohibitively expensive , it would also be quite technically challenging .
as we have seen , if the tunnel is not evacuated of all air , the quadratic drag force of the air on the transport vehicle would effectively make it impossible to use as a viable means of transportation .
then we examined the motion under a constant sidewall friction between the transport vehicle and the tunnel , using three different density profile models . though the assumption of a uniform density earth was the most amenable to solving analytically ( with or without the constant frictional force present ) we saw that , with a constant frictional force , the assumption of a constant gravitational acceleration throughout the interior of the earth most closely approximated the more realistic motion under the prem density profile , lending further weight to a few of the conclusions in the paper by klotz@xcite .
we also found the value of the constant frictional force used throughout section iii by considering energy expenditures , compared to a meridional trip halfway around the earth .
but , given that the energy expenditure through the gravity tunnel with our value of the constant sidewall friction is the same as that of an airbus a380 meridonal trip halfway around the earth , we concluded that since the travel time between antipodal points is far less through the tunnel than it would be for a meridonal trip , future societies may very well benefit from building an evacuated tunnel between key antipodal points on the earth .
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dimensions and key data , < http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a380family/specifications>[<http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a380family/specifications > ] . | arxiv |
Typhoon Koppu, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Lando, was a powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that struck Luzon in October 2015. It was the twenty-fourth named storm and the fifteenth typhoon of the annual typhoon season. Similar to Goni earlier in the year, Koppu originated from a tropical disturbance east of the Mariana Islands on October 10. Moving briskly west, the system consolidated into a tropical depression the following day and further into a tropical storm on October 13. Situated over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea, Koppu quickly deepened. The storm reached its peak intensity on October 17 with ten-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h 115 mph according to the Japan Meteorological Agency JMA. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed Koppu to have been a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon with one-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h 150 mph. The storm subsequently made landfall at this strength near Casiguran, Philippines. Rapid weakening ensued due to interaction with the mountainous terrain of Luzon and the disheveled core of Koppu emerged over the West Philippine Sea on October 19. Unfavorable environmental conditions inhibited reorganization and the system diminished to a tropical depression on October 21.
Prior to Koppu's landfall, PAGASA raised Public Storm Warning Signals for numerous provinces; nearly 24,000 people evacuated accordingly. The storm caused tremendous structural damage in coastal provinces, with thousands of structures damaged or destroyed. Prolonged, heavy rainspeaking at in Baguioexacerbated the storm's effects and resulted in widespread flooding. 62 people were killed across the country and more than 100,000 others were displaced. Preliminary damage totals amount to ₱14.4 billion US$313 million.
Meteorological history
A tropical disturbance formed in a monsoon trough late on October 10, over Enewetak Atoll. One day later, the Japan Meteorological Agency JMA upgraded the low-pressure area to a tropical depression, yet the low-level circulation center was exposed owing to strong vertical wind shear. On October 12, as the system kept consolidating with convection sheared to the west, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert; half a day after, the JMA started to issue tropical cyclone warnings about the tropical depression. The JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression early on October 13, although fragmented convective bands were wrapping tighter into a broad LLCC which remained exposed. At noon, tracking westward along the southern periphery of the deep-layered subtropical ridge, the system intensified into a tropical storm and was named Koppu by the JMA.
Early on October 14, the storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and received the name Lando from PAGASA, and deepened convection finally obscured the LLCC late on the same day, shortly before being upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA. Under a favorable environment of low vertical wind shear and radial outflow, Koppu deepened rapidly and intensified into a typhoon in the afternoon of October 15, when a tightly-curved convective band was wrapping into an eye revealed by a microwave imagery. Intensification slowed down until an apparent but ragged eye formed one day later, as sea surface temperature was over in the Philippine Sea. The 35 km 25 miles eye became sharper on October 17, prompting the JTWC upgrading Koppu to a super typhoon with one-minute maximum sustained winds at 240 km/h 150 mph in the afternoon, equivalent to Category 4 of the SaffirSimpson hurricane wind scale. Around 01:00 PHT on October 18 17:00 UTC on October 17, Koppu made landfall over Casiguran, Aurora in the Philippines; however, the JMA then reported that Koppu reached its peak intensity with ten-minute maximum sustained winds at 185 km/h 115 mph and the central pressure at 920 hPa 27.17 inHg.
Frictional effects from land interaction with Luzon started to erode the typhoon rapidly after landfall, despite excellent dual outflow channels. Before noon or in the afternoon on October 18, Koppu emerged into the South China Sea as a disorganized system which had begun to encounter with stronger easterly vertical wind shear. Tracking northward very slowly along the western periphery of an extension of the deep-layered subtropical ridge to the east-northeast, the proximity to Luzon was inhibiting the system from consolidating, leading the JMA to downgrade Koppu to a severe tropical storm when main convection had been sheared to the west early on October 19. Both the JTWC and then the JMA downgraded the highly unorganized system with a ragged LLCC to a tropical storm in the afternoon. Continuing hugging the coast of Luzon on October 20, Koppu drifted northeastward and then east-northeastward due to embedded within a weak complex steering environment with a near-equatorial ridge to the south and an induced ridge between Typhoon Champi and Koppu; convective organization was also hampered by being embedded in a mid-level trough along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge.
Preparations and impact
PAGASA began issuing Public Storm Warning Signals PSWS for the Philippines starting on October 15, at which time Koppu was situated east of Baler, Aurora. The advised areas were initially concentrated around east-central Luzon. As the typhoon intensified, the PSWS levels were raised and expanded. At 09:00 UTC on October 17, PSWS #4the second-highest levelwas issued for Aurora Province as winds of were anticipated in the province within 12 hours; this was expanded to include southern Isabela Province hours later. Following the storm's landfall, PSWS were gradually lowered over the subsequent several days. Nearly 24,000 people evacuated ahead of the typhoon's arrival while numerous schools, businesses, and government offices closed. A total of 88 flights were canceled.
Powerful winds caused widespread damage and disruption across Luzon. Nine provinces suffered total power outages and throughout the affected regions of Luzon, approximately 9 million peopleroughly 10 percent of the entire nationlost electricity. Aurora Province sustained a direct hit from the typhoon. Nearly every structure in Casiguran was damaged or destroyed. The nearby towns of Dinalungan and Dilasag were rendered inaccessible. Torrential rains fell across much of region, with western coastal areas seeing the highest accumulations. A storm total of was observed in Baguio, with falling in a 24-hour span. Just south of Baguio at the San Roque Dam, an unconfirmed 24-hour accumulation of , including in 12 hours, was reported. If verified, these would be the greatest 12- and 24-hour rainfall totals on record in the Philippines. The heaviest rains were fairly concentrated, with Quezon City in Metro Manila to the south recording only . Along the northwestern coast, Vigan saw accumulate.
Approximately 1.24 million people were directly affected by the storm; at one point, 113,584 people moved to evacuation centers. Throughout the affected regions, 17,254 homes were damaged and 1,504 were destroyed. 62 people were killed, and total damage reached ₱14.4 billion US$313 million.
In the central Philippines, two motorboats capsized in separate incidents resulting in a collective ten fatalities. Virac and Daet saw and of rain, respectively, as Koppu passed to the north.
Highest Public Storm Warning Signal
Aftermath
The Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council NDRRMC has provided ₱122.8 million US$2.67 million worth of assistance. On October 18, Australia was the first foreign government to offer support to typhoon relief. On 22 October Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced A$1 million US$726,000 in support to families affected by the typhoon.
A state of calamity was declared for the provinces of Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Quirino, three cities namely Dagupan, Ilagan and Tuguegarao, and to nine towns specifically Arayat, Baler, Cabatuan, Calumpit, Camiling, General Nakar, Infanta, Ramos and Sugpon owing to widespread flooding.
Retirement
Due to the typhoon's destructive effects in the Philippines, the name Koppu was retired at the Fourth Joint Session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee and WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones during 2016. On February 2017, they chose the name Koguma to replace Koppu.. PAGASA also announced that Lando will be removed from their naming lists and will never be used again. Its replacement name will be Liwayway for the 2019 Pacific typhoon season.
See also
Typhoon Nancy 1982
Typhoon Nari 2013
Typhoon Hagupit 2014
References
External links
JMA General Information of Typhoon Koppu 1524 from Digital Typhoon
JMA Best Track Data of Typhoon Koppu 1524
24W.KOPPU from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Koppu
Koppu
Koppu
Category:2015 disasters in the Philippines
Koppu | wikipedia |
A New Begining
**Title:** A New Beginning
**Chapter Title: **First Death
**Author:** Aussie Mel
**Email:** **Rating:** PG-13+
**Pairings:** None
**Category:** Crossover Highlander/Stargate/MacGyver (slight)
**Warnings:** None
**Beta Readers:** Mira and Corwalch
**Season/Episode:** Any on Highlander. Season Eight Stargate.
**Spoilers:** Season Eight Stargate.
**Summary:** Jack's Life is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious stranger.
**Disclaimer: **I do not own Stargate or Highlander or MacGyver. I am making no money off them so don't sue.
Jack couldn't believe what the man in front of him was telling him. It was preposterous. He knew strange things happened all the time. Going through the Stargate was a prime example of that, but nothing could have prepared him for this. And apparently there was more to come.
He'd faced death countless times. Danny was the poster boy for dying. He'd come back from the dead more times than he had cared to count, granted there was usually some alien or alien do-hickey saving him in the nick of time but that was beside to point.
Jack himself had come close to dying several times but despite the number of dangerous missions he'd gone on, or the amount of times he stepped through the gate, he'd always survived. A little worse for wear maybe, but still in one piece.
Adam, the man who had takenhim from the morgue, had been trying to explain the concept of Immortality to him for the past four hours. Apparently he was an Immortal and had died his First Death today. He'd never get sick again or age. He also could not be killed, at least not by any of the usual methods. Too bad he couldn't have died a few years earlier, while he was still in the prime of his life. As it was he was rapidly approaching fifty. Well he would be if he hadn't been killed that morning.
Despite how much his brain kept arguing it wasn't possible, Jack couldn't ignore the facts. Not ten hours before he'd been in a devastating head on collision. His truck had collided with a semi-trailer that had crossed to the wrong side of the road. He had barely time to react before he'd found his vehicle wedged tightly underneath the semi-trailer. He'd been able to feel his life ebbing away. Jack had known he was going to die and yet here he was sitting in Adam's small apartment in bloodstained clothing listening while the man explained the Game to him.
At first he'd wanted nothing to do with this man who was telling him things Jack knew had to be false. Adam had gotten fed up with his disbelieving attitude and had slashed his own arm from wrist to elbow. He'd done it before Jack could stop him. As he attempted to stem the blood flow, Jack found himself mesmerized as tiny blue sparks lit the gash, mending the flesh leaving nothing but a bloodied arm in its wake. After that Jack had shut up and started listening to the other man.
As much as he wished to deny the truth, the fact of the matter was he had died early that morning on his way to work. Adam had made it clear to him that because of the public manner in which he had died, he was going to have to start a new life for himself somewhere else. He could not return to his friends and family. Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neill had died today, no matter that physically he still lived the shock to his friends and family would be too great.
This wasn't even taking into account what the NID would do if they got their hands on him or any other Immortals for that matter. Jack just had to remember what they'd tried to do to Danny when he'd come back from being ascended. Jack certainly did not wish that for himself.
He would be moving to Scotland under the name Angus MacGyver. He couldn't help himself. Carter had mentioned the show once when he'd first met her. She had said the TV character reminded her of him, in looks only of course. While he was not dumb by any means he was far from being a genius. Adam had even given him qualification's, which would help him get a job once the arrived in Scotland, though he'd never seen himself as a teacher before Adam had somehow gotten him accreditation to teach their equivalent of high school Gym.
So Jack O'Neill had died and Angus MacGyver was born.
Adam Pierson, the man who had taken him from the morgue would be going with him to Scotland, and would be teaching him to use a sword and fight. Why the Game had to be played he didn't know. To be honest he thought it was a bit barbaric but from what Adam told him he wouldn't be able to avoid it forever. So he'd learn to fight and win, because the penalty of loosing a challenge was too great. He had already been dead once, but now he knew about his immortality, Jack had no wish to loose his head and die a second time.
Looking back over his life he realized the whole Immortal thing made a lot of things in his life clearer. He'd always been different from his three siblings and he'd often wondered if he'd been adopted, at least now he had his answer.
He'd never been able to father a child. Sara had been pregnant with Charlie when they'd first met and no matter how many times they'd tried after Charlie was born to have children of their own they'd never been able to. Finally they'd seen a specialist who had told him he was sterile and could not have children. It had been devastating at the time but now he realized it was a sign that he was different.
Adam and Jack had hidden out in Colorado Spring's an extra week after his funeral before heading out. Adam thought it best if he lay low until all the fuss died down. After all it wasn't every day that a drunk driver killed a General running a top-secret government facility.
Whilst Jack was against the idea Adam had gotten a body they could burry instead of him. The man was a John Doe his face burnt beyond recognition. He was roughly the same shape and build as him and his face could be attributed to the accident. Jack had been against the idea but as Adam pointed out if his body went missing there would be police and government officials everywhere searching for him. At least this way would allow them to get out of the country.
He'd slowly gotten used to his new name, though he'd often look around for 'Angus' whenever Adam called his name. He was already starting to regret choosing that name but as Adam had told him it was too late now. He already had a passport and drivers license as well as his whole life history as Angus MacGyver. They would be heading to Scotland today.
He would miss his old life terribly especially his friends and family but in a way he was looking forward to a fresh start. He loved the SGC but he'd begun to grow weary of sitting behind a desk every day as he watched his 'kids' go through the gate and defend the planet. He'd never forget them and who knows perhaps he'd be back there one day watching more of the planets brightest defend Earth. He'd always remember his first life but it was time to move on and start living the life he picked out for himself, even if that meant sticking himself with a name like Angus.
Finis
End file.
| fanfiction |
Kubo formula for general observables
In the wiki page about [Kubo formula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubo_formula), the expectation of some observable under weak time-dependent perturbation is derived. However, from my point of view, some crucial steps are missing. I did the derivation following the same idea, but obtained something different. Below is my derivation using interaction picture:
(Note: I will use another set of notations to make the argument easier to understand. I will use subscript $I$ to explicitly mean interaction picture quantities and quantities without sub $I$ are to be considered Schrodinger)
The system Hamiltonian is given by $H(t)=H\_0+V(t)$, where $H\_0$ is time independent and $V(t)$ is considered to be a small perturbation that is switched on at $t=0$. Then for some observable $A$, we have
\begin{equation}
<A>\_t=\frac{Tr[\rho(t)A]}{Tr[\rho(t)]}=\frac{\sum\_n<n(t)|e^{-\beta H(t)}A|n(t)>}{\sum\_n<n(t)|e^{-\beta H(t)}|n(t)>}=\frac{\sum\_ne^{-\beta E\_n(t)}<n(t)|A|n(t)>}{\sum\_ne^{-\beta E\_n(t)}}
\end{equation}
Now we evaluate $<n(t)|A|n(t)>$ using interaction picture:
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
<n(t)|A|n(t)>&=<n\_I(t)|A\_I(t)|n\_I(t)>\\
&=<n\_I(0)|U^{\dagger}\_I(t)A\_I(t)U\_I(t)|n\_I(0)>\\
&=<n(0)|U^{\dagger}\_I(t)A\_I(t)U\_I(t)|n(0)>
\end{split}
\end{equation}
where the time evolution in interaction picture has been used and also with the fact that $|n\_I(t)>=e^{iH\_0t}|n(t)>$, which immediately gives $|n\_I(0)>=|n(0)>$.
We also know from interaction picture that $U\_I(t)=e^{-i\int\_0^tdt'V\_I(t')}$, which upon perturbative expansion to linear order becomes $1-i\int\_0^tdt'V\_I(t')$. Plugging this into the above equation, we have again up to linear order
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
<n(t)|A|n(t)>&=<n(0)|[1+i\int\_0^tdt'V\_I(t')]A\_I(t)[1-i\int\_0^tdt'V\_I(t')]|n(0)>\\
&=<n(0)|A\_I(t)|n(0)>-i<n(0)|\int\_0^{t}dt'[A\_I(t),V\_I(t')]|n(0)>
\end{split}
\end{equation}
which after being substituted into the expression for $<A>\_t$ gives us
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
<A>\_t=&\frac{\sum\_ne^{-\beta E\_n(t)}<n(0)|A|n(0)>}{\sum\_ne^{-\beta E\_n(t)}}
-i\frac{\sum\_ne^{-\beta E\_n(t)}<n(0)|\int\_0^{t}dt'[A\_I(t),V\_I(t')]|n(0)>}{\sum\_ne^{-\beta E\_n(t)}}\\
\end{split}
\end{equation}
Comparing with the wiki result, it seems that the main discrepancy is the Boltzmann factor coming from the density operator. In my case, it's time-dependent while in the wiki page it's not, which is the confusing part because there seems no way to get rid of the time dependence. Any help is very much appreciated.
Here is a sketch of a derivation of the Kubo formula: Write the full Hamiltonian $H=H\_0+H'e^{-\eta t}$ where $H'$ is an external (time-independent) perturbation and $\eta\rightarrow 0$. We would like to evaluate the expectation value of an operator $A(t)$: $\langle A(t)\rangle=\mathrm{Tr}[\rho(t)A(t)]$. So we need to first determine $\rho(t)$ using perturbation theory. First we write $\rho(t)=\rho\_0+\rho'(t)$, and go to interaction picture (indicated by the subscript $I$ in the following), e.g. $\rho=e^{-iH\_0t}\rho\_I e^{iH\_0t}$. Then the perturbative correction $\rho'\_I(t)$ can be found, to the leading order in $H'$,
$\displaystyle \rho'\_I(t)=i\int\_{-\infty}^t dt'[\rho\_0, H'\_I(t')]$
Then we can just plug $\rho\_I'(t)$ into $\langle A(t)\rangle=\mathrm{Tr}(\rho(t)A(t))$. Some straightforward algebra gives you Kubo formula.
| stackexchange/physics |
Aliabad , also Romanized as Alīābād is a village in Chahdegal Rural District, Negin Kavir District, Fahraj County, Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 25, in 6 families.
References
Category:Populated places in Fahraj County | wikipedia |
Are "confinement" and "asymptotic freedom" two sides of the same coin?
On [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_chromodynamics) it says that the two peculiar properties of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) are: [confinement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_confinement) and [asymptotic freedom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptotic_freedom).
Asymptotic freedom is the idea that at low energies we *cannot* use perturbation theory because the coupling becomes extremely strong. One the other hand, at sufficiently high energies, the coupling becomes very small and so we can use perturbation theory. This can all be determined by investigating the $\beta$-function.
My question is:
>
> Why is the asymptotic freedom of quarks not considered to be a sufficient explanation for confinement?
>
>
>
My logic:
According to asymptotic freedom: at low energies the coupling becomes so strong that quarks cannot be isolated which explains confinement. If I am right (which I'm probably not), then why is confinement still considered to be such a mystery?
It's not a sufficient explanation. There are asymptotically free theories which are not strongly coupled in the IR.
The rate at which the coupling gets strong is important. In QCD, it seems to get strong very quickly near the confinement scale, so that beyond a certain scale, you only see hadrons. It is not really understood how this works. The perturbation theory suggests it could happen, as you've observed, but one can not trust perturbation theory at strong coupling.
| stackexchange/physics |
Why does buffer capacity of tartrate buffer generally decrease as the buffer pH increases?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZFzDq.png)
From what I see, the buffer capacity of tartrate buffer is generally decreasing as buffer pH increases. Why is this? Also, does this mean that tartrate buffer doesn't have a maximum buffer capacity at pH=pKa?
Or is there a more reliable source where I can get the buffer capacity vs. buffer pH graph for buffers of tartaric acid? This image is from a blog, and I can't find the real source of this image, even with Google image search.
Generally, the maximum buffer capacity is at $\ce{pK\_a}$ . The tartaric acid is somewhat special for 2 reasons:
1. It is a diprotic acid with both $\ce{pK\_a}$ very close, with the $\ce{pK\_{a1}}$ rather low, being affected by the reason 2. :
$$\ce{pK\_{a1}}=2.89,\ce{pK\_{a2}}= 4.40 (L+)$$
2. The solution buffer capacity (not limited to presence of specific buffer substances) generally increases toward $\ce{pH}=0$. It means, the buffer capacity is not given by concentration of of conjugated acid and base, but also by concentration of $\ce{H+}$ itself.
That in large extent masks the $\ce{pK\_a}$ maximum. It means, at a slope, a local peak must be big enough to be a peak.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Which diagram best describes the motion of the cylinder? [closed]
**Closed.** This question is [off-topic](/help/closed-questions). It is not currently accepting answers.
---
Homework-like questions should **ask about a specific physics concept** and **show some effort** to work through the problem. We want our questions to be useful to the broader community, and to future users. See [our meta site](https://physics.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/714/) for more guidance on how to edit your question to make it better
Closed 6 years ago.
[Improve this question](/posts/323390/edit)
The diagram (1) shows an inclined plane with a cylinder placed onto it. The cylinder has a mass attached to it represented by the T shape and the centre of gravity is x.
As the cylinder is not in equilibrium, will it restore it's center of gravity and travel upwards prior to down, or simply roll down the plane directly? Upon experimentation, it was unclear to see the preferred route as it varied with using different masses. The smaller the mass, the less effect it generally had on the center of gravity. Could this be explained mathematically?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4N39s.jpg)
You are looking for the net torque on the cylinder. The normal situation (with the COM at the center of the cylinder) gives you this diagram for the torque:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6JWAo.png)
As the center of mass moves to the right, it will eventually align with the vertical force of the ramp (note - it is only vertical when there is friction - otherwise you just have the normal force, which is perpendicular to the ramp).
When the center of mass is above the support point there is no torque and the cylinder will not accelerate. If you start with the cylinder at rest with the COM to the right of the support, it will initially "roll uphill", then stop. If you start with the COM to the left, the cylinder will start to roll downhill. While it rolls, the COM may move to the left and this can cause deceleration.
In general, if the cylinder of mass $m$ and radius $R$ has a center of mass that is offset by $r$, and at an angle to the vertical of $\phi$ while on a slope of $\theta$:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/n8Yt9.png)
the torque on the cylinder can be written as
$$\Gamma = mg\Delta x = mg\left(r\sin\phi-R\sin\theta\right)$$
This tells us that the cylinder is in an oscillatory potential well - and that if the initial $\phi$ is such that
$$r\sin\phi > R\sin\theta$$
then the cylinder will be in a stable equilibrium - it will oscillate about the angle $$\phi' = \sin^{-1}\left(\frac{R}{r}\sin\theta\right)$$
| stackexchange/physics |
Battle Royale 1. oo Prelude to Annihilation
**_Disclaimer; _**_Poor, poor you! You must be so tired of hearing the same thing at every chapter of every fanfiction you've ever read. Yes, well, blame the copyright laws. So, as you all know, Satan does not own Battle Royale's original plot, and its original characters. She does happen to own the class of 40 that were thrown into the program as well as the goddamn adults that made it that way._
_**Note;** This is an odd story, I think. It's definitely different from the ones I've seen, so far. Meh. Warnings for dry, sadistic humor and the overall violent nature of the story. It's Battle Royale, whaddya expect?_
_Also, changing the rules of the Game. I'm using bits from the manga, novel, AND movie for the rules and 2 'special guests', so don't get too confused. Just think of it as something totally new. _
* * *
_**Full Summmary**_
_A class of fortyninth graders are off on a field trip--a nice one-week stay at a small village up north. All __seems fine, 'til they are gassed and kidnapped. The kids are dropped off on a deserted island, where they learn that the government had implemented a new act that was supposed to __restore the hostile-youth-infested society. This is the **Battle Royale** act, where the kids are given weapons__, some necessities, and forced to kill each other off, til there's __one left._
_ This new situation seems rather **familiar** to our protagonist, Minami Akane. She and a small handful of kids __already know of this act, as the act portrayed in a movie/manga/novel._
_ What's more is that there are 2 transfers joining their class; people who were supposedly fictional characters that had existed in the novel/manga/movie._
_**Implied Pairing; **Kiriyama Kazuo;;OC _
_You've been warned._
* * *
_**The Class List**_
_ Boy #1 Amakura Kyoichi
Girl #1 Matsumura Azami _
_ Boy#2 Agawa Daisuke
Girl #2 Iwaki Mio _
_ Boy #3 Akagi Ryuhei
Girl #4 Jonouchi Ayame _
_ Boy #5 Takamine Kenji
Girl #5 Miyazaki Miyako _
_ Boy #6 Tanaka Matsuda
Girl #6 Moriyama Mayu _
_ Boy #7 Kurosawa Kai
Girl #7 Kuroda Gin _
_ Boy #8 Yamato Maike
Girl #8 Nishimura Kaede _
_ Boy #9 Mizuno Satoshi
Girl #9 Hasegawa Hana _
_ Boy #10 Asakura Takumi
Girl #10 Okada Makoto _
_ A short congrats to me for getting to the half-way point! _
_ Boy #11 Amano Yuusuke
Girl #11 Yazawa Reika _
_ Boy #12 Yabuki Kaoru
Girl #12 Tsuchihara Aiko _
_ Boy #13 Ishida Hiroki
Girl #13 Mutou Sakura _
_ Boy #14 Iga Takeshi
Girl #14 Koizumi Fumiko _
_ Boy #15 Kaneko Shinichi
Girl #15 Ito Shizuka _
_ Boy # 16 Maeda Ryoko
Girl #16 Himuro Amane _
_ Boy #17 Dainichi Seto
Girl #17 Sudo Ayumi _
_ Boy #18 Shindo Naoki
Girl #18 Saito Akane _
_ Boy #19 Fukuda Setsuko
Girl #19 Gushiken Mariko _
_ Girl #20 Hamaguchi Satomi _
_ Girl # 21 Minami Akane _
_ Boy #20 Kawada Shougo _
_ Boy #21 Kiriyama Kazuo_
* * *
**Chapter o1; Prelude to Annihilation **
* * *
"Female student number twenty-one, Minami Akane!" Role-call. How much it disgusts me. I lazily raised my arm to tell the supervisor that I was here, and shot him an agitated glare. Really, it was like we were no better than prison inmates. Locked in a building for most of our day, given a gender and a number. Yeah, that was the one difference between prisoners and students; we had a gender to our identification, not just a number. Oh, how lucky.
I guess I should start off with a bit of explanation, huh? Alright. My name is Minami Akane, sometimes called 'Aki' when people are too lazy to pronounce the rest of my name. I'm a niner in Ishikawa Middle School, a rather normal school—as in; as decent as it gets.
You know my whole relating us students to criminals thing in the beginning? Well, I'm not too far off. See, kids have started becoming more…rebellious, more hostile towards adults these past few years, and disciplining us might as well be as hard as disciplining criminals—which I'm sure most of us were, anyways.
So you can imagine my surprise when we were given the privilege of what seemed like a nice, relaxing class trip. It's supposed to be for educational purposes; something about learning the customs and traditions of little villages up north. But come on, who can't deny that it's a nice break from school?
So here I am, in a bus full of chattering idiots I call classmates. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in a 'me against the world—or at least the class' situation. I got along with enough people to make it through alive, and I've still got enemies. And they're all still idiots nonetheless.
See, the bus was divided into territories, so to speak. The borders are blurred, but it's obvious that the division is there. Like many (if not all) schools out there, we have cliques. Maybe not as…developed as other schools, but we've got them. The bus displays a more general division among the cliques; the good, the bad, and the weird.
The good kids are the kind that are either 'nerds'; people who only care about not getting in trouble ad marks, or people who are actually nice, and maintain good marks. The sit in the front, away from the bad kids, and close to the teacher.
The bad kids are…the bad kids. The flunkies, druggies, prostitutes and bullies. (Aw…it's a mini poem!) They are the kind of people you really don't want to get involved with if you plan on leading a nice, safe life. They obviously sit in the back, away form the teachers.
And the weird kids probably aren't all that weird. I can say that we're more of the neutral type. Yeah, I'll have to say I belong to this 'clique'. The weird kids are neither all good or all bad. Some of us flunk, but most of us have decent grades. We don't always stick to the rules, and we don't always do the wrong thing. We sit in the middle—the blur of a more definite border.
Who were 'we', you wonder? 'We' are myself, Takamine Kenji (male student #5), Amano Yuusuke (male student #11), Ito Shizuka (female student #15), Himuro Amane (female student #16), Hasegawa Hana (female student #9), Iwaki Mio (female student #2) and Sudo Ayumi (female student #17). We were all clustered together, chatting loudly about video games, mostly. Yeah, aside from Shizuka, we were all gamer kids. At the moment, we were arguing over DDR. We're such geeks x3.
"But…the songs are poopy!" Kenji complained. I reached over the aisle in between the columns of seats to smack him on the head. He called my writing poopy once.
"Nuh-uh! You probably got a crap version!" Argued Yuusuke, who was apparently a DDR fanatic. I don't know how he's supposed to be able to play on Standard mode though--he's pretty…horizontal.
"He's right, ya know." Amane added with a small smirk. "You've never really been good at picking stuff." That included girls, too. Almost all of the girls he dated weren't exactly…good girls. Now, I'm not his mother or anything, but some of those girls were total bitches.
"Shaddup." Kenji crossed his arm over his chest and sulked, already knowing what Amane had implied. Yuusuke, who sat next to him, patted him on the back.
"At least you get the girls." Yuusuke sighed with self pity. I can't say that Yuusuke's totally helpless with girls. No, he's had way more girlfriends than I have video games. The problem? They never lasted. He was either too protective ('I want a boyfriend, not another father'), too 'passionate' ('jeez, we're just kids. He sounds like he wants me to marry him!'), or just too corny ('You are my other half? No thanks.').
All of us couldn't help but laugh as he brought that up. Oh, poor, stupid un-little Yuu.
So that was sort of how our conversations changed directions. We pick on Yuusuke. Well, ok, maybe not always. We're not that mean. Just me xD
We chatted come more about other things, like our classmates ('ugh, Sakura is such a skank. It's so obvious that she whores herself'), our teachers ('Watanabe is _such_ a pedo!'), and other such random things that don't really include people that we personally know. ('Gargh, you have no idea how many people I'd slaughter just to get a hug from DeG's Kyo!' 'Actually, we do.')
I hadn't noticed that time had passed by so quickly, as it usually does when I'm doing something interesting. It did take a while, but I soon realized that it had gotten dark, and that the chatter had quieted down. I frowned and raised my wrist to eye level, checking the time. It was only about 9 PM. I dropped my arm, which heavily landed on my lap. Why did I feel so sluggish? Not even tired. Just like I weigh a zillion times more than I really do.
With much strain, I turned my head to look around the bus. Everyone was asleep.
…Oh. So _that's_ why is was so quiet.
Heh.
But still, it didn't make me feel any better. How could I have not noticed that things have gotten quiet, that my friends have drifted off to sleep? I'm not that slow--actually, I'm pretty good with noticing things. And why was everyone asleep to begin with? It's so early!
I know for a fact that almost all of us stay up much later than 9 on a regular basis.
I furrowed my brows, trying hard to think. But my mind was working as slow as everything else. I couldn't really pin it down, but this whole thing felt familiar to me. I know that it's never happened before to me. Was it something I heard on TV?
Instinctively, I arched my neck, trying to get a look at our driver. I didn't know why--maybe it was to check whether or not we were still moving.
Oh, well, I couldn't really tell if our bus driver was actually driving, but I did figure out something…crucial. He was wearing a gas mask.
I wanted to scream, hiss, kick and crawl my way out, suddenly, as I realized how much danger we're in. But I couldn't. Instead, my already failing vision just blurred, and blacked out.
2. o1 Oh Snap
_**Same Disclaimer. No need for repitition!**_
* * *
**Chapter o2; Oh. Snap.**
* * *
_Hijacked. **Help.**_
It felt like I was falling, falling, tumbling, but never hitting anything and never landing. I couldn't remember much--just short snippets of events; the bus, the class trip, and the gas. No--hijackers don't usually gas a whole bus of students for a ransom.
So then, what was this?
I tried to think of an instance where gas was used in a hijacking. None. But even if this would be the first, where the hell would they have enough gas to knock out 40 kids?
_Think, think, think, th--_
Oh snap.
Yeah, now I remembered on instant where something exactly like this happened.
_**Battle Royale.**_
My eyes snapped open, the thought pulling me awake. I had expected light to blind me--like what happens in those movies. But instead, I found myself in the dark. There were small rays of light escaping from the cardboard-covered windows, and I could see silhouettes of my classmates around the room.
"Aki, you ok?" I heard, and turned around, finding Shizuka staring at me with wide eyes. Just about everyone was awake now. I nodded--and that's when I felt the cold of metal against me neck. My hands immediately flew up around my neck, touching the collar rather than skin. I looked up at Yuu, who had the same understanding expression.
This _is_ **Battle Royale**.
"It's even worse than that." He said, knowing what I knew. I arched a brow and waited for him to continue. Instead, Yuu just pointed to the back of the room, where the majority of my classmates were staring.
In each corner was a desk. On each desk was a person.
**Kiriyama Kazuo **and **Kawada Shogo.** They didn't look exactly like the actors who played them in the movie (otherwise a whole bunch of girls would be swarming over the Masanabu Ando-look-alike), but it was unmistakably them.
Kawada was wearing a light blue _gakuran_ and pants. He had that orange bandana over his forehead and the same hairstyle. Kiriyama had the same wild red-orange-brown-ish hairstyle as Masanabu did in the movie. He was also wearing the dark blue gakuran and chewing his gum like nothing was wrong. I just noticed how _pretty_ he was. (I can swear he's pretty than most _girls_ are...heh).
"No way..." I whispered and then bit my lower lip.
I'm not expecting this to go exactly like the movie--or even the manga or novel. Those were just things written and drawn and acted out by professionals. _This_ is real.
So I didn't expect it when Hayashi-sensei, our 7th grade teacher, showed up at the door, walking calmly to the front desk. Soldiers followed her in, uniform and stoic, and spread out around the room. There was a moment of hushed confusion and fear, and then someone spoke out.
"Hayashi?!"
Ok, so this was getting pretty close to the movie. Dainichi Seto, boy #17 stood with his mouth open and eyes wide. Others followed with confused and surprised mutters.
"Yes, I'm so glad to see you all again!" Hayashi greeted us in the same cheerful voice that we had all learned to hate.
"What's going on?!" Someone shouted from the back.
"Where the hell are we, and why are all these soldiers here?!" Another demanded. Hayashi raised her arms as a means to quiet us down. Not really working. Eventually one of the soldiers shouted 'SHUT UP'. _That_ worked.
Everyone quieted down and fearfully glanced at the soldiers, who were all bearing guns. I, on the other hand, crossed my arms over my chest and sent them a miffed glare. I had a problem with authority.
Once the room was silent, Hayashi turned around and wrote something on the bored. I couldn't see 'cause her stupid-looking head (or more specifically, her goddamn huge nose) was blocking it. When she moved, I felt my breath hitch in my throat.
**The BR Act.**
I dunno about Yuu, but I'm convinced this is reality.
And reality is cruel.
End file.
| fanfiction |
galaxy evolution in groups and clusters can be significantly influenced by environmental processes , such as tidal compression of cluster gravitational fields ( e.g. , byrd & valtonen 1990 ) , merging between group member galaxies ( e.g. , mamon 2001 ) , ram pressure stripping of disk gas ( e.g. , gunn & gott 1972 ) , high external pressure of intracluster medium ( icm ) on galactic gas disks ( e.g. , evrard 1991 ) , multiple high - speed galaxy encounters ( e.g. , moore et al .
1994 ) , and stripping of galactic halo gas by ram pressure of icm ( e.g. , bekki 2009 ) .
one of key issues in extragalactic astronomy is to understand the relative importance of each of these environmental processes in galaxy evolution for different environments ( see boselli & gavazzi 2006 for a recent review on this ) .
ram pressure effect on galactic gas disk is distinct from other environmental processes based on gravitation interaction in the sense that it can influence only the cold gaseous components of disk galaxies ( i.e. , it can not directly influence the stellar components ) .
ram pressure of icm , however , can be a key process for better understanding the star formation histories ( sfhs ) of disk galaxies in groups and clusters , as described throughout this paper .
recent observational studies have shown that ram pressure stripping can influence temporal and spatial variations of star formation ( sf ) in disk galaxies ( e.g. , koopmann & kenny 2004 ; crowl & kenny 2008 ; cortese et al .
2012 ; fossati et al .
for example , koopmann & kenny ( 2004 ) found that spiral galaxies with truncated h@xmath4 disks show undisturbed stellar disks in the virgo cluster and accordingly suggested that hydrodynamical interaction between icm and interstellar medium ( ism ) is responsible for the truncated h@xmath4 disks .
also , these observations found that the h@xmath4-to - optical - disk - size ratio is smaller for spiral galaxies with higher degrees of h i - deficiency .
( e.g. , a negative correlation between @xmath8 and def@xmath9 ; fossati et al .
given that the time evolution of global colors and chemical abundances of disk galaxy depends strongly on sfhs , these observations suggest that understanding the roles of ram pressure in sfhs of galaxies is important also for better understanding galaxy evolution in general .
although many numerical simulations investigated in what physical conditions ism of galaxies with different morphological types can be stripped by ram pressure ( e.g. , abadi et al . 1999 ; mori & burkert 2000 ; quilis et al .
2000 ; schultz & struck 2001 ; vollmer et al .
2001 ; roediger & hensler 2005 ; roediger & brggen 2007 ; jchym et al . 2007 ; kronberger et al . 2008
; tonnesen & bryan 2012 ) , a surprisingly small number of simulations have so far investigated how the sfhs of disk galaxies can be influenced by ram pressure .
bekki & couch ( 2003 ) demonstrated that external high pressure of icm on gas clouds in disk galaxies can induce the gravitational collapse of the clouds and thus can trigger a very efficient star formation ( starburst ) .
kronberger et al .
( 2008 ) showed that ram pressure of icm can significantly enhance ( by up to a factor of 3 ) the mean star formation rates in the central regions of disk galaxies , if the icm has a density of @xmath10 g @xmath11 and a temperature of @xmath12 k. mastropietro et al .
( 2009 ) investigated how ram pressure of the galactic halo gas can influence the distribution of star - forming regions in the large magellanic cloud ( lmc ) .
tonnesen & bryan ( 2012 ) demonstrated that star formation in galactic bulges can be slightly enhanced in disk galaxies under moderately strong ram pressure of icm .
although these previous simulations clearly demonstrated that external high pressure of icm can possibly enhance star formation in disk galaxies under some physical conditions , they did not investigate the long - term ( more than a few gyr ) sfhs of galaxies under ram pressure in a systematic parameter study .
furthermore , these previous simulations did not properly model the time evolution of the strength of ram pressure for disk galaxies which enter into clusters from fields . since the strength of ram pressure depends both on ( i ) the relative velocities between icm and galaxies and on ( ii ) the densities of icm surrounding galaxies , orbital evolution of galaxies within clusters needs to be included in simulating the long - term effects of ram pressure on galaxies . accordingly
, it is unclear how ram pressure can influence sfhs of galaxies when they enter into a cluster environment and passes through its central region .
a more comprehensive systematic parameter study on the influences of ram pressure on sfhs of galaxies is necessary .
the purpose of this paper is to investigate how ram pressure of icm can influence the long - term sfhs of disk galaxies in a comprehensive manner by using numerical simulations with a proper model for time - varying ram pressure force .
we particularly investigate the following questions : ( i ) whether ram pressure can enhance or reduce star formation in disk galaxies , ( ii ) how the effects of ram pressure on galactic sfhs depend on galaxy properties and environments , ( iii ) how the h@xmath4 distributions of disk galaxies under strong ram pressure look like , ( iv ) how the ratios of h@xmath4 disk sizes to optical disk ones depend on galaxy / group / cluster masses , and ( v ) how ram pressure is important for better understanding the observed properties of galaxies in groups and clusters .
given ongoing extensive observational studies of 2d h@xmath4 distribution of star - forming regions in galaxies by multi - object spectrograph on large ground - based telescopes ( e.g. , croom et al .
2012 ; brough et al .
2013 ) , it is very timely for the present study to predict 2d h@xmath4 distributions of star - forming regions in disk galaxies under strong ram pressure .
these predictions will help observers to interpret the origin of the h@xmath4 morphologies of disk galaxies in different environments ( e.g. , moss & whittle 2000 ; koopmann & kenny 2004 ) .
galactic sfhs in groups and clusters have been discussed in the context of gradual decline due to _ halo gas _ stripping ( ` strangulation ' ; larson et al .
2002 ; balogh et al .
2000 ; bekki et al .
2001 , 2002 ; shioya et al .
ram pressure stripping of _ disk gas _ can cause sudden and rapid removal of gas and thus can have more dramatic effects on sfhs of galaxies in comparison with the strangulation mechanism .
the plan of the paper is as follows : in the next section , we describe our new model for time - dependent ram pressure force on disk galaxies in clusters . in 3 , we present the numerical results on the long - term sfhs and spatial distributions of sf regions in disk galaxies under strong ram pressure . in this section , we also discuss the dependences of the results on the adopted model parameters . in 4 , we discuss the possibly important implications of the simulations results .
we summarize our conclusions in 5 . [ cols="<,^,^,^ " , ]
fig . 2 shows how the 2d distributions of cold gas and sfr in a mw - type disk galaxy changes with time when the galaxy passes through the central core of a virgo - like cluster . in the early phase of its orbital evolution within the low - mass cluster , the ram pressure of icm is rather weak and
therefore can influence only the very outer part of the gas disk ( @xmath13 gyr ) .
consequently , new stars can continue to form throughout the gas disk as efficiently as the isolated disk in this early evolution phase .
after the pericenter passage ( @xmath14 kpc at @xmath15 gyr ) , the gas disk can be quickly and efficiently stripped by ram pressure so that numerous small gas clumps can form behind the disk ( @xmath16 gyr ) .
these small clumps have head - tail structures and most of them can be completely stripped from the disk galaxy ( i.e. , outside @xmath17 ) during the pericenter passage .
however , a minor fraction of once stripped gas clumps can be returned back to the gas disk when the galaxy goes away from the orbital pericenter , because ram pressure can become weak again ( @xmath18 gyr ) .
these clumps falling back to the original gas disk can be observed as high - velocity clouds in the galaxy .
the details of these stripping processes can be seen in the attached animation , for which the color codes are exactly the same as those in fig .
the attached animation ( ram.f1.avi for high - resolution and ram.f1.mov for low - resolution ) clearly shows ( i ) how the gas disk of the disk galaxy in the fiducial model is stripped by ram pressure of icm and ( ii ) how the 2d distribution of the star - forming regions accordingly changes during the disk evolution .
this animation enables readers to understand better the following points that are not clearly shown in fig . 2 : ( i )
the formation processes of numerous small gas clumps during ram pressure stripping , ( ii ) the formation head - tail structures of the clumps , ( iii ) the re - accretion process of the clumps , and ( iv ) the sudden truncation of sf in the outer disk during ram pressure stripping . owing to the severe truncation of the outer gas disk by ram pressure stripping , sf in the outer disk ( @xmath19 ) can be completely shut down . as a result of this
, the 2d @xmath20 distribution shows a sharp edge around @xmath21 kpc at @xmath18 gyr .
it is intriguing that the outer 2d @xmath20 distribution looks like a ring with a central concentration .
this ring - like distribution of new stars is characteristic for disk galaxies under strong ram pressure stripping , as discussed later .
the left panel of fig .
3 shows that in spite of efficient gas stripping , the sfr of the disk galaxy can become higher than the sfr of the isolated model at @xmath22 gyr .
a physical explanation for this moderate sf enhancement is as follows .
when the disk galaxy becomes closer to the orbital pericenter , ram pressure becomes moderately strong and starts to compress the inner part of the gas disk so that a significant fraction of gas particles can have higher gas densities .
this compression of gas by ram pressure can be the strongest at the pericenter passage of the galaxy . as a result of this , sf can be moderately enhanced largely in the central region of the disk at the pericenter passage .
the physical mechanism of this is discussed more extensively in 3.5 .
the left panel of fig .
3 shows that @xmath23 ( @xmath24 corresponding to the observed h@xmath4-to - optical - disk - size ratio ) can become significantly smaller after the pericenter passage owing to the truncated sf in the outer disk . the half - mass radius of new stars ( @xmath25 ) ,
however , does not change significantly during ram pressure stripping .
this means that ram pressure can only influence the outer star - forming disk in this model .
the total mass of new stars ( @xmath26 ) formed during @xmath27 gyr evolution of the disk is only slightly larger than that in the isolated model , which means that the positive effect of ram pressure on sf ( i.e. , sf enhancement ) can surpass the negative one ( i.e. , sf reduction ) in this mw - type disk galaxy .
it should be noted , however , that it depends on @xmath0 , @xmath28 , and @xmath29 ( @xmath30 ) of disk galaxies on which of these two effects can be more dominant in sfhs of disk galaxies for a given environment ( this point is later discussed in 3.2 . )
the right two panels of fig .
3 show that the final projected density distributions ( @xmath31 ) of gas are quite different between the isolated and fiducial models , though the distributions of new stars are not so different between the two .
the gaseous distributions with almost constant @xmath31 for 4 kpc @xmath32 10 kpc and very steep @xmath31 decline beyond @xmath33 kpc in the fiducial model clearly mean that ram pressure can significantly increase the gas density in the inner region of the gas disk .
the inner region with constant @xmath31 is roughly coincident with the location of a ring - like structure of young stars shown in fig .
2 ( and later in fig .
4 ) . this coincidence provides the following explanation for the origin of the ring - like structure . during efficient ram pressure stripping of the outer gas disk ( which ends up with the sharp @xmath31 decline at @xmath34 10 kpc in fig.3 )
, the inner gas disk can be strongly compressed by ram pressure .
consequently , the gas density of the inner gas disk ( 4 kpc @xmath35 10 kpc ) can become so high that new stars can form from the gas disk .
the gas at the circumnuclear region ( @xmath36 2 kpc ) can be rapidly consumed by star formation so that the sfr there can be relatively low at the time of pericenter passage .
thus , a ring - like young star - forming region can be formed after ram pressure stripping .
the right panel of fig .
4 shows that ( i ) sf can be actively ongoing in the central bulge region and ( ii ) the disk has an intriguing ring - like h@xmath4 morphology after ram pressure stripping of the outer gas disk ( @xmath18 gyr ) .
the outer sharp edge of the h@xmath4 ring corresponds to the outer edge of the truncated gas disk .
given that such a ring - like structure can not be seen in the disk at @xmath13 gyr ( left panel of fig .
4 ) and in the isolated model , the formation of the ring is caused by the effects of ram pressure on the gas disk .
such a ring - like distribution of star - forming regions is indeed observed for ngc 4569 in the virgo cluster ( e.g. , koopmann & kenny 2004 ) .
the simulated ring - like h@xmath4 morphology is one of characteristic distributions of h@xmath4 in disk galaxies under strong ram pressure , as described later
. figs .
@xmath37 summarize the dependences of the time evolution of sfrs , @xmath23 ( corresponding to h@xmath4-to - optical - disk - size ratio ) , and @xmath38 ( long - term conversion efficiencies of cold ism into new stars ) on disk inclination angles ( @xmath29 and @xmath30 ) , halo masses of galaxies ( @xmath0 ) , orbits ( e.g. , @xmath28 ) , and group / cluster masses ( @xmath0 ) . for figs .
@xmath39 , the results of the disk models with @xmath40 and @xmath41 ( ` in ' models ) are shown , because such inclined disk configurations with respect to the orbits of galaxies can be more typical and more realistic for real ism - icm interaction in groups and clusters . as shown in fig . 5 , sfhs of mw - type galaxies after pericenter passage depend strongly on disk inclination angles for the low - mass virgo cluster model .
clearly , sf can be more strongly enhanced by ram pressure in the edge - on disk inclination than in the face - on and inclined ones .
ram pressure can be responsible both for efficient gas stripping and for strong compression of gas .
for the edge - on model , the latter effect is more dominant than the former one so that sf can be significantly enhanced in the central region of the gas disk .
the level of sf enhancement in the edge - on model is significant ( i.e. , similar to the initial active sf phase ) and can continue for @xmath42 gyr after pericenter passage .
either ` reactivation ' or ` rejuvenation ' would be a better word for describing the effect of ram pressure on the galactic sfh of the edge - one model .
as shown in fig .
6 , both sfrs and @xmath23 can be more significantly reduced in less massive disk galaxies for the i1 orbit in the virgo cluster model with @xmath6 .
the mw - type galaxy shows a slightly enhanced sfr after pericenter passage whereas the m33-type shows a sudden and significant sfr decrease in the i1 orbit .
the @xmath23 parameter can be reduced by @xmath43% for the mw - type and by @xmath44% for the m33-type in this orbit , which means that the m33-type has a more compact h@xmath4 disk . sf in the dwarf - type can be suddenly shut down ( ` sf quenching ' ) and thus @xmath23 becomes 0 after pericenter - passage owing to the complete stripping of cold gas from the disk by ram pressure in this i1 orbit .
the @xmath38 parameter can become larger than 1 for the mw - type owing to the moderate sf enhancement in the central bulge region whereas it can be significantly lower than 1 for m33-type and dwarf - type in this i1 orbit .
these results suggest that sfhs and 2d distributions of sf regions in less massive disk galaxies can be more strongly influenced by ram pressure in clusters .
the modest sf enhancement of the mw - type and the sudden sf quenching of the dwarf - type derived in the i1 orbit can be seen in other orbits of the virgo model and in some orbits of the coma and the group models .
however , the significant sf reduction of the m33-type derived in the i1 orbit can not be clearly seen in other orbits of the virgo models .
this simply means that sfhs of disk galaxies can be determined not only by their masses but also by other parameters ( @xmath28 and group / cluster masses ) .
the dependences of the time evolution of @xmath23 on galaxy masses derived in the i1 orbit of the virgo model can be seen in other orbital types ( i2 , i3 , b1 , and b2 ) of the virgo model and some orbits of the coma cluster model ( see fig .
the degrees of sf and @xmath23 reduction by ram pressure , however , can depend on orbital types and group / cluster masses , as shown in figs .
6@xmath458 , which is described later .
it should be noted that moderate sf enhancement by ram pressure can be clearly seen only in the mw type ( not so clear in the m33-type and the dwarf - type for all models ) .
the orbital pericenter distances ( @xmath28 ) are 42 , 72 , 102 , 102 , and 195 kpc for the orbital types i1 , i2 , i3 , b1 , and b2 in the virgo model . accordingly
, it is clear from figs .
6 that @xmath23 can be more significantly reduced in the m33-type with smaller @xmath28 among the three infall models ( i1 , i2 , and i3 ) .
this dependence on @xmath28 can be seen in the m33-type and the dwarf - type for the two bound orbits .
although final @xmath23 for the mw - type is significantly smaller than that of the isolated model for all orbits , the dependence of final @xmath23 on @xmath28 is not so clear for the mw - type .
smaller final @xmath38 and more significant sf reduction are likely to occur in the dwarf - type with smaller @xmath28 .
these derived dependences of sfhs , @xmath23 , and @xmath38 can be seen in the coma model and the group one .
these dependences on the orbits of galaxies are due largely to the differences of the influences of ram pressure force on gaseous evolution ( thus on sfhs ) between different models . the differences in @xmath46 ( the epoch of pericenter passage ) between models with different orbits can be as large as @xmath42 gyr .
this means that the total gas masses ( @xmath47 ) of disks at @xmath46 can be significantly different between different models thus that the restoring force of gas disks can be different between the models at @xmath46 .
therefore the differences of @xmath47 at @xmath46 might be responsible for the dependences of the present results on the orbits of galaxies .
however , the differences in @xmath47 at @xmath46 between models with different orbits are rather small . for example
, @xmath47 in the isolated mw model is @xmath48 at @xmath49 gyr ( corresponding to the vi - b1-mw - in model ) and @xmath50 at @xmath51 gyr ( vi - i1-mw - in model ) .
these values can be roughly estimated from the time evolution of @xmath26 in fig . 3 and the adopted larger initial @xmath47 ( @xmath52 ) .
therefore , the possible small difference ( @xmath53% ) in the restoring force of gas disks is highly unlikely to influence the time evolution of sf in disks under ram pressure .
we therefore consider that the derived dependences of the present results on the orbits of galaxies are due largely to the differences of the influences of ram pressure force on gas disks between different models .
7 shows that irrespective of galaxy - masses , sf in disks can be suddenly and completely truncated after pericenter passage in the coma model , as long as @xmath28 is small enough .
not only the m33-type and the dwarf - type but also the mw - type shows sf quenching in the orbit i1 and i2 in this massive cluster model .
these results are in a striking contrast with those for the low - mass virgo model , which implies that sf in mw - type disk galaxies can be quenched only in massive clusters .
it is intriguing that sf enhancement does not occur for the mw - type in i1 and i2 of the coma model , though sf enhancement can be frequently seen in the virgo model and the group one .
this result implies that moderately strong ram pressure is required for sf of mw - type disk galaxies to be moderately enhanced .
too strong ram pressure can simply strip the entire gas disk so that sf enhancement by compression of gas by ram pressure can not occur .
8 shows that sf enhancement by ram pressure after pericenter passage in the mw - type is more pronounced in the group model than in the virgo one ( in particular , orbits i1 and i2 ) .
furthermore , the final @xmath38 in the mw - type is significantly larger than 1 for these i1 and i2 orbits , which means that cold gas is more efficiently converted into new stars owing to compression of gas by ram pressure .
these results imply that although @xmath23 of luminous disk galaxies in a group can become slightly smaller ( i.e. , slightly truncated h@xmath4 disk ) owing to ram pressure of the intragroup gas , their sf activity can be enhanced , as long as their @xmath28 can be small enough .
the dwarf - type with smaller @xmath28 ( i1 and i2 orbits ) shows almost complete truncation of sf even in this group environment .
it should be noted , however , that the dw - type with the b2 orbit shows a very slight sf enhancement after pericenter passage ( in comparison with the isolated model ) and thus @xmath54 .
these results suggest that ram pressure of intragroup gas can be important for the sfhs of disk galaxies in group environments .
9 presents a collection of the following four characteristic h@xmath4 morphologies seen in the simulated disk galaxies of the present study : ( i ) very compact and severely truncated , ( ii ) one - sided and outer crescent - like , ( iii ) broken ring - like and patchy , and ( iv ) an outer high - density ring ( distributions ) .
these characteristic h@xmath4 morphologies are not seen in isolated models and thus regarded as being due to ram pressure effects .
the severely truncated distribution can be seen more frequently in disk galaxy models just before the complete truncation of sf by ram pressure .
the one - sided or crescent - like ( or one - spiral - arm - like ) distribution can be more clearly seen in disk galaxy models with edge - on disk inclination in which only one side of the gas disk can be strongly influenced by hydrodynamical force of ram pressure .
disk galaxies with these crescent - like h@xmath4 distributions often show enhanced global sfrs .
the broken ring - like distributions can be frequently seen in disk models with face - on ( @xmath55 and @xmath56 ) or inclined ( @xmath40 and @xmath41 ) disk configurations .
this ring - like distribution is not due to the dynamical action of central bars , because it is confirmed that this ring - like distribution can be seen in the disk models with big bulges for which bar formation via global bar instability is unlikely .
the outer rings with significant sf enhancement within the rings can be seen for disk galaxy models with smaller @xmath28 orbiting the group .
the ring - like distributions of enhanced sf regions can not be seen in isolated models , which suggests that such ring - like distributions can be used for searching for evidence of an environmental effect of a group on sfhs of disk galaxies .
10 summarizes the following four basic modes of sf in disk galaxies orbiting groups and clusters of galaxies : ( i ) enhanced , ( ii ) reduced , ( iii ) quenched , and ( iv ) unaffected ( sf ) .
the ` enhanced sf ' mode means that sfrs can be moderately enhanced by ram pressure but can not be as high as the sfrs of starburst galaxies whereas the ` unaffected sf ' mode means that sfrs can not change significantly ( though very slight increase in sf can be seen during / after ram pressure ) .
the enhanced sf mode is more frequently seen in the mw - type whereas the quenched and reduced sf modes are more frequently seen in the dwarf - type in the present study . as described in the preceding sections , sfhs of disk galaxies can be enhanced or reduced depending on model parameters .
therefore , it would be unrealistic for any theoretical studies on statistical properties of galactic sf to assume that irrespective of galaxy - masses , group / cluster masses , and orbital types , sf of galaxies in groups and cluster can be quenched after pericenter passage . the origin of passive red spiral galaxies observed in distant clusters ( e.g. , dressler et al .
1998 ) can be closely related to the quenched sf mode . on the other hand ,
the origin of disk galaxies with local sf enhancement in their outer disks observed in the virgo cluster ( e.g. , koopmann & kenney 2004 ) has something to do with the enhanced sf mode .
although we have shown that sf in disk galaxies can be enhanced by ram pressure in the present simulations , we have only briefly mentioned a possible physical process responsible for this sf enhancement . in order to demonstrate more clearly why ram pressure can cause the modest enhancement of sf in disk galaxies , we investigate ( i ) the time evolution of gas densities ( of sph particles ) and ( ii ) the density - temperature diagram of the particles during and after ram pressure stripping .
we investigate these two points for gas particles that are finally converted into new stars , because it is meaningless for us to investigate these for all gas particles including stripped ones for the purpose of clarifying the physical mechanism of the derived sf enhancement .
we choose the vi - i1-mw - ed mode for this investigation , because the model clearly shows a sf enhancement .
the sfh of this model is already described in fig .
5 ( as ` edge - on ' model ) . fig .
11 shows that the densities of star - forming gas particles significantly increase after the pericenter passage of the disk galaxy in this model . fig .
11 furthermore shows that the locations of gas particles on the @xmath57 plane after the pericenter passage are quite different from those in the isolated disk model .
a significant fraction of gas particles can have higher @xmath58 and higher @xmath59 in the star - forming disk under ram pressure .
these results confirm that the modest sf enhancement derived in the present simulations is due to the significant increase of gas densities caused by compression of gas by ram pressure of icm .
so far , we have presented the results of the models with a fixed @xmath60 ( = 1 @xmath11 ) and @xmath61 ( = 10@xmath62 yr ) . although we consider that these parameter values for sf threshold gas density and sn feedback effect are quite reasonable and realistic for the present investigation , it is important for the present study to discuss whether or not the present results are sensitive to the choice of these parameters .
we therefore discuss this point by presenting the results for the models ( vi - i1-mw - in ) with different @xmath60 ( @xmath63 @xmath11 and @xmath64 @xmath11 ) and @xmath61 ( @xmath65 yr , @xmath66 yr and @xmath67 yr , which are referred to as ` weak ' , ` standard ' , and ` strong ' sn feedback , respectively ) . the isolated models with these weak and strong sn feedback show significantly higher and lower initial sfrs than a reasonable sfr of @xmath68 for a mw - type disk galaxy , respectively .
these models are therefore less realistic than those with the standard sn feedback ( @xmath69 yr ) . fig .
12 shows that modest enhancement in sf after pericenter passage can be seen in the models with @xmath70 and 1 @xmath11 , which confirms that the present results on the sf enhancement by ram pressure are not sensitive to the choice of @xmath60 .
furthermore , fig .
12 shows that sf enhancement can be seen in the model with strong sn feedback effects in which sn explosions can cause gaseous outflow from the disk galaxy .
the sf enhancement can be clearly seen in the models with different @xmath61 , though the levels of sf enhancement are slightly different between the three models with weak , standard , and strong sn feedback .
these results demonstrate that the present results on sf enhancement by ram pressure do not depend strongly on the details of the modeling of sn feedback effects .
we have shown that _ in some models _ , sf can be enhanced rather than truncated in mw - type disk galaxy when they pass the pericenter of their orbits within clusters .
the high pressure of icm can ( externally ) compress the cold ism in disk galaxies so that sfrs , which are assumed to depend on local gas densities in the present study , can significantly increase . using analytic models of galaxy evolution in clusters , fujita & nagashima ( 1999 ) predicted that sfrs of disk galaxies can increase by a factor of @xmath71 as galaxies approach the central regions of clusters , because ism of the galaxies can be strongly compressed by high pressure of icm at the pericenter passages .
previous numerical simulations also demonstrated that star formation in mw - type galaxies can be enhanced , if their ism are under strong influences of high pressure of icm ( e.g. , bekki & couch 2003 ; kronberger et al .
it should be stressed , however , that this sf enhancement in mw - type disk galaxies is modest ( i.e. , not like a starburst with a factor of @xmath72 sfr increase ) and can not last long .
such a modest level of sf enhancement in disk galaxies under ram pressure has been recently observed by integrated - field spectroscopy and multi - band imaging ( e.g. , merluzzi et al .
2013 ) .
the derived modest sf enhancement implies that sf in mw - type disk galaxies could not monotonically decline after they enter into cluster environments .
stripping of _ halo gas _ of disk galaxies by cluster tide ( bekki et al .
2001 ) and ram pressure of icm ( mccarthy et al . 2008
; bekki 2009 ) can cause gradual decline of their star formation ( e.g. , larson et al .
however , moderately strong ram pressure on _ ism in disks _ can enhance star formation of disk galaxies in clusters : cluster environments have positive and negative effects on galactic star formation histories . in recent semi - analytic models ( sams ) of galaxy formation based on a @xmath73cdm cosmology , star - formation quenching is assumed to occur in galaxies after their pericenter passages within groups and clusters ( e.g. , wetzel et al .
the present study strongly suggest that ( i ) galactic star formation in clusters is not so simple as modeled in these semi - analytic studies , and thus ( ii ) not only sf quenching but also sf enhancement would need to be correctly included in their models for better understanding galaxy evolution in clusters .
however , it is quantitatively unclear how dramatically the predictions of sams can change if the above ram pressure effects on sfrs of galaxies are more properly included in sams . given that the sf enhancement by ram pressure is modest and a significant fraction of disk galaxies can have ` unaffected ' sf modes after ram pressure stripping , such an inclusion of ram pressure effects in sams would not dramatically change the already existing predictions . since sf
enhancement means more rapid gas consumption , galaxies in groups / cluster might show reduced sf on average .
one of key results in the present study is that the final h@xmath4-to - optical - disk - size ratios ( @xmath23 ) in disk galaxies under ram pressure of icm depend primarily on their orbits ( in particular , pericenter distances ) , galaxy masses , inclination angles of disks with respect to orbital directions , and cluster masses . among these dependences of @xmath23 ,
an observable one is that disk galaxies are likely to show smaller @xmath23 in more massive clusters .
this dependence of @xmath23 on @xmath0 would not be so surprising and could be possibly confirmed by observations . however , systematic observational studies on the dependence of @xmath23 on @xmath0 ( or other cluster properties ) have not been done yet .
koopmann & kenny ( 2004 ) investigated h@xmath4 morphologies of spiral galaxies in the virgo cluster and found that about 52% of the spiral galaxies show truncated h@xmath4 disks ( smaller @xmath23 ) , particularly , in those with truncated h i disks ( see their fig .
they therefore concluded that the observed truncated sf regions in the virgo can be caused by ism - icm hydrodynamical interaction .
future observational studies on the dependences of @xmath23 on @xmath0 ( also on group / cluster sizes and densities ) could be doubtlessly worthwhile as follows . moss & whittle ( 2000 ) investigated sf regions of disk galaxies in eight low - redshift abell clusters and revealed that strong evidence for tidally induced star formation can be more frequently found in higher local galaxy surface density .
bretherton et al .
( 2013 ) have also found that disk galaxies with enhanced sfrs in their cluster samples show evidence of disturbance .
these two observational studies imply that galaxy interaction can be also important in changing sf regions of galaxies in clusters and thus is a key parameter that controls @xmath23 .
therefore , a key question here is how the relative importance of ram pressure and tidal interaction in determining @xmath23 changes with galaxy environments ( e.g. , @xmath0 ) .
the present study has shown that @xmath23 can be smaller for disk galaxies within more massive clusters , because ram pressure is likely to be stronger in the clusters .
also the reduction of @xmath23 can be less severe in groups than in clusters owing to the the weaker ram pressure force in groups . on the other hand
, @xmath23 is unlikely to be less than 1 during tidal interaction , because both gas and old stars within a certain tidal radius can be equally stripped .
furthermore slow yet strong galaxy interaction can be an important physical mechanism for enhancing rather than quenching sf in disk galaxies in groups ( bekki & couch 2011 ) .
therefore , it would be possible that ( i ) more massive clusters show a larger number of galaxies with smaller @xmath23 in comparison with less massive clusters and ( ii ) groups have different @xmath23 distributions in comparison with clusters ( e.g. , most of group member galaxies show @xmath23 almost equal to or larger than 1 ) .
thus , future observational studies on the dependences of @xmath23 on group / cluster masses ( @xmath0 ) will enable us to understand the relative importance of ram pressure and tidal interaction in determining the 2d distributions of sf regions of disk galaxies in different environments .
the present study has shown that ( i ) low - mass disk galaxies can lose the entire gas disks through ram pressure stripping at their pericenter passage even in low - mass clusters with @xmath6 and ( ii ) sf can be completely and suddenly truncated ( or quenched ) after the pericenter passage .
sf is very active in these low - mass , gas - rich disk galaxies before sf quenching , and the stellar disk components can not be influenced at all by ram pressure stripping of ism in these galaxies .
therefore , the present results imply that these low - mass disk galaxies which suddenly lose their gas can be identified as ` e+a ' disk galaxies with poststarburst spectra @xmath74 gyr after sf quenching .
recent observational studies of spatial distributions of stellar populations and kinematics in e+as ( e.g. , pracy et al . 2009 ; 2012 )
have shown that the observed properties of most e+as are consistent with the simulated ones based on a major merger scenario in which e+as can form from major merging with strong starbursts and evolve then into elliptical galaxies ( e.g. , bekki et al .
these results accordingly imply that disky e+as ( i.e. , those which are not formed from major merging ) could be a minor population . although the observed negative radial gradients of balmer absorption lines ( i.e. , stronger in inner regions ) are demonstrated to be consistent with the major merger scenario of e+a formation ( pracy et al .
2012 ) , some e+as show rather flat radial gradients of balmer absorption lines ( e.g. , e+a 1 in pracy et al .
disk galaxies which very quickly lose their entire gas disks through ram pressure stripping should show no / little radial gradients of balmer absorption lines owing to sudden and complete truncation of sf for the entire disks .
therefore , the observed flat radial gradients of e+as in pracy et al .
( 2012 ) appear to be consistent with e+a formation through ram pressure stripping in disk galaxies .
interestingly , e+a 1 in pracy et al .
( 2012 ) has a dwarf - like luminosity ( @xmath75 mag ) , which appears to be consistent with the present result that low - mass disks are more likely to become disky e+as .
given that tran et al .
( 2003 ) found many disky e+as in clusters , the present study suggests that future observational studies on 2d distributions of balmer absorption lines in disky e+as will enable us to discuss whether ram pressure stripping can be a major mechanism for e+a formation in clusters .
the present study has clearly shown that sf quenching ( i.e. , complete truncation of sf ) is possible in disk galaxies within groups and cluster for some models under some physical conditions ( e.g. , smaller @xmath28 and lower galaxy masses ) .
sf quenching has been demonstrated to occur in disk galaxies _ at first pericenter passage _ within clusters , as long as @xmath28 is small enough ( @xmath28 well less than @xmath76 ) .
therefore , if the timescale for sf quenching is the time lag between when a galaxy first enters within a virial radius of its host cluster and when it passes through the orbital pericenter , then the timescale can be @xmath77 gyr for clusters .
the present study has also shown that sf in the mw - type disk galaxies can not be completely truncated within 3.4 gyr ( during just once pericenter passage ) , if they have bound orbits ( b1 and b2 ) with larger @xmath28 in the high - mass clusters .
it is , however , unclear whether sf in mw - type disk galaxies within clusters can be quenched if the galaxies can pass the pericenter twice or more .
we have investigated the long - term sfhs ( 5.6 gyr ) of disks galaxies with bound orbits ( b1 and b2 ) for the virgo model and the coma one in order to understand whether sf quenching is possible for the mw - type disk galaxies with bound orbits and larger @xmath28 in clusters .
13 shows that although sf quenching is not possible in the mw - type galaxies with bound orbits within 5.6 gyr for the low - mass virgo cluster model , dramatic sf reduction ( almost sf quenching ) is possible in the galaxies for the high - mass coma model .
this result implies that ( i ) sf quenching by ram pressure stripping is unlikely to occur in luminous disk galaxies for low - mass clusters and ( ii ) sf quenching timescale can be as long as @xmath78 gyr for luminous disk galaxies with larger @xmath28 for high - mass clusters .
ram pressure stripping of cold gas from disk galaxies would not be the only mechanism of sf quenching within several gyr for clusters , and tidal stripping due to galaxy interaction and cluster tide could be also responsible for sf quenching .
it is thus our future study to investigate how ram pressure and tidal interaction can combine to quench sf in disk galaxies within clusters .
we have investigated the long - term sfhs ( more than @xmath53 gyr ) and the spatial distributions of sf regions of disk galaxies under strong ram pressure of icm in clusters of galaxies by using numerical simulations with a new model for time - varying ram pressure force .
the key parameters are ( i ) group / cluster halo masses ( @xmath0 ) , ( ii ) pericenter distances of orbits ( @xmath28 ) , ( iii ) inclination angles of disks with respect to the direction of their orbits ( @xmath29 and @xmath30 ) , and ( iv ) galaxy - types ( e.g. , mw - type ) .
the principal results of the present numerical simulations are as follows .
+ ( 1 ) ram pressure of icm has the following three major effects on sfhs of disk galaxies in groups and clusters : ( i ) temporary and moderate enhancement of sf at pericenter passage , ( ii ) significant decline of sfrs after pericenter passage , ( iii ) complete truncation of sf ( ` sf quenching ' ) after pericenter passage .
it depends on @xmath0 , @xmath28 , and @xmath29 ( @xmath30 ) which of these three effects can be the most dominant for sfhs of galaxies in groups and clusters
. it would be therefore unrealistic to adopt an assumption that sf of galaxies in groups and clusters can be uniformly shut down after pericenter passage in theoretical modeling on statistical properties of galactic sf and spectrophotometric properties in groups and clusters .
+ ( 2 ) sf enhancement by ram pressure is more likely to occur in mw - type disk galaxies , and the degree of sf enhancement is more significant in the galaxies with lower inclination angles ( e.g. , edge - on configurations ) .
however , such sf enhancement is only temporary ( during and shortly after pericenter passage ) and only modest ( not like a factor of @xmath72 increase in sfrs ) in most cases .
less massive disk galaxies are less likely to show sf enhancement in clusters , because the entire gas disk can be stripped from less massive disks by even moderately strong ram pressure . sf enhancement by ram pressure
can occur preferentially in the inner regions of disks , which implies that the inner mass densities can be slightly increased in disk galaxies under ram pressure .
+ ( 3 ) the dominant role of ram pressure in galactic sfhs is the significant reduction of overall sf in disk galaxies .
the degree of sf decline depends strongly on group / cluster masses for a given set of galaxy parameters such that it can be more remarkable in groups and clusters with larger @xmath0 .
the level of sf decline by ram pressure can be more remarkable in less massive disk galaxies for a given group / cluster mass .
galaxies with smaller @xmath28 show more severe sf decline in groups and clusters .
+ ( 4 ) complete truncation of sf ( ` quenching ' ) can occur in disk galaxies with different masses after pericenter passage in high - mass clusters ( @xmath79 ) , as long as @xmath28 is small enough ( @xmath80 ) .
in low - mass clusters with @xmath6 , sf quenching is unlikely to occur in mw - type disk galaxies owing to weaker ram pressure .
these results imply that although the formation of anemic spirals is possible in low - mass clusters like the virgo , the formation of passive spirals with no ongoing sf is unlikely in such clusters .
+ ( 5 ) complete and sudden truncation of sf after pericenter passage is more likely to occur in dwarf - like disk galaxies within groups and clusters .
the likely outcome of this is that the galaxies can show poststarburst ( ` e+a ' ) spectra characterized by strong balmer absorption lines in the entire disks .
the possible no / weak radial gradients of balmer absorption lines in disky e+as with rotational kinematics is in striking contrast to the negative radial gradients observed in e+as formed from major galaxy merging .
thus , the present study predicts that ( i ) ram pressure can be responsible for the formation of disky e+as observed in clusters and ( ii ) disky e+as are likely to be dwarf - like disk galaxies .
+ ( 6 ) ram pressure stripping of the outer gas disks of galaxies can significantly reduce the h@xmath4-to - optical - disk - size ratios ( @xmath81 ) of the galaxies after pericenter passage .
the level of @xmath23 reduction is likely to be more remarkable for disk galaxies in more massive clusters .
the @xmath23 reduction also depends on @xmath0 and @xmath28 of disk galaxies for a given group / cluster mass and disk inclination angles ( @xmath29 and @xmath30 ) such that it can be more remarkable for smaller @xmath0 and smaller @xmath28 .
such @xmath23 reduction can be seen for disk galaxies even in massive groups with @xmath82 in which intragroup halo gas is warm rather than hot ( @xmath83 k ) .
this result implies that sf regions can be also truncated ( to a lesser degree ) in group environment .
gas stripping by ram pressure can be efficient in groups and thus responsible for the lack of high h i mass galaxies observed in some groups ( e.g. , kilborn et al .
+ ( 7 ) the global h@xmath4 morphologies corresponding to 2d distributions of sf regions in disk galaxies can be significantly changed by ram pressure .
disk galaxies under strong ram pressure can often show characteristic h@xmath4 morphologies , such as ring - like , one - sided , crescent - like , and highly asymmetric distributions .
these results imply that 2d h@xmath4 distributions of disk galaxies can be used for revealing a physical effect of ram pressure on disk galaxies in groups and clusters .
i ( kenji bekki ; kb ) am grateful to the referee for constructive and useful comments that improved this paper .
numerical simulations reported here were carried out on the three gpu clusters , pleiades , fornax , and gstar kindly made available by international centre for radio astronomy research ( icrar ) at the university of western australia , ivec , and the center for astrophysics and supercomputing in the swinburne university , respectively .
this research was supported by resources awarded under the astronomy australia ltd s astac scheme on swinburne with support from the australian government .
gstar is funded by swinburne and the australian government s education investment fund .
kb acknowledges the financial support of the australian research council throughout the course of this work .
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the present numerical results on the effects of ram pressure of icm on the sfhs of disk galaxies could depend on the number of particles used for representing disk galaxies and icm .
also , the sharp boundary of a icm box could influence the details of hydrodynamical interaction between icm and cold ism in disk galaxies .
therefore , we here investigate how the present results depend on ( i ) the number of particles in a disk galaxy ( @xmath84 ) , the number of icm particles in a icm box ( @xmath85 ) , and the icm box size ( @xmath86 ) by using models with different @xmath84 , @xmath85 , and @xmath86 .
the models in which disks are under the strong influences of ram pressure are simply referred to as ram pressure models below .
the vi - i1-mw - in model ( ` inclined ' mw - type disk ) is used for investigating the dependences of the present results on sf enhancement by ram pressure in disk galaxies on @xmath84 , because this model clearly shows sf enhancement after pericenter passage .
the vi - i1-mw - fa model ( ` face - on ' mw - type disk ) is used for investigating how @xmath85 and @xmath86 change the hydrodynamical interaction processes between icm and ism and thus the sfrs , because the entire gas disk can be almost equally influenced by ram pressure force for this face - on model .
the results for the models with different @xmath84 and with different @xmath85 and @xmath86 are shown in figs .
14 and 15 , respectively .
a1 clearly shows that sf can be moderately enhanced by ram pressure in the ram pressure models for different @xmath84 .
furthermore , the time evolution of sfrs is quantitatively similar between the four different ram pressure models , though the model with @xmath87 shows a more strongly enhanced sf after pericenter passage .
these results mean that as long as @xmath84 is larger than @xmath88 , the present results on sfhs of disk galaxies in ram pressure models do not depend on @xmath84 .
a2 shows that the time evolution of sfrs after pericenter passage is very similar between the models , except the low - resolution one with @xmath89 .
more massive individual icm particles in this low - resolution model ( @xmath89 ) appear to compress more strongly the cold ism of the disk and consequently enhance more significantly the sf .
these results mean that the dependences of the present results on @xmath85 and @xmath86 are rather weak , as long as @xmath90 and @xmath91 .
thus we consider that the present results for the models with @xmath92 , @xmath93 , and @xmath94 can be regarded as robust . | arxiv |
the study site , prince of wales hospital , is a 1,400-bed acute care and general teaching hospital that serves a population of 600,000 ( 9% of the hong kong population ) .
fecal specimens were routinely collected on the day of admission from patients who had acute gastroenteritis and were suspected of having norovirus infections , but laboratory testing for norovirus was performed in weekly batches .
patients whose test results were positive on monday of each week were enrolled in this study .
we measured concentration of viral rna in fecal specimens using quantitative reverse transcription pcr ( qrt - pcr ) ( superscript iii one - step rt - pcr system with platinum taq , life technologies , grand island , ny , usa ) and using primers and taqman probe targeting open reading frame 1/2 junction as described ( 8) .
cycle threshold ( ct ) was used as a proxy measure of fecal viral load . a positive control for which ct value was known was included in each test run to check for batch - to - batch variation .
we performed genotyping by generating an 500-bp amplicon that contained a partial rna - dependent rna polymerase and a partial major capsid gene .
we used g1ff / g1skr and g2fb / g2skr primers as appropriate ( 8) , then performed sequencing and phylogenetic analysis using the norovirus genotyping tool ( www.rivm.nl/mpf/norovirus/typingtool ) .
we extracted statistics on the catchment population of the hospital from the hong kong 2011 population census ( www.census2011.gov.hk/en/district-profiles.html ) .
we used the nonparametric mann - whitney u test for univariate comparison of continuous variables and fisher exact test for categorical variables .
ethics approval was obtained from the institutional clinical research ethics committee ( reference number cre-2013.330 ) .
we analyzed specimens of 174 patients admitted with laboratory - confirmed norovirus infection ( table ) .
the number of cases peaked in september 2012 , then declined to a low level for the remaining study period .
of the 174 norovirus isolates collected , genotyping was successful in 140 ( 80.5% ) .
failure in genotyping was caused by low viral load ; no new strains were identified .
gii.4 sydney 2012 strain accounted for most ( 125 [ 89.3% ] ) of the typed cases , followed by gii.3 ( 4 [ 2.9% ] ) , and gii.6 ( 3 [ 2.1% ] ) ( table ) .
the previous predominant strain , gii.4 new orleans 2009 , was not detected , and the gii.4 2006b strain was identified in 2 cases .
half of the gii.4 sydney 2012 cases were selected for rna - dependent rna polymerase sequencing ; no evidence of a recombinant gii.4 sydney 2012 strain , which was reported from denmark and italy , was observed ( 9,10 ) .
non - gii.4 strains were observed more frequently after the epidemic ( november 2012july 2013 ) than during the epidemic ( august october 2012 ) ( 23.5% vs 1.1% ; p<0.0001 ) .
the age distribution of persons with gii.4 sydney 2012 and the catchment population of this study are shown in figure1 , panels a and b , respectively . the ages of study patients with gii.4 sydney 2012 spanned all age groups from infants to persons > 90 years of age .
the median age was 3 years ( interquartile range [ iqr ] 174 years ) .
median age of patients with gii.4 sydney 2012 and all study patients did not differ significantly ( p = 0.96 ) .
the dagostino - pearson normality test indicated that the age distribution did not follow a gaussian distribution ( p<0.0001 ) but showed a strong positive skew toward infants and children < 5 years of age . among the 125 gii.4
sydney 2012 cases , 66 ( 52.8% ) were infants or children < 5 years of age ; the next largest group comprised adults > 65 years of age ( 39 [ 31.2% ] ) .
a similar age distribution was observed when all study cases were analyzed . the gii.4 sydney 2012 fecal viral load on initial examination is shown in figure 2 .
higher viral load was observed among infants and children < 5 years of age and adults > 65 years of age .
the median viral load , as reflected by ct , was highest for infants and children < 5 years , next highest for adults > 65 years of age , and lowest for the remaining group , respectively ( 16.7 [ iqr 15.719.1 ] vs 19.1 [ 16.120.9 ] vs 20.5 [ 17.622.3 ] ) .
the median viral load of infants and children < 5 years was 5.5-fold ( p<0.001 ) and 14.4-fold ( p<0.01 ) higher than that of adults > 65 years of age and the remaining age group , respectively . among infants and young children ,
the highest median viral load was observed in those 1224 months of age , which was the group with the highest number of admissions ( figures 1 and 2 ) .
age distribution of patients with a ) norovirus strain of genogroup ii , genotype 4 ( gii.4 sydney 2012 ) and b ) study catchment population for the prince of wales hospital area , hong kong , china , august 2012july 2013 .
box - plot of fecal viral load of patients with norovirus strain of genogroup ii , genotype 4 ( gii.4 sydney 2012 ) at hospital admission , hong kong , china , august 2012july 2013 .
ct , cycle threshold ; gii.4 , genogroup ii genotype 4 ; qrt - pcr , quantitative reverse transcription pcr .
however , most epidemiologic studies have focused either on community outbreaks or on a specific age group such as children ; a recent meta - analysis concluded that studies involving all age groups in hospitals are limited and few ( 3 ) .
our study design element of selecting no specific age group enabled us to determine that infants and young children represented approximately half of the hospitalized case - patients with norovirus gastroenteritis during the 1-year study period , during which the newly emerged gii.4 sydney 2012 strain predominated .
our findings agree with evidence that infants and young children are likely to have the highest rate of infections in health care and community settings ( 1113 ) . in our study , infants and young children had the highest fecal viral load , compared with other age groups .
similarly lower ct in children was reported in a historical cohort of norovirus gastroenteritis in the united kingdom ( 19931996 ) ( 14 ) .
higher fecal viral shedding also supports a recent mathematical model suggesting that children aged < 5 years are more infectious than older children and adults ( 15 ) .
because only patients with diagnoses of norovirus made on a specific weekday each week were enrolled , a crude number of hospitalized patients was used instead of population - based incidence to estimate disease incidence .
this limitation does not jeopardize our conclusions because our catchment population pyramid is constrictive , showing fewer younger persons .
second , because information was not complete about specimen collection times after each patient 's illness onset , we could not adjust viral load data for specimen collection date ; therefore , we can not rule out a possible bias that might have been introduced if younger children were brought to the hospital earlier during their illness than older patients .
nevertheless , our finding that the most prevalent age group of hospitalized norovirus - infected patients showed the highest viral load implies that plans should be made and implemented for nosocomial infection control of this norovirus strain .
we showed that infants and children aged < 5 years represent most patients hospitalized for norovirus ( gii.4 sydney 2012 ) gastroenteritis , and they might have higher viral load than infected persons in other age groups . our findings may provide public health insights into understanding norovirus transmission in the community . | pubmed |
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historically the first speculations about the existence of active galactic nuclei ( agn ) and super massive black holes ( smbhs ) came from the huge energy requirements implied by the discovery of distant powerful radio galaxies and quasars . today
, radio observations remain crucial to understanding the role of smbhs in astrophysics . only at radio wavelengths
is it possible to image the region immediately surrounding the smbh central engine and the relativistic jets which apparently originate with the smbh .
typical resolution obtained with very long baseline interferometer ( vlbi ) observations at centimeter wavelengths is of the order of 0.001 arccsecond ( 1 milliarcsec ) .
thus , for nearby sources such as those located in the virgo cluster , a linear resolution of 1 milliarcsec corresponds to only about 0.1 parsec or about 100 schwartzchild radii for the smbh located in the nucleus of m87 .
for @xmath1 the resolution for earth - based vlbi is @xmath2 10 kpc .
however , using an earth to space interferometry at @xmath3 1 cm or earth - based systems at millimeter wavelengths , the resolution is improved by more than another order of magnitude .
finally , we note that at radio wavelengths , there is no obscuration , even close to the smbh . however , not all radio sources are due to agn ; and not all agn and smbhs are radio sources . nearly all observed extragalactic radio emission is probably due to synchrotron radiation from ultra relativistic electron with energies @xmath3 10 gev moving in weak magnetic fields with @xmath4 to @xmath5 gauss .
the high energy electrons are thought to be accelerated in one of two ways ; either by a central engine associated with accretion onto a smbh in elliptical galaxies or in quasars , or by supernovae following massive star formation ( starbursts ) in the nucleus of early type galaxies .
unfortunately , both processes are often referred to as agn , and this has led to considerable confusion in the literature .
above @xmath6 mjy , the radio source number - flux density relation is dominated by sources driven by smbhs .
these more powerful sources are characterized by extended radio lobes , and by highly beamed relativistic jets extending from a few parsecs to hundreds of kiloparsecs from the smbh . at microjy levels there is an increasing contribution from star formation related activity rather than from a smbh .
however , there is an uncomfortably large spread in the observed microjy source count even among different observers using the same instrument , the vla , in the same field .
most likely these discrepancies are the result of systematic errors in the reported flux densities due to uncertainties in corrections for the effects of resolution @xcite .
a recent complexity comes from the arcade 2 balloon measurement of a 3 ghz sky brightness of @xmath7 k which is about 5 sigma above that expected from known radio sources , suggesting a possible population of previously unrecognized weak sub microjansky sources ( * ? ? ?
* ( fixen et al . 2011 ) ) . however , deep 3 ghz vla observations showed no evidence for any source population greater than about 30 nanojy .
any population of weaker sources that could produce the excess sky brightness would need to have a sky density greater than 6 x @xmath8 per ster , or 60 times greater than the density of the faintest ( mag 29 ) galaxies in the hubble ultra deep field ( * ? ? ? * ( condon et al .
2012 ) ) . thus if the excess background temperature observed by arcade
is real and due to discrete sources , these sources can not be associated with any known galaxy population .
it will be important to verify that the arcade 2 results were not contaminated by unrecognized galactic radio emission .
radio emission due to agn can usually be distinguished from that due to star formation in a variety of ways .
@xmath9 * morphology : * star formation sources may have dimensions of the order of a few tenths of an arcsecond or a few kiloparsecs at cosmological distances while smbh driven agn sources are typically very small , of the order of 0.001 arcsec ( 10 pc ) or less , and are coincident with the galaxy nucleus or qso .
quasars and agn powered by smbhs are often variable on time scales as short as days with corresponding changes in their morphology indicating highly collimated outflows with apparent superluminal velocity .
smbh driven agn may also contain extended lobes tens or hundreds of kiloparsecs distant from the compact nucleus , and sometimes show optical and radio jets joining the nucleus and radio lobes .
@xmath9 * radio spectra : * star forming sources and the extended radio lobes of agn generally have steep radio spectra . due to synchrotron self absorption ,
the compact sources generally have flat or even inverted spectra .
@xmath9 * brightness temperature : * star forming sources mostly have measured brightness temperature up to @xmath10 k while the compact flat spectrum sources associated with agn have brightness temperature @xmath11 k or more .
@xmath9 * radio luminosity : * star forming regions typically have a radio luminosity close to @xmath12 w / hz and follow the well known correlation between radio and fir luminosity @xcite .
radio galaxies and quasars driven by smbhs may be @xmath13 times more luminous so their radio luminosity greatly exceeds that expected from the radio / fir relation characteristic of star forming regions .
@xmath9 * x and @xmath14-ray emission : * star forming regions are only weak x - ray sources with typical luminosity @xmath15 ergs / sec while smbh driven agn can be strong x - ray , @xmath14-ray , and tev sources .
@xmath9 * host galaxies : * smbh driven radio sources are located in the nuclei of elliptical galaxies or are associated with quasars which themselves are thought to be the bright nuclei of elliptical galaxies that greatly outshine their host galaxy .
low ( optical ) luminosity agn are typically found in early type spiral ( often classified as seyfert ) galaxies .
radio emission from star forming regions is typically associated with spiral galaxies but may also be found in the host galaxies of radio quiet quasars ( see section 4 ) .
perhaps the first suggestions that the nuclei of galaxies may contain more than just stars came from sir james jeans in 1929 who remarked in his book on astronomy and cosmogony ( * ? ? ?
* ( jeans 1929 ) ) , + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the centres of the nebulae are of the nature of singular points at which matter is poured into our universe from some other and entirely spatial dimension so that to a denizen of our universe , they appear as points at which matter is being continuously created . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the modern understanding of the important role of galactic nuclei probably began with the famous paper by karl seyfert ( 1943 ) who reported on his study of broad strong emission lines in the nucleus of seven spiral nebulae .
interestingly , although seyfert s name ultimately became attached to the broad category of spiral galaxies with active nuclei , his 1943 paper received no citations until 1951 , and apparently went unnoticed until baade and minkowski ( * ? ? ?
* ( 1954 ) ) drew attention to the similarity of the cygnus a radio source spectrum with that of the galaxies studied by seyfert . not until the 1949 nature paper by bolton , stanley , and slee ( * ? ? ?
* ( 1949 ) ) did astronomers finally recognize the vast energy requirements of radio galaxies .
bolton et al .
had identified three of the strongest discrete radio sources with the crab nebula , m87 , and ngc 5128 , until that time the discrete radio sources were widely thought to be associated with galactic stars .
this was understandable , as karl jansky and grote reber had observed radio emission from the milky way . the milky way is composed of stars , so it was natural to assume that the discrete radio sources had a stellar origin .
bolton et al . understood the importance of their identification of the taurus a radio source with the crab nebula which was widely recognized as the remnant of the 1054 supernova reported by chinese observers .
bss correctly identified two other strong sources with m87 and ngc 5128 , but realizing that if they were extragalactic , their absolute radio luminosity would need to be a million times more luminous than that of the crab nebula , they argued that `` ngc 5128 and ngc 4486 ( m87 ) have not been resolved into stars , so there is little direct evidence that they are true galaxies . ''
so they concluded that they are within our own galaxy .
indeed their paper carried the title positions of three discrete radio sources of galactic radio frequency radiation . "
john bolton later argued that he really did understand that m87 and ngc 5128 were very luminous radio sources , but that he was concerned that that in view of their apparent extraordinary radio luminosity , nature might not publish their paper .
the following years saw the identification of more radio galaxies , and the changed paradigm which had previously considered all discrete radio sources to be stellar to one with most high latitude sources were assumed to be extragalactic .
the energy requirements were exacerbated in 1951 with the identification of cygnus a , the second strongest radio source in the sky with a magnitude 18 galaxy at what was then considered a high redshift of 0.056 and a corresponding radio luminosity about @xmath16 times more luminous than m87 and ngc 5128 ( * ? ? ? * ( baade and minkowski 1954 ) ) .
the total energy contained in relativistic particles and magnetic fields in the radio lobes of cygnus a and other powerful radio galaxies was estimated to be at least @xmath17 ergs @xcite .
hoyle , fowler , burbidge and burbidge ( * ? ? ?
* ( 1964 ) ) were apparently the first to call attention to gravitational collapse as a possible energy source to power radio galaxies . by the middle of 1960 , many radio sources had been identified with galaxies having red shifts up to 0.24 @xcite .
typically the optical counterpart of strong radio sources was identified with an elliptical galaxy that was the brightest member of a cluster . in 1960 , rudolph minkowski ( * ? ? ? * ( 1960 ) ) identified 3c 295 with a mag 20 galaxy at z=0.46 .
3c 295 is about ten times smaller than cygnus a and ten times more distant consistent with the idea that the smallest radio sources might be path finders to finding very distant galaxies .
but a few months later caltech radio astronomers identified the first of several very small sources with what appeared to be galactic stars , thus raising questions about the extragalactic nature of other small diameter radio sources .
while searching for ever more distant radio galaxies , caltech radio astronomers john bolton and tom matthews identified 3c 48 with an apparent stellar object . at the 107th
meting of the american astronomical society held in new york in december 1960 , allan sandage @xcite reported the discovery of the first true radio star . " before he left to return to australia , john bolton @xcite speculated that 3c 48 had a high redshift of 0.37 , but was apparently dissuaded by jesse greenstein and ira bowen on the grounds that there was a 3 or 4 angstrom discrepancy among the corresponding rest wavelengths . in a subsequent analysis of the complex emission line spectrum ,
jesse greenstein @xcite interpreted the 3c 48 spectrum in terms of emission lines from highly ionized states of rare earth elements .
he briefly considered a possible redshift of 0.37 , but quickly dismissed the possibility that 3c 48 was extragalactic .
nearly two years would pass , and other compact radio sources would be identified as galactic stars before a series of lunar occultations would lead to the identification of 3c 273 with a star like object at a redshift of 0.16 and the immediate realization that 3c 48 was also extragalactic with a redshift of 0.37 leading to the recognition of quasi stellar radio sources or `` quasars '' as the extremely bright nuclei of galaxies .
the apparent high radio as well as optical luminosity of quasars , coupled with their very small dimensions presented a further challenge to understanding the source of energy and how this energy is converted to relativistic particles and magnetic fields .
the following years led to the identification of more quasars at ever larger redshifts and the suggestion that quasars are powered by accretion onto super massive black holes ( smbh ) with masses up to @xmath18 solar masses or more @xcite . generally , the identified quasars had a significant uv excess compared with stars , so due to the redshift of their spectrum , they appeared blue on photographic plates facilitating their identification with radio sources with even modest position accuracy . in 1965 , sandage noted that the density of blue stellar objects on the sky was some thousand time greater than that of 3c radio sources .
sandage argued that what he called `` quasi stellar galaxies '' are related to quasars , except that they are not strong radio sources .
but , his paper was widely attacked , perhaps in part because of the perceived irregular treatment by the astrophsyical journal .
sandage s paper was received on may 15 , 1965 at the astrophysical journal , but s. chandrasekar , the apj editor was apparently so impressed by sandage s claim for a new constituent of universe " that he held up publication of the journal , and sandage s paper appeared in the may 15 issue
. tom kinman @xcite along with lynds and villere @xcite argued that most of sandage s blue stellar objects were only blue galactic stars , while fritz zwicky @xcite pointed out that he had previously called attention to this phenomena , and he later accused sandage of `` one of the most astounding feats of plagiarism '' @xcite .
as it turned out , most of sandage s blue stellar objects were just that , blue stellar objects , " and
only some ten percent of optically identified quasars are strong radio sources .
but , it has now been more than half a century since we have divided quasars into the two classes of radio loud and radio quiet quasars , and it has still not been clear if there are two distinct populations or rather whether the radio loud population is merely the extreme end of a continuous distribution of radio luminosity .
proponents of each interpretation claim that the other interpretation is due to selection effects . many of the previous investigations designed to distinguish between radio loud and radio quiet quasars were limited by contamination from low luminosity agn with absolute optical magnitudes greater than -23 , biased samples based on radio rather than optical selection criteria , and inadequate sensitivity to detect radio emission from most of the radio quiet population . in an attempt to overcome these limitations , kimball et al .
@xcite observed 179 quasars selected from the sdss .
all of the these quasars were within the redshift range 0.2 to 0.3 and were brighter than @xmath19 = -23 so were genuine quasars that presumably contained a smbh .
the observations were made with the jansky very large array at 6 ghz reaching an rms noise of 6 @xmath20jy .
all but about 6 quasars were detected as radio sources with an observed radio luminosity sharply peaked between @xmath21 and @xmath22 watts / hz characteristic of the radio luminosity typically observed from star forming galaxies .
about ten percent of the sdss sample are strong radio sources with radio luminosities ranging up to @xmath23 w / hz .
kimball et al . concluded that the radio emission from radio quiet quasars is due to star formation in the host galaxy .
similar conclusions were reached by padovani et al .
( 2011 , 2014 ) based on the identification and classification of the microjy radio sources found in a deep vla survey of the extended chandra deep field south .
based on radio , optical , ir , and x - ray data , padovani et al . concluded that the microjy radio emission from agn , like that of galaxies , is powered primarily by starbursts , and not the smbhs which powers the agn .
condon et al .
@xcite argue that these starbursts are fueled by the same gas that flows into the smbh that powers the quasar and thus accounts for the co - evolution of star formation and smbhs .
shortly after the recognition of quasars , radio source observations in both the soviet union @xcite and the u.s .
@xcite demonstrated variability on time scales of months or less .
this presented a problem .
causality arguments suggested linear dimensions , d @xmath24 c@xmath25 where c is the speed of light and @xmath25 the characteristic time scale of the observed variability . knowing the quasar redshift and corresponding distance puts a limit to the angular size which for many variable sources was only @xmath26 arcseconds and the corresponding lower limit to the brightness temperature which appeared to be significantly in excess of the inverse compton limit of @xmath27 k for most variable sources , the apparent violation of the inverse compton limit is now understood in terms of relativistic beaming . due to relativistic effects
, we observe apparent jet speeds , luminosities , and brightness temperatures which are related to the corresponding intrinsic quantities in the agn rest frame through the doppler factor , @xmath28 , the lorentz factor , @xmath14 , and the jet orientation , @xmath29 , with respect to the line of sight @xcite .
the apparent velocity transverse to the line of sight , @xmath30 , the apparent luminosity , @xmath31 , the apparent brightness temperature , @xmath32 and the doppler factor , @xmath28 , can be calculated from the lorentz factor , @xmath14 , @xmath29 , and the intrinsic luminosity , @xmath33 .
the apparent transverse velocity @xmath30 is given by @xmath34 where @xmath35 for small values of @xmath29 , because the radiating source is almost catching up with its own radiation , equation 5.1 shows that the apparent transverse can exceed the speed of light , which is commonly referred to as `` superluminal motion . ''
the apparent luminosity , @xmath31 , is given by @xmath36 where the doppler factor , @xmath28 , is @xmath37 and where @xmath33 is the luminosity that would be measured by an observer in the agn frame .
the quantity @xmath38 depends on the geometry and spectral index and is typically in the range between 2 and 3 .
the lorentz factor , @xmath14 , is given by @xmath39 quasars or agn with highly doppler boosted relativistic jets pointed nearly along the line - of - sight are often referred to as `` blazars . '' blazars are characterized by rapid flux density variability , apparent superluminal motion , and strong x - ray and @xmath14-ray emission .
high resolution observations of blazars provide unique insight to the process by which relativistic jets are accelerated and collimated in the region close to the smbh .
we want to understand : @xmath9 how and where is the relativistic beam accelerated and collimated into narrow jets ? are there accelerations or decelerations ?
do all parts of the jet move at the same speed ?
@xmath9 what causes the curvature of jets ?
does the flow follow a curved trajectory or is the motion ballistic and characteristic of a rotating nozzle ?
@xmath9 does the observed apparent velocity reflect the true bulk velocity of motion ?
what determines the jet velocity ? is the velocity related to other properties such as radio , optical , x , or @xmath14-ray luminosity ?
@xmath9 what is the maximum observed brightness temperature ? does it exceed the inverse compton limit ?
@xmath9 what is the energy production mechanism ? @xmath9 what can we learn from radio observations about the nature of the smbh ?
very long baseline observations made since 1971 have confirmed the apparent superluminal motion expected from highly relativistic bulk motion . since 1995 , the nrao very long baseline array ( vlba ) has been used to study the motions of a large sample of quasars and agn at 7 mm by a group from boston university @xcite and by the international mojave group @xcite .
more detailed information may be found on the respective web sites : boston university 7 mm program : * http://www.bu.edu/blazars/vlbaproject.html * mojave 2 cm program : * : //www.physics.purdue.edu/ mlister / mojave/ * the results of these programs may be summarized as follows .
@xmath9 radio loud quasars and agn show highly relativistic bulk motion with a broad distribution of apparent velocities . in general , the jets appear one sided , probably due to differential doppler boosting so that the approaching jet appears much brighter than the receding one .
each jet appears to have its own characteristic velocity but there is an appreciable spread in the apparent velocity of the different features within a given jet . the typical apparent velocity , @xmath40 corresponding to an intrinsic value of @xmath41 .
the maximum observed apparent velocity , @xmath42 corresponds to an intrinsic value of @xmath43 .
the parent jet population is mostly only mildly relativistic , but is under represented in flux density limited samples due to the effect of doppler boosting .
@xmath9 the jets with the fasted apparent velocities have the highest apparent luminosity , likely reflecting a correlation between intrinsic speed and intrinsic luminosity rather than simply being the result of doppler boosting ( cohen et al .
2007 ) .
@xmath9 apparent inward motions are uncommon and are likely the result of a feature moving outward along a curved trajectory approaches the line - of - sight so that the apparent separation from the jet base transverse to the line - of - sight appears to decrease with time .
@xmath9 individual jet features may show both apparent accelerations and decelerations . both the apaprent speed and direction of motion may change with time , but changes in speed are more common than changes in direction , indicating real changes in the lorentz factor
as features propagate down the jet .
in general the apparent speed is greater further down the jet , so that acceleration must take place at distances at least up to @xmath3 100 pc from the base of the jet ( homan et al .
2009 , 2014 ) .
@xmath9 many jets show a curved structure and in a few cases there is evidence of an oscillatory behavior .
sometimes the flow appears to follow pre - existing channels ; other times the flow appears ballistic as from a rotating nozzle , perhaps due to precession possibly resulting from a binary black hole pair ( lister et al .
2013 ) .
@xmath9 in some cases the direction of ejection appears to vary within a well defined cone forming what appears to be an edge brightened jet ( lister et al .
2013 ) such as shown by the jet in the nearby radio galaxy m87 where there is sufficient linear resolution to resolve the jet transverse to its structure @xcite .
@xmath9 there appears to be a relation between radio and gamma ray emission .
there is statistical evidence that radio outbursts follow a @xmath14-ray event by @xmath3 1 month , but it has been difficult to convincingly establish a one to one correlation between individual radio and @xmath14-ray events @xcite .
as described above , inverse compton scattering limits the maximum observed brightness temperature , t @xmath44 . at the inverse compton limit
, the energy contained in relativistic particles greatly exceeds that in the magnetic field which is perhaps not unreasonable in a very young source .
if the particle and magnetic energies are in equilibrium , then the corresponding brightness temperature is only @xmath45 .
the observed brightness temperature may be calculated from @xcite @xmath46 where k is the boltzman constant , @xmath29 the angular size in milliarcsec , s is the flux density in janskys , and @xmath47 the wavelength in cm .
the resolution of a radio interferometer , is given by the ratio of the observing wavelength , to the interferometer baseline , d ; or @xmath29 = @xmath47/d .
putting this back into eqn .
6.1 gives @xmath48 so the maximum brightness temperature that may be measured depends only on the flux density and baseline length , and is independent of wavelength . for ground based observations with a maximum baseline of @xmath49 km ,
the highest brightness temperatures which can be reached are @xmath50 k. recent observations with the russian radioastron space vlbi satellite have suggested lower limits to brightness temperatures of 3c 273 and other sources @xmath0 k ( kellermann et al .
2014 , kovalev 2014 ) , or at least two to three orders of magnitude greater than the limit set by inverse compton cooling .
several explanations are possible @xcite .
\1 . for a relativistically
beamed source the apparent brightness temperature is boosted by a factor @xmath28 .
to explain the high observed brightness temperatures in this way would require doppler factors , @xmath51 @xmath52 to @xmath16 .
but typical observed values of @xmath53 with maximum observed values @xmath54 , and for 3c 273 , @xmath55 ( lister et al .
possibly the bulk flow which is related to the doppler boosting might be much greater than the pattern flow observed by the vlba , but cohen et al .
( 2007 ) have shown that this is unlikely .
. the observed emission may be coherent such as observed in pulsars or the sun including possible stimulated synchrotron emission .
\3 ) the radio emission might be the result of synchrotron emission from protons rather than electrons which would enhance the upper limit to the brightness temperature by about the ratio of the proton to electron mass or more than a factor of 1000 .
however , proton synchrotron radiation would require a magnetic field strength more than @xmath56 times stronger than needed for electron synchrotron radiation of the same strength at the same wavelength .
\4 ) there may be a continuous acceleration of relativistic particles which balances the energy losses due to inverse compton cooling .
about ten percent of quasars and bright elliptical galaxies are strong radio sources with radio luminosity , @xmath57 and are thought to be driven by accretion onto a smbh .
the weaker radio sources , @xmath58 are mostly due to star formation in the host galaxy . the observed properties of radio jets can be interpreted in terms of a highly relativistic outflow from a central engine driven by a smbh of up to @xmath18 solar masses .
but , many questions remain .
@xmath9 most quasars and agn are not strong radio sources . why are only @xmath3 10% of quasars strong radio sources , although all quasars presumably contain a smbh to account for their extraordinary optical luminosity .
@xmath9 how do smbhs generate relativistic jets ?
@xmath9 how are the jets confined and shaped as they propagate away from the smbh ?
what are the relative roles of velocity shear , hydrodynamic turbulence , shocks , and plasma instabilities in shaping the form and kinematics of relativistic jets ?
@xmath9 why do only some jets produce @xmath14-rays ?
how and where are the @xmath14-rays produced ? what is the relation between radio and @xmath14-ray emission ?
@xmath9 is there evidence for binary black hole pairs ?
see the paper by @xcite in this volume .
@xmath9 if confirmed , observations of 3.3 ghz sky brightness combined with the density of faint sources detected in deep vla observations suggest the possible existence of new population of faint radio sources not due to star formation or to agn and unrelated to any known galaxy population ?
@xmath9 are there other emission processes which play a role beside incoherent synchrotron radiation ?
the national radio astronomy observatory is operated by associated universities , inc . under cooperative agreement with the national science foundation .
i am indebted to many colleagues , especially ron ekers and members of the mojave team for numerous discussions that have contributed to this paper . | arxiv |
pancreatic cystic lesions ( pcls ) are being detected more frequently , at least partly because of the increased use of cross - sectional imaging.1 the reported prevalence of pcls ranges from 1.2% to 19.6% in image - based studies.234 in the past , 80%90% of pcls were considered to be pseudocysts.5 the current consensus is that pancreatic cystic neoplasms ( pcns ) account for up to 60% of all pcls , followed by injury- and inflammation - related cysts ( 30%).6 pcns include intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms ( ipmns ) , mucinous cystic neoplasms ( mcns ) , serous cystic neoplasms ( scns ) , solid - pseudopapillary neoplasms ( spns ) , cystic neuroendocrine neoplasms , ductal adenocarcinomas with cystic degeneration , and acinar - cell cystic neoplasm.7 spns frequently present as cystic lesions , and were once thought to be true cystic lesions .
the current belief is that the cavities of spns represent a necrotic or degenerative process.6 when endoscopic ultrasound ( eus ) was first introduced , its primary role was as a diagnostic tool.8 the introduction of curvilinear array endosonoscopes enabled the possibility of eus - guided fine - needle aspiration ( fna ) , hereafter denoted as eus - fna ( fig .
, the concept of interventional eus has been developed , and its clinical applications are being established .
the diagnosis of a pseudocyst is primarily based on a patient history compatible with pancreatitis , with additional information from laboratory and imaging features.9 however , clinicians should always remember that patients with pcns may also present with pancreatitis , and that patients with a pseudocyst may have no apparent history suggestive of pancreatitis.9 sahani et al.10 simply but usefully classified pcls based on imaging morphological features : ( 1 ) unilocular ( pseudocysts , ipmns , unilocular macrocystic serous cystadenoma , and lymphoepithelial cysts ) ; ( 2 ) microcystic ( scns ) ; ( 3 ) macrocystic ( mcns and ipmns ) ; and ( 4 ) cysts with a solid component ( mcns , ipmns , cystic neuroendocrine neoplasms , spns , ductal adenocarcinoma with cystic degeneration , and metastasis ) . with its widespread availability and ability to detect cystic lesions ,
computed tomography ( ct ) is an excellent diagnostic tool for pcls.11 magnetic resonance ( mr ) imaging with mr cholangiopancreatography is widely used given its ability to demonstrate the relationship between a pcl and the pancreatic duct.10 there are some characteristic imaging features of pcns .
for example , one can readily diagnose scn when a central scar with calcification is observed on a cross - sectional image.12 other features diagnostic of scns are the honey - combed or microcystic appearance of the lesions .
mcns are diagnosed based on their unilocular or macrocystic appearance.13 peripheral calcification on ct is also specific for mcns.14 for main - duct ipmns , the cystic dilation of the main pancreatic duct is a characteristic finding .
filling defects that may represent mucinous or papillary tumors may be noted.15 in branch - duct ipmns , the branch ducts are cystically dilated and communicate with the main pancreatic duct.15 mr imaging can also be used to differentiate ipmn from chronic pancreatitis . in a report comparing the mr imaging features of ipmn and those of chronic pancreatitis , pancreatic duct dilatation without stricture as well as bulging ampulla , nodule in a duct , grape - like cyst shape , and nodule in a cyst
were all specific for ipmns.16 image findings of main pancreatic duct involvement , cyst diameter > 3 cm , and the presence of mural nodules are associated with malignant ipmns.17 in eus , the findings typical of scns are multiple small , anechoic areas and thin septations ( fig .
2).18 mcns appear as fluid - filled , thin - walled , septated cavities.19 eus findings of ipmns include the dilation of the main pancreatic duct or branch duct with or without mural nodules and intraluminal contents.19 in one report that compared eus findings with the surgical histopathology of ipmns , the presence of a dilated main pancreatic duct , solid lesions , pancreatic ductal filling defects , or thickened septa within any cyst in eus was associated with malignancy.20 kubo et al.21 revealed that for ipmns , the marked dilatation of the main pancreatic duct ( 10 mm ) in main - duct ipmns and large tumors ( > 40 mm ) with irregular septa in branch - duct ipmns in eus were both associated with malignancy .
in contrast , mural nodules > 10 mm in height in eus were associated with malignancy in both types of ipmn ( fig .
> 30 mm is one of the factors that predict malignant branch - duct ipmns.17 some eus - based studies21 reported different cutoff values of cyst diameters that predict malignant branch - duct ipmns .
however , considerable variability among the measurements of the pcl size among eus , ct , and mr imaging has been reported.22 zhong et al.23 recently indicated that most echogenic lesions detected during eus of pcls are mucus .
the authors concluded that mucus is usually hypoechoic compared with adjacent soft tissue , with a smooth edge and a hyperechoic rim.23 microcystic serous cystadenoma .
intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with mural nodule ( histologically , high - grade dysplasia ) .
pseudocysts are usually high in cyst fluid amylase and low in cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen ( cea).7 cyst fluid cea is useful for identifying mucinous pcls.2425 a cyst fluid cea level of 192 ng / ml was highly accurate for the diagnosis of mucinous pcls.24 increasing the cutoff value of the cyst fluid cea level increases the diagnostic specificity at the cost of sensitivity.26 in addition to amylase and other tumor markers , the cyst fluid analyses of dna , intedeukin-1 , and microrna have been reported.272829 eus can be used as a platform to deliver high - resolution imaging probes into pcls .
konda et al . reported the feasibility of needle - based confocal laser endomicroscopy ( ncle ) during the eus - fna of pancreatic lesions .
cle is a novel imaging technology that uses a low - power laser to obtain the in vivo histology of the gastrointestinal mucosa.30 in the study , a ncle miniprobe was introduced through a 19-g fna needle .
the advantages of eus - guided drainage are as follows : ( 1 ) less invasiveness than surgery ; ( 2 ) avoidance of local complications related to percutaneous drainage ; and ( 3 ) real - time visualization of the pseudocyst and decreased bleeding rate by avoiding interposed blood vessels with the use of doppler ultrasound compared with non - eus - guided endoscopic drainage.32 in the technique , a linear endosonoscope with a therapeutic - sized accessory channel is used to visualize the pseudocyst .
vascular structures between the pseudocyst and needle path are readily identified and avoided with doppler imaging . under eus guidance , the pseudocyst is punctured with an fna needle or a puncture kit .
several loops are formed with the guidewire within the pseudocyst cavity to provide greater security for maintaining wire access .
the puncture site is dilated with a balloon catheter to 68 mm , and a double pigtail stent is inserted for drainage . when necessary , multiple stents or a nasocystic catheter may be inserted . to avoid the need to recannulate the pseudocyst , a
double - wire approach may also be used.32 the reported treatment success rates for eus - guided pseudocyst drainage are very high , ranging between 82% and 100% .
the complications of eus - guided pseudocyst drainage include pneumoperitoneum , bleeding , stent migration , perforation , and infection.3334353637 eus - guided pancreatic cyst ablation is another example of the therapeutic application of eus to pcls . under eus guidance , a cystic lesion is punctured , aspirated , and injected with a cytotoxic agent , which may result in the ablation of the cyst epithelium.38 ethanol was the first cytotoxic agent to be used for this purpose . in a previous study , ethanol with concentrations ranging from 5% to 80% was injected into the pcls of 25 patients under eus guidance .
no complication was reported.39 a prospective , randomized , multicenter trial comparing the lavage of pcls with 80% ethanol to the lavage with saline was conducted .
the overall pancreatic cyst resolution rate was 33.3% . a review of the histology of 4 resected specimens demonstrated that no epithelial ablation occurred in 1 saline lavage case , whereas 50% to 100% epithelial ablation occurred in three ethanol lavage cases .
the complication rates were similar in both groups.40 long - term follow - up results of patients from this study showed that in 9 patients , follow - up cts demonstrated no evidence of cyst recurrences performed after a median follow - up period of 26 months.41 eus - guided ethanol lavage with paclitaxel injection ( eus - elpi ) for pancreatic cysts was recently introduced . to summarize the procedure ,
the cyst is aspirated under eus guidance , lavaged with 99% ethanol , and injected with paclitaxel ( concentration of 3 mg / ml ) .
the volume of injected paclitaxel is the same as that of the aspirated cyst fluid.42 a study on 52 patients who underwent eus - elpi for pcls was reported in 2011 .
there were 29 patients who showed complete response , 6 partial response , and 12 persistent pcls . in 4 patients who underwent resection ,
histopathology revealed variable epithelial ablation extents of 0% , 25% , 40% , and 100% .
the reported complications were fever without bacteremia ( n = 1 ) , abdominal discomfort for 2 weeks ( n = 1 ) , pancreatitis ( n = 1 ) , pericystic spillage ( n = 1 ) , and splenic vein obliteration with collateral formation ( n = 1).43 another potential therapeutic application of eus is eus - guided radiofrequency ablation.444546 this method is currently at the experimental level and can be later be applied as an ablation tool for benign tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract and pancreas .
novel cyst fluid markers for the diagnosis of pcls and the differentiation of benign and malignant pcns play critical roles in providing a highly accurate diagnosis . in the near future , several new applications using therapeutic eus to manage cystic lesions of the pancreas are expected . | pubmed |
the modern theory of integrable partial differential equations is closely related to the xix century differential geometry as presented in monographs of bianchi and darboux @xcite . in that classical period
many geometers studied `` interesting '' classes of surfaces . a remarkable property of these surfaces ( or more appropriate : coordinate systems on surfaces and submanifolds ) is that they allow for transformations , which exhibit the so called _
permutability property_. such transformations called , depending on the context , the darboux , bianchi , bcklund , laplace , moutard , combescure , lvy , ribaucour or fundamental transformations of jonas , can be also described in terms of certain families of lines called line congruences @xcite . to give an example , the angle between the asymptotic directions on the pseudospherical surfaces in @xmath0 , when written as a function of the asymptotic coordinates satisfies the sine - gordon equation .
from this point of view the study of pseudospherical surfaces is , roughly speaking , equivalent to studying of the sine - gordon equation and its solutions .
the transformations of pseudospherical surfaces , introduced by bianchi and bcklund , lead to the celebrated bcklund transformations of the sine - gordon equation . at the end of xix - th century
it was also discovered that most of the `` interesting '' submanifolds are provided by reductions of conjugate nets ( see section [ sec : conj - nets ] ) , and the transformations between such submanifolds are the corresponding reductions of the fundamental ( or jonas ) transformations of conjugate nets .
it is worth of mentioning that from the point of view of integrable systems the conjugate nets and their iso - conjugate deformations and transformations are described by the so called multicomponent kadomtsev petviashvilii hierarchy @xcite .
apparently , asymptotic nets seem not to be directly related to conjugate nets .
however , there exists an approach to asymptotic nets and their transformations ( w congruences ) describing them as conjugate nets within the line geometry of plcker ; see sections [ sec : line - geometry ] and [ sec : ass - nets ] for more details . in the soliton theory
the discrete integrable systems are considered more fundamental then the corresponding differential systems @xcite .
discrete equations include the continuous theory as the result of a limiting procedure , moreover different limits can give from one discrete equation variuous differential ones .
furthermore , discrete equations reveal some symmetries lost in the continuous limit . during last few years
the connection between geometry and integrability has been observed also at a discrete level .
it turns out that the discrete analogs of pseudospherical surfaces were studied long time ago by sauer ; see @xcite and references therein . in connection with the hirota discrete analog of the sine - gordon equation
@xcite these `` discrete pseudospherical surfaces '' were investigated by bobenko and pinkall @xcite . in the book of sauer @xcite
one can find also other examples of discrete surfaces , or better @xmath1 lattices in @xmath2 ; in particular , he defined _ discrete asymptotic nets _ and _ discrete conjugate nets _
( consult also sections [ sec : conj - nets ] and [ sec : da ] ) .
these definitions , not only have clear geometric meaning , but also provide the proper , from the point of view of integrability , discretizations of asymptotic and conjugate nets on surfaces .
the importance of discrete conjugate nets in integrability theory was recognized in @xcite , where it was demonstrated that ( the discrete analog of ) the laplace sequence of such lattices provides geometric interpretation of hirota s discretization of the two dimensional toda system @xcite one of the most important equations of the soliton theory and its applications . soon after that doliwa and santini defined and studied @xcite the discrete analogs of multidimensional conjugate nets ( multidimensional quadrilateral lattices ) .
they also found that the corresponding equations were already known in the literature , being obtained by bogdanov and konopelchenko @xcite from the @xmath3 approach .
the darboux - type transformations of the quadrilateral lattices have been found by maas , doliwa and santini @xcite .
the same authors also investigated in detail the geometry of these transformations @xcite ; in order to do that the theory of discrete congruences has been constructed as well . in recent literature
one can find various examples of integrable discrete geometries ( see , for example , @xcite and articles in @xcite ) .
it turns out that all the known , up to now , integrable lattices are special cases of asymptotic or quadrilateral lattices . for example , discrete pseudospherical surfaces investigated by bobenko and pinkall @xcite and discrete affine spheres considered by bobenko and schief @xcite are asymptotic lattices subjected to additional constraints . given a physical system described by integrable partial differential equations , then one of first steps towards quantizing the model is to find its discrete version preserving the integrability properties ( see , for example , @xcite and references therein ) .
it turns out that often ( see , for example , discussion in @xcite ) information coming from the quantum model arises naturally as a result of the solution of the classical discrete integrable equations .
some recent attempts to quantize the theory of gravity use approach of fluctuating geometries ( see recent reviews @xcite ) based on the concept of discrete manifolds .
however most of the research in this direction is done by computer simulations , therefore examples of lattice geometries described by integrable equations may be of some help in developing this program .
such integrable lattice geometries could be then studied using powerful tools of the soliton theory , such like the ( quantum ) inverse spectral transform , algebro - geometric methods of integration , etc .
the connection of asymptotic nets with stationary axially symmetric solutions of the einstein equations @xcite is well known in the literature ( see , for example , @xcite ) .
recently there was discovered by schief @xcite an intriguing link between self - dual einstein spaces @xcite and discrete affine spheres , which form an integrable subcase of discrete asymptotic nets .
it is therefore reasonable to study integrability of general asymptotic lattices .
the main results of this paper are contained theorems [ th : d - a ] and [ th : d - w ] , which incorporate the theory of asymptotic lattices and their transformations into the theory of quadrilateral lattices .
these results are direct analogs of the above - mentioned approach to asymptotic nets in terms of conjugate nets in plcker quadric .
the direct proof of integrability of asymptotic lattices , which does not use the theory of quadrilateral lattices , is contained in permutability theorems [ th : perm - m ] and [ th : perm - w ] . more detailed description of results is given below .
* asymptotic lattices are represented in plcker quadric by isotropic congruences . *
the asymptotic tangents are represented by focal lattices of such congruences . *
the darboux - bcklund transformations of asymptotic lattices are provided by a discrete analog of w congruences . *
discrete w
congruences can be constructed from the discrete moutard transformation via the discrete analog of the lelieuvre formulas introduced in @xcite . *
the discrete w
congruences are represented in the plcker quadric by quadrilateral lattices . *
the discussed transformations of asymptotic lattices satisfy the permutability property . to make our exposition self - contained we first recall necessary results of the theory of conjugate nets and quadrilateral lattices ( section [ sec : conj - nets ] ) and basic notions of the line geometry ( section [ sec : line - geometry ] ) .
section [ sec : ass - nets ] is intended to motivate our investigations and contains a brief summary of the theory of asymptotic nets and w congruences . in section [ sec : da ] we construct the theory of discrete asymptotic nets within the line geometry of plcker .
section [ sec : dw ] provides a detailed exposition of the discrete w congruences .
finally , in section [ sec : perm ] we state and prove the permutability theorems for the moutard transformation and for the corresponding @xmath4transformation of asymptotic lattices .
in this section we present basic result from the theory of conjugate nets and congruences @xcite , and their discrete generalizations @xcite . we give here only definitions necessary to understand results of this paper . in particular , we consider only two dimensional conjugate nets and lattices . a coordinate system on a surface in @xmath5 ,
is called _ conjugate net _ if tangents to any parametric line transported in the second direction form a developable surface ( see fig . [
fig : conj ] ) .
this geometric characterization can be put into form of the laplace equation satisfied by homogeneous coordinates @xmath6 of the net @xmath7 here @xmath8 , @xmath9 are the conjugate parameters , @xmath10 denotes the partial derivative with respect to @xmath11 , @xmath12 , and @xmath13 , @xmath14 , @xmath15 are functions of the conjugate parameters .
given conjugate net on a surface , it defines two new conjugate nets called the laplace transforms of the old net ; the transformations are provided by tangents to the parametric lines , see fig .
[ fig : conj ] .
the discrete version of conjugate net on a surface is given by two dimensional quadrilateral lattice ( quadrilateral surface ) . by _ quadrilateral surface _ we mean mapping of @xmath1 in @xmath5 , such that its elementary quadrilaterals are planar ( see fig . [ fig : quadr2 ] ) .
notice that tangents to any parametric discrete curve transported in the second direction form a discrete analog of a developable surface , i.e. , one - parameter family of lines tangent to a ( discrete ) curve .
this geometric characterization implies linear relation between homogeneous coordinates @xmath16 of four points of any elementary quadrilateral with vertices @xmath17 , @xmath18 , @xmath19 and @xmath20 , where @xmath21 denotes shift operator along @xmath22-th direction of the lattice , @xmath12 .
such a relation can be put into the form of the discrete laplace equation @xmath23 where @xmath24 , @xmath12 , is the partial difference operator .
intersections of tangent lines define two new quadrilateral surfaces called the laplace transforms of the old lattice .
restriction from @xmath5 to its affine part , and therefore from homogeneous coordinates to non - homogeneous ones , results in putting @xmath25 in equations - .
the tangents of the lattice are canonical examples of special two - parameter families of straight lines called discrete congruences .
[ def : d - cong ] @xmath1-parameter family of lines in @xmath5 is called two dimensional _ discrete congruence _ if any two neighbouring lines are coplanar .
two neighbouring tangent lines @xmath26 , t_i[{{\boldsymbol y } } ] \rangle$ ] and @xmath27 , t_i[{{\boldsymbol y } } ] \rangle$ ] , @xmath28 , of the quadrilateral surface @xmath29 $ ] are coplanar and intersect giving @xmath30 the laplace transform of the lattice ( see fig .
[ fig : quadr2 ] ) .
intersection points of lines of a discrete congruence with its nearest neighbours in the @xmath22-th direction form the _
@xmath22-th focal lattice _ of the congruence .
one can show that focal lattices of two dimensional congruences are quadrilateral lattices .
the laplace transformation can be considered as correspondence between focal lattices of a congruence .
similar notions and results exist in the continuous context .
[ def : cong ] two - parameter family of lines in @xmath5 is called two dimensional _ congruence _ if through each line pass two developable surfaces consisting of lines of the family .
one can show that the curves of regression of such developables form two _ focal surfaces _ tangent to the congruence , moreover the developables cut the focal surfaces along conjugate nets .
the interest of studying families of lines was motivated by the theory of optics , and such mathematicians like monge , malus and hamilton began to create the general theory of rays .
however it was plcker , who first considered straight lines in @xmath2 as primary elements ; he also found a convenient way to parametrize the space of lines @xcite .
the geometric interpretation of this parametrization was clarified later by plcker s pupil klein @xcite and was one of non - trivial examples in his erlangen program .
we present in this section basic notions and results of the line geometry , details can be found for example in @xcite the description of straight lines in @xmath2 takes more symmetric form if we consider @xmath2 as the affine part of the projective space @xmath31 ( by the standard embedding @xmath32 $ ] ) , and study straight lines in that space .
given two different points @xmath33 $ ] , @xmath34 $ ] of @xmath31 , the line @xmath35 , [ { { \boldsymbol v } } ] \rangle$ ] passing through them can be represented , up to proportionality factor , by a bi - vector @xmath36 changing the reference points of the line results in multiplying the bi - vector by the determinant of the transition matrix between their representatives .
the space of straight lines in @xmath31 can be therefore identified with a subset of @xmath37 ; the necessary and sufficient condition for a non - zero bi - vector @xmath38 in order to represent a straight line is given by the homogeneous equation @xmath39 a simple consequence of .
if @xmath40 is a basis of @xmath41 then the following bi - vectors @xmath42 form the corresponding basis of @xmath43 : @xmath44 equation rewritten in the plcker ( or grassmann plcker ) coordinates @xmath45 reads @xmath46 and defines in @xmath47 the so - called plcker ( or plcker
klein ) quadric @xmath48 .
let us present basic subsets of the quadric @xmath48 and corresponding configurations of lines in @xmath31 . 1 .
if two lines intersect then the corresponding bi - vectors @xmath49 , @xmath12 , satisfy not only equations of the form , but also @xmath50 i.e. , the corresponding points @xmath51 $ ] , @xmath52 $ ] of the plcker quadric are joined by an isotropic ( i.e. , contained in @xmath48 ) line .
therefore isotropic lines of @xmath47 correspond to planar pencils of lines in @xmath31 .
a conic section of @xmath48 by a non - isotropic plane represents the so called _ regulus _ , i.e. , one family of lines of a ruled quadric in @xmath31 .
we collect here , for reader s convenience , various results of the theory of asymptotic nets @xcite , which we consider necessary to understand the methods and goals of next sections where we treat the discrete case . a coordinate system on a surface in @xmath31
is called _ asymptotic parametrization _ if in each point of the surface the osculating planes of the parametric curves coincide with the tangent plane to the surface . through the paper we consider asymptotic parametrization on a surface in the projective space @xmath31 , but we perform calculations in its affine part @xmath2 . given a surface @xmath53 in @xmath2 in asymptotic coordinates @xmath54 , @xmath55 then @xmath56 as a consequence of the compatibility condition @xmath57 we obtain that there exists a function @xmath58 such that @xmath59 the tangents to the asymptotic lines are represented , in the appropriate gauge , by the bi - vectors @xmath60 notice that the line passing through @xmath51 $ ] and @xmath52 $ ] is an isotropic line . equations - lead to the linear system @xmath61 and , in consequence , to the laplace equations @xmath62 the above results can be expressed as follows .
a surface in @xmath31 viewed as the envelope of its tangent planes corresponds to a congruence of isotropic lines of the plcker quadric @xmath48 ; the focal nets of the congruence represent asymptotic directions of the surface .
let us equip @xmath2 with the scalar product and consider the corresponding cross - product @xmath63 .
one can show that any asymptotic net @xmath53 in @xmath2 can be considered as a solution of the linear system @xmath64 where @xmath65 is orthogonal to the surface and satisfies equation @xmath66 with a function @xmath67 .
equation was first studied by moutard @xcite , and equations - connecting solutions of the moutard equation with asymptotic nets are known as the lelieuvre formulas @xcite .
it should be mentioned that the lelieuvre formulas can be settled down within the pure affine ( even projective ) geometry without refering to additional structures in the ambient space @xcite one can show that @xmath68 satisfies , in addition to the moutard equation , the following linear equations @xmath69 where @xmath70 given scalar solution @xmath71 of the moutard equations , consider the linear system @xmath72 compatible due to .
cross - differentiation of equations - shows that @xmath73 satisfies another moutard equation @xmath74 with the proportionality function @xmath75 given by @xmath76 the transition from @xmath68 to @xmath77 relating solutions of two moutard equations and is called the moutard transformation @xcite .
simple calculation shows that the surface @xmath78 can be obtained from @xmath79 via the lelieuvre formulas .
notice that the straight lines @xmath80 are tangent to both surfaces in corresponding points , i.e. , the lines form the so called weingarten ( or w for short ) congruence . two - parameter family of straight lines in @xmath31 tangent to two surfaces in such a way that asymptotic coordinate lines on both surfaces correspond is called _ w
congruence_. there exists another way to find w - congruences tangent to a given asymptotic net @xmath81 .
because @xmath82 is tangent to @xmath81 therefore it can be decomposed as @xmath83 the coefficients @xmath84 and @xmath85 of the above decomposition define , together with @xmath53 , the w congruence .
it can be shown that the coefficients satisfy the linear system @xmath86 finally , we consider w congruences in the spirit of plcker geometry .
the bi - vector @xmath87 represents w congruence .
the bi - vector @xmath88 in the gauge @xmath89 satisfies , due to linear systems - and - , the laplace equation @xmath90 { { \mathfrak q}}.\ ] ] [ th : w - cong ] w congruences are represented by conjugate nets in the plcker quadric @xmath48 .
[ def : d - as ] an _ asymptotic lattice _ is a mapping @xmath91 such that any point @xmath81 of the lattice is coplanar with its four nearest neighbours @xmath92 , @xmath93 , @xmath94 and @xmath95 ( see fig . [
fig : d - as ] ) .
the plane in definition [ def : d - as ] can be called the _ tangent plane _ of the asymptotic lattice in the point @xmath81 .
we can express the asymptotic lattice condition in the form of the linear equations @xmath96 where @xmath97 , @xmath12 , is the backward partial difference operator .
equations - can be rewritten using the backward tangent vectors as @xmath98 here the backward and forward data of the asymptotic lattice are related by the following formulas @xmath99 with @xmath100 the compatibility condition of the linear system - leads , among others , to @xmath101 the backward asymptotic tangent lines can be represented in the line geometry by the bi - vectors @xmath102 using equations - it can be easily shown that @xmath103 applying to equation the shift operator @xmath104 and using formulas - yields to the an equivalent form of the discrete laplace equation @xmath105 similarly we get @xmath106 notice that the lines @xmath107 are generators of the plcker quadric ( both asymptotic tangents intersect in @xmath81 ) and represent pairs @xmath108 , where @xmath109 is the tangent plane of the asymptotic lattice at the point @xmath81 .
two neighbouring tangent planes @xmath109 and @xmath110 , @xmath12 , intersect along the backward tangent line represented by @xmath111 ( see fig .
[ fig : izot - cong ] ) .
we have thus proved the following result : [ th : d - a ] a discrete asymptotic net in @xmath31 viewed as the envelope of its tangent planes corresponds to a congruence of isotropic lines of the plcker quadric @xmath48 ; the focal lattices of the congruence represent asymptotic directions of the lattice .
the lattices in @xmath48 which represent two families of asymptotic tangents of an asymptotic lattice are laplace transforms of each other .
similarly like in the continuous case there exist the discrete analogue of the lelieuvre representation and the discrete analog of the moutard equation ; for details see @xcite . it can be shown that @xmath112 where the vector @xmath68 , orthogonal to the tangent plane of the lattice , satisfies the discrete moutard equation ( see also @xcite ) @xmath113 whose equivalent form is @xmath114 we would like to add some new ingredients to the connection of the lelieuvre representation of the asymptotic lattices and the linear system - .
the normal vector satisfies equations @xmath115 the compatibility condition of the system - with the moutard equation give @xmath116 combining equations - with yields the following identity @xmath117 which will be used in the next section .
similarly like in the continuous case , given solution @xmath118 of the discrete moutard equation , one can define the ( discrete analog of the ) moutard transformation @xcite ( see also @xcite ) by solving the linear system @xmath119 which yields @xmath120 with new proportionality factor @xmath121 let us define the following lattice @xmath122 a simple calculation shows that formula gives new asymptotic lattice with the normal vector @xmath77 entering into the lelieuvre formulas .
the line @xmath80 is tangent to both lattices , therefore we have @xmath123 where @xmath124 notice that the two parameter family of lines @xmath80 has analogous properties of that of the _ w congruence _ from continuous case .
[ def : dw - cong ] by a _ discrete w congruence _ we mean two - parameter family of straight lines connecting two asymptotic lattices in such a way that the lines are tangent to the lattices in corresponding points .
we have shown how the get discrete w
congruences from the moutard transformations .
it turns out that any discrete w congruence can be obtained in this way .
[ prop : wcong - mout ] given discrete w congruence connecting @xmath81 and @xmath125 , then the normal vectors @xmath68 and @xmath77 which define @xmath81 and @xmath125 via the lelieuvre formulas , are related by a moutard transformation .
@xmath126 from definition
[ def : dw - cong ] it follows that @xmath127 must be of the form @xmath128 we first show that without loss of generality one can put the proportionality function @xmath129 equal to @xmath130 . applying the partial difference operator @xmath131 to equation and using the first part of the discrete lelieuvre formulas we get @xmath132 the scalar products with @xmath133 and with @xmath68 give @xmath134 which after simple manipulation gives @xmath135 similarly we have @xmath136 notice that due to equations and the normal vector @xmath137 defines the same lattice @xmath127 , which shows that in formula we can put @xmath138 .
after such a change , formula can be rewritten in the form @xmath139 which yields @xmath140 similarly we obtain @xmath141 formulas - give , together with the moutard equations satisfied by @xmath68 and @xmath77 , the following equations @xmath142 this gives @xmath143 which implies that @xmath144 moreover @xmath145 satisfies the moutard equation of @xmath68 .
finally , equations - with @xmath146 and @xmath147 given by can be put in the form of the moutard transformation - .
equation imply @xmath148 the compatibility condition of equation and the moutard transformation - gives , among others , @xmath149 the following result is generalization of theorem [ th : w - cong ] to the discrete case .
[ th : d - w ] discrete w
congruences are represented by two dimensional quadrilateral lattices in the plcker quadric @xmath48 .
lines of the w congruence are represented by bi - vectors @xmath150 we will show that @xmath88 satisfies the laplace equation . because of - we have @xmath151 + ( t_1{\tilde{b } } ) t_1{{\tilde{{\mathfrak p}}}}_2 , \\
t_2{{\mathfrak q } } & = t_2 { \tilde{b}}\left [ ( { \tilde{b}}_2 + 1 ) { { \tilde{{\mathfrak p}}}}_2 + { \tilde{a}}_2 { { \tilde{{\mathfrak p}}}}_1 \right ] + ( t_2{\tilde{a } } ) t_2{{\tilde{{\mathfrak p}}}}_1\end{aligned}\ ] ] and therefore @xmath152 where @xmath153 using equations - we get @xmath154 which , due to equations - , can be transformed to @xmath155 identity gives , together with equations - , that @xmath156 similarly , @xmath157 which yields @xmath158 inserting to equation leads to conclusion that the bi - vector @xmath88 satisfies the laplace equation . from interpretation of w congruences as quadrilateral lattices in @xmath48 we infer the following property ( see final remarks of section [ sec : line - geometry ] ) .
four neighbouring lines of a w congruence are generators of a ruled quadric in @xmath31 .
we would like to stress that the discrete w congruences are not discrete congruences in the sense of definition [ def : d - cong ] . in order to explain this terminological confusion we would like to make a few historical comments . at the beginning of the line geometry , by a congruence
it was meant any two - parameter family of straight lines in @xmath2 .
it turns out that in @xmath2 such family has , in general , two focal surfaces .
however , in more dimensional ambient space two - parameter families of lines do not have , in general , focal surfaces .
from the point of view of transformations of surfaces it was necessary , therefore , to put some restrictions on the initial definition , and we read in @xcite : `` we call a _ congruence _ in _ n_-space a two - parameter family of lines such that through each line pass two developable surfaces of the family . ''
going further into multi - parameter families of lines and into discrete domain , in order to keep the basic property of congruences they have been defined @xcite in such a way that they have focal lattices ; this requirement leads to definition [ def : d - cong ] . in continuous case w
congruences have focal surfaces , but this is , as we mentioned above , typical property of two - parameter families of lines in @xmath2 . in our opinion , this terminological confusion suggests that it is more convenient to consider discrete w congruences as _ quadrilateral lattices in the line space_.
in this section we consider superposition of the moutard transformations and the corresponding superpositions of @xmath4-transformations of asymptotic lattices .
we prove also the permutability theorems for both transformations .
let @xmath159 and @xmath160 be two solutions of the moutard equation of the lattice @xmath161 , i.e. , @xmath162 .\ ] ] we use @xmath163 to define the first moutard transformation @xmath164 of the lattice @xmath68 and the corresponding transformation @xmath165 of @xmath166 via equations - : @xmath167 & = ( { { \delta}}_1 \theta^1 ) \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^2 \end{array } \right ) - \theta^1 { { \delta}}_1 \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^2 \end{array } \right ) , \\ \label{eq : d2-n - n1 } { { \delta}}_2\left [ \theta^1 \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}_1 \\ \theta^2_1 \end{array } \right ) \right ] & = -({{\delta}}_2 \theta^1 ) \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^2 \end{array } \right ) + \theta^1 { { \delta}}_2 \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^2 \end{array } \right),\end{aligned}\ ] ] which implies that both @xmath164 and @xmath165 satisfy the same moutard equation @xmath168 , \ ] ] where @xmath169 similarly , we use @xmath166 to define the second moutard transformation @xmath170 of the lattice @xmath68 and the corresponding transformation @xmath171 of @xmath163 : @xmath172 & = - ( { { \delta}}_1 \theta^2 ) \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^1 \end{array } \right ) + \theta^2 { { \delta}}_1 \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^1 \end{array } \right ) , \\ { { \delta}}_2\left [ \theta^2 \left ( \begin{array}{c } \label{eq : d2-n - n2 } { { \boldsymbol n}}_2 \\ \theta^1_2 \end{array } \right ) \right ] & = ( { { \delta}}_2 \theta^2 ) \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^1 \end{array}\right ) - \theta^2 { { \delta}}_2 \left ( \begin{array}{c } { { \boldsymbol n}}\\ \theta^1 \end{array } \right).\end{aligned}\ ] ] notice the modification of signs in the transformation formulas , which however do not change the fact that both @xmath170 and @xmath171 satisfy the same moutard equation @xmath173 , \ ] ] where @xmath174 equations - imply that both products @xmath175 and @xmath176 are defined up to additive constants .
moreover , since @xmath177 then one of these constants can be fixed in such a way that @xmath178 holds .
the following result states that there exist lattices being simultaneous moutard transformations of @xmath164 and @xmath170 , what can be illustrated by the diagram @xmath179 [ th : perm - m ] let @xmath163 , @xmath166 be solutions of the discrete moutard equation of the lattice @xmath68 , and let @xmath164 , @xmath170 be the corresponding two ( discrete ) moutard transformations of @xmath68 . then the functions @xmath171 and @xmath165 , given by equations - , provide by the formula @xmath180 one parameter family ( because of the free integration constant in @xmath181 ) of the moutard transformations of the lattice @xmath164 ( by means of the function @xmath171 ) which are simultaneously the moutard transformation of the lattice @xmath170 ( by means of the function @xmath171 ) .
it is enough to verify directly that the lattice @xmath182 given by is a solution of equations @xmath183 which define the moutard transformations of @xmath170 by means of @xmath171 , and that it is also a solution of equations @xmath184 which define the moutard transformations of @xmath164 by means of @xmath165 .
notice that the superposition formula itself is of the form of the discrete moutard equation .
this is a manifestation of the frequently observed relation between discrete integrable systems and their darboux - type transformations @xcite . to obtain such a form of the superposition formula
it was the reason of modification of signs in the moutard transformation - . the corresponding theorem ( the discrete analog of the classical bianchi permutability theorem @xcite ) about permutability of the @xmath4-transformations of asymptotic lattices reads as follows .
[ th : perm - w ] if @xmath81 and @xmath185 are asymptotic lattices related by a @xmath4-congruence and @xmath81 and @xmath186 are related by a second @xmath4-congruence then there can be found one - parameter family of asymptotic lattices given , in notation of theorem [ th : perm - m ] , by @xmath187 such that @xmath185 and @xmath188 are related by a @xmath4-congruence , and likewise @xmath186 and @xmath188 . due to proposition [ prop : wcong - mout ] the lattices @xmath185 and @xmath186 can be given by @xmath189 where @xmath68 , @xmath164 and @xmath170 are like in - ; notice the change of sign in induced by the change of sign in - .
transforming lattice @xmath185 by by means of @xmath190 and applying one obtains , likewise transforming lattice @xmath186 by formula by means of @xmath190 .
the main result of this paper consists in showing that the theory of asymptotic lattices and their transformations given by w
congruences forms a part of the theory of quadrilateral lattices . the discrete w
congruences can be considered as quadrilateral lattices in the plcker quadric , therefore they provide non - trivial examples of quadrilateral lattices subjected to quadratic constraints , whose general theory was constructed in @xcite .
we demonstrated also the permutability property of the corresponding @xmath4-transformations of asymptotic lattices , thus proving directly their integrability .
our result is the next step in realization of the general program of classification of integrable geometries as reductions of quadrilateral lattices .
such reductions come usually from additional structures in the projective ambient space ( the close analogy to the erlangen program of klein ) , and/or from inner symmetries of the lattice itself ( see also examples in @xcite ) ; in our case the basic underlying geometry is the line geometry of plcker .
the author wishes to express his thanks to maciej nieszporski for discussions and for showing preliminary version of his paper @xcite .
e. i. ganzha and s. p. tsarev , _ an algebraic formula for superposition and the completness of the bcklund transformations of ( 2 + 1)-dimensional integrable systems _ , russian math .
surveys * 51 * ( 1996 ) , 12001202 . j. j. c. nimmo and w. k. schief , _ superposition principles associated with the moutard transformation . an integrable discretisation of a ( 2 + 1)-dimensional sine - gordon system _ , proc .
london a * 453 * ( 1997 ) , 255279 . | arxiv |
a triathlon event consists of swimming , biking and running segments combined into a single event .
the distances of each segment vary greatly between races , but the order is typically the swim first , followed by the bike and then the run . since athletes progress continuously between these segments , there are two
transitions between segments : swim to bike ( t1 ) and bike to run ( t2 ) . to improve in a triathlon ,
athletes train for each segment as well as practice each transition . although there is variety of research on the influence of completing multiple segments on physiological , biomechanical and performance measures ( bonacci et al . , 2010 ; bonacci et al . , 2013 ;
, 2009 ; chapman et al . , 2008 ; gottschall and plamer , 2002 ; hue et al . , 1999 ) , to our knowledge there is no research focused specifically on transitions .
even though , transition length ( and therefore time ) as well as terrain can vary greatly between races , it is important to understand the physiological demands of transitions in order to benefit overall race performance .
a unique aspect of triathlon is that an athlete will typically wear a wetsuit during the swim portion of the event . as the athlete exits the water and transitions to the bike
, the athlete must decide on when to take the wetsuit off as he / she runs from the swim exit to the location of the bike gear .
wetsuit strippers these are volunteers that assist the athlete in taking the wetsuit off as quickly as possible . in that case , after the wetsuit is taken off , the athlete must carry the wetsuit to the transition area . in general ,
athletes tend to hold on to the wetsuit under the arm that is more comfortable to him / her while running through the transition area . at that point
, the wetsuit is dropped off and the athlete transitions to the bike . in many races , however , there are no wetsuit strippers and the athlete will typically take the wetsuit half - way down ( i.e. , pulled down to the waist ) until reaching the area to change to bike gear .
another option is for the athlete to run with the wetsuit all the way up until reaching the area to change to bike gear .
presently , there are no empirical data available to the athlete that would be helpful in making the decision as to how and when to remove the wetsuit .
therefore , as a first study on this topic , the purpose was to determine the physiological cost of running while not using a wetsuit or while carrying a wetsuit , wearing a wetsuit halfway down or wearing a wetsuit fully up .
it was hypothesized that running without the wetsuit ( i.e. , not carrying or wearing it in any way ) would result in the lowest physiological cost while running with the wetsuit halfway down would be the least costly .
twenty healthy subjects ( male n = 10 , 33.8 8.2 yrs , 1.78 0.05 m , 79.4 3.75 kg ; female n = 10 , 27.9 8.5 yrs , 1.65 0.06 m , 63.6 5.98 kg ) volunteered to participate in the study and all subjects read and signed a university approved informed consent form before participating in the study .
subjects were healthy , currently regularly exercising and capable of completing a 45 - 60 min run .
all participants ran on a treadmill while wearing a mouthpiece that the subject breathed through in order to determine the rate of oxygen uptake ( vo2 ) ( moxus modular metabolic system , aei technologies inc . ,
vo2 was measured breath - by - breath and recorded every 15 s for each condition .
subjects wore laboratory provided running shoes ( adidas adiprene ) and a telemetry heart rate transmitter ( polar electro inc .
prior to testing , subjects were assigned a wetsuit size selected following manufacturer guidelines ( huub design limited , size - smt m mt ml , aerious full - sleeved model 4:4 , derby , uk ) .
the four conditions were : 1 ) running without wearing a wetsuit ( nws ) ; 2 ) running while carrying the wetsuit ( wscarry ) ; 3 ) running with the wetsuit fully on ( wsfull ) ; and , 4 ) wetsuit worn halfway down ( wshalf ) ( figure 1 ) . during
wscarry participants generally gathered up the wetsuit in a way that they would carry a ball ; they were allowed to change the wetsuit from one hand to another .
each condition lasted 5 min with participants given time for a self - directed warm - up on the treadmill prior to any testing .
1a : no wetsuit ; 1b : running while carrying the wetsuit ; 1c : running with the wetsuit fully up ; 1d : running with the wetsuit halfway down .
treadmill speed was controlled across conditions and set to each participant s preferred running speed ( prstest ) while running without the wetsuit ( i.e. , nws ) .
this speed was determined following the warm - up ( and prior to testing ) by instructing the participant to run on the treadmill and select a speed he / she could sustain for a 30 min training run .
once the participant indicated the preferred speed was reached ( usually within 1 - 3 min of running ) , that speed was recorded , the treadmill stopped and the process repeated for a total of three times .
this process usually takes about 1 - 3 min ( i.e. , the subjects do not run 30 min ) and follows a protocol used by the laboratory for selecting a preferred speed . the prstest was the average of these three speeds .
in addition to determining prstest , the preferred speed for each condition ( prscond ) was determined using the same process ; however , all measurements were always done while participants ran at prstest . during each running condition ,
rating of perceived exertion ( rpe , 6 - 20 point scale ) ( borg , 1970 ) and stride frequency ( sf ) data were collected at the beginning , middle and end of the 5 min time interval while vo2 and hr data were collected breath - by - breath and recorded at 15 s intervals throughout the 5 min condition .
time was allowed between conditions as needed to prepare for the next condition ( e.g. , put the wetsuit on ) .
sf , rpe , and prscond were averaged across three measures taken for each condition .
each dependent variable ( vo2 , hr , sf , rpe and prscond ) was analyzed using a 1 x 4 ( nws , wscarry , wshalf , wsfull ) repeated measures anova ( ibm spss statistics , version 22 ; = 0.05 ) .
if the omnibus f - ratio was significant , planned comparisons were conducted to compare conditions to each other .
data from one participant ( male ) was dropped from analysis due to instrument error .
also , hr data from two specific participant conditions ( one male , during wscarry ; one female during wsfull ) were dropped from the analysis due to the hr transmitter not operating .
however , data were run with and without these data with no change in the statistical outcome .
twenty healthy subjects ( male n = 10 , 33.8 8.2 yrs , 1.78 0.05 m , 79.4 3.75 kg ; female n = 10 , 27.9 8.5 yrs , 1.65 0.06 m , 63.6 5.98 kg ) volunteered to participate in the study and all subjects read and signed a university approved informed consent form before participating in the study .
subjects were healthy , currently regularly exercising and capable of completing a 45 - 60 min run .
all participants ran on a treadmill while wearing a mouthpiece that the subject breathed through in order to determine the rate of oxygen uptake ( vo2 ) ( moxus modular metabolic system , aei technologies inc . ,
vo2 was measured breath - by - breath and recorded every 15 s for each condition .
subjects wore laboratory provided running shoes ( adidas adiprene ) and a telemetry heart rate transmitter ( polar electro inc .
prior to testing , subjects were assigned a wetsuit size selected following manufacturer guidelines ( huub design limited , size - smt m mt ml , aerious full - sleeved model 4:4 , derby , uk ) .
the four conditions were : 1 ) running without wearing a wetsuit ( nws ) ; 2 ) running while carrying the wetsuit ( wscarry ) ; 3 ) running with the wetsuit fully on ( wsfull ) ; and , 4 ) wetsuit worn halfway down ( wshalf ) ( figure 1 ) . during
wscarry participants generally gathered up the wetsuit in a way that they would carry a ball ; they were allowed to change the wetsuit from one hand to another .
each condition lasted 5 min with participants given time for a self - directed warm - up on the treadmill prior to any testing .
1a : no wetsuit ; 1b : running while carrying the wetsuit ; 1c : running with the wetsuit fully up ; 1d : running with the wetsuit halfway down .
treadmill speed was controlled across conditions and set to each participant s preferred running speed ( prstest ) while running without the wetsuit ( i.e. , nws ) .
this speed was determined following the warm - up ( and prior to testing ) by instructing the participant to run on the treadmill and select a speed he / she could sustain for a 30 min training run .
once the participant indicated the preferred speed was reached ( usually within 1 - 3 min of running ) , that speed was recorded , the treadmill stopped and the process repeated for a total of three times .
this process usually takes about 1 - 3 min ( i.e. , the subjects do not run 30 min ) and follows a protocol used by the laboratory for selecting a preferred speed .
in addition to determining prstest , the preferred speed for each condition ( prscond ) was determined using the same process ; however , all measurements were always done while participants ran at prstest . during each running condition ,
rating of perceived exertion ( rpe , 6 - 20 point scale ) ( borg , 1970 ) and stride frequency ( sf ) data were collected at the beginning , middle and end of the 5 min time interval while vo2 and hr data were collected breath - by - breath and recorded at 15 s intervals throughout the 5 min condition .
time was allowed between conditions as needed to prepare for the next condition ( e.g. , put the wetsuit on ) .
sf , rpe , and prscond were averaged across three measures taken for each condition .
each dependent variable ( vo2 , hr , sf , rpe and prscond ) was analyzed using a 1 x 4 ( nws , wscarry , wshalf , wsfull ) repeated measures anova ( ibm spss statistics , version 22 ; = 0.05 ) .
if the omnibus f - ratio was significant , planned comparisons were conducted to compare conditions to each other .
data from one participant ( male ) was dropped from analysis due to instrument error .
also , hr data from two specific participant conditions ( one male , during wscarry ; one female during wsfull ) were dropped from the analysis due to the hr transmitter not operating .
however , data were run with and without these data with no change in the statistical outcome .
hr ( p = 0.001 ) , vo2 ( p < 0.001 ) , sf ( p = 0.002 ) and rpe ( p <
0.001 ) were each influenced by wetsuit condition ( table 1 ) while prscond was not ( p = 0.756 ) ( table 1 ) .
using planned comparisons , vo2 was lower during nws vs. any other condition ( i.e. , wscarry ( p < 0.001 ) , wshalf ( p < 0.001 ) , wsfull ( p < 0.001 ) ) as well as during wscarry or wsfull compared to wshalf ( p < 0.001 , p = 0.002 , respectively ) . means and standard deviations for the rate of oxygen uptake ( vo2 ) , heart rate ( hr ) , stride frequency ( sf ) , rating of perceived exertion ( rpe , 6 - 20 point scale ) and preferred running speed ( prscond ) during running with no wetsuit ( nws ) , carrying the wetsuit ( wscarry ) , wearing the wetsuit halfway down ( wshalf ) , or fully up ( wsfull ) .
vo2 , hr , rpe and sf were all influenced by condition ( p < 0.05 ) .
indicates lowest value ( p < 0.05 ) and * * the greatest ( p < 0.10 ) using planned comparisons ; for x , o , z : like symbols indicate difference between conditions .
the hr was lower during nws vs. wscarry ( p = 0.001 ) , wshalf ( p = 0.043 ) and wsfull ( p = 0.002 ) , but not different than any of the combinations of wscarry , wshalf and wsfull ( p > 0.05 ) .
the rpe was lower during nws vs. wscarry ( p = 0.050 ) , wshalf ( p = 0.002 ) , and wsfull ( p < 0.001 ) and was greater during wshalf vs. wscarry ( p = 0.004 ) and tended to be greater during wshalf vs. wsfull ( p = 0.096 ) .
sf was lower during nws vs. wshalf ( p = 0.017 ) or wsfull ( p = 0.013 ) and lower during wscarry vs. wsfull ( p = 0.016 ) .
overall triathlon race performance will be influenced not only by the athlete s swim , bike and run performances , but also by the transition performances . the present study was focused on t1 ( transition from swim to bike ) since there is a unique decision that needs to be made regarding when to take a wetsuit off ( if one is worn ) . running with the wetsuit halfway down resulted in the greatest vo2 , hr and rpe compared to during running in any of the other conditions .
furthermore , carrying the wetsuit was less costly than wearing the wetsuit halfway down , but not different than when wearing the wetsuit fully up .
more specifically , vo2 was on average 2.2 - 2.8% greater during wearing the wetsuit half way down vs. carrying the wetsuit or wearing it fully up
. on average vo2 was 7.25% greater while wearing the wetsuit halfway down than during running not wearing ( or carrying ) a wetsuit at all .
there is no research on the energy cost of running in a wetsuit let alone running while transitioning between swim and bike segments of a triathlon . using the american college of sports medicine metabolic equation for running , on average ,
vo2 would have been predicted to be about 35.5 7.0 mlkgmin-1 ( acsm , 2013 ) which is only slightly lower than the values we observed during running without a wetsuit ( 38.9 7.1 mlkgmin-1 ) .
this seems reasonable given the rpe reported by participants ( 10.4 1.7 , 6 - 20 point scale ) and is indicative of submaximal effort for the participants tested . in three of the four conditions ,
we considered that the weight of the wetsuit itself influenced the physiological cost of running since the relationship between body mass and vo2 is well established ( bergh et al . , 1991 ) as well as
, vo2 has been reported to increase about 1% for every kilogram added to the trunk region ( saunders et al . , 2004 ) .
we conducted an additional statistical analysis using vo2 data normalized to total weight ( i.e. , body weight plus wetsuit weight ) as the dependent variable . from that analysis , the statistical outcome was identical as compared to vo2 normalized to body weight only .
thus , it seems that the changes in vo2 between conditions are related more to changes in the running style vs. added weight . to gain some insight into the mechanics of running between conditions
, we measured and examined sf . on average , participants used a 13% faster sf while wearing the wetsuit ( either halfway down or fully up ) . although large changes in sf ( e.g. , 10 - 20% ) can influence vo2 , small changes less than 5% may not negatively influence vo2 ( mercer et al . , 2008 ) .
interestingly , it was reported that step frequency increased about 2% when upper body movements were restricted ( arellano and kram , 2014 ) .
although we did not measure upper body movements , it seems obvious that carrying the wetsuit would influence the arm swing .
however , less obvious is the influence of wearing the wetsuit halfway down or fully up on the arm swing and any further potential negative effects on vo2 .
additional research is needed to understand the influence of wearing the wetsuit on upper extremity kinematics as well as on sf . from a competitive perspective
, an athlete may want to consider taking the wetsuit off once exiting the water and carry the wetsuit or to wear the wetsuit fully up until the transition area is closely approached and then take the wetsuit off .
anecdotally , it is interesting to note that triathletes typically work to take the wetsuit off halfway while running from the swim exit to the bike .
this makes sense since an athlete would not be moving if he / she either took the wetsuit off immediately exiting the water or waiting until reaching the bike . since there are no data on the physiological cost of triathlon transition , our approach was to determine the running economy while not wearing a wetsuit , wearing the wetsuit half way down , wearing the wetsuit fully up and carrying the wetsuit .
another experimental approach would be to measure vo2 while an athlete exits the water and transitions to the bike .
however , it was important to first know running economy while running at a steady state before including energetic cost of taking the wetsuit off .
it seems beneficial to measure vo2 in the field during transitions . based upon the results of our experiment
, it seems to make sense to delay taking the wetsuit off since the greatest vo2 was while running with the wetsuit halfway down .
furthermore , another approach would be to determine the influence of different transition strategies on subsequent cycling and/or run performance . from our results , since the difference in vo2 between wetsuit conditions was less than 3% , it does not appear that the strategy to wear / carry the wetsuit would have a major impact on subsequent performance .
nevertheless , that small difference may be important for the elite athlete vying for an overall finish place .
it is understandable that triathlon research has focused on energetic cost and biomechanics of each segment of a triathlon since the large majority of the race time is determined by performance in these segments .
however , it is important to recognize the influence of energetic cost of completing the transitions not only from a time - performance perspective , but also from the perspective of estimating caloric intake during a race .
for example , some events have athletes running 1 km between the swim exit and bike mount . even though a race may be categorized based upon segment distances ( e.g. ,
a 140.6 iron - distance event consists of 2.4 miles of swimming , 112 miles or biking and 26.2 miles of running ) , athletes do not always have specific distance information of transition areas . from the results of the present experiment , decisions such as when and how to take off the wetsuit may have an influence on the energetic requirements of completing a triathlon .
albeit the transition cost is small compared to the entire event , it does seem important for athletes , coaches and race directors to consider strategies to reduce the energetic cost of running with the wetsuit . in designing the experiment , we considered what order the conditions were presented to participants .
since each condition lasted 5 minutes , the minimum run time ( without a warm up and testing of preferred speed ) was 20 minutes .
the specific order of conditions ( i.e. , nws , wscarry , wsfull , wshalf ) used was for logistic purposes when considering the time needed to take a wetsuit off and/or put it on if the order was randomized . given the set order , we were concerned about fatigue . however , time was provided between conditions as needed and , qualitatively , subjects did not present as being fatigued at the end of testing .
furthermore , we tested athletes running in running shoes since we wanted to record vo2 during steady state running and we were concerned about minimizing the risk of injury due to the total run time ( ~20 - 30 minutes including a warm - up and a cool - down ) barefoot .
there are likely differences in vo2 during running barefoot vs. with shoes on , however , given the repeated measures design of the study , the difference should be consistent .
furthermore , anecdotally athletes may leave footwear at the swim exit depending on the length of transition and condition of the running surface from the swim exit to the bike area .
related to this , we had subjects self - select a speed that could be sustained for an endurance run so that we could measure steady state physiological cost during running .
it may be beneficial to record energetic cost ( both anaerobic and aerobic ) of running at faster speeds over shorter distances .
it is important to recognize that we did not measure the thermoregulation response to running in a wetsuit this seems to be an important piece to consider since the wetsuit functions to retain heat even during running on land .
it may be that any negative influence running in a wetsuit has on vo2 is offset by the advantage of taking the wetsuit off to avoid any additional heat load placed on the body .
not only are they focused on training for each segment , many participants practice the transition between segments . in line with the present research , it seems important for a race participant to consider when to take a wetsuit off as part of training and race strategy especially when the swim to bike transition distance is long .
although anecdotally it is common for participants to take the wetsuit off halfway while running from the swim exit to the bike , participants may want to consider taking the wetsuit off entirely upon exiting the swim ( if this is logistically possible ) .
however , that decision should be made based upon how easy it is to remove the wetsuit entirely since time may be saved by removing the wetsuit halfway while running towards the bike vs. being stationary to take the wetsuit off .
another important aspect of this research is that the participant may need to account for the energetic cost of completing the transitions .
for example , based upon the data from the present study , participants would have energetic cost of about 85 - 93 calories to complete a 1 km transition run .
although this is only a small percent compared to the calories used during any of the race segments , it does seem important for an athlete and/or coach to consider this caloric cost when designing a race nutrition plan . in our study
, it is concluded that running with the wetsuit half - way down was the most costly in terms of vo2 , hr and rpe vs. running while carrying the wetsuit or wearing the wetsuit fully up . from a practical perspective
, the difference in energetic cost between conditions is small so the race participant should consider which strategy of removing the wetsuit bests suits him / her individually . | pubmed |
I have a doubt about Ampere's Law
Can I apply Ampere's law if the infinite current carrying wire is not perpendicular to the closed loop along which I calculate the line integral of magnetic field? Will that result in the component of current along the perpendicular direction to the planar loop that I have considered? If so could you provide a general proof or derivation with any general angle between the plane and current carrying wire ?
Ampere's Circuital Law:
$$\oint \vec B\cdot d\vec l=\mu\_oI\_{net}$$
The value $I\_{net}$ shows that net electric current flowing along normal to the plane of closed loop.
Therefore if the plane of closed loop is inclined to the infinite wire carrying an electric current $I$ at an angle say $\theta$ then $I\_{net}=I\cos\theta$ will be net current in this case.
Yes, you can. Ampère's law states that the result of the integral is *independent* of the path. It only depends on the amount of current enclosed by it.
| stackexchange/physics |
Ampere's circuital law
I'm having trouble understanding the surface used for [Ampere's Circuital Law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amp%C3%A8re%27s_circuital_law). In classes, we've been using simple circular or rectangular loops. Is the surface supposed to be area of the circle or the rectangle? Or is it a simple case of the law?
A example would be the surface used for displacement current. This one is just lost on me. The surface looks like a pot enclosing the wire and the capacitor. Does the law specify a closed loop of a surface? Is the line integral taken on the mouth of the pot-like surface or the bottom ($S\_1$ below)? And is the enclosed current in the smaller mouth or the larger bottom surface ($S\_2$)?
The surface can be *any* orientable surface whose boundary is the chosen loop.
For reference, Ampère's law with Maxwell's correction in integral form:
$$\oint\_{\partial S} \mathbf{B} \cdot d\mathbf{l} = \mu\_0 I\_{enc} + \mu\_0 \epsilon\_0 \iint\_S \frac{\partial\mathbf{E}}{\partial t} \cdot d\mathbf{a}$$
The value of the right-hand side is independent of the surface chosen. To see this, suppose two surfaces, $S\_1$ and $S\_2$, both have the same boundary $\partial S$. Then take the difference in the right-hand side evaluated on the two surfaces. You will end up with a term of the form $\mu\_0 I + \mu\_0 \epsilon\_0 \iint \partial\mathbf{E}/\partial t \cdot d\mathbf{a}$ evaluated on a *closed* surface. Using Gauss's law, the second term can be converted into $\mu\_0 \partial Q/\partial t$ where $Q$ is the charge enclosed. But $\mu\_0(I + \partial Q/\partial t) = 0$ by charge conservation.
Note that this *depends crucially* on the displacement current term. If it is omitted, then the right-hand side may *differ* for two choices of the surface, if charge is building up in the volume between them. In many textbooks, this discrepancy is used to motivate the presence of the displacement current term.
HINT:
The solid angle subtented by a closed surface at an internal point P is 4(pi). Take a closed surface and divide it into two parts , upper and lower. The lower surface subtends an angle omega1 and the upper surface an angle omega2'. Fold the lower surface upwards so that the upper surface is concave and the lower surface is convex. Let the selected point P be inside the surface. The net solid angle 4(pi) = omega1 + omega2'. Bring the two parts of the surface so close that the distance of separation is infinitesimally small. Let the point P be still inside the surface. The solidangle is still omega1+omega2' = 4(pi). Now reverse the upper surface so that it becomes convex; the solid angle omega2' revereses in sign.
Thus omega1 - (-omega2') = 4(pi). Let (-omega2') = omega2. Thus omega1 - omega2 = 4(pi).Use the expression for the dipole potential for point at point P.
| stackexchange/physics |
fanfiction |
|
Candy Candy 1. 3msc
**Tres metros sobre el cielo**
* * *
Dos jóvenes que pertenecen a mundos opuestos. Anthony Brown alias ''A'', es un joven apuesto y muy liberal, le gusta la velocidad y vivir la vida al extremo junto con su mejor amigo Terry. Candy pertenece a un mundo en el que parece sentirse cómoda; la arropan unos padres bien posicionados, una educación estricta y elitista, así como los privilegios de ser una niña de bien, junto con su mejor amiga Ana, asisten a uno de los colegios más reconocidos y exigentes. Además Candy tiene enemistad con Eliza una chica metalera que es obsesionada con Anthony y es muy peligrosa.
La película comienza con Anthony siendo juzgado en un tribunal por haber agredido físicamente a un hombre, sale libre bajo fianza ya que no cuenta con antecedentes penales. Este a todo vapor sale enojado de la corte y sube a su moto para recorrer la ciudad, mientras que a al mismo tiempo una joven chica, Candy, se prepara para ir a la escuela y se sube en su auto junto con su padre Albert y su hermana menor Annie. Mientras iba en el auto Candy baja la ventana y trata de tomar un poco de aire; esto crea en Anthony un interés por ella mientras le grita fea hasta que el auto se aleja. Al llegar al colegio Candy habla con su amiga Ana quien es llamada por su malvada profesora de latín a que lea una frase que ésta escribirá en el pizarrón. Candy, como buena amiga, le dice a Ana que tome el celular y mientras la maestra escribía le traducía a esta toda la información, pero la maestra notó esto y les quitaron sus celulares.
* * *
**Esta es una adaptación del libro y de la película: Tres metros sobre el cielo (3msc) es una hermosa historia donde dos jóvenes totalmente opuestos se enamoran y luchan contra todos que no están de acuerdo con su relación y viven la vida al 100km por hora. Les recomiendo ver la película como leer el libro. Pero en esta historia le voy a agregar muchas cosas mías hehe. Y para las que siguen mi otro fic: Juntos por fin. No, no la he olvidado…bueno si -.- lo siento pero espero que este fin de semana voy a subir el otro capítulo.**
**¡Muchas Gracias!**
**Dejen reviews porfis acepto todo tipo de comentarios hehe.**
**¡Saludos!**
2. 3msc cap 1
**_Los personajes aquí descritos no me pertenecen son propiedad de Mizuki e Igarashi_**
* * *
_Y de repente pasa,_
_Algo se acciona, _
_Y en ese momento sabes que las cosas van a cambiar _
_Y han cambiado. _
_Y a partir de ahí nada volverá a ser lo mismo... nunca._
* * *
_-Un día pasa, pasa que estas de pie en algún lugar y te das cuenta de que no quieres ser ninguno de que están al tu alrededor. No quieres ser el imbécil al que le rompiste la cara. Ni tampoco tu padre, ni tu hermano…ni nadie de tu familia…- _
-Que se ponga de pie el acusado.- Declara la jueza. -Este tribunal declara al señor Anthony Brown culpable de un delito de agresión. Le condena 18 meses de cárcel, pena que será pagada por una multa de 6000€ y dentro de 18 meses no tenga otra declaración en contra del señor Anthony Brown. Se levanta la sesión.-
-_Ni tampoco quieres ser la señora jueza, ni siquiera quieres ser tú. Solo quieres salir corriendo…-_ Y eso es lo que hace el rebelde de Anthony.
Se va aquel joven rubio y consigo atrás a su padre Vincent Brown, su hermano mayor Terry y su abogado. El solo quería huir de esa pesadilla en que se metió agregando a ese imbécil.
-No te tienes que meterte en problemas Anthony. Una sola pequeña declaración y te vas a la cárcel, ¡a la cárcel! ¡Eso no es un juego Anthony!- Me dijo mi abogado agitado, preocupado por mí. Pero eso no me importa.
-Anthony ten cuidado.- Me advierte mi padre. ¡No me hablen! Yo solo quiero irme de aquí. Pero de todo modo le pregunte.
-¿Por qué mama no ha venido?- Pero ya sabía la respuesta aunque mi padre todavía no lo sabe y creo que nunca lo sabrá.
-De viaje con una amiga.-
-_Falsa respuesta papa…-_ Paro, me volteo y le digo con una mirada seria. –Y no me llames Anthony.-
Salí lo más rápido posible de ese lugar y me subí en mi moto. A toda velocidad. Ya no quiero pensar en nada más y eso es lo que hago cuando me subo en ella. Voy a recorrer las calles de Madrid.
_Al mismo tiempo pero en otro lugar_
Una jovencita se prepara para ir al colegio. Aunque no se sentía de ánimo para ir a esa cárcel. Se prepara rápido porque sino su padre la iba a dejar y le tocaría tomar el bus. Baja las escaleras con los apuros de su hermana menor y se suben en el auto. La joven rubia baja la ventana del auto para pensar en su vida monótona. Saca un poco la cara afuera para ver el hermoso cielo azul. Como le gustaría volar como las aves. Sin preocupaciones ni nada, solamente volar y volar.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
-¡Trafico! Otra vez tráfico. Bueno, ¿A dónde me podre ir?- Miro a mi alrededor y veo una hermosa chica rubia mirando el cielo. Y le grito sin preocuparme de que todos me oyen. -¡Fea!- Se voltea y me mira intrigada. ¡Dios! Es hermosa. –Si tú.- Todavía me mira pero entra lentamente su hermoso rostro en el auto pero todavía deja su mano encima de la ventanilla. Me avanzo hasta llegar al lado de ella y pongo mi mano encima de la suya pero rápidamente la retira. –Fea y además pecosa jajajaja.-
El auto avanza y yo con ella pero un auto me corta el camino. De lejos veo que saca su carita de angel para ver que sucedió conmigo. Pero grande es mi sorpresa al ver que me saca el dedo –Jajajaja.- Primera vez que una chica me hace eso.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
_-¿Quién era este imbécil?-_ Bueno al menos ya no lo vera porque ver a un desconocido en Madrid por segunda vez es prácticamente imposible. Ya llegamos al colegio. Salgo del auto. –Adiós papa.- Le dije sonriendo.
-Adiós hijas, cuídense.- Y se va.
Me apurro a entrar a clase de latín antes de que la profe llegue sino me quedo afuera. Entro al salón y mi mejor amiga Ana me ve sonriendo con su nueva cámara de fotos. Ya me imagine que me iba a decir y antes que la pelinegra me pongo al frente de su aparato y sonrió.
-Que hermosa es mi amiga.- Dice Ana al mismo tiempo que ve mi foto en su cámara.
-Tú también lo eres amiga.- Le digo sinceramente y la verdad es que si lo es. Ana es una pelinegra y tiene su cabello naturalmente ondulado. Tiene algunas pecas sobre su rostro porque se pasa todos los días afuera a correr o divertirse. Es más pequeña que yo y siempre la molesto con esto.
-Tomen asiento por favor.- Dice nuestra malvada de profe. -¡Silencio!-
Todas parraron de hablar a voz baja y miramos a nuestra profe.
-Cuadernos cerrados encima del escritorio y rápido por favor.- Otra vez, siempre llama a tres o cuatro alumnas al frente para que traduzca una frase en latín. –Fernanda Mondragón, Luna Vergara y…Angela Arguello. Ah no esa se quedó fuera.- Mi amiga se pone nerviosa porque siempre la bruja la llama al pizarrón. –Entonces…Ana Ortiz, traducción.-
Me volteo al verla y le susurro. –Toma el celular.- Me estoy poniendo en riesgo pero tengo que ayudar a mi amiga. Se va al frente y para mientras traduzco lo más rápido posible la frase escrita en el pizarrón.
-Ana, tradúceme eso.-
Se pone nerviosa, lo puedo notar pero comienza a memorizarse lo que le había enviado a su celular.
–De camino a casa…tuvo que andar mucho.-
-Mucho…-
Ana sonríe porque sabe que es eso. Normal, ella puede fiarse a su amiga Candy que ella si es buena en latín.
-Mucho tiene que estudiar usted para pasar el examen final.- Extiende su brazo hacia la pelinegra. –Móvil.-
Ana, sin otra alternativa, se lo da. La profe intenta descubrir quién le mando la traducción a la joven estudiante.
-Vamos a ver quién ayudo a la señorita Ana.-
¡Maldición! Mi celular está comenzando a sonar. La profe llega hasta mí y me mira con cara de reproche.
-Señorita Candice White Andrew ¿no me va a contestar el teléfono?- Extendió su mano hacia mí. –Móvil.- Ni modo se lo tuve que dar a la bruja. –Siéntense señoritas.- Le decía a las que estaban al frente. Y seguimos con la clase.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ya era noche y en un lugar retirado un poco de la cuidad un grupo de jóvenes locos por la vida se divierten con sus motos y las chicas bailaban, seducían o hablaba entre ellas. Pero había un par de amigas que hablaba especialmente del chico rebelde.
-Eliza, no es porque salieron una o dos veces que están saliendo juntos.- Le decía su amiga rubia de cabellera larga.
-Bueno y ¿eso que tiene que ver? Además sus amigos me dicen que el nunca llama y a mí me llamo dos veces.- Replico la peliroja queriendo ganar la discusión con su amiga testadura.
-Pero ¿puedes confiar en sus amigos?-
Eliza se quedó callada ante la pregunta de su amiga Susana. Odiaba decirlo pero tiene razón. No puede confiar en los compañeros de vida de A.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
La luna se asoma, alta y pálida, por entre las ramas de un árbol frondoso. Los ruidos se oyen extrañamente lejanos. Desde una ventana llegan algunas notas de una música lenta y agradable. Un poco más abajo, las líneas blancas del campo de tenis resplandecen rectas bajo a palidez lunar y el fondo de la piscina vacía espera melancólico el regreso del verano. En el primer piso del edificio una muchacha de cabello negro, no muy alta, de ojos azules y piel clara, se mira indecisa al espejo.
-¿Te vas a poner el vestido rojo con encaje negro?- Le pregunta a su hermana mayor que estaba en su habitación alistándose para la fiesta de esta noche con sus compañeros.
-No lo sé.-
-¿El vestido azul?- Grita Annie desde su habitación.
-No lo sé.-
-Y esas medias, ¿te las vas a poner?- Annie está ahora en la puerta, mira a Candy.
-¿Acaso te vas a poner mi ropa?-
-¿Por qué no?- La desafía la pelinegra.
-Porque no, es simple.-
-Me voy a poner ese vestido verde, esas medias negras y esos zapatos color crema.-
-Lo siento, pero me voy a poner ese vestido porque nunca me lo he puesto…-
-¡Podías haberlo hecho antes!- Le reclamaba Annie.
-Bueno, lo siento hermanita.-
-Pero si tú siempre me robas ropa. Aquel día te pusiste mi falda azul. Ahora me toca poner me tu vestido esta noche.-
-Lo siento.- Me levanto de mi cama y le quito mi vestido verde esmeralda de sus manos. Pobrecita, pero es que ya había escogido que ponerme para esta noche.
-Ahora para ver mis bonitas curvas hay que ser adivino.- Diciendo eso hizo un puchero del cual Candy se rio.
-Mira, te voy a prestar mi vestido rojo con encaje negro, con ese cincho blanco y te pones tus zapatos blancos, ¿está bien?-
-¡Eres genial hermana!- Mi hermanita salta de emoción y sale de mi habitación para irse a la suya para terminar de alistarse.
-Niñas, ¿ya están listas?- Pregunta la señora Leslie Andrew esposa del señor William Albert Andrew. Cumplirán 25 años de casados y en esos años de estar juntos tuvieron dos hermosas niñas. La mayor tiene 17 años de edad, es una hermosa jovencita de cabellera dorada y rizada. Tiene una linda carita llena de pecas y tiene una naricita un poco levantada, tiene unos ojos muy bellos color esmeralda. Mientras que Aniñe nuestra pequeña de 15 años tiene el cabello color negro y totalmente liso. Tiene la piel blanca como la nieve y nos ojos azules profundes. Daria la vida por sus dos tesoros y su amado esposo, es una mujer completa.
-Ya casi mama.- Le respondió Candy desde el baño que está en medio de las dos habitaciones de las chicas.
Annie entra al baño mientras que la rubia terminar de maquillarse.
-Así pintada, ¿cuantos años me das?- Le pregunto coqueta su hermanita.
-15 años.-
-Pero si tengo 15.-
-Pues por eso jajajaja.-
-Qué mala eres.-
-A ver.- Me levanto y le arreglo un poco su maquillaje. Tenía demasiado pero era hermosa. –A ver así…Estas a punto de cumplir 16.- Me miro y nos echamos a reír.
-Niñas.-
-Ya mama.- Respondimos al mismo tiempo mi hermana y yo. Bajamos de las escaleras y nos subimos al auto.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
-Mira allí esta…- Dijo Eliza a su amiga para que lo viera.
Anthony, como siempre, llega el último a la agrupación. Baja de su moto y comienza a caminar y siente casi todas las miradas sobre él. Su mejor amigo Terry viene a él y como siempre pidiendo dinero, su amigo no cambiaría nunca.
-Oye ''A'', necesito 400€ para sacar mi moto del taller. Sabes que no te pediría dinero si no lo necesitaría.-
Yo solo me avance donde esta Eliza y le di mi chaqueta y le sonríe. Me fui pero sabía que por mi sonrisa elle también estaba sonriendo. Suelo hacer efecto en todas las mujeres. Ah…menos con la chica de esta mañana. Ella si es dura. Bueno, me voy con Chino un amigo pero también un rival.
-Chino para de coquetear y hagámoslo.- Le digo burlándome de él. Chino no más asintió de la cabeza y me sigue.
Nosotros, para demonstrar nuestra fuerza no nos peleamos, sino que hacemos una competición. Trepamos en una marquesina y doblamos los brazos, el que resiste más, es el campeón.
-Entonces, ¿quién viene?- Pregunte gritando a todos mis amigos. -¿Qué pasa, hay que invitarlos por escrito?- Me burle de ellos y llegaron Terry, el ''Travolta'', el ''Ventura'' y el ''Palote'', unos amigos de aquel chico rubio rebelde.
-¡Ta ta ta ta tum! ¡Vénganse para acá por que la pelea ya va a comenzar!- Gritaba un muchacho en un megáfono haciéndola de árbitro.
Una vez reunidos casi todos, una decena de cuerpos musculosos y entrenados se preparan sobre la vieja marquesina delante en paralelo, las caras tensas, los pechos hinchados.
-¿Están listos? ¡Parten! ¡Uno!-Todos los brazos se doblan sin esfuerzo. Silenciosos y todavía frescos, alcanzan el mármol frio, y se alzan de nuevo sin perder tiempo. -¡Dos!- De nuevo abajo, más rápidos y decididos. -¡Tres!- Siguen, igual que antes, con más fuerza que antes. -¡Cuatro!- Sus caras, muecas casi surreales, sus narices, con pequeñas arrugas, bajan a la vez. Rápidas, con facilidad, rozan el suelo y luego vuelven a subir. -¡Cinco!- Grita el joven quien animaba dando un último sorbo a la lata lanzándola al aire. -¡Seis!- La golpea con una patada precisa y fuerte. -¡Siete!- La lata vuela por los aires y da varios giros. -¡Ocho!- Grita el muchacho quien se subió a la marquesina y moviendo alegremente sus manos. -¡Nueve! ¿Ya abandonaste Ventura?-
-Pues si mi mujer no para de lanzarme miradas de que ya nos debemos de ir.- Intentando buscar una excusa que no es totalmente falsa.
-Chicos, ya hay uno que con la excusa de que su mujer se ha molestada ha abandonado. Pero la competición continúa. ¡Nueve!- Todos se ríen y, ligeramente más acalorados, bajan. -¡Diez!- Anthony desciende con facilidad. La corta camiseta azul claro deja al descubierto sus brazos. Los músculos están hinchados. En las venas el corazón late potente, aunque todavía lento y tranquilo. No como entonces. Aquel día su joven corazón había empezado a latir velozmente, como enloquecido. Aquel día donde le rompió la cara a ese señor…
_Tiempo después…_
-¡Ciento doce!- Solo quedaba Anthony y Chino. -¡Ciento trece!- Anthony desciende, siente que le escuecen los ojos. Algunas gotas de sudor le resbalaban por las sienes y se rompen entre las pestañas, derramándose como un molesto colirio. Cierra los ojos, siente los hombros doloridos, los brazos hinchados, las venas latiendo, empuja hacia delante y, lentamente, asciende de nuevo. -¡Ciento catorce!- Anthony y Chino bajan veloces, frenando solo al final de la flexión, luego vuelven a subir deprisa, como si hubieran encontrando nuevas fuerzas, nuevas energías. Ser el único en llegar en la meta. O el primero o nada. -¡Ciento quince!- Vuelven a bajar. El ritmo aumenta. -¡Ciento dieciséis!- Uno tras otro, se limita a pronunciar solo los números. Rápido. Esperando a que estén arriba para dar el sucesivo. -¡Ciento diecisiete!- Y de nuevo abajo. -¡Ciento dieciocho!- Anthony aumenta todavía, resoplando. -¡Ciento diecinueve!- Baja y, de nuevo, sube, sin detenerse. Chino lo sigue, esforzándose, gimiendo, enrojeciendo más y más. -¡Ciento veinte, ciento veintiuno! ¡Increíble!- Todos han dejado de hablar. Abajo reina el silencio de los grandes momentos. -¡Ciento veintidós!- Sola el sonido del viento se escucha. –Ciento veintitrés…-
Luego el Chino se para a la mitad, empieza a chillar, como si algo dentro de él lo estuviera desgarrando. El rubio, desde lo alto de su flexión, lo mira. El Chino se ha quedado como bloqueado. Tiembla y jadea gritando, pero sus brazos hacen caso omiso, han dejado de escucharlo. Entonces grita por última vez, como una bestia herida a la que arrancan un trozo de carne. Poco a poco, empieza a bajar. Ha perdido. De abajo se eleva un grito. Alguien destapa una cerveza.
-¡Siiiiii! ¡Aquí tenemos al nuevo ganador, ''A''!- Anthony baja de la marquesina, adolorido, se lleva una mano detrás de su espalda y grita de dolor pero de entusiasmo. Ahí donde no ha llegado su fuerza, llega su voluntad. De repente llega el ''Informador'' y reúne a sus amigos y les informa de que hay una fiesta privada en algún lugar.
-Chicos, me han dicho que hay una fiesta privada en una casita de ricos.-
-Pero no nos dejaran entrar.-
-Conozco a una que está en esa fiesta.-
-¿Y quién es?
-Francesca.-
-Entonces, ¿que esperamos? ¡Vamos!-
Riéndose, reducen casi todos al mismo tiempo. Frenando y haciendo chillas las ruedas de sus motos, giran a la izquierda. Algunos no más van a aquella fiesta, que no saben aún, dos de entre ellos, encontraran el amor…
* * *
Lo hice rápido para ustedes queridas lectoras, como solo subí el prólogo, aquí está el primer capítulo de esta hermosa historia. Espero subir el otro capítulo la próxima semana. En el otro capítulo habrá más acción más romance n_n. Espero que les haya gustado. Muchas gracias por sus reviews :D
**Val rod**: Al principio pensé que tal vez no, tal vez sí. Como no es lo que nos acostumbramos a leer sobre Anthony pero pensé que salir de la costumbre no sería mal y entonces me atreví. No sé si al fin va a salir como lo espere pero eso sí, será lindo :) Gracias por tu reviews.
**Rose Granchester**: ¡Deberías de ver la película! Hehe y como ves no me tarde ;) Gracias por tu reviews.
**Alejandra**: Lo comprendo, a mí también al principio me dije que no porque el personaje no representa a nuestro Anthony de siempre. Pero me atreví a verlo de otra manera pero veras yo encuentro que el personaje de la película no es malo sino que fue decepcionado a causa de alguien que era muy importante para él, ya sabes de que hablo y no quiero decir más sino todos lo van a saber ;) Gracias por tu reviews.
**LizCarter**: Yo tampoco de Terry :/ Mira la película, de verdad que cuando la vi…wow…simplemente hermoso y las frases de la peli nos hacen reflexionar. Así que es por la imagen hehe xD Te recomiendo que si te gusta la película lee mi fic ;) Gracias por tu reviews.
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| fanfiction |
fanfiction |
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STATION
Screenplay
by
Jeff Vintar
Based on the Boom! Studios comic
by
Johanna Stokes and Leno Carvalho
Third Draft
December 2010FADE IN:
EXT. EARTH ORBIT -- DAY
The INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION hangs in the cold, dark void.
The original modules are a motley collection of habitats,
constructed over time by fifteen countries, strung together
for survival and exploration at the edge of the new frontier.
It is covered in a layer of cosmic dust. The SOYUZ ESCAPE
VESSEL looks ancient, a relic from the dawn of the space age.
RUSSIAN VOICE
So how is life on Station?
There is another ship docked at the outpost, but this one
looks sleek and high-tech. It is the NEXT-GENERATION CREW
VEHICLE, our replacement for the retired space shuttle fleet.
Emblazoned on the glossy hull is a LOGO of a private company.
AMERICAN VOICE
Feels like home.
A recently-constructed HABITAT RING rotates around the
central core of the familiar station, slowly, elegantly, its
cutting-edge modules reflecting the intense un-Earthly light.
Far below, our planet is revealed in all its glory as CLOUDS,
OCEANS, and CONTINENTS rush past... beautiful and terrifying.
RUSSIAN VOICE
Yes. That may be the most
incredible thing of all.
A COSMONAUT in an advanced SPACESUIT is perched on the end of
a ROBOTIC ARM working an EXPERIMENT ARRAY, its impressive
arrangement of cameras and probes pointed at the universe and
CUT TO:
INT. ZERO-G LAB -- DAY
A MICRO-GRAVITY GLOVEBOX sits inside a crowded laboratory as
an ASTRONAUT in a simple jumpsuit FLOATS into view. Her hair
billows in zero-g. She slips her hands into the experiment
box and grasps the TEST TUBES on the other side of the glass.
RUSSIAN VOICE
You told us how you came here
... but not why. What drives
you, my friend?CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
The brain center is filled with sleek control screens
displaying live images or graphics. The artificial gravity
here allows a middle-aged Russian COSMONAUT, a European
ASTRONAUT, and a Chinese TAIKONAUT to move about normally and
AMERICAN VOICE
I guess I wanted to test
myself... in a way I could
never be tested on Earth.
CUT TO:
INT. A SMALL NODE -- DAY
Two members of the crew are sitting on the floor inside a
small connective node...like two regular Joes taking a break.
JOHN DYSON is an American first-timer. NICOLAY GIDZENKO is a
big bear of a Russian who has spent a great many days in
orbit. He drinks vodka from a FLASK, and passes it to Dyson:
NICOLAY
It is not a trivial thing to
learn what kind of man you
are. I was average back home
... not a bad citizen, but
no one special, so I wondered,
can I be something more here?
It is a question asked with
much peril, my friend, because
we may discover that in fact
we are not great men; or,
having achieved some measure
of greatness in space, we may
return to Earth and find that
we are once again ordinary.
They can hear someone APPROACHING. Dyson hands the flask to
Nicolay, who hides the alcohol from view, lowering his voice.
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
We are all tested on Station.
DOCTOR KAREN SHEPHERD appears in the hatch. She is beautiful
and brilliant, but irritated--
KAREN
Okay, which one of you has
been messing with my pack?
I’m missing a hypo -- and I
don’t have enough as it is.2.Dyson and Nicolay share a look, like they don’t know a thing.
DYSON
Wasn’t us, doc, we promise--
The doctor nods, and moves on.
Nicolay takes one more swig from the flask, then rises to his
feet. He’s wearing jogging shorts that are a size too small.
NICOLAY
Time to run. Get my oxygen
flowing before the big spacewalk
--our life-support system is
acting up again.
DYSON
Serious?
NICOLAY
Like everything here, it will
become serious...if we do not
take care.
He glances at Dyson to say good-bye, and then sees something.
The Russian sounds concerned--
NICOLAY
You are bleeding.
There is a patch of BLOOD on the American’s chest. Dyson
looks down in surprise and touches the cloth of his jumpsuit.
He stares at the wet blood on his fingertips, as if trying to
determine what this means and
A FRESH DROP OF BLOOD splatters on the open palm of his hand.
The blood isn’t coming from Dyson at all, but from somewhere
else, directly above them and
Dyson and Nicolay look up at the same time and we see an OPEN
HATCH in the ceiling. A ladder set in the wall extends
through the opening, the end lost in the enveloping darkness.
Dyson and Nicolay share a look. They both begin to climb and
INT. IN A TUNNEL -- DAY
DYSON and NICOLAY climb quickly through the tunnel. Soon the
gravity fades away and their legs are FLOATING out behind
them. They pull themselves along the ladder even faster now.3.INT. OLD SECTION -- DAY
DYSON and NICOLAY emerge from the tunnel, drift across the
open space, and reach out for a hand-hold to stop themselves.
They are inside the oldest modules of the space station with
no real up or down, every square inch covered in tools, spare
parts, junk, and personal effects laid on top of one another.
It’s more like an old submarine now. The hull REVERBERATES--
NICOLAY
Zdrah-stvooy!
They listen to his voice ECHO.
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
Hello?
Dyson wants to continue on. Nicolay reaches out to stop him.
A perfect SPHERE OF BLOOD emerges from the darkness floating
right down the center of the old station. Dyson and Nicolay
watch it slowly drift past and
They push off down the module.
Dyson and Nicolay float through some CLOTHES hung out to dry,
strangely stiff in the zero-g.
DYSON’S AND NICOLAY’S P.O.V. They sail blindly through rows
of clothing, finally making their way out the other side and
Dyson and Nicolay enter a node and reach out to stop. There
are several routes they can take from here. Dyson looks up
into an airlock with rows of spacesuits lining the perimeter.
Nicolay stares directly below through a space leading to the
interior of that Soyuz vessel.
Suddenly another droplet of blood SPLATTERS against a hatch--
DYSON
This way.
Dyson and Nicolay immediately push on in that direction using
the walls to propel themselves FASTER, recklessly FASTER and
DYSON’S AND NICOLAY’S P.O.V. Directly ahead is the interior
of the commercial spacecraft, clearly a dead-end, forcing a
turn to the left or the right.
Nicolay gets there first, grabs the bulkhead and goes left.
Dyson pushes toward the right.4.He sails down a dark passage. Dyson turns another corner and
DYSON’S P.O.V. Directly in front of Dyson, a DEAD ASTRONAUT
rotates around to reveal his lifeless face, mouth open in a
silent scream, hands reaching out for Dyson, more BLOOD
floating away from the body. A NAME TAG reads “ Cdr. Sutton.”
Dyson looks horrified. And can’t stop his forward momentum--
Dyson flails helplessly in the zero-gravity, RELEASING A YELL
as he smashes into the body and
For several long moments, they are horribly entangled. Then
Dyson pushes the dead man away.
The corpse of the astronaut TUMBLES OFF toward the other end
of the module, stiff and lifeless, like a grisly toy soldier.
Dyson tries to stop himself but just scatters the FLOATING
DEBRIS. He finds a hand-hold and grabs on as Nicolay enters
and sees the body. The Russian hurriedly works the INTERCOM:
NICOLAY
Help! We need help--
CUT TO:
WHITE TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND:
STATION
CUT TO:
EXT. IN EARTH ORBIT -- DAY
The private spacecraft DESTINY sails above a big blue EARTH--
CUT TO:
WHITE TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND:
3 DAYS AGO
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
The man we saw dead above, COMMANDER SUTTON, reaches for a
CHECKLIST floating in the air, and makes a notation with a
PEN. He doesn’t look out the window but knows just the same:
SUTTON
If you want a picture, now’s
the time.5.A CAMERA with an oversized lens SNAPS pictures at a furious
rate. DOCTOR KAREN SHEPHERD leans her head to the side so
she can see with the naked eye.
Through the window, we watch the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
move into view, the largest structure ever built off planet.
The doctor shoots the exterior when something catches her
eye. She points the lens in a new direction and SNAPS once--
The view from the horizon window reveals the EARTH FAR BELOW.
KAREN
220 miles doesn’t seem that far
--until you’re looking down.
Italian astronaut LUDOVICO CASTROGIOVANNI floats up beside
Karen holding a hand-held LASER. He fires it at the station.
Immediately their distance from the docking bay and orbital
attitude UPDATE on the computer read-outs inside the cockpit.
PILOT JOHN DYSON sees the data.
He moves the JOYSTICK up and down, left and right, CORRECTION
BURNS reverberating through the hull of the space capsule and
SUTTON
(into his mike)
The crew would like to thank
our pilot, Mr. John Dyson, for
a smooth ride aboard the first
privately-owned and operated
spaceship contracted to launch
America into orbit.
Now we see that the commander has written this down on PAPER.
There is a short pause before--
SUTTON (CONT’D)
(with an edge)
Give the man a raise.
Dyson looks a little surprised that Sutton attempted a joke,
but otherwise the crew doesn’t react much, clearly expecting
some kind of speech now. The commander flips the paper over.
SUTTON (CONT’D)
As we pause to recognize our
new beginning, we realize too
that this is an ending...the
last scheduled flight of an
American ship to the Interna-
tional Space Station. Let’s
make it a good one, people--6.Commander Sutton looks relieved when it’s over. He turns to
Dyson, wonders if their pilot is ready for this, and decides.
SUTTON
This is Destiny executing
final approach.
CUT TO:
INT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
Russian COMMANDER TESSLOFF walks through the service module
past a porthole. Outside we see the universe spinning madly.
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Station copies. We are ready.
He scans the sleek display screens in the new habitat ring as
Chinese astronaut CHEN JIN performs a few quick calculations:
CHEN
Orbiter is twenty feet out
moving at one-tenth of a foot
per second.
Commander Tessloff rubs the scars on his bald head. He looks
at flight engineer ANA KOTOV, seated at a computer. She is a
young but tough Russian woman, foul mood evident on her face.
TESSLOFF
(in Russian, with
English subtitles)
Comrade, you will play nice
with our friends, yes?
(short pause)
In ten days they leave for
good--and we will still be
here.
CUT TO:
INT. DOCKING MODULE -- DAY
Russian science office NICOLAY GIDZENKO floats in zero-g and
observes from a small porthole.
Outside, the DESTINY spacecraft grows larger as it approaches
the docking bay. In seconds it blocks even the Earth itself.
Nicolay looks excited by the new arrivals. He wiggles his
fingers at them, smiling wide--
CUT TO:7.INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
DYSON watches the CROSS-HAIRS. He performs more CORRECTION
BURNS as LUD studies the GRAPHIC illustrating their approach.
LUD
Twelve feet.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
DESTINY closes on the DOCKING PORT of the station as cloud
formations reveal oceans and continents ROLLING beneath them,
SUNLIGHT reflecting off the hull, a whole universe moving and
LUD’S VOICE
Five feet out.
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
DYSON watches the cross-hairs.
LUD’S VOICE
One foot.
Silence as more seconds pass. Finally COMMANDER SUTTON adds:
SUTTON
Remember, kid, if we’re off by
more than two inches, we crash.
Dyson works the stick, enjoying it now, and there is a GENTLE
NUDGE as they dock. KAREN and LUD share a look, impressed...
SUTTON
(into his mike)
Houston and Station -- capture
confirmed.
CUT TO:
INT. DOCKING MODULE -- DAY
NICOLAY triggers DOCKING CLAMPS that slam into place with a
deafening BANG BANG BANG BANG.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF listens to the voice from mission control.8.MISSION CONTROL
This is Houston on the big loop
...capture confirmed.
Tessloff gestures at ANA and CHEN. They start for the hatch.
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
The CREW takes a moment to relax. They see NICOLAY inside of
the station, staring out at them through that small porthole:
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
Like a gentle kiss-- Welcome
to Station!
CUT TO:
INT. DOCKING MODULE -- DAY
CAMERA MOVES through a passage, rotating a bit in the zero-g,
and now a HATCH OPENS up ahead revealing COMMANDER TESSLOFF,
ANA, CHEN, and NICOLAY floating inside of the space station.
Tessloff reaches toward us and
COMMANDER SUTTON takes his hand and is pulled inside. KAREN
comes through next, followed by LUD, everyone embracing with:
THE CREW
Nice to see you... Glad to be
back... How was your vacation?
... You guys look great... That
is a big lie... Permission to
come aboard... Granted--
DYSON pulls himself through the open hatch, looking uncertain
without gravity. Immediately Nicolay gets him in a bear hug.
NICOLAY
(to the group)
Where is the vodka you promised?!
His LAUGHTER is contagious as the assembled crew continues to
exchange handshakes and back slaps, one big happy family and
CUT TO:
INT. A STATION TOUR -- DAY
CAMERA MOVES over the controls of the Destiny capsule and we
see DYSON in the pilot seat, making his way through a post-
flight CHECKLIST. He flips through a set of toggle switches.9.We pass through the cramped interior toward an open hatch and
enter the station to find ANA suspended in midair, surrounded
by slowly tumbling CARGO. She gently tosses a container and
we follow the box as it FLOATS down the center of the module.
The cargo drifts past an opening and we start up the passage,
moving along a row of rungs built into the side, and catching
up to LUD. He sails feet-first toward the end of the tunnel.
Lud reaches out to grab the passing ladder, and the TOOL BELT
floating at his side gently falls into place, like gravity is
slowly kicking in. He descends the last few rungs and steps
normally into the habitat ring.
We pass through a hatch and enter an advanced laboratory to
find KAREN standing at a high-powered MICROSCOPE. She works
the settings on the scope, but doesn’t look up before we
continue toward the exit. As we are about to leave, NICOLAY
walks right in front of us, busy with his own lab experiment.
We proceed through a small node toward the service module and
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF stands in his favorite spot imperiously
watching the computer screens--
COMMANDER SUTTON hurries past, paging through their SCHEDULE.
SUTTON
Let’s get the crew prepped for
tomorrow’s spacewalk.
The Russian lets him take a few more steps before responding:
TESSLOFF
I am sorry, but my people
cannot drop everything they are
doing to fit your needs--
Sutton stops at the hatch and turns around, realizing he may
have an unexpected problem up here. Slowly he walks back
across the module toward Tessloff, who now moves to face him.
SUTTON
You and I never had a problem
staying on schedule before...
TESSLOFF
Always in the past we followed
the American timeline. Perhaps
it is your turn to wait?10.SUTTON
(challenging)
When was this decided?
TESSLOFF
At the moment your government
chose to abandon Station--
Neither of them backs away from the other. Sutton opens his
mouth to respond when he sees CHEN standing at the far end of
the module, watching them, and
SUTTON
(thru clenched teeth)
Will you excuse us?
Chen doesn’t move for a second, as if hoping the request will
go away. Then he just turns and walks out through the hatch.
INT. A SMALL NODE -- DAY
CHEN steps out of the module, and the hatch SHUTS behind him.
Chen stands there in his Chinese jumpsuit looking odd and
stiff as he listens to the MUFFLED VOICES of the American and
Russian commanders yelling. He catches a word now and then--
Chen is still staring at the hatch when LUD enters, arms full
of SPARE PARTS. Lud sees the sealed module and acts curious.
CHEN
(explaining)
The superpowers are fighting.
LUD
Who’s winning?
Chen sees no good reason to lie, and responds very sincerely.
CHEN
China.
Now he turns and EXITS the node. Lud just watches him go and
CUT TO:
INT. LUD WORKS -- MONTAGE
LUD repairs something, we don’t know what, but his passion
promises great things. He wields enormous lengths of DUCT
TAPE, bends BAILING WIRE, moves TANKS, PUMPS, and other
assemblies into position, wrestles with uncooperative HOSES-- 11.INT. SUPPLY MODULE -- DAY
LUD is heavy with sweat when he steps back to admire his work
... and bumps into COMMANDER TESSLOFF, who has been watching.
LUD
You should have told us this
was broken. We didn’t bring
the right parts.
TESSLOFF
If Russia ordered a million-
dollar part every time Station
went on the fritz, we would be
going home to stay like the
capitalists.
Tessloff approaches the JURY-RIGGED REPAIR JOB. Things that
don’t naturally fit together have been made to fit with tape
and wire, and a web of hoses--
The commander hits a wall SWITCH to trigger the mechanism and
The apparatus seems to protest, just for a moment, and then
the module around them HUMS like a smooth-running sports car.
TESSLOFF
The universe wants to crush
the walls, suck the air from
our lungs, and squeeze the
eyes out of our sockets...
but with you here, Italy, we
will keep our guts inside--
where they belong!
Tessloff SLAPS him on the back, happy now, and quickly EXITS.
Lud is holding a roll of DUCT TAPE in one hand and a spool of
BAILING WIRE in the other. Now he brings them up to his lips
...and gives them both a kiss.
CUT TO:
INT. A SMALL NODE -- DAY
LUD enters carrying more HOSES when he sees ANA at work. He
alters course and moves up beside her, turning on the charm--
LUD
Ciao bella, mi piaci di
brutto!
Ana keeps working, not missing a beat. Either she’s ignoring
him, or doesn’t speak Italian.12.LUD (CONT’D)
My name is Ludovico , but you
can call me--
A jogging NICOLAY plows into the surprised Lud, and knocks
him hard against the bulkhead:
NICOLAY
(threateningly)
Ana is like my little sister
...stay away from her.
Lud reacts to the painful surprise, staring up at an imposing
Nicolay, whose face almost immediately fills with good cheer.
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
This is for your own safety.
You are making sweet-talk to
a Siberian Wolverine!
Lud turns his head a little to look at Ana. She stares back
at him. Nicolay has a point--
Nicolay pats Lud on the cheek, as if everything is all right.
He turns abruptly and jogs on.
INT. THRU THE RING -- DAY
We follow NICOLAY as he jogs away from Lud through the LOCKER
ROOM, picking up speed in the SLEEPING QUARTERS with its row
of bunks, and into the large GALLEY where Karen off screen
calls, “Nicolay!” He waves. His jogging outfit is a size
too small, or maybe it’s his bear of a body. Nicolay runs
faster and faster. Soon all we can hear is his BREATHING and
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
The breathing ECHOES. NICOLAY is inside his next-generation
SPACESUIT perched at the end of a large ROBOTIC ARM. He uses
an AUTOMATIC SCREWDRIVER to attach a new COMMUNICATIONS DISH.
CLOSE-UP of the last SCREW going in. Suddenly the SCREW BIT
SNAPS OFF and tumbles madly end-over-end toward the darkness.
Nicolay sees it floating away and his BREATHING accelerates--
NICOLAY’S P.O.V. His breathing is even LOUDER inside of the
spacesuit. The glass of his helmet visor is starting to FOG.
Just as it appears to escape, Nicolay’s thick spacesuit GLOVE 13.closes around the screw bit--
NICOLAY
New American communication
dish is good, but next time we
use a Russian screwdriver.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER SUTTON and COMMANDER TESSLOFF stand close together,
as if fighting for that spot.
SUTTON AND TESSLOFF
(in unison)
Copy that.
LUD and CHEN immediately stop what they’re doing and turn to
watch how this plays out. Tessloff is keenly aware of the
eyes on him, and grudgingly avoids a confrontation, stepping
back so the American can say:
SUTTON
(into his mike)
You about done out there?
ON THE SCREENS. NICOLAY moves closer to a nearby camera and
gives the crew a “thumbs up.”
NICOLAY
Bring me inside, and no bumps,
please!
Commander Sutton nods to ANA, stationed at a CONTROL PANEL
that operates the robotic arm. She gets right to work.
DYSON stands behind Ana and watches. He is interested but
gets too close. Ana gives him a look that says back-off and
CLOSE-UP of her HANDS expertly manipulating a small JOYSTICK.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
NICOLAY stares out through his helmet and HUMS a Russian tune
to himself -- the space station REFLECTED in his visor -- as
the robotic arm carries him in a gentle arc through space and
CUT TO:
INT. SMALL AIRLOCK -- DAY
NICOLAY stands inside the airlock, waiting patiently as DYSON 14.and ANA float around him opening the airtight seals of his
spacesuit. Dyson removes the helmet. Nicolay considers him:
NICOLAY
Thank you, private industry
guy. So do you bill me for
this service?
Dyson keeps working the suit.
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
Can I use my debit card?
Maybe sign the invoice now
and pay later!
Nicolay is obviously amused and never going to stop. Dyson
floats in front of the Russian, about to say something back--
ANA (O.S.)
Poshol ty kuda podal’she!
Nicolay and Dyson both turn to look. Ana is already floating
toward the hatch and quickly disappears into the next module.
DYSON
What’s with her?
NICOLAY
Ana is not...comfortable...
with civilians on board. To
her you are bad luck .
DYSON
You don’t believe that--
Nicolay hoists the torso of his spacesuit up over his head,
and Dyson helps. It drifts harmlessly. Nicolay is wearing a
form-fitting cooling UNDERGARMENT. He disconnects the tubes.
NICOLAY
(thoughtfully)
There was a time when I had
many superstitions. Space is
vast, and we are so small...
how can God find us all alone
in the dark? Then I realized
He will see us easily.
He rises from the spacesuit legs and floats toward the hatch.
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
We are already in the heavens!
Dyson watches Nicolay exit and15.CUT TO:
INT. MEDICAL LAB -- DAY
DYSON sits on the edge of the long examination table staring
at the doctor’s nice rear-end. KAREN peers into the eyepiece
of her high-powered MICROSCOPE and adjusts the controls with:
KAREN
Eyes front, Dyson...
Dyson turns his head away, looking totally busted. Karen
writes fast on the label of a TEST TUBE and stores it with
some others in a SAMPLE RACK.
KAREN
You’re being pelted by five
thousand exotic particles--
DYSON
I am?
KAREN
We all are, all of the time,
as soon as we leave Earth’s
atmosphere.
Dyson doesn’t like the sound of that. He watches Karen as
she retrieves her MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS and walks to the table.
KAREN (CONT’D)
Aside from collisions on the
retina--the light flashes we
sometimes see--most of these
impacts go unnoticed, but cause
damage on the cellular level.
DYSON
So, we’re dying?
NICOLAY enters wearing his own white LAB COAT. He chimes in.
NICOLAY
The doctor keeps us going so
we may endure her tortures,
and through our suffering, the
people back home may one day
live longer better lives....
He moves to that sample rack, places the test tubes into a
SHAKER, and hits the button. It VIBRATES madly. Nicolay
walks back out adding evilly:
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
Fear her mad genius!16.Karen takes Dyson’s chin, and turns his face toward her. She
looks deep into his eyes and:
KAREN
How are you feeling up here
--any dizziness or nausea?
Before he can answer, the doctor shoves a STICK in his mouth.
DYSON
(distorted)
Uh-uh.
KAREN
No, you’re very... healthy,
aren’t you?
Karen removes the stick and looks at Dyson, but not like a
doctor. Like a woman. She inches closer. Dyson thinks this
is the best examination ever. He’s completely distracted and
SHE STICKS HIM WITH A NEEDLE.
KAREN
Exam’s over. You’re fine--
The doctor returns to her beloved microscope. She holds
several SLIDES up to the light, picks one and slips it into
place, her patient forgotten.
Dyson gets up off the table, rubs his arm, and EXITS the lab.
Karen displays no reaction as NICOLAY RE-ENTERS and walks
back to his shaker, hitting the button. The test tubes STOP
their furious vibration. He begins to remove the samples and
Karen raises her head from the microscope, thinks a second,
and makes a decision. The doctor reaches into a FILE and
pulls out one single SHEET OF PAPER filled with obscure data.
KAREN
Nicolay... this is our third
flight together. We share a lab
but have we ever just talked?
Nicolay glances at the doctor, then does a double-take when
he sees the look on her face. Karen slowly crosses the room:
KAREN (CONT’D)
Thanks to short-sighted budget
cuts and an indifferent public,
I have little more than a week
to complete my life’s work.
She stands very close to him.17.KAREN (CONT’D)
How would you like to unoffi-
cially look at chromosomal
structures with me? Consider
it our last dance.
NICOLAY
Unofficially, you are rocking
my world--
Nicolay takes the offered page, scans it, and visibly reacts.
NICOLAY
What are you up to?
Karen walks back to that microscope. Finally, she just says:
KAREN
Since we’re in outer space
...let’s call it a shot in
the dark.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
KAREN walks a short distance, stops, and CLEARS HER THROAT.
LUD drags himself out of a repair SHAFT and offers his arm.
The doctor injects him with a HYPODERMIC SYRINGE. He jerks--
KAREN
There you go, tough guy.
Lud jerks again when she pulls it out. The doctor leaves him
standing there grimacing, and walks across the module to ANA.
KAREN
Your turn.
Ana just stares back like she doesn’t know a word of English.
Karen holds up another SYRINGE, but the Russian woman quickly
reaches out and grabs her wrist. Ana pulls the needle from
the stunned doctor’s fingers.
Karen has one long moment to wonder what in the hell this
crazy woman’s going to do and
Ana looks directly at Karen as she STICKS HERSELF IN THE ARM.
If it hurts, she doesn’t show it. Ana yanks out the hypo and
hands it back to the doctor--18.CUT TO:
INT. A LOCKER ROOM -- DAY
With perfect timing ANA rinses the SOAP from her body as the
shower BUZZES warnings and the water automatically SHUTS OFF.
Ana steps out and quickly dries herself, tossing the TOWEL as
she moves to a sink. A nude Ana brushes her teeth, stopping
to SPIT, brushing more and stopping to SPIT. She walks away.
Now we see DYSON standing like a statue one sink over, frozen
in the middle of SHAVING and
INT. CREW QUARTERS -- DAY
ANA walks past the bunks. The sleeping areas have all been
personalized with PICTURES AND MEMENTOS from home. She pulls
back the blanket of her bunk, drops down, and yanks it back
in place. Her area is devoid of personal items save for one
tiny photo of a BLEAK RUSSIAN LANDSCAPE. Ana shuts her eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. CARGO HOLD -- MONTAGE
ANA sails through the air with an OVERSIZED CONTAINER that
must weigh over 100 pounds. She maneuvers around and between
SMALLER CONTAINERS, working their rope and tackle RIGGINGS.
Ana performs a perfect somersault and kicks off the wall,
navigating the module with CARGO TUMBLING every which way and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER SUTTON and COMMANDER TESSLOFF sit a distance apart
watching the live feed of ANA working inside the cargo hold--
SUTTON
Jesus. How long has she been up
here now?
TESSLOFF
287 days.
SUTTON
(impressed)
Longer than what’s-her-name--
TESSLOFF
Last record for a woman was 195.19.Tessloff is eating some CHIPS, as if he’s watching a TV show.
SUTTON
Any chance she wants to defect?
TESSLOFF
That would never work. Your
country does not know how to
curse properly.
Ana floats off the edge of a screen and reappears on another.
TESSLOFF (CONT’D)
But I tell you, there is no
one you would rather have at your
side -- what is the phrase?
SUTTON
In a jam.
Commander Tessloff glances at his American counterpart and
offers him the bag of chips, a peace offering between two men
who knock heads but never lose their respect for one another.
TESSLOFF
In a jam, exactly.
Commander Sutton looks at the bag and reaches in for a chip--
CUT TO:
INT. THE CARGO HOLD -- DAY
Everything is stowed away. ANA SAILS GRACEFULLY through the
free air of the cargo hold and
CUT TO:
INT. CHEN WORKS -- MONTAGE
CHEN runs calculations on an electronic TABLET while walking
through the ring, while seated at the dinner table a distance
from the others, even while hanging upside-down in zero-g and
CUT TO:
INT. THE SMALL NODE -- DAY
CHEN stands stiffly in front of an open LAPTOP answering the
questions posed by a reporter.
CHEN
I am pleased to be here as a
representative of my country.20.REPORTER (O.S.)
Is China using the situation
on board the station to affirm
its status as a world power?
CHEN
With our re-supply capability
and financial resources, China
is uniquely qualified to fill
the void left by the departing
Americans when they cease ISS
operations in one week’s time.
REPORTER (O.S.)
What’s the first thing you’re
going to do when you get back
home to Beijing?
For the first time Chen grins:
CHEN
Eat a Big Mac, dude.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
CHEN holds onto his console as the entire station SHAKES to
the sound of THRUSTERS FIRING. DYSON hurries into the module
to help during this emergency.
DYSON
What the--
Dyson looks surprised to find COMMANDER TESSLOFF stifling a
YAWN. Suddenly the noise and the shaking comes to a STOP and
MISSION CONTROL
Reboost complete and orbit
is good.
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Thank you. Station out...
DYSON
You do that a lot?
Tessloff shakes his head to reassure him, then casually adds:
TESSLOFF
Only when we begin to fall
out of the sky.21.Dyson watches the Russian commander stroll away. He sees
Chen working at the console--
DYSON
How often do we fire the aft
thrusters?
Chen doesn’t respond. Dyson steps toward him thinking aloud.
DYSON (CONT’D)
Must be a lot of drag on the
hull for the orbit to deter-
iorate like that, what is it,
three or four times a month?
(off his silence)
A week?
Chen swivels in his chair to face Dyson. He sounds calm but:
CHEN
Look...you’re the bus driver,
and until we need the bus
you’re just a guy eating our
food and breathing our
precious air. The least you
can do is not waste our time.
...and Chen swivels back around. Dyson just looks at him and
CUT TO:
INT. CREW QUARTERS -- DAY
DYSON pages through a 3-RING BINDER with a corporate logo.
He makes several notes, then senses that he is not alone.
Dyson turns to see COMMANDER SUTTON watching a distance away:
SUTTON
This is my problem with you.
By now Dyson’s used to the crew having problems with him, and
when it comes to Sutton, he doesn’t expect to see eye-to-eye.
SUTTON (CONT’D)
You came up through the air
force, trained at Edwards,
transferred to the astronaut
core...did everything right.
In return we spent a million
dollars training you -- and
then you bailed out, jumped
to the private sector, took
a better offer...22.This should be the time when Dyson tries to protest, but he
never does. He simply listens.
SUTTON (CONT’D)
So what was it, the big pay-
check? Maybe you didn’t
want to wait your turn like
everybody else. You’re a
damn good pilot, son, and
you may be the future...but
it’s not a world I want
any part of when our best
and brightest put them-
selves before their country.
Sutton gives him a last look, and then EXITS. Dyson watches
him go for a moment. Now he returns to his 3-ring binder and
CUT TO:
INT. THE GALLEY -- DAY
DYSON sits at the long dinner table and raises a SPOON to his
lips. He tastes the pasty-looking MUSH and makes a face as
COMMANDER TESSLOFF loudly says:
TESSLOFF
Russian cosmonauts are ruled
by tradition. When we ride
to the launch pad we get out
and make water on the rear
wheel, just as did the first
man in space--Yuri Gagarin--
God rest his soul!
LUD chews his food and leans over to KAREN seated beside him.
LUD
And so Russia raises a leg
and marks its territory on
Station...
COMMANDER SUTTON turns to ANA eating in silence. He wonders:
SUTTON
You pee on the tire too?
ANA
(grudgingly)
On the side of road, nearby.
That makes Dyson and Karen stop chewing and look at her, like
they can’t believe their ears.23.KAREN
Did she just--
DYSON
(finishing
for her)
English, yeah.
Sutton reaches into his pocket for a small worn PHOTOGRAPH,
holding it out so Ana can see.
SUTTON
Of all the journeys I’ve taken,
the one I started with my wife
is still the best. This being
our last trip to Station makes
it a good time to retire...and
then I’m all hers.
Commander Tessloff overhears him. Sends out an olive branch:
TESSLOFF
You are a lucky man, comrade.
I say this as one who carries
no such photo in his pocket--
He grows emotional very quickly and can’t find the words to
continue. Nicolay recognizes this and hurries to his rescue.
NICOLAY
Commander Tessloff does have
a mistress...she is here all
around us.
TESSLOFF
That is truer than you know--
I cannot stay on Earth, not
for long before Station calls
to me. Always I find myself
fighting to get back.
NICOLAY
(jovially)
They will have to drag us out
of here kicking and screaming.
Tessloff reaches for Nicolay and lays a hand on his shoulder.
TESSLOFF
You live and breathe space
like no one I have ever known.
You make the homeland proud.
Nicolay accepts that with a grateful gesture. Soon his eyes 24.focus on Dyson, and he asks:
NICOLAY
So what are you, John Dyson
--test pilot or businessman?
KAREN
(a little bitter)
Someone has to figure out
where to put all the bill-
boards.
There is some scattered LAUGHTER. Dyson looks around the
table, and makes a decision.
The laughter and the talking dies quickly after Dyson begins:
DYSON
I dreamed of riding a rocket
since I was a kid. With the
yearly cut-backs and the
shuttle program ending there
was nothing left to fly but
a simulator. Private sector
gave me a ticket to ride...
and I took it.
Dyson and Commander Sutton share a look across the table and:
DYSON (CONT’D)
The American manned space
program is dead. We just haven’t
buried the corpse yet.
That brings the dinner conversation to a halt. Everyone
watches as Sutton slowly rises from his seat, and looks over
the crew. He reaches down to the table and lifts up a GLASS.
SUTTON
If this is the end of an era,
then let’s remember to toast
how far we’ve come. From the
very beginning we called our
voyages here not missions,
but expeditions... because
Station is not a thing -- not
this metal around us. Every-
one who visited here knows
that Station is a place...an
outpost fighting for survival
at the edge of a new frontier.
No one at the table escapes the effect of his words, not even 25.CHEN. Sutton grows more confident with every passing second.
SUTTON (CONT’D)
We came to this place because
here we found the best part of
ourselves. What we can be when
we work together as one world.
Station showed us how to live
in space longer, better -- and
with each other.
Tessloff darts to his feet. The rest of the crew is a second
behind with GLASSES held high.
THE CREW
(in unison)
To Station!
Everybody downs their drinks--
CUT TO:
INT. A SMALL NODE -- DAY
KAREN walks quickly through the ring, acting irritated, as if
searching for something. She peeks through a hatch to find
DYSON AND NICOLAY sitting together on the floor of a node and
KAREN
Okay, which one of you has
been messing with my pack?
I’m missing a hypo -- and I
don’t have enough as it is.
DYSON
Wasn’t us, doc, we promise--
The doctor nods and moves on. Nicolay pulls his vodka FLASK
from its place of concealment, takes one last swig, then gets
to his feet. He’s wearing his familiar tight jogging shorts.
NICOLAY
Time to run. Get my oxygen
flowing before the big spacewalk
--our life-support system is
acting up again.
DYSON
Serious?
NICOLAY
Like everything here, it will
become serious...if we do not
take care.26.He glances at Dyson to say good-bye, and then sees something:
NICOLAY
You are bleeding.
There is a spot of BLOOD now visible on Dyson’s chest. Dyson
looks down in surprise and touches the cloth of his jumpsuit.
He stares at the wet blood on his fingertips, as if trying to
determine what this means and
A FRESH DROP OF BLOOD splatters on the open palm of his hand.
Dyson and Nicolay look up at the same time and we see an OPEN
HATCH in the ceiling. A ladder set in the wall extends
through the opening, the end lost in the enveloping darkness.
Dyson and Nicolay share a look. They both begin to climb and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
THE BODY OF COMMANDER SUTTON lies on a STRETCHER being moved
through the station. We get a good look at his dead face
before someone places a CREW JACKET over his head and torso--
DYSON is at the front of the stretcher looking shell-shocked.
A solemn NICOLAY has the rear.
CAMERA PANS the faces of KAREN, COMMANDER TESSLOFF, ANA, LUD,
and CHEN as they watch the body slowly pass, each of them
reacting in their individual way, some more stoic than others
but all shaken by the tragedy.
Dyson and Nicolay carry him out, and the crew follows along--
INT. THE MEDICAL LAB -- DAY
DYSON and NICOLAY bring in the STRETCHER and set it down on
the examination table. KAREN leans over to inspect the BODY.
COMMANDER TESSLOFF steps close beside her, with ANA, LUD, and
CHEN quickly gathering around.
TESSLOFF
First impressions, doctor?
KAREN
At the moment all I can tell
you for certain is he hasn’t
been dead long.27.NICOLAY
Who was the last to see him
alive?
There is a pause. No one says anything. Finally Ana offers:
ANA
He looked fine at breakfast.
DYSON
That was hours ago--
Tessloff doesn’t like the volume of his voice. Cuts in fast.
TESSLOFF
Yes, that was hours ago and
he was fine. Do you have
specific questions, doctor?
KAREN
He was just drifting when you
found him?
DYSON
We followed the blood.
KAREN
There is some discoloration of
the skin which would suggest a
generalized hypoxia.
TESSLOFF
Caused by what?
KAREN
I don’t think we’ll know the
exact cause until we get him
back to Earth.
None of the crew like the sound of that. The doctor looks
around, and sees their faces:
KAREN (CONT’D)
No one’s ever died on Station
before... and I can’t perform
an autopsy here.
ANA
(not liking that)
Pizdyozh--
KAREN
Excuse me?28.NICOLAY
Let us take it easy--
LUD
(unnerved)
We have to check the carbon
dioxide assembly.
NICOLAY
The carbon dioxide assembly
is fine.
LUD
How do you know that?
NICOLAY
Because if it was not fine
we would all be dead.
TESSLOFF
(impatiently)
If we must think, then let
us think clearly. We will
inform mission control and
wait for instructions. His
wife must be told, before
news spreads to the media.
CHEN
If I can raise a practical
question, how are we going
to store the body?
No one seems to like that much, but they can’t argue with it.
ANA
I can rig something outside.
DYSON
(clearly opposed)
Outside?
ANA
Oh, you have a better idea--
Dyson and Ana shoot daggers at each other. Tessloff ends it:
TESSLOFF
Ana will handle the problem.
Doctor, feel free to perform
whatever examination you see
fit or is possible. Nicolay,
you have a spacewalk coming.29.NICOLAY
(reluctantly)
Yes.
Tessloff makes a move to go. None of the crew looks ready to
leave, but no one says anything. Not until Dyson speaks up--
DYSON
So, that’s it?
Tessloff turns quickly, as if wanting to berate him, but he’s
keenly aware that the others are watching, and stops himself.
TESSLOFF
Station does not wait for us
to grieve.
(to everyone)
Remember why we are here, and
let us all do our jobs. This
is how we honor the memory of
the commander.
Commander Tessloff looks at the crew. His words seem enough.
Ana, Lud, and Chen follow Tessloff toward the hatch. Dyson
and Nicolay hang back a bit.
NICOLAY
He died in a place he loved
so much... may we all be so
lucky.
They stare down at the corpse. Slowly, Karen reaches out and
CLOSE-UP of Commander Sutton’s doomed stare as the doctor’s
hand slowly CLOSES HIS EYES.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- LATER
THE STATION hangs in the black of space high above the EARTH.
THE RADIO
Station...this is flight. We
understand it’s a difficult
time up there and want everyone
to know that you’re not alone.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF sits at a console wearing a sleek HEADSET.30.THE RADIO
After reviewing all options,
we agree the crew must proceed
with the scheduled repairs.
TESSLOFF
Understood--
Tessloff pulls off the headset. He just sits there. Thinks.
He hears a sudden, loud NOISE.
LUD just struck the console at which he’s standing, in anger
and frustration. He tries to get back to his work but fails.
TESSLOFF
You are relieved.
LUD
I’m all right--
TESSLOFF
(sharply)
Did I create the impression
I was asking? If so, then I
apologize.
Lud pushes away from his console, marching toward the hatch.
Tessloff watches him EXIT and
He waits a second, as if making sure Lud is gone, then turns
to the SCREEN in front of him.
Tessloff starts TYPING. Fast.
ON THE SCREEN. MULTIPLE IMAGES of the interior of the space
station begin to fill the display, strangely angled or oddly
cropped shots, clearly coming from various cameras throughout
the complex. Nothing to see--
Tessloff keeps working the keyboard, looking for the cameras
or angles that he wants. Finally his fingers STOP typing and
ON THE SCREEN. The other members of the CREW are visible,
caught by several different feeds, moving in and out of
frame. We see DYSON helping NICOLAY into a spacesuit, KAREN
examining the corpse, ANA floating past a camera, CHEN
entering data in a computer and LUD leaning against the wall.
The bald Russian is illuminated by the glow from the display,
the movement on screen creating an illusion of changing moods
and expressions. In truth, his face is stoic and unreadable.
Tessloff spies on his crew and31.CUT TO:
INT. THE AIRLOCK -- DAY
NICOLAY stands upright inside his advanced SPACESUIT secured
to the floor by MAGNETIC BOOTS. DYSON clamps down the seals.
NICOLAY
On Earth people die every day
of perfectly natural causes
... but a man like Commander
Sutton, with over 900 hours in
orbit? It bothers you, too.
Dyson and Nicolay set the HELMET in place and lock it tight--
They share a grim look. Then Dyson pushes off across the
airlock. Nicolay watches him:
NICOLAY (CONT’D)
When I get back, I will look
into it personally. That is
a promise, my friend.
Nicolay slides his visor in place and it shuts with a FSSSSH.
Dyson thinks about the Russian’s words, staring at something,
but we don’t know what until--
DYSON’S P.O.V. A coiled TETHER LINE hangs ready on the wall.
Dyson grabs the tether line, and sets it on his shoulder. He
pushes off back across the airlock to where Nicolay waits and
CUT TO:
INT. MEDICAL LAB -- DAY
The nude BODY OF COMMANDER SUTTON lies beneath a white SHEET.
KAREN holds a digital RECORDER as she examines his JUMPSUIT
and sees RIPS in the cloth, moving to the corpse as she adds:
KAREN
(into the device)
There are several tears in
the commander’s uniform. He
may have torn his jumpsuit
while he was floating free.
Karen examines the skin on Commander Sutton’s body, and finds
something that makes her stop.
She does not look surprised, not exactly, but is disturbed by32.what she sees, seconds passing as she grasps the implications
... still holding the recorder, as if about to say something.
Instead Karen CLICKS it off and
KAREN
Don’t you have work to do?
She looks over her shoulder, and we see CHEN standing inside
the hatch watching the doctor--
CHEN
Find anything?
Karen quickly pulls the SHEET back over the body of Commander
Sutton and steps away from the table, trying to sound casual.
KAREN
No.
Chen walks into the lab with his usual slightly stiff manner.
The doctor openly watches him. She slips one hand into the
pocket of her lab coat as Chen walks once around the corpse--
CHEN
Sorry that I bothered you.
... and Chen heads toward the hatch. Karen watches him EXIT.
The doctor takes her hand from the pocket, and we see the
SCALPEL she was holding. Karen sets it down. After a second
she notices BLOOD on the blade.
Karen studies the scalpel, as if not understanding, and then
looks at her hand. The doctor realizes that she CUT HERSELF.
Karen sucks on her finger a little, staring at the corpse and
CUT TO:
INT. OLD MODULES -- DAY
KAREN FLOATS out of a tunnel and into the suffocating modules
of the original station. It is disorienting in here, with no
real up or down. She grabs the nearest wall to stop herself.
The doctor looks around. Listens. She seems to be alone and
Karen pushes through the station, increasingly apprehensive
as she nears the spot where the commander’s corpse was found.
KAREN’S P.O.V. Directly ahead is the interior of the Destiny 33.spaceship, a familiar dead-end. Her HAND comes into view as
she reaches out for a hand-hold, about to turn the corner and
SOMEONE BOLTS OUT OF THE DARK hurling right past the doctor--
A startled Karen pulls back, then gets irritated as she looks
across the small node at ANA.
KAREN
What are you doing?
ANA
(giving it back)
What are you doing?
The women stare at each other a few moments longer, and then
Karen floats through the hatch. Ana decides to tag along and
INT. CRIME SCENE -- DAY
KAREN and ANA drift into the module where the body was found.
As before the air is filled with metal and plastic, hoses and
wires floating free, EVERYTHING MOVING like some weird dream.
They push through the debris.
There is an old experiment rack in the wall, one of many that
line the module, but this one has a JAGGED GAPING HOLE, like
somebody took what was in there and carelessly ripped it out.
Karen looks at it and thinks.
The hull of the station REVERBERATES like an old submarine.
Karen is unnerved by the sound, and doesn’t try to hide it
until she sees Ana watching--
The Russian takes some tiny satisfaction from her discomfort.
ANA
You are looking for something
...but it is not here.
Karen pushes further down the module. She never answers her.
With a HUM, a small beat-up FAN on the wall begins to spin.
Ana turns toward the sound...
She studies the fan a second, then looks around the module
and out through the hatch, where Ana sees MORE FANS spinning.
Very quickly she has an idea.34.Ana raises her arm and CRACKS A GLASS PANEL with her elbow,
surprisingly, almost brutally, one SHARD in particular
propelled high in the air and
KAREN
What’s wrong with you?
Now it’s Ana turn not to respond. She watches the glass, and
soon Karen grows interested--
The jagged shard rises into the path of the blowing fan and
begins to slowly DRIFT through the module, tumbling end-over-
end, riding the air currents.
But to where? Ana and Karen push off the wall and follow it.
INT. SMALL NODE -- DAY
KAREN and ANA watch the glass float out the hatch, riding a
draft. It slows down now and HOVERS in one spot. We see the
closest fans spinning furiously, working to influence the
path of the shard. Gradually the glass CHANGES DIRECTION and
starts off again, leaving the node for a different module and
Karen and Ana track the glass leading them to places unknown.
INT. OLD MODULES -- DAY
KAREN and ANA follow the SHARD to an area filled with large
pipes spreading out in every direction. This place looks
like the darkest, ugliest, least-used corner of the station--
KAREN
How often do the ventilation
fans come on? What do we do
if they stop? How do you know
this is leading us anywhere?
ANA
To be honest, I do not know...
we could be wasting our time.
The doctor looks at her, surprised. Ana always appears so
confident. Karen wonders if she should say more and decides:
KAREN
I saw something on the body--
Ana stops her forward momentum, like she found something too.35.ANA
A puncture wound made by a
hypodermic syringe.
KAREN
How can you know that?
ANA
(ominously)
Because we have just found
the needle.
Ana inserts her hand between the pipes to an AIR VENT where
the shard has come to rest beside a used HYPODERMIC SYRINGE
stuck up against the grill and
She brings the needle close. Karen extends her hand to take
possession, but Ana holds it just out of the doctor’s reach--
ANA
The last time I saw something
like this, you were trying to
stick me with it.
KAREN
It’s one of mine. And it was
stolen.
ANA
That is convenient.
KAREN
Not as convenient as you lead-
ing me right to it.
The two women watch each other, realizing that they are both
suspicious, and then Ana nods.
ANA
(ending it)
Da.
She holds the syringe out for the doctor, who takes a sniff--
KAREN
There are drops in here...
maybe water, and something
else, odorless--
ANA
Looks like nitrogen.
Karen can’t hide her reaction.36.ANA (CONT’D)
It means something?
The doctor pulls out a sample BAG and Ana puts the needle in.
KAREN
Commander Sutton was killed
by an injection of a diatomic
gas that deprived his body of
oxygen. Surrounded by life-
giving air... he suffocated.
CUT TO:
INT. THE AIRLOCK -- DAY
NICOLAY BREATHES inside his helmet. The outer hatch is open
revealing the EARTH far below.
Nicolay looks across the airlock to the inner door and sees
DYSON on the other side of the porthole. They wave good-bye.
Nicolay takes one big step and
EXT. A SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY floats out of the hatch above the blue Earth. There
is no noise but his loud fast BREATHING, and the sound of his
voice as he looks down at his boots dangling over the planet.
NICOLAY
My feet, meet the Earth...
Earth, my feet.
CUT TO:
INT. OLD MODULES -- DAY
KAREN and ANA float down the center of the station and pass
through a hatch, using the walls to propel themselves faster:
KAREN
I can’t figure out where the
nitrogen came from.
ANA
A leak could asphyxiate crew.
For that reason alone, there
is no place to access nitrogen
on board. But if our theory
is correct--37.Karen and Ana reach the LADDER built into the wall and grab
on. They share a grim look--
KAREN
(finishing it)
Then someone on Station is
a killer.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF stands in the middle of the station brain
center monitoring the spacewalk. CHEN runs a console as LUD
hurries across the module, and DYSON enters through a hatch--
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY traverses the hull of the station, moving from hand-
hold to hand-hold, his TETHER LINE floating right behind him.
NICOLAY
It is natural to feel scared,
helpless, and insignificant
after losing one of our own.
But as I witness the endless
cosmos all around me, I ask
this crew to not feel small.
(short pause)
Instead I say, we are giants!
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
TESSLOFF listens to Nicolay over his headset, appreciating
the grand sentiment, but determined to keep everyone focused:
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Words to stir the soul. You are
one minute behind schedule.
CUT TO:
INT. INTO THE RING -- DAY
KAREN and ANA make their way down the ladder, and start to
run through the habitat ring.
CUT TO:38.EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY moves over the hull toward an exterior SERVICE PANEL.
NICOLAY
I can see my destination now.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF scans the feed from the exterior cameras--
TESSLOFF
Good, it is getting warm...
and I do not like to sweat.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
For you I will fix the air
conditioner!
The commander sees KAREN AND ANA enter and knows something is
up, but stays focused on the job. The women step very close:
KAREN
We need to talk.
TESSLOFF
Not now.
ANA
It cannot wait--
TESSLOFF
(sharply)
Relieve Dyson.
Ana immediately obeys her commander, without protest. DYSON
hands over his headset and Ana takes position at the screens.
An impatient Tessloff escorts Karen away to speak privately--
TESSLOFF
The crew is under tremendous
strain, doctor. You understand
we must complete our repairs.
Karen does not waste any time.
KAREN
Commander Sutton did not die
of natural causes.39.CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY grips a handle with his thick spacesuit glove, slowly
rotates it, and opens up the service panel. He looks inside.
NICOLAY
I see the problem.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
DYSON listens to KAREN make her report to COMMANDER TESSLOFF:
KAREN
--an injection of nitrogen.
TESSLOFF
If you have a report, I
will gladly hear it... at the
appropriate time.
Tessloff starts to leave. Dyson can’t believe this reaction
and grabs his arm to stop him.
DYSON
You have to question the crew.
The commander looks down at the hand touching him. At Dyson.
TESSLOFF
Tell me, why would I question
the crew?
DYSON
To find out what everyone was
doing when Sutton--
The commander moves closer to Dyson, and keeps his voice low:
TESSLOFF
--died, when he died, is that
what you were going to say?
(short pause)
None of us is capable of such
an action, and I think we can
both agree there is no reason
to question the crew about
something which is impossible.
(to them both)
Now, if you will excuse me, I
have a spacewalk to run.40.Commander Tessloff walks away. When Dyson attempts to follow
him, the Russian turns with a sudden burst of fury, taking
hold of Dyson and pinning him against the wall of the module.
The doctor backs away from the men. ANA takes a step closer.
LUD and CHEN turn in surprise and Tessloff tightens his grip:
TESSLOFF
I am your commander--
DYSON
(yelling back)
I don’t answer to you or anyone
else on this station!
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY works to repair the station. Some distance away his
familiar TETHER LINE drifts into view. We see it is SEVERED.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
DYSON and TESSLOFF are locked together, ready to explode and:
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
There is a problem.
Dyson, Tessloff, and the rest of the CREW turn to the sound.
They scan the exterior cameras.
ON A SCREEN. The SEVERED END of Nicolay’s tether sails past.
ANA
(horrified)
Yobyonat’--
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY slips off the station and is suddenly FLOATING FREE--
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
TESSLOFF immediately forgets all about DYSON and runs across
the module watching the images.41.TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Engage S.A.F.E.R.--
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY FLOATS several feet away from the station. No sound
save for his accelerated BREATHING. Nicolay reaches for his
emergency JETPACK CONTROLS, locking them in a “go” position--
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
TESSLOFF stands at the center of chaos as ANA, LUD, and CHEN
scramble to emergency stations. DYSON watches it all unfold:
DYSON
It’s not gonna work.
Some of the others hesitate, looking toward Dyson. Tessloff
wants to strangle this American but does not have the luxury.
TESSLOFF
We will follow procedure--
doctor, control him!
KAREN reaches out to Dyson, but he grabs her first, thinking:
DYSON
What if the nitrogen came
from the S.A.F.E.R .?
KAREN
Yes, it’s possible--
Dyson looks around. He finds the ROBOTIC ARM CONTROLS and
immediately leaves Karen, hurrying over to power up the arm--
Commander Tessloff starts to bark an order, but stops when he
sees Ana looking his way, like she thinks Dyson may be right.
TESSLOFF
(not liking it)
Help him.
Ana makes a bolt toward Dyson.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
S.A.F.E.R. engaged.42.Dyson takes a step sideways to give Ana the controls. She
works quickly and tells Dyson:
ANA
You are on the hand.
Immediately Dyson grabs hold of a smaller SECONDARY JOYSTICK.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE ROBOT ARM -- DAY
The metal fingers on the multi-jointed DEXTROUS HAND unfold
as the LARGE ROBOTIC ARM on the exterior of the hull begins
to speed ALONG THE RAILS lining an enormous station TRUSS and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
TESSLOFF sees that Nicolay’s ready. He gives a simple order:
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Fire thrusters.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
CLOSE-UP of Nicolay’s thick GLOVE as his thumb hits a BUTTON.
Nothing happens. NICOLAY looks confused. He hits the switch
again, and then several times.
NICOLAY
I have malfunction--
Suddenly the jetpack FIRES WILDLY, and doesn’t stop, sending
him into an UNCONTROLLED SPIN.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
TESSLOFF watches the cameras as NICOLAY DISAPPEARS from one
screen and REAPPEARS on another, just an out-of-control BLUR.
TESSLOFF
(desperately)
Disengage!
CUT TO:43.EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY BURSTS THROUGH SOLAR PANELS. There is no sound but
his BREATHING as he tumbles wildly across space. Nicolay
hurls at the COMMUNICATION DISH, knocking it off the hull and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
CHEN hears nothing but STATIC as he loses contact with Earth:
CHEN
Ground, can you track him?
Houston, come in--
Not far away LUD watches his own computer screens go berserk.
LUD
No, no, no!
CUT TO:
INT. A CARGO BLOCK -- DAY
Inside another module, one OXYGEN GENERATOR SPARKS wildly and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF rushes closer to the screens, helpless.
DYSON and ANA work the robot arm controls as time runs out--
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
NICOLAY HITS THE ROBOT ARM and his breathing STOPS, like the
wind was knocked out of him. It STARTS again as he slides
down the length of the metal hand, closing but far too slow--
CLOSE-UP of Nicolay’s thick SPACESUIT GLOVE as he grabs onto
THE VERY END of the robot arm.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
DYSON and ANA stare at the image coming over their station.
KAREN, TESSLOFF, LUD, and CHEN quickly gather around to look:
ON THE SCREEN. A small grainy BLACK-AND-WHITE PICTURE shows 44.Nicolay’s face through his fogged helmet visor, so very close
to the camera yet maddeningly far away. He composes himself.
Dyson grabs the nearest mike--
DYSON
Hang on!
NICOLAY
(exhausted)
Is that you, Dyson? Good try.
Everyone watches in horror as:
ON THE SCREEN. Nicolay looks frightened as his JETPACK FIRES
AGAIN and he loses hold, TUMBLING TOWARD DEEP SPACE, getting
smaller and smaller as he leaves camera range and DISAPPEARS.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SPACEWALK -- DAY
The jets finally stop but NICOLAY KEEPS MOVING AWAY from the
station, the distance increasing until we have to PULL BACK
to keep both the man and the station in the same frame, then
PULL BACK AGAIN, the ever-expanding darkness separating them.
No sound is heard but Nicolay’s lonely, desperate BREATHING--
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
THE CREW stares at the screen, as if frozen. Unable to move.
DYSON
Help me suit up--
ANA
Too late.
DYSON
Then we’ll take the ship!
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
DYSON AND ANA float into Destiny, using every hand-hold to
move faster. Abruptly they stop themselves. See something--
DYSON’S AND ANA’S P.O.V. The cockpit has been SABOTAGED,
pulled apart...the PIECES FLOATING like a nightmarish puzzle.45.They stare at the controls and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
THE CREW waits nervously inside of the service module, some
pacing or fidgeting, everyone clearly on edge but not saying
anything yet, listening as Ana talks to Nicolay on the radio:
ANA
Nicolay?
They hear nothing, just STATIC.
ANA (CONT’D)
Nicolay--
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
I hear you.
His voice is distant and vulnerable. Ana tries to be strong.
ANA
We are sorry. Not possible--
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
I understand.
Dyson wants to smash something.
ANA
What is happening?
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
Thrusters are out. I see Station,
far away like a star.
No one is immune to his words.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
Tell my family--
For a moment, there is nothing but STATIC. Either the sound
cut out, or he can’t continue.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
Tell my family--46.The emotion finally overwhelms Ana and she does not respond.
Tessloff speaks into his mike, holding up long enough to say:
TESSLOFF
We will tell them, comrade.
LUD
(considering it)
He’ll move away from us...
then closer...then farther
again as we orbit.
DYSON
Close enough for a rescue?
Lud just shakes his head. No.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
Is the doctor there?
Quickly Karen grabs a headset.
KAREN
I’m here--
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
What will it be like?
KAREN
You have approximately eight
hours of oxygen left, taking
you through the remainder of
the day, and into the night.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
What will it be...at the end?
Karen needs to take a moment. Dyson, Commander Tessloff,
Ana, Lud and Chen react as they listen to the doctor explain:
KAREN
You will feel tired, and your
vision will blur. A headache
will come as your body fights
for more oxygen, but this will
pass, and you’ll feel better--
maybe even happy. Eventually,
you’ll experience a series of
hallucinations. This will be
a sign for us the end is near.47.NICOLAY
(over the radio)
Thank you. Now if you do
not mind, I will be quiet for
a while...
There is a shift now from sadness to something darker. The
tension in the air is palpable, the crew looking at each
other with fear and suspicion:
LUD
We need to call Earth--
CHEN
S Band and Ku Band com-links
are down. All we have right
now is short-range UHF.
Chen begins to scribble calculations on his high-tech TABLET.
LUD
So use the new back-up dish.
DYSON
Nicolay ran into it.
TESSLOFF
He also took out some solar
panels. The repairs have not
been completed...and we are
draining our reserves. We
will begin to feel the effect
within the next 12-18 hours.
KAREN
It’s going to get very hot in
here... then very cold.
Chen looks up from the tablet:
CHEN
With Nicolay off Station we
have 15-percent more oxygen--
He never completes his report because ANA PUNCHES HIM in the
jaw. He goes down, hard. Chen stares up at her, stunned and
confused. Like what did I say? Ana turns toward the others.
ANA
Who did this? I want to
know who did this!
Before the crew can respond to her a DEAFENING ALARM BLARES--48.TESSLOFF
(realizing)
Fire--
Immediately the crew goes to work, most of them hurrying to
individual computer stations, scanning the damaged read-outs.
KAREN
Destiny is clear.
CHEN
Zarya and Zvezda clear.
LUD
JEM clear.
TESSLOFF
Turn that off!
Ana scrambles for the right switch. Finally the alarm STOPS.
DYSON
(waiting)
Come on, come on--
ANA
It is in the ring.
Dyson hears that and races out the hatch before Tessloff can
give an order. The commander sees him go and is not pleased:
TESSLOFF
(to Karen and Lud)
Follow him--
(to Ana and Chen)
--the rest of you with me!
Karen and Lud hurry after Dyson while Tessloff, Ana, and Chen
run in the opposite direction.
INT. SMALL NODE -- DAY
DYSON looks around for the FIRE EXTINGUISHER and rips it from
the wall as KAREN and LUD catch up. They keep on running and
INT. THE GALLEY -- DAY
TESSLOFF, ANA, and CHEN race into the galley looking for some
sign of a fire. Nothing here--49.INT. CARGO BLOCK -- DAY
DYSON, KAREN, and LUD rush through a low-traffic cargo block.
The doctor stops them half-way.
KAREN
Do you feel that?
Dyson looks around and sees it:
The OXYGEN GENERATOR glimpsed earlier seems okay until you
notice the strange GLOWING DOT on the tank, getting larger
now as if the metal is melting.
DYSON
Move!
Everyone jumps out of the way as FLAME SHOOTS OUT from the
tank across the width of the module, the sound deafening, the
air quickly FILLING WITH SMOKE.
Karen and Lud roll and kick away from the fire. Dyson rises
and TRIGGERS his extinguisher--
Everything is lost in a cloud of smoke and thick RETARDANT,
and for a brief second it looks like the danger is over fast.
Then the oxygen TANK EMERGES FROM THE SMOKE riding the flames
like a rocket. It strikes Dyson and knocks him to the floor.
The tank REBOUNDS OFF THE WALLS crazily and its fiery tail
CHARS the interior of the module, the smoke turning BLACK and
making it hard to see anything.
Lud evades the ricocheting tank but hits his head and drops--
Karen pulls several BREATHING MASKS from storage and slips
one over her face. Tries to get one on Lud. Dyson shakes
off the impact. He spots his extinguisher several feet away.
Dyson tries to get it but the tank nearly takes off his hand.
BUNDLES OF WIRE are catching fire, CONSOLES MELTING from the
flame, INSTRUMENTS CRACKING and
TESSLOFF and CHEN enter the module from the other side and
immediately trigger their own FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, spraying
the interior while tracking the tank bouncing off the walls--
TESSLOFF
Seal the hatch!
ANA tries to shut the hatch and50.There are large HOSES running through the module blocking the
door. Without hesitation Ana grabs an AXE, swings it high
over her head and CUTS THROUGH.
The tank singes Tessloff and he FIRES his extinguisher, as
does Chen, and now Dyson reaches his extinguisher and FIRES.
Ana finally shuts one hatch and
The oxygen TANK DROPS to the floor with a hollowed THUNK, but
now there are flames MOVING ACROSS the walls and the ceiling.
THE AIR IS THICK WITH SMOKE and
Ana dodges the expanding fire as Dyson pushes her toward the
exit. He yells for the others:
DYSON
Everybody out--
INT. SMALL NODE -- DAY
Deadly black SMOKE BILLOWS OUT into the rest of the station.
DYSON stumbles from the hatch--
He sees KAREN attending to LUD, trying hard to get up. ANA
fights to stay on her feet. Dyson COUGHS. Everyone is black
with soot, and GASPING for air.
KAREN
(out of breath)
I saw the commander go down.
Dyson prepares to run back in--
Suddenly CHEN emerges from the hatch with his arms wrapped
around COMMANDER TESSLOFF, weak and nearly overcome by smoke.
Dyson steps forward and helps Chen ease Tessloff gently to
the floor. The Russian commander does not take his eyes from
Chen, wanting to express his thanks but not able to talk yet.
Chen just looks at Tessloff and
CHEN
(flatly)
Saving your life reduces our
oxygen by 20-percent.
Tessloff nods his head and almost laughs. It hurts too much.
Dyson and Karen force the hatch shut and twist the LOCKING
MECHANISM, sealing it up tight.51.Lud forces himself to a control panel, opens it, and works
the switches. They hear the distant sound of AIR VENTING and
Through the window of the hatch, we see the FLAMES EXTINGUISH
THEMSELVES in one strange, surreal instant. The fire is out.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
THE CREW makes their way into the service module, beaten and
exhausted from the fire. Dyson helps Tessloff into his seat:
TESSLOFF
(barking)
Report!
Ana, Lud, and Chen hurry to their consoles and work the keys.
Karen wants to put an OXYGEN MASK on Tessloff, who tries to
wave her off. She forces it.
TESSLOFF (CONT’D)
I must listen.
KAREN
You can listen and breathe--
The interior lights BLINK OUT, like they’re losing power and
DYSON
The fire fried something big.
CHEN
I’ve got electrical problems
all over.
LUD
We’ve lost attitude control and
maneuvering thrusters. You
can forget about avoiding space
debris, and how does burning up
in the atmosphere sound?
DYSON
(not liking it)
That’s one way to get home--
The EMERGENCY LIGHTS come on.
ANA
I have a message...
This makes everybody stop what they’re doing and look at her.52.DYSON
From mission control?
ANA
To mission control. From us.
Sent before we lost contact--
Tessloff has finally had enough of the mask, and rips it off.
TESSLOFF
We sent no message.
The whole crew gathers around her screen to read the message.
We never see the computer display, just watch their faces as:
ANA
(reading)
“Catastrophic systems failure,
ISS lost, crew--”
(short pause)
That is all.
The crew begins to slowly disperse, everyone lost in thought,
seeking their own small space.
LUD
It sounds like we’re dead
already.
TESSLOFF
The author of this message
would wish mission control to
believe so.
CHEN
Our countries will launch
a rescue ship--
KAREN
That could take two weeks...
maybe more.
ANA
(hopelessly)
Govnyuk--
Short pause. Dyson speaks what each one of them is thinking,
but no one wants to say aloud:
DYSON
Someone in this module plans
to destroy Station and kill
everyone on board.53.CAMERA PANS the faces of the crew as they look at each other.
Dyson, Karen, Tessloff, Ana, Lud, and Chen. For the moment
no one has anything to add and
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
The STATION floats above Earth in the utter SILENCE of space.
We move closer to the spinning habitat ring and find a small
PORTHOLE revealing the galley. THE CREW stands around the
table yelling, shaking their heads, gesturing at one another.
We pass through the window and
CUT TO:
INT. IN THE GALLEY -- DAY
THE CREW has been arguing for some time. It reaches an apex.
THE CREW
(overlapping ad-libs)
Where were you? -- I told you.
-- Tell me again. -- Take it
easy. -- You take it easy --
I was doing my job, where the
hell were you?
LUD
Ask the new guy.
That gets everybody’s attention. Dyson doesn’t like it, but
can’t do too much except wait:
LUD (CONT’D)
(making his case)
Dyson had Commander Sutton’s
blood on him... well, didn’t
he? He prepped Nicolay for
the EVA, and could have cut
his tether anytime. Were you
trying to catch him with the
robot arm--or push him away?
Some of them consider Dyson. The doctor isn’t comfortable
with this kind of accusation--
KAREN
Before we start blowing each
other out the airlock, remember
we need Dyson to fly us home.54.LUD
Esattamente! He is in control
now. We need him--
DYSON
Back off.
LUD
I trained with some of these
people for years -- and you I
met two weeks before launch!
Dyson and Lud make a move toward one another. The rest of
the crew holds them back when:
TESSLOFF (O.S.)
ENOUGH.
Everybody turns and looks at their commander, sitting at the
far end of the table, waiting.
TESSLOFF
There are two murderers here--
and we know who one of them is.
(short pause)
Space will kill us, if we do
not work together.
Tessloff says nothing more. The crew takes a few moments to
get back on track, everyone trying to calm down, to think and
ANA
We must go back inside of the
damaged module and repair the
electrical system.
DYSON
We need Destiny up and running
...she’s our lifeboat.
CHEN
Assuming the old ham radios
aren’t too far gone, maybe
we can get a message out to
anybody listening... tell
the world we’re still here--
CAMERA MOVES toward Commander Tessloff as he sums things up.
TESSLOFF
If we do these things, if we
work as a crew, we can survive
the void of space.55.TESLOFF (CONT’D)
If we all run to our corners
with a sharp stick, then the
killer’s job is already done.
There is a pause and he adds:
TESSLOFF
(old seaman phrase)
One hand for yourself and one
for the ship.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
COMMANDER TESSLOFF walks into the module and takes his seat.
He’s alone. Tessloff slips on a HEADSET and works the radio,
determined. The men speak in RUSSIAN with English SUBTITLES:
TESSLOFF
Are you there?
There is no answer, just STATIC. The commander is impatient.
TESSLOFF (CONT’D)
Nicolay, report--
The voice seems very distant:
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
I am here.
Commander Tessloff immediately eases up, like that’s what he
needed to know. Short pause.
TESSLOFF
It is good to hear your voice.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
There are more important things
to do than speak with me.
TESSLOFF
You are part of this crew now
and always--
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
I have been thinking about my
situation and have a request.
Tessloff does not like this--56.NICOLAY
(over the radio)
When I begin to hallucinate,
I would like you to turn off
the radio for the last time.
TESSLOFF
Comrade...
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
I will not be of any use at
that point, and do not wish
to be made a curiosity.
The commander thinks it over, realizing deep down he’s right.
TESSLOFF
Understood.
Tessloff does not know what else to say. He just sits there
at the console wishing he did.
NICOLAY
(over the radio)
My friend, I think you are
as lonely as I am...
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
DYSON IS STRAPPED to the floor of the capsule putting the
flight controls back together. Parts and tools are FLOATING.
ANA drifts into view handing Dyson the SCREWDRIVER he needs.
She considers his efforts and:
ANA
Looks like shit.
Dyson puts the tool where it goes and struggles to turn it.
Finally, he tosses her a look.
DYSON
Not that I don’t enjoy your
company, but you really don’t
have to watch me--
Ana just crosses her arms in front of her chest as she slowly
drifts through the ship...determined to watch his every move.
TESSLOFF sticks his head inside the cockpit and looks around.57.DYSON
Well, say something--
TESSLOFF
Looks like shit.
The commander shares a look with Ana as Dyson plucks out a
small part tumbling in midair.
TESSLOFF
Will this spacecraft fly, if
necessary?
DYSON
Fly is not the word I’d use.
TESSLOFF
Can we aim at the big planet
and hit go?
DYSON
A couple more hours...then I
think so, yes.
TESSLOFF
Under these circumstances, a
“think so” will have to do--
(to Ana, in Russian
w/English subtitles)
I need new cartridge for carbon
dioxide assembly.
ANA
Da.
Ana pushes off for the hatch--
ANA (CONT’D)
Back in five minutes, Dyson.
Dyson looks like he can’t wait. Ana floats past Tessloff and
EXITS. The commander stays a while longer considering Dyson.
TESSLOFF
(making sure)
Please, don’t get any ideas
while we are gone...keep the
tools in your hands working.
DYSON
Aye-aye, sir.
Tessloff grudgingly EXITS leaving Dyson alone in the cockpit.58.Dyson releases the screwdriver and struggles to pull a small
CAPACITOR from the console. He turns it over in his hand,
gives it a shake, and hears the sound of BROKEN PARTS inside.
Dyson quickly unstraps himself and floats out of the cockpit.
INT. OLDER MODULES -- DAY
DYSON drifts into the station, heading we don’t know where--
INT. RUSSIAN SOYUZ -- DAY
DYSON maneuvers in the narrow gap between an assortment of
flexible tubing and supplies, reaching the claustrophobic
interior of the old Russian space capsule. It looks antique.
Dyson looks around the cockpit. Sees an old leather storage
POUCH. He reaches in and pulls out a RUSSIAN MAKAROV PISTOL.
Dyson stares at the gun, not with surprise, but fascination--
Now he feels the point of that SCREWDRIVER touching his neck.
Dyson doesn’t move. ANA says:
ANA
Open your hand.
He does not respond and she drives the tip of the screwdriver
deeper. Dyson releases the gun. It just FLOATS right there.
ANA
With one finger, push away.
Dyson very clearly holds up one finger, pokes at the pistol,
and it TUMBLES away from them.
ANA
Why do you want a gun?
DYSON
I don’t want a gun.
ANA
And yet somehow a gun is in
your hand.
Dyson makes a move and Ana tenses. Slowly, he pulls out that
CAPACITOR from the other ship.
DYSON
I need one of these--59.ANA
(ignoring that)
Old Soyuz always carried a
weapon to protect cosmonauts
who crash in the mountains.
DYSON
No kidding.
ANA
Maybe others will remember
this...
(short pause)
...or maybe just you.
DYSON
That screwdriver is really
digging into my throat--
She tightens her grip on him--
ANA
Choose your next words very
carefully.
DYSON
We need to hide this gun
where no one can find it.
A long pause. Suddenly Ana takes away the screwdriver and
says, almost matter-of-factly:
ANA
Good.
Dyson is surprised by the abrupt change, turning to face her.
DYSON
So you believe I came here
for a capacitor?
ANA
Why not.
(short pause)
Also I removed the bullets.
Ana puts her hands on his chest, and pushes herself backward
out the hatch. Dyson plucks the gun from midair and follows.
CUT TO:60.EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
A smaller ROBOTIC ARM transports a see-through ACRYLIC BOX
containing the RUSSIAN PISTOL AND AMMUNITION across outer
space, stretching to its limits before RELEASING the box and
Now we can see DYSON AND ANA standing at the nearby PORTHOLE.
ANA (V.O.)
Gun and ammunition outside
...people inside.
CUT TO:
INT. OLDER MODULES -- DAY
DYSON watches ANA deactivate the controls to the robotic arm.
ANA
Do you ever dream that you
are falling, Dyson?
DYSON
(surprised)
Yeah, I do--
Ana FLOATS back just a little, making contact with him, and
Dyson touches her, simply to steady Ana, expecting her to
quickly push off. Instead Ana lets herself rest in his arms.
ANA
It is common on Station. I
do not fear dreams, but ever
since this trouble began, I
have the same feeling while
awake, falling and falling--
Dyson holds onto her, tighter. Neither of them speaks again.
They drift through the module.
We continue to observe both of them, but from farther away,
like they’re being watched and
KAREN drifts in the shadows several modules down, spying on
Dyson and Ana through a hatch...and not liking what she sees.
Slowly the doctor floats away.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
LUD stares intently at a big WRENCH resting on a console. He 61.wraps his fingers around the handle and lifts it. Tests the
weight. Gets a feel for it--
COMMANDER TESSLOFF enters the service module too quickly and
startles him. Lud instinctively lifts the wrench high in the
air, brandishing it as a weapon, ready to strike Tessloff and
TESSLOFF
(calling out)
Come out, please, before I am
bludgeoned.
CHEN peeks his head out of an open ACCESS PANEL in the floor.
Tessloff tries to be patient.
TESSLOFF (CONT’D)
If the murderer is here he is
now outnumbered, so let us be
friends again, yes?
Lud lowers the wrench. Chen pulls himself out of the hole,
and they step closer to him--
TESSLOFF
One of us must go through the
hatch and evaluate the damage.
(toward Lud)
Since we are short on trust...
chance will decide.
Tessloff quickly holds out THREE STRAWS he already prepared--
All three men share a look. Chen picks the first straw, and
Lud takes one, leaving Tessloff with the last. Seconds pass.
CLOSE-UP of all THREE HANDS as the men hold out their STRAWS.
Lud’s is by far the shortest.
CHEN
Congratulations.
Tessloff does not take his eyes off Lud as he speaks to Chen:
TESSLOFF
Please run the numbers, and
check O2 levels.
Chen nods and steps to his console. Tessloff stares at Lud a
moment longer and then EXITS.
Lud watches after the Russian commander, making sure he’s
gone. He raises that short straw. On second viewing the end
of the straw looks BROKEN, like he cracked the thing in half.62.Now Lud raises his other hand and slowly opens his fingers,
revealing THE REST OF THE STRAW. He really did break it and
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
DYSON floats into the cockpit and is surprised to find KAREN
waiting for him. The doctor holds a METAL TRANSPORT CASE and
KAREN
I have something that must
be returned to Earth. It’s
a medical breakthrough...
the culmination of my work.
I want you to hide it on
Destiny and keep it safe--
Karen puts the case into his hands, looking at him intensely.
KAREN (CONT’D)
You and I are the only two
Americans left, Dyson. What’s
inside this case is vital
to our national interests.
The doctor looks around nervously, like she stayed too long,
and pushes off toward the hatch. Dyson just watches her go--
DYSON
(a bad feeling)
I thought you people were
here for all mankind.
Karen stops at the hatch and looks back at him, her face
difficult to read. She EXITS.
Dyson floats inside of the cockpit holding the metal case and
CUT TO:
INT. THE SMALL NODE -- DAY
LUD stands outside the sealed hatch to the damaged module.
He wears a big OXYGEN TANK on his back and a clear FACE MASK.
Lud tries to hide his fear as ANA adjusts the oxygen setting:
ANA
You must breathe normally.
Report change in pressure
or temperature--
Ana moves around to the front, and can see that he’s not in a
good place. She thinks about it. Ana lays her hand on him--63.ANA
La speranza ci da la vita.
The English SUBTITLE translates this as “Hope gives us life.”
Lud looks at her through the mask, surprised that Ana spoke
Italian and finding strength.
LUD
(sincerely)
Grazie.
Soon COMMANDER TESSLOFF enters, and dismisses Ana with a nod.
Lud and Tessloff study each other as she EXITS. The Russian
commander waits until he is sure that Ana is out of earshot--
TESSLOFF
How strange... you picking
the short straw. I saved
the short straw for myself.
Lud doesn’t say anything yet.
TESSLOFF (CONT’D)
The man who goes in there
holds the lives of everyone
on Station in his hands--
LUD
I am the best hope we have
of getting the life-support
system back on-line.
(pause, and
accusingly)
Or don’t you want it fixed?
They stare at one another and
TESSLOFF
I need air as much as you do.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
CHEN raises an old-fashioned handset and talks CHINESE into
one of the HAM RADIOS. We don’t understand the words, but he
seems to be speaking clandestinely. Chen quickly turns off
the radio as ANA enters. She sees him put down the handset--
ANA
Any luck with radio?64.CHEN
Not yet.
KAREN walks in and all three take up the familiar positions,
the two women grabbing HEADSETS. Now DYSON steps through the
hatch. Ana scans her displays and keys the station intercom.
CUT TO:
INT. THE SMALL NODE -- DAY
LUD and COMMANDER TESSLOFF stare one another down. And then:
ANA
(over intercom)
Module is pressurized...
we are “go” for repairs.
Just when it seems like neither one of them is going to move,
Tessloff runs to the hatch and begins to open the mechanism--
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
The hatch opens and LUD steps in. The door SHUTS behind him.
LUD’S P.O.V. Through his BREATHING mask the damaged module
stretches out before Lud, the interior CHARRED AND MELTED and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
KAREN waits to hear something from Lud, and when she doesn’t:
KAREN
(into her mike)
How is it in there?
LUD
(over speakers)
Cold.
TESSLOFF enters and takes his position. He wipes the sweat
from his brow, looking uneasy as he slips on his own HEADSET.
TESSLOFF
Why is it cold in there and
so hot out here?
CHEN raises his electronic TABLET, and begins calculating--65.CHEN
I’m venting to keep the
pressure down so we don’t
reignite the fire--
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Do you see the damage?
CUT TO:
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD sees a deep jagged GASH in the contours of the module,
obviously the source of the fire, the inner workings exposed.
LUD
(into his mike)
Yes, I see it. Stand by.
The interior mechanism looks fused together and useless. Lud
tries to open a nearby PANEL. It’s stuck-- He looks around.
Lud bends down and comes up with a metal FRAGMENT that he
uses as a makeshift crowbar. Finally the panel pops open and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
Now TESSLOFF grows impatient:
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Can you fix it?
LUD
(over speakers)
I can bypass the regular
channels from here and link
into emergency access--
Tessloff waits a moment as ANA calls up the DIAGRAM on her
computer, evaluating Lud’s idea. She nods at the commander,
and Tessloff wastes no time.
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Begin procedure!
CUT TO:
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD begins the procedure, but stops, like he feels something.66.LUD
(into his mike)
Pressure feels funny... and
it’s getting colder in here.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
THE CREW doesn’t like the sound of that. They turn to CHEN,
scribbling as usual on his tablet, not looking at them.
TESSLOFF yanks the small screen away from the surprised Chen:
TESSLOFF
Your calculations are off--
CHEN
Not exactly.
TESSLOFF
(displeased)
What does that mean?
CHEN
There is less oxygen in the
module than there should be.
CUT TO:
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD gets back to work when a sound REVERBERATES through the
module, originating from outside the hull or within the hull,
as if the station itself is trying to warn him of something--
He stops to listen. It is quiet now. Lud gets back to work.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
DYSON steps closer, accusing:
DYSON
You’re venting too much air.
This time COMMANDER TESSLOFF does not resent his speaking up,
and CHEN is on the defensive.
CHEN
It’s not the vents.
TESSLOFF
(louder)
Where is the oxygen going?67.Chen doesn’t have an answer.
DYSON
Get him out of there, fast.
For once, they both agree--
TESSLOFF
(into his mike)
Lud. We are going to take
you out for a while.
CUT TO:
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD doesn’t answer right away, making a few more connections.
LUD
(into his mike)
Your timing is very good
--pumps are back on-line!
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
Everyone reacts with surprise. ANA works her keyboard, fast.
ANA
Oxygen levels rising--
There is great relief at the news. TESSLOFF lets them have a
few seconds, and then orders:
TESSLOFF
Open the hatch and get him
out. Close the vents.
DYSON EXITS the service module, and CHEN TURNS OFF the vents.
Tessloff removes his headset and rubs his bald head, pleased
as he gestures toward KAREN--
KAREN
(into her mike)
Good work, Lud, you did it.
Suddenly she is assaulted by an EAR-PIERCING NOISE. The
doctor tears off her headset.
CUT TO:68.INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD stiffens as an ANGRY HISS OF RUSHING AIR fills the module
with a deafening TSSSSSSSSS--
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
--and the startled CREW reacts. The electronic TABLET slips
out of Chen’s weakening grasp and CLATTERS on the hard floor.
CHEN
It can’t be--
ANA
Venting kept the pressure
down. When we stopped...
TESSLOFF
Breach!
CUT TO:
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD lurches around in panic--
LUD’S P.O.V. Through the FOGGING plastic of his oxygen mask,
Lud searches wildly for the hole. He is BREATHING too fast.
Lud can’t see a damned thing.
He rips off the mask. Looks:
There is a small TEAR IN THE HULL of the station, a little
slit in the metal...but as Lud watches the TEAR GETS BIGGER,
the metal bending outward and
CUT TO:
INT. THE SMALL NODE -- DAY
DYSON runs to the hatch and looks through a round PORTHOLE.
He POUNDS on the thick door--
DYSON
(yelling)
Cut the air. Cut the air!69.CUT TO:
INT. DAMAGED MODULE -- DAY
LUD turns and runs for his life. DYSON continues to pound on
the hatch, trying to communicate through the porthole, but
all Lud can hear is that TSSSSSSSS as he reaches the door and
Lud twists the LATCH halfway.
The walls, floor, and ceiling around Lud BREAK APART and the
pieces BLOW OFF INTO SPACE. Where metal and plastic used to
be there is only the EARTH spiraling past and now the STARS--
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
DEBRIS HURLS PAST THE CAMERA, shards of metal, objects, even
a small ordinary-looking SCREW. When the junk clears we see:
The habitat ring continues to rotate, but there is a JAGGED
GAPING HOLE where the module used to be, the small fragile
body of LUD still holding on.
CUT TO:
INT. THE SMALL NODE -- DAY
The station SHAKES. DYSON fights to stay upright. He looks:
DYSON’S P.O.V. LUD IS RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE of the thick
glass, his eyes shut tight, mouth closed, one hand on the
door and the other holding his nose. He seems so close but--
TESSLOFF stumbles into the node. Dyson turns to him. Yells:
DYSON
He’s still alive! Fall back.
Seal the hatch--
Tessloff seals the node. Dyson yanks an EMERGENCY AIR MASK
from the wall and puts it on. He grasps the outer hatch and
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
KAREN pulls herself up in pain. She reaches for her headset:
KAREN
Lud, do you hear me? Exhale
slowly. DO NOT hold your
breath, or your lungs will--70.CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
LUD HANGS IN OPEN SPACE holding onto the hatch for dear life.
Suddenly his whole body SPASMS, lungs exploding, and he opens
his eyes in surprise. BLOOD SPURTS from his nose and mouth--
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
TESSLOFF re-enters the module. The station is WRENCHING with
a terrible noise, like the hull is cracking. The commander
watches his CREW trying to recover. He turns toward a panel.
Tessloff stares at a LARGE LEVER BEHIND PROTECTIVE GLASS and
CUT TO:
INT. THE SMALL NODE -- DAY
DYSON YELLS as he fights to open the hatch with every ounce
of his strength. He looks out the window...and stops trying.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
DYSON is visible through the porthole staring at the BODY OF
LUD FLOATING SEVERAL FEET FROM THE HATCH, arms and legs
outstretched, spinning slowly.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
The space station SHAKES AGAIN. Most of the crew just holds
on, but TESSLOFF stumbles across the module to the control
panel, going for that lever. He BREAKS the protective glass.
CHEN sees what he’s doing and
CHEN
(frightened)
No--
He rushes toward Tessloff but the Russian commander lands an
old-fashioned PUNCH to his gut. Chen gets the wind knocked
out of him. He clutches his stomach and stumbles backwards--
Chen drops to the floor. A stunned KAREN races over to help.71.CHEN
(in pain)
Stop him!
DYSON runs into the module and sees what’s happening. The
commander immediately grabs an over-turned CHAIR, hurling it
at Dyson so he can’t advance--
ANA witnesses the events from a short distance away, but is
uncharacteristically frozen, unable to move on her commander.
Tessloff lurches back to the control panel, his eyes wild and
CLOSE-UP of Commander Tessloff’s weathered HAND as he wraps
his fingers around that big LEVER. He violently pulls it and
The noise and the shaking STOPS. Karen runs to the PORTHOLE.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
CAMERA MOVES, pulling back from KAREN in the window, moving
over the exterior hull until we reach the DESTINY spacecraft.
The ship has DETACHED from the docking module and is DRIFTING
AWAY from the space station...
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE MODULE -- DAY
KAREN stares out the window, like she’s watching their last
hope float away, and finally she turns to look at the others.
KAREN
(frightened)
Tessloff jettisoned Destiny.
DYSON, ANA, and CHEN train their eyes on TESSLOFF, standing
apart from the rest of them--
TESSLOFF
We have structural damage...
The docked spacecraft was
tearing us apart. I had to
jettison it to save Station.
Chen LAUGHS out loud, like this is mad, Tessloff’s gone mad--
CHEN
(louder)
Station is dead.72.CHEN (CONT’D)
Lud is floating outside with
half the life-support system.
We needed Destiny to get out
of here. You just killed us!
The crew reacts to the simple truth of what Tessloff’s done--
TESSLOFF
We would have died trying to
reach the capsule. You are
all alive now because of me.
CHEN
(to the others)
Don’t you get it? The
commander wants to go down
with the ship--
Tessloff rushes Chen, angrily, and pins him against the wall.
TESSLOFF
You knew about hull breach.
This is your fault!
CHEN
The fire didn’t penetrate
the hull. The hole was made
later--
TESSLOFF
How could we make a hole if
the hatch was sealed?
Tessloff tightens his grip and Chen YELLS OUT. The crew
inserts themselves between them, with Dyson and Ana holding
Tessloff. Karen sees to Chen, who gestures that he’s okay...
...and then takes off running.
DYSON
Damn it.
Dyson releases the commander and follows Chen out the module.
INT. MEDICAL LAB -- NIGHT
DYSON CHASES CHEN through the medical lab. Chen glances back
over his shoulder, sees Dyson behind him, and looks panicked:
CHEN
Why are you chasing me?73.DYSON
Because you’re running!
Chen looks back over his shoulder again. Seems less certain.
CHEN
I’ll stop running if you
stop chasing me.
DYSON
You first--
That just makes him go faster.
INT. LARGE GALLEY -- NIGHT
CHEN enters the galley and tries to climb the LADDER up into
the zero-gravity section. DYSON tackles Chen and they land
hard on the floor. Chen fights for a second, and then tries:
CHEN
Look, Dyson. You want to
kill everybody, it’s okay
by me. What am I, really,
just an observer...right?
Dyson starts to become angry--
CHEN (CONT’D)
I’m only saying...if it’s
you -- hypothetically --
maybe we can make a deal!
Dyson clenches his fist, cocks back his arm...and suddenly
TESSLOFF stops the blow, with:
TESSLOFF
Thank you for the thought
...now let him go, please.
Dyson gets off the floor and pulls Chen up with him. Now ANA
and KAREN hurry into the module. Tessloff sits at the table.
TESSLOFF
He was fleeing to Soyuz--
KAREN
That capsule has been up
here for 15 years. Could it
survive re-entry and bring
us safely home?74.DYSON
By safely she means alive--
ANA
Soyuz cannot carry all five
of us...and no one is being
left behind.
Now the emergency lights FLICKER, like they’re going out too.
ANA
(swearing)
Tvoyu mat’.
DYSON
Let’s stick to English.
Ana almost gives Dyson an earful, like she normally would,
but this time bites her tongue. Chen takes a step backwards.
CHEN
(to everyone)
Just stay away from me.
DYSON
Nobody is gonna move, okay?
The lights cut out and the station goes BLACK. Several long
moments pass before a FLASHLIGHT BEAM cuts through the dark--
Ana shines her light around. Everyone immediately looks to
see if anybody has moved and
No one has. The crew takes a second to breathe. The doctor
pulls a portable battery-powered LANTERN from storage. It
illuminates most of the room.
TESSLOFF
I think you will all feel a
little better if I am not in
command...Ana, you are next
in line, yes?
Ana looks surprised but doesn’t object. No one else objects.
But still a question lingers:
KAREN
So now what?
CHEN
We’re blind in here. We
don’t have enough power to see
what condition we’re in.75.DYSON
Maybe Nicolay can tell us.
CHEN
You’re not serious--
DYSON
(to the others)
It’s worth a try.
Karen uses her lantern to illuminate the radio and activate
SPEAKERS in the galley, taking the small HEADSET in her hand:
KAREN
(into the mike)
Nicolay?
Everybody watches and waits. They hear nothing, just STATIC.
KAREN (CONT’D)
Nicolay, come in. We need
your help. Can you see us?
They are about to give up and:
NICOLAY
(over the speakers)
I see you.
The crew reacts to the familiar sound of his voice, surprised
and hopeful, waiting for more.
NICOLAY
(over the speakers)
Station is much closer now
...I have a clear view.
We can see a glimmer of hope in their faces...all save for
the doctor, who seems worried.
KAREN
What are we doing right now?
It is clearly a test. The others realize it immediately, and
the seconds pass slowly until:
NICOLAY
(over the speakers)
Waving to me!
Obviously no one is waving. All their collective hope sinks.
The doctor doesn’t need to say anything. The truth is clear.
Karen takes a moment to think.76.KAREN
Nicolay...do you know who
this is?
NICOLAY
(over the speakers)
Doctor Karen--
KAREN
Do you see your air gauge?
Tessloff moves next to Karen. There is nothing but STATIC--
KAREN (CONT’D)
Your air gauge, Nicolay--
(short pause)
Can you tell me where the
needle is pointing?
NICOLAY
(breaking up)
It is... difficult to see
...two... I see two of...
everything... is becoming
fuzzy... I think--
Tessloff abruptly pulls the headset away from the surprised
doctor and works the controls, taking Nicolay off speaker and
TESSLOFF
(into the mike)
Nicolay...this is Tessloff.
Tell me what is happening--
We do not hear what Nicolay says, not this time, just watch
the transformation on the old commander’s face as his alert
expression slowly changes, growing sad, then hardening again.
Finally Tessloff drops the headset from his ear. He stares
out, looking hopeless. He reaches for the radio controls and
Karen puts a hand on his arm:
KAREN
Let us say goodbye.
TESSLOFF
He asked us to turn it off!
(softer)
...when he no longer spoke
sense.
Neither one of them budges. Now they all look at Ana. Wait.77.Ana slowly steps toward the console. Dyson tries to reach
out, as if to lend his support, but she walks right past him
without acknowledgement. She has to do this and do it alone.
Ana reaches the controls and
CLOSE-UP of her HAND holding the main switch, hesitating, and
then TURNING OFF the radio--
For a moment, no one speaks. No one even moves. Then the
new station commander turns.
ANA
We will do what we have been
trained to do... to survive
where men and women are not
made to survive. We will go
out, bring back the Destiny
spacecraft, and get the fuck
out of here. Any questions?
No one has any questions. It’s what they needed. Ana moves
past Dyson and asks, curtly:
ANA (CONT’D)
How was my English?
She doesn’t wait for a response. Dyson watches her walk off.
CUT TO:
INT. THE AIRLOCK -- LATER
DYSON, ANA, and TESSLOFF are grimly working, assembling their
SPACESUITS, the magnetic boots keeping them standing upright.
KAREN and CHEN float by holding makeshift thruster CANISTERS.
CHEN
Since the S.A.F.E.R.S. can’t
be trusted, the doctor and I
came up with these....
They hand one to Dyson, and one to Tessloff. Looking at the
homemade device does not generate a great deal of confidence.
Chen holds up Ana’s canister to illustrate how they operate--
CHEN (CONT’D)
Hold it like so. Trigger’s
here. Quick bursts should
be enough for attitude control
or to cross short distances.78.DYSON
Did you test it?
CHEN
How the hell could we do that?
Don’t use them unless you have
no other choice--
Dyson is ready to complain, but Ana cuts him off, taking the
canister from Chen, and securing it to the waist of her suit.
ANA
Understood.
KAREN
Looks like a lot of debris out
there. Be careful.
ANA
Since we could never get out
of the way in time, there is
little point in dividing our
attention by “being careful.”
Ana looks up and sees that her words didn’t go over too well.
ANA (CONT’D)
(making an effort)
But we can try not to be hit.
DYSON
How much time do we have if
our suits are punctured?
KAREN
About five seconds. The
good news is the impact will
probably kill you.
The doctor wants to say more to Dyson, but is very aware of
the others. She grabs his spacesuit, pulls herself close and
KAREN KISSES DYSON on the lips, roughly. He looks surprised.
...and so does everybody else, trying not to stare. Only Ana
watches them openly, suspicious, or maybe just not liking it.
The kiss ends and the doctor moves her mouth toward Dyson’s
ear, allowing her to whisper--
KAREN
(desperately)
Save the case.
The doctor grasps his helmet and slowly lowers it into place.79.DYSON’S P.O.V. Staring out at Karen THROUGH THE GLASS. His
BREATHING is loud inside the suit. She CLASPS the seals and
The crew communicates with each other over the helmet radios:
ANA
Tessloff has the most EVA
time -- he will go first. I am
next...Dyson will be last.
DYSON
Can we talk about that?
ANA
(curtly)
No.
Ana is aware Dyson is watching, not pleased with her refusal.
ANA (CONT’D)
Swimming in a pool of water
during training does not
prepare you for this... and
we will need your strength
to pull us in if something
goes wrong.
Dyson, Ana, and Tessloff slowly take their positions at one
end of the airlock. Karen and Chen EXIT out the other side
and immediately swing the inner hatch shut, sealing them in--
KAREN’S VOICE
Everybody ready?
ANA
Proceed, doctor.
There is the sound of all the air being SUCKED OUT of the
airlock. On the wall the PRESSURE GAUGE noticeably DROPS and
WHAT THEY SEE. The OUTER HATCH waits right in front of them,
the condensation on the metal EVAPORATING along with the air.
Dyson turns toward Tessloff, studying the old Russian’s face.
DYSON
You’re awful quiet--
TESSLOFF
Yes. That is because I am
scared to death.
He says it without any self-consciousness at all. Dyson is
surprised. He watches Tessloff take a step toward the hatch.80.Tessloff grabs hold of the locking mechanism. Watches the
pressure gauge reach ZERO and:
TESSLOFF
Ready to open hatch!
ANA
Open hatch--
The thick metal swings open revealing a dark and ominous
BLACK everywhere they look. It is night down on Earth. We
see the spaceship DESTINY DRIFTING AWAY from the station and
Tessloff twists his body a little, the spacesuit equivalent
of looking over your shoulder.
TESSLOFF
See you outside...
And he jumps through the door.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- NIGHT
TESSLOFF floats into space trailing a TETHER LINE behind him.
No sound but his BREATHING and
The tether line gently snakes out of the open hatch, almost
in slow motion, the life-line straightening out as Tessloff
drifts away from the station--
TESSLOFF
Tethers do not seem to be a
problem--
Just as it appears Tessloff has reached the end of his cord,
ANA steps into the open hatch.
ANA
I am coming out behind you.
Now we see that Tessloff’s life-line does not connect him to
the station, but to Ana, who trails HER OWN TETHER connecting
to DYSON, who steps up into the open hatch to await his turn.
Ana takes one step into space:
ANA’S P.O.V. Ana BREATHES inside her helmet bubble and sees
that fragile cord stretching out before her to Tessloff, tiny
and far ahead of her, the Destiny capsule even farther still.
Dyson stands at the edge of the lock, BREATHING erratically
as he awaits his turn. Looks:81.DYSON’S P.O.V. THE COILED TETHER LINE is going out into
space, getting steadily smaller as he watches, nearing the
point where it will pull him--
ANA
It is one small step, Dyson.
DYSON
(not believing it)
Uh-huh.
He STOPS breathing and jumps--
DYSON’S P.O.V. We leap with Dyson and FLOAT away, SPINNING a
little, the life-line stretching out before us to Ana, then
to Tessloff. Dyson is breathing now much FASTER than normal.
The three spacewalkers drift away from the space station,
connected to one another by the long fragile-looking thread,
slowly moving across space and
The tether connecting Dyson to the airlock steadily uncoils.
In the lead, Tessloff is nearing the Destiny, not so far now:
TESSLOFF
I am getting close--
Dyson’s life-line stretches to its full length and goes TAUT.
Tessloff STOPS some distance from the ship, close, but not
close enough. The Destiny hangs in space still out of reach.
For a long moment Dyson, Ana, and Tessloff float there, each
of them realizing all too well that they have come up short--
Then Tessloff reaches for the jury-rigged THRUSTER CANISTER
attached to his spacesuit. He holds it out in front of him.
Tessloff does not sound ready:
TESSLOFF
Ready to detach.
Dyson looks frustrated, helpless at the end of the line. Ana
knows there’s no other choice.
ANA
Good luck, comrade--
Tessloff hits the release mechanism on his suit and detaches
from the others, FLOATING COMPLETELY FREE for the first time.
He gives the trigger a try and 82.A BURST OF THRUST from the canister propels Tessloff forward
and he begins to twist a bit, FIRING another quick burst to
correct his approach, and driving him FASTER toward the ship.
TESSLOFF’S P.O.V. His BREATHING is loud inside the helmet as
Tessloff floats toward the hull, his body spinning like a
pinwheel while the Destiny spacecraft turns, DISORIENTING and
Tessloff readies for collision.
TESSLOFF’S P.O.V. Through the bubble of his helmet we watch
the HULL OF THE SHIP race closer until IMPACT. Tessloff
GRUNTS in pain and we’re looking out through a CRACKED VISOR.
Tessloff SLIDES across the hull of Destiny, trying to find a
hand-hold, BREATHING wildly and
Ana and Dyson watch from the distance wanting to scream out--
Just as he is about to run out of ship, his thick spacesuit
glove finds a grip on the hull.
Tessloff struggles to hold on, his feet hanging out over the
edge of the metal. Destiny continues to rotate. Behind him
the universe is SPINNING madly.
CLOSE-UP of TESSLOFF trying not to let go when the crack in
his helmet visor begins to leak oxygen out into space, just a
single TRAIL OF VENTING AIR and
TESSLOFF
(in trouble)
Ana.
Quickly Ana hits the release, raises her canister, and FIRES.
Ana presses the trigger AGAIN AND AGAIN, short rabid bursts
as she crosses the gap toward the ship, not trying to correct
her rotation or be careful, just hoping to get there fast and
Dyson goes for his own tether--
DYSON
Right behind you.
ANA
Hold position.
DYSON
But--
ANA
Hold position.
Tessloff sees her coming, and:83.TESSLOFF
(louder)
Too fast!
Ana is racing toward a violent impact until she FIRES a last
burst and ROTATES HER BODY so that she comes in feet-first...
CLOSE-UP of Ana’s MAGNETIC BOOTS as they CONNECT TO THE HULL.
TESSLOFF
You are going to give me a
heart attack.
She takes a step and then another, making sure each foot is
set before continuing, but walking steadily across the ship--
ANA
Your heart is stronger than
that, old man.
Ana gets down on one knee and extends a thick glove toward
Tessloff, who reaches out and grabs hold. She hoists him up.
TESSLOFF
Thank you--
For a moment they stand on the ship and just BREATHE as the
universe spins around them. Then they look for something and
The ship’s HATCH is very near.
Ana and Tessloff walk across the hull and crouch down by the
thick door. Ana works the LOCK, and then she and Tessloff
grab the edge. Swing it open.
They stare down into the INTERIOR of Destiny and smile wide--
Dyson watches from a distance. He looks relieved, of course
...but then notices something.
DYSON’S P.O.V. Through his helmet bubble Dyson catches a
glimpse of movement, MULTIPLE STREAKS OF LIGHT, there for a
moment and suddenly NOT there.
Dyson begins to show alarm and
DYSON
(calling)
Look--
CUT TO:84.METAL DEBRIS from the damaged station hurls past the bubble
of Ana’s space helmet at INCREDIBLE SPEED, so fast that her
face seems frozen in time, and
CUT TO:
DYSON (CONT’D)
--out!
Ana looks confused for a moment, realizing what just happened
only after it’s already over--
ANA
We go inside NOW.
Ana helps the commander maneuver through the hatch, both of
them BREATHING FAST, but their speed maddeningly slow. MORE
DEBRIS hurls past in a BLUR as Tessloff floats down inside
the opening, and out of danger.
Ana starts to follow him in and
CUT TO:
A simple mundane everyday SCREW hurls through space at five
times the speed of a bullet and
CUT TO:
The screw strikes the open hatch of Destiny RIPPING THE DOOR
RIGHT OFF, the destruction made even more strangely unreal in
the silence of space. The impact KNOCKS ANA OFF the ship and
DYSON
Ana!
There is no answer as Ana tumbles toward deep space, arms and
legs frozen in position, as if she is unconscious, or worse--
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- NIGHT
COMMANDER TESSLOFF stares up at the hole where the hatch used
to be and gathers his strength.
He starts down the passage and
DYSON
(over the radio)
On my way. Power up the
ship! We can go get her--
Tessloff’s expression hardens:85.TESSLOFF
I am sorry. No.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- NIGHT
DYSON can’t believe his ears--
TESSLOFF
(over the radio)
I am taking Destiny back to
Station.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COCKPIT -- NIGHT
TESSLOFF clumsily makes his way through the cramped cockpit,
and moves into the pilot seat.
The single plume of ESCAPING AIR is still venting from his
cracked visor as Tessloff hurries to power up the spacecraft:
TESSLOFF
This is what Ana would have
ordered if she were able to
do so.
DYSON
(over the radio)
Tessloff, you sonuvabitch--
The console lights BLINK ON, and Tessloff grabs the JOYSTICK.
TESSLOFF
She is gone, Dyson.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- NIGHT
The maneuvering jets FIRE on the spacecraft and DESTINY STOPS
SPINNING. Now the nose of the ship slowly TURNS AWAY from
the receding figure of ANA and
DYSON hits his release mechanism hard and DETACHES from the
station. He lifts his makeshift thruster canister. Aims it.
Dyson blows the whole tank in a long reckless EXTENDED BURST.
INSIDE HIS HELMET. Dyson looks both determined and terrified
as he hurls himself through space. Finally he just YELLS and86.Dyson powers away from the space station and Destiny, both of
them quickly RECEDING in the background. He fights to hold
the thruster canister steady, the line of his flight erratic,
beginning to rotate wildly and
DYSON’S P.O.V. Through the helmet bubble, Dyson sees Ana
ahead of him GETTING CLOSE and
His canister runs out of fuel and GOES DEAD. Dyson releases
the device and floats the rest of the way unaided, with only
his momentum to finish the job. No sound but his BREATHING--
DYSON’S P.O.V. Ana rotates ahead of him, RUSHING CLOSER, and
Dyson reaches Ana and the IMPACT sends them both tumbling
wildly together. Dyson struggles to hold on tight. He turns
Ana around to look at her face.
It is hard to tell through the suit if she’s dead or alive...
DYSON
(into his radio)
Ana, can you hear me?
ANA’S P.O.V. If she was conscious, Ana could see Dyson’s
face, his lips moving furiously as he attempts to communicate
...but NO SOUND is coming in the suit. Her radio is out and
Dyson gets an idea. He carefully pulls Ana closer, so that
their two visors are touching--
The sound of his voice travels THROUGH THE GLASS, from his
spacesuit into hers, seeming warmer and more natural than it
ever could over some radio, as if they’re back home on Earth.
DYSON
Ana--
She does not answer him. Dyson sounds exhausted, but refuses
to give up. He digs down deep.
DYSON (CONT’D)
I’ve got you. But you have
to open your eyes. Wake up!
Ana begins to stir and finally she opens her eyes, staring
out at Dyson, a little blurry:
ANA
Dyson, you rescued me?
DYSON
Yeah...87.Ana begins to notice that they are not back on the station,
or inside the ship. Dyson realizes he’d better qualify that.
DYSON (CONT’D)
...sort of. Is your thruster
still working?
ANA
(like we’re dead)
Chyort voz’mi!
Dyson searches for the thruster canister attached to Ana’s
suit by a thin CORD. Grabs the line and pulls it over. He
presses their visors together:
DYSON
Hang on as tight as you can--
I’ll do the rest.
Something is happening in space. We can see a CHANGE IN THE
ILLUMINATION. Dyson and Ana are suddenly bathed in a warm
light. They look together and
WHAT THEY SEE. SUNRISE IN SPACE is spectacular as Earth’s
atmosphere glows with fresh light, waking the dark planet
below them, rich colors beginning to spread across the globe,
the rays of the sun streaking out toward the black of space--
ANA
Have you ever seen a thing so
beautiful?
Dyson really, truly never has.
DYSON
No--
He holds out the metal canister. Dyson waits until they seem
to be pointing in the right direction. Squeezes the trigger.
Dyson and Ana STOP THEIR FORWARD MOMENTUM, hanging in space
for a moment...and slowly they START BACK TOWARD THE STATION.
Then their thruster GOES DEAD.
Dyson and Ana exchange a look. No sound but their BREATHING
as they tumble through space--
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
TESSLOFF sits in the cramped cockpit as Destiny moves toward
the station visible out the window, slowly GROWING LARGER and88.TESSLOFF
(into his radio)
Is anyone hearing me? This is
Tessloff, returning in Destiny
...mission successful.
A SECOND PLUME OF ESCAPING AIR suddenly appears from a new
crack in his space helmet, and a THIRD. By the time Tessloff
notices the change, there’s a FOURTH plume, and then a FIFTH.
He stares through the steadily-cracking glass at the precious
oxygen venting from his suit.
Tessloff tightens his grip on the joystick, and adds, simply:
TESSLOFF
I will be coming in fast.
CUT TO:
INT. DOCKING MODULE -- DAY
CHEN floats in place holding the simple handset seen earlier
and SPEAKS CHINESE into that old-fashioned HAM RADIO strapped
to a console. He takes his finger off the transmit button...
...and hears nothing but STATIC coming from the radio. Chen
turns the tiny knob, adjusting the frequency to try again and
KAREN sticks her head inside:
KAREN
Tessloff is on his way back.
CHEN
What about the others?
KAREN
I don’t know. Get on those
docking clamps--
Karen leaves as quickly as she came and Chen returns the
handset. He moves toward the porthole, finds a hand-hold and
looks out. Chen sees the DESTINY approaching. Immediately
he starts to work the CONTROL PANEL prepping for the dock and
CUT TO:
EXT. DESTINY CAPSULE -- DAY
THE SHIP speeds toward the docking bay with thrusters FIRING.89.INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
TESSLOFF fights that joystick.
TESSLOFF’S P.O.V. It is difficult for the old Russian to see
through his CRACKED VISOR AND ESCAPING AIR. The loud HISSING
is a constant looming threat--
TESSLOFF
(to himself)
Not yet, not yet, not yet...
Outside the window, the space station blocks out the rest of
the universe, so very close now. Tessloff hits the controls.
EXT. DESTINY CAPSULE -- DAY
The thrusters all STOP FIRING. Destiny continues toward the
station under its own momentum, still coming in way too fast.
INT. INSIDE DESTINY -- DAY
TESSLOFF looks relieved now. He did it. Everything is okay.
TESSLOFF
(confidently)
Full stop--
CLOSE-UP of his thick SPACESUIT GLOVE going for the JOYSTICK,
not more than an inch away and
His cracked visor BLOWS OUT. BLOOD AND TISSUE spurt from the
jagged opening and splatter over the interior of the cockpit.
Tessloff remains upright in his seat, outstretched hand still
an inch from the stick. Dead.
CUT TO:
INT. DOCKING MODULE -- DAY
CLOSE-UP of the HAM RADIO as the simple speaker CRACKLES with
life. We hear just a fragment of the transmission, some man
earnestly SPEAKING IN CHINESE.
Chen stops what he’s doing and pushes off toward the radio,
hurriedly grabbing the handset and raising it to his lips.
He acts excited and yells out:90.CHEN
(calling to the
next module)
Doctor, I’ve got Earth--
Chen sees the inner HATCH SWINGING SHUT, and his smile fades.
Why is the doctor closing him in? The door seals tight and a
LOCKING MECHANISM turns, setting into place with a loud DOOM.
Chen stares at the closed hatch with a feeling of impending
doom. Looks at the porthole:
CHEN’S P.O.V. The Destiny spacecraft is RIGHT OUTSIDE THE
WINDOW, the nose of the craft enormous, not slowing down and
Chen presses the button on the handset to say something to
Earth, but it’s far too late.
CUT TO:
EXT. DESTINY CAPSULE -- DAY
DESTINY hurls at the station with the DEAD COMMANDER TESSLOFF
at the helm. The spacecraft smashes into the docking bay and
RIPS THE MODULE TO SHREDS in surreal and unsettling SILENCE--
CUT TO:
INT. THE OLD SECTION -- DAY
Inside the station, the quiet is shattered by the DEAFENING
ROAR of decompression and the WRENCHING OF METAL as the ship
rams through the old section. The Destiny BREAKS APART fast.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE HABITAT RING -- DAY
The ring of modules that has always been in motion suddenly
incredibly STOPS SPINNING and
CUT TO:
EXT. NEAR THE STATION -- DAY
DYSON and ANA tumble through the black in one another’s arms.
Dyson spots something in the distance, straining to see, but
drifts out of position. He waits until his line of sight
returns for a proper look and
DYSON
(ominously)
You better duck.91.Ana looks confused for a moment. Then she gets a clear view.
WHAT THEY SEE. ENORMOUS SPACE DEBRIS hurls toward them like
the discarded refuse of a god...giant twisted shards of metal
from the space station’s hull, and pieces of the Destiny too.
Ana doesn’t even have time to act surprised. The wreckage is
on them in a split-second and
The debris SPEEDS PAST DYSON AND ANA on every side, a blur,
quickly dwindling in size as it continues its orbit of Earth.
ANA
Something terrible has--
She never finishes. They get their first good look at what
has happened to the station--
It looks like an ancient wreckage adrift in the sea of space.
No sound but their BREATHING as Dyson and Ana tumble closer.
After a few moments he tries:
DYSON
(into his radio)
Dyson to station.
(short pause)
Dyson to station, come in,
please.
(short pause)
Dyson to--
Dyson gets no response. He looks at Ana and shakes his head.
Ana pulls him close and presses her space helmet against his.
They speak through the glass:
ANA
No help to come. Just us.
How do you say?
She searches for the phrase. Dyson knows. Wishes he didn’t.
DYSON
One shot.
ANA
One shot, yes.
In unison they both reach down the length of their spacesuits
and work to open a small compartment revealing a SPOOL OF
WIRE. They grasp the HOOKS on the end. Throw out the lines.
The emergency tethers slowly uncoil to their full lengths and 92.Dyson and Ana share one last look, but neither seems able to
find anything hopeful to say.
No sound but their BREATHING as they hurl toward one of the
big SPOKES of the habitat ring, but then sail over it, their
outstretched arms not close enough to reach the passing hull.
For a moment Dyson and Ana drift helplessly past the station.
CLOSE-UP of Dyson’s life-line as it strikes the large spoke,
the HOOK dragging over the hull until it finds a metal JOINT.
They JERK to a sudden stop and Dyson is unable to keep his
hold on Ana, who slides down the length of his spacesuit and
Ana reaches up with her thick glove. She finds Dyson’s hand.
They hang there for a moment at the end of the line, Ana’s
legs dangling over the Earth.
Dyson pulls her back up. They press their helmets together,
if only to hear each other BREATHING, and savor it. But
their rest doesn’t last long.
DYSON
You ready?
They grab the thin cord and slowly begin to hoist themselves
up the line toward the hull--
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE STATION -- DAY
DYSON and ANA pull themselves across a SMASHED SECTION of the
hull. Ana gestures. They move toward a possible opening and
Dyson grabs the jagged edge of a damaged panel and attempts
to force it back. Ana takes the other end. They pull again.
The metal gives way and the DEAD BODY OF CHEN comes with it--
Dyson and Ana are startled, falling back from the hole and
scrambling for a grip, holding on as the corpse tumbles away.
No sound but their BREATHING. They move toward the opening--
CUT TO:
INT. WRECKED MODULE -- DAY
DYSON and ANA stand in the modules of the original station,
magnetic boots keeping them upright. It is pitch black save
for their small HELMET LIGHTS illuminating the damaged walls.93.Dyson and Ana walk toward the remains of the DESTINY COCKPIT.
It is nothing but a metal skeleton, a ghastly mockery of the
ship, just enough to suggest controls around TESSLOFF in the
pilot seat, a dark hole in his helmet where a face should be.
The station SHAKES, violently.
Ana turns to Dyson and is surprised to find him moving around
what’s left of the cockpit, as if he’s looking for something.
She wants to ask him what he’s doing, but can’t. Dyson comes
to her and they touch visors--
DYSON
I have to find Karen.
ANA
(disagreeing)
Minutes. We have minutes--
DYSON
Can you prep the Soyuz
before Station breaks apart
around us?
ANA
We do not even know if the
Soyuz is still there.
(changing the
subject)
Dyson, I did not murder the
others, did you? There are
only three of us left-- If
the doctor lives, she is the
killer.
Short pause. He looks at her.
DYSON
I won’t be late.
Dyson turns and walks off through the wreckage. Ana watches
him, her expression hardening.
Soon she starts the other way.
CUT TO:
INT. HABITAT RING -- DAY
Through the window of a sealed hatch we see DYSON waiting as
jets of RUSHING AIR pressurize the chamber around him. The
pumps STOP and the hatch swings open. Dyson enters the ring.94.It is pitch black save for the narrow beam from his suit,
the air filled with FLOATING OBJECTS, everything that was not
secured when gravity failed--
He opens the clasp on his helmet. Dyson slides the visor up.
DYSON
(calling)
Doctor?
There is no answer. He adjusts his HEADSET, and calls again:
DYSON (CONT’D)
Doctor, can you hear me?
The sound of his voice REVERBERATES throughout the station,
picked up by several speakers.
Dyson starts to walk the ring.
DYSON
We have to evacuate.
He keeps talking, hoping to get Karen to speak, to track her:
DYSON (CONT’D)
If we don’t leave now, we’ll
die here. You too--
Dyson hears a SOUND BEHIND HIM. He turns and his helmet
illuminates random objects once gently suspended in mid-air
but now TUMBLING MADLY. Like someone rushed through them and
Dyson runs as quickly as he can inside the bulky spacesuit.
He shines his light around the next module. Empty. Dyson
thinks before speaking again--
DYSON
I lost the case, doc... it’s
gone.
Now he gets a burst of STATIC.
KAREN’S VOICE
I wanted to change the world.
Quickly Dyson puts a hand to his ear. He waits to hear more.
KAREN’S VOICE
Do you know what “telomeres”
are, Dyson? They’re the
bridges between cells...and
I decoded them.
Dyson starts to move again as:95.KAREN’S VOICE
My research would have helped
cure cancer and increased the
human life-span.
DYSON
(keeping her
talking)
But those things can still
happen. You can re-create
your experiments.
KAREN’S VOICE
Not without a space station.
This was it, Dyson, our last
expedition.
The station violently SHAKES--
DYSON
Where are you? Tell me
where you are.
KAREN’S VOICE
I can’t see-- My light is
out.
Dyson moves faster, desperate.
DYSON
Just keep talking and I’ll
find you.
Dyson keeps running through the dark ring, knocking equipment
and tools out of his way, and:
KAREN’S VOICE
I heard a noise.
DYSON
You heard me. I’m getting
closer--
(over more STATIC)
Look for my light. Do you
see the light?
KAREN’S VOICE
Dyson...are you a patriot?
Dyson stops running. A pause.
DYSON
(appeasing her)
Sure--96.KAREN’S VOICE
The country that controls my
work controls the future. I
tried to tell you.
DYSON
(getting angry)
Is that why you killed the
rest of the crew?
Over the STATIC, he hears the sound of the doctor LAUGHING
...a sick, doomed kind of laugh. Dyson starts to walk again.
KAREN’S VOICE
You don’t belong here, Dyson
... you never did. No one
from the private sector could
understand life on Station--
DYSON
So enlighten me.
KAREN’S VOICE
We’re not alone.
Dyson doesn’t like the sound of that, but shrugs it off fast.
DYSON
There’s no one else here...
just the two of us. I’m
going to find you, and then
we’re leaving--
The headset fills with STATIC.
DYSON (CONT’D)
Talk to me!
KAREN’S VOICE
I can see your light.
DYSON
Good, that’s good. Stay right
where you are -- I’m coming.
Dyson hurries through the next hatch, certain that he knows
where she is. He turns in a circle and his thin helmet beam
sweeps through the surroundings...but the doctor is not here.
KAREN’S VOICE
Dyson, is that you?
DYSON
(scared for her)
Karen--97.The sound of a GUNSHOT explodes in Dyson’s ears, turning into
an ELECTRONIC SHRIEK by the time he yanks off his headset and
Dyson turns in the direction of the blast and starts to run--
His magnetic boots connect to the floor with a loud KANG, his
progress maddeningly slow. No other sound but his BREATHING.
DYSON’S P.O.V. Running through the wreck in the dark, helmet
light illuminating the path and
Dyson squeezes through a hatch and finds all of the objects
in the next module SPIRALING CRAZILY, like something out of a
circus funhouse nightmare. His beam illuminates a RUPTURED
TANK still spewing its contents and creating this maelstrom--
He pushes the junk out of his way, desperate, trying to see
through the circling refuse and
DYSON’S P.O.V. The parting objects reveal KAREN hanging in
midair, pinwheeling , her wide eyes staring back at him. She
has a BULLET HOLE IN HER HEAD--
Dyson looks unhinged, half-crazed, like this madness has got
to stop. Another flashlight beam FLITS ACROSS THE WALLS of
the next module over, as if someone is escaping, and he runs.
Dyson YELLS as he races through the hatch, ready to find the
killer, to stop the murders and
He comes to a halt as his helmet beam shines directly on ANA.
She is standing at the far end of the module staring back at
him, each of them caught inside the other’s spotlight. Dyson
watches Ana point a GUN at him.
It’s the Russian pistol they hid outside the station earlier.
DYSON
(to himself)
No--
Ana’s demeanor is ice cold. Dyson takes one step closer and
she tenses, ready to shoot and
The station SHAKES worse than ever. Dyson is thrown off his
feet but finds a hand-hold. When he looks again, she’s GONE.
Dyson runs off into the dark after her, Ana’s flight leaving
a path through the objects tumbling in mid-air. He sees her
far ahead. Ana looks back and
She passes a piece of LARGE EQUIPMENT and pushes it toward
Dyson. He raises his arms to block it, but the impact sends
him crashing into the bulkhead.98.Dyson gets back onto his feet, picking up speed as he makes
his way through another hatch--
INT. DEAD-END MODULE -- DAY
DYSON rushes into the next module...and comes to a dead stop.
DYSON’S P.O.V. This is the end of the line. The next piece
of the habitat ring has been DESTROYED. There is nothing
beyond the far hatch but a vertiginous snapshot of the EARTH.
Dyson moves through the darkness. He finds no sign of Ana.
She must be here somewhere and
ANA (O.S.)
Here at the end we find
the truth.
A SPOTLIGHT illuminates Dyson--
He turns around to face her. ANA points the GUN at him, but
this time at point-blank range.
DYSON
What truth?
ANA
(emotionally)
You murdered them!
Dyson looks surprised by that--
DYSON
Where did you get the gun?
ANA
(like he knows)
It was floating in the air
beside the doctor -- right
where you left it.
Dyson takes a step toward her. Ana lifts the handgun higher.
The station SHAKES, violently.
DYSON
So pull the trigger.
ANA
I will--
DYSON
Maybe. Or maybe you know
these walls can’t take it.99.ANA
We will find out together
what these walls can take
if you come any closer.
DYSON
Put it down.
Ana doesn’t want to shoot but:
ANA
(insisting)
It has to be one of us...
There is no one else left
on Station!
DYSON
Why did you come up here?
ANA
You are late.
DYSON
You were supposed to prep
the Soyuz.
ANA
(escalating)
It is already prepped and
ready to go. How is that
possible?
DYSON
I don’t know...
(short pause)
... everybody is dead.
Dyson keeps coming closer. Ana won’t put the gun down. Now
her finger nudges the trigger.
A SHADOW passes over them and
Dyson and Ana turn toward the nearest PORTHOLE. They see
something outside the station that makes them both stop...but
we don’t know what it is yet--
Ana backs away from Dyson toward the node. He makes a move
but she keeps that gun on him.
ANA
Stay.
She crosses the last few feet, barrel trained on Dyson at all
times. Ana reaches the node--100.She steps inside and closes the hatch. Through the window we
see Ana pull her visor down as if preparing to go outside and
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- DAY
ANA floats away from the space station, a tether stretching
back to the crumpled hull and
She reaches out toward something, very slowly. THE GROWING
REFLECTION in her visor begins to take on the shape of a man.
Ana grabs hold of a familiar-looking SPACESUIT and maneuvers
herself into position to examine the front, finding the tag--
CLOSE-UP of the suit and a NAME TAG that says, “N. GIDZENKO. ”
ANA
Nicolay?
A dark emergency SUN SHIELD is down so Ana can’t see into the
suit, only her own distorted reflection staring back at her--
She reaches out with her thick glove and slides the visor up.
Ana opens her mouth and screams...a silent yell we don’t hear
in the airless void of space.
CUT TO:
INT. HABITAT RING -- DAY
DYSON looks out the porthole but can’t tell what’s happening.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- DAY
ANA struggles in the zero-gravity, turning the suit around so
that DYSON can know the truth:
CLOSE-UP of Nicolay’s advanced SPACESUIT. We can see the
inner contours of the helmet, the comfort padding, the radio
headset... The suit is EMPTY.
Their friend is not in there--
Dyson and Ana share an emotional look, one of them inside the
station, and the other outside. We see horror in their eyes.
CUT TO:101.INT. MEDICAL LAB -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY works side-by-side with KAREN in med lab. The doctor
steps out for a moment and Nicolay watches her go, moving
fast to snoop through a FILE--
CUT TO:
INT. OLD MODULES -- FLASHBACK
COMMANDER SUTTON opens a storage RACK and finds TEST TUBES
AND DATA. He looks surprised. NICOLAY floats up behind him
raising a HYPODERMIC SYRINGE in the air, plunging it down and
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY hangs on for dear life to the end of the ROBOTIC ARM.
CLOSE-UP of Nicolay’s thick GLOVE as he intentionally hits
the trigger to FIRE THRUSTERS.
Nicolay hurls away from the station toward the endless void--
CUT TO:
INT. BACK TO DYSON -- PRESENT
DYSON looks through the porthole at ANA. There is movement
in the shadows behind him and102.CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY stares out his helmet:
NICOLAY
I see Station, far away like
a star...
Soon we see that he is floating RIGHT OUTSIDE THE STATION and
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY watches that small robotic arm RELEASE THE GUN AND
AMMUNITION into space. He can’t believe his luck, and grins.
CUT TO:
INT. OUTER SPACE -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY is strapped to the side of the station using a sharp
tool to CUT A HOLE into the outer hull. He stops working and
CAMERA MOVES through the hole to find LUD inside the module--
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY lies on the hull looking relaxed and pretends to die:
NICOLAY
Everything is becoming fuzzy.
CUT TO:
EXT. RETURN TO ANA -- PRESENT
ANA floats in outer space looking back toward the station and
her expression slowly changes.
She sees a HAND reaching out of the darkness toward DYSON and
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- FLASHBACK
TESSLOFF, ANA, and DYSON hang outside the station attached to
one another by those long tether lines. Some distance behind
them, NICOLAY surreptitiously slips inside the open AIRLOCK--103.CUT TO:
INT. DOCKING BAY -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY wears only a common jumpsuit as he swings the hatch
closed and turns the locking mechanism, sealing CHEN inside--
CUT TO:
INT. DARK MODULE -- FLASHBACK
NICOLAY FIRES the gun at KAREN. The bullet passes through
her and RUPTURES A TANK. The interior of the module becomes
a hurricane as the high-pressure contents violently ERUPT.
Nicolay releases the gun and fights his way toward the hatch.
CUT TO:
INT. BACK TO DYSON -- PRESENT
DYSON sees the sudden alarm on ANA’S face, but too late, and
the hand reaching out from the darkness grabs his spacesuit--
NICOLAY RAISES A METAL PIPE high in the air and lands a
savage blow to Dyson’s helmet.
Dyson stumbles and almost falls, his face contorting in pain.
Nicolay disappears INTO THE SHADOWS just long enough for him
to reach a wall and push off again, REAPPEARING a few seconds
later hurling right at Dyson--
The metal pipe slams against his helmet and this time KNOCKS
DYSON OFF HIS FEET. He makes a complete rotation and strikes
the wall trying to hold on and
Dyson’s head is BLEEDING. He fights the pain, searching the
dark module for his attacker--
DYSON’S P.O.V. The habitat ring looks UPSIDE-DOWN and the
OBJECTS TUMBLING every which way add to his disorientation.
There is no sign of Nicolay...
Dyson uses all his strength to push off from the wall and get
his feet back on the floor. He takes a step into the center
of the module, and then another, his magnetic boots sounding
LOUD in the silence. Dyson is clumsy inside the suit. Slow.
NICOLAY DARTS PAST and hits him again, already out of sight
by the time Dyson reaches with his thick gloves to grab him--
He tries to spin around as Nicolay reappears BEHIND HIM, but
his lumbering movements are far too late. The pipe contacts
Dyson and he almost goes down.104.His helmet light is CRACKED. It flickers, and then GOES OUT.
Dyson stands in total darkness, looking ready to pass out as
he turns around and around, waiting for the next attack which
can come from any direction--
The long seconds pass. Suddenly we see movement ABOVE DYSON.
Nicolay pushes off from the ceiling and floats straight down,
striking Dyson with the pipe.
Dyson goes limp and begins to drift. Nicolay grabs onto the
front of his spacesuit and they float together. Slowly
Nicolay raises the metal pipe, ready to land the final blow--
He sees Dyson staring up at him, too weak to fight back, but
even now curious to know why.
Nicolay appears exhausted, taxed to his own limits, and the
truth pours out with emotion:
NICOLAY
Once I truly understood what
the doctor had discovered, I
knew I could never return to
an everyday life...no, Dyson,
I will be a hero.
(escalating)
The most significant medical
breakthrough of our time
will come home with me--for
my people--for Mother Russia!
A SPOTLIGHT shines on him. Nicolay turns to look. He sees
ANA just inside the hatch and
The GUN she is holding points at Nicolay, but the expression
on her face is indeterminate.
Ana moves the pistol so that the barrel is no longer trained
on her comrade. Nicolay sees her do it and smiles hopefully.
Ana FIRES one single shot and
CLOSE-UP of the new little BULLET HOLE in the hull as the air
inside the module SHRIEKS and
Dyson reaches up and slides his helmet visor back into place,
sealing his spacesuit with a FSSSSH. Without a suit of his
own, Nicolay can only watch--
The walls of the module BEGIN TO TWIST, like the station is
in the grip of a cruel giant.105.Nicolay lets go of Dyson and floats up into the air, looking
all around, becoming frantic--
Dyson and Ana start to pull themselves through the module and
The walls around them BURST APART. The noise STOPS and now
there is only the pieces drifting off in surreal SLOW MOTION.
Nicolay opens his mouth wide to breathe air that’s not there.
The hull above him continues to separate and NICOLAY FLOATS
TOWARD THE BLACK OF SPACE, a look of terror forever frozen on
his face. The man is dead and
Dyson and Ana leave the module and hurry through the hatch
into the next section, reaching out to help one another when
they start to falter, no sound but their desperate BREATHING.
Now this module BEGINS TO BREAK APART, the effect following
them like a wave, the hull silently but inexorably shattering
behind them, revealing EARTH--
Dyson and Ana run, float, and pull themselves through the
ring as fast as they can, the destruction a short distance
away from them, and then closer, suddenly passing them by and
The metal around them divides. Dyson and Ana LEAP OVER THE
GAPS IN THE HULL, navigating a station that is steadily
disintegrating around them and
Dyson and Ana propel themselves through the remains of the
ISS until the individual fragments are so far apart it can
hardly be said that they are inside the space station at all.
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- DAY
DYSON and ANA float side-by-side through a SEA OF WRECKAGE,
large sections of hull all around them, and countless smaller
objects tumbling about wildly.
They grab onto a piece of the habitat ring, holding onto it
and each other, trying to see:
DYSON’S AND ANA’S P.O.V. Some distance away the SOYUZ ESCAPE
VESSEL is floating free, the hatch wide open as always, still
attached to the remains of what used to be an old AIRLOCK and
Dyson and Ana share a long look, and decide. They both jump.
DYSON’S AND ANA’S P.O.V. Hurtling through a man-made maze
toward the ship. A jagged piece of the station advances into
their path, tumbling slowly. Dyson and Ana float toward it--106.The enormous fragment drifts out of the way and the Soyuz is
close, too close, right there.
Dyson and Ana hit what is left of the old airlock and react
to the pain, rolling and sliding until they both find a grip.
They move toward the hatch and
Dyson and Ana struggle to open a control box. Pull a SWITCH.
The coupling detaches and that broken remnant of the airlock
FLOATS AWAY, passing safely over and around them as they hold
onto the hatch acting relieved. Now they sense something.
Dyson and Ana turn to look and
HUGE CHUNKS OF THE STATION are floating toward them, ripped
and torn wreckage moving silently forward, taking on enormous
proportions as they close in--
Dyson and Ana climb through the hatch, a maddeningly slow
process, the wreckage ALMOST ON THEM, even bigger than it
first seemed, no time left and
Dyson and Ana pull themselves inside and swing the door shut.
THE WRECKAGE STRIKES the Soyuz and sends the capsule spinning
violently end-over-end, plummeting downward toward the Earth.
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE SOYUZ -- DAY
DYSON and ANA struggle to pull themselves inside the cramped
cockpit. They take the seats.
Outside the porthole, the UNIVERSE SPINS faster and faster,
the ship accelerating as the blue of Earth and the black of
space begins to BLUR, rotating over a dozen times per second.
Ana desperately works a series of switches powering up the
ship. Dyson grabs a joystick.
DYSON’S AND ANA’S P.O.V. The controls will not stop SHAKING.
Dyson holds on tight with both hands, behind the stick of a
ship again, fighting to stay conscious but determined to fly.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- DAY
MANEUVERING JETS FIRE on the Soyuz in opposition to the spin.
Very soon their rate of rotation decreases, still too fast
but slowing steadily, obviously under the control of a pilot,
regaining the proper attitude relative to the planet horizon.107.More jets fire and the SHIP FLOATS peacefully over the Earth.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. THE COCKPIT -- DAY
DYSON and ANA sit inside the cramped cockpit of the Soyuz.
They look out the porthole and
THE WRECKAGE OF THE SPACE STATION is spread out across an
incredible distance, glistening in the sun, oddly compelling.
For several moments they stay like that, unable to move or
avert their eyes from Station.
Then Ana simply reaches out and takes Dyson’s hand. He looks
at her. Dyson holds on tight.
They share a last moment, taking comfort in one another, and
both agreeing that it’s time--
DYSON
Let’s go home.
Dyson and Ana begin to work the control panel to prepare the
Soyuz for the coming re-entry.
CAMERA MOVES, leaving Dyson and Ana to the business at hand,
slowly dropping down past the endless toggles and switches to
the floor of the old capsule--
Underneath their seats rests a familiar METAL TRANSPORT CASE
that will change the world....
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE -- DAY
The tiny RUSSIAN CAPSULE leaves the debris field behind and
descends below the planet horizon, RE-ENTRY TRAILS appearing
around the Soyuz as Dyson and Ana enter the upper-atmosphere.
We follow the spaceship downward toward white clouds and deep
blue sea, the welcome surface of the EARTH growing larger and
FADE OUT.108. | screenplays |
Why is the chemical formula for vinegar CH3COOH what it is? [duplicate]
**This question already has answers here**:
[Which one is the best notation for sodium acetate](/questions/33135/which-one-is-the-best-notation-for-sodium-acetate)
(3 answers)
Closed 6 years ago.
I am quite new to chemistry, but I would like to think that I have mastered the basics. This would include naming and writing out chemical formulas. However, once I had seen the formula for vinegar ($\ce{CH3COOH}$), I was bewildered.
It would have made sense to me that the formula would be more, say, "compacted" into just $\ce{C2H4O2}$. What is the reasoning behind this odd way of writing such formulas and when should I use it (it seems like this could be a huge gap in my knowledge)
CH3COOH is an accepted and common form of writing the structure of acetic acid (commonly known as vinegar when diluted in water). You are right in saying the formal notation should be used - which is C2H4O2 - since it gives the reader the types of atoms and their quantities, and these two characteristics define the exact **composition** of the molecule, and there's nothing wrong with that.
However, the notation CH3COOH takes you one step further and tells you something about the actual structure of the molecule, since it groups together the atoms that comprise a functional group, and a very important one at that. Grouping together COOH is an accepted and convenient form of communicating to the reader: "there is a carboxylic group here", or "this molecule is actually a carboxylic acid", which is something you'd like to know when dealing with a certain substance.
To summarize, C2H4O2 can be the molecular structure for acetic acid or formate (formic ester, as mentioned in another answer). In order to avoid confusion and, more importantly, indicate that there is a carboxylic group in the molecule, it is more convenient and straightforward to note it in the formula than letting readers figure it out themselves.
Carboxylic acid and ester are functional group isomers which means that both of them has the same formula but different functional groups.
Lets take the example of $\ce{C2H4O2}$.
Carboxylic acid : $\ce{CH3COOH}$
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/JF9Lt.png)
Ester : $\ce{HCOOCH3}$
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/qLB9M.png)
To avoid the confusion formulas like $\ce{CH3COOH}$ are used.
The short answer is that CH3COOH indicates (by convention) that this compound has both a methyl group and a carboxylic acid group. (The group COOH is generally understood to be the C(O)OH group or C(=O)OH where the double bond "=" and the parentheses are implied.) Note that the organic acid in vinegar is acetic acid, but acetic acid is NOT vinegar!!! Vinegar is an aqueous mixture, not a chemical compound, vinegar is biologically derived and generally includes hundreds of other chemical compounds. As far as the basics of chemistry, no you haven't mastered them. Consider the difference between red phosphorus and white phosphorus. White phosphorus ignites at 30°C, red at 300°C. Or consider graphite, buckyballs, diamond, and graphene - all are "just" carbon, but their properties vary enormously. You haven't identified a chemical compound until you know *both* its atomic formula AND the bonding between its atoms. The common example is dimethyl ether H3C-O-CH3 and ethyl alcohol CH3CH2OH. Their atomic formula is identical, but one is a gas, and the other is a liquid (at STP). One is fermented in our guts and the other is used as a propellant for aerosol cans. To say that vinegar "is" acetic acid is like saying beer "is" ethyl alcohol.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Ranma 1. Truth: The First Step
The song, "To Face the Truth" is the Pet Shop Boys. Characters from Ranma 1/2 are Rumiko Takahashi's.
Well, this is it. A prequel of sorts to my earlier fanfic, "The Question." I know it's long (I tend to get pretty long winded), but I hope you read it anyway. It's my second fanfic ever, so let me know what you think and please be gentle!
**To Face the Truth**
That's it, Akane thought angrily. It's over. I'll go crazy if I have to keep doing this! She sank down onto her bed. Who am I kidding? I'm already crazy…I've just stepped one foot further off the edge.
_You know it hurts me when you lie
Sometimes it even makes me cry
'Cause I'm so in love with you_
Ever since the return of the vacationing suitors and their intrusive parents, their budding relationship downshifted from hopeful to pathetic. Ranma, still convinced that hiding his feelings would buy them a little more time, denied any inklings of a possible love affair left and right.
"As if I WANTED to spend time with that tomboy!" he snorted to Ukyo. "Everyone else was gone…it was SO boring, what else was I supposed to do?"
"Take care of that uncute thing?" he declared to the his parents and Mr. Tendo. "She as tough as a bull with hemorrhoids and twice as ugly. She's a terrible cook and her temper is fifty times worse!"
"Train that untalented, violent girl?" he broadcasted to the Amazon faction. "She couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag with holes cut in it!"
_If you don't believe what I have said
Take a look, my eyes are red
'Cause I'm so in love with you_
With every cutting remark, it grew harder for Akane to find words to fight back with. Lately it hurt too much to even mallet him and she opted instead for running away, sometimes just barely fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. She couldn't even bring herself to get mad at him! Not when every fiber of her heart kept fighting to remember how it was before everyone returned.
_But all those sleepless nights in bed
When you've been out somewhere instead
I wonder if you care and cannot bear the proof
It hurts too much to face the truth
To face the truth_
Every night Akane waited for Ranma to tap on her window to be let into her room. If only I could just talk to him! If we could just laugh and joke about what a great actor he's become, if I could just touch him gently instead of slapping his face, if I could just look past the shutter he's pulled over his eyes. She sighed. If I could do those things, any of those things, the world would be all right again. Every night she sat up waiting, not even letting P-Chan in, refusing to fall asleep lest she miss his entrance. But he never came.
_A lawyer with a case to prove,
Would sift the evidence, then move
It's the only thing to do
So why then can't I face the facts?
Sift this evidence that backs
I'm so in love with you_
For the first time in a long time, Ranma had no idea what Akane may be thinking. He knew she desperately needed to talk to him, to reassure herself that what they had existed. He knew this because he felt the same way but he also knew there was nothing he could do about it. So many people were suspicious already…he couldn't risk it. Not when her life was at stake. He'd already decided. He'd sacrifice what they had now for what they could have in the future. It was the only thing to do. When they were older, when he was even stronger, smarter, faster than he was now, then they'd be together, the way they wanted to be, forever.
_But all the nights when you have said
You must be somewhere else instead
I wonder where you go, but daren't expose the truth
It hurts to much to face the truth
To face the truth
To face the truth_
Akane tossed and turned as she greeted yet another sleepless night. Why didn't he come?
On the roof above her Ranma rubbed his palms against his tired eyes. He never went to her at night, instead opting to mourn on the roof above her bedroom. It was the closest he'd allow himself to be to her. He couldn't get close to her, not now, especially since he knew, deep down inside, that not even all the training in the world could fix what was had been broken.
_You are the only one, the only one_
"I love you, Akane," a whisper, only heard by one.
"I love you, Ranma," the unheard reply.
"So much," a chorus that fell on deaf ears.
_You know it hurts me when you lie
Sometimes it even makes me cry
'Cause I'm so in love with you_
Akane wished she could have done it privately. Her pride wouldn't let her. The need to start over, to end the pain was too strong.
"Leaving?" Ranma asked disbelievingly. "Where do you think you're going?"
The room was still; the tension that engulfed it prohibited anyone from moving.
"Miss Hinako recommended it. She believes in me…she thinks I have a really good chance."
She couldn't go on, too afraid that she would burst into tears and beg him to beg her to stay. Underneath the table, Kasumi took her hand and continued for her sister, "Akane applied to a very prestigious cram school and got in. The school will giver her the boost she needs to get into a really excellent university."
"Where will you be staying, Akane?" This from Nodoka, who, while addressing Akane, glanced at her son through the corner of her eye.
Kasumi began to answer the question but Akane stopped her by shaking her head imperceptibly. "Nabiki found a great place for me to stay. Since I'll be working for one of the residents, the rent is really cheap." She forced a teasing smile onto her face. "And don't go trying to follow me Ranma. It's an all-girls dorm complete with hot spring so even you couldn't disguise yourself for long." She got up and turned to leave the room. "Please excuse me. I need to pack now."
_If you don't believe what I have said
Take a look, my eyes are red
'Cause I'm so in love with you_
"So, you're really going, huh?" Ranma asked as he leaned against her doorway.
"Yup."
"And there's nothing I can do to stop you."
"Nope."
"Dammit, Akane," he charged into the room, his voice a forceful whisper. "How can you just give up on us? How can you just leave?"
"Do you think it's easy for me?" she hissed back, every bit as quiet, every bit as forceful. It was easier, really. Easier to start over in a brand new place than to see memories of them in every corner. Easier to meet strangers than to be with people who loved him too. Easier to try to forget and begin anew then to live in the painful construct in what could have been.
"I just need a little more time. I can figure this thing out. I need more time." I need you, I need us.
"I'll stay, Ranma. But only if we tell them now. Tell everyone everything."
Sheer terror at the consequences of doing that made his blood run cold. "I can't do that, Akane. I can't risk losing you that way."
"We are losing, Ranma. We can win if we are in it together." Together…it's the only way I want us to be.
He shook his head again. "Not this way, Akane. I need more time. Please…stay."
"I'll stay, Ranma. I'll stay if you can do something for us."
_But all the nights you don't show up
I know it's time I should grow up
I ask you if you care, you stand and stare, aloof_
Everyone turned up at the house to see Akane off. She would go to the station alone, Nabiki had gone through great pains to keep her new home a secret.
"Well, this is it," she proclaimed, a little too loudly, drown out her father's wails, a little too brightly to drown out the sorrows in her heart. Her eyes met Ranma's.
Ranma held her gaze in an attempt to put all his feelings in that last look. I can't do it, Akane. I can't say it in front of all these people. They'd kill you.
Akane looked back, whispered one last "I loved you" with her eyes.
The shutters that hid their emotions came down at the same time. Akane turned around and opened up the door of the cab. "Goodbye," she called out the window as the cab drove away.
_It hurts too much to face the truth
To face the truth
To face the truth_
2. Think: The Second Step
The song "Think" belongs to the Information Society. Ranma 1/2 characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
****
Think
__
Imagine if I said I sometimes need you
--I need you to this day
Imagine if I said I sometimes hear you call my name.
Some would say that it happened unexpectedly. Others may remark that it was only a matter of time. What matters most is that they did it: they turned the arguing and fighting into something else, something more. It was easy to do, really when all the obstacles were gone on various winter escapades.
Being together was easy when they let it be. At first, they hung out together because they were bored. It wasn't too long before they began seeking each other out to train, to see a movie, to get ice cream, to sit, contemplating the stars.
__
Imagine if I said I still could love you.
Imagine what you'd say.
Imagine if I said I sometimes still could see your face.
It wasn't love at first, not for Ranma and Akane. It was admitting. Admitting that there was something there. It was wanting. Wanting that something to grow into something else. It was easy to do really, when they both dropped their guards and allowed themselves to see each other the way they wanted to be seen.
Neither one knew when it happened. When the something between them grew to affection, to needing, to love. Even when their feelings changed, each waited for the other to say something. Even though the confessions never really came, each knew how the other felt. It was obvious in the way the spoke to each other, the way some part of them was always touching, the way their eyes softened at just the right moment.
__
Think about all the things we shared.
Think about all the times we cared.
When all of your hopes have come and gone,
Think about me and I'll be there
The short time they had together felt like forever. It was easy really, when you shared your darkest fears, your deepest secrets, your wishes and dreams with the one person you knew could understand it all. Nightmares weren't so bad when you knew that someone who could make them disappear with a word. Forever is easy to realize when you're doing it together.
__
There's something in the air that feels like winter
--The kind we used to know.
Yesterday can seem like such a long, long time ago.
Nabiki captured everything they felt in a single picture. Ranma and Akane were out wrestling in the snow. Nabiki and her camera seemed to appear out of nowhere to capture their antics on film. She took just one picture. It was freezing outside, she complained, and disappeared, eager to get back to the warmth of the house. The pair looked at each other. He had her pinned. There was snow everywhere…in their hair, on their eyelashes, up their noses. Their cheeks were stained red with cold. Somehow nothing mattered anymore.
Akane grinned at Ranma. "How long do you think we can lay here like this?"
Ranma grinned back and nuzzled his cold forehead to hers. "How long do you want to?"
__
Who could ever count the miles between us?
But now I know it's true.
Imagine if I said that all my dreams were dreams of you.
She was living in a different place now. She left, hoping to escape to a new existence. But existence was futile. No matter how far away she tried to get, he was always there…one heartbeat away. She could sleep now, but it didn't matter because he filled her dreams.
__
Think about all the things we shared.
Think about all the times we cared.
When all of your hopes have come and gone,
Think about me and I'll be there.
Think about images we've drawn.
Think about all the empty songs.
Whenever you're sure that I won't dare,
Think about me and I'll be gone.
He spent the entire night before she left thinking. He couldn't sleep. She had given him an ultimatum. She challenged him to tell her how he truly felt in front of parents and rivals. To stand up in front of the ones he thought mattered and confess his feelings. If he could do that, she'd stay.
He was convinced that she was bluffing. The part of him that saw her departure as a way to seek attention won out. The day she left he was silent. When she got in the cab, he hurt so much he couldn't even cry.
__
It took me a long long time to learn
That love is a thing you have to earn
I finally realized it's true
I just can't make it without you
Akane added Ranma's letter to the envelope she was sending Kasumi. As she sealed the envelope, she hoped that this one would find him, that his mother would finally track him down and pass along her prayers. Did she lose her chance? Did she throw it all away? Did she lose him forever? She hadn't realized how much she needed him until he walked out of her life completely, impossible for even a Chinese Amazon to track. If she saw him again, would she be able to tell him how she really felt? Would he feel the same way? Could she go on living if he didn't?
Most of the time, Ranma didn't even know where he was. Once in a while, he'd write a quick letter to his mother, letting her know that yes, he was safe, and yes, he was alive, but just barely. It was as if, by trekking across Japan he could find something that he had lost a long time ago. What would he do if he ever got it back?
__
Think about all the things we shared.
Think about all the times we cared.
When all of your hopes have come and gone,
Think about me and I'll be there.
Think about images we've drawn.
Think about all the empty songs.
Whenever you're sure that I won't dare,
Think about me and I'll be gone.
3. A Half Step to the End
The characters from Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi. The characters from _Love Hina_ belong to Ken Akamatsu.
**Never a Day--Prologue**
Ranma surveyed his surroundings. It didn't really matter though. He hadn't been traveling that long and already every place he visited seemed the same. I wonder if this is how Ryoga feels, he thought wryly.
"Where on earth am I now?" he said, chuckling softly. He walked a little further until he came upon a sign at the base of a large flight of steps.
Hinata House? The thudding of footsteps and a whoosh as somebody whizzed by him interrupted his musings. Ranma barely had time to process someone calling out "Naru!" when a body came flying off the steps right at him.
It really does pay to be a martial artist once in a while, he thought as he caught the human cannonball and braced himself as they tumbled backwards.
Ranma quickly sprang to his feet. "Are you all right, miss?" he asked the dark-haired girl before him as he helped her up.
"Yes sir," the girl replied with a bow. "Thank you for catching me."
"Aw…it was nothing, really," he replied. Another girl who was panting quite heavily soon joined them.
"Shinobu, are you okay?" the newcomer asked, concern evident in her voice. "You scared me to death!"
"I'm fine, Naru," Shinobu answered, still a little out of breath herself. "This nice gentleman caught me."
The older girl turned to Ranma with a smile. "Thanks for saving my friend. I'm Narusegawa Naru and this is Maehara Shinobu," she said, gesturing towards the younger girl.
Ranma smiled back. "I'm Saotome Ranma. It's nice to meet the both of you."
Naru frowned. Why did that name sound so familiar? She peeked down at her watch. Oops, no time to think about it now. She was already running late. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Saotome. If you'll excuse me, I have to go now. I'm late."
"Please hold on a second, Naru. You're meeting sempai and Akane, right?" When Naru nodded, Shinobu continued, "I have something here for Akane. Something she's been waiting for…" she broke off suddenly, patting her pockets. "Oh no!" she wailed "I must have dropped it when I fell!"
Ranma had gone very still when he heard the name Akane. No way. It can't be. Akane is a pretty popular name after all…isn't it?
"Wait, here it is!" Shinobu exclaimed happily, as she handed an envelope to Naru. "Please tell Akane that I hope it has the news she's been waiting for!"
Ranma tried to glance at the name on the envelope as subtly as possible. The handwriting…had he seen it before?
Naru grabbed the letter and took off. "Bye, Shinobu! It was nice to meet you, Mr. Saotome!" she called over her shoulder.
Ranma was a ball of confusion. It can't be…it can't be, he chanted over and over in his head. But I need to know if it is…just in case. In a blink of an eye, he took off after Naru, hurriedly trying to be inconspicuous.
His behavior did not go unnoticed. "What was THAT all about?" Shinobu wondered to herself as the young man dashed off.
4. Never a Day: The Last Step
The song "Never a Day" is by Wood. The characters from Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi. The characters from _Love Hina_ belong to Ken Akamatsu.
**Never a Day**
_Don't go standin' there
Blockin' my view,
And spoilin' my night
You know why we're here
She's an old flame
I'm tryin' to light
And if beauty sleep
Can really work
She must have just woken up
So rub your eyes
'Cause seein' is believin'_
Ranma followed Naru to a coffee shop with a pretty patio decorated with a number of tables. He watched as she plopped down at a table already occupied by a young couple. He didn't need to look twice. Even from a distance he could tell that the other girl at the table was Akane…his Akane. She looked the same as she always did and yet different. It didn't matter. She could have shaved her head and gained two hundred pounds, bleached her hair and tattooed herself from head to toe, she could have altered her appearance in a thousand different ways, he would know her anywhere, could feel her presence no matter what she looked like. Somehow, he felt lighter and heavier at the same time.
_Never a day goes by
Without something
Stopping me hard in my tracks
I could be happy
And I'll never even know it
Till never a day comes back_
Akane shifted in her seat. A funny feeling came over her quite suddenly. Not a bad funny feeling, but a good one. It felt like, somewhere deep inside her, she found something she had lost. She hadn't felt this way in a long time. Not since she left Nerima.
"Are you okay, Akane?" Keitaro asked over the rims of his glasses.
Akane nodded and smiled at her friend. "I'm fine. I just got this weird feeling all of a sudden."
Naru raised an eyebrow. "Oh, before I forget, I have something for you. It looks like a letter from your sister. Shinobu knew how much you were looking forward to it and about killed herself trying to get it to you. Which reminds me…" her words faltered as Akane ripped the letter open, eager to read its contents. Naru and Keitaro watched as the happiness that lit up their friend's face dimmed with disappointment.
"Still no word, huh?" Keitaro asked, putting a sympathetic arm around her shoulder.
"No. Still no word." Akane bit her lip. Maybe if I bite down hard enough I can stop the tears. "I've written so many letters. Kasumi keeps passing them on to Auntie Saotome, but…" she swallowed hard then continued, "apparently he doesn't stay in one place long enough to actually receive letters."
"What are you going to do?" Naru whispered, her voice quiet with sadness for her friend.
"Keep writing, I guess," Akane answered, shrugging dejectedly. "It helps me too…in a way. Even if he never gets to read the letters…it feels as if…even if I just get my feelings on paper, he'll hear me in a way." She growled in frustration. "It sounds stupid, I know."
"It's NOT stupid!" Keitaro exclaimed. "If you believe in it, it WILL work. Keep writing, Akane. If your hand ever cramps up, just let me know and I'll write the letters for you!"
"Idiot," Naru laughed. "As if anyone could read your handwriting!"
Akane looked up at Keitaro and laughed too. He always knew how to cheer her up. Just like Ranma did. Which made sense, since he was always the one making her mad in the first place.
Suddenly, Naru shot out of her chair. "Oh no, Keitaro! If we don't hurry, we're going to be late for that lecture. ARGH! Why does it feel like I'm one step behind everything today?" She yanked Keitaro out of his chair.
Keitaro began digging around in his backpack. "Uh oh…uhm…Naru…I think I forgot my wallet."
"IDIOT! I don't have time for this!"
"Sorry, sorry," he looked pleadingly over at Akane, who giggled and waved them off. "Don't worry about it," she replied. "I'm on my way to work anyway. Now, SHOO!"
As Naru dragged Keitaro off, something niggled at the back of her mind. Something had happened not too long ago that reminded her there was something she wanted to ask Akane. Then Keitaro tripped over his shoelace and grabbed her to keep from falling and all was forgotten as she walloped him on the head.
Glancing fondly at her friends, Akane thought of how much they reminded her of another couple. Oh well, I guess it's time to go. She called the waiter over for the check, but he shook his head. "Thank you miss, but your bill has already been taken care of."
"It has?"
"Yes, by the young man right over there." He turned to gesture behind himself. "Well what do you know? He's gone."
_If words alone sound cheap
When I come around
You'll wanna be out
I want that window seat
If I'm going down
I wanna see out_
Without taking his eyes off her, Ranma tried to find a table where he could continue to watch Akane and, if he was lucky, hear her voice. Unfortunately, the shop was a busy one and, though he had an excellent view of the back of her head, he couldn't hear a word she was saying.
"May I get you anything, sir?"
Ranma frowned up at the waiter who was obstructing his view of Akane. "No thanks, I'm fine."
The waiter grimaced. He'd seen it all. This guy was obviously stalking some girl while she, a paying customer, was enjoying her coffee. Well, he'd show him. No poor innocent flower would be ogled by a cheap pervert who was taking up valuable table space on his watch! "I'm sorry sir. Only paying customers may sit at a table."
Ranma frowned harder. Who did this guy think he was? "Get me some water then."
The waiter remained stoic. "Water is free sir."
Ranma frowned even harder. "Fine…some tea then," he snapped.
The waiter forced a small smile onto his face. "What kind of tea sir? We have 55 different flavors there's…"
Ranma reached up and grabbed the waiter's shirt. "I don't care what flavor. I don't care what you get me. Just get me something that will get you out of my face," he snarled, releasing the man. "Not anything cold…make it hot…really hot." Better safe than sorry.
The waiter scrambled away. Ranma continued to watch Akane. Even after going so long without seeing her, he felt that familiar tug that drew him to her since that first day. Somehow, just seeing her like this, he felt complete again. He was very tempted to get closer to her, to hear her voice, to talk to her. As if such seemingly simple acts could help him move on, to gain…what was it called again? Oh yeah. Closure.
_And she's happy now
I'm goin' home
Another day
Another cruel reminder_
Ranma watched as the guy put his arm around Akane. Jealousy and anger instantly flared. Who did that guy think he was? He was halfway out of his chair before he stopped himself. His insides ached as he remembered that he had given up any rights he had a long time ago.
He steeled himself. I just need to make sure she's happy. If she's happy, then I'll go. I won't follow her, won't talk to her, won't think about her. If she's happy, then I'll just get up and walk away. Oh Akane, please be sad…I need you to be sad.
His universe shattered when Akane looked up at the guy next to her, a smile on her lips, and laughter in her eyes. Jaw clenched, he signaled the waiter over. "The bill please. Oh, and I'll take care of the bill for that table over there too."
_Never a day goes by
Without something
Stopping me hard in my tracks
I could be happy
And I'll never even know it
Till never a day comes back_
Ranma sat on a park bench, his head in his hands. Well, that's it. It's definitely over now. I'll just pick up and move on. Maybe I'll head back home for a little bit. See mom. Nah…too many memories of…I mean, it's way too far out of the way. So…where to next? Where did I put that stupid map?
He dug around in his knapsack for a little bit before triumphantly brandishing what he thought was a map. He looked down at it and groaned. It wasn't a map, but a picture. The picture Nabiki had taken of him and Akane that snowy day so long ago. He stared at it for a long moment and was about to shove it back into his bag when the wind whipped it out of his hands.
_Could be a song on the radio
Could be that feeling from long ago
Could be that accidental photo I find
When I'm looking for something else
But I found you_
Akane decided to cut through the park on the way to the Hinata Café. She was a little early, but that only meant she could chat with Mutsumi for a little bit. For all her ditziness, Mutsumi had a tendency to be lightheartedly insightful.
A gentle breeze rolled through the park, carrying the faint strains of someone's radio to Akane's ears. The funny feeling was back again, this time squeezing harder on her heart. She glanced up to see a piece of paper fluttering just out of her reach. She jumped up to reach it the same time someone else did. The owner of the unidentified body crashed into her, then tightened his arms and shifted so that he took the brunt of the fall.
More than a little dazed, Akane glanced down at the paper…no wait, it was a picture, she was holding in her hands. She was surprised to see her own face smiling back at her. But it wasn't just her in the picture…there was someone else. She turned around to face the person who held her tight despite the fact that they were now safe on the ground.
"Ranma?"
_Never a day goes by
Without something
Stopping me hard in my tracks
I could be happy
And I'll never even know it
Till never a day comes back_
Ranma swallowed. He had known it was her when he leapt into the air to snatch the picture. He had known since he saw her from across the park. He had known and he still couldn't stop himself from racing toward her, from grabbing her in the air, from cushioning her fall. Even now he couldn't let go, couldn't help himself from burying his face in her hair.
He felt her turn in his arms and reluctantly loosened his hold. He heard her say his name, but couldn't bring himself to respond.
"Ranma…" she said again. "How…" she couldn't continue. The funny feeling was squeezing her throat, her lungs; she couldn't speak, let alone breathe.
Ranma braced himself. Although she didn't say anything, the many ways she could end that sentence roared through his head. How could you do this to me? How could you grab me like that? How could you even think that we could just pick up where we left off? How could you think I could love an idiot like you?
Go ahead, he thought defiantly. Hit me, punch me, hurt me for finding you when you didn't want me to. I don't care. It was worth it to see you again, to hold you again…it was worth anything.
Akane tried again. She had finally placed the funny feeling that paralyzed her. It was relief. It was joy. It was love. It was knowing that she was right, that her letters had worked in their own way, that he was with her again…this time to stay.
It was easy now, to smile, even if it was filled with tears. "How long do you think we can lay here like this?"
Ranma smiled back shakily. He leaned forward so that his forehead touched hers. "How long do you want to?"
_Never a day goes by
Without something
Stopping me hard in my tracks
I could be happy
And I'll never even know it
Till never a day comes back_
End file.
| fanfiction |
Neverwinter Nights 1. Prologue
**I have been a fan of NWN for about two years now, and just recently fell in love with the game again. I know it's geeky, but here it is: my first ever fanfiction for anything other than a book. Enjoy.**
* * *
Prologue
The city of Neverwinter was shrouded in mist, a curtain of dark clouds hanging low over the midnight sky. Lord Nasher's spymaster stood silently by the silver window, blending seamlessly with the shadows. The night was quiet, the air fresh and cool, and Aarin Gend had many duties to be fulfilling, but he did not move.
_Something is wrong_.
A spy does not develop a habit of speaking to himself aloud, so Aarin Gend thought this over silently. More minutes passed.
_The city is peaceful…the invaders are gone…but something is wrong._
Then came a noise outside the door of his room. It was so soft that another man would have missed it; Aarin, however, was a spymaster, and he missed nothing. Running footsteps, swift and silent, the run of a barefoot tread.
He crossed the room, opened the door, and stood on the threshold. Around the turn in the corridor, a brief flash of silver disappeared from sight, along with a feathery black flicker at the edge of his vision.
_It's her_.
The worst part was not that he had recognized her, but that he knew exactly where she was going.
* * *
She should have kept going. She should have stopped only after she breached the gates of Neverwinter. And yet, as she darted through the doors of the castle, she slowed to a walk, and eventually stopped in front of the fountain.
How could she leave? How could she leave without saying goodbye?
_I have to_. Gripping her head tightly in both gauntleted hands, she stared into the glittering, reflective waters of the fountain. _They would try to stop me. No matter how angry Lord Nasher is with me, he can't let go of his hero, his image for Neverwinter._
Yet even as she forced herself to think _they_, she knew it was really only one person she was thinking of. One person who she couldn't bear to leave. The one person who was making this migration, this natural moving on, the hardest thing she had ever done in her life.
When he woke in the morning, what would he think? Would he wait for her, thinking that she must have simply slept in, as she had done so often before now? Or would he know? How much pain would she cause him?
The idea of his pain was the only thing that was locking her feet in place. The idea that her leaving would hurt him somehow, since he obviously loved her so much more than she deserved. _I can't stay any longer. Aarin is strong. He'll get over it._
She had to leave. But why did that mean she couldn't say goodbye?
She turned, and of course, she had not heard his approach. Nobody heard him when he wanted to be silent.
"Aarin?"
* * *
She looked so lost then, as she whispered his name, that he wanted nothing more than to make her happy. To tell her to run far from here, to roam the lands as long as she wanted, because he loved her. And for a moment, he was almost strong enough to do so.
Then, of course, as she remained cautiously by the fountain and did not come to him, it faded. The moonlight glimmered on her soft, white-golden locks of shoulder-length hair, and he longed to press her to his chest and kiss away all of the doubt and pain he saw in her cobalt eyes. She was holding her boots in her hand, as intelligent as ever; bare feet were much quieter than booted ones.
"You're leaving." It was not a question, but it required a response.
It tore at his heart to see the agony flash across her face. "I _have_ to, Aarin. It isn't right for me – all of it. I'm a druid. I belong in the forest. Not this city – not here."
"That isn't it," he whispered.
"Aarin, I…" She bit down on her bottom lip so hard he expected to see it bleed. Around her neck was the amulet he had given her, so long ago – long ago, when the sun of Port Llast had made their troubles seem meaningless.
His gaze traced the scars on her neck and hands, testament to that last battle with the Dread Queen Morag. A battle he had not been able to see her through. A battle he had feared she would not return from…
"I was going to come back," she admitted. "To say goodbye. I couldn't go without – I couldn't bear it."
A shadow appeared next to her and blurred into the shape of an enormous dire wolf; her companion, Zephyr. The animal pushed his thick snout beneath her palm and whined gently. "Thank you, Zev," she murmured.
If he loved her enough…if he truly loved her…he would let her go. If it was what she wanted, it was what he must let her do. No matter that watching her walk away would be like ripping his already mutilated heart from his chest. No matter that every second spent without her was an eternity spent in blinding torture.
The dire wolf raised its head and gazed at Aarin with eternally wise amber eyes. _What are you going to do?_ it seemed to ask him.
What was he going to do?
* * *
"Come with me."
The words spilled out before she could stop them, because it was what she wanted most, the only way to fix everything. She knew it was incredibly selfish to expect him to come. He owed his service to Neverwinter.
But she was weak enough to be selfish, when it came to Aarin.
"Please come with me." She went to him, burying her face in his chest and folding her arms around his neck. She felt his warm arms wrap around her back, pressing her to him, and breathed in his sweet, musky scent. It was the smell of safety. "We could go…far away, and…be happy. I love you. How much do you love me?"
He sighed and wrapped his arms tighter around her. Behind her, Zephyr whimpered softly – he had never liked seeing her in such close contact with humans – and she shushed him with a soft click of her tongue.
"I'm still a prisoner. It may not seem like it, but I still must serve."
"Lord Nasher wouldn't try to find us. He knows when to let you go." The words felt like lies on her tongue. Lord Nasher may not expend undue effort on finding Aarin, but he would certainly pour all of Neverwinter's resources into finding her.
"I _wish_ I could go with you…I wish it like you wouldn't believe. But I just can't, Cath." She shivered, as usual, when he said her name. He pressed his chin into the top of her head in response, but continued speaking. "I can't…I told you that if I had to choose between love and duty…"
"I'm not Calli, Aarin!" She felt angry tears beginning to pool at the corners of her eyes and tried to pull away to wipe them off, but she could have been tugging on a stone statue. "You either love me enough, or you don't!"
* * *
How could he do this?
How could he let her go alone? Who knew what dangers faced her on the lonely roads leading away from Neverwinter? How could he let her go, not knowing if he would ever see her again, not knowing when or if she would be safe?
How could he abandon Neverwinter?
"The city needs me," he pleaded helplessly, breathing in the scent of her hair. "I have to help Neverwinter rebuild. Lord Nasher needs me now more than ever. I can't just leave him."
"Can you leave me?" She glared up at him, and a pang of agony shot through him as he saw the moisture clinging to her eyelashes. He could not hurt her. He must _not_ hurt her. "Will you leave me for Neverwinter?"
He relinquished his hold, since he could tell now that she was struggling to escape his arms. Once she was free, she skipped back several paces, her half-elfin grace compensating for the tumble she would have taken otherwise.
"It's you or a whole city," he whispered. "And I don't deserve you. I never have. I don't know why you love me."
"I understand, Aarin." Her words caught him off guard, but not as much as the bitter tone in which she said them. "You would stay and try to rebuild a city that's going to die whatever you do. I won't ask you anymore to come with me." She reached for the amulet hanging from her neck and unclasped it, holding it out to him. "Take it. It'll just be a burden on the road."
He stared at her in horror. "No." Reaching out, he closed his hand over hers and shut her fist tight over the amulet. Her small, white hand looked lost inside his, and he quickly withdrew it. "You'll need the light."
"The light, Aarin?" She stared at him, the bitterness in her voice turning to sadness. "How can I use it to light my path, Aarin, when all it will do is remind me of you? How can I handle all that darkness?"
He could not answer, so he just stared at her.
"I'll keep it. If it makes your pain less. I didn't want to hurt you, Aarin, but I don't have any other choice." She gazed desolately up at him and latched the amulet once more around her pale neck. "I'll miss you every step of the way."
"I love you," he breathed, reaching out again. She touched his palm lightly with her fingertips and gazed straight into his eyes. "Once I know Neverwinter will live, I'll come for you. I'll search for you forever, if that's what it takes."
Taking her hand, he pulled her to his chest and met her soft lips in a passionate kiss, crushing her body to his, feeling the cold metal of her armor against his bare arms. She smelled of calla lilies and sun on the grass, and he never wanted to let her go. Never.
Too soon she pulled away, her lips still parted, her blue eyes glistening with tears. He stared at her helplessly, his hands empty, needing her.
Zephyr yelped softly and she half turned her head toward him. Nodding swiftly, she turned back to lock her eyes on Aarin's again.
She reached up, stretching out on her tip-toes, and kissed his lips softly, briefly, for just a flicker in time. He didn't have time to respond. "Love is cruel," she whispered.
And then she was gone, gliding almost noiselessly across the ground, the enormous dire wolf loping silently at her side. Her sweet scent hung in the air, sending fresh throbs of pain through his chest every time he inhaled.
"Cath," he breathed.
It was too late. She was gone.
* * *
**Well, please review and tell me what you thought of it. My PC, by the way, is a druid by the name of Catharine Rainier. Her animal companion is a dire wolf named Zephyr (she calls him Zev for short).**
2. Chapter One: Wanderlust
**Here's the second chapter...read and review, please...**
* * *
Chapter One: Wanderlust
Once she was outside the gates of Neverwinter, Cath managed to plod for about a mile with a tear-streaked face and a hand clenched in Zephyr's fur. Then her legs simply fell out from under her. Like a marionette with its strings cut.
Crawling to the side of the road, she curled up in the damp grass and buried her face in Zephyr's neck. "How could I, Zev?" she sobbed. "How could I leave him there? His face! Oh, God!"
After a few minutes, her tearful questions faded into wordless sobs, her shoulders shaking. When Cath eventually fell into an exhausted, despair-induced slumber, the dire wolf gently eased away from her, stood up, and loped off to hunt.
* * *
Cath awoke to the bright sun of midday, rough fur against her back, and the rich, pungent odor of a fresh hank of meat in front of her nose. Sitting up, she twisted around wearily to stroke Zephyr's ears. "Thanks, Zev."
The aroma of the meat reminded her of how hungry she was, and she promptly dug in without bothering to cook it. Many times on her journeys, she had eaten meat this way, until it scarcely mattered to her whether it was raw or not. Seeing Zephyr gulping down remarkable portions with a satisfied smacking sound helped.
Tomi Undergallows, the halfling rogue she had traveled with ever since the Academy, had not been in the least disgusted by her eating habits, though he did prefer his meat cooked. She'd known from his initial greeting, in which he compared the flies of Neverwinter's plagued streets to the ones in an alehouse, that this was a man she could get along with.
Others, however, had not been so tolerant. The priests at the temple of Tyr had been appalled by the fact that she ran on a diet composed almost completely of meat, and raw at that. Most of the druids in the encampment in the Neverwinter Wood were vegetarians. Aarin, on the other hand, had always affectionately likened her to a cat; neat and delicate, but still a wild animal.
She shuddered. _Aarin_.
"Oh, my Aarin," Cath whispered. "Can you ever forgive me?"
Though just _that_ question was enough to keep her occupied for hours, she was soon faced with a more pressing one:
Where could she go?
* * *
"Thanks a lot, Aawill. It really means a lot."
The powerfully built druid smiled kindly at her. "Of course. We would always help a druid in need, even if she was not a member of the first circle. Henna, I think, has some space in her tent, if you would like to stay there."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll sleep under the stars."
"So be it, then." Aawill waved his hand gently through the air. "Go well, my friend."
Cath drifted away from the Archdruid's campfire, Zephyr plodding alongside her. She rested the length of her arm on his broad shoulders and he nosed his muzzle under her elbow. There were very few creatures she could be at ease with like this, and most of them were animals. Then there was the odd human, like Aarin…
The enormity of what she had done threatened to well up and engulf her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she deserved this awful guilt. How cold and unaffected she must have seemed to him, as she ran from him, her bare feet soundless on the stone. His eyes had looked so tortured as she held out the amulet he had given her, the amulet she had always carried, even if she had to wrap it around her wrist to make room for another around her neck.
How much pain had she caused him? It all depended on how much he loved her…and she already knew the answer to that one. More, far more than she had ever deserved. More than was healthy for either of them.
What had she ever done to earn his faith? What made her so special?
Sensing her grief, Zephyr whined gently and gave her forearm a lick. "At least I always have you, Zev," Cath whispered, halting in her tracks and wrapping her arms around the dire wolf's neck. He had been her faithful protector since childhood, since she had discovered her druidic destiny.
Just another companion she didn't deserve. But somehow, she never felt that way around Zephyr. He was too much a part of her; it was too hard to think about him as a separate being.
Not like Aarin. Aarin had always been a mystery, even to her. Though, in time, she had learned to see past his emotionless face and find the feeling in his eyes, she had never been able to tell exactly what he was thinking. It was always guesswork.
Did he understand why she had to leave? She doubted it. He must have put it all down on her arguments with Lord Nasher. Those were a big part of it, but not all. The natural wanderlust that had gripped her since childhood had taken over again; she simply _had_ to move on. She couldn't stay in Neverwinter, no matter how much she loved the enormous city. She didn't belong there.
In fact, she belonged nowhere.
* * *
"Will you eat with us, my sister?"
The druids had prepared one of their customary meals: hawthorn and brambleberry stew with hazelnuts and sweet marionberry wine. It all looked delicious, and the aroma rising from the simple wooden bowls was enough to make Cath's mouth water, but she shook her head.
"No, thank you," she said quietly, and Jaer, who had offered her the meal, returned to the campfire.
She knew that, though by name she was a member of the first circle, the druids really didn't know her all that well. Simply a stranger with druidic abilities who showed up one day and managed to defeat all of their defenders. They would allow her to stay as long as she wanted, but she wouldn't for much longer.
She let her gaze travel over the other druids around the campfire. There was Welcar, who cast an uneasy glance her way and fingered one of the scars she had left on his pale neck. Bree, who tossed her beautiful hair out of her face and took a dainty gulp of marionberry wine. More familiar faces…Aawill, Orlane…
…and a strange man sitting between Jaer and Henna, his curious gaze meeting hers.
She scanned his face in a second; strong jaw, sharply angled nose, dark blue eyes. Simultaneously, she sensed the strange man examining her. The sharpness of his gaze reminded her of Aarin.
Aawill, ever vigilant, noticed Cath and the strange man staring at each other almost immediately and stood, raising a hand to each of them. "Cath, this is Tarrel Ragmyr, a ranger who has done our wood great service in the past. Tarrel, meet Catharine Rainier, hero of Neverwinter and trusted member of the first circle."
Cath flinched; she wished Aawill had not introduced her as the Hero of Neverwinter. The ranger's gaze grew even keener as he nodded slowly and murmured in a low voice, "Greetings, Catharine Rainier."
"And to you…Tarrel, is it?"
Aawill was watching them a little too closely for the exchange to be comfortable, so Cath turned her head away and leaned against Zephyr's broad side. Though she could not be sure he was still looking at her, she felt the ranger's eyes on the back of her head; it made it difficult to relax.
The reason she had refused the meal was simple in some ways and, in others, not. For one thing, the hefty meal from this morning was enough to carry her for a few more hours, and for another, Zephyr would bring her back something when he went on his evening hunt.
The other reason was a little harder to think about. As a rule, she generally hated depending on anyone else for survival. Though a simple meal might not require any sort of retribution, one thing tended to lead to another. It was best to steer clear of any debts altogether. Her staying in the Neverwinter Wood didn't really count, since she was using only her supplies, and the wood belonged to no one in particular.
When the druids had finished eating, they drifted off to their separate tents, with the exception of Janken, Aawill, and Orlane, who disappeared into the trees with the silence of panthers, and the ranger, Tarrel, who slipped away from the campfire and laid out a bedroll just beyond the circle of light.
Circling the fire, Cath laid out her own bedroll opposite from the ranger's and sat down, her legs curled beneath her. Rummaging through her pack, she braced herself, and pulled a leather-bound book from its depths.
_Neverwinter Nights_, read the engraving on the cover. The stiff, unread pages crinkled as she opened the book for the first time since the bard, Sharwyn, had given it to her.
Most likely this was a huge mistake. The healthiest thing to do would be to simply forget about everything she had done for Neverwinter. Forgetting was the easiest way to move on.
Sighing, she opened the book to the first chapter and began.
She had not traveled with Sharwyn personally, but the bard had learned much from Tomi, obviously. No doubt paid him a good amount of coin to tell her everything he knew about Cath. The book was fairly accurate.
To her surprise, she found the renditions of her familiar adventures comforting. She missed adventuring with Tomi; those days had been full of excitement and plenty of traveling to sate her wanderlust. She caught herself giggling at times.
It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep; not happy, exactly, but more content than she would have thought possible under the circumstances.
* * *
From beyond the circle of amber light cast by the fire, Tarrel watched the strange woman sleep, not even close to tired himself. The dire wolf he had seen with her earlier had not returned; he had not seen her dismiss it, so it must be hunting. All for the better; the animal might have noticed his stare.
To be honest, he hadn't expected the fabled Hero of Neverwinter to look like this: just a weary, beaten-down young woman, with the strain of some enormous grief evident on her creased brow. She looked vulnerable, as she lay curled like a cat on her bedroll, her long blonde hair spread into a halo around her head.
The stories he had heard seemed just that now: stories. He could quote a dozen different songs written by reputable bards that described the physical characteristics of this woman, as well as her grace, nobility, and charisma. Nothing came close to the sorrow he saw on her face.
No, it didn't make sense. So he would just have to watch until it did.
As Tarrel Ragmyr watched, the woman began to moan. The sounds started as soft whimpers and built into pained wails; her body began to thrash on the bedroll, limbs uncurling and jerking out as her shoulders bucked uncontrollably.
Getting up from his bedroll, Tarrel circled the fire and stood over the woman, not knowing what to do. Should he wake her? As her wails increased in volume, he made a decision and, leaning down, shook her shoulders firmly. "Catharine?"
At first there was no response; just another dull moan. A shiver ran down the length of her spine and she lay motionless for a moment. Then, as Tarrel prepared to creep back to his bedroll, her bright blue eyes snapped open and her hand flashed out invisibly, locking around his forearm.
He stared back at her as her grip tightened, not daring to speak.
Then something enormous and black leapt from behind her, and the dire wolf let loose a guttural growl in Tarrel's face, its lips curled back into a vicious snarl. Every one of those gigantic teeth was glistening-white and fatally sharp.
"Catharine," Tarrel repeated quietly.
Her arm shook. The blue depths of her eyes never left his.
"Call me Cath," she whispered.
* * *
**I'm sort of "meh" about this chapter, and it's never good to be "meh" about your first chapter. I think the initial meeting with Tarrel may have been a little rushed, though I promise to go into more detail in the next chapter...until then, go well.**
3. Chapter Two: Seeking Answers
_My laptop, my only source of NWN, inexplicably crashed and is not expected to recover, so until I find another one, this fic is my only outlet for all NWN-related bursts of creativity. *sigh*...it'll have to work....although now I really want to play SoU and HotU._
_Edit: Eek! I accidentally titled this as the third chapter in its first upload while it is really the second. That error has now been corrected and the chapter uploaded again._
_
* * *
_
Chapter Two: Seeking Answers
The ranger nodded once, and Cath unclasped her grip around his forearm and let her arm slip back into the close curl of her body. The ranger straightened up – not all the way, but into a sort of half-crouch – and disappeared beyond the circle of firelight.
Cath realized that the leather book was still cradled in the curve of her spine, nestled between her thighs and her chest. The gold lettering gleamed faintly in the firelight. _Neverwinter Nights_.
Giving a sort of half-choked gasp, she grabbed up the book in both hands and pitched it over her head, into the bushes. Zephyr whimpered and lay down next to her, his soft, warm back pressing against hers.
There were no tears. Just a feverish desire for everything to be gone.
Scrambling to her feet, Cath raised her palms to the sky and chanted the familiar incantation of unsummoning, thanking the Mother for the gift of her animal companion. Zephyr whined anxiously and pressed his hot, wet nose once to hers before disappearing in a halo of lake-colored light.
Alone and comfortless, Cath staggered away from her bedroll into the trees, blindly seeking deeper forest.
Unseen, Tarrel followed.
* * *
After four consecutive roots tripped up her feet and sent her sprawling onto the mossy forest floor, Cath's internal druid kicked in, allowing her to slip silently and gracefully through the trees without thinking about it. The miles of forest fell away until she was standing before an altar at the mouth of a stream, littered with ancient bones.
The blood-encrusted stone dagger lay placidly in the stream, exactly where it had fallen after it slipped from her lifeless fingers, the last time she had come here.
"Please, Spirit," Cath whispered brokenly, gripping the dagger tightly in both fists, "please help me."
_And if the Spirit's realm is closed to me and I simply die, so much for the better._
Baring her teeth in what was neither grin nor grimace, Catharine Rainier raised the dagger in her trembling hands and plunged it deep into her own chest.
* * *
Tarrel let out a loud yell and reached forward, a hand outstretched to help, but it was too late; the woman's body crumpled into the stream, the dagger sliding from her limp hand to lie in the flowing waters.
Born of a lifetime of guilt, the first thought that occurred to him beyond the blind urge to help was, _They'll think I killed her._
Backing away, Tarrel turned and sprinted for the druid encampment. His piercing voice carried ahead of his stride. "Aawill!"
* * *
"There is nothing to worry about, Tarrel," Aawill said calmly, folding his arms over his chest. The campfire crackled behind him, silhouetting his powerful form. "Catharine has merely gone to visit the Spirit."
Usually, Tarrel, being a practical, martial ranger, would have raised a skeptical eyebrow, but the shock of seeing the fabled Hero of Neverwinter commit apparent suicide and the subsequent relief of knowing her fate rather changed his outlook. "The Spirit?"
"You are not the only one who has assisted the Neverwinter Wood in the past," Aawill informed him with a slight smile. "Not long ago, after the plague was cured, the Spirit was poisoned, and the animals in the wood turned vicious. Cath learned how to enter the Spirit's realm and cured her. She also rescued three of our druids in the process."
Tarrel's confusion must have shown on his face, since Aawill added, "Is it so hard to believe that the Hero of Neverwinter could have cured the Spirit? If anyone, it would have been her. She is a druid, after all."
"No, no. It's not that I don't believe she did that." Tarrel stared past Aawill, into the bright flames of the campfire. "It's just that…well, I always knew the stories of the Spirit, but…it always seemed more of a fable to me. Do you mean to say that this realm actually exists?"
"Of course. And if you return to the gateway, Catharine's body will have disappeared. The only way to enter the realm is by ending one's life with the ceremonial dagger. It was lost for many years, but Catharine managed to find it. Tarrel, what's wrong?"
At the mention of the ceremonial dagger, Tarrel's fists had clenched tight and his eyes had closed, his shoulders trembling. The old, pale crimson scars on the back of his left hand stood out vividly against his white knuckles.
"I'm fine," he hissed out through clenched teeth. "This dagger. I saw her use it. Would it – would it work for me?"
"It works for anyone, Tarrel." Aawill was watching him so closely he felt like the druid's stare would burn through his flesh. "The Spirit will ensure you can leave her Realm; if you cannot find her, there is a portal in the Realm that will take you back to the gateway. Take care that you do not stay too long – that realm was never meant for living beings."
"Thank you, Aawill." Tarrel turned toward the dark trees, and then turned back to Aawill. "I think it's time that I moved on. Don't worry if you don't see me again. I'll be sure to come back and visit someday."
Surprise flashed across the druid's face. "You've only been here for a day, Tarrel. You've hardly outstayed your welcome. Welcar was counting on sparring with you tomorrow morning."
"It's time that I moved on," Tarrel repeated firmly, and ran fleet-footed for the trees.
* * *
The Spirit was waiting for her near her enormous tree. The Spirit's stag form rippled and flowed with light, fingers of snowy whiteness wrapping around the antlers and sprouting out again to form new tines. Once again, Cath was overwhelmed by the beauty of the Spirit.
The slender form did not move, though the Spirit's wise eyes watched her as Cath drew closer. Only when she extended her hand and bowed her head slightly in a token of respect did the Spirit gently lay her head in Cath's palm. A shock, almost electric, jolted through her arm, but she was careful not to jerk it back.
The electricity faded, and the Spirit's welcome flowed through her entire being, sending tingling warmth up each of her limbs.
"Thank you," Cath whispered, "but I don't deserve it."
The Spirit withdrew her head from Cath's hand and surveyed her. Cath remembered with a pang the wounds she had inflicted on the frenzied, angry Spirit when they had first met. Being a druid, she had had to detach herself from the very heart of her forest-born soul to bring herself to harm the Spirit.
Sensing her thoughts, the Spirit blinked slowly and the warmth of her forgiveness surged through Cath, even without physical contact. Somehow the sympathy in her wise eyes made Cath's breath choke in her throat, and a tear beaded at the corner of her eye. Angrily, she raised a fist and wiped it away.
"Why should it hurt this much?" she demanded furiously. "I've already done everything I can for Neverwinter! Where's the justice?"
The Spirit's explanation unfolded wordlessly in her mind.
Cath struggled not to fall to her knees, her voice cracking. "I know, I know. The pain doesn't come from Neverwinter – it comes from me. But why? What did I do?"
In response, a single image burst like fireworks in her mind's eye: Lord Nasher's spymaster, his arms folded over his powerful chest, dark eyes watching her intently.
The sight of his face made Cath gasp in pain, and this time she did fall to her knees. No words escaped her leaden tongue as she sobbed at the Spirit's feet, her hair strewn over the ground. She thought of nothing as she expended all her energy into the outpouring of every single one of her feelings.
She felt the Spirit touch her forehead gently with her muzzle, just the faintest of pressure. Then the Spirit melted silently away, white tendrils of light coalescing and vanishing into smoke. Raising her head, Cath could not see the Spirit with her tear-filmed eyes, but she could feel her presence around the clearing, warm and fragrant.
Then she felt another presence, behind her.
"Cathar – Cath?"
* * *
Tarrel stared down at the woman's slim form and her shoulders heaving with the force of her sobs, the fury that had brought him to this place fading. The Spirit was nowhere in sight, though he could feel its thrice-damned presence all around the grove.
He said her name quietly, once more. "Cath?"
He waited while the bucking of her spine cooled, and her sobs quieted, until eventually she staggered to her feet and turned to look at him. Her face was flat and emotionless now, though stained with tears. "What are you doing here?"
He had to consider his answer before he gave it. One reason he might be here was to follow her – to make sure she was safe. He couldn't deny that that had been part of his motivation. The Hero of Neverwinter couldn't be easily lost. However, the other reason – the main reason…
"Aawill told me where you had gone, and I wanted to see for myself."
The flat finality of his words was lost on her. "And you just happened to know how to get in? Why did the Spirit disappear when you came?"
Perceptive. That was to expected, though; the Hero of Neverwinter had to be seasoned in both physical and verbal fields of capability, as well as perceptivity. She would never have survived all of her trials without it.
"Aawill told me to get in. And as for your second question, I've no idea how I'm expected to know the habits of such a creature. I spend my days in contact with less unpredictable beasts."
He was unprepared for the anger that flared in her words. "Don't – don't talk about the Spirit like that. Like she's just a common animal. What do you know about her, anyway?"
He hadn't meant to upset her, but neither was he able to control his hatred for the Spirit. Struggling to remind himself that the woman had no idea of his feelings, he forced out, "Fine. I don't know anything. It's – she's not coming back anyway. We should leave."
A spark fire flashed in her eyes. "You go on ahead. I'll leave on my own time."
Stung, he took a step back. "Fine."
* * *
Cath watched the ranger stalk off with the faintest stirrings of regret. She barely knew him – it was a miracle she could remember his name from Aawill's brief introduction – and yet the callous way he spoke of the Spirit had inflamed her. Still, it wasn't wise to be making enemies of someone she had just met and had no reason to hate.
He probably hadn't even known of the Spirit until Aawill told him. All druids who entered the Wood could instantly sense the Spirit's warming presence, but rangers had a less instinctual and spiritual attachment to nature and more of a martial one. Aawill had only mentioned that he had done the Wood a service in the past. That could mean anything, from healing a deer to driving off a few bugbears. The druids weren't exactly choosy when it came to hospitality.
She turned her face back to the Spirit's tree and whispered softly, "Spirit? Are you there?"
There was no response aloud, but a gentle farewell coursed through the positive presence around her, and Cath sighed as she recognized that it was time to leave. She had gotten what she had come for; comfort and a few answers, although not ones she would have had trouble finding herself.
"Thank you, Spirit."
With that, she turned and narrowed her eyes, letting the elfin blood coursing through her veins take over her senses; then, satisfied that the ranger was nowhere near, made for the portal back to the world of the living.
End file.
| fanfiction |
ALL IS TRUE
Screenplay by
Ben EltonBlack. As the following lines appear on screen, the familiar
Droeshout portrait of William Shakespeare fades very slowly
into view.
William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd 1564 in the
English market town of Stratford Upon Avon. He was the son of
a glove maker.
On November 27th 1582 he married Anne Hathaway. Will was 18,
Anne was 26 and already pregnant. They had three children.
In the early 1590’s Will moved to London, where he was to
become the most successful and famous writer of his age.
His family remained in Stratford.
Will’s only son, Hamnet, died in 1596, aged eleven.
The portrait slowly dissolves from the canvas image into a
living, breathing version of the man himself, gazing the same
enigmatic gaze at the viewer.
CUT TO BLACK
As the following lines appear, we scan across a period map of
the densely crowded buildings of Elizabethan London. As we
find Southwark, and its crammed streets, we close in on the
roof of a round topped building.
On June 29th 1613 a performance of Shakespeare’s Life of
Henry VIII was given at The Globe Theatre. It was advertised
under it’s alternative title:
ALL IS TRUE
INT. DARKENED GLOBE STAGE 1 1
One actor, (The Chorus), is performing the opening Prologue
of ALL IS TRUE.
CHORUS
Be sad, as we would make ye think
ye see
The very persons of our noble story
As they were living; think you see
them great,
Then in a moment, see,
How soon this mightiness meets
misery:
And, if you can be merry then, I'll
say,
A man may weep upon his wedding-
day.
Card: During Act 1 Scene 4 a misjudged stage effect began a
fire.All Is True - Shooting Script 2.The map. Fire flicks viciously through the drawn image of the
Globe Theatre. CUT.
EXT. NIGHT 2 2
An explosive crack of fire . A figure stands silhouetted
against the frame-filling flames. Shouts and screams and
panic off screen.
EXT. THE GLOBE - DAWN 3 3
Low wide shot of a grey, smoking, empty wasteland. A figure
stands in the smoldering aftermath of the fire.
Close on the figure, who slowly turns to face us. Not the
Shakespeare of the famous portrait, but simply the man. A
haunted man.
CARD. The Globe Theatre burned entirely to the ground.
CARD. William Shakespeare never wrote another play.
PUSH IN ON A PERIOD MAP OF STRATFORD UPON AVON WHICH LAYS OUT 5 5
THE QUAINT ENVIRONS OF THE MARKET TOWN. THE NAME NEW PLACE,
PICKED OUT.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - EVENING 6 6
Shakespeare’s family, Anne, Susanna, and Judith sit together.
ANNE
He writes the life of a King? And
calls it All is True? Your father
has some nerve.
Susanna defensive of her father.
SUSANNA
No doubt the specific events will
be true. And the people involved.
The rest is anybody’s guess. It
might be true.
JUDITH
Nothing is ever true.
SUSANNA
The word of God is true.
Judith raises a contemptuous eyebrow. All Is True - Shooting Script 2.All Is True - Shooting Script 3.EXT. THE TAVERN STRATFORD - EVENING 7 7
Noise. Flaming torches. A group of righteous Puritans are
protesting outside the tavern. Amongst their leaders is Dr.
John Hall (Susanna’s husband).
JOHN HALL
Be not deceived! Neither drunkards,
nor fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, shall inherit the
kingdom of God.
A messenger rushes up to a puritan who glances at the message
and then shares it with John Hall. Hall Knows he must leave.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - EVENING 8 8
A thump of hooves. A horse gallops across the wide lowlands
of the garden of England.
EXT. THE COURT YARD OF A COUNTRY TAVERN - LATE AFTERNOON 9 9
An exhausted Will sits in the partially covered booth of an
Inn. A frail boy (11) watches him. Will barely notices the
child. The boy wears a ragged cloak against the chill, his
face partly hid. The boy sees that Will’s cloak is burned.
BOY
We heard a theatre burned Sir?
Which one was it?
WILL
Mine.
Will has scarcely glanced at him..
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - DAY 10 10
John Hall has brought news. The family are shocked.
ANNE
A fire?
JOHN HALL
A furnace. We must prepare
ourselves for the worst. It is in
God’s hands.
JUDITH
Well don’t sound so bloody pleased
about it.All Is True - Shooting Script 3.All Is True - Shooting Script 4.INT. THE ROADSIDE TAVERN - NIGHT 11 11
Will nurses a mug of ale. Eyes far away. Deep in thought. The
landlady brings bread and cheese. A Romany. Hard bitten but
with good reason. Will’s attention is far away.
LANDLADY
Don’t see a lot of strangers.
(beat)
Name’s Dotia. It’s my pub.
Will ignores her. The Landlady becomes wary.
LANDLADY(CONT'D)
And who might you be?
WILL
(startled)
Who am I?
He looks away again. Almost to himself?
WILL(CONT'D)
Who am I?
(far away)
I... I have worked in the theatre.
This exchange has confirmed her suspicions.
LANDLADY
Right then. I’ll have the reckoning
before you eat if it’s all the same
to you.
A look from Will.
LANDLADY(CONT'D)
I seen you strolling player types
before.
WILL
And?
LANDLADY
An’ you ain’t exactly gen’lemen.
WILL
I am exactly a gentleman and Non
sanz droict.
(the landlady doesn’t
understand)
“Not without right”. You might see
it on my Coat of Arms.
He reaches into his bag and pulls out a heavy bag of coins.
He tosses a gold coin down. The landlady’s eyes widen.All Is True - Shooting Script 4.All Is True - Shooting Script 5.WILL(CONT'D)
Gentleman enough for you?
EXT. THE COURT YARD OF A COUNTRY TAVERN - NIGHT 12 12
Will preoccupied still. About to leave. The Boy is there,
ignored by Will.
BOY
You’re Shakespeare. The poet. You
tell stories.
WILL
I used to.
BOY
I had a story. But it was never
finished.
Will is fastening his cloak against the chill. Irritated by
this nonsense.
BOY(CONT'D)
Will you finish it for me? Please?
Will is becoming impatient for his horse. Looks to the tavern
door.
WILL
I’m done with stories lad. And I
wouldn’t know how to finish yours.
BOY (V.O.)
Yes you would. Of course you would.
Light thickens in the silent dusk. Will ignores the child and
stares at the road ahead, as he waits, fearful, wondering.
After a moment, he looks back around. The boy has gone. The
Landlady comes to the door.
WILL
Where’s the Boy?
LANDLADY
What Boy?
WILL
The lad who took my horse?
LANDLADY
No boy here. We found your horse
untethered.
Will shivers. He looks out at the gloomy light.
He looks back at the Landlady who clearly has seen and heard
nothing.All Is True - Shooting Script 5.All Is True - Shooting Script 6.EXT. STRATFORD ON AVON. 13 13
Moving closer across the map of the town, which now features
the famous Clopton Bridge.
EXT. THE TAVERN STRATFORD- EVENING 14 14
The Puritans still protest the tavern. Will walks past.
The tavern protest continues. A man emerges from the Tavern.
John Lane, a surly drunkard. He glances furiously at the
Puritans and spits on the ground. They stare menacingly back.
EXT. NEW PLACE - NIGHT 15 15
Will outside his house. He pauses at the front door to look
at the Coat of Arms that hangs above it. He seems to take
strength from this.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - NIGHT 16 16
Will has returned and at table with the family. Will is
silent, shaken. It is uneasy reunion.
JOHN HALL
I rejoice to see you safe Father in
Law. We all do.
WILL
I thank you for it John.
JOHN HALL
God burned your theatre but spared
you. Thus is he both wise and
merciful.
Perhaps this is offered as comfort but it doesn’t give any.
Will looks at John for a moment then stares once more into
the fire. Remembering. Thinking. Anne breaks the silence.
ANNE
And when Will you return to London?
Will looks at her blankly.
The significance of this sinks slowly in for his family.
EXT HALLS CROFT NIGHT 17 17
The upstairs windows lit by candle.All Is True - Shooting Script 6.All Is True - Shooting Script 7.INT. HALL’S CROFT BEDCHAMBER- NIGHT 18 18
Susanna and John Hall.
SUSANNA
I always thought he’d end his life
in London. Its where he lived.
JOHN HALL
It doesn’t matter where he lived,
or where he dies, all that matters
is who will be his heir.
SUSANNA
I am his heir. And our daughter
Elizabeth after me.
JOHN HALL
Not if your sister gives him a
grandson.
SUSANNA
Or we do.
There is coldness and disappointment as they meet each
other’s eye.
EXT NEW PLACE NIGHT 19 19
Candles at two separate windows upstairs.
INT. JUDITH’S BED CHAMBER - NIGHT 20 20
Judith lies alone, her face is blank. But there are tears on
her cheeks. She seems to cry without emotion. Damaged.
INT. ANNE’S BEDCHAMBER - EVENING 21 21
Anne is in the room. Will at the door.
ANNE
Good night Husband.
Anne begins to close the door on him.
ANNE(CONT'D)
Twenty years Will. We’ve seen you
less and less.
Will accepts the admonishment in silence.
ANNE(CONT'D)
To us you are a guest. And a guest
must have the best bed. Rest well.All Is True - Shooting Script 7.All Is True - Shooting Script 8.Will is saddened but can only retreat.
EXT. MEADOW - DAY 22 22
A contemplative Will takes in the familiar countryside as he
walks. Children are playing. He takes pleasure in their
play. Two young women approach.
YOUNG WOMAN
Mr. Shakespeare? Is it true what
they say? That you are he? The
great poet?
WILL
Poet certainly.
YOUNG WOMAN
Such an honour.
Still traumatized, he takes pleasure at this attention. It is
in stark contrast to his reception at home.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 23 23
Will is walking along the once familiar street. He feels like
a stranger but one who has earned his right to be there. He
wears fine clothes and takes pride that people greet him. As
a figure of respect. “Mr. Shakespeare.” “An honour sir” “We
heard you had come to live amongst us once more, such
excitement”.
INT. KINGS NEW SCHOOL STRATFORD - DAY 24 24
Will stands by a name plaque outside Stratford Grammar. His
mind is filled with memories.
He listens at a window. He hears a class of teenage boys
being instructed by their teacher. He hears a stern voice
call out “William Shakespeare!”
It was just a memory. The voice that called Will was the
current master come out to greet him.
SCHOOL MASTER
Mr. Shakespeare isn’t it? I saw you
looking in. Please, perhaps a few
words of inspiration for the boys?
WILL
I... forgive me.. I think not.
Will turns away but then he turns back.All Is True - Shooting Script 8.All Is True - Shooting Script 9.WILL(CONT'D)
Tell them... Tell them to get
money.
SCHOOL MASTER
Money sir?
WILL
Money. Money and property.
SCHOOL MASTER
No words of wisdom? Philosophy?
Food for the soul?
Will considers this for a moment.
WILL
Money.
EXT. NEW PLACE - DUSK 25 25
The second best house in the town sits quietly in the
twilight
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 26 26
Dinner. Anne, Judith and Will. They eat in silence for some
time. Eventually Will breaks it.
WILL
I thought perhaps, I would make a
garden.
ANNE
We’ve got a garden.
WILL
Not a kitchen Garden. Or a flower
garden. But a special one. For
Hamnet.
ANNE
Hamnet’s in Paradise. He doesn’t
need a garden.
WILL
Perhaps I do.
Anne shrugs as if to say “do as you please”.
EXT HALLS CROFT NIGHT 27 27
Through the windows we see the Hall family at supper.All Is True - Shooting Script 9.All Is True - Shooting Script 10.INT. HALL’S CROFT - NIGHT 28 28
Susanna, John and Elizabeth Hall. Also in silence. Susanna
throws a discreet smile at little Elizabeth to momentarily
break the grimness.
JOHN HALL
Your father’s mind is on his
legacy.
SUSANNA
Your mind is on his legacy.
John does not like her tone.
JOHN HALL
And therefore must be yours. For I
am your husband and what concerns
me concerns you.
John Hall gives Susanna a long and significant look.
EXT NEW PLACE GARDEN DAY 29 29
Will, like a stranger in a strange land, walks through the
existing plants and flowers, scouting for his new plan. He is
very engaged.
EXT. THE GARDEN - AFTERNOON 30 30
Will digging. Enjoying the air. The buzzing insects. The
little birds that try to steal his seeds.
Anne brings him water. Will leans upon his spade, puffed out.
WILL
Digging up roots. Heavy work.
ANNE
You’ll find that.
Will drinks long and deep. A thought amuses him.
WILL
I once uprooted an entire Wood and
moved it across a stage to
Dunsinane.
ANNE
Bit different in the real world.
A beat as their familiar akwardness settles.
WILL
He showed such promise Anne. All Is True - Shooting Script 10.All Is True - Shooting Script 11.ANNE
You scarcely knew him.
WILL
I knew him. Through his poems.
ANNE
You say poems.
WILL
Yes poems. Childish scribbles
perhaps, but wit and mischief in
every line.
ANNE
Well.
(beat)
He’ll write no more.
WILL
No. And nor shall I.
She looks at him. Turns and walks away.
ANNE
It’s not Hamnet you mourn. It’s
yourself.
WILL
I mourn my son!
She keeps walking.
ANNE
Now. You mourn him now. At the time
you wrote The Merry Wives of
Windsor.
He tries to return to his digging but gives it up. He lays
aside his spade and heads into the lane.
EXT HALLS CROFT- DAY 31 31
Will is at the door of Susanna’s house. He knocks and Susanna
answers.
EXT. THE GREEN WOOD - DAY 32 32
Will is walking with Susanna. Elizabeth runs about playing.
SUSANNA
Its an adjustment. She must learn
to be a wife once more.
They walk on. Birds twitter. Elizabeth laughs and skips.All Is True - Shooting Script 11.All Is True - Shooting Script 12.SUSANNA(CONT'D)
My husband thinks you’ve come home
to die.
WILL
Really? I’ve just bought a pension.
I can’t die for at least ten years
or I’ll be ruined.
A small moment of levity between them.
SUSANNA
So why are you come home? No more
stories left to write?
WILL
Susanna, I have lived so long in
imaginary worlds that I believe
I’ve lost sight of what is real, of
what is true.
SUSANNA
Judith says nothing is true.
WILL
Judith is 28 and a spinster. That
is true.
Will walks on. Susanna calls after him.
SUSANNA
Will you write no more Father?
Will either doesn’t hear or simply doesn’t answer.
EXT NEW PLACE DAY 33 33
The work in the garden goes on. Will still clearing and
rearranging the existing plants.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - DAY 34 34
Anne and Judith are preparing food together. Will is seen by
them both in the garden beyond.
JUDITH
When Father dies I will be
destitute.
ANNE
No child. A third of his fortune
comes to me, while I live.
JUDITH
While you live. You’re older than
him, remember. All Is True - Shooting Script 12.All Is True - Shooting Script 13.ANNE
Susanna will never see you want.
JUDITH
Susanna will obey her husband. I
will get nothing. Which is what I
deserve.
ANNE
Judith. If you won’t forgive
yourself. How can you expect God
to?
JUDITH
I don’t.
EXT. THE GREEN WOOD POND - DAY 35 35
Will and Susanna have arrived at a glade with a body of
water.
WILL
I ran here on the day I was sacked
from the school.
SUSANNA
I know Father.
WILL
When I was the son of an Alderman I
had a free education. But the son
of a thief? I thought my world had
ended.
Will looks about him. Remembering.
WILL(CONT'D)
I loved this place. You children
loved it too.
SUSANNA
Yes, we came here every day.
Although Hamnet never went in the
water. He wasn’t bold like Judith.
Or even me.
WILL
But his mind was bold.
(memories)
Once he brought me here, to show me
what he’d written. I told him then
that I was the proudest father in
the Kingdom. I still am.
Will turns away. Susanna so sad for him.All Is True - Shooting Script 13.All Is True - Shooting Script 14.EXT. NEW PLACE - DAY 36 36
Big broad sweeping vista from the garden. The leaves in the
Green Wood are turning. Time is passing.
EXT. THE GARDEN - MORNING 37 37
Will works on his garden. Now digging, cutting turf,
Gardening is hard. Anne emerges.
ANNE
Husband! Its Sunday.
WILL
Sunday?
ANNE
This isn’t London. If you miss
church here they fine you.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - MORNING 38 38
Susanna and John and Elizabeth have arrived in their Sunday
best. Judith and Anne also. Will comes down buttoning his
smart doublet trying to be the happy family man.
WILL
Well well! Here we all are. How
sweet you look Elizabeth. Shall we
be off?
JOHN HALL
I must needs first answer nature’s
call.
SUSANNA
Nature seems to like your company.
It calls every five minutes.
Hall scowls and leaves, unbuttoning his cod piece as he goes,
he’s in a hurry.
EXT. NEW PLACE - MORNING 39 39
The family are leaving the house for Church. Will pauses
outside the front door, picking up little Elizabeth he shows
her the Coat of Arms above the door.
WILL
What’s that Little Lizzie?
The little girl is proud to know the answer.
ELIZABETH
Our Coat of Arms Grandfather. All Is True - Shooting Script 14.All Is True - Shooting Script 15.WILL
That’s right. Which hangs upon the
second best house in Stratford. The
house of a gentleman.
The woman are unimpressed but Will takes great satisfaction
and casts another look at the shield before leading the
family to church.
THE MAP OF STRATFORD 40 40
Featuring the picturesque church of Holy Trinity.
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 41 41
The congregation are at Sunday Service. The Shakespeare’s
enter. Many townsfolk tip their hats to an important family.
Will is pleased to accept their greetings.
They take their places in the second row. In the far more
impressive side box are the Lucy family, the grandest family
of them all. Sir Thomas Lucy nods curtly at Will. Will feels
this slight.
SIR THOMAS
Ah Shakespeare! Another Sunday and
still you occupy your family pew. I
pray that you are never obliged to
vacate it. As your Father was.
This cuts.
WILL
I am not my Father Sir Thomas.
The congregation continues to assemble. Rafe Smith, a
haberdasher enters. Susanna catches his eye and there is a
brief moment of connection. Will notices this.
John Hall also notices it too. He whispers to Susanna.
JOHN HALL
I am happy that you have friends in
the town Susanna. But kindly be
discreet about it.
Susanna reddens, there is a secret here.
A group of giggling girls surround a handsome man, Tom
Quiney. Quiney sees Judith and gives her a broad smile. She
does not return it. The girls sneer, they don’t like Judith.
The Puritans don’t like Tom Quiney. The little congregation
is a labyrinth of small town conflicts and alliances. We
sense a story in every face, only some of them will we
follow. The Vicar, Edward Woolmer enters. Music begins.All Is True - Shooting Script 15.All Is True - Shooting Script 16.EXT. THE GARDEN - DAY 42 42
Will works in his garden. He makes slow but steady progress.
Now cutting shapes and tracks in the earth with knife and
trowel. Messy and content. John Hall approaches.
JOHN HALL
I joy to see you dig Sir. At last
given up on your plays to distract
the mob from our Lord.
Will considers this for a moment. A lark sings.
WILL
Does the Lark song distract you
from your God John?
JOHN HALL
Of course not. It is evidence of
God.
WILL
Well then. Perhaps for some, I was
a Lark?
Will offers this with gentle twinkle. John Hall is slightly
floored, he is about to attempt an answer but realizes he
hasn’t really got one. He gathers his dignity.
JOHN HALL
I came to ask a favour Father in
Law. But I am loath to distract a
man from his labours. Will you call
when you are done with your garden?
Will nods. John departs.
EXT. STRATFORD HIGH STREET - DAY 43 43
People go about their business. Susanna walks to the tavern.
She is greeted with respect as a wealthy doctors wife. Hats
are tipped.
Susanna passes Tom Quiney’s Wine and Tobacco shop. Quiney
calls out cheerfully.
QUINEY
Good day to you Mrs. Hall. Tell
your sister I have a fine Rhenish
Wine delivered. She may have a
bottle gratis for a single smile.
Susanna puts her nose in the air with disdain and walks on.All Is True - Shooting Script 16.All Is True - Shooting Script 17.INT. THE TAVERN STRATFORD- DAY 44 44
The Tavern is also a Post House. Susanna enters and
approaches the Landlady.
STRATFORD LANDLADY
Package for you Mrs Hall. Frank!
A nervous boy rushes forward but he is clumsy and trips. He
drops it and inside a bottle is heard to break.
As the boy tries to gather up the parcel spots of silver
liquid are seen amongst the straw.
A man is watching. It is John Lane. He drinks sullenly.
JOHN LANE
Mercury Mrs. Hall?
SUSANNA
My husband is a doctor.
JOHN LANE
She said the parcel was for you.
John Lane looks once more at the mercury and turns back to
his drink. Susanna, begins furiously to gather up what is
left of her parcel.
EXT HALLS CROFT DAY 45 45
Will is entering John and Susanna’s house.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - DAY 46 46
John is appealing to Will.
JOHN HALL
The reformation is but half
completed Father in Law. The Vicar
of Holy Trinity is a recalcitrant.
It is intolerable.
INT. THE TAVERN - DAY 47 47
John Lane sullenly drinks his ale, crosses himself discreetly
and leaves the Tavern.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - DAY 48 48
John Hall and Will continue their conversation.All Is True - Shooting Script 17.All Is True - Shooting Script 18.JOHN HALL
You are an influential man. If you
were to lend your voice to ours.
Will considers.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 49 49
Susanna is walking past the shops. She pauses outside a
haberdashery, then enters. Rafe Smith (35) is at the counter.
SUSANNA
Good day to you Mr. Smith.
RAFE SMITH
Mrs. Hall.
There is moment. A connection. A spark exists here.
SUSANNA
I need cloth. A loose weave. To
make a summer dress. Black.
RAFE SMITH
Black? For summer? Perhaps this
blue.
SUSANNA
My husband does not approve of
fancy stuff.
RAFE SMITH
If your husband had his way Mrs.
Hall my shop would be a very dull
place. All in mourning and nobody
dead.
Tension crackles between them.
SUSANNA
Our Saviour wore only simple cloth,
and he was divine.
RAFE SMITH
As are you Susanna. In any cloth.
Susanna reddens.
SUSANNA
Mr. Smith. I am a married woman.
RAFE SMITH
Unhappily.
SUSANNA
That is not... I should tell my
husband.All Is True - Shooting Script 18.All Is True - Shooting Script 19.RAFE SMITH
Will you?
SUSANNA
(beat)
He knows.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 50 50
Susanna is emerging from the Haberdashers. John Lane watches.
Across the street Quiney in his wine shop has also seen. It’s
a small town. Everybody knows everybody. Secrets are hard to
hide.
INT. NEW PLACE - EVENING 51 51
The kitchen. Will dines with Anne and Judith.
WILL
John Hall wants my help to remove
Woolmer as Vicar of Holy Trinity I
thought he knew me better.
ANNE
He thinks you like him.
WILL
I’m a good actor.
Perhaps Anne takes this in a different way to what Will
intended.
WILL(CONT'D)
I try to like him. For Sue’s sake.
But John is a...
JUDITH
Hypocritical shit.
WILL
A Puritan.
JUDITH
That’s funny isn’t it? A Puritan,
who wants to close all the
theatres, will have all of William
Shakespeare’s estate - Don’t you
think that’s funny? I think it’s
funny.
Will is taken aback by her gleefully angry tone.All Is True - Shooting Script 19.All Is True - Shooting Script 20.INT. HALL’S CROFT - EVENING 52 52
John Hall slumbers by the fire. Susanna rises and quietly
makes for the door.
EXT. HALL’S CROFT - EVENING 53 53
It is dark. The front door opens and Susanna slips out.
Across the street John Lane has been watching. Susanna
glances about furtively but does not see Lane. She scurries
off into the night. Lane follows.
INT. NEW PLACE - EVENING 54 54
There has been a silence. Now Will answers Judith.
WILL
For what it’s worth Judith I have
no intention of leaving my estate
to John Hall.
JUDITH
No you’ll leave it to the sainted
Susanna and by law her property is
his. As is her body - for all the
use he makes of it!
Even in her wild mood Judith knows she’s gone too far.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - NIGHT 55 55
Rafe Smith’s Haberdashery. Susanna steals through the shadows
and up to the door. Smith lets her in. John Lane is watching.
INT. NEW PLACE - NIGHT 56 56
Will, Judith and Anne.
WILL
You are grown hard Judith. There
was a time when you were such a
simple, joyful soul.
JUDITH
Was I Father? When was that?
Will doesn’t answer.
JUDITH(CONT'D)
Before Hamnet died? Is that it?
(beat)
Before Hamnet died. And I survived.All Is True - Shooting Script 20.All Is True - Shooting Script 21.ANNE
Judith. Don’t.
JUDITH
It’s what he thinks. Every time he
reads those bloody poems, which
aren’t even that good! He thinks
why did she survive not him?
ANNE
Judith.
JUDITH
The golden boy is gone and he’s
left with the girl. The useless,
pointless girl. Oh she was a pretty
thing once that girl. A simple
joyful soul. But look at her now?
Angry bitch. Still hanging around.
Why did the wrong twin die.
Will doesn’t answer. Because he knows there is some truth in
what she says.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - NIGHT 57 57
John Hall still sleeps before the fire. Susanna opens the
door and creeps back in. As she passes on her way to the
stair his eyes open. He wasn’t asleep at all and she knew it
too. They stare at each other but say nothing.
EXT NEW PLACE NIGHT 58 58
The lonely candles at the windows. A passer by looks up to
the great house.
INT. ANNES’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 59 59
Anne prepares for bed. Will appears at the door.
WILL
I never gave her cause. I never
said an unkind word.
ANNE
You’ve spent so long putting words
into other people’s mouths, you
think it only matters what is said.
She closes the door on him.
EXT RAFE SMITS SHOP NIGHT 60 60
The locked up shop. No light.All Is True - Shooting Script 21.All Is True - Shooting Script 22.INT. RAFE SMITHS CHAMBER - NIGHT 61 61
Rafe sits alone on his bed, deep in thought. The bed is
unmade, the covers rumpled. He gathers them up and breaths
them in.
EXT HALLS CROFT NIGHT 62 62
Darkness. Cold.
INT. SUSANNA’S CHAMBER - NIGHT 63 63
Susanna lies in bed. Eyes wide open. She hears pissing.
INT. JOHN HALL’S CHAMBER - NIGHT 64 64
John is pissing in his chamber pot. He is uncomfortable.
Unhappily he returns to bed.
EXT NEW PLACE NIGHT 65 65
All asleep bar one.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - NIGHT 66 66
Judith sits alone drinking.
EXT. THE GARDEN - MORNING 67 67
Time is passing. Will works on his garden. He is rolling
lengths of turf in front of a rich bank of flowers.
Now an earnest young student appears at the gate. Henry.
HENRY
Mr. Shakespeare? I don’t want to
pester you.
WILL
Good. Excellent news. Cheerio then.
HENRY
It’s just that I wanted to ask...
WILL
The best way to get started as a
writer is to start writing.
Cheerio.
HENRY
No really could I...All Is True - Shooting Script 22.All Is True - Shooting Script 23.WILL
I don’t have a favourite play. I
admire all my fellow dramatists
equally. And yes I do think women
should be allowed to perform the
female roles as is the practice on
the continent. Now please. If
you’ll excuse me.
Will returns to his digging. Defeated, Henry almost leaves
but doesn’t.
HENRY
I have come all the way from
Cambridge to see you. I left my
college without leave.
WILL
(wearily)
And that was your choice.
Henry gets the message. Starts to walk away. Stops and turns.
One last go.
HENRY
I just want to ask - how you knew.
WILL
Knew what?
HENRY
Everything.
WILL
My friend I don’t even know how to
keep the slugs out of the
Hollyhocks.
HENRY
(impatient)
The world is full of gardeners. I
mean everything that matters.
Will raises an eyebrow at this.
HENRY(CONT'D)
There is no corner of this world
which you have not explored. No
geography of the soul you can not
navigate. How? How do you know?
Finally Will is forced to engage.
WILL
What I know. If I know it. And I
don’t say that I do. I have -
(a moment to consider)
Imagined.All Is True - Shooting Script 23.All Is True - Shooting Script 24.HENRY
But they say you left school at
fourteen... You’ve never travelled.
Imagined? From what?
WILL
From my self!
HENRY
Your self?
WILL
Yes! Everything I’ve ever done.
Everything I’ve ever seen, every
book I’ve ever read, and every
conversation I have ever had,
including, God help me, this one.
You will find the whole of me in
every word I ever wrote. My
thoughts, my feelings, my dreams.
If you would be a playwright and
speak for others then speak first
for yourself. Search within.
Consider the contents of your own
soul. Your humanity. For that is
the business of the theatre.
Everything else is just stage
directions.
Henry is trying to take it all in. Will takes a little pity
and tries to sum it up in a more kindly tone.
WILL(CONT'D)
Write what you are, what you know,
what you feel and what you can
imagine my friend. And if you are
honest then whatever you write all
is true.
Henry wants to reply but can’t think what to say.
WILL(CONT'D)
Now please. If you can’t save my
hollyhocks, leave me to mourn the
dead.
Will returns to his digging. Henry is confused but also
strangely inspired. He knows he should leave but can not
resist pushing his luck.
HENRY
Then why....
Will looks up. Fierce now. The boy’s being rude. Henry
returns his stare.All Is True - Shooting Script 24.All Is True - Shooting Script 25.HENRY(CONT'D)
Why did you stop? Why do you write
no more?
A beat. Is Will considering an answer? Another beat. If he
was he doesn’t give it.
WILL
Cheerio.
Will turns his back. This time it’s final.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 68 68
Judith approaches Tom Quiney’s wine and tobacco shop.
INT. QUINEY’S WINE SHOP - DAY 69 69
Judith enters. Her usual cold self. But she knows Quiney.
JUDITH
Good morning Tom Quiney. A barrel
of Huffcap ale and three flagons of
Malmesey wine to be delivered to
New Place if you would. On our
account.
Tom is a cheerful, flirtatious fellow.
QUINEY
Your usual order and my usual
reply. Marry me Judith. I would
help bring back your smile.
JUDITH
Yes and every other maid in the
county’s. You chase them all.
QUINEY
But I only ever propose to one.
JUDITH
I’d think you’d tire of it.
Quiney’s cheerful mask slips a little.
QUINEY
I remember a girl. The prettiest
and happiest in town. And I
remember her laugh and I remember
kiss chase. I’d like to see the
woman that girl should have become.
Because it surely isn’t you.All Is True - Shooting Script 25.All Is True - Shooting Script 26.INT. THE GARDEN - MORNING 70 70
Time for a break. Will sits amongst his gardening tools. He
has his satchel of Hamnet’s verse and is reading. Some line
which catches his eye. It makes him smile, almost laugh.
WILL
Oh my son. My pretty chicken. My
golden lad.
Anne emerges.
ANNE
It’s Sunday.
Will carefully puts his precious pages away.
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 71 71
The congregation are at Sunday Service. The Lucy family
arrive. Will attempts to greet them as equals, but again Sir
Thomas merely nods curtly at the Shakespeare’s. Will pained
and embarrassed.
Rafe Smith enters. For a moment he catches Susanna’s eye. Do
they share a secret.
Will notices this and turns to look at Hall who is also
staring at Rafe Smith.
The dissolute John Lane is at the back. Tense. Sweating,
perhaps discreetly drinking. He stares at Susanna and then at
Rafe Smith. Building up to something.
The Vicar Edward Woolmer begins the service.
Quiney bustles in late with a pretty girl, Margaret Wheeler
following. Both a little disheveled.
Now the service is almost over.
EDWARD WOOLMER
Our reading today was from the
first chapter of Corinthians “I
beseech ye bretheren, in the name
of Jesus, that there be no
divisions among you”
(beat)
There is division in our town. The
Puritans protest against the old
ways. The feastings, the merriment
and customs long practised. Some of
you resent this I know but I charge
you remember Corinthians! These
good Christians act from honest
faith. They are upright citizens,
decent and pious....All Is True - Shooting Script 26.All Is True - Shooting Script 27.Suddenly John Lane jumps up.
JOHN LANE
Are they Mr. Woolmer! Are they? Or
are they fornicators!
General shock
JOHN LANE(CONT'D)
There is wickedness in this church
Mr. Woolmer! Puritan wickedness.
He points at Susanna.
JOHN LANE(CONT'D)
I have seen Susanna Hall creep from
her husband’s house to Rafe Smith’s
chamber in the night!
Card: In the summer of 1613 John Lane, yeoman of Stratford
publicly accused Shakespeare’s elder daughter Susanna of
infidelity with Rafe Smith the Haberdasher.
Susanna mortified. Will stunned. The congregation in uproar
etc. John Hall leaps to his feet.
JOHN HALL
This slander will be answered!
JOHN LANE
This slander will be proved! You’ll
no more tell us how best to save
our souls Doctor Hall. Not while
your Puritan wives fornicate worse
than whores and then send to London
for Mercury to physic what they got
of it!
Card: John Lane compounded his charge by stating that Susanna
had contracted Gonorrhea.
The tumult grows.
EDWARD WOOLMER
Silence! This is a house of God!
And I am master here!
Edward Woolmer the Vicar glares at John Hall. Sensing a
dangerous rival.
Will is red faced with anger and shame. He catches the
patronizing look of Sir Thomas Lucy, half censure, half pity.
As the congregation bustle out, all talking of the scandal
Sir Thomas Lucy pauses over Will.All Is True - Shooting Script 27.All Is True - Shooting Script 28.SIR THOMAS
Well well Sir. You Shakespeare’s
are never far from a scandal are
you?
Will is mortified. Sir Thomas glances at Susanna.
SIR THOMAS(CONT'D)
I suppose she gets it from her
Grandfather. Fixed the price of
Wool didn’t he? Bad business. And
illegal money lending to boot!
Goodness! He was a busy fellow. No
wonder they chucked him off the
council.
Will who is pretty dumb struck. Anne however hit’s back.
ANNE
Every family has it’s dark Horse,
Sir Thomas, Even the Lucy’s. Or
perhaps it is another Thomas Lucy
who’s niece ran off with a serving
man in 1600?
Sir Thomas, moves on in fury.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - EVENING 74 74
The family assemble. All sit in shocked silence. Will enters.
WILL
I have instructed my lawyers. We
shall sue him for slander.
SUSANNA
A public trial?
WILL
It is a public slander.
JOHN HALL
John Lane is a dangerous man. We
can be sure he did not stage his
attack without some idea of how to
prove it.
Beat. Will turns to Susanna.
WILL
Prove it?
SUSANNA
How can you ask?
WILL
Because your husband fears he can.All Is True - Shooting Script 28.All Is True - Shooting Script 29.John Hall is thrown by this. He had not expected Will to
place such an astute interpretation on his remark.
JOHN HALL
I mean that I fear he has
constructed a convincing lie.
Judith seems almost to revel in Susanna’s discomfort.
JUDITH
Well now. What a disaster. And that
it should befall such a fine and
blameless family as ours.
Will is determined.
WILL
The Shakespeare’s will not be
ruined twice.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 75 75
Susanna hurries along. All eyes turn on her. Very different
from the respect she’s used to. The town seems to be turning
against her, reveling in her shame.
INT. CONSISTORY COURT AT WORCESTER - DAY 76 76
A packed court full of gawping towns folk. The Shakespeare
family enter. Some snigger, some snarl. The Puritan element
are tight lipped between shame and righteous anger.
CARD: The trial of John Lane for the slander of Susanna
Shakespeare was convened at The Consistory Court, Worcester.
JUDGE
Bring forward the accused.
A Clerk stands.
CLERK
Call John Lane.
There is a pause. The Judge is impatient. An officer enters.
OFFICER
John Lane is not here you Honour.
JUDGE
Not here!
OFFICER
He has disappeared.All Is True - Shooting Script 29.All Is True - Shooting Script 30.JUDGE
Susanna Shakespeare has been most
foully used.
The crowd erupts.
CARD: John Lane failed to attend his trial. The case being
uncontested, he was convicted of slander, and excommunicated.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - EVENING 77 77
Anne and Will sit.
ANNE
Why? Why did this man slander our
Sue?
WILL
My guess is to damage her husband.
John Hall is a Puritan, and would
make Holy Trinity and all the town
likewise. John Lane on the other
hand likes his cakes and ale.
ANNE
Then why did he not attend the
court and press his case?
Beat.
WILL
I discussed the matter with him.
ANNE
Discussed? Discussed what?
WILL
I asked him if he’d ever seen Titus
Andronicus.
INT. THE TAVERN STRATFORD - NIGHT 78 78
Flashback. Will has met John Lane.
JOHN LANE
What do I know of plays? Get away
from me. I shall see you and your
whore daughter in Court.
WILL
It concerns a Moorish villain named
Aaron. And the African who played
him was magnificent and terrifying.All Is True - Shooting Script 30.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 31.INT. THE GLOBE STAGE - DAY 79 79
A performance of Titus. Intimidating passion and violence.
ACTOR PLAYING AARON
To kill a man, or else devise his
death,
Ravish a maid, or plot the way to
do it.
Accuse some innocent and forswear
myself,
Set deadly enmity between two
friends,
Make poor men's cattle break their
necks;
Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in
the night,
And bid the owners quench them with
their tears.
Oft have I digg'd up dead men from
their graves,
And set them upright at their dear
friends' doors,
Tut, I have done a thousand
dreadful things
As willingly as one would kill a
fly,
And nothing grieves me heartily
indeed
But that I cannot do ten thousand
more.
INT. THE TAVERN STRATFORD - NIGHT 80 80
Flashback. Will still talks with John Lane who is pretty
scared.
WILL
Mighty like a lion. Strong as a
bear. I saw this man tear the heart
from a fool who wronged him and eat
it raw!
Lane is fearful.
WILL(CONT'D)
And yet - he could be tender too.
And one day his wild heart was
tamed. He loved my daughter.
JOHN LANE
Susanna?
WILL
Ay. Susanna. Their love could never
be of course.
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 31.WILL (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 32.But he swore that if ever she had
need, his sword, his claws and his
teeth would either defend her or
kill for her. Should I tell him of
Susanna’s current distress?
John Lane is suitably nervous.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 81 81
Will and Anne.
ANNE
Will. I saw Titus. Aaron was played
by the sweetest chap you could hope
to meet. I talked to him for an
hour afterwards at the George Inn.
WILL
Yes, He was a lovely fellow Wife,
but John Lane doesn’t know that,
and I’ve never let the truth get in
the way of a good story.
A moment of levity. Anne for the first time a little less
cold.
WILL(CONT'D)
All men fear what they do not know
Anne and I’ll wager John Lane has
never laid eyes on an African.
Anne once more reflective.
ANNE
Do you think there was any truth in
it? In what Lane said? About
Susanna?
WILL
Well. There is coldness between
them. We’ve seen that.
Something they both recognize in themselves.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - EVENING 82 82
Susanna and John Hall sit in grim silence. She stitches, he
reads the Bible. Will’s voice-over comments on the scene.
WILL (V.O.)
‘Tis five years since she and John
have had a child.
John rises.WILL (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 32.All Is True - Shooting Script 33.JOHN HALL
I’m going to bed. Good night.
He leaves. Susanna sad and alone.
WILL (V.O.)
And Susanna certainly knows this
Rafe Smith....
INT. RAFE SMITH’S SHOP - MORNING 83 83
A past moment. Susanna is buying material. Rafe holds some
cloth against her body as if to say “look, this would suit
you”. It is physical, fun, she blushes coyly.
EXT. THE TAVERN - DAY 84 84
Another past moment. Susanna is hurrying from the tavern with
the broken package of Mercury.
WILL (V.O.)
She did send to London for Mercury.
Mercury is a cure for Pox.
A drop or two more falls to the street as she hurries along.
Susanna is nervous and embarrassed.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 85 85
Will and Anne together.
ANNE
Sue is not poxed Will. I’d know.
WILL
He then?....a poxed man is ever
pissing.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - MORNING 86 86
Flashback to the Sunday morning they went to church when Hall
said he must answer nature’s call. Susanna has just made her
comment about nature liking Hall’s company.
HALL
Have you some objection to my
visiting the privy?
INT. HALL’S CROFT - NIGHT 87 87
John Hall in his bed chamber, sweating and in pain. He takes
a little bottle and swigs at it.All Is True - Shooting Script 33.All Is True - Shooting Script 34.INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - EVENING 88 88
Back with Will and Anne’s conversation.
WILL
Is that why she bares no more
children? Did she seek comfort
elsewhere?
INT. THE HIGH STREET - NIGHT 89 89
Susanna stealing into Smith’s house.
INT. SMITH’S BED - NIGHT 90 90
Smith and Susanna are making passionate love.
SUSANNA
The Devil will take both our souls
for this.
RAFE SMITH
But we go there by way of Heaven.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 91 91
Will and Anne still talking.
ANNE
Susanna is a God fearing woman. She
would not betray her husband.
Judith appears at the door. She’s been listening.
JUDITH
Maybe it wasn’t a betrayal?
WILL
Judith?
JUDITH
Maybe he told her to do it.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - EVENING 92 92
Susanna and John Hall sit.
JOHN HALL
It will be either your womb or your
sister’s which secures your
father’s fortune.
John stares at her. Then returns to reading his Bible.All Is True - Shooting Script 34.All Is True - Shooting Script 35.INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S LIVING ROOM - DAY 93 93
Judith confronting a shocked Anne and Will.
JUDITH
Well it’s a thought isn’t it? And
frankly Father, if you got a
grandson by it. Would you care if
it were true?
Will decides not to answer this.
WILL
I care that Susanna is free from
slander. That you may be sure is
true.
JUDITH
Nothing is ever true.
EXT. THE GREEN WOOD - DAY 94 94
Once more Will walks with Susanna.
SUSANNA
You think my husband is trying to
whore me to get a bigger house?
Will a bit flummoxed. Susanna is not usually so forthright.
SUSANNA(CONT'D)
We should not seek to lift the veil
on other peoples marriages Father.
All are complex. To understand one,
you have to live it.
(beat)
And you’re hardly an expert there.
Susanna walks on. Will can only follow, chastened.
EXT. THE GARDEN - DAY. 95 95
A change of season. Time is passing.
Will works in his garden. Some progress has been made on his
design. Some curves, and turns in the rails of turf, but it’s
hard. He is hot. He is very tired. The heat of the sun
starts to play tricks with his eyes as he shades them from
the glare. As he works a boy leans on the fence. It is the
boy from the tavern, he masks his eyes against the Sun, his
face once more in shadow.
BOY
Got any berries?All Is True - Shooting Script 35.All Is True - Shooting Script 36.WILL
Eventually. I have planted a
mulberry tree.
BOY
Well then, you’ve got time to
finish my story while we wait.
The boy has removed his hands. For the first time his face is
clear. Will’s eyes focus through the haze. Is it his son?
WILL
Hamnet? Is it you?
The boy seems half lost in the haze.
BOY
I wrote you another poem today.
Would you like to hear it?
WILL
I want nothing more in this world.
The boys cheerfulness suddenly gives way to rising anger.
BOY
Well you’ll have to wait won’t you!
Like I waited. I had a poem before
for you but you never came! The
sickness came instead and still you
didn’t come though Mother promised
you would!
Now the boy emerges from the haze but in a horrifying visual
transformation he becomes a plague victim. Great sores on his
face. Will recoils in horror as the boy confronts him.
BOY(CONT'D)
I had a poem for you! You never
came.
Will recoils in horror as the boy confronts him.
WILL
Hamnet!
Anne’s voice intrudes upon the vision.
ANNE
Will?
Will spins around to her.
ANNE(CONT'D)
You’re shouting....
He turns back, there is no boy. There was no boy.All Is True - Shooting Script 36.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 37.WILL
He was here Anne.
ANNE
He’ll always be here Will.
Now we see that from an upper window Judith has been watching
the scene. Again there are tears on her cheeks.
EXT STRATFORD COUNTRYSIDE TWILIGHT 96 96
The gorgeous meadow in the last rays.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 97 97
Will dines with Anne and Judith. The mood is sombre.
WILL
In London now the plays are just
finished.
Will is doing his best.
WILL(CONT'D)
Taverns full.
JUDITH
If you’re missing London. Why don’t
you go back there?
This is getting hard for Will. He is prepared to eat humble
pie but this is relentless.
WILL
Do you wish I would Daughter?
JUDITH
It doesn’t matter what I wish but
what you wish. And it isn’t to be
with us.
WILL
What do you mean?
JUDITH
You’ve come back to mourn Hamnet!
To mourn your blessed departed son
and dig a bloody garden for him.
ANNE
That’s enough Judith.
JUDITH
We mourned him Father! We mourned
him when he died. And we mourned
him thereafter.
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 37.JUDITH (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 38.Now it seems we must begin again as
if his grave was freshly dug
because suddenly you’ve found time
to mourn him too!
WILL
Hold your tongue! Respect your
Father even if you can’t respect
yourself.
That was a hard blow. Judith is in many ways a sorry sight.
Careless of her appearance. Often with a glass in her hand.
WILL(CONT'D)
If you are done with mourning him
at least honour his memory.
JUDITH
How can you say I don’t?
WILL
Then start living up to it! If you
can not match his talent, try to
match his goodness and his
diligence. You are wasting your
life!
Judith stares at her father.
JUDITH
I know what you think’s the purpose
of a woman’s life. I know what you
want from me.
EXT. NEW PLACE GARDEN - DAY 98 98
Seasons change. In the montage, we see a quiet Will getting
on with building this garden as best he can. Thoughtful, as
if all that Judith has said sits with him. Preoccupies him.
Occasionally he looks about him. For signs of the boy. There
are none. Buds blossom. Leafs fall.
Will is measuring parts of the garden using twine and wheel.
He is assisted by a serving girl, Maria. Will counts off the
yards.
WILL
23, 24, 25....
Maria is inclined to chat.
MARIA
Bit of a change from making plays
in London.
Will leans on his stick, happy for a break. He likes her. He
considers her point.JUDITH (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 38.All Is True - Shooting Script 38A.WILL
In some ways yes Maria. In others.
Rather similar.
MARIA
Similar? I don’t see how.
A light of enthusiasm begins to shine.
WILL
Well, today we take the measure of
our stage.
MARIA
A garden ain’t a play.
Will enjoying himself. A relief from the grim family mood.
WILL
A play, a garden, a fresh baked
loaf like the ones you bake each
morning. All begin with an idea. A
compulsion to create a thing of
beauty, or need.
MARIA
Bread begins with yeast and flour.
WILL
Exactly! Now you’re getting it!
Ingredients! Brambles, bushes.
Yeast, flour. Verses, players.
They’re nothing without a dream!
Which will not be denied and which
endures in spite of all adversity.
The weather will turn, the bugs
will infest. The oven will cool and
the flour will mould. Your fellow
worker - in my case, a brilliant
lunatic actor called Dick Burbage -
will interfere and demand a bigger
show for a smaller budget, and a
shorter play with a much longer
part for himself. And all of these
trials must be countered and
overcome without ever loosing sight
of the dream itself!
MARIA
And what does it feel like when all
of that works?
WILL
How does fresh baked bread smell?
MARIA
Wonderful. All Is True - Shooting Script 38A.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 38B.He smiles at her as if to say ‘exactly!’. That’s his point.
Maria is smiling too at his half comical passion.
EXT. NEW PLACE - MORNING 99 99
Will is hurrying up the garden path. Excited, he has a letter
in his hand.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - MORNING 100 100
Will rushes in. Anne is cooking.
WILL
Anne! Anne. Anne. The Earl of
Southampton makes a progress North.
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 38B.WILL (CONT'D)
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 39.He writes that since he passes this
way he will spend an hour or two in
talk with me.
Anne does not share Will’s excitement.
WILL(CONT'D)
Did you hear me wife? The Earl of
Southampton.
ANNE
I heard you. And I recall the day I
first heard about your friend the
Earl of Southampton.
WILL
Wife?
ANNE
Same day I heard there’d been a
book of poems published. Sonnets
they told me.
Will is completely thrown. He was not expecting this.
ANNE(CONT'D)
Perhaps you thought because I
couldn’t read them I wouldn’t mind.
But plenty of people can read. Even
in our little town. Including one
of your own daughters.
WILL
Anne - Those sonnets were published
illegally. Without my knowledge or
consent.
ANNE
But you wrote ‘em Will. And people
read ‘em. And after they’d read
them they started asking “Who are
they then?” “Who’s this dark lady
he’s so in love with?”
WILL
They were just poems...
ANNE
And the Beautiful boy Will? The
Fair youth?
Will at a loss.
ANNE(CONT'D)
Don’t answer. I didn’t want to know
then and I don’t want to know now. WILL (CONT'D)
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 39.ANNE (CONT'D)
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 40.But I do know who some people said
he was. And now it seems he’s to
come to my house a’calling.
Will pretty shame faced.
ANNE(CONT'D)
All these years you’ve worried
about your reputation Will. Have
you even once considered mine?
EXT. NEW PLACE - DAY 107 107
Will and family at their gate. All in their best awaiting the
great visitor. Will is very excited.
WILL
I will introduce you but do not
address him unless he addresses
you. On my nod must you all depart
and leave us to our talk.
SUSANNA
He’s just a man Father.
WILL
He is an Earl Susanna.
(to Elizabeth)
Do you hear that Lizzie, your
Grandpa is to drink wine with an
Earl.
ELIZABETH
Because you are a gentleman!
The little girl points excitedly at the Coat of Arms.
WILL
Yes! Because I am a gentleman!
Sir Thomas Lucy, his wife and servant approach on foot, also
in their Sunday best.
SIR THOMAS
Ah Shakespeare. I heard word of
your distinguished visitor. My men
tell me that he is even now
approaching the town. Of course you
will introduce me.
Will taken aback. He hadn’t expected this. Anne assumes he
will tell Lucy to mind his own business, but Will buckles to
superior rank and says nothing.
SIR THOMAS(CONT'D)
I shall suggest he comes on to
Charlecote to take his ease. ANNE (CONT'D)
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 40.SIR THOMAS (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 41.Bit more what he’s used to.
Naturally I shall ask that you
join us...
(glancing at Anne)
Just you I think. We shouldn’t wish
to tire his Grace.
Clattering horses are heard.
EXT. NEW PLACE - DAY
SIR THOMAS
Welcome to Stratford Upon Avon Your
Grace.
The very impressive Earl of Southampton eyes Lucy.
SOUTHAMPTON
And you are?
SIR THOMAS
Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote Manor
your Grace and Member of Parliament
for this district. May I have the
honour of introducing my wife....
SOUTHAMPTON
Have we business?
SIR THOMAS
Well I...
SOUTHAMPTON
Is there some petition which you
are come to present?
SIR THOMAS
Oh no Your Grace I thought only to
invite you to...
SOUTHAMPTON
Then kindly remove yourself, Sir
Thomas. I want none of your
company. I am here to visit the
greatest man in the kingdom. After
His Majesty of course.
Southampton turns to Will.
SOUTHAMPTON(CONT'D)
Will!SIR THOMAS (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 41.All Is True - Shooting Script 42.INT. THE GREAT HALL NEW PLACE - AFTERNOON 108 108
Will and Southampton talking by the fire.
SOUTHAMPTON
Damn impudence. A grubby little
Member of Parliment. They’ll sell a
knighthood to anybody these days.
WILL
He has snubbed me many times.
SOUTHAMPTON
But why do you let him snub you
Will? What is he? The son of a son.
Nothing more. All his pride and
strut comes from no greater
achievement than having been spat
from the dick of a previous
nonentity. I’m the same.
WILL
No!
(N.B Wriothesley pronounced ‘Wrizzly”, as in grizzly.)
SOUTHAMPTON
I’m the son of a son Will. Henry
Wriothesley son of Henry
Wriothesley and if I were not the
son of Henry Wriothesley then your
Thomas Lucy, son of Thomas Lucy
would not grace me with a sneer.
You on the other hand are...
WILL
The son of a thief.
SOUTHAMPTON
The son of Apollo! God of poetry!
God of truth! The finest, the most
complete and the most beautiful
mind I’ll warrant that ever existed
in this world.
Will is of course delighted and deeply moved. Southampton
stares at him for a few moments.
SOUTHAMPTON(CONT'D)
So why are you so small Will?
WILL
Small?
SOUTHAMPTON
Why are you are such a little man?All Is True - Shooting Script 42.All Is True - Shooting Script 42A.WILL
Your Grace?All Is True - Shooting Script 42A.All Is True - Shooting Script 43.SOUTHAMPTON
You can enchant the multitude with
the scratch of your quill.
Yet you cringe before a cur like
Sir Thomas Lucy.
WILL
Cringe?
SOUTHAMPTON
Your talent has a greater scope
than all the other poets combined
and yet you’ve led the smallest
life.
WILL
I don’t think I’ve led a small life
your Grace.
SOUTHAMPTON
Oh come now Will! Compared to Kyd?
Or Marlowe! What a man. What a
life! Spy! Adventurer! Fucked for
England! Boys. Girls. Boys and
girls. He knew how to live.
WILL
He is dead of course, My Lord. So,
you know, win some lose some.
SOUTHAMPTON
They are all dead Will. Marlowe,
Greene...
WILL
Who called me upstart...
SOUTHAMPTON
....Crow! You see! Still you care.
Still it rankles. Kyd, Nashe,
Spenser, Oxford. All dead. Booze
and passion, sex and violence
killed ‘em all. Life killed them.
And you? You survived.
WILL
Yes. I survived.
SOUTHAMPTON
With your nice house...
WILL
Several houses.
SOUTHAMPTON
And your Coat of Arms. How much did
that cost you Will?All Is True - Shooting Script 43.All Is True - Shooting Script 43A.WILL
Twenty pounds.All Is True - Shooting Script 43A.All Is True - Shooting Script 44.SOUTHAMPTON
Twenty pounds. The man who wrote
Hamlet and Henry the fifth, Macbeth
and Romeo and Juliet paid twenty
pounds for the name of gentlemen.
Oh Will. Will. Why do you care?
Will pours more wine and thinks about his answer.
WILL
My father was once fined for not
attending Church. Can you guess why
he didn’t go?
SOUTHAMPTON
Priest too Protestant? I’ve heard
it rumoured there’s a whiff of
Papery about you Shakespeare’s.
WILL
Nothing so spiritual. He could not
attend church because he owed money
to most of the congregation.
A beat. Then Southampton roars with laughter.
SOUTHAMPTON
I think I’d have liked your Dad!
WILL
Yes. People did.
They drink in silence for a moment.
SOUTHAMPTON
You must write again Will. London
needs you. We have only Jonson now.
WILL
Who laughs at me because I speak no
Greek and don’t care wether Bohemia
has a coast.
SOUTHAMPTON
Christ Will why do you care what he
thinks! You wrote King Lear.
WILL
I care because it matters Your
Grace! In England it matters. I
have what I have upon my own merit
and for that I am suspect! Perhaps
I will always be suspect. But I
have my money and I have my houses
and I have my Coat of Arms.All Is True - Shooting Script 44.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 45.SOUTHAMPTON
You have your verse! Great Christ
man you have your poetry. Such
poetry. Such beautiful, beautiful
poetry....
Southampton’s eyes grow a little misty.
SOUTHAMPTON(CONT'D)
And some of it. Some of it was writ
for me.
A long beat, they stare at each other.
WILL
Yes your Grace. For you.
Another beat. There is love here.
SOUTHAMPTON
I have grown old. As you said in
your sonnets that I would, you
bastard. But the beauty I inspired
in you will be forever young. And a
thousand years from now when people
read those lines, I shall be young.
Alive still in the minds of lovers
yet unborn.
WILL
They were only meant for you Your
Grace. Not for any other living
soul nor any yet to live. Just you.
SOUTHAMPTON
It was only flattery of course.
Flattery that was my due.
WILL
Yes. Just flattery. Except. I spoke
from deep within my heart.
They stare deep at one another.
SOUTHAMPTON
Well. I was younger then. Younger
and prettier.
WILL
Beautiful your Grace. As you will
ever be.
When, in disgrace with fortune and
men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast
state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my
bootless cries,
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 45.WILL (CONT'D)
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 46.And look upon myself and curse my
fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in
hope,
Featured like him, like him with
friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that
man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented
least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost
despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my
state,
(Like to the lark at break of day
arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at
heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such
wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my
state with kings.
SOUTHAMPTON
Yes, well. As I say. Just flattery.
WILL
Not flattery. Truth. And I always
dared to hope...
SOUTHAMPTON
Hope Will?
WILL
That, perhaps in some small way it
was reciprocated.
A tiny change of atmosphere. Will doesn’t pick it up.
SOUTHAMPTON
Reciprocated?
WILL
That perhaps you also...
Suddenly Southampton’s face is cold.
SOUTHAMPTON
You forget yourself Will.
WILL
I....
SOUTHAMPTON
As a poet you have no equal. And I,
like anyone with brain and heart am
your humble servant. WILL (CONT'D)
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 46.SOUTHAMPTON (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 47.But as a man Will it is not your
place to love me and hanging a
twenty pound shield above your door
will never make it so.
Will is crushed. Southampton’s good humour returns, he slaps
Will on the back and drains his glass.
SOUTHAMPTON(CONT'D)
I must be off. Goodbye Will
Shakespeare. It was the poet I came
to visit and it is the poet of whom
I take my leave.
Southampton stands, Will gets to his feet of course, but he
is sad, unable to make a merry parting. Southampton smiles a
friendly, conciliatory smile.
SOUTHAMPTON(CONT'D)
When, in disgrace with fortune and
men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast
state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my
bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my
fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in
hope,
Featured like him, like him with
friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that
man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented
least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost
despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my
state,
(Like to the lark at break of day
arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at
heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such
wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my
state with kings
EXT NEW PLACE DAY 109 109
The Southampton party leaves. His Grace does not look back.
Will stands very still watching the procession go. The rest
of the family start to move back into the house. Anne stands
there too, a little apart. There is nothing to say.SOUTHAMPTON (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 47.All Is True - Shooting Script 48.EXT. THE HIGH STREET - MORNING 110 110
Judith approaching Tom Quiney’s wine and tobacco shop.
INT. QUINEY’S WINE SHOP - MORNING 111 111
Judith enters. Quiney as ever jolly and boisterous.
QUINEY
A glass Miss Shakespeare? To toast
this sunny morning?
JUDITH
I need no excuse for a glass of
wine Mr. Quiney.
Beat.
QUINEY
There is another pleasure, equally
heady.
JUDITH
And plenty of country girls for you
to get it with.
QUINEY
Your looks won’t last forever Jude.
JUDITH
And I shall be glad when they’re
gone because I shall be no more
bothered by the likes of you.
EXT AERIAL GARDEN DUSK 112 112
Will has been working hard. Working to forget.
Will and Douglas are at work again on the garden border. They
are planting grasses where previously they measured. Douglas
begins another conversation.
DOUGLAS
Sir. I suppose you’ve writ down all
sorts of men.
WILL
Indeed.
DOUGLAS
And now you grow flowers.
WILL
Trying.All Is True - Shooting Script 48.All Is True - Shooting Script 48A.DOUGLAS
Which do you like better?
WILL
Which do you?
DOUGLAS
Flowers Sir. They’re beautiful.
WILL
Aren’t people?
DOUGLAS
Some. I suppose But they’re cruel
and selfish too.
WILL
And flowers?
DOUGLAS
Aren’t.
WILL
But every flower fights for the
light. One will strangle and starve
another to survive. All they care
about is their place in the Sun.
Every one will put itself before
it’s neighbour. But sometimes, we
do not. Once in a while, god knows
not very often, we’ll reach to help
another up towards the Sun. I like
flowers. But I like people better.
Douglas smiles he likes the answer. They return to work.
Later Anne brings Will some water. An arm round the shoulder.
An attempt to restore normality. They slowly walk back
towards the house.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 113 113
The family sit.
JUDITH
I notice that your friend the Earl
didn’t bring his wife with him on
his travels. Perhaps he doesn’t
find female company to his taste.
If this was a jibe Will ignores it.All Is True - Shooting Script 48A.All Is True - Shooting Script 49.WILL
I’m sure that His Grace and the
Countess Elizabeth are most happy
in their marriage.
Possible discreetly raised eye brows from Anne and Judith.
WILL(CONT'D)
As I would wish you to be Judith.
Why are you still unwed? You are
pretty enough I think.
JUDITH
I don’t.
WILL
Then look in your glass.
JUDITH
I have no glass.
JUDITH(CONT'D)
I didn’t like the person I saw in
it.
Will getting a little irritated at her endless negativity.
WILL
Good God Daughter that’s a bleak
thought since the only company you
keep is your own.
JUDITH
But there it is.
WILL
But what of children? All women
want children.
JUDITH
Apparently.
WILL
Don’t you want a child?
JUDITH
Do you want me to replace Hamnet
for you Father?
This is brutal. Will absorbs the blow. Tries to be
reasonable.
WILL
I meant for your own sake. A
husband, children. For comfort,
companionship.All Is True - Shooting Script 49.All Is True - Shooting Script 50.ANNE
She’s seen that marriage may not
bring you either.
Will’s anger begins slowly to boil.
WILL
Is that it Judith? Have you seen
your mother’s misery, and thought
better to be a spinster than
shackled to a man who neglects you?
ANNE
I did not say I was miserable.
WILL
No wife you didn’t, but though I
put words into other people’s
mouths, I too can occasionally see
beyond what is merely said.
Anne shrugs. Quite suddenly Will explodes. Fist on table.
WILL(CONT'D)
And I will take no more of this! I
have worked ceaselessly on behalf
of this family...
ANNE
On your own behalf-
WILL
And I am head of this family! I
have given you a fine house and
servants. I have sent you money
all your life. Is that not Comfort?
You have two beautiful daughters, a
brilliant son and a husband who
though absent, kept you always in
his thoughts! Is that not
companionship? In abundance?
Anne’s face suggests this is a stretch. Will doubles down.
WILL(CONT'D)
I have raised this family up!
Through my genius I have brought
fame and fortune to this house. Yes
my genius! Would you have had me
ignore that? Ignore a gift from God
almighty so that I could be a
bloody glove maker, and you might
feel a bit more appreciated!
It’s a hard blow. Will’s defense is to go deeper.All Is True - Shooting Script 50.All Is True - Shooting Script 51.WILL(CONT'D)
Hamnet died and I wasn’t here. I
know that. The plague took him and
I wasn’t here. But the plague has
taken millions and it would have
taken him whether I was in London,
or in Stratford, or on that
godforsaken highway. We lost our
boy! We lost our beautiful,
brilliant brilliant boy and I
wasn’t there...
Anne has merely bit her lip at all of this. Now, suddenly, it
is Judith who answers Will. Jumping up and shouting.
JUDITH
Hamnet wasn’t brilliant!
WILL
What?
A beat. Judith knows she has begun something which now can
not be stopped.
JUDITH
He was beautiful but he wasn’t
brilliant.
ANNE
Judith. Don’t.
WILL
What do you mean?
JUDITH
I wrote them.
WILL
Wrote what?
ANNE
Judith I said don’t!
JUDITH
The poems.
There’s no turning back. Judith grabs at Will’s satchel and
takes out the precious sheaf of papers.
JUDITH(CONT'D)
The verses you hold so dear! With
wit and mischief in every line. I
made them up. Hamnet only wrote
them down.
ANNE
She helped him a little that’s all.All Is True - Shooting Script 51.All Is True - Shooting Script 52.JUDITH
I made them up! All of them. Hamnet
was sweet and kind but he was no
poet.
WILL
No! He was....
JUDITH
He wasn’t!
WILL
Brilliant....
Anne realizes the game is up.
ANNE
No Will! He was just an ordinary
little boy. You would have seen it
in a moment had you ever looked.
WILL
I looked!
JUDITH
And you saw what you wanted to see.
You saw yourself!
ANNE
Judith! Enough.
WILL
Myself?
JUDITH
A boy with a mind as big and bold
as yours. But happy, with a father
who appreciated his genius. Well
Hamnet might not have been a genius
but he was clever enough to know
that he could never live up to what
you wanted him to be! He dreaded
your visits!
Will is devastated. Anne tries to explain.
ANNE
We didn’t plan it. Not when it
began. It was only that Jude was
always making up stories, conjuring
rhymes... One day Hamnet wrote one
of hers down for practise with his
pen. You found it and thought it
was his and praised him so....
Will tries to come to terms with all this.
Judith has been holding the sheaf of papers.All Is True - Shooting Script 52.All Is True - Shooting Script 53.JUDITH
So are they worthless now?
WILL
They aren’t his.
JUDITH
Will you read them no more? Sit in
the Sun and chuckle at their wit?
WILL
They are not his.
JUDITH
No! They’re mine and so I will do
what I please with them.
She throws them on the fire. For a moment it seems as if Will
will jump up and pull them out. But he doesn’t. He watches
them burn.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - NIGHT 114 114
It is very late. Will now sits alone. The empty satchel in
his lap. Anne appears.
ANNE
Judith tried to teach herself to
write you know. After Hamnet died.
But she never had the patience. Not
like Sue.
A moment of silence.
ANNE(CONT'D)
I should have liked to have been
able to write a few letters.
Particularly married to you!
Remember our wedding day? Me, older
and pregnant, you this strange,
clever lad of 18. I knew what
people thought. I couldn’t even
sign the register, had to make a
stupid mark. I felt so foolish.
Will looks at her, he hadn’t known that.
ANNE(CONT'D)
Then you went off and become the
greatest writer in England! With a
wife at home who couldn’t read a
single word. I sometimes wondered
wether that bothered you at all.
(beat)
But why would it? You were hardly
here.All Is True - Shooting Script 53.All Is True - Shooting Script 54.They both sit in the firelight with their thoughts.
EXT. THE GREEN WOOD - DAY 115 115
Will walks with Susanna.
SUSANNA
I didn’t know it was she who wrote
the verse. But then Judith and
Hamnet were inseparable. I wasn’t
allowed into their world.
WILL
Why did she never tell me?
SUSANNA
Out of loyalty to Hamnet I suppose.
He wanted you to believe him
brilliant in life. Why would he
wish it any less in death?
WILL
It was cruel.
SUSANNA
Cruel for her I think.
WILL
For Judith?
SUSANNA
Would you want to be denied credit
for your verse? Have people think
someone else writ them? Someone
better educated?
WILL
No. No I shouldn’t like it at all.
SUSANNA
Well look at them afresh. Celebrate
your living daughter rather than
your dead son. Perhaps Judith will
finally smile again.
Will is beginning to have some understanding of his
insensitivity.
WILL
She burned them.
SUSANNA
Burned them? Why?
WILL
Because I am a fool.All Is True - Shooting Script 54.All Is True - Shooting Script 55.Will walks on. Susanna follows.
SUSANNA
Father. Why do you write no more?
Will still does not wish to answer this. But slowly, he
tries.
WILL
On the morning after the theatre
burnt, I stood there, among the
ruins, determined to begin again.
To write another play. My greatest
yet. To open another theatre. Even
greater.
He pauses. Collecting his thoughts. Susanna listens.
WILL(CONT'D)
And so I looked inside my self.
Into my soul. I looked, as so often
I had looked before. And this
time... I found - Nothing. There
was nothing there. I was as barren
as the smoking ruins on which I
stood. I was alone and frightened,
and I realised this terrible thing.
I realised that it just didn’t
matter to me anymore. And there on
that sad morning I knew that I
would never write again. My soul
was empty.
SUSANNA
Your soul isn’t empty Father. Your
soul has the whole world in it. But
even if it was, I’m glad. For it’s
brought you home.
Will is very moved.
INT. JUDITH’S BED CHAMBER - NIGHT 116 116
Judith in her room. Will appears.
WILL
I’m sorry.
JUDITH
You lost your son. Any man would
mourn. A daughter is nothing.
Destined only to become the
property of another man. Or fade
away.All Is True - Shooting Script 55.All Is True - Shooting Script 56.WILL
You mustn’t fade Judith. Why don’t
you write again?
JUDITH
Father you know I can not write.
WILL
I could teach you.
For a moment Judith is taken aback. This is such a potential
resetting of their relationship. But it is too late.
JUDITH
I have no verse in me any more.
WILL
Why?
JUDITH
Because the wrong twin died.
WILL
No. Plague took him. Plague makes
no judgements. It is just plague.
JUDITH
I wish a plague had taken me.
WILL
Judith. Why do you hate yourself?
JUDITH
I have stolen Hamnet from you
twice. Once by surviving him, and
now by taking your dream of him
away.
WILL
You have given me a new dream. My
beautiful daughter, the Poet.
JUDITH
A woman can not be a poet. A woman
is put upon this Earth for but one
reason. I know my duty now. I will
make amends for stealing Hamnet
from you. I promise I will make
amends.
EXT. THE GARDEN - DAY 117 117
Will digs. Anne joins him. Beat.
WILL
I am glad Hamnet didn’t write the
poems.All Is True - Shooting Script 56.All Is True - Shooting Script 57.ANNE
Glad?
WILL
I know him better now. It is love
not ambition that will blossom in
this garden.
Anne looks at the garden. It is still pretty grim. She
smiles.
ANNE
Well it had better because it
doesn’t seem like much else has
blossomed yet.
WILL
I am a poor gardener. It’s true. I
found it much easier to create
things with words.
ANNE
Life’s like that. Would you like me
to help?
She smiles. He smiles. Together they begin to work on the
garden.
INT. ANNE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 118 118
Anne gets ready for bed. Will appears.
WILL
Goodnight my love.
ANNE
Stay Will. For comfort. With me. In
our second best bed.
Will smiles. He enters.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 119 119
Judith is approaching Quiney’s wine shop.
EXT. HALL’S CROFT - DAY 120 120
Anne is approaching Susanna’s house. She knocks at the door.
Susanna answers.
ANNE
Susanna. There is something I
should like your help with. All Is True - Shooting Script 57.All Is True - Shooting Script 58.INT. QUINEY’S WINE SHOP - DAY 121 121
Judith enters. She closes the door and stares at Quiney.
JUDITH
I will take that glass of Rhennish
wine with you Tom Quiney.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - EVENING 122 122
Susanna and John Hall. She stitching, he with his bible.
JOHN HALL
Your sister has been seen in Thomas
Quiney’s shop.
SUSANNA
Quiney supplies wine to my father’s
house.
JOHN HALL
She was not ordering wine. She was
drinking it. With Quiney. She was
inside for half an hour or more.
SUSANNA
Is this the faith your Puritan
brothers practise? Spying on women?
JOHN HALL
They were quite public in their
merry making. They went later
together to the tavern.
SUSANNA
If Judith is reaching for a little
happiness then I am glad of it.
JOHN HALL
Sinning will not make her happy.
SUSANNA
Really? Then let us hope it makes
her unhappiness a little more
bearable.
JOHN HALL
That is a wicked thing to say.
Remember your scripture.
SUSANNA
What I remember is a little girl
who smiled a lot. I should like to
see what that smile looks like on
the woman that girl became.All Is True - Shooting Script 58.All Is True - Shooting Script 59.JOHN HALL
A reputation once lost can not be
refound.
SUSANNA
Mine was.
JOHN HALL
Yours was not lost! It was defamed
by a convicted drunkard and
suspected Papist. Judith must drop
this Quiney. He is debauched.
SUSANNA
If only those without sin were
allowed to marry, there would be
precious few weddings.
INT. QUINEY’S WINE SHOP - EVENING 123 123
Quiney and Judith kissing.
QUINEY
You know that I am not a good man.
There have been women. Many women.
JUDITH
I have seen too little of life.
You’ve seen too much. Between us
perhaps we may begin again.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - MORNING 124 124
The hustle and bustle of a tiny market town. Quiney and
Judith walk together. She is still sombre and serious but he
buys her a piece of fruit from a stall, maybe even juggles
some? He wins a smile. The first we have seen!
Margaret Wheeler is watching. She is both sad and bitter.
Quiney sees her but manages to prevent Judith doing so.
EXT. THE GARDEN - DAY 125 125
Will and Anne work together in the garden.
WILL
He has a good business with his
wine and tobacco shop.
ANNE
And people will always want those.
WILL
Unless John and his Puritan friends
have their way.All Is True - Shooting Script 59.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 60.ANNE
I’ve known the Quiney family all my
life. They can be a wild and merry
crew, but good hearted.
Will glad to hear it.
INT. THE HOME OF MARGARET WHEELER - EVENING 126 126
A poor lodging in a near by village. Quiney is visiting.
Margaret Wheeler (who we saw him with at the church). She
sits with her parents.
QUINEY
I can not see you anymore Margaret
I’m sorry.
MARGARET
Because of Judith Shakespeare?
QUINEY
I never made you promise Margaret
you know that. If we sinned we
sinned together.
Margaret’s father speaks.
MARGARET’S FATHER
She’s with child.
This is a big blow.
QUINEY
Can you be sure it’s mine?
Margaret reddens, perhaps she can’t be sure. Her father is
though and takes up a hatchet from the fire side.
MARGARET’S FATHER
You dare ask it? Dare again!
The Father is intimidating, but Quiney holds his ground.
QUINEY
Margaret has many friends at the
tavern.
MARGARET
I’m certain... I think... I believe
it’s yours Tom. Honestly I do.
Quiney is not a bad man. He and Margaret have been friends.
QUINEY
I have a wine shop. My family is
prosperous. You will always have
money for the child, always.
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 60.QUINEY (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 61.And for your comfort too, a small
dowry that you might find a husband
who will take your child as his
own.
Margaret’s father puts down his axe.
QUINEY(CONT'D)
I hope that in return you will not
name me as the father.
Margaret is sad but she knows it’s the best deal she’ll get.
Her father knows this also. He nods grimly.
INT. THE TAVERN STRATFORD - DAY 127 127
John Hall enters. He approaches the Landlady.
STRATFORD LANDLADY
Well well. Doctor Hall. I did not
look to see you in the Tavern. Has
all your preachifying given you a
thirst?
JOHN HALL
A cup of water if you please.
STRATFORD LANDLADY
I shall charge you pottage. There
is water at the pump.
John Hall puts a coin down.
JOHN HALL
Tom Quiney the Vintner drinks here
does he not?
STRATFORD LANDLADY
Since he was a boy.
JOHN HALL
I would have you tell me what
company he has kept of late. What
female company.
Hall puts another couple of coins down.
INT. NEW PLACE - DAY 128 128
Will in his study. A serving girl shows in his lawyer Francis
Collins. Will is a feeling happy.
WILL
Francis Collins! Come in! Come in!
You’ll take some wine? Maria! A jug
of wine if you please. QUINEY (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 61.All Is True - Shooting Script 62.FRANCIS
I am relived to see you in such
high spirits Will. When a man sends
for his lawyer it is not always so.
WILL
Judith’s getting married!
FRANCIS
No! Congratulations! It was a crime
that such a pretty girl remained
unwed.
WILL
Well crime no longer! And thus
would I amend my Will to include my
new Son in Law Tom Quiney.
FRANCIS
Quiney is it? Wine and tobacco.
Good trade.
WILL
Can’t think of better. Also we must
of course make provision for his
and Judith’s male issue.
The wine arrives. Will fills their glasses for a toast.
WILL(CONT'D)
My grandsons!
FRANCIS
Many of them!
They drink. Will has a mischievous glint in his eye.
WILL
And I wish also to leave something
for Anne.
FRANCIS
Anne? If she survives you she will
have a third by law.
WILL
Oh she’ll survive me. I have little
doubt of that. She’s years older
and ten times tougher. But I don’t
mean money! She’ll have more of
that than she can spend. I had in
mind a piece of furniture.
FRANCIS
Furniture? But Anne will live here
and have the use of every stick.All Is True - Shooting Script 62.All Is True - Shooting Script 63.WILL
A specific piece of furniture.
Which when it is no longer ours
must be hers. And I hope that in it
will she smile and think of me.
Will drinks happily. Francis shrugs and gets papers and pen.
EXT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 130 130
The congregation gathers. A merry scene as townsfolk go into
the church. Quiney arrives with his brother, there is much
back slapping as they make their way in.
Margaret Wheeler and her parents attend. She is heavily
pregnant and ashamed that all pity her unmarried condition.
Her father’s face shows angry defiance.
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 131 131
Quiney enters. He sees that amongst the happy faces Margaret,
sits grimly and tearfully at the back with her mother and
father. Quiney catches Margaret’s eye but he can not read her
face. Now Susanna and John Hall enter, John Hall sees
Margaret and note that Quiney is looking at her.
EXT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 132 132
Now Will arrives with Judith. A happy morning.
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 133 133
The vicar Edward Woolmer is officiating over the wedding.
EDWARD WOOLMER
Before I pronounce you man and wife
I must ask this congregation does
any know of any reason why these
two should not wed.
This is a tense moment for Quiney. His eyes flick to
Margaret, her face a mask, her father shifts in his pew, Will
he speak? Will John Hall? Hall is watching intently.
None speak. The Vicar continues and completes the service.
EDWARD WOOLMER(CONT'D)
I now pronounce you man and wife.
Judith turns for a moment to her father. She smiles at him,
she is doing this for him but she is happy. She turns back to
Quiney and embraces himAll Is True - Shooting Script 63.All Is True - Shooting Script 64.CARD: On the tenth of February 1616 at Holy Trinity Church,
Stratford Upon Avon, Judith Shakespeare then aged 31, married
Thomas Quiney, the local Vintner and tobacconist whom she had
known all her life.
EXT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING
The happy throng emerge. Margaret (her head bowed in shame
over her very pregnant body) slips away with her parents.
John Hall follows them.
INT. NEW PLACE - DAY 135 135
The wedding feast. A great cheering. This is a happy and
joyous affair.
EXT. THE HOME OF MARGARET WHEELER - DAY 136 136
John Hall is confronting Margaret and her parents.
JOHN HALL
Who is the father girl?
MARGARET
I will not tell.
John Hall glances at the well stocked shelves. Wine. Food. A
pile of what are clearly new blankets and sheets.
JOHN HALL
This house is blessed with a goodly
abundance. Your silence has been
bought.
Margaret and her parents stare defiance at the two puritans.
INT. NEW PLACE - DAY 137 137
Will is making a speech to the rapt crowd
WILL
... One son in law owns a wine shop
the other one wants to close it.
(laughter)
A happy balance I think, balance in
nature always appealed to me and a
happy balance is what I feel now at
this wonderful feast. You all know
the Shakespeare’s. You knew my
father when he was your Mayor, and
you also knew him in less happy
times...All Is True - Shooting Script 64.All Is True - Shooting Script 65.A reveller calls out cheekily.
O/S REVELLER
He certainly knew the price of
wool!
WILL
Of course he did! He made it up
himself!
Laughter and some ‘woos’. Will is being pretty honest.
WILL(CONT'D)
I know that sometimes we
Shakespeare’s have been our own
worst enemies. And sometimes we
have had the worst of enemies.
Will looks at Susanna who gives him a little smile. Another
voice calls out.
0/S VOICE
If ever John Lane shows his face
around here again he’ll have the
nose cut off it!
All cheer at that.
WILL
We have had our ups and downs but I
flatter myself that after my
father’s shall we say ‘creative’
approach to matters financial I
have brought some small credit to
my home town.
Another cheer and another voice shouts out.
O/S VOICE
The world will know of Stratford On
Avon because of you sir!
More cheers.
WILL
And although I no longer have a
son... and show me a family in this
town that has not lost at least one
child... I have two beautiful
daughters. So perhaps one day I
shall have a grandson.
Susanna is embarrassed by this. Judith smiles at Quiney.
WILL(CONT'D)
For that I look to you Tom and you
also John! Be about your business
both of you!All Is True - Shooting Script 65.All Is True - Shooting Script 66.Much good natured cheering. Quiney raises his mug. Hall does
his best to produce a grim smile.
WILL(CONT'D)
For family is everything and today,
I could not be more proud of mine.
More cheers. There are calls for “the Groom”. Quiney stands.
QUINEY
My friends. I have known Judith all
my life. And I have loved her near
as long. I remember her as a happy
child and I remember the shadow
that fell on her when she lost that
other half of herself. That twin
soul with whom she entered this
world. I have asked her for her
hand many times across the years. I
don’t know what it was that finally
caused her to say yes, all I can
say is that I am happy for it and
my dearest hope on this our wedding
day is that I can bring into
Judith’s life a little of the
happiness that has forsaken her for
so long.
Judith is touched. Anne and Will too. All cheer.
INT. JUDITH AND QUINEY’S BED CHAMBER - NIGHT 138 138
It is their wedding night. They stand before each other.
JUDITH
I saw Margaret Wheeler in the
Church today Tom.
QUINEY
I know it Judith and I have
confessed all to you. I can not
undo what is done. All I can say is
that her child and she will not
want.
They embrace and begin to make love.
CARD: Shortly after their wedding Judith and Tom Quiney
conceived a child.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - MORNING 139 139
Wide shot. Hustle and bustle of a market town.
Judith and Quiney walk hand in hand. They are happy.All Is True - Shooting Script 66.All Is True - Shooting Script 67.INT. THE HOME OF MARGARET WHEELER - DAY 140 140
Margaret is in labour. It’s a bad one. She’s screaming. Her
mother is trying to help but gives up.
MARGARET’S MOTHER
The child is breech.
MARGARET’S FATHER
We must send for Doctor Hall.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - DAY 141 141
Quiney and Judith are visiting Will and Anne.
WILL
Pregnant?
JUDITH
It’s very early Father but I
believe I am.
WILL
Oh my sweet girl.
INT. THE HOME OF MARGARET WHEELER - DAY 142 142
Margaret is screaming, the baby is not coming. Dr Hall is
doing what he can but he knows it’s desperate. He takes the
grim forceps from his bag.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - DAY 143 143
Susanna has joined the family gathering.
SUSANNA
Sister. I am truly happy for you.
WILL
Where is John? He should be here.
SUSANNA
He was called out... to a
confinement.
Judith and Quiney know who that is.
INT. THE HOME OF MARGARET WHEELER - DAY 144 144
Margaret’s screams reach a terrible crescendo. Then silence.
Her writhing body falls still. All know immediately that she
is gone. John Hall works feverishly at the limp body but to
no avail.All Is True - Shooting Script 67.All Is True - Shooting Script 68.JOHN HALL
The child has departed with it’s
mother.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - DAY 145 145
A merry conversation is in progress. Judith and Quiney
laughing with Will and Anne. Even Susanna laughs merrily.
John Hall enters. Perhaps still blood splattered. Clearly
something is wrong.
JOHN HALL
Quiney. Margaret Wheeler has died
in childbirth along with her baby.
The child has no name. It will not
enter heaven without one.
Quiney knows what he must do.
EXT. GRAVE YARD - DAY 146 146
Margaret’s parents are burying their daughter and grandchild.
Tom Quiney and Judith are also there and stand some way
apart. Judith with her hand on her own belly lost in a
confusion of thoughts.
The service ends. The parents turn to walk away. They pause
before Quiney and Judith.
JUDITH
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Wheeler. I’m so
sorry.
CARD: Margaret Wheeler, former lover to Thomas Quiney was
buried with her child on 16th March 1616.
CARD: On 25th of March 1616 Shakespeare once more amended his
Will, striking out provisions made for his new son in law.
INT NEW PLACE DAY
Will has signed and lays down his pen. He looks so sad. For
once John Hall is moved.
JOHN HALL
I take no pleasure in Judith’s
distress Father in Law. Or yours.
It grieves me.
WILL
I know that. John.All Is True - Shooting Script 68.All Is True - Shooting Script 69.INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - DAY 149 149
The Bawdy court is assembling. Pious, grim figures.
CARD: On March 26th 1616 Tom Quiney was tried before the
Bawdy Court in the same church in which he had been married
six weeks earlier. He made a full confession.
Thomas Quiney stands before the Court and congregation.
QUINEY
I got her with child. It was carnal
copulation out of wedlock and I am
sorry for it. Sorry for the agony
it has caused to her family and
sorry for the shame I have brought
on mine.
EDWARD WOOLMER
The sentence of the court is that
you shall parade yourself in open
penance, clad only in a white sheet
for three Sundays before this
congregation.
Will feels once more the weight of shame.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - DAY 150 150
Will is walking in the High Street, still in smart clothes
but looking older and sadder. He is no longer greeted with
respect, instead he gets smirks or looks of sympathy, he
catches people pointing.
Sir Thomas Lucy walks by.
SIR THOMAS
Well well Mr. Shakespeare. How very
unfortunate. Seems your daughter’s
wedding was rushed for a reason.
Like your own eh? The apple doesn’t
fall far from the tree. Damn me you
Shakespeare’s are a scandalous lot
eh? Perhaps being an illiterate
farm girl your wife was unable to
teach your girls morals. Well well.
Must be getting on. Can’t loll
about thinking pretty thoughts all
day like you poets. I must to
business.
Lucy is about to walk on. Will stops him.
WILL
Business Sir Thomas?All Is True - Shooting Script 69.All Is True - Shooting Script 69A.SIR THOMAS
Yes yes business. A large estate
like Charlecote Manor doesn’t run
itself ye’ know.
WILL
Oh I thought you meant a real
business. Like building, owning and
operating London’s largest theatre
for instance.
Sir Thomas about to speak but Will ploughs on.
WILL(CONT'D)
Actors, carpenters, seamstresses,
crew. Bribes to pay, security to
mount, politics to navigate.
Fifteen hundred paying public each
afternoon, to be fed, watered, and
given a spectacle which must be
ever greater than the last. 170
Royal performances for our Queen
and our king. Have you ever
considered the cost and logistics
of mounting the Battle of
Shrewsbury in the banqueting hall
at Hampton Court? Please don’t. It
would make you very, very tired.
And yet Sir Thomas, in all the
years I ran my vast, complex and
spectacularly successful business I
also did find time to think and
write down those pretty thoughts
you mentioned, which in my
experience brought immense pleasure
to those seeking respite from this
vale of tears, and without which
the whole thing would have been as
pointless as..? Well, as pointless
as you Sir Thomas.
Will about to leave but then has a final thought.
WILL(CONT'D)
And since you brought her up, my
wife Anne has more wisdom and
decency in her daily shit than you
have in your entire body.
Lucy is a little shaken but walks on with dignity. Will calls
after him. All Is True - Shooting Script 69A.All Is True - Shooting Script 70.WILL(CONT'D)
I wish I had poached your bloody
deer!
Will walks on.
EXT. THE GARDEN - DAY 151 151
Another day. Anne works alone. The garden is blooming but
Anne is sad for Will seems to have forsaken it.
Will emerges from the house
ANNE
Will you work with me a while
Husband? You could put some beer
about for the slugs.
WILL
By the look of things Anne you do
better without me. I think I shall
walk a little.
He heads for the garden gate. Then pauses.
ANNE
She did it for you Will. You wanted
a grandson.
She returns to her digging. Will walks on.
EXT. THE VILLAGE GREEN/POND - DAY 152 152
Will sits watching the children play. Once more he thinks he
sees the boy. Once more when he looks again the boy has gone.
Something occurs to Will.
EXT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 153 153
Will is walking towards the church. He pauses at the
graveyard wall.
Will enters and walks to his son’s grave. The Stone reads
“Hamnet Shakespeare. 1585 to 1596”.
He stands in contemplation. Then walks into the church.
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 154 154
Will walks through the empty church. He sits in a pew with
his thoughts. The vicar enters. All Is True - Shooting Script 70.All Is True - Shooting Script 71.EDWARD WOOLMER
Mr. Shakespeare. In church and it
isn’t Sunday? Dare I hope that you
are seeking to know God a little
better?
WILL
People who claim to know God feel
entitled to speak for him. I prefer
to maintain a respectful distance.
Which I imagine God appreciates.
May I see the Church register?
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - MORNING 155 155
The Chancery. Will sits at the desk. Woolmer busies himself
with the registers.
EDWARD WOOLMER
You did not attend the funeral?
The question is a painful one.
WILL
I was travelling home. The news
arrived in London after I had left.
By the time I arrived he lay in the
ground.
EDWARD WOOLMER
It was summer. No corpse remains
unburied long. Particularly a
plague corpse. Here is the page.
August 1596.
Will looks at the entry for Hamnet’s death. The Year 1596.
His eye moves up and down the column. From the deaths
recorded in 1596 to those in 95 and then 97.
Will traces his finger across the Hamnet’s entry. Almost
trying to touch the boy.
Will is remembering...
WILL
I’d brought him a pen knife. A
special one with a folding blade.
His name engraved upon the handle.
(beat)
How he would have loved that knife.
Will takes out the knife which is old now, and opens it.
WILL(CONT'D)
I keep it with me still...
There is a pot of quills on the desk. Will takes one.All Is True - Shooting Script 71.All Is True - Shooting Script 72.WILL(CONT'D)
Do you mind?
Woolmer nods. Will begins to cut the quill.
WILL(CONT'D)
And whenever I cut a new nib, I
imagine that my hand is his hand.
Grown to be a man...
Will watches his hand as he cuts at the quill.
WILL(CONT'D)
Trimming his quill with the knife
his father gave him - on that
joyful home coming long ago.
Will has cut a beautiful nib. He dips it in ink.
WILL(CONT'D)
And when I dip the ink and mark the
page, it’s still his hand I see and
the words that I write are his.
He writes a word or two.
WILL(CONT'D)
And then I tell myself that it
isn’t me who thinks of him at all,
but that I am dead, while Hamnet
lives, and thinks of me.
Will lays down the quill and folds the knife away. Edward
Woolmer glances down at the page Will has written on. He
wrote “Hamnet Shakespeare”.
WILL(CONT'D)
People often ask how I have writ so
much. How I found the energy and
dedication to sit alone at my desk
writing play after play after play.
The answer’s simple, I was always
in the company of my son.
He gives way to grief. Edward Woolmer stand silently.
EXT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - DAY 159 159
Will has returned to Hamnet’s grave. He reads the inscription
again. Year of death 1596.
Will glances at the other graves close by, the years of death
1594, 1597, 1597, 1598.
Will is thinking.All Is True - Shooting Script 72.All Is True - Shooting Script 73.HALL’S CROFT - DAY 160 160
Will has gone to talk with Susanna.
SUSANNA
It began and ended so quickly.
WILL
It is always so with the plague.
SUSANNA
The four of us had supped that
night. We were usually a merry
crowd we four at table but that
night I recall Hamnet was quiet.
The illness already in his system
no doubt. Judith teased him as she
always did but that night could win
no smile in return.
INT. ANNE IN BED - NIGHT 162 162
Now it is a flashback we see Anne wake with a start. She has
heard Judith’s voice shout “Hamnet!” Susanna’s voice over
continues to describe the scene.
SUSANNA (V.O.)
Mother told me she was awoken that
night by Judith’s cry.
INT. JUDITH AND HAMNET IN BED - NIGHT 163 163
Still in flash back. Anne enters the children’s room. First
she sees Judith crying in fear. Judith points to Hamnet where
he lies already becoming plague ridden.
SUSANNA (V.O.)
Mother bid Hamnet come at once with
her to save Judith from infection.
EXT. THE GREEN WOOD - NIGHT 164 164
Still in flashback. Anne is leading the stricken boy to the
woods.
SUSANNA (V.O.)
She knew already that Hamnet could
not survive and so did her best to
isolate him from all but herself.
But Judith disobeyed and followed.
Judith is following Anne and Hamnet.All Is True - Shooting Script 73.All Is True - Shooting Script 74.SUSANNA (V.O.)
It was a warm night. The air was
sweet and Hamnet begged to be taken
to his favourite place.
INT. THE GREEN WOOD POND - NIGHT 165 165
Hamnet, now with pustules fully breaking out lies on the Moon
lit grass beside the water. He screams in fear and pain.
SUSANNA (V.O.)
They nursed him through the night
with cool water from the brook and
prayer. Mother did as best she
could to keep Judith and herself
from contact with his sores and by
God’s mercy neither was infected.
Dawn now. Hamnet dies.
SUSANNA (V.O.)
He left them as the Sun rose.
Mother sent Judith for blankets and
thread to make a shroud.
Cross fade. Anne has stitched blankets around the corpse,
completely containing it.
SUSANNA (V.O.)
When the plague is involved it’s
best not to linger too long saying
goodbye. When I awoke she’d sent
for the graves-men. Hamnet was
already in his coffin.
INT. HALL’S CROFT - DAY 167 167
Back in the present. Susanna still with Will.
SUSANNA
Judith never smiled again.
Will is thinking. He sees greater tragedy in his mind even
than that which has been described.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 168 168
Later Will and Anne before the fire. Judith enters.
JUDITH
You sent for me Father? All Is True - Shooting Script 74.All Is True - Shooting Script 75.WILL
Yes Judith. Thank you for coming.
Your new home is comfortable I
hope?
JUDITH
There’s much to do but my husband
is working hard. He is a good man
despite the shame he brought us.
Will swallows. It’s still a painful memory.
WILL
I visited Hamnet’s grave today. I
read his name in the Parish
Register.
ANNE
I am glad of it.
WILL
Anne I have known the plague. Many
times in London did it strike and
all the theatres must be closed.
Neither Anne or Judith reply.
WILL(CONT'D)
Yes, I have known the plague. And I
was thinking today that Black Death
is a scythe it is not a dagger.
ANNE
How so?
WILL
Never once did I see it strike a
single person, and then depart.
Anne and Judith remain silent. Will is wrestling with a
question he does not want to ask.
WILL(CONT'D)
How did Hamnet die?
Neither Anne nor Judith show any emotion. But now we see a
tear rolling from Judith’s expressionless eyes.
WILL(CONT'D)
His death is recorded in the Parish
register but with no mention of the
cause.
ANNE
Plague husband. The priest
pronounced it at his funeral.All Is True - Shooting Script 75.All Is True - Shooting Script 76.WILL
Because that is what you told him.
And also what no doubt you told the
grave’s men when they arrived in
the greenwood to find him stitched
up in his shroud.
In all their minds a remembered scene...
INT. THE GREENWOOD MORNING 169 169
Hamnet’s shrouded corpse lies in the grass, a sad bundle.
Little Judith is being comforted by Anne. Two Grave’s men
have arrived. Heavily cloaked men wearing the horrible beak
nosed masks used to ward off plague. They have a great sheet.
They approach the bundled corpse warily. Like hook beaked
vultures gathering round carrion. They lift it quickly and
fearfully, perhaps even manipulating it with hooked poles.
Nobody wants to contact with a plaque victim any longer than
necessary. They dump it on the sheet and drag the corpse
bundle away.
CARD: Hamnet Shakespeare died on or around the 9th of August
1596 and was buried on the 11th.
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 170 170
We are back in the moment, Will is still quietly questioning
Anne.
WILL
When I look at other graves around
about Hamnet’s and at his name in
the register. I see that no scythe
swung through this town in the
summer of 1596. Five children only
were taken and three of those were
new born’s. Not like in other
plague years. Why in 1597 even
dozens were cut down.
(beat)
Wife. How did Hamnet die?
ANNE
He died of plague.
Will stares hard at Anne, his heart in torment. She returns
his stare with stony defiance. Then Judith speaks. Slowly,
scarcely with emotion. Her eyes distant, her voice toneless.
JUDITH
I woke Mother in the night with my
cry.All Is True - Shooting Script 76.All Is True - Shooting Script 77.Once more we see the scene in flashback. This time described
by Judith in Voice Over.
INT. ANNE IN BED - NIGHT 171 171
Again in flashback we see Anne wake with a start. She has
heard Judith’s voice shout “Hamnet!”
INT. JUDITH IN BED - NIGHT 172 172
Still in flash back. Anne enters the children’s room. First
she sees Judith crying in fear. Judith points but this time
to an empty place in the bed.
JUDITH (V.O.)
Hamnet’s bed was empty.
EXT. THE GREENWOOD - NIGHT 173 173
Still in flashback. Anne rushing through the wood.
JUDITH (V.O.)
Mother searched the house and then
thought of the Greenwood Pond that
was his favourite place even though
he couldn’t swim and would never go
in the water.
Judith emerges from the house and follows Anne.
INT. THE GREENWOOD POND - NIGHT 174 174
Anne approaches the water with Judith behind her. They walk
to the edge and now, in the Moonlight they see Hamnet, dead,
floating like Ophelia. He is surrounded not by lilies but by
torn pages of paper.
JUDITH (V.O.)
Around him, torn and shredded
floated the final verses I had
conjured and which he had writ. The
ones prepared for your return.
Anne moves towards the water to get Hamnet’s corpse.
JUDITH (V.O.)
Mother sent me for blankets and
thread. So that none would know how
Hamnet died.All Is True - Shooting Script 77.All Is True - Shooting Script 78.INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S KITCHEN - EVENING 176 176
Back in the present Judith has told her story. Anne speaks
with hollow firmness.
ANNE
That’s your story Judith and you
have carried it’s burden ever
since. But I say he died of plague.
The vicar spake it at his grave and
God accepts it. Millions have died
of it and Hamnet entered Heaven
amongst that host. Jesus would not
have denied him his place whatever
Judith thinks we saw.
Will is too broken to speak. Instead Judith cries out.
JUDITH
Of course he’s in Heaven! Hamnet
didn’t kill himself, he only threw
himself upon the water. It was I
that caused it. I killed him! I
killed my brother!
ANNE
No Judith! It isn’t so!
Judith turns to Will, utterly distraught.
JUDITH
He wanted to please you so much.
All he cared about was your love
and all you cared about was him! I
was jealous... I was jealous...
Hamnet went to school. I helped in
the kitchen because I was a girl. I
wanted your approval too. I wanted
your love...
Will is numb.
JUDITH(CONT'D)
So I told him I would tell you!
That this time you would know which
twin had writ the verse. I didn’t
mean it! I wouldn’t have done it. I
loved him. But he believed me... He
couldn’t face your disappointment.
Judith sobs in abject misery. Anne comforts Judith.
ANNE
He died of plague Judith. God
accepts that. It was only a little
lie. He was only a little boy.
Will gets up unsteadily, puts on his cloak and leaves.All Is True - Shooting Script 78.All Is True - Shooting Script 79.EXT. THE GREEN WOOD - NIGHT 177 177
A wild night. Will stumbles through the woods. He calls out.
WILL
Hamnet!
He thinks he sees the Boy again. Somewhere in the woods. The
boy runs. Will crashes after him. Rain lashing down.
Will has arrived at the pond. He stares at he still Moon lit
water. Almost delirious he grabs at a rock and puts it in his
shirt. Gathering another he wades into the water. When it is
deep enough he plunges under.
The rocks aren’t heavy enough. He surfaces but plunges again.
Then he sees the boy standing on the bank.
The boy smiles. Will stops. He stands waste deep in the
water.
BOY
You finished it.
Will doesn’t understand.
BOY(CONT'D)
My story’s done.
Go home now.
I can rest.
Will reaches out his hand.
WILL
Hamnet please. Stay a moment.
BOY
We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our
little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
The boy is gone.
EXT. THE HIGH STREET - EARLY MORNING. 178 178
A few people are up and about. Milk churns are being carted.
Bread baked. Will walks home through the town, a filthy and
disheveled figure, soaked through. A stark contrast to the
proud man in his fine clothes. A few faces turn.All Is True - Shooting Script 79.All Is True - Shooting Script 80.EXT. NEW PLACE - MORNING 179 179
Will arrives home, a sorry, shivering figure. Anne opens the
door to him. She looks on him with pity and with love. Will
seems so diminished.
WILL
I think perhaps I have caught a
little chill.
CARD: In April 1616 Shakespeare was visited by his friend and
rival Ben Jonson
INT. THE SHAKESPEARE’S HALL - NIGHT 180 180
Will, wrapped in rugs and seeming rather ill is dining with
Jonson.
JONSON
Christ Will! You have had a time of
it! Both daughters caught up in
scandals. Good for them!
WILL
Yes. So far retirement hasn’t
exactly brought me the peace I’d
hoped for.
Jonson sups deep. He is a confident, bold, opinionated man
but also astute and he loves Will.
JONSON
In my experience Will no one ever
gets what they hope for. But they
do tend to get what they deserve.
WILL
You think I got what I deserve?
JONSON
Not all of it perhaps but something
certainly. You lost a son. No man
deserves that but most men suffer
it. I myself have lost a daughter
and a son.
WILL
I know my friend.
JONSON
But you have two daughters still,
who love you and a wife to share
your bed. I have none of that. Mine
own Anne despises me.All Is True - Shooting Script 80.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 81.WILL
Well you publicly insult her and
call her ‘shrew’. Can you blame
her?
JONSON
I didn’t say she had no cause only
that she does. Like your Anne
(wife?). She loves William
Shakespeare. But she won’t put up
with the monster. You tell me that
Southampton says you’ve lived a
little life. What an arse! You have
conquered England and returned
victorious to the bosom of your
family? Is that little?
WILL
Perhaps the second part.
JONSON
The second part is the best part!
You made it home Will. How many
other conquerors can say as much?
What poets? Anyone can die alone
and despised. Marlowe was murdered
and no one can agree on which of
his many enemies did it, Greene
died in poverty, estranged from all
who knew him. Kyd the same. No one
knows how Tom Nashe died but if his
filthy dildo poem’s are anything to
go by it wasn’t in the bosom of his
family.
Will laughs which brings on a coughing fit.
JONSON(CONT'D)
And I? Well while I am not dead I
may soon be for I am out of favour
with the king and none will speak
for me. But you Will. You made it
home. Any of us might wish we had
half your ‘littleness’.
WILL
(chuckling)
Well, perhaps put like that.
JONSON
You have kept your friends too,
even me and I am a waspish fellow.
Hemming and Condell are feverishly
seeking out your scripts intent
that all should be published and
your genius be preserved down the
ages.
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 81.JONSON (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 81A.Name another writer the bloody
actors have revered like that? Yes
we tease you Will. I’ve done it
myself. A lot. ‘Not without right’.JONSON (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 81A.All Is True - Shooting Script 82.Will puts a bit of mustard on his ham in salute.
WILL
Or as you kindly put it publicly,
“Not without Mustard”
JONSON
But you have your family and your
friends, a full fire and a full
belly. And oh, by the way you have
written the greatest body of plays
that ever were or will be. Damn
your eyes you bastard! Yes my
friend, I think you got what you
deserved.
Will is much moved by all of this.
WILL
Ben. I have an idea.
EXT. JUDITH’S CHAMBER WINDOW- NIGHT 180c 180c
Will and Jonson outside on the street.
WILL
Judith!
JUDITH
Father?
WILL
Shhh! Don’t wake your husband.
JUDITH
What do you want?
WILL
We’re going to the pub. Wanna come?
EXT. NEW PLACE - NIGHT 181 181
Will and Jonson both drunk have got a ladder and Jonson and
are setting it beneath Will’s Coat of Arms. Judith stops
them.
JUDITH
You’re both too drunk for ladders.
Just hold the bottom.
The pregnant Judith begins to climb.All Is True - Shooting Script 82.All Is True - Shooting Script 83.EXT. THE HIGH STREET - NIGHT 182 182
The two playwrights and Judith are making their way tipsily
up the street carrying the Coat of Arms.
INT. THE TAVERN - NIGHT 183 183
They enter and to everyone’s astonishment plonk it on the
bar.
WILL
The Shakespeare Coat of Arms. It
cost me twenty quid. Who wants it
for nothing?
General surprise. Judith smiles. She understands what this
means to Will.
WILL(CONT'D)
Hang it above the bar if you wish
for I have no more need of it. You
all know me anyway! I’m the son of
a dodgy trader and my wife was
three months knocked up when I took
her to the altar. One of my girls
married a carnal copulator no
offense Jude...
JUDITH
None taken Father, he did tell the
entire town.
WILL
And the other one married a
Puritan.
JUDITH
Which personally I think is worse!
WILL
Here here!
JONSON
Bloody right!
WILL
Some people think I poached one of
Lucy’s stags which I didn’t but I
wish I had.
JUDITH
And never mind stags anyway you
once stole an entire theatre.
WILL
Very true.All Is True - Shooting Script 83.All Is True - Shooting Script 84.JONSON
I was there!
WILL
I worked too hard, drank too little
and worried too much about what
arseholes like you lot thought of
me.
Good natured cheers.
WILL(CONT'D)
I took my extremely long suffering
wife for granted, neglected my
beautiful, clever daughters.
He looks at Judith who returns his smile.
WILL(CONT'D)
And expected too much of my beloved
son. Apart from all that, I wrote
37 plays, some of which I admit
were rather long but all of which
are works of absolute genius.
Except possibly The Two Gentlemen
of Verona.
WILL(CONT'D)
My name is William Shakespeare. And
I am not a gentleman.
All cheer. Judith hugs Will. The party begins.
EXT NEW PLACE DAWN 183a 183a
A crisp spring morning.
INT. ANNES’S BEDROOM - MORNING 184 184
Will lies in bed. He’s weak and ill. The chill is worse. He’s
dying. Anne, Judith and Sue enter. Judith now showing her
pregnancy.
JUDITH
Father. It’s a special day. And
Mother and Sue have prepared a
special present.
Susanna takes a document and hands it to him.
WILL
Goodness. What’s this?
ANNE
Its our marriage licence Will. 34
years ago I put my mark to it. All Is True - Shooting Script 84.(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 85.SUSANNA
And now...
There is a little bureau, Susanna produces quill and ink.
Anne sits and with great care signs the licence.
ANNE
Anne.... Shakespeare.
Will smiles and looks at the licence.
WILL
You have a beautiful hand.
JUDITH
Sue is teaching me also and by the
time you are better I shall have
written you a poem.
Will smiles with deep and special pleasure.
WILL
You will need a pen knife then.
This is yours.
Will takes Hamnet’s knife from his pocket and gives it her.
SUSANNA
And what should you like to do
today Father? On this special day?
He smiles. He is at peace.
WILL
I know a bank where the wild thyme
blows...
As the poem continues in voice over...
EXT. THE GARDEN - MORNING 185 185
It is beautiful now, a graphic maze garden of beautifully
arranged grasses. A knot garden of charm and symmetry. The
ladies lead Will to a seat and gather around him while little
Elizabeth plays. Standing apart but also included are Hall
and Quiney.
WILL (V.O.)
Where oxlips and the nodding violet
grows,
Quite overcanopied with luscious
woodbine,
With sweet musk roses and with
eglantine.
There sleeps Titania sometime of
the night,
(MORE)All Is True - Shooting Script 85.WILL (V.O.) (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 86.Lulled in these flowers with dances
and delight.
CARD: William Shakespeare died on 23th April 1616 in the town
where he was born. It was his birthday.
INT. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - DAY 186 186
It is Will’s funeral. Music. A sombre, respectful
congregation. Now Anne, Judith and Susanna stand together at
the dais. They have a piece of paper. First Anne reads, it is
a little faltering but loud and proud.
ANNE
Fear no more the heat o the sun.
Judith reads the second line. Also falteringly. It is
heartbreakingly poignant, Anne and Judith finally beginning
to read Will’s poetry.
JUDITH
Nor the furious winters rages
Now Susanna takes over. She of course reads with confidence
and beautiful clarity.
SUSANNA
Thou thy worldy task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages
Golden lads and girls all must
As chimney sweepers come to dust
As the verses continue, we move away down the church, and
fade to black.
A final card
William Shakespeare, 1564 - 1616, writer.
CARD: Anne Died 9 years later.
Will had bequeathed her his second best bed.
Judith Quiney had three boys. All died young.
Elizabeth Hall, Susanna’s only child married twice but had no
children.
She died aged 61, the last of Shakespeare’s line. WILL (V.O.) (CONT'D)All Is True - Shooting Script 86. | screenplays |
Difference between dissociation energy and dissociation temperature for water?
I was trying to find the temperature at which water dissociates into hydrogen and oxygen, and so I came across [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond-dissociation_energy#BDE_versus_bond_energy) Wikipedia page. It states that it takes $\pu{493.4 kJ/mol} + \pu{424.4 kJ/mol}$ to dissociate the bonds in a water molecule which gives a total of about $\pu{920 kJ/mol}$ or about $\pu{51 MJ/kg}$. So I tried to calculate the temperature that would give that huge amount of energy using the [heat capacity of water vapor](http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/water-vapor-d_979.html). I took $\pu{3.3 kJ/kgK}$ for water vapor as an average specific heat, and so by simply dividing $\pu{51 MJ}$ by $\pu{3.3 kJ}$, I ended up with about $\pu{15,000 K}$.
But on [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_splitting#Thermal_decomposition_of_water) other Wikipedia page, I found: "at $\pu{2200 ^\circ C}$ about three percent of all $\ce{H2O}$ molecules are dissociated into various combinations of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. At the very high temperature of $\pu{3000 ^\circ C}$ more than half of the water molecules are decomposed".
So now I am very confused. If $\pu{3000 ^\circ C}$ is enough to dissociate more than half of the water molecules, then it should be expected that almost all the molecules should dissociate at around $\pu{4000 ^\circ C}$ or so and not the $\pu{15,000 K}$ I calculated earlier.
So am I missing something here? Or is there an explanation to this?
One key is an assumption about various degrees of dissociation.
>
> It states that it takes 493.4 kJ/mol + 424.4 kJ/mol to dissociate the bonds in a water molecule which gives a total of about 920 kJ/mol or about 51 MJ/kg.
>
>
>
That sounds like the energy required for $\ce{H2O <=> 2H + O}$.
>
> But on this other Wikipedia page, I found: "at 2200 °C about three percent of all H2O molecules are dissociated into various combinations of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
>
>
>
Here it sounds like they are considering less extreme dissociations than complete dispersal to individual atoms. For example, $\ce{H2O <=> H + OH}$ and perhaps even $\ce{H2O <=> H2 + O}$ or $\ce{H2O <=> 2H + \frac{1}{2}O2}$ and related equilibria may be happening.
In effect, if just one OH bond breaks in water, that only requires 493.4 kJ/mol and leads to the formation of species such as $\ce{OH}$ and $\ce{H}$ atoms. Those species have a different heat capacity than $\ce{H2O}$ vapor. The heat capacity page you linked to says:
>
> The values above apply to undissociated states. At high temperatures above 1500 K dissociation becomes appreciable and pressure is a significant variable.
>
>
>
In the calculation you are doing you are not including a specific pressure variable either. Heat capacity could also be a function of pressure. Presumably the data you linked to is all for 1 atm of pressure, although it didn't really say. Likewise, the claim that at 2200 °C, 3% of water is dissociated must also be pressure-dependent. For which pressure is it true?
The final complexity is the entropic term. The three dissociated atoms have 9 translational degrees of freedom but intact water only has three.
These pressure and entropy complexities matter because $\Delta G$ is what determines equilibrium, and $\Delta G = \Delta U + \Delta (PV) - T \Delta S$. The bond dissociation energies you quote represent the $\Delta U$ term, so the calculation you are doing is implicitly assuming that $\Delta U \gg \Delta (PV) - T \Delta S$.
I think that your calculation is admirable in that it comes so close to the right answer while still neglecting all these complexities!
| stackexchange/chemistry |
MEMENTO - Shooting Script
FADE IN:
1 INT. DERELICT HOUSE - DAY <> 1
A POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH, clasped between finger and thumb: a
crude, crime scene flash picture of a MAN'S BODY lying on a
decaying wooden floor, a BLOODY MESS where his head should
be.
The image in the photo starts to FADE as we SUPER TITLES. The
hand holding the photo suddenly FANS it in a rapid FLAPPING
motion, then holds it still. The image fades more, and again
the picture is FANNED.
As TITLES END the image fades to nothing. The hand holding
the photo FLAPS it again, then places it at the front of a
POLAROID CAMERA.
The camera SUCKS the blank picture up, then the FLASH BURSTS.
The Polaroid camera is lowered, revealing the sweaty, heavy-
breathing face of LEONARD (mid-30's). There are droplets of
blood across his face. Leonard stares, satisfied, at
something on the ground in front of him. There is WET BLOOD
on his BLUE SHIRT and BEIGE SUIT. His hand opens and catches
a HANDGUN which leaps up into his grasp.
Still staring, he crouches down and pulls a BODY off the
floor by the wet hair of its BLOODY HEAD. He slowly inserts
the barrel of the gun into the bloody mess where the mouth
should be.
Leonard FLINCHES. A DEAFENING ROAR as wet red leaps off his
face and suit and head, with a SPASM, reassembles itself
into the face of TEDDY (40's, moustache) and we-
CUT TO:
2 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 2
Close on Leonard's eyes. He rolls them to one side, then
turns his head.
LEONARD (V.O.)
So where are you?
Leonard lifts his head. He is lying on a queen-sized bed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
You're in some motel room.
CUT TO:
2.
3 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 3
A late model Jaguar bumps across some railroad tracks and
approaches a large, clearly abandoned DERELICT BUILDING.
Leonard is driving. He wears a BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT (no
blood). Next to him is TEDDY. Leonard stops the car next to a
PICKUP TRUCK sitting Outside the derelict building. Leonard
kills the engine, staring at the pickup.
LEONARD
Looks like somebody's home.
Teddy looks from Leonard to the pickup and back.
TEDDY
That thing's been here for years.
Leonard gets out of the Jaguar and moves to the pickup. He
inspects it with a methodical, practiced eye. Teddy follows.
LEONARD
I think you're wrong. These tracks aren't *
more than a few days old.
Leonard opens the door of the pickup and searches the
interior. On the dirty vinyl of the passenger seat he finds *
six BULLETS. Leonard picks two of them up and studies them. *
He drops them onto the dashboard then SHUTS the door. *
LEONARD (cont'd)
Let's take a look inside.
Leonard walks towards the house, patting his jacket pockets.
Teddy leans on the pickup, uneasy, watching Leonard.
4 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 4
Leonard stands in the dimly-lit, decaying former hallway. He
pulls a stack of POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS out of his pocket and
leafs through them as Teddy starts walking towards him.
Leonard finds a photo showing Teddy with a shit-eating grin
standing in front of the pickup truck. On the broad white
strip beneath the photo is handwritten:
"TEDDY GAMMELL TEL. 555 0134"
Leonard flips the photo over. On the white strip on the back,
in the same small handwriting.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
3.
4 CONTINUED: 4
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIS LIES"
"HE IS THE ONE"
"KILL HIM"
LEONARD (V.0.) *
I've finally found him. How long have I *
been looking? *
Leonard stuffs the Polaroids back into his pocket, reaches
around to the back of his waistband and draws a HANDGUN,
keeping it out of Teddy's line of sight. Teddy enters, wary.
TEDDY
Find anything? Didn't think so, let's go,
yeah?
Leonard neither replies nor turns around. Teddy, worried,
affects a casual air, shrugging dismissively,
TEDDY (cont'd)
Fuck this.
Teddy turns and heads for the door. Leonard LEAPS on him,
pistol-whipping him furiously as he shouts:
LEONARD
YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID! YOU BEG
FORGIVENESS, THEN YOU PAY!
Teddy is down. Leonard DRAGS him back, deeper into the dark
house. Leonard is in a frenzy. He dumps Teddy at the end of
the hall and stands over him. Teddy SPITS BLOOD.
TEDDY
You don't have a clue, you freak.
Leonard crouches down and grabs Teddy by the lapels.
LEONARD
Beg my forgiveness! Beg my wife's
forgiveness before I blow your brains
out!
TEDDY
Leonard, you don't have a clue what's
going on. You don't even know my name.
LEONARD
(triumphant smile)
Teddy!
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
3A.
4 CONTINUED: (2) 4
TEDDY
You read it off your fucking photo. You
don't know me, you don't even know who
you are.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
4.
4 CONTINUED: (2) 4
LEONARD
I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm from San
Francisco and I'm -
TEDDY
(bloody grin)
That's who you were, you don't know who
you are.
LEONARD
Shut your mouth!
TEDDY
Lemme take you down in the basement and
show you what you've become.
Teddy gestures towards the basement door, in pain, but
enjoying Leonard's growing anxiety.
TEDDY (cont'd)
(intimate)
C'mon, Lenny - we'll take a look down
there together. Then you'll know. You'll
know what you really are.
Leonard glances fearfully at the door, then looks at Teddy.
He THRUSTS the barrel of his gun into Teddy's mouth and WE
ARE AT THE SHOT FROM THE END OF THE OPENING SEQUENCE. Teddy
panics, shaking his head, trying to talk around the metal,
but GAGS just as Leonard pulls the trigger. A SHOT rings out
as we -
CUT TO:
5 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 5
Leonard lies on the queen-sized bed. He lifts his head.
LEONARD (V.O.)
So you're in some motel room...
He gets up, surveys the room as if for the first time. He
wears BOXERS and a PLAID WORK SHIRT.
LEONARD (cont'd)
... you don't know how long you've been
there, or how you got there...
There is a room key on the dresser. The plastic tag
identifies it as the key to ROOM 21. Leonard opens drawers in
the room.
(CONTINUED)
5.
5 CONTINUED: 5
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just some anonymous motel room. Won't
tell you anything. Nothing in the
drawers, but you look anyway.
He reaches for the bedside table drawer.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Nothing except the Gideon Bible.
He opens the drawer to find a Gideon Bible.
CUT TO:
6 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 6
E.C.U. of fingers rifling bills in a wallet. Leonard counts
out some money and hands it to the fat, sweaty middle-aged
man behind the counter. (BURT). Burt takes the money,
spotting something over Leonard's shoulder.
BURT
That guy's here already.
Burt TAPS the POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH of Teddy which is sitting
on the counter. Leonard picks up the photo and turns to see
Teddy APPROACHING the glass door of the office. Leonard
watches carefully as Teddy shambles up to the office door. A
BELL CHIIIES as Teddy enters and breaks into his shit-eating
grin. Leonard slips the photo into his pocket.
TEDDY
Lenny!
Leonard nods in apparent recognition, wary.
LEONARD
It's Leonard... like I told you before.
Teddy pretends to think hard.
TEDDY
Did you? I musta forgot. I'm Teddy. *
LEONARD
(smiles)
I guess I've told you about my condition.
Teddy grins and holds the door open for Leonard.
TEDDY
Only every time I see ya!
MEMENTO Pink Revision - 9/7/99
6.
7 EXT. DISCOUNT INN CAR PARK - DAY <> 7
Teddy starts for a GREY SEDAN. Leonard pauses behind him.
LEONARD
My car.
Teddy glances back in surprise.
TEDDY
This is your car.
LEONARD
(shakes head)
You're in a playful mood.
Leonard holds up a Polaroid of a late model JAGUAR.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Shouldn't make fun of somebody's *
handicap.
Teddy smiles and heads for the BRAND-NEW JAGUAR parked
several cars further down.
TEDDY
Just trying to have a little fun.
8 INT. CAR - DAY <> 8
Leonard drives, Teddy admires the new car' s interior,
reaching down around the seats, exploring the car with his
hands.
TEDDY
Roll your window up, will ya?
Leonard hits his window button. A few fragments of safety
glass rise out of the door, remnants of a broken window.
LEONARD
It's broken.
Teddy looks, curious.
TEDDY
I can get that fixed for you.
Leonard shrugs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
So where are we going, Sherlock?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
6A.
8 CONTINUED: 8
Leonard fishes a note out of his pocket.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
7.
8 CONTINUED: (2) 8
LEONARD
I got a lead on a place.
Leonard checks the note, then hands it to Teddy.
TEDDY
(surprised at the note)
What the hell you want to go there for?
LEONARD
You know it?
TEDDY
Yeah, it's just this fucked-up building. *
Why are we going there?
LEONARD
(smiling)
I don't remember.
9 EXT. CONTINUOUS - DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <>9
The Jaguar crosses the railroad tracks and approaches the
DERELICT BUILDING. Leonard stops the car next to the PICKUP
TRUCK and kills the engine, staring at the pickup.
LEONARD
Looks like somebody's home.
10 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 10
Leonard, wearing BOXERS and PLAID WORK SHIRT, takes the
GIDEON BIBLE out off the open bedside table drawer.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Nothing except the Gideon Bible.
He leafs through a couple off pages, then DROPS the Bible back
into the drawer and shuts it. He notices a MESSAGE written on
the back off his hand:
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
LEONARD (cont'd)
Sammy Jankis had the same problem. He *
tried writing himself notes. Lots of *
notes. But he'd get confused.
Leonard licks his thumb, and rubs at the writing. To
Leonard's surprise, IT DOES NOT EVEN SMUDGE.
He notices his bare legs. There is a NOTE taped to his RIGHT
THIGH with a handwritten message:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
8.
10 CONTINUED: 10
"SHAVE"
Leonard pulls the note off, studying it carefully.
CUT TO:
11 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY <> 11 *
Close on the Polaroid of Teddy. Leonard flips it over. On the
back are the messages:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
"HE IS THE ONE"
Leonard writes another message beneath these two:
"KILL HIM"
He sticks the photo of Teddy BETWEEN HIS TEETH as he holds
his HANDGUN up and checks that it is loaded. He sticks the
GUN in the back of his waistband, the PHOTO in his jacket
pocket, slings the POLAROID CAMERA over his shoulder.
12 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 12 *
Leonard leaves room 304 and heads to the office. He pauses
just outside the glass door, breathing, psyching himself up.
13 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 13 *
Leonard enters , confident, smiling at the man behind the
desk, BURT (fat, sweaty, 40's). Burt smiles back.
BURT
Hiya.
LEONARD
I'm Mr. Shelby from 304.
BURT
What can I do for you, Leonard?
LEONARD
I'm sorry... um... ?
BURT
Burt.
LEONARD
Burt, I'm not sure, but I may have asked
you to hold my calls -
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
9.
13 CONTINUED: 13
BURT
You don't know?
LEONARD
I think I may have. I'm not good on the
phone.
BURT
(nods)
You said you like to look people in the
eye when you talk to them. Don't you
remember?
LEONARD
That's the thing. I have this condition.
BURT
Condition?
LEONARD
I have no memory.
BURT
Amnesia?
LEONARD
No. It's different. I have no short-term
memory. I know who I am and all about
myself, but since my injury I can't make
any new memories. Everything fades. If we
talk for too long, I'll forget how we
started. I don't know if we've ever met
before, and the next time I see you I
won't remember this conversation. So if I
seem strange or rude, that's probably...
He notices that Burt is staring at him as if he were an
exotic insect.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I've told you this before, haven't I?
BURT
(nods)
I don't mean to mess with you. It's just
so weird. You don't remember me at all,
and we talked a bunch of times.
Leonard shrugs.
BURT (cont'd)
What's the last thing you remember?
(CONTINUED)
10.
13 CONTINUED: (2) 13
Leonard looks through Burt, thinking.
LEONARD
My wife.
BURT
(fascinated)
What's it like?
LEONARD
Like waking. Like you always just woke
up. *
BURT
That must suck. All... backwards. *
Leonard raises his eyebrows in enquiry. *
BURT (cont'd) *
Well, like.. you gotta pretty good idea *
of what you're gonna do next, but no idea *
what you just did. *
(chuckles) *
I'm the exact opposite. *
LEONARD
(focuses on Burt)
How long have I been here?
BURT
Couple days.
LEONARD
So you're holding my calls?
BURT
As requested.
Leonard reaches into his pocket and pulls out his Polaroids
LEONARD
Okay, but this guy's an exception.
Leonard places the Polaroid of Teddy on the counter in front
of Burt. Burt looks at it.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Know this guy?
BURT
Your friend, right?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
10A.
13 CONTINUED: (3) 13
LEONARD
What makes you think he's my friend?
BURT
Seen you together, that's all.
LEONARD
He's not my friend, Burt. But if he
calls, or if he turns up here, then you
give me a call in my room, okay?
(CONTINUED)
11.
13 CONTINUED: (3) 13
BURT
Sure. But nobody else, right?
LEONARD
Just this guy.
Leonard indicates the Polaroid of Teddy.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I hope my condition won't be a problem
for you.
BURT
Not if you remember to pay your bill.
Leonard smiles and reaches into his wallet.
E.C.U. of fingers rifling bills in a wallet. Leonard counts
out some money and hands it to Burt. Burt takes the money,
spotting something over Leonard's shoulder.
BURT (cont'd)
That guy's here already.
Burt TAPS the POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH of Teddy which is sitting
on the counter. Leonard picks up the photo and turns to see
Teddy APPROACHING the glass door of the office.
CUT TO:
14 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 14
Leonard, in boxer shorts and plaid work shirt, rips the note
from his thigh. The note says "SHAVE".
15 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 BATHROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 15
SEQUENCE##
Leonard enters, sees a WHITE PAPER BAG on the counter by the
sink. On the bag is a handwritten message:
"SHAVE THIGH"
Leonard looks into the bag, then pulls out a can of SHAVING
FOAM, and a pack of DISPOSABLE RAZORS. He runs the hot water,
steps back and lifts his foot onto the sink. He is awkward
and uncomfortable. He notices an ICE BUCKET by the sink.
16 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 16
Leonard sits on the bed applying SHAVING FOAM to his thigh.
The ICE BUCKET sits on the bedside table, steaming.
(CONTINUED)
12.
16 CONTINUED: 16
Leonard starts awkwardly SHAVING his right thigh. The PHONE
RINGS and Leonard FLINCHES, NICKING his leg. He looks at the
phone, then reaches for the receiver.
17 INT. A RESTAURANT RESTROOM - DAY <> 17
Leonard, in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT flushes the urinal,
then moves to the sink and starts washing his hands. He
notices a MESSAGE written on the back of his hand.
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
He stares at the message for a second, thoughtful, then tries
to scrub the writing off his skin. To his surprise, it is
INDELIBLE. Leonard looks at it, quizzical, then notices some
markings on his wrist, pulling his sleeve back to get a
better look. He can read the start of a message:
"THE FACTS:"
Leonard is about to roll his sleeve up further when the
restroom door opens and a MAN enters. Leonard dries his
hands, then exits the rest room.
18 INT. RESTAURANT - DAY <> 18
Leonard emerges .nto the waiting area of a crowded
restaurant. He glances around, lost, then pulls out his
Polaroids, flipping through them. Someone taps him on his
shoulder and he turns to see the smiling face of a waiter.
WAITER
Sir? You left these at your table.
Leonard looks down. The waiter hands him a BROWN ENVELOPE and
a MOTEL ROOM KEY (DISCOUNT INN, ROOM 304). On the envelope is
a handwritten message:
"FOR LEONARD, FROM NATALIE"
Leonard looks at his Polaroid photograph of the outside of
the Discount Inn motel. There is an address written beneath
it (7254 Lincoln Street). *
LEONARD
Thanks. Lincoln Street?
The Waiter glances at his Polaroid.
WAITER
You wanna go east on sixth.
(points)
Just keep straight, all the way out of
town, then take a right.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
13.
19 EXT./INT. JAGUAR - DAY <> 19
Leonard drives, consulting his Polaroid photos.
20 EXT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY <> 20 *
Leonard, BROWN ENVELOPE in hand, finds the door to room 304.
21 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY <> 21 *
Leonard enters, looks around as if for the first time. An
anonymous motel room, except that tacked to one wall is a
HAND-DRAWN CHART showing the layout of some streets, and
stuck to the edges of the chart are POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS,
with ARROWS DRAWN from each photograph to a spot on the map.
Leonard inspects the photos. Some are buildings, some are
people. All have the HANDWRITTEN NOTES on the broad white strip
underneath the image.
Leonard gets Polaroids out of his pocket. The first one is of
the Discount Inn. He STICKS it onto an already-squashed lump *
of blue tack at the end of an ARROW drawn from a location on
the outskirts of town.
The second photo is a blurred shot of a Brunette turning in a
doorway. The name NATALIE is written under the picture.
Leonard flips it over. On the back are two handwritten
messages. The first one has been completely scribbled over,
but the other one reads:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
Leonard nods, then sticks the photo to the chart. He steps
back looking over the Polaroids one by one: Natalie, Burt,
Discount Inn, Teddy. *
Leonard sits at the desk and opens the BROWN ENVELOPE. He
takes out a photocopy of a CAR REGISTRATION and a DRIVER'S
LICENSE. Both are in the name of JOHN EDWARD GAMMELL, but *
when Leonard looks at the picture on the license, he
recognizes the face. Leonard moves back to his wall chart,
finds the Polaroid of Teddy and compares it to the license
photo.
LEONARD (V.O.)
This guy told me his name was Teddy.
He turns the photo over and examines the white stop on the
back. It says only:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
14.
21 CONTINUED: 21
Leonard smiles. He goes to the phone and dials the number on
the Polaroid. A couple of rings, then it's answered.
TEDDY
Yup?
LEONARD
Mr Gammell?
TEDDY
Lenny, is that you?
LEONARD
John Gammell?
TEDDY
Lenny, it's Teddy. Look, stay there,
okay? I'm gonna be right over.
LEONARD
I'll be waiting. *
Leonard hangs up, thinking. He looks at the writing on the
back of his hand, then pulls back his sleeve to reveal the words:
"THE FACTS:"
Leonard removes his jacket, then starts pulling off his shirt.
He has WRITING TATTOOED ALL OVER HIS CHEST, STOMACH AND ARMS.
MESSAGES in different styles of writing, some CRUDE, some
ELABORATE. The messages run in all directions, some UPSIDE-
DOWN, some BACKWARDS. Leonard examines his tattoos,
methodically. From Leonard's POV, the most striking is an
upside-down tattoo on his BELLY which says:
"PHOTOGPAPH: HOUSE, CAR, FRIEND, FOE"
On one FOREARM it says:
"THE FACTS:
FACT 1. MALE
FACT 2. WHITE"
On the other FOREARM:
"FACT 3. FIRST NAME: JOHN OR JAMES
FACT 4. LASTNAME: G-------"
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
15.
21 CONTINUED: (2) 21
Leonard pulls down his trousers. On his right THIGH, crudely-
lettered:
"FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
And immediately below this, in elegant, neat lettering:
"FACT 6. CAR LICENSE NUMBER: SG13 7IU" *
Leonard takes out the REGISTRATION DOCUMENT and examines it.
Holding the photo of Teddy and the registration document,
Leonard checks off his TATTOOED FACTS:
LEONARD (cont'd)
(under his breath)
White... male. First name... John. Last
name... G for Gammell. Drugs. License *
plate.
(checks document against tattoo
on thigh)
SG... 13... 7... IU. It's him. It's *
actually him.
Leonard looks coldly at Teddy's smiling image.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I found you, you fuck.
Leonard turns the photo face down, takes a pen and writes:
"HE IS THE ONE"
Leonard drops the pen. Thinks. He looks at his chest through
the mirror and a backwards tattoo suddenly BECOMES CLEAR:
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE"
Leonard buttons his blue shirt, then writes on the back of
Teddy's picture:
"KILL HIM"
Leonard sticks the photo of Teddy BETWEEN HIS TEETH as he
holds his HANDGUN up and checks that it is loaded. He sticks
the GUN in the back of his waistband.
22 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 22
Leonard, in his boxers and plaid work shirt, shaving foam on
thigh, drops his disposable razor and cautiously picks up the
RINGING PHONE.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
16.
22 CONTINUED: 22
LEONARD
Who is this?
(listens) *
He unbuttons his shirt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
And we spoke earlier? I don't remember *
that.
(listens)
Well, yeah, but it's not amnesia. I *
remember everything from before my
injury, I just can't make any new
memories.
(listens)
Leonard pulls his shirt off. There is a BANDAGE on his LEFT
ARM. He looks do at the TATTOOS ALL OVER HIS CHEST, STOMACH *
AND ARMS.
LEONARD (cont'd)
So I can't remember talking to you. What
did we talk about?
(nods)
Sammy Jankis. Yeah, I guess I tell
people about Sammy to help them
understand. Sammy's story helps me
understand my own situation.
Leonard touches the tattoo on the back of his hand.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Sammy Jankis wrote himself endless
notes. But he'd get mixed up. I've got a
more graceful solution to the memory
problem. I'm disciplined and organized.
I use habit and routine to make my life
possible. Sammy had no drive. No reason
to make it work.
Leonard can see his reflection in the mirror. He studies the
tattoo across his chest:
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE".
LEONARD (cont'd)
Me? I gotta reason.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
17.
23 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN ST. - DAY <> 23
Leonard parks the Jaguar, gets out, stops outside the door to
a restaurant, checking its name against a NOTE, written on a *
SMALL PAPER BAG FROM A PHARMACY. The note says: *
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET NATALIE FOR INFO"
He sticks the note in his pocket and pulls out his Polaroid
photographs. He flips through them until he finds Natalie's.
Leonard flips the picture over. On the back are two
handwritten messages. The first one has been completely
scribbled over, the second reads:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
24 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 24
Leonard enters, walking slowly down the aisle, looking at all
the customers. He makes eye contact with a WOMAN (brunette,
30's) sitting alone, wearing SUNGLASSES. Her face betrays *
nothing. Leonard walks past. She sighs and grabs the back of
his jacket as he passes. Leonard spins around.
LEONARD
Natalie.
Leonard slips into the seat opposite her. Natalie is pretty,
but has bruising around one eye, and a mark on her lip.
NATALIE
You don't remember me.
LEONARD
(friendly smile)
Sorry, I should have explained. You see,
I have this condition -
NATALIE
You did explain, Lenny.
Leonard shifts uncomfortably.
LEONARD
Please call me Leonard. My wife called me
Lenny.
NATALIE
You told me.
Leonard raises his eyebrows, then smiles.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
18.
24 CONTINUED: 24
LEONARD
Then I probably told you how much I hated
it. Could you take off your sunglasses? *
It's just hard for me - *
Natalie takes them off to reveal her bruises. *
NATALIE
Yeah.
LEONARD
So you have information for me?
NATALIE
Is that what your little note says?
LEONARD
Yes.
NATALIE
Must be tough living life according to a
few scraps of paper. Mix up your laundry
list and your grocery list, you'll be
eating your underwear.
Natalie smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
But I guess that's why you got those
freaky tattoos.
Leonard is surprised.
LEONARD
It is tough. Almost impossible. I'm sorry
I can't remember you. It's not personal.
Natalie's smile fades.
NATALIE
I'm sorry.
She takes a BROWN ENVELOPE out of her handbag.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I do have information for you. You gave
me a license plate number? I had my
friend at the DMV trace it. Guess what name came up.
Leonard shrugs.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
18A.
24 CONTINUED: (2) 24
NATALIE (cont'd)
John Edward Gamme11. John G.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
19.
24 CONTINUED: (3) 24
LEONARD
You know him?
NATALIE
No. But the photo on his license looked
familiar. I think he's been in the bar before
Natalie slides the envelope towards him, but stops short.
NATALIE (cont'd)
This is a copy of his registration,
license, photo and all. Are you sure you
want this?
LEONARD
Have I told you what this man did? *
NATALIE
Yes.
LEONARD
Then you shouldn't have to ask.
NATALIE
But even if you get your revenge, you
won't remember it. You won't even know
it's happened.
LEONARD
(annoyed) *
So I'll take a picture, get a tattoo. *
(calms) *
The world doesn't disappear when you *
close your eyes, does it? My actions *
still have meaning, even if I can't *
remember them. My wife deserves *
vengeance, and it doesn't make any *
difference whether I know about it. *
NATALIE
Tell me about her again.
LEONARD
Why?
NATALIE
Because you like to remember her. I want
to see you enjoy yourself.
LEONARD
She was beautiful. Perfect to me - *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
20.
24 CONTINUED: (3) 24
NATALIE
Don't just recite the words. Close your
eyes, remember her.
Leonard smiles and shuts his eyes.
INSERT FLASHBACK:
25 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY <> 25
Random images of a woman (30's, black hair, plain). Jump cuts
of details: a smile, eating, tucking her hair behind her ear,
pulling on a pair of trousers, watching TV, shouting in
anger. Sitting on the edge of the bed in her underwear, she
TURNS as Leonard pinches her thigh.
LEONARD (V.O.)
You can only feel details. Bits and
pieces which you didn't bother to put
into words. And extreme moments you feel
even if you don't want to. Put it
together and you get the feel of the
person, enough to know how much you miss
them, and how much you hate the person
who took them away.
26 INT. CITY GRILL - DAY - <> 26
Leonard opens his eyes. Natalie is looking at him. She nods
and hands him the BROWN ENVELOPE.
NATALIE
I wrote an address in there, too. Might
be useful. It's this abandoned place
outside of town. I guy I know used to use
it for his bigger deals.
LEONARD
Deals?
NATALIE
It's isolated.
LEONARD
Sounds perfect? What do I owe you?
NATALIE
I wasn't helping you for money.
LEONARD
Sorry.
(CONTINUED)
21.
26 CONTINUED: 26
NATALIE
It's not your fault. See, you have this
condition...
Leonard smiles. Natalie reaches into her purse and pulls out
a MOTEL ROOM KEY.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Are you still at the Discount Inn? Room *
304? You left this at my place.
Leonard pulls out a Polaroid of the Discount Inn. *
LEONARD
The Discount Inn, yeah. *
Natalie leaves the key and gets up from the table.
NATALIE
They treating you alright?
LEONARD
(smiling)
Don't remember.
NATALIE
You know what we have in common?
Leonard shrugs.
NATALIE (cont'd)
We're both survivors. Take care, Leonard.
Leonard watches Natalie leave. He sits at the table, looking
down at the BROWN ENVELOPE and the MOTEL ROOM KEY (ROOM 304).
Leonard rises, and heads to the restroom.
27 INT. RESTAURANT RESTROOM - DAY <> 27
Leonard flushes the urinal, then moves to the sink and starts
washing his hands. He notices a MESSAGE written on the back
of his hand:
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
27 CONTINUED: 27
He stares at the message for a second, thoughtful, then tries
to scrub the writing off his skin. To his surprise, it is
INDELIBLE. Leonard looks at it, quizzical, then notices some
markings on his wrists, pulling his sleeve back to get a
better look. He can read the start of a message:
"THE FACTS:"
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
22.
27 CONTINUED: 27
Leonard is about to roll his sleeve up further when the
restroom door opens and a MAN enters. Leonard dries his
hands, then exits the rest room.
28 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 28
Leonard (IN BOXERS, BANDAGED ARM) talks on the phone. He *
resumes SHAVING his thigh.
LEONARD
I met Sammy through work.
(listens)
Insurance. I was an investigator. I'd *
investigate claims to see which ones *
were phony. *
Leonard dips the razor into the steaming ice bucket. *
LEONARD (cont'd)
I had to see through people's bullshit.
It was useful experience, because now
it's my life. When I meet someone, I
don't even know if I've met them before.
I have to look in their eyes and just
figure them out. My job taught me that
the best way to find out what someone
knew was to let them talk.
29 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 29
Montage: Leonard, wearing a CHEAP DARK SUIT and TIE, sitting
opposite various DIFFERENT PEOPLE in an interview situation.
LEONARD(V.0.)
Throw in the occasional "why?" but just
listen. And watch the eyes, the body *
language.
Leonard watches the people's movements carefully. We see
close-ups off fiddling hands, neck scratching, etc.
LEONARD (V.0.) (cont'd)
It's complicated. You might catch a sign
but attach the wrong meaning to it. If
someone touches their nose while they're
talking, experts will tell you it means
they're lying. It really means they're
nervous, and people get nervous for all
sorts of reasons. It's all about context.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
23.
30 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 30
LEONARD (cont'd)
I was good. Sammy was my first real
challenge.
31 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 31 *
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the
office.
32 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 32 *
Burt is behind the counter reading a magazine.
LEONARD
I'm sorry, I think I'm checked in here,
But I've misplaced my key.
BURT
(looks up)
Hi, Leonard.
Burt puts his magazine down and gets up, sighing.
BURT (cont'd)
Probably in the room.
33 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 33 *
Burt, swinging a pass key on a chain, leads Leonard along the
GROUND FLOOR to room 21, then unlocks it.
34 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 21 - DAY <> 34 *
Leonard enters and SCANS the room. Burt picks his nails in
the doorway. Leonard moves to the unmade bed. There is a pile
of BLOODSTAINED TISSUES. On the bedside table is an ICE
BUCKET. Next to it is a DISPOSABLE RAZOR and a can of SHAVING
FOAM.
LEONARD
I don't see my key.
Burt looks up. He REALIZES something.
BURT
Shit. Wrong room.
LEONARD
What?
Burt tries to SHEPHERD Leonard out of the room.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
24.
34 CONTINUED: 34
BURT
This isn't your room. You're in 304. I
Fucked up.
LEONARD
This isn't my room?
BURT
No, let's go.
LEONARD
Then why is this my handwriting?
Leonard picks a WHITE PAPER BAG up off the floor. Handwritten
on the side is a message:
"SHAVE THIGH"
LEONARD (cont'd)
Better tell me what the fuck's going on.
Burt looks uncomfortable.
BURT
This was your room. You're up in 304 now.
LEONARD
When was I in here?
BURT
Last week. Then I rented you another one
On top of this.
LEONARD
Why?
BURT
Business is slow. I told my boss about
You, about your condition. He told me to
Try and rent you another room.
LEONARD
Why didn't you clean it out? *
BURT
(shrugs)
You're still paying for it. It's still
Your room.
Leonard shakes his head, smiling.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
25.
34 CONTINUED: (2) 34
LEONARD
So how many rooms am I checked into in
this dump?
BURT
Just two. So far. *
Leonard walks out past Burt.
LEONARD
Well, at least you're being honest about
cheating me.
BURT
Yeah, well you're not gonna remember,
anyway.
LEONARD
You don't have to be that honest, Burt.
BURT
Leonard.
Leonard turns. Burt grins.
BURT (cont'd)
Always get a receipt.
LEONARD
I'm gonna write that down.
Leonard fishes a piece of paper out of his pocket. There is a
message on it which he reads. It says:
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1:00PM MEET NATALIE FOR
INFO"
Leonard looks up at Burt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
What time is it?
35 EXT. ROAD - DAY <> 35
The Jaguar speeds along.
36 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 36
Leonard checks the restaurant name against the note. He gets
out his Polaroids, FLIPPING through them until he finds the
one of Natalie.
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
26.
37 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 37
Leonard walks through the restaurant, checking the patrons.
He makes eye contact with Natalie, but walks past her table.
She sighs and grabs the back of his jacket.
CUT TO:
38 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 38
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm) SHAVES his thigh, talking *
on the phone.
LEONARD
I'd just become an investigator when I
came across Sammy. Mr Samuel R. Jankis -
strangest case ever. Guy's 58, semi-
retired accountant. He and his wife had
been in this car accident... nothing too
serious, but he's acting funny - he
can't get a handle on what's going on.
39 INT. A DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 39
A DOCTOR examines SAMMY'S head. SAMMY'S WIFE looks on.
LEONARD(V.O.)
The doctors find some possible damaqe to
the hippocampus, nothing conclusive. But
Sammy can't remember anything for more
than a couple minutes. He can't work,
can't do shit, medical bills pile up,
his wife calls the insurance company and
I get sent in.
40 INT. JANKIS HOUSE - MESSY SUBURBAN LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK 40
AND WHITE SEQUENCE##
SAMMY sits smoking, smiling at Leonard (CHEAP SUIT and TIE).
LEONARD (V.0.)
My first big claims investigation - I
really check into it. Sammy can think
just fine, but he can't make any new
memories, he can only remember things
for a few minutes.
Sammy watches a commercial on T.V.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
27.
40 CONTINUED: 40
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
He'd watch T.V., but anything longer than
a couple of minutes was too confusing,
he couldn't remember how it began. He
liked commercials. They were short.
*
Sammy rolls a small GLASS BOTTLE between the palms of his
hands. Mrs. Jankis rolls up her sleeve. Leonard watches as
Sammy takes a SYRINGE and pushes the needle through the
rubber of the bottle. The label is marked "INSULIN".
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
The crazy part was that this guy who
couldn't follow the plot of "Green
Acres" could do the most complicated
things as long as he had learned them
before the accident...
Sammy INVERTS the bottle and syringe, DRAWS the insulin into
the syringe, withdraws the needle, holds it up to check for
bubbles, TAPPING it delicately.
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
... and as long as he kept his mind on
what he was doing.
Sammy wipes a spot on Mrs. Jankis' arm with a swab, then
gently PINCHES the skin and confidently INSERTS the needle. *
Mrs Jankis winces. *
MRS JANKIS *
Gentle. *
Sammy looks up, worried. Mrs Jankis smiles at him. Sammy pushes *
the plunger, withdraws the needle and presses the swab against *
the skin, lookinq into Mrs Jankis' eyes and smiling back. *
41 INT. JANKIS HOUSE FRONT HALL - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 41
SEQUENCE##
Mrs. Jankis opens the front door to Leonard. Leonard shakes
hands with Sammy, who smiles at him in apparent recognition.
LEONARD (V.0.)
The doctors assure me that there's a
real condition called Korsokoff's
syndrome; short-term memory loss, rare
but legit. But every time I see him I
catch a look of recognition. Just a
slight look, but he says he can't
remember me at all.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
27A.
41 CONTINUED: 41
LEONARD (cont'd)
I can read people and I'm thinking bad *
actor. Now I'm suspicious and I order
more tests.
CUT BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM:
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
28.
42 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 42
Leonard DABS at some blood on his thigh with toilet paper.
LEONARD
His wife has to do everything. Sammy can
only do simple stuff. He couldn't pick
up any new skills at all, and that's how
I got him.
43 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY <> 43
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up at a red light. Suddenly Teddy is
BANGING on the window.
TEDDY
Lenny! I thought you'd gone for good.
What brings you back?
Leonard looks at Teddy, sizing him up.
LEONARD
Unfinished business. What made you think
I wasn't coming back?
TEDDY
You said you were leaving town.
LEONARD
Things change.
TEDDY
So I see. It's good to see you. My name's
Teddy.
LEONARD
Guess I've told you about my condition.
TEDDY
(grins)
Only every time I see ya! Come on, I'll
buy you lunch.
44 INT. DINER - DAY <> 44
Teddy pours ketchup all over his steak. Leonard plays with
his food.
TEDDY
Not hungry?
(CONTINUED)
29.
44 CONTINUED: 44
LEONARD
(shrugs)
It's my condition. I never know if I've
already eaten, so I always just eat small
amounts.
TEDDY
You don't have to remember to be hungry.
LEONARD
It's weird, but if you don't eat for a
while then your body stops being hungry.
You get sort of shaky but you don't
realize you haven't eaten. Have I told
you about Sammy Jankis?
TEDDY
Yeah, yeah. I heard enough about him.
Tell me about John G. You still think
he's here, right?
LEONARD
Who?
TEDDY
The guy you're looking for, Johnny G.
That's why you haven't left. Am I right?
Leonard shrugs. Teddy licks his fingers and frowns.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Leonard, you need to be very careful.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Well, the other day you made it sound
like you thought somebody might be trying
to set you up. Get you to kill the wrong
guy.
LEONARD
Yeah, well I go on facts, not
recommendations, okay?
TEDDY
Lenny, you can't trust a man's life to
your little notes and pictures.
LEONARD
Why?
(CONTINUED)
30.
44 CONTINUED: (2) 44
TEDDY
Because you're relying on them alone. You
Don't remember what you've discovered or
how. Your notes might be unreliable.
LEONARD
Memory's unreliable.
Teddy snorts.
LEONARD (cont'd)
No, really. Memory's not perfect. It's
not even that good. Ask the police,
eyewitness testimony is unreliable. The
cops don't catch a killer by sitting
around remembering stuff. They collect
facts, make notes, draw conclusions.
Facts, not memories: that's how you
investigate. I know, it's what I used to
do. Memory can change the shape of a room
or the color of a car. It's an
interpretation, not a record. Memories
can be changed or distorted and they're
irrelevant if you have the facts.
TEDDY
You really want to find this guy?
LEONARD
He took away the woman I love and he took
away my memory. He destroyed everything;
my life and my ability to live.
TEDDY
You're living.
LEONARD
Just for revenge. That's what keeps me
going. It's all I have.
Teddy considers this.
TEDDY
We'll find him. Where are you staying?
Leonard reaches into his pocket and takes out a Polaroid.
LEONARD
Discount Inn. Don't know what room;
haven't got my key.
TEDDY
Probably left it in your room.
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
31.
45 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 45
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the
office.
46 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 46
Leonard enters. Burt is behind the counter reading a
magazine.
LEONARD
I'm sorry, I think I'm checked in here,
but I've misplaced my key.
BURT
(looks up)
Hi, Leonard.
47 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 47
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm shaving foam on thigh, *
strides the row, talking on the phone and gesticulating with
a disposable razor.
LEONARD
So Sammy can't learn any new skills. But
I find something in my research:
Conditioning. Sammy should still be able
to learn through repetition. It's how
you learn stuff like riding a bike,
things you don't think about, you just
get better through practice. Call it
muscle memory, whatever, but it's a
completely different part of the brain
from the short-term memory. So I have
the doctors test Sammy's response to
conditioning...
48 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 48
Sammy sits at a table. A DOCTOR sits opposite pointing out
various METAL OBJECTS sitting on the table.
DOCTOR
Just pick up any three objects.
SAMMY
(amused)
That's a test? Where were you guys when
I did my CPA?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
32.
48 CONTINUED: 48
Sammy PICKS UP an object and gestures to the Doctor for
applause. Sammy goes for a second object, but gets a SHOCK
which makes him recoil in pain. (LEONARD TO SUBSTITUTE) *
SAMMY (cont'd)
Ah! What the fuck?!
Sammy looks ACCUSINGLY at the Doctor.
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Some of the objects were electrified,
They'd give him a small shock.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM
49 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE# 49
LEONARD
They kept repeating the test, always
with the same objects electrified. The
point was to see if he could learn to
avoid the electrified objects. Not by
memory, but by instinct.
50 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM: MESSY, CHEAPLY BUT ABUNDANTLY 50
FURNISHED - MORNING <>
Leonard opens his eyes, naked in bed. He looks around,
confused. With a START, he realizes that someone else is in
the bed: a BRUNETTE with her back to him.
Leonard leans right over her to get a look at her face. It is
NATALIE. The BRUISE on her eye and the MARK on her lip are
worse than before.
She OPENS her eyes and is startled by the sight of Leonard's
hovering face.
LEONARD
Sorry. It's only me.
Leonard FLOPS down. Natalie wakes up fully and relaxes.
NATALIE
Sleep okay?
LEONARD
Yeah. You?
Natalie shrugs. She looks at her bedside clock.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
33.
50 CONTINUED: 50
NATALIE
I gotta be someplace.
She gets out of bed, wearing pajamas. Leonard swings his legs
out of the bed and realizes that he is wearing trousers and
socks. He looks at his tattoos, as if he has never seen them
before.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Pretty weird.
She is smiling at him in the mirror. Leonard smiles, shrugs.
LEONARD
Useful. You never write a phone number on
your hand?
NATALIE *
(through mirror) *
I should be able to talk to my friend *
about the license plate today. *
LEONARD *
Yeah, the license plate... *
NATALIE *
(smiles) *
John G's license plate number. You have *
it tattooed on your thigh. *
Natalie leaves the room. Leonard pulls down his trousers to *
reveal two tattoos: *
"FACT 5: DRUG DEALER" *
"FACT 6: LICENSE PLATE NUMBER SG13 1NU" *
Leonard runs his finger over fact 6, then pulls his trousers *
up and looks around the room. He spots his suit jacket *
hanging over the back of a chair. He checks the pockets,
pulls out his Polaroids, flips through them: a Jaguar, the
Discount Inn, Natalie. He flips Natalie's picture over and
looks at the back. There are two messages, but the first one
has been completely scribbled over. The other one reads:
"HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
Leonard stuffs the photos back into his pocket, grabs a white
shirt of f the chair and pulls it on. Natalie comes back in
and starts to apply her makeup.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
33A.
50 CONTINUED: (2) 50
NATALIE
If it's registered in this state it'll *
just take seconds to pull up his license
and registration. I'll call when I've
spoken to him.
LEONARD *
Why don't we just arrange a meeting now? *
I'm not too good on the phone.
Natalie takes her eye pencil and writes a NOTE on a SMALL BAG *
FROM A PHARMACY. Leonard puts his jacket on. Natalie offers *
him the note. It says:
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET NATALIE FOR INFO"
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
34.
50 CONTINUED: (3) 50
LEONARD (cont'd)
(leading)
It's great that you would... that you're
helping me like this...
NATALIE
(smiles)
I'm helping you because you helped me.
Leonard nods.
NATALIE (cont'd)
So will you remember me next time you seo
me?
Leonard shakes his head and reaches for the note. Natalie
grabs his lapel and pulls him down to her, kissing him gently
on the mouth.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I think you will.
LEONARD
(smiles)
I'm sorry.
Leonard heads for the door.
NATALIE
(amused)
Lenny, before you go, can I have my shirt
back please?
She tosses him his blue shirt. Leonard looks down at the
white shirt which he has put on. It is way too small.
51 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY <> 51
The Jaguar pulls up to a red light. Suddenly Teddy is banging
on the window.
TEDDY
Lenny! I thought you'd gone for good.
What brings you back?
52 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 52 *
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm) STRIDES the room, shaving *
foam on leg, razor in one hand, phone in the other.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
35.
52 CONTINUED: 52
LEONARD
They kept testing Sammy for months,
always with the same objects carrying
the electrical charge...
53 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 53
Sammy sits across the testing table from the Doctor. Sammy
goes for a METAL OBJECT and RECOILS in pain from a SHOCK.
SAMMY
Ah! What the fuck?!
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
JUMP CUT TO:
54 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE# 54
AS BEFORE, but Sammy is DRESSED DIFFERENTLY. He goes for an
object and is SHOCKED.
SAMMY
Ah! What the fuck?!
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
SAMMY EXTENDS A TREMBLING MIDDLE FINGER.
SAMMY
Yeah? Test this you fucking quack.
Sequence of JUMP CUTS of Sammy extending his MIDDLE FINGER
and RECOILING in shock from the objects.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Even with total short-term memory loss,
Sammy should've learned to instinctively
stop picking up the wrong objects. All
previous cases of short-term memory loss
had responded to conditioning in some
way. Sammy didn't respond at all.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM
55 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE# 55
LEONARD
It was enough to suggest his condition
was psychological not physical.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
36.
55 CONTINUED: 55
LEONARD (cont'd)
We turned down his claim on the grounds
that he wasn't covered for mental
illness. Sammy's wife got stuck with the
bills and I got a promotion for
rejecting a big claim.
Leonard looks into the mirror.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Conditioning didn't work for Sammy, so
he became helpless. But it works for me.
I live the way Sammy couldn't. Habit and
Conditioning. Acting on instinct.
56 EXT./INT. NATALIE'S FRONT DOOR - DUSK <> 56 *
Leonard pulls up in his Jaguar, gets out, rings the front
doorbell. It is opened by Natalie.
LEONARD
Natalie, right?
Natalie nods, wary of Leonard's barely concealed anger.
Leonard thrusts a Polaroid photo in her face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who the fuck is Dodd?
The photo is of a MAN who is BOUND, GAGGED, and BLOODY. On
the back of the photo:
"GET RID OF HIM, ASK NATALIE"
Natalie takes the picture and examines it.
NATALIE
Guess I don't have to worry about him
anymore.
LEONARD
(snaps)
Who is he? What have you got me into?
Natalie looks up and down the street.
NATALIE
Come inside.
57 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM: COMFORTABLE AND MESSY - NIGHT 57
<>
Natalie shows Leonard in.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
37.
57 CONTINUED: 57
NATALIE
Calm down. You're not into anything. It
was my problem, you offered no help. It's
got nothing to do with your
investigation.
LEONARD
That's the problem! How can I find John
G. when I don't know what's going on?!
How did you get me into this?!
NATALIE
Leonard, you offered to help when you saw
what this guy did to me.
She gestures at the BRUISING on her face.
LEONARD
How do I know he did that to you?
NATALIE
I came to you straight after he did it. I
showed you what he'd done and asked for
your help.
LEONARD
So I just take your word?
NATALIE
Yes.
LEONARD
(sighs)
Something feels wrong. I think someone's
fucking with me. Trying to get me to kill
the wrong guy.
NATALIE
Did you?
LEONARD
What?
NATALIE
Kill him.
LEONARD
Course not.
Natalie waves the Polaroid at him.
(CONTINUED)
38.
57 CONTINUED: (2) 57
NATALIE
This has nothing to do with you. You
helped me out, and I'm grateful.
She tries to rip the picture. Leonard watches her try. The
plastic is too strong.
LEONARD
You have to burn them.
Natalie scrunches it up and throws it down. Leonard and
Natalie sit down on the couch.
NATALIE
You decided to help me. Trust yourself.
Trust your own judgment. You can
question everything, you can never know
anything for sure.
LEONARD
There are things you know for sure.
NATALIE
Such as?
LEONARD
I know the feel of the world.
(reaches forward)
I know how this wood will sound when I
knock.
(raps knuckles on coffee table)
I know how this glass will feel when I
pick it up.
(handles glass)
Certainties. You think it's knowledge,
but it's a kind of memory, a kind you
take for granted. I can remember so much.
(runs hands over objects)
I know the feel of the world,
(beat)
and I know her.
NATALIE
Your wife?
LEONARD
She's gone and the present is trivia,
which I can scribble down as notes.
Natalie stares at Leonard, thinking.
(CONTINUED)
39.
57 CONTINUED: (3) 57
NATALIE
Relax a little, okay? Take off your
jacket.
Leonard takes his jacket off and places it on the back of the
couch, patting the pockets as he does so.
LEONARD
It's not easy to be calm when -
NATALIE
Just relax.
She reaches for his arm and unbuttons his cuff, revealing the
end of Leonard's tattoos.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You don't seem the type.
She pushes back the sleeve, trying to read the tattoo.
Leonard watches her. *
NATALIE (cont'd)
Come on.
She starts to unbutton his shirt. He watches. Natalie gasps
as she opens Leonard's shirt and pulls it back over his
shoulders. She tilts her head, trying to read the different
messages.
NATALIE (cont'd)
It's backwards. *
She pulls him up and turns him around in front of the mirror *
to read the backwards tattoo across his chest. *
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE".
Natalie touches the blank area of skin above Leonard's heart. *
NATALIE (cont'd) *
Here? *
Leonard looks down at the blank patch, then at Natalie, *
vulnerable, confused. *
LEONARD *
It's... it must be for when I've found him. *
*
She looks at Leonard. Leonard shrugs. Natalie studies *
Leonard's chest, avoiding his eyes. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
39A.
57 CONTINUED: (4) 57
NATALIE (cont'd)
I've lost somebody.
LEONARD
I'm sorry.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
40.
57 CONTINUED: (5) 57
Natalie picks up a photograph from off a messy desk in the
corner. She shows it to Leonard. The picture shows Natalie
smiling and hugging a smirking YOUNG MAN (JIMMY). Natalie *
looks up at Leonard to see his reaction.
NATALIE
His name was Jimmy.
LEONARD
What happened?
NATALIE
He went to meet somebody and didn't come
back.
LEONARD
Who did he go to meet?
Natalie studies Leonard.
NATALIE
A guy called Teddy.
Leonard does not react to the name.
LEONARD
What do the police think?
NATALIE
They don't look too hard for guys like
Jimmy.
Natalie puts the photo down. She reaches out to Leonard, *
spreading her fingers over the blank part of his chest. *
NATALIE (cont'd)
When you find this guy, this John G.,
what are you going to do?
LEONARD
Kill him.
NATALIE
Maybe I can help you find him. I know a *
lot of people.
58 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 58
Natalie, eyes closed, has her head on Leonard's chest. He is
shirtless, lying on top of the covers.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
41.
58 CONTINUED: 58
LEONARD
I don't even know how long she's been *
gone. It's like I've woken up in bed and
she's not here because she's gone to the
bathroom or something. But somehow I just *
know that she'll never come back to bed. *
I lie here, not knowing how long I've
been alone. If I could just reach out and *
touch her side of the bed I could know *
that it was cold, but I can't. I have no *
idea when she left. *
Natalie's eyes are open.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I know I can't have her back, but I want *
to be able to let her go. I don't want to
wake up every morning thinking she's
still here then realizing that she's not.
I want time to pass, but it won't. How *
can I heal if I can't feel time?
Leonard bends his head around to see if Natalie is awake. She
closes her eyes. Leonard gingerly slides from underneath her
and moves silently out of the bedroom.
59 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT <> 59
Leonard enters the dark room. He goes to the couch and picks
up his shirt and his jacket. He notices the photograph which
Natalie showed him on top of some papers on a desk in the
corner. He holds it in a shaft of light from the streetlamp
outside, studying the photo of Natalie and Jimmy.
60 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 60
Natalie, eyes open, slides her hand over to where Leonard was
lying, feeling his residual warmth.
ii 61 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT <>
61
Leonard has his Polaroid photograph of Natalie out. He takes
a pen out of his jacket, rests the photo against the wall in
a patch of light and writes on the back, underneath the
message which has been scribbled out:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE. SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
42.
62 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT <SEQUENCE>>
Leonard enters, deposits his jacket and shirt, then slides
into bed next to Natalie.
63 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 63
Leonard lies on the bed (in boxers, bandaged arm) talking on *
the phone. He wipes the excess shaving foam from his thigh,
and feels the SMOOTHNESS of the clean-shaven skin.
LEONARD
Sammy's wife was crippled by the cost of
supporting him and fighting the
company's decision - but it wasn't the
money that got to her.
64 INT. JANKIS HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 64
SEQUENCE##
Mrs. Jankis comes into the room. Sammy is seated, watching
T.V. He looks up at her with a smile. She smiles back, tense.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I never said that Sammy was faking. Just
that his problem was mental, not
physical. But she... she couldn't
understand. She looks into his eyes and
sees the same person. And if it's not a
physical problem...
Sammy's Wife starts shouting at Sammy. Sammy squirms.
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
... he should just... snap out of it.
Sammy's Wife THROWS her drink in Sammy's face, puts her head
in her hands, SOBBING. Sammy wipes his face on his sleeve.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM:
65 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 65
Leonard, talking on the phone, empties the white paper bag
onto the bed beside him: Two cheap BALL-POINT PENS, SCOTCH
TAPE, a pack of NEEDLES, and a FILE CARD.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
43.
65 CONTINUED: 65
LEONARD (cont'd)
So good old Leonard Shelby from the
insurance company gives her the seed of
doubt, just like he gave it to the
doctors. But I never said that Sammy was
faking. I never said that.
Leonard takes a NEEDLE out of the packet.
66 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT WITH HIGH CEILINGS AND WOODEN FLOOR 66
- NIGHT <>
We move along a hallway towards a closed door. An ominous *
rumbling builds.
A66 INSERT QUICK CUTS: A66
TREMBLING, SHALLOW-FOCUS EXTREME CLOSE UPS:
A glass bottle SHATTERS against black and white ceramic
tiles. A SUDDEN MOVEMENT glimpsed through a water-beaded
clear plastic shower curtain.
The shower curtain pulls TAUT across a GASPING FEMALE FACE.
Leonard's REFLECTION in a MIRROR which SHATTERS.
67 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY <> 67
Leonard opens his eyes, frightened. He is lying on the bed in
his beige suit and blue shirt.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Awake.
He rolls his eyes to one side.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Where am I?
He lifts his head and surveys the room.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Motel room.
He rises from the bed, looking at the room as if for the
first time. He starts looking in the dresser drawers, finding
nothing.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Some anonymous motel room. Nothing in the
drawers, but you look anyway.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
44.
67 CONTINUED: 67
He grasps the handle of the bedside drawer.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Never anything but the Gideon...
Leonard pulls the drawer open, and pauses at what he sees.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
... Bible.
In the drawer is a Gideon Bible. Resting on top of it is a
HANDGUN.
Leonard turns, looks over the rest of the room. He moves to
the bureau and opens drawers. Empty. He goes to the closet
and OPENS it.
Inside is a BOUND and GAGGED MAN on the floor, knees against
chest. His mouth is taped up with silver electrical tape,
stained with DRIED BLOOD from his swollen nose. He looks up
at Leonard, blinking in the sudden bright light, TERRIFIED.
Leonard SHUTS the closet door, CONFUSED. The Man in the
closet starts GRUNTING and BUMPING the closet door.
There is a KNOCK at the door. Leonard looks through the
peephole.
68 INT./EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 68
INSERT LEONARD'S P.O.V.:
A FISH-EYE TEDDY, grinning and waving.
69 INT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 69
Leonard looks around, trying to think. Teddy KNOCKS harder.
The Man in the closet BUMPS and GROANS. Leonard reaches into
his pocket and pulls out some Polaroids.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just a minute!
He finds the one of Teddy, then sticks them back into his
pocket. He OPENS the door to Teddy and grins.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Teddy!
Teddy brushes past him into the room.
TEDDY
Finished playing with yourself, Lenny?
(CONTINUED)
45.
69 CONTINUED: 69
Teddy SLUMPS into a chair. Leonard tries to smile. There is a
faint GRUNTING and BUMPING from inside the closet. Teddy
notices the noise and grins.
TEDDY (cont'd)
I get it - amorous neighbors.
LEONARD
Why are you here?
TEDDY
(surprised)
You called me. You wanted my help. You
know, Lenny, I've had more rewarding
friendships than this one. Although I do
get to keep using the same jokes.
Leonard thinks, then moves to the CLOSET and OPENS the door.
Teddy looks in DISBELIEF at the Man in the closet.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Who the fuck is that?
LEONARD
You don't know him?
TEDDY
No! Should I?
Leonard shrugs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Is this John G.?
LEONARD
I don't think so.
TEDDY
Think so? You don't know? Didn't you
write it down?
LEONARD
I might have fallen asleep before I did.
Teddy shakes his head, chuckling.
TEDDY
Ask him.
Leonard crouches down and RIPS the tape from the Man's mouth.
LEONARD
What's your name?
(CONTINUED)
46.
69 CONTINUED: (2) 69
The Man looks at Leonard, wary, says nothing. Leonard tweaks
his broken nose. The Man groans.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Your name.
MAN
Dodd.
LEONARD
Who did this to you?
DODD
(confused)
What?
LEONARD
Who did this to you?
DODD
You did.
Leonard replaces the gag and SHUTS the closet.
TEDDY
I'm not gonna help you kill this guy, if
that's what -
LEONARD
No. No, just let me think for a minute.
Leonard moves to the dresser and starts methodically emptying
his pockets. He pulls a Polaroid out of his inside jacket
pocket.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Here we go.
The Polaroid shows Dodd sitting on the bed, BOUND, GAGGED and
BLEEDING. The name Dodd is written below the picture. Leonard
flips it over. On the back it says:
"GET RID OF HIM, THEN ASK NATALIE"
Teddy looks at the photo over Leonard's shoulder.
TEDDY
Natalie? Natalie who?
LEONARD
Why?
(CONTINUED)
47.
69 CONTINUED: (3) 69
TEDDY
I think I know her.
Leonard sticks his pictures in his pocket.
LEONARD
We've got to get him out of here.
TEDDY
He's got to have a car, right? We just
take him back to his car and tell him to
get the fuck out of town before we kill
him.
LEONARD
We can't just walk him out tied up and
bleeding.
TEDDY
How'd ya get him in here in the first
place?
LEONARD
I don't know.
Leonard looks around the room for inspiration.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Yes I do... this isn't my room.
Teddy looks around at the anonymous room.
LEONARD (cont'd)
It's his. He was already here. Let's just *
go. *
Leonard starts for the door, Teddy lays a hand on his chest. *
TEDDY *
Wait, we can't just leave him. The maid *
finds him, calls the cops. He's seen us now *
Leonard thinks. *
LEONARD *
Okay. We clean him up, untie him and *
march him out with a gun in his back. *
TEDDY
Why would I have a gun?
Leonard fishes the HANDGUN out of the bedside table drawer.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
47A.
69 CONTINUED: (4) 69
LEONARD
It must be his. I don't think they'd let
someone like me carry a gun.
TEDDY
Fucking hope not.
Leonard covers Dodd with the gun while Teddy pulls him out of
the closet. Dodd has trouble standing up straight.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
48.
70 EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 70
Teddy exits the room, glances around, motions for Leonard and
Dodd to follow. Dodd is cleaned up and unbound, Leonard is
pressed up right behind him. The three of them descend to the
parking lot.
LEONARD
Which one?
Dodd leads them to a new LANDCRUISER. Teddy whispers in
Leonard's ear.
TEDDY
We probably ought to take his car, you
know, teach him a lesson.
LEONARD
Shut it, Teddy.
TEDDY
Easy for you to say, you've got the Jag.
LEONARD
I'll ride with him. You follow.
TEDDY
Give me your keys.
Leonard looks at him, suspicious.
LEONARD
Take your own car.
Teddy shrugs. Leonard motions Dodd into the driver's seat,
then slides into the passenger side. They pull out of the
parking lot, Teddy following in his GREY SEDAN.
71 EXT. SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY HEADING OUT OF TOWN - DAY <SEQUENCE>>
The Landcruiser PULLS OVER and stops. The grey sedan pulls up
behind. Leonard gets out of the Landcruiser and it PULLS AWAY
at speed. Leonard walks back to Teddy's car.
72 INT. GREY SEDAN - DAY 72
TEDDY
So was he scared?
LEONARD
Yeah. I think it was your sinister
mustache that got him.
(CONTINUED)
49.
72 CONTINUED: 72
Teddy leans over slightly so that he can see his reflection
in the rear view mirror. Leonard smiles. Teddy sees him.
TEDDY
Fuck you. We shoulda taken his car.
LEONARD
What's wrong with this one?
TEDDY
You like it? Let's trade.
73 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND THE MOTEL - DAY <> 73
The grey sedan pulls up beside Leonard's Jaguar. Leonard gets
out.
TEDDY
So what are you gonna do now?
LEONARD
I'm gonna ask Natalie what the fuck that
was all about.
TEDDY
Natalie who?
Leonard ignores him and gets into his Jaguar.
74 EXT. A MODEST SINGLE-STOREY HOUSE - NATALIE'S - DUSK 74
<>
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard checks the address against the
address written on his Polaroid of Natalie, then goes to the
door and RINGS the bell. It is opened by Natalie.
LEONARD
Natalie, right?
Natalie nods, wary of Leonard's tone. Leonard THRUSTS a
Polaroid in her face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who the fuck is Dodd?
The photo shows Dodd, BOUND, GAGGED and BLEEDING.
CUT TO:
75 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 75
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) talks on the phone as he takes
a NEEDLE and tapes it to the BALL-POINT PEN.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
50.
75 CONTINUED: 75
LEONARD
What Mrs. Jankis didn't understand was
that you can't bully someone into
remembering... the more pressure you're
under, the harder it gets.
(listens)
Then call me back.
Leonard hangs up.
76 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM BATHROOM - DAY <> 76
Leonard sits on the toilet, grasping an empty VODKA BOTTLE by
the neck. He notices the bottle in his hands as if for the
first time.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Don't feel drunk.
Leonard looks up from the VODKA BOTTLE, sighs, rubs his face,
then stands up. He SNIFFS at his armpit.
He puts the empty bottle on the counter by the sink, then
wearily UNDRESSES.
Leonard, NAKED, looks in the mirror, then RUNS THE SHOWER
then steps under it, shutting the PEBBLED PLASTIC STALL DOOR.
Leonard SHOWERS. He turns the water off, then hears the DOOR
BEING UNLOCKED. Leonard freezes, standing in the SHOWER
STALL, NAKED and DRIPPING. Through the distortion of the
PEBBLED PLASTIC DOOR, Leonard sees a FIGURE enter the
bathroom and start pissing into the toilet. The distorted
Figure turns and approaches the shower stall, becoming
clearer as it gets closer, then YANKS the door open. It is
Dodd (WITHOUT INJURIES). He is SHOCKED to see the naked
Leonard. Leonard BURSTS out of the shower stall, SMASHING
Dodd against the wall.
Dodd STRUGGLES around, grabbing at the SLIPPERY, naked
Leonard. Dodd PUSHES against Leonard, SLASMMING him into the
sink.
Leonard has his arms around Dodd's neck. Leonard SMASHES
Dodd's head sideways into the wall, HARD.
Dodd SLUMPS to the floor. Leonard exhales. Dodd puts a FIST
in Leonard's crotch, then GRABS his neck as he doubles over.
Dodd uses Leonard to pull himself off the floor then PUNCHES
the side of his head and pushes him HARD, Leonard FLAILING
wildly, GRABBING THE EMPTY VODKA BOTTLE from by the sink as
he falls back into the bedroom. Dodd reaches into his INSIDE
POCKET.
51.
77 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY <> 77
Leonard STUMBLES in, naked, from the bathroom, swings around,
HITTING Dodd square in the face with the empty vodka bottle,
which does not break.
Dodd lies still on the floor, bleeding, his hand still in his
inside jacket pocket. Leonard stands above him, naked,
dripping wet, catching his breath.
There is a KNOCK at the door.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Housekeeping.
The sound of a KEY entering the lock. Leonard LEAPS for the
door and flips the privacy latch.
LEONARD
Not just now!
Leonard listens to the maid withdraw her key. Leonard
SEARCHES Dodd, finding his GUN in his inside pocket. Leonard
examines the weapon, then starts to search the room. Leonard
finds an overnight bag at the bottom of the closet. Inside it
there are some clothes, spare ammunition, a large hunting
knife, and a roll of SILVER ELECTRICAL TAPE.
Leonard WRAPS the electrical tape around Dodd's wrists, then
across his mouth. Leonard finishes taping up Dodd, then sits
him on the edge of the bed. Leonard takes a POLAROID
PHOTOGRAPH of the bloody, taped-up Dodd.
Leonard shoves Dodd into the closet, takes out a NOTE and
consults it, then writes "DODD" on the white strip on the
front of the photograph. He flips the picture over and writes
on the strip on the back, in smaller writing:
"GET RID OF HIM, ASK NATALIE"
Leonard dresses, puts the Polaroid into the inside pocket of
his jacket. He looks again at the note. It says:
"DODD, MOUNTCREST INN ON 5TH STREET, ROOM 6" *
"PUT HIM ONTO TEDDY OR JUST GET RID OF HIM FOR NATALIE"
Leonard picks the stack of Polaroids out of his outside
jacket pocket. He flips through them until he finds the one
of Teddy, then picks up the phone and dials Teddy's number.
The phone is answered:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
52.
77 CONTINUED: 77
TEDDY (O.S.)
You know what to do.
Then a BEEP. Leonard does not look like he knows what to do.
LEONARD
Ah, it's a message for Teddy... *
Leonard looks at the note.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'm at the MOUNTCREST INN on 5th Street,
Room 6, and I need you to come over as
soon as you get this, it's important.
This is Leonard. Thanks. Bye.
Leonard hangs up. He looks around the room. He slips the
HANDGUN into the bedside drawer, resting it on the GIDEON
BIBLE, then swings his feet up onto the bed and lies down.
CUT TO:
78 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 78
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) crooks his neck to hold the *
phone. In his hands is the PEN with the NEEDLE taped to it.
Leonard wiggles the needle, then applies more tape.
CUT TO:
79 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUEWCE## 79
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) takes the NEEDLE/PEN in one
hand and picks up a CIGARETTE LIGHTER in the other.
Leonard IGNITES the lighter, then holds the needle over the flame.
He examines the NEEDLE, then holds it in the flame again.
Leonard puts down the lighter and picks up a second BALL-
POINT PEN.
80 EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 80
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up, FAST. Several bits of SHATTERED
SAFETY GLASS are still visible in the frame. He parks around
the back, out of sight and consults a note.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I'll get the jump on you, fucker.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
53.
80 CONTINUED: 80
Leonard RACES up the stairs to the rooms on the second floor.
He stops at Room 9, listening. The T.V. is on.
Leonard gets a CREDIT CARD out and slips it into the lock
gently, with a practiced hand. He leaves the CARD WEDGED in
the lock, then steps back from the door and KNOCKS.
Leonard watches the POINT OF LIGHT in the PEEPHOLE to Room 9.
The point of light GOES OUT. Leonard KICKS the door in,
SMASHING THE ROOM'S OCCUPANT BACK INTO THE ROOM.
Leonard stands over him, looking down. The man is
unconscious, blood on his face. Something is not right.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Is this the guy?
Leonard looks down at his NOTE. The room number given is 6.
Leonard looks at the "9" on the door, then down at the
unconscious man.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Fuck! Sorry.
Leonard reaches down, GRABS his credit card from where it
landed on the floor, and backs out of the doorway, shutting
the door on the Unconscious Man.
He MOVES QUICKLY to Room 6, slips his credit card in the lock
and knocks.
No answer, so Leonard slips inside.
81 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY <> 81
Leonard flicks the light on and glances around. There is
nothing in the room except an empty VODKA BOTTLE on the
bedside table.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Need a weapon.
He grabs the empty vodka bottle, switches the light off and
slips into the bathroom.
82 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM BATHROOM - DAY <> 82
Leonard sits down on the toilet, holding the empty bottle by
its neck. He reaches out and adjusts the angle of the door.
His eyes are alert, he is nervous. Waiting. And waiting.
83 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 83
(CONTINUED)
54.
83 CONTINUED: 83
Leonard (boxers, bandaged bicep), takes the second ball-point
pen and SNAPS it in two.
84 EXT. SMALL ALLEY BEHIND A ROW OF TRAILER HOMES - DAY <SEQUENCE>>
Leonard is RUNNING FURIOUSLY, arms pumping.
LEONARD (V.O.)
What the fuck am I doing?
Leonard glances to his right, and through a GAP between two
trailers he catches a glimpse of Dodd on the other side of
the trailer homes, RACING along parallel to Leonard.
LEONARD (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Chasing him!
Leonard CUTS down the next gap between trailers, heading FULL
SPEED for Dodd's side.
Dodd (without bruises) appears again at the other end of the
gap, SEES Leonard, and STARTS RUNNING TOWARDS HIM. There is a
GUN in his hand.
LEONARD (V.O.) (CONT'D)
FUCK! He's chasing me.
Leonard SKIDS to a halt and turns around. A BULLET hits the
dirt by his feet. He clears the end of the trailer and THROWS
himself over a chain link fence, dropping down on the other
side and SCRAMBLING through some bushes. He RACES full tilt
into a parking lot, looking around, desperate. He can hear a
CAR ALARM sounding. He pulls his KEYS OUT and hits the ALARM
switch. Hearing the DOUBLE BEEP as the alarm stops, he spots
the Jaguar.
The Jaguar PEELS OUT just as Dodd emerges from the trailer
park.
85 INT. JAGUAR - DAY <> 85
Leonard is breathing hard, looking around nervously. He
starts knocking BITS OF BROKEN WINDOW GLASS out of the
driver's side window with his elbow then pulling photos and
pieces of paper out of his pockets as he drives.
Leonard finds a NOTE that gives a description of Dodd, along
with the motel and room number where Dodd is staying.
CUT TO:
55.
86 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 86
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) has the NEEDLE/PEN in one hand *
and the BROKEN PEN in the other. Leonard DIPS the needle into
the clear plastic INK RESERVOIR off the broken pen.
87 EXT. TRAILER PARK PARKING LOT - DAY <> 87
Leonard is in the Jaguar. Dodd (without any bruises) is
standing by the window, aiming his gun at Leonard.
DODD
I haven't made a strong enough
impression.
LEONARD
(amused)
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Dodd motions for Leonard to open the passenger side door.
Dodd gets into the passenger seat, gun on Leonard. Leonard
nods to him.
LEONARD
Seat belt.
Leonard starts to reach over his left shoulder with his right
hand as if for the seat belt. Dodd watches Leonard's right
hand.
With his left hand, Leonard opens the door. He rolls out,
SLAMMING the door in Dodd's face, and hitting the central
locking on his car keys.
Leonard TAKES OFF across the asphalt. Dodd tries the doors,
then SHOOTS at Leonard, SHATTERING the driver's side window,
triggering the CAR ALARM.
Dodd climbs through the window and takes off after him.
Leonard slips into a trailer park, TRIPPING as he DIVES into
a gap between two trailers, STUMBLING over the PLASTIC LAWN
FURNITURE and OLD BIKES which litter the narrow gap.
He picks himself up and SPRINTS into the alley behind the
trailers. He races along behind the trailers.
Leonard is RUNNING FURIOUSLY, arms pumping.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
What the fuck am I doing?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
56.
87 CONTINUED: 87
Leonard glances to his right, and through a GAP between the
two trailers he catches a glimpse of Dodd on the other side
of the trailer homes, racing along parallel to Leonard.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Chasing him!
Leonard cuts down the next gap between trailers, heading FULL
SPEED for Dodd's side.
CUT TO:
88 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 88
Leonard looks at the INK-COVERED NEEDLE. Leonard consults the
FILE CARD. It has a HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE:
"TATTOO: ACCESS TO DRUGS"
CUT TO:
89 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - NIGHT <> 89
*
Leonard exits room 304 of the Discount Inn carrying a *
SHOPPING BAG, looking GRIM-FACED.
90 INT. JAGUAR - NIGHT <> 90
Leonard gets in, gently places the bag on the passenger seat.
91 EXT. STREET - NIGHT <> 91
The Jaguar speeds along.
92 EXT. PARKING LOT OVERLOOKING RESERVOIR - NIGHT <SEQUENCE>>
Leonard gets out of the Jaguar, carrying the shopping bag. He
climbs the chain-link fence.
93 EXT. RESERVOIR - NIGHT - SAME <> 93
Leonard has built a small FIRE. He reaches into the bag and
removes a small STUFFED TOY. He douses it with lighter fluid
and places it on the fire. He watches the fur blacken and the
plastic eyes melt.
Leonard reaches into the bag and pulls out a well-worn
PAPERBACK BOOK, whose cover has long-since been ripped off.
Leonard flicks through the pages.
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
57.
94 INT. BEDROOM, LEONARD'S APARTMENT - NIGHT <>94
Leonard is undressing. Leonard's Wife is in bed, reading the
well-worn paperback.
LEONARD
How can you read that again?
LEONARD'S WIFE
(without looking up)
It's good.
LEONARD
You've read it a hundred times.
LEONARD'S WIFE
I enjoy it.
LEONARD
Yeah, but the pleasure of a book is in
wanting to know what happens next -
LEONARD'S WIFE
(looks up, annoyed)
Don't be a prick. I'm not reading it to
annoy you, I enjoy it. Just let me read,
please.
95 EXT. RESERVOIR - NIGHT <> 95
He places the BOOK on the fire. He reaches into the bag,
produces a BRA and a HAIRBRUSH. He puts the bra on the fire,
then pulls some BLACK HAIR out of the hairbrush. He holds a
few strands out above the fire until they shrivel up in the
heat. He does this with a larger clump and it produces a
SMALL FLAME so he DROPS it into the fire.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Probably tried this before. Probably
burned truckloads of your stuff. Can't
remember to forget you.
He DROPS the brush onto the fire, pulls a GREEN ALARM CLOCK
out of the bag and adds it to the fire. Once the bag is
EMPTY, Leonard places it on the fire. He sits looking at the
flames.
DISSOLVE TO:
96 EXT. RESERVOIR - DAWN <> 96
The sky has brightened. Leonard KICKS the dying embers apart.
58.
97 INT./EXT. DAWN - THE JAGUAR SPEEDS ALONG <> 97
Leonard looks into his rearview mirror to see a LANDCRUISER
following him. Leonard SPEEDS UP, turns right. The
Landcruiser sticks behind.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Do I know this guy?
Leonard fishes photographs out of his pocket, examining them.
The Landcruiser ACCELERATES until it is uncomfortably close.
Leonard slows, turning into a PARKING LOT. The Landcruiser
follows.
LEONARD (V.O.)
He seems to know me.
The Landcruiser PULLS ALONGSIDE the Jaguar. Leonard looks
over. Dodd (no bruises) is at the wheel. Leonard rolls down
his window.
LEONARD (V.O.)
What the fuck!
Dodd pulls out a HASNDGUN and points it at Leonard. Leonard
SLAMS on the brakes, JERKING to a halt as the Landcruiser
pulls over in front of the Jaguar.
98 EXT. TRAILER PARK PARKING LOT - DAY <> 98
Dodd, gun in hand, gets out of the Landcruiser and
approaches.
DODD
I like your car.
LEONARD
Thanks.
DODD
Where'd you get it?
LEONARD
Interested in buying one?
DODD
I just want you to tell me how you came
by that car.
LEONARD
I forget.
Dodd points his gun at Leonard through the window.
(CONTINUED)
59.
98 CONTINUED: 98
DODD
I haven't made a strong enough impression
on you.
LEONARD
(amused)
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself.
99 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 99
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) drops the FILE CARD and
presses the INK-COVERED NEEDLE against his thigh. Leonard *
pushes the ink-covered needle against his thigh, ABOUT TO
BREAK THE SKIN.
The PHONE RINGS, surprising Leonard. He watches it ring, then
reaches out with his BANDAGED arm to lift the receiver.
LEONARD
Who is this?
CUT TO:
100 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 100
Leonard is WOKEN by the sound of a door SHUTTING FIRMLY. He
turns his head to see a glow from under the bathroom door.
In the dim light he can see a well-worn, COVERLESS PAPERBACK
BOOK on the far bedside table. Next to it is a HAIRBRUSH and
a drinking glass half-full of water. There is a small STUFFED
TOY sitting by the pillow next to Leonard's head. Leonard's
eyes are half-closed as he slides his hand onto the other
half of the bed, feeling the residual warmth, smiling.
He props himself up on one arm, rubs his eyes and reaches
over to the SMALL, GREEN ALARM CLOCK, straining to read its
numbers in the dim light. He breathes heavily, sleepily and
shuts his eyes for a second, UTTERLY CONTENT.
LEONARD
(about to tell her something)
Honey?
The sound of the SHOWER being run. Leonard opens his eyes and
looks over to the bathroom door.
LEONARD (cont'd)
(relaxed)
Honey? It's late.
Leonard swings his legs over and sits on the edge of the bed.
Move in on Leonard's face.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
60.
100 CONTINUED: 100
LEONARD (cont'd)
Everything okay?
Leonard looks around with growing unease.
101 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <>101
TREMBLING, SHALLOW-FOCUS EXTREME CLOSE UPS:
A glass bottle SHATTERS against a tiled floor, bath salts and
glass spreading out over the black and white tiles.
102 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 102
Leonard RISES from the bed, STARING at the bathroom door.
103 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <SEQUENCE>>103
SUDDEN MOVEMENT glimpsed through a WATER-BEADED CLEAR PLASTIC
SHOWER CURTAIN. Mirror SHATTERING.
104 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 104
Leonard is at the bathroom door. He TAPS gently.
105 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <SEQUENCE>>105
The wet plastic shower curtain pulls TAUT across a GASPING,
THRASHING FEMALE FACE.
106 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 106
Leonard KNOCKS again. No answer. He KNOCKS louder, concerned.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Are you okay in there?!
Leonard GRABS the handle, THROWS OPEN THE DOOR.
107 INT. STEAM-FILLED BATHROOM ROOM 304 - NIGHT <SEQUENCE>>
A BLONDE WOMAN in a silk dressing gown, seated on the toilet,
looks up from SNORTING a line of cocaine off a small hand
mirror. She GIGGLES as she speaks to Leonard.
BLONDE
Was it good for you?
Leonard stands in the doorway, SHAKEN. The Blonde realizes
that Leonard is not happy.
(CONTINUED)
61.
107 CONTINUED: 107
BLONDE (cont'd)
Shit. Was I supposed to lock the door?
LEONARD
No. That would have been worse.
Leonard moves to turn off the shower.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'd like you to leave now.
108 INT. DISCOUNT INN, ROOM 304 - NIGHT - LATER <SEQUENCE>>
Leonard, fully clothed, grabs a SHOPPING BAG from the closet,
and does a quick circuit of the room, grabbing various items
(the paperback book, hairbrush, alarm clock, stuffed toy) and
STUFFING them into the bag.
109 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - NIGHT <> 109
Leonard comes out of Room 304, grim-faced, carrying the
shopping bag. He goes to his Jaguar and gets in.
CUT TO:
110 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - NIGHT ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 110
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) dips the NEEDLE into the ink *
reservoir and PUNCTURES the skin of his thigh, talking on the
phone.
LEONARD
Well, sir, that would certainly be in
keeping with some of my own discoveries.
Yeah, I was hoping to get more on the
drugs angle. Hang on a second.
Leonard drops the needle/pen, pulls a LARGE FILE out of his
sports bag and opens it on the bed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
The police report mentioned the drugs
found in the car outside my house. The
car was stolen, but his prints were all
over it, along with some of his stuff.
And I think there's something...
(flips through pages)
Something about a syringe...
(flips pages, confused)
I've got a copy of the police report.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
61A.
110 CONTINUED: 110
LEONARD (cont'd)
It has lots of information, but with my
condition, it's tough. I can't really
keep it all in mind at once.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
62.
110 CONTINUED: (2) 110
Leonard looks at the back of the file, where he has written a *
list of 'CONCLUSIONS'. *
LEONARD (cont'd) *
I have to keep summarizing the different *
sections... *
Leonard flips back to the front page. on it there is a
handwritten note: "MISSING PAGES: 14-17, 19, 23...
LEONARD (cont'd)
Yeah, and there's pages missing... I
guess I've been trying to log them all.
(listens, smiles)
The police gave me the report
themselves. I dealt with them a lot in
my insurance job, and I had friends in
the department. They must have figured
that if I saw the facts of the case,
then I would stop believing that we
needed to find John G.
Leonard flips to the back page to look at his HANDWRITTEN
CONCLUSIONS.
LEONARD (cont'd)
They weren't even looking for John G.
The stuff they found in the car just fit
in with what they believed had happened,
so they didn't chase any of it up.
111 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 111
Leonard pulls up in the Jaguar, checks the name against a
NOTE written on a BEER MAT, and heads into the office.
Leonard comes out of the office, gets a sports bag from the
Jaguar, then takes a Polaroid of the entrance and heads for
Room 304.
112 INT. DISCOUNT INN - ROOM 304 - DAY <> 112
Leonard enters the unoccupied room, flapping the Polaroid
photo. He sifts through his sports bag, pulls out a pen and
writes the motel's address on the picture.
With well-practiced, efficient movements, Leonard removes his
wall chart from the sports bag, unrolls it, sticks it to the
wall. He takes a stack of Polaroids out of the sports bag and
works through them, considering each new picture and finding
its proper place on the chart like someone playing solitaire.
LATER:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
62A.
112 CONTINUED: 112
Leonard flips through the yellow pages, looking under "Escort
Services".
LATER:
Leonard is on the phone.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
63.
112 CONTINUED: 112
LEONARD
None? Okay, blonde. Yeah, blonde is fine.
Discount Inn, 304. Leonard. *
LATER:
Leonard opens the door to the Blonde.
LATER:
The Blonde is looking curiously at the chart, drink in hand.
Leonard is in the chair.
BLONDE
Well, what then?
LEONARD
It's simple, you just go to the bathroom.
The Blonde turns, surprised. Leonard smiles, embarrassed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
No, you just go into the bathroom. We go
to bed, you wait till I fall asleep, then
you go into the bathroom and slam the door.
BLONDE
Slam it?
LEONARD
Just loud enough to wake me up.
BLONDE
That's it?
LEONARD
That's it.
Leonard gets up, pulls a paper shopping bag out of the closet
and hands it to the Blonde.
LEONARD (cont'd)
But, first I need you to put these things
around.
The Blonde looks confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just pretend these things are yours, and
this is your bedroom.
The Blonde pulls a bra out of the bag.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
64.
112 CONTINUED: (3) 112
BLONDE
Should I wear it?
LEONARD
No. Just leave the stuff lying around as
if it were yours. Like you just took it
off or something.
BLONDE
Whatever gets you off.
The Blonde pulls the hairbrush out of the bag. She moves to
brush her hair with it, but Leonard stops her.
LEONARD
No! No, don't use it, you, I mean it's...
you just have to put it where you would
if it were yours.
The Blonde sees the BLACK HAIR stuck in the brush.
113 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 113
The lights are off. The Blonde and Leonard are lying side by
side in bed.
The Blonde checks to see that Leonard is asleep, then slips
out of bed. She grabs her purse then opens the bathroom door.
She looks back at Leonard, asleep. She moves into the
bathroom and shuts the door firmly, making a LOUD BANG.
Leonard's EYES OPEN.
114 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQCTENCE## 114
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) TATTOOS HIMSELF as he talks on *
the phone. So far he has tattooed:
"FACT 5."
LEONARD
The drugs stashed in the car doesn't
ring true for me.
Leonard consults his FILE CARD, which says:
"TATTOO: ACCESS TO DRUGS"
LEONARD (cont'd)
The police figure the guy was an addict
needing money to score, but I'm not
convinced. He's not gonna be breaking in
when he's still got a stash that big.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
65.
114 CONTINUED: 114
LEONARD (cont'd)
(listens)
I think John G. left it or planted it.
(listens)
Well, it was a lot for one guy's
personal use.
(listens)
How do you know that?
(listens, checks report)
Right, that's true. It fits.
(listens)
Too much for personal use, so he deals.
Leonard takes his pen and alters his FILE CARD to read:
"TATTOO: FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
Leonard picks up the NEEDLE/PEN and continues his tattoo.
115 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY <> 115
The CAR ALARM of the Jaguar is SOUNDING.
Leonard exits, walks to the car and gets in, switching off
the alarm.
TEDDY (O.S.)
You should lock a car as nice as this.
Teddy is in the passenger seat. Leonard, startled, GRABS him
by the throat.
LEONARD
Who the fuck are you?
TEDDY
(gasping)
Teddy. Your buddy.
LEONARD
Prove it.
TEDDY
(gasping)
Sammy. Remember Sammy. You told me about
Sammy.
Leonard lets him go.
LEONARD
What are you doing in my car?
Teddy is now wearing his big grin, rubbing his neck.
(CONTINUED)
66.
115 CONTINUED: 115
TEDDY
Sense of humour went with the memory,
huh? You know why you're still here,
don't you?
LEONARD
Unfinished business.
TEDDY
Lenny, as a buddy, let me inform you.
Your business here is very much finished.
You're still here because of Natalie.
LEONARD
Who's she?
Teddy chuckles.
TEDDY
Whose house do you think you just walked
out of?
Leonard looks at the house. Teddy motions towards Leonard's
pockets.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Take a look at your pictures, I bet you
got one of her.
Leonard pulls out his Polaroids and flips through them. He
pauses at the one of Natalie. Teddy SWIPES it out of his
hands to get a better look at the blurred image of Natalie
turning in a doorway.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Great shot, Lenny.
Teddy flips the photo over. There is nothing on the back.
Teddy hands it back to Leonard.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You wanna make a note that you can't
trust her.
LEONARD
Why's that?
TEDDY
Because she'll have taken one look at
your clothes and your car and started
thinking of ways to turn the situation to
her advantage. She's already got you
staying with her, for fuck's sake.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
67.
115 CONTINUED: (2) 115
TEDDY (cont'd)
You can't stay with her. Let me give you
the name of a motel.
Teddy starts looking for a piece of paper.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Good thing I found you. She's bad news.
LEONARD
What do you mean "bad news"?
TEDDY
She's involved with these drug dealers.
Teddy opens the GLOVE COMPARTMENT, finding a STACK OF BEER
MATS from a local bar called FERDY'S. *
TEDDY (cont'd)
See these? That's the bar where she
works. Her boyfriend's a drug dealer.
She'd take orders for him, arrange meets.
He'd write messages on these, then leave
it on the bar. She'd drop replies when
she served him drinks.
LEONARD
Why should I care?
Teddy starts writing on the BEER MAT.
TEDDY
She's gonna use you. To protect herself.
LEONARD
From who?
TEDDY
Guys who'll come after her. Guys who'll
want to know what happened to her
boyfriend. They'll want to make somebody
pay. Maybe she'll try and make it you.
LEONARD
Yeah, well maybe she'll make it you. Is
that it? You worried she'll use me
against you?
TEDDY
She couldn't.
LEONARD
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
68.
115 CONTINUED: (3) 115
TEDDY
(grins)
She has no idea who I am.
LEONARD
Why are you following me?
TEDDY
I'm trying to help you. I knew she'd get
her claws into you. She doesn't know
anything about your investigation, so
when she offers to help you, it'll be for
her own reasons. Why would I lie? Do not
go back to her. Take out a pen, write
yourself a note, do not trust her.
Leonard takes out his pen, places the picture of Natalie face
down on the dash and writes on the white strip on the back:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
LEONARD
Happy now?
TEDDY
I won't be happy until you leave town.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
How long do you think you can hang around
here before people start asking
questions?
LEONARD
What sort of questions?
TEDDY
The sort of questions you should be
asking yourself.
LEONARD
Like what?
TEDDY
Like how'd you get this car? That suit?
LEONARD
I have money.
(CONTINUED)
69.
115 CONTINUED: (4) 115
TEDDY
From what?
LEONARD
My wife's death. I used to work in
Insurance, we were well covered.
TEDDY
So in your grief you wandered into a
Jaguar dealership?
Leonard says nothing. Teddy laughs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You haven't got a clue, have you? You
don't even know who you are?
LEONARD
Yes, I do. I don't have amnesia. I
remember everything about myself up until
the incident. I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm
from San Fran -
TEDDY
That's who you were, Lenny. You don't
know who you are, who you've become since
the incident. You're wandering around,
playing detective... and you don't even
know how long ago it was.
Teddy reaches out to Leonard's lapel, and gently opens his
jacket to reveal the label.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Put it this way. Were you wearing
designer suits when you sold insurance? *
Leonard looks down at his suit, then back to Teddy.
LEONARD
I didn't sell -
TEDDY
I know, you investigated. Maybe you need
to apply some of your investigative
skills to yourself.
LEONARD
Yeah, well, thanks for the advice.
TEDDY
Don't go back in there. There's a motel
out of town.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
70.
115 CONTINUED: (5) 115
Teddy hands Leonard the BEER MAT and gets out of the car.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It's been fun, Lenny.
Teddy walks off. Leonard pulls his Polaroids out of his
pocket and finds the one of Teddy. He places it on the dash,
face up, next to the one of Natalie which is still face down
on the dash. Leonard reads the message he has written on the
back of Natalie's picture:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
He flips Teddy's picture over, like a croupier turning a card
at blackjack. On the back it says:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard purses his lips in surprised frustration. He grabs
his pen and scribbles on the back of Natalie's picture,
obliterating the words:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
He flips Natalie's picture over and considers her blurred
image. He looks up at her house, then picks up the BEER MAT,
reading the address Teddy has given him.
LEONARD
Fuck it. I need my own place.
Leonard starts the engine.
116 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 116
Leonard pulls up in his Jaguar, checks the name of the motel
against the note written on the BEER MAT, then heads into the
office to check in.
Leonard comes out of the office, takes a Polaroid of the
front of the motel, and heads for Room 304.
117 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 117
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) talks on the phone. He presses *
the NEEDLE/PEN against his thigh, working on a "D".
LEONARD
I can't blame the cops for not taking me
seriously. This is a difficult condition
for people to understand. I mean look at
Sammy Jankis. His own wife couldn't deal
with it.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
71.
117 CONTINUED: 117
LEONARD (cont'd)
(listens)
I told you about how she tried to get
him to snap out of it?
(listens)
It got much worse than that. Eventually
Sammy's wife came to see me at the
office, and I found out all kinds of
shit.
(listens)
She knew that I was the one who had
built he case for Sammy faking it.
118 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 118
Leonard, in a CHEAP SUIT AND TIE, gets up from behind his
desk to shake hands with Mrs. Jankis. They talk, Leonard
nodding as he listens. Mrs. Jankis is crying.
LEONARD (V.O.)
She told me about life with Sammy, how
she'd treated him. It had got to the
point where she'd get Sammy to hide food
all around the house, then stop feeding
him to see if his hunger would make him
remember where he'd hidden the stuff.
She wasn't a cruel person, she just
wanted her old Sammy back.
The tearful Mrs. Jankis gives Leonard a determined look.
MRS. JANKIS
Mr. Shelby, you know all about Sammy and
you decided that he was faking -
LEONARD
Mrs. Jankis, the company's position
isn't that Sammy is "faking" anything,
just that his condition can't be shown -
MRS. JANKIS
I'm not interested in the company
position, Mr. Shelby. I want to know
your honest opinion about Sammy.
LEONARD
We shouldn't even be talking this way
while the case is still open to appeal.
MRS. JANKIS
I'm not appealing the decision.
LEONARD
Then why are you here?
(CONTINUED)
72.
118 CONTINUED: 118
MRS. JANKIS
Mr. Shelby, try and understand. When I
look into Sammy's eyes, I don't see some
vegetable, I see the same old Sammy.
What do you think it's like for me to
suspect that he's imagining this whole *
problem? That if I could just say the
right thing he'd snap out of it and be
back to normal? If I knew that my old
Sammy was truly gone, then I could say
goodbye and start loving this new Sammy. *
As long as I have doubt, I can't say
goodbye and move on.
LEONARD
Mrs. Jankis, what do you want from me?
MRS. JANKIS
I want you to forget the company you
work for for thirty seconds, and tell me
if you really think that Sammy is faking
his condition.
Leonard plays with his letter opener, thinking.
MRS. JANKIS (cont'd)
I need to know what you honestly
believe.
LEONARD
(looks at Mrs. Jankis)
I believe that Sammy should be
physically capable of making new
memories.
MRS. JANKIS
Thank you.
119 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 119
LEONARD
She seemed to leave happy. I thought I'd
helped her.
Leonard puts the NEEDLE/PEN down, and wipes blood from his new,
homemade TATTOO, which says:
"FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
LEONARD (cont'd)
I thought she just needed some kind of
answer.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
73.
119 CONTINUED: 119
LEONARD (cont'd)
I didn't think it was important to her
what the answer was, just that she had
one to believe.
Leonard notices the BANDAGE on his LEFT ARM. He starts *
fiddling with the TAPE, peeling back the corners.
CUT TO:
120 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 120
Leonard sifts through the papers on the desk, agitated. He *
hears a car door SLAM. He looks out of the window to see *
Natalie getting out of her car.
She turns and comes towards the front door. Her face is SWOLLEN
and BLEEDING.
Leonard OPENS the door for her. She RUSHES past him. *
LEONARD
What happened?
Natalie, intensely AGITATED, FUMBLES with things in her purse.
NATALIE
What does it look like?!
She turns to Leonard so that he can see the full extent of
her injuries. Her eye is SWELLING UP, and her lip is SPLIT.
NATALIE (cont'd)
He beat the shit out of me.
LEONARD
Who?
NATALIE
Who?! Fuck, Leonard! Dodd! Dodd beat the
shit out of me.
Natalie FLINGS her purse to the ground in frustration. She
does not know what to do with her hands.
LEONARD
Why?
Natalie turns to him, ENRAGED.
NATALIE
Because of you, you fucking idiot!
Because I did what you told me!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
74.
120 CONTINUED: 120
NATALIE (cont'd)
Go to him, reason with him, tell him
about Teddy! Great fucking ideal
Leonard APPROACHES her, palms out.
LEONARD
Calm down.
Natalie starts to HIT Leonard. He takes her arms.
LEONARD (cont'd)
(softly)
Take it easy. You're safe now. You're
safe.
He sits her down on the couch.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Let's get some ice on your face.
LATER:
Natalie, crying softly, holds a paper towel filled with ice
cubes to her swollen cheek while Leonard gently uses a damp
paper towel to wipe the blood from her upper lip.
NATALIE
I did exactly what you told me. I went to *
Dodd and I said that I didn't have *
Jimmy's money, or any drugs, that this
Teddy must have taken everything.
LEONARD
And what did he say?
NATALIE
He didn't believe me. He said that if I
don't get him the money tomorrow he's
gonna kill me. Then he started hitting
me.
LEONARD
Where is he?
NATALIE
What are you gonna do?
LEONARD
I'll go see him.
NATALIE
And?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
75.
120 CONTINUED: (2) 120
LEONARD
Give him some bruises of his own and tell
him to look for a guy called Teddy.
NATALIE
He'll kill you, Lenny.
LEONARD
(smiling)
My wife used to call me Lenny.
NATALIE
Yeah?
LEONARD
Yeah, I hated it.
NATALIE
This guy's dangerous, let's think of
something else.
Leonard takes out a piece of paper but he cannot find his
pen.
LEONARD
I'll take care of it. Just tell me what
he looks like, and where I can find him.
Do you have a pen?
Natalie gets a pen out of her purse and hands it to him.
NATALIE
He'll probably find you.
LEONARD
Me? Why would he be interested in me?
NATALIE
I told him about your car.
LEONARD
Why would you do that?
NATALIE
He was beating the crap out of me! I had
to tell him something!
Leonard hands Natalie the piece of paper and pen.
LEONARD
Just write it all down. What he looks *
like, where I find him. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
75A.
120 CONTINUED: (3) 120
Natalie hands him a note. It says:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
76.
120 CONTINUED: (4) 120
"DODD MOUNTCREST INN ON 5TH ST., ROOM 6" *
"PUT HIM ON TO TEDDY OR JUST GET RID OF HIM FOR NATALIE"
Outside, a CAR ALARM starts to sound. Leonard gets up and
heads to the door, flipping through his Polaroids.
121 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY <> 121
The Jaguar's CAR ALARM is sounding.
Leonard exits Natalie's house, walks to his Jaguar and gets
in, silencing the alarm.
TEDDY (O.S.)
You should lock a car as nice as this.
Leonard, startled, GRABS Teddy by the throat.
CUT TO:
122 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 122
Leonard, in boxers, bandage on arm, sits on the edge of *
the bed talking on the phone.
LEONARD
No, she shouldn't have given me that
responsibility. Shit, I'm not a doctor,
I'm a claims investigator.
Leonard crooks his neck to hold the receiver between ear and
shoulder and FIDDLES with the BANDAGE ON HIS LEFT ARM, *
starting to peel back the tape, t.zying to look under the
cotton pad.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I suppose, but I've got all sorts of
other considerations.
Leonard starts to REMOVE THE BANDAGE.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Legal responsibility, and large
financial...
LEONARD REMOVES THE BANDAGE FROM HIS LEFT ARM, REVEALING A *
CRUDE TATTOO WHICH SAYS:
"NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE"
Leonard looks up.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
77.
122 CONTINUED: 122
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who is this?
He takes the receiver away from his ear as if the caller has
just hung up.
CUT TO:
123 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 123
Leonard is sitting on the coffee table, relaxed, looking at
his Polaroids. Natalie (WITHOUT BRUISES) BURSTS in through
the front door, scared.
LEONARD
What's wrong?
NATALIE
Somebody's come. Already.
LEONARD
Who?
NATALIE
Calls himself Dodd.
LEONARD
What does he want?
NATALIE
Wants to know what happened to Jimmy. And
his money. He thinks I have it. He thinks
I took it.
LEONARD
Did you?
NATALIE
No!
LEONARD
What's this all about?
Natalie looks at him bitterly.
NATALIE
You don't know, do you? You're blissfully
ignorant, aren't you?
LEONARD
I have this condition -
(CONTINUED)
78.
123 CONTINUED: 123
NATALIE
I know about your fucking condition,
Leonard! I probably know more about it
than you do! You don't have a fucking
clue about anything else!
LEONARD
What happened?
NATALIE
What happened is that Jimmy went to meet
a guy called Teddy. He took a lot of
money with him and he didn't come back.
Jimmy's partners think I set him up. I
don't know whether you know this Teddy or
how well -
Leonard is getting frustrated.
LEONARD
Neither do I.
NATALIE
Don't protect him.
LEONARD
I'm not.
NATALIE
Help me.
LEONARD
How?
NATALIE
Get rid of Dodd for me.
LEONARD
What?
NATALIE
Kill him. I'll pay you.
LEONARD
What do you think I am?! I'm not gonna
kill someone for money.
NATALIE
What then? Love? What would you kill for?
For your wife, right?
LEONARD
That's different.
(CONTINUED)
79.
123 CONTINUED: (2) 123
NATALIE
Not to me! I wasn't fucking married to
her!
LEONARD
Don't talk about my wife.
NATALIE
I can talk about whoever the fuck I want!
You won't even remember what I say! I can
tell you that your wife was a fucking
whore and we can still be friends!
Leonard stands up.
LEONARD
Calm down.
NATALIE
That's easy for you to say! You can't get
scared, you don't remember how, you
fucking idiot!
LEONARD
Just take it easy, this isn't my fault.
NATALIE
Maybe it is! How the fuck would you
know?! You don't know a fucking thing!
You can't get scared, can you get angry?!
Leonard steps towards her.
LEONARD
Yes.
NATALIE
You pathetic piece of shit. I can say
whatever the fuck I want and you won't
have a clue, you fucking retard.
LEONARD
Shut the fuck up!
Natalie gets right in his face, grinning.
NATALIE
I'm gonna use you, you stupid fuck. I'm
telling you now because I'll enjoy it
more if I know that you could stop me if
you weren't a freak.
(CONTINUED)
80.
123 CONTINUED: (3) 123
Leonard grabs his Polaroids and finds one of Natalie. He
reaches into his pocket for a pen, but cannot find one.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Lost your pen? That's too bad, freak.
Otherwise you could've written yourself
a little note about how much Natalie
hates your retarded guts.
Leonard moves around the room searching for a pen. Natalie
follows him, speaking into his ear.
NATALIE (cont'd)
No pens here, I'm afraid. You're never
going to know that I called you a retard,
and your wife a whore.
Leonard turns to face her, barely controlling his anger.
LEONARD
Don't say another fucking word!
NATALIE
About your whore of a wife?
Leonard slaps Natalie. She smiles, then speaks softly.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I read about your problem. You know what
one of the causes of short term memory
loss is?
Leonard fumes.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Venereal disease. Maybe your cunt of a
wife sucked one too many diseased cocks
and turned you into a retard.
Leonard turns away, body tensed, ready to snap. Natalie
reaches out to gently brush the hair above his ear with her
fingers.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You sad freak, you won't remember any of
what I've said, and we'll be best
friends, or even lovers.
Leonard spins around, BACKHANDING Natalie on the cheek.
He PUNCHES her in the mouth then pushes her to the floor. He
stands over her, furious with himself as much as her.
(CONTINUED)
81.
123 CONTINUED: (4) 123
Natalie gets to her feet, and goes to the door. She turns to
Leonard. Her face is bloody but she smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
See you soon.
Natalie exits. Leonard watches her walk out to her car and
get in. She just sits there.
Leonard turns from the window and looks around the room. He
grabs at drawers, searching for a pen. He looks back out the *
window. Natalie is still sitting in her car. Leonard is *
sifting through the papers on the desk when he hears a car *
door SLAM. He looks out of the window to see Natalie getting *
out of her car. She turns to walk toward the house. Her face
is swollen and bloody.
Leonard opens the door for her.
LEONARD
What happened?
Natalie, intensely AGITATED, FUMBLES with things in her
purse.
NATALIE
What does it look like?
124 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY <> 124
Leonard lies on the bed, in jeans, topless. He reaches for the
ringing phone with his left arm. As his hand reaches the
receiver Leonard reads the tattoo on his arm which says: *
"NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE"
Leonard strokes the tattoo as he lets the phone ring. It
stops. Leonard goes to the door, opens it and checks the
number of the room: 21. He goes back to the phone, makes a
call.
LEONARD
Front desk? Burt, right. Well, this is
Mr. Shelby in Room 21. I don't want any *
calls, none at all, got it? Thanks. *
CUT TO:
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
82.
125 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY <> 125
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up. Leonard and Natalie (WITHOUT
BRUISES) get out. Leonard is carrying his sports bag. *
126 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 126
Natalie leads Leonard in, self-conscious about her messy
living room.
NATALIE
You can just crash out on the couch.
You'll be comfortable.
Leonard nods and stands awkwardly.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Uh, take a seat.
Leonard smiles and sits down in a chair. Natalie clears
things off the coffee table. Leonard unzips his bag and looks *
through his things, pulling out his file. *
NATALIE (cont'd)
So how long you think it's gonna take
you?
Leonard raises his eyebrows.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You told me you were looking for the guy
who killed your wife.
LEONARD
(consulting file) *
Depends on if he's here in town. Or if
he's moved on. See, I've got all this - *
NATALIE
Can I ask you something?
Leonard nods.
NATALIE (cont'd)
If you've got all this information, how
come the police haven't found him for
you?
LEONARD
They're not looking for him.
NATALIE
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
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83.
126 CONTINUED: 126
Leonard runs his finger down the list of conclusions on the *
back of his file.
LEONARD
They don't think he exists.
Natalie looks confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I told them what I remembered. I was
asleep, something woke me up...
CUT TO FLASHBACK <>
127 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 127
Leonard opens his eyes. He slides his hand over to the empty
space on the bed beside him, feeling the sheet.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Her side of the bed was cold. She'd been *
out of bed for a while.
Leonard sits up in bed, listening.
128 INT. LEONARD'S HALLWAY WITH WOODEN FLOORS AND HIGH CEILINGS 128
NIGHT <>
We move down the hail towards a closed door. Shadows and *
light play across the floorboards from the gap under the *
door. An ominous rumbling builds. *
A128 INSERT QUICK CUTS: A128
Extreme close ups:
A glass bottle smashes against ceramic tiles. A mirror
smashes. Flesh hits tiled floor.
129 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 129
Leonard takes a gun down from the top of the bedroom closet,
then quietly makes his way into the corridor.
A129 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <SEQUENCE>>
He KICKS the door open, revealing two figures struggling on
the floor of a BATHROOM.
Close up of a WOMAN'S FACE, wrapped in the wet clear plastic
shower curtain, STRUGGLING to breathe.
(CONTINUED)
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83A.
A129 CONTINUED: A129
Close up of a BASEBALL CAP-COVERED HEAD turning to reveal a
face covered by a DIRTY WHITE COTTON MASK.
(CONTINUED)
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84.
A129 CONTINUED: (2) A129
Close up of a GLOVED HAND drawing a PISTOL from the back of a
waistband.
A SHOT rings out and the white cotton mask is BLOWN into RED,
the Masked Man falling of f the struggling woman. Leonard
stands in the doorway, smoking gun in hand. He is HIT HARD
from behind by an UNSEEN ASSAILANT who GRABS Leonard by the
HAIR and THROWS his HEAD into the MIRROR, SHATTERING IT.
Leonard DROPS to the floor.
An extreme close up of a woman's staring eyes, seen through
water-beaded, blood-spattered clear plastic.
The EYES BLINK and we WHITE OUT.
FADE DOWN FROM WHITE TO:
130 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 130
LEONARD (cont'd)
There had to be a second man. I was
struck from behind, I remember. It's
about the last thing I do remember. But *
the police didn't believe me.
NATALIE
How did they explain what you remembered?
The gun and stuff?
LEONARD
(points at conclusions on back *
of file) *
John G. was clever. He took the dead
man's gun and replaced it with the sap
that he'd hit me with. He left my gun and
left the getaway car. He gave the police
a complete package. They found a sap with
my blood on it in the dead man's hand,
and they only found my gun. They didn't
need to look for anyone else. I was the
only guy who disagreed with the facts,
and I had brain damage. *
Natalie watches him. *
NATALIE
You can stay here for a couple of days if
it'll help.
LEONARD
Thank you.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
85.
130 CONTINUED: 130
NATALIE
I've got to get back for the evening
shift, so make yourself at home, watch
T.V., whatever. Just grab a blanket and
pillow off the bed. I never need them all
anyway.
Leonard nods. Natalie heads for the door.
LEONARD
Oh, one thing.
Natalie TURNS. Leonard snaps her picture with his Polaroid
camera. He lowers the camera and smiles.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Something to remember you by.
Natalie smiles unconvincingly, perturbed, and exits. Leonard
sits down on the couch and writes "Natalie" on the white
strip under her photo as it develops into the blurred image
of Natalie which we have seen before. He takes out his other
Polaroids, flipping through them.
LATER:
Leonard watches commercials on TV. He notices the tattoo on
his hand ("REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"), then switches the TV off.
He starts to examine his Polaroids.
Natalie BURSTS through the door, worried.
LEONARD (cont'd)
What's wrong?
NATALIE
Somebody's come. Already.
CUT TO:
131 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 131 *
There is a KNOCK at the door. Leonard PULLS ON HIS LONG-
SLEEVED PLAID WORK SHIRT, goes to the door and opens it. Burt
is standing there.
BURT
Leonard, it's Burt from the front desk.
LEONARD
Yeah?
(CONTINUED)
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86.
131 CONTINUED: 131
BURT
I know you said you didn't want any
calls...
LEONARD
That's right I did, didn't I?
BURT
Yeah, but there's a call for you from
this guy. He's a cop.
LEONARD
A cop?
BURT
And he says you're gonna wanna hear what
he's got to say. *
LEONARD
(shakes head) *
I'm not too good on the phone. I need to *
look people in the eye when I talk to *
them. *
Burt shrugs, then walks off. *
CUT TO:
132 INT. FERDY'S BAR - DAY <> 132
Leonard sits at a booth looking through his Polaroids. A
DRUNK with shaky hands sits at the bar. Natalie (without
bruises) is working behind the bar. She tops up a silver
tankard with beer, brings it over and sets it in front of
Leonard, smiling.
NATALIE
On the house.
LEONARD
Thanks.
Natalie watches in fascination as Leonard drinks from the
mug. The Drunk is giggling.
NATALIE
(fascinated)
You really do have a problem. Just like
that cop said.
Leonard looks at Natalie, confused.
(CONTINUED)
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86A.
132 CONTINUED: 132
NATALIE (cont'd)
Your condition, I mean.
(CONTINUED)
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87.
132 CONTINUED: (2) 132
LEONARD
(shrugs)
Nobody's perfect.
Natalie leans in close, studying Leonard, looking him over.
NATALIE
What's the last thing you remember?
Leonard looks at her.
CUT TO FLASHBACK:
133 INT. LEONARD'S BATHROOM - NIGHT <> 133
An extreme close up, from floor level, of a woman's staring
eyes seen through water-beaded, blood-spattered clear
plastic.
The EYES BLINK.
134 INT. FERDY'S BAR - DAY <> 134
BACK TO LEONARD IN BAR:
Leonard looks at Natalie.
LEONARD
My wife.
NATALIE
Sweet.
LEONARD
Dying.
NATALIE
What?
LEONARD
I remember my wife dying.
Natalie picks up the silver tankard from the table.
NATALIE
Let me get you a fresh glass. I think
this one was dusty.
135 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 135
Leonard, in boxers and long-sleeved plaid work shirt, lies on *
the bed, trying to ignore the RINGING PHONE. he rubs his *
tattoo: "NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE". The phone goes quiet. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
87A.
135 CONTINUED: 135
Leonard hears a noise, and turns to see an ENVELOPE sliding *
underneath the door. He gets off the bed and picks it up. It *
is addressed: "LEONARD". He opens it and removes a POLAROID. *
The photo of himself, bare-chested, tattooed and grinning *
maniacally, pointing to the bare area of skin above his *
heart. Leonard stares at it, disturbed. Underneath the photo *
is written: *
"TAKE MY CALL" *
The phone RINGS. *
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
88.
136 OMIT 136*
137 INT. JAGUAR PARKED IN FERDY'S BAR PARKING LOT - DAY <137*
SEQUENCE>>
Leonard sits, studying his Polaroids. A metallic howl makes *
him glance up and he sees the lid of a dumpster BANG SHUT. He *
puts his Polaroids in his pocket and examines the beer mat *
with the message: "COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE" *
138 OMIT 138*
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
89.
139 INT. FERDY'S BAR ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 139
Leonard enters and sits at the bar a couple of places down
from a filthy, toothless Drunk. Natalie (without bruises)
appears in front of him. Leonard looks up at Natalie without
recognition. She eyes him coldly, staring at his clothes.
LEONARD
Beer, please.
NATALIE
(apprehensive)
What do you want?
LEONARD
A BEER, please.
NATALIE
Don't just waltz in here dressed like *
that and order a beer. *
Leonard looks over to the filthy Drunk, then back at Natalie.
LEONARD
There's a dress code?
NATALIE
What are you here for?
LEONARD
I'm meeting someone called Natalie.
NATALIE
Well, that's me.
LEONARD
Oh. But haven't we met before?
Natalie slowly shakes her head. Leonard is confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
So why am I here?
NATALIE
You tell me.
LEONARD
I don't remember. See, I have no short- *
term memory. It's not amnesia - *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
90.
139 CONTINUED:
NATALIE
You're the memory guy?
LEONARD
How do you know about me?
NATALIE
My boyfriend told me about you.
LEONARD
Who's your boyfriend?
NATALIE
(beat)
Jimmy Grantz. Know him?
Leonard shrugs.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Well, it seems like Jimmy knows you. He
told me about you. Said you were staying
over at the Discount. Then, just this *
evening, this cop comes in here looking *
for you. Looking for a guy who couldn't
remember stuff, who'd forget how he got
here or where he was going. I told him we
get a lot of guys like that in here.
Leonard does not find this funny.
LEONARD
Chronic alcoholism ~ one cause of short
term memory loss.
NATALIE
Are you Teddy?
LEONARD
My name's Leonard. *
NATALIE
Did Teddy send you?
LEONARD
I don't know.
Natalie stares at Leonard. Her look softens, becoming almost
pleading.
NATALIE
What's happened to Jimmy?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
91.
139 CONTINUED: (2) 139
LEONARD
I don't know. I'm sorry.
NATALIE
You have no idea where you've just come
from? What you've just done?
Leonard shakes his head.
LEONARD
I can't make new memories. Everything *
fades, nothing sticks. By the time we
finish this conversation I won't remember
how it started, and the next time I see
you I won't know that I've ever met you
before.
NATALIE
So why did you come here?
Leonard pulls the beer mat out of his pocket and hands it to
Natalie.
LEONARD
Found it in my pocket.
Natalie takes it, staring at it, emotional.
NATALIE
(quiet)
Your pocket.
She retreats down the bar to attend to a CUSTOMER, eyeing
Leonard suspiciously as he pulls out his Polaroids.
LATER:
Leonard hears a hocking sound and looks over to see the
filthy Drunk spitting a blob of sticky phlegm into a silver
tankard which Natalie holds across the bar. Natalie smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Bar bet.
Leonard shakes his head and looks down. He hears a snort and
glances over again. The Drunk is pushing his finger against
one nostril, whilst blowing snot out the other into the
tankard. Natalie smiles again.
NATALIE (cont'd)
For a lot of money.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
92.
139 CONTINUED: (3) 139
She approaches with the tankard.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Care to contribute?
Leonard shakes his head, disgusted. Natalie waves the tankard
in his face.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Come on, proceeds are going to charity.
Leonard drops a tidy blob of spit into the beer, shakes his
head, revolted. Natalie places the mug on the bar in front of
the stool next to Leonard's. She takes a long-handled spoon
and stirs it vigorously. Leonard grabs his Polaroids and
moves over to a booth.
Natalie brings over the tankard arid places it in front of
him, smiling.
NATALIE (cont'd)
On the house.
LEONARD
Thank-you.
Leonard raises the tankard to his lips.
CUT TO:
140 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 140
Leonard, holding the Polaroid of himself, stares at the ringing *
phone. He picks up the receiver. *
LEONARD *
(anxious) *
What do you want? *
(listens) *
I know you're a cop, but what do you *
want? Did I do something wrong? *
(frightened) *
No, but I can't remember things I do. I *
don't know what I just did. Maybe I did *
something wrong, did I do something *
wrong? *
Leonard paces. *
LEONARD *
I dunno - something bad. Maybe I did *
something bad. *
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
93.
A140 EXT. ALLEYWAY BEHIND TATTOO PARLOUR - DAY <SEQUENCE>> *
Leonard DROPS from a WINDOW, gains his balance and HURRIES to *
his Jaguar which is parked on the street by the mouth of the *
alley. He slips into the car, CLOSES the door gently, starts *
the engine and SPEEDS away. *
B140 INT./EXT. JAGUAR PARKED OUTSIDE FERDY'S - DAY <SEQUENCE>> *
Leonard reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a round *
piece of cardboard. It is a BEER MAT with the name of a local *
bar: "FERDY'S". There is a message written on it: *
"COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE". *
Leonard looks up at the doorway of the bar, then pulls the *
car around into the parking lot. Natalie is standing by a *
dumpster, heaving a trash bag into it. She watches the car *
pull up, unable to see the driver. Natalie casually knocks on *
the passenger side window. Leonard lowers the window and *
Natalie leans down. *
NATALIE *
(casual) *
Hey, Jimmy - *
Natalie stares at Leonard confused. *
NATALIE (cont'd) *
I'm sorry, I... I thought you were *
someone else. *
Natalie backs away from the car, perturbed. Just before she *
disappears around the corner, she tips the lid of the *
dumpster, letting it fall with a metallic howl and a BANG. *
C140 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## C140
Leonard talks on the phone, worried. *
LEONARD *
No, Officer, but with my condition, you *
don't know anything... you feel angry, *
guilty, you don't know why. You could do *
something terrible and not have the *
faintest idea ten minutes later. Like *
Sammy. What if I've done something like *
Sammy?! *
(listens) *
I didn't tell you? Didn't I tell you *
what happened to Sammy and his wife?! *
(listens) *
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
93A.
C140 CONTINUED: C140
LEONARD (contd)
Mrs. Jankis came to my off ice and asked *
my honest opinion about Sammy's *
condition. *
141 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 141
Mrs. Jankis is seated across the desk from Leonard. She gets
up to leave. Leonard just sits there.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I never said he was faking. Just that
his condition was mental, not physical.
She seemed satisfied, she just said
"thanks" and got up to leave. I found
out later that she went home and gave
Sammy his final exam.
142 INT. THE JANKIS HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 142
SEQUENCE##
Sammy watches T.V. commercials. Mrs. Jankis watches him.
MRS. JANKIS
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks up, smiling, glad to help. He goes into the
kitchen and comes back with a bottle of insulin, a syringe
and a cotton swab.
Sammy carefully prepares the injection and Mrs. Jankis offers
him her arm. (LEONARD AND LEONARD'S WIFE TO SUBSTITUTE)
(CONTINUED)
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94.
142 CONTINUED: 142
LEONARD (V.O.)
She knew beyond doubt that he loved her,
so she found a way to test him.
Sammy injects the insulin, then withdraws the needle, smiles
reassuringly at his wife and goes back into the kitchen.
Mrs. Jankis watches Sammy flipping through the channels,
looking for commercials.
She sets her watch back by fifteen minutes.
MRS. JANKIS
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks up, smiling, glad to be able to help. He goes
into the kitchen and comes back with the bottle of insulin,
the syringe and a new cotton swab.
He carefully prepares the injection and Mrs. Jankis offers
him her other arm. Sammy injects the insulin, then looks up
at her and smiles.
Sammy watches T.V. Mrs. Jankis sets her watch back by fifteen
minutes.
MRS. JANKIS (cont'd)
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks over from the T.V., smiling, glad to be able to
help.
Mrs. Jankis offers Sammy her leg, and he gives her another
shot of insulin, smiling.
LEONARD (V.O.)
She really thought she would call his
bluff...
Mrs. Jankis sets her watch back by fifteen minutes.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
... or didn't want to live with the
things she'd put him through.
Sammy injects her in the stomach.
DISSOLVE TO:
Mrs. Jankis, unconscious in her chair. Sammy glances over from
watching T.V. commercials, wondering.
He goes to her and takes her hand, nudging her gently.
(CONTINUED)
95.
142 CONTINUED: (2) 142
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
She went into a coma and never
recovered.
Sammy grabs for the phone, dialing frantically.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Sammy couldn't understand or explain
what had happened.
Sammy strokes Mrs. Jankis' cheek, crying.
143 INT. CROWDED DAY ROOM OF A NURSING HOME - DAY ##BLACK AND 143
WHITE SEQUENCE##
Sammy sits watching other patients and nursing staff pass by.
(LEONARD TO SUBSTITUTE) He looks at each one with a fresh
look of expectant recognition.
LEONARD (V.0.)
He's been in a home ever since. He
doesn't even know his wife is dead.
144 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 144*
Leonard strokes the tattoo on his hand.
LEONARD (cont'd) *
Sammy's brain didn't respond to *
conditioning, but he was no con man. *
When his wife looked into his eyes she *
thought he could be the same as he ever *
was. When I looked into Sammy's eyes, I *
thought I saw recognition. We were both *
wrong.
Leonard looks into the mirror.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
96.
144 CONTINUED: 144
LEONARD (cont'd)
Now I know. You take it. If you think
you're supposed to recognize someone,
you pretend to. You bluff it to get a
pat on the head from the doctors. You
bluff it to seem less of a freak. *
145 EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY <> 145
The TYRES of the Jaguar SCREAM as the car SCREECHES to a
halt. Leonard backs the car up and stops in front of a TATTOO
PARLOR. He grabs a FILE CARD of f the dash which says:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
146 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY <> 146
Leonard (beige suit) enters. A TATTOOIST is sitting with a
magazine, smoking.
LEONARD
Didn't know this town had a parlor.
TATTOOIST
Every town's got a parlor.
LEONARD
I'd like this on my thigh please.
Leonard hands her a FILE CARD. She reads the card, then looks
at him. He shrugs.
147 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 147
<>
Leonard unbuckles his trousers and starts to pull them down.
He STOPS when he sees his thigh, looking up at the tattooist.
LEONARD
Promise you won't call me an idiot.
He pulls down his trousers, revealing his SCABBY, homemade
tattoo. ("FACT 5: DRUG DEALER"). The tattooist looks at it.
TATTOOIST
(shaking her head)
Idiot.
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97.
148 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 148
<>
Extreme close-up of the tattooing needle finishing an "F".
Wider shows us Leonard sitting with his suit trousers around
his ankles in a curtained cubicle. Next to him on the floor
is his sports bag of notes and papers. The tattooist is *
tattooing his thigh, Leonard is reading a file, fascinated.
The curtain is thrust open and Teddy pokes his head in.
TEDDY
Hi, Lenny.
The tattooist turns and looks up at Teddy. *
TATTOOIST *
It's private back here.
TEDDY
It's alright, we know each other, right,
Lenny?
The tattooist looks to Leaonard. Leonard shrugs. *
LEONARD
How'd you know I was in here?
TEDDY
The Jaguar's out front. You didn't even
Bother to put it around back.
Teddy cranes his neck to see what the tattoo says, but only
"6. LI" is visible.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You should have just left town, Lenny.
There's Tattoo parlors up North.
LEONARD
Guess I wanted to get something down
before it slipped my mind.
The tattoo needle buzzes as the tattooist makes a start on *
the next letter: a "C". Teddy sticks his hand through the
curtain.
TEDDY
Gimme the keys, I'll move the car.
Leonard watches Teddy.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
98.
148 CONTINUED: 148
LEONARD
It'll be alright for a minute.
Teddy shrugs. The tattooist looks up at him.
TATTOOIST
Wait out there.
Teddy goes back through the curtain. Teddy pops his head back
through the curtain.
TEDDY
Lenny, I'll be back in a minute. I've got
to get you some stuff.
149 INT.CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - MOMENTS LATER 149
<>
The buzzing of the tattoo needle stops. Leonard looks down at
his thigh. It says:
"FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
150 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - MOMENTS LATER <> 150
Leonard exits the curtained cubicle, buckling his belt. Teddy
is waiting for him with a PLASTIC BAG. Leonard pays the
tattooist. Teddy looks at her.
TEDDY
Give us a minute, will ya?
She shrugs and heads into the back. Teddy watches her go,
then turns to Leonard, conspiratorial.
TEDDY (cont'd)
We've got to get you out of here. *
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Why? Come on, Leonard, we talked about
this. It's not safe f or you to be walking
around like this.
LEONARD
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
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99.
150 CONTINUED: 150
TEDDY
Because that cop's looking for you. We *
need to get you a change of identity.
Some new clothes and a different car
should do for now. Put these on. *
Teddy offers the bag of clothes. Leonard refuses it. *
LEONARD *
What cop?
TEDDY
This bad cop. He checked you into the *
Discount Inn. Then he's been calling you *
for days, sticking envelopes under your *
door, telling you shit. *
LEONARD
Envelopes? *
TEDDY
He knows you're no good on the phone, so *
he calls you up to bullshit you. *
Sometimes you stop taking his calls, so *
he slips something under your door to *
frighten you into answering your phone *
again. He's been pretending to help you. *
Feeding you a line of crap about John G. *
being some local drug dealer. *
LEONARD
How do you know this?
TEDDY
'Cos he fucking told me. He thinks it's
funny. He's laughing at you.
LEONARD
How do you know him?
TEDDY
(glances around)
I'm a snitch. He's a cop from out of town
looking for information. The local boys
put us in touch.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
100.
150 CONTINUED: (2) 150
Leonard takes the plastic bag.
LEONARD *
What did he want to know from you? *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
101.
150 CONTINUED: (3) 150
TEDDY *
He wanted to know all, about Jimmy Grantz.
LEONARD
Who?
TEDDY
Jimmy's a drug dealer. This cop wanted to
know all about how he sets up deals, shit
like that. He's got some score in mind *
and you're involved. Come on, there's no *
time to argue - if he knew I was helping *
you he'd find a way to kill me. Just get *
these clothes on. You're gonna take my *
car and get the fuck out of here. *
Leonard heads back into the curtained cubicle with the
plastic bag of clothes.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
102.
151 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 151
<>
Leonard drops the plastic bag and takes his jacket off. He
feels something in the pocket, sticks his hand in and pulls *
out a charred Polaroid photograph. *
Leonard examines it, PUZZLED. All that is visible is AN ARM, *
lying on a floor. Leonard reaches into the other pocket and *
pulls out his POLAROIDS, flicking through them until he finds
the one of Teddy. He flips it over and checks the back:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard reacts with amused RELIEF.
LEONARD
(under his breath)
Sneaky fuck. "Bad Cop". Had me going.
Leonard puts his jacket back on, checks the other pockets. He
finds a BEER MAT for a local bar named FERDY'S. There is a
message written on it:
"COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE"
Leonard sticks it back in his pocket. He PEEKS through the
curtains. Teddy is sitting by the door, waiting. Leonard
looks around, NOTICES a window set high in the wall above the
padded bench in the cubicle. Leonard CLIMBS on the bench,
OPENS the window and SQUEEZES himself through.
152 EXT. TATTOO PARLOUR ALLEYWAY - DAY - CONTINUOUS <SEQUENCE>>
Leonard DROPS from the window, regains his balance and
hurries to his Jaguar which is parked on the street by the
mouth of the alley.
CUT TO:
153 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 153
Leonard, in boxers and plaid work shirt, sits hunched over *
the bedside table, flipping through the file as he talks on *
the phone.
LEONARD
So this Jimmy Grantz deals drugs out of *
the bar where his girlfriend works. But *
he'll come to the meet alone. *
Leonard looks down at the FRESH TATTOO on his thigh. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
102A.
153 CONTINUED: 153
"FACT 5: DRUG DEALER" *
He consults a file which he has drawn from his bag. *
LEONARD (cont'd) *
I always figured the drugs angle would *
be the best way to get him. No, officer, *
I'm ready. Ready as I'll ever be.
(listens)
You're downstairs now? What do you look
like?
(listens)
I'll be right down.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
103.
153 CONTINUED: (2) 153
Leonard hangs up the phone and pulls on a pair of scruffy
jeans. He grabs his Polaroid camera and puts it over his *
shoulder.
154 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 154
Leonard exits and heads to the Motel office.
155 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 155
The BELL CHIMES as Leonard enters. Burt is behind the
counter. A MAN stands by the free coffee. The Man TURNS *
AROUND. It is Teddy, with a big grin.
TEDDY
Lenny!
Leonard smiles cautiously, and offers his hand.
LEONARD
Officer Gammell.
156 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 156
Leonard exits the office, followed by Teddy, and looks
through his Polaroids. He finds one of a PICKUP TRUCK, spots
it in the lot, and walks over to it. He turns around and
points his camera at Teddy. Teddy grins wider. Leonard snaps
the picture.
LEONARD
Something to remember you by.
Leonard lowers the camera and takes out a pen, resting the
picture against the truck, about to write on the white strip
beneath the developing picture.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'm sorry - is it Officer, or Lieutenant
Gammell?
Teddy coughs and looks at the picture.
TEDDY
Just Teddy. Don't write Gammell please.
Leonard raises his eyebrows.
TEDDY (cont'd)
I'm undercover. Here's directions. He'll
be heading there now.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
104.
156 CONTINUED: 156
Teddy pulls a note out of his pocket and hands it to Leonard.
LEONARD
You're not coming?
TEDDY
Wouldn't be appropriate. *
Leonard climbs into the truck. Teddy taps on the window.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Leonard?
Leonard cranks it down. Teddy looks at Leonard with something
like fatherly affection.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Make him beg.
157 INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK ON STREET - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 157
SEQUENCE##
The pickup truck speeds along, past strip malls and gas
stations, heading into more desolate industrialization.
158 EXT. THE DERELICT BUILDING - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##158
The pickup truck bumps across the railroad tracks, then pulls
up in front of the LARGE DERELICT BUILDING. Leonard gets out
of the pickup, looking around.
159 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 159
He heads into the house, down the DIMLY-LIT, DECAYING FORMER
HALLWAY, treading carefully on the LOOSE, ROTTEN FLOORBOARDS.
He notices a door at the end of the hallway. He opens the
door to see that it leads down to the basement.
Leonard hears a CAR APPROACHING. He slips into the kitchen
and looks out the dirty, broken front windows.
160 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 160
THE JAGUAR is approaching fast. It parks next to the PICKUP
TRUCK, and the driver emerges; a young man in his 30's,
smartly dressed in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT. This is JIMMY,
the young man from Natalie's photograph. He looks at the
truck then at the house.
161 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 161
Leonard steps back into the shadows of the crumbling kitchen.
Jimmy approaches the doorway, peering into the dark hallway.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
105.
161 CONTINUED: 161
JIMMY
Teddy?!
Jimmy steps cautiously inside. Leonard emerges from the
kitchen.
LEONARD
Jimmy?
JIMMY
What the fuck are you doing here?
LEONARD
Do you remember me?
JIMMY
(laughs)
Yeah, I remember you.
LEONARD
You Jimmy Grantz? *
JIMMY
Expecting any other Jimmy's out here,
Memory Man? Where the fuck's Teddy?
Leonard comes out of the gloom, stopping in front of Jimmy,
studying his face. Leonard has a JACK HANDLE in his hand.
JIMMY (cont'd)
Well?
FLASHBACK TO:
162 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT ##BLACK AND WHITE 162
SEQUENCE##
Leonard's wife, head wrapped in a water-beaded clear plastic
shower curtain, THRASHING around, GASPING for breath.
163 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 163
Leonard HITS Jimmy around the head with the jack handle.
Jimmy goes down, but STRUGGLES as Leonard drags him deeper
into the dark hallway. Leonard bends over the groaning Jimmy,
frisking him, finding nothing.
JIMMY (cont'd)
You fucking retard, you can't get away
with this -
Leonard holds the jack handle above him.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
106.
163 CONTINUED: 163
LEONARD
Strip!
Jimmy starts taking off his suit.
JIMMY
You're making a big fucking mistake. My
associates are not people you want -
LEONARD
Don't say anything else.
JIMMY
I knew I couldn't trust that fuck -
LEONARD
Quiet!
Jimmy drops his shirt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Pants, too.
JIMMY
Why?
LEONARD
I don't want blood on them.
JIMMY
(sudden fear)
Wait! Did he tell you what I was
bringing?
LEONARD
Strip!
JIMMY
Look, there's two hundred grand stashed
in the car. Just take it!
Leonard shoves Jimmy to the ground.
LEONARD
You think you can bargain with me?!
JIMMY
Take the money and walk away!
LEONARD
I don't want your fucking money!
(CONTINUED)
107.
163 CONTINUED: (2) 163
JIMMY
What?! What do you want from me?!
Leonard looks up.
164 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##164
Leonard's wife, smiling.
165 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 165
Leonard is losing it.
LEONARD
I want my fucking life back!
Jimmy SWINGS at Leonard with a BROKEN FLOORBOARD, STRIKING
his shoulder. The jack handle goes flying. Jimmy SWINGS
again, misses. Leonard GRABS him, taking him down. The two of
them STRUGGLE on the floor. Leonard gets ON TOP of Jimmy,
CHOKING him. Jimmy tries to speak, but can only make GURGLING
noises. As Leonard watches Jimmy fight for air we:
166 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT - ##BLACK AND 166
WHITE SEQUENCE##
Leonard's wife THRASHES her head from side to side,
STRUGGLING to breathe though the clear plastic shower
curtain.
BACK TO SCENE:
167 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##
167
Jimmy's arms THRASH, his hands catching Leonard's face,
SCRATCHING his cheek. Leonard tips his head back and
increases his efforts. Jimmy STOPS struggling. Leonard keeps
his hands around Jimmy's throat until he is confident that he
is DEAD.
Leonard BREATHES as he stands up. He nods to himself with
satisfaction. He looks around for his POLAROID CAMERA. He
snaps a FLASH picture of Jimmy's body, and stares intently at
the POLAROID as it begins to DEVELOP.
We see the IMAGE OF THE STRANGLED JIMMY appear <COLOUR>>(POST)
168 INT. DAY - DERELICT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS <>168
Leonard stands above Jimmy's body, examining the picture he
has just taken, nodding to himself, catching his breath.
(CONTINUED)
108.
168 CONTINUED: 168
Leonard grabs Jimmy' s body by the legs, DRAGGING him back *
towards the basement. He opens the door and BACKS down into
the DARKNESS, pulling Jimmy behind him.
169 INT. BASEMENT OF DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS 169
<>
Leonard BACKS DOWN the stairs, dragging Jimmy's BODY, head
BUMPING down each step. In the middle of the room, Leonard
DROPS the legs. Moving fast, Leonard pulls the BEIGE SUIT *
TROUSERS from the body, REMOVES HIS OWN SCRUFFY JEANS AND *
PLAID WORK SHIRT. Leonard dresses in Jimmy's BLUE SHIRT and *
BEIGE SUIT. He grabs the Polaroids from his PLAID WORK SHIRT *
and sticks them in his suit jacket pocket. He dumps his old *
clothes onto Jimmy's body. A faint RASPING comes from Jimmy's *
throat. Leonard, frightened, bends down to listen.
JIMMY
(barely and audible rasp)
Sammy... remember Sammy...
Leonard is SHOCKED. Jimmy is silent. The sound of a CAR
outside. Leonard JUMPS to his feet.
170 INT. KITCHEN, DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <SEQUENCE>>
Leonard looks out to see Teddy getting out of his GREY SEDAN.
Leonard leafs through his Polaroids finding the one of Teddy.
There is nothing on the back. He sticks his Polaroids back in
his pocket, pausing at the one of the STRANGLED JIMMY.
LEONARD (V.0.) *
What have I done? *
171 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 171
Leonard emerges to find Teddy trying the Jaguar's doors.
LEONARD
(distraught)
Hey! Mister! I need help!
Teddy looks up.
TEDDY
What's wrong?
LEONARD
There's a guy in here, hurt bad! We gotta
get him to a doctor!
Teddy moves towards the house. Leonard leads him in.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
109.
172 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <172
Teddy follows Leonard down the darkened hall.
LEONARD
(panicked)
He might have fallen down the stairs, I
don't know, I don't know what's going on,
I'm confused. I have this memory thing -
do I know you?
TEDDY
No. Don't worry, I'm a cop. Everything'll
be okay. Is he still breathing?
LEONARD
Maybe. Maybe just.
They go down into the basement.
173 INT. BASEMENT OF DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS 173
<>
Teddy follows Leonard down the stairs. Jimmy's body, dressed
only in boxers, lies in the middle of the floor.
TEDDY
So what were you doing here?
Teddy moves to the body and crouches down to examine it.
LEONARD
I don't know. See, I have this condition.
TEDDY
Well, I hope it's not as serious as his,
'cos this guy's dead.
Leonard CRACKS Teddy over the head with the FLOORBOARD. *
TEDDY (cont'd) *
FUCK, Lenny! That fucking kills!
LEONARD
Remember me again, huh?
Leonard FRISKS him, pulling out a GUN and a POLICE BADGE. *
LEONARD (cont'd) *
You're a cop. A fucking cop. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Yellow Revisions - 9/29/99
109A.
173 CONTINUED: 173
TEDDY *
Yeah, and I helped you find the guy you *
were looking for - *
LEONARD *
Get up. *
Teddy CRAWLS to his feet, RUBBING his head. *
MEMENTO Yellow Revision - 9/29/99
110.
174 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <>174
Leonard pushes Teddy out of the basement.
TEDDY
I think you've got the wrong idea -
Leonard GRABS Teddy.
LEONARD
Who was that? He's not the guy. He knew *
me. *
TEDDY *
Sure he did. He raped your wife and *
fucked up your brain. *
LEONARD *
Bullshit. *
TEDDY
His name's James F. Grantz, John G. Check *
your tattoos. *
LEONARD
So what was he bringing the two hundred *
grand for? *
TEDDY *
What - *
LEONARD *
What was it for? *
TEDDY
A load of amphetamine I told him I had.
LEONARD
This is a drug deal?!
TEDDY
That, and your thing. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10/4/99
111.
174 CONTINUED: 174
TEDDY (cont'd) *
Jimmy's your guy, Leonard. I just figured *
we'd make some money on the side. *
LEONARD *
But how did he know me? *
TEDDY *
The Discount Inn, he deals out of there. *
The guy at the front desk lets him know
if anybody comes snooping around. He
called Jimmy as soon as you took a
picture of that dump. *
LEONARD
You're using me!
Teddy looks at him, offended.
TEDDY
No!
(beat)
You get half. *
Leonard THROWS him against the wall.
LEONARD
He knew about Sammy. Why would I tell him
about Sammy? *
TEDDY
(chuckles)
You tell everyone about Sammy. Everyone
who'll listen. "Remember Sammy Jankis,
remember Sammy Jankis". Great story. Gets
better every time you tell it. So you
lie to yourself to be happy. Nothing
wrong with that - we all do. Who cares if
there's a few little things you'd rather
not remember?
LEONARD
What the fuck are you talking about?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
112.
174 CONTINUED: (2) 174
TEDDY
(theatrical shrug)
I dunno... your wife surviving the
assault... her not believing about your
condition... the doubt tearing her up
inside.., the insulin -
LEONARD
That's Sammy, not me! I told you about
Sammy -
TEDDY
Like you've told yourself. Over and over.
Conditioning yourself to believe.
"learning through repetition" -
LEONARD
Sammy let his wife kill herself! Sammy
ended up in an institution - ! *
TEDDY
Sammy was a con man. A faker.
LEONARD
I never said he was faking! I never said
that!
TEDDY
You exposed him for what he was: a fraud.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
113.
174 CONTINUED: (3) 174
LEONARD
I was wrong! That's the whole point!
Sammy's wife came to me and -
TEDDY
Sammy didn't have a wife.
Leonard freezes, staring at Teddy.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It was your wife who had diabetes.
Leonard thinks.
175 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY <> 175
Leonard's Wife sitting on the edge of the bed. She feels a
sharp pain, and turns to Leonard (just as we have seen
before).
LEONARD'S WIFE
Gentle.
Leonard has a syringe in his hand.
176 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 176
Leonard shakes his head, clearing his head of the image.
LEONARD
My wife wasn't diabetic.
TEDDY
Are you sure?
177 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY <> 177
Leonard's Wife on the edge of the bed. She feels a sharp
pain, and turns to Leonard.
LEONARD'S WIFE
Gentle.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
114.
177 CONTINUED: 177
Leonard is playfully pinching her thigh.
178 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 178
Leonard shakes his head, smiling.
LEONARD
She wasn't diabetic. You think I don't *
know my own wife? What the fuck is wrong *
with you? *
TEDDY
(shrugs)
I guess I can only make you believe the
things you want to be true, huh? Like ol' *
Jimmy down there.
LEONARD
But he's not the right guy! *
TEDDY *
He was to you. Come on, Lenny, you got *
your revenge - just enjoy it while you *
still remember. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
115.
178 CONTINUED: 178
TEDDY
(chuckles)
What difference does it make whether he *
was your guy or not? *
LEONARD
It makes all the difference. *
TEDDY
Why? You're never going to know. *
LEONARD
Yes, I will.
TEDDY
No, you won't.
LEONARD
Somehow, I'll know!
TEDDY
You won't remember!
LEONARD
When it's done, I'll know! It'll be
different!
TEDDY
I thought so too! I was sure you'd *
remember. But you didn't. *
Beat. Leonard looks at Teddy, questioning.
TEDDY
(off look)
You know, when we found your guy and *
killed him.
(off look)
That's right, the real John G. Over a *
year ago. I helped you find him. He's *
already dead. *
LEONARD
Why do you keep lying to me? *
TEDDY
I'm not. I was the cop assigned to your *
wife's death. I believed you, I thought *
you deserved the chance for revenge. I
helped you find the other guy who was in
your bathroom that night. The guy who
cracked your skull and fucked your wife. *
We found him and you killed him. *
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
115A.
178 CONTINUED: (2) 178
TEDDY (cont'd)
You didn't remember, so I helped you *
start looking again, looking for the guy *
you already killed.
LEONARD
So who are you saying he was? *
TEDDY
Just some guy. Does it even matter who? I
stopped asking myself why a long time
ago. No reason, no conspiracy; just bad
fucking luck. A couple of junkies, too *
strung out to realize that your wife
didn't live alone. When you killed him, *
I've never seen you so happy - I was
convinced you'd remember. But it didn't
stick, like nothing ever sticks. Like
this won't stick.
Leonard looks at the Polaroid of himself.
TEDDY (cont'd)
That's the picture, right? I took that,
right when you did it. Look how happy you *
are. Before you forgot. I wanted to see *
that face again.
LEONARD *
(sarcastic) *
Thank you. *
TEDDY
Fuck you; I gave you a reason to live and *
you were more than happy to help. You lie *
to yourself! You don't want the truth, *
the truth is a fucking coward. So you *
make up your own truth. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
116.
178 CONTINUED: (3) 178
TEDDY (cont'd) *
Look at your police file. It was complete *
when I gave it to you. Who took the 12 *
pages out? *
LEONARD
You probably. *
TEDDY
No. You took them out. *
LEONARD
Why would I do that? *
TEDDY
To set yourself a puzzle you won't ever
solve. You know how many towns, how many *
guys called James G? Or John G? Shit,
Leonard, I'm a John G.
LEONARD
Your name's Teddy.
TEDDY
(chuckles)
My mother calls me Teddy. I'm John Edward
Gammell. Cheer up, there's a lot of John *
G's for us to find. All you do is moan. *
I'm the one that has to live with what *
you've done. I'm the one that has to put *
it all together. You just wander around *
playing detective. You're living a dream, *
kid. A dead wife to pine for and a sense *
of purpose to your life. A romantic quest *
which you wouldn't end even if I wasn't *
in the picture. *
Leonard sticks the gun in Teddy's face. *
LEONARD
I should kill you. *
TEDDY
Quit it! *
(brushes the gun away) *
You're not a killer, Lenny. That's why *
you're so good at it. *
Leonard SEARCHES Teddy's pockets, still holding the gun on *
Teddy. Leonard finds Teddy's CAR KEYS. He gets off Teddy and *
moves towards the light. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
116A.
178 CONTINUED: (4) 178
TEDDY (cont'd)
Hey, where are you going? You know what *
time it is? *
Leonard stares at Teddy, mystified. Teddy grins. *
TEDDY (cont'd)
It's beer o'clock. And I'm buying. Our
work here is done.
Leonard turns away, and walks out into the light.
179 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <>179
Leonard, in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT, comes out into the
daylight, THROWS Teddy's CAR KEYS into some bushes then heads
to his PICKUP TRUCK and climbs in. Teddy goes to look for his
keys in the bushes.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
117.
180 INT. PICKUP TRUCK - DAY - CONTINUOUS <> 180
Leonard opens the revolver and empties the bullets onto the
passenger seat. He flips through the photos until he finds
the one of the STRANGLED JIMMY.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I'm not a killer...
Leonard reaches into his sports bag, grabs a LIGHTER and
sparks a flame. Leonard holds the PHOTO in the flame until it
CATCHES LIGHT, MELTING and BLACKENING. The flames go out,
having destroyed the entire image but for an arm resting on a
floor. Leonard sticks the remnants into his jacket pocket. He
looks in the rear-view mirror at Teddy, who scrabbles around
in the bushes.
LEONARD (V.0.) (CON'T'D)
... but right now I need to be.
Teddy's GREY SEDAN is parked in front of Leonard. Leonard
looks at the sedan, then reaches into his sports bag for a
PEN and a FILE CARD. He writes on the file card:
"TATTOO: I'VE DONE IT"
Leonard looks from the card to Teddy's sedan.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Maybe I'm not finished yet. Maybe I need
to be sure that you won't ever use me
again.
Leonard rips up the file card and takes out another.
LEONARD (V.0.) (cont'd)
You're a John G.? Fine, then you can be
my John G.
Leonard writes on the file card:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE NUMBER"
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Do I lie to myself to be happy?
Leonard looks up at Teddy's sedan and copies down the license
number. The LICENSE NUMBER of Teddy's car is: SG13 7IU.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
In your case, Teddy... yes, I will.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
117A.
180 CONTINUED: 180
Leonard grabs the sports bag and GETS OUT of the PICKUP
TRUCK. He goes to THE JAGUAR and OPENS the passenger door,
DUMPING his sports bag onto the seat. Teddy SEES this and
RUNS over. Leonard walks to the back of the Jaguar and holds
up his camera.
TEDDY
Hey! Hey, that's not your car!
Leonard SNAPS a Polaroid of the Jaguar.
LEONARD
It is now.
TEDDY
You can't just take it!
Leonard UNLOCKS the trunk, TURNING to Teddy as he does so.
LEONARD
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Yellow Revisions - 9/29/99
118.
180 CONTINUED: 180
TEDDY
You just killed the guy who owned it!
Somebody'll recognize it!
Leonard pulls Teddy's EMPTY gun out of his pocket.
LEONARD
I'd rather be mistaken for a dead guy
than a murderer. I'm gonna hang on to
this.
Leonard TOSSES the GUN into the trunk. It lands on PILES OF
BANKNOTES STUFFED IN THE TRUNK. Teddy REACTS to the sight of
the money. Leonard glances at Teddy, then the money, shakes
his head, then SLAMS the trunk. Teddy jogs back to where he
was looking for his keys.
181 INT. JAGUAR - DAY <> 181
Leonard starts the engine. Through the rear-view mirror,
Leonard stares at Teddy's retreating form. Thinking. Leonard
PULLS OUT onto the road.
182 INT./EXT. THE ROAD BACK INTO TOWN - DAY <> 182
As the Jaguar cruises along, Leonard places the FILE CARD on
the dash. It says:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU" *
Leonard drives, HEADING BACK INTO TOWN. He looks at his hand
on the steering wheel, reading "REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS".
LEONARD (V.O.)
I have to believe in the world outside my
own mind. I have to believe that my
actions still have meaning, even if I
can't remember them. I have to believe
that when my eyes are closed, the world's
still there.
Leonard CLOSES HIS EYES, driving blind. Stay on Leonard, not
seeing the road ahead, hearing cars whip past.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
(rising tension)
But do I? Do I believe the world's still
there?
Move in on Leonard as cars fly past, horns BLARING.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
119.
182 CONTINUED: 182
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Is it still out there?!
(beat)
Yes.
Leonard OPENS his eyes, straightening up the car, BREATHING.
His EYES DART from the STRIP MALLS to the GAS STATIONS, as if
HE IS TRYING TO ABSORB THE WHOLE TOWN IN A SINGLE VIEWING.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
We all need mirrors to remind ourselves
who we are. I'm no different.
183 EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY <> 183
*
From the bewildering BLUR of urban signage, Leonard SUDDENLY
GLIMPSES A TATTOO PARLOR in a strip mall. He SLAMS ON THE
BRAKES.
The tyres SCREAM as the car SCREECHES TO A HALT and we:
CUT TO BLACK.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Now... where was I?
ROLL CREDITS
END.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is Jonathan Nolan's short story
"Memento Mori", the inspiration for his brother,
Christopher Nolan's, screenplay for the film, MEMENTO:
MEMENTO MORI
by
Jonathan Nolan
What like a bullet can undeceive!"
-Herman Melville
Your wife always used to say you'd be late for your own funeral.
Remember that? Her little joke because you were such a slob-always
late, always forgetting stuff, even before the incident.
Right about now you're probably wondering if you were late for hers.
You were there, you can be sure of that. That's what the picture's
for-the one tacked to the wall by the door. It's not customary to take
pictures at a funeral, but somebody, your doctors, I guess, knew you
wouldn't remember. They had it blown up nice and big and stuck it
right there, next to the door, so you couldn't help but see it every
time you got up to find out where she was.
The guy in the picture, the one with the flowers? That's you. And what
are you doing? You're reading the headstone, trying to figure out
who's funeral you're at, same as you're reading it now, trying to
figure why someone stuck that picture next to your door. But why
bother reading something that you won't remember?
She's gone, gone for good, and you must be hurting right now, hearing
the news. Believe me, I know how you feel. You're probably a wreck.
But give it five minutes, maybe ten. Maybe you can even go a whole
half hour before you forget.
But you will forget-I guarantee it. A few more minutes and you'll be
heading for the door, looking for her all over again, breaking down
when you find the picture. How many times do you have to hear the news
before some other part of your body, other than that busted brain of
yours, starts to remember?
Never-ending grief, never-ending anger. Useless without direction.
Maybe you can't understand what's happened. Can't say I really
understand, either. Backwards amnesia. That's what the sign says. CRS
disease. Your guess is as good as mine.
Maybe you can't understand what happened to you. But you do remember
what happened to HER, don't you? The doctors don't want to talk about
it. They won't answer my questions. They don't think it's right for a
man in your condition to hear about those things. But you remember
enough, don't you? You remember his face.
This is why I'm writing to you. Futile, maybe. I don't know how many
times you'll have to read this before you listen to me. I don't even
know how long you've been locked up in this room already. Neither do
you. But your advantage in forgetting is that you'll forget to write
yourself off as a lost cause.
Sooner or later you'll want to do something about it. And when you do,
you'll just have to trust me, because I'm the only one who can help
you.
***
EARL OPENS ONE EYE after another to a stretch of white ceiling tiles
interrupted by a hand-printed sign taped right above his head, large
enough for him to read from the bed. An alarm clock is ringing
somewhere. He reads the sign, blinks,reads it again, then takes a look
at the room.
It's a white room, overwhelmingly white, from the walls and the
curtains to the institutional furniture and the bedspread. The alarm
clock is ringing from the white desk under the window with the white
curtains. At this point Earl probably notices that he is lying on top
of his white comforter. He is already wearing a dressing gown and
slippers.
He lies back and reads the sign taped to the ceiling again. It says,
in crude block capitals, THIS IS YOUR ROOM. THIS IS A ROOM IN A
HOSPITAL. THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE NOW.
Earl rises and takes a look around. The room is large for a
hospital-empty linoleum stretches out from the bed in three
directions. Two doors and a window. The view isn't very helpful,
either-a close of trees in the center of a carefully manicured piece
of turf that terminates in a sliver of two-lane blacktop. The trees,
except for the evergreens, are bare-early spring or late fall, one or
the other.
Every inch of the desk is covered with Post-it notes, legal pads,
neatly printed lists, psychological textbooks, framed pictures. On top
of the mess is a half-completed crossword puzzle. The alarm clock is
riding a pile of folded newspapers. Earl slaps the snooze button and
takes a cigarette from the pack taped to the sleeve of his dressing
gown. He pats the empty pockets of his pajamas for a light. He rifles
the papers on the desk, looks quickly through the drawers. Eventually
he finds a box of kitchen matches taped to the wall next to the
window. Another sign is taped just above the box. It says in loud
yellow letters, CIGARETTE? CHECK FOR LIT ONES FIRST, STUPID.
Earl laughs at the sign, lights his cigarette, and takes a long draw.
Taped to the window in front of him is another piece of looseleaf
paper headed YOUR SCHEDULE.
It charts off the hours, every hour, in blocks: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00
a.m. is labeled go BACK TO SLEEP. Earl consults the alarm clock: 8:15.
Given the light outside, it must be morning. He checks his watch:
10:30. He presses the watch to his ear and listens. He gives the watch
a wind or two and sets it to match the alarm clock.
According to the schedule, the entire block from 8:00 to 8:30 has been
labeled BRUSH YOUR TEETH. Earl laughs again and walks over to the
bathroom.
The bathroom window is open. As he flaps his arms to keep warm, he
notices the ashtray on the windowsill. A cigarette is perched on the
ashtray, burning steadily through a long finger of ash. He frowns,
extinguishes the old butt, and replaces it with the new one.
The toothbrush has already been treated to a smudge of white paste.
The tap is of the push-button variety-a dose of water with each nudge.
Earl pushes the brush into his cheek and fiddles it back and forth
while he opens the medicine cabinet. The shelves are stocked with
single-serving packages of vitamins, aspirin, antidiuretics. The
mouthwash is also single-serving, about a shot-glass-worth of blue
liquid in a sealed plastic bottle. Only the toothpaste is
regular-sized. Earl spits the paste out of his mouth and replaces it
with the mouthwash. As he lays the toothbrush next to the toothpaste,
he notices a tiny wedge of paper pinched between the glass shelf and
the steel backing of the medicine cabinet. He spits the frothy blue
fluid into the sink and nudges for some more water to rinse it down.
He closes the medicine cabinet and smiles at his reflection in the
mirror.
"Who needs half an hour to brush their teeth?"
The paper has been folded down to a minuscule size with all the
precision of a sixth-grader's love note. Earl unfolds it and smooths
it against the mirror. It reads-
IF YOU CAN STILL READ THIS, THEN YOU'RE A FUCKING COWARD.
Earl stares blankly at the paper, then reads it again. He turns it
over. On the back it reads-
P.S.: AFTER YOU'VE READ THIS, HIDE IT AGAIN.
Earl reads both sides again, then folds the note back down to its
original size and tucks it underneath the toothpaste.
Maybe then he notices the scar. It begins just beneath the ear, jagged
and thick, and disappears abruptly into his hairline. Earl turns his
head and stares out of the corner of his eye to follow the scar's
progress. He traces it with a fingertip, then looks back down at the
cigarette burning in the ashtray. A thought seizes him and he spins
out of the bathroom.
He is caught at the door to his room, one hand on the knob. Two
pictures are taped to the wall by the door. Earl's attention is caught
first by the MRI, a shiny black frame for four windows into someone's
skull. In marker, the picture is labeled YOUR BRAIN. Earl stares at
it. Concentric circles in different colors. He can make out the big
orbs of his eyes and, behind these, the twin lobes of his brain.
Smooth wrinkles, circles, semicircles. But right there in the middle
of his head, circled in marker, tunneled in from the back of his neck
like a maggot into an apricot, is something different. Deformed,
broken, but unmistakable. A dark smudge, the shape of a flower, right
there in the middle of his brain.
He bends to look at the other picture. It is a photograph of a man
holding flowers, standing over a fresh grave. The man is bent over,
reading the headstone. For a moment this looks like a hall of mirrors
or the beginnings of a sketch of infinity: the one man bent over,
looking at the smaller man, bent over, reading the headstone. Earl
looks at the picture for a long time. Maybe he begins to cry. Maybe he
just stares silently at the picture. Eventually, he makes his way back
to the bed, flops down, seals his eyes shut, tries to sleep.
The cigarette burns steadily away in the bathroom. A circuit in the
alarm clock counts down from ten, and it starts ringing again.
Earl opens one eye after another to a stretch of white ceiling tiles,
interrupted by a hand-printed sign taped right above his head, large
enough for him to read from the bed.
***
You can't have a normal life anymore. You must know that. How can you
have a girlfriend if you can't remember her name? Can't have kids, not
unless you want them to grow up with a dad who doesn't recognize them.
Sure as hell can't hold down a job. Not too many professions out there
that value forgetfulness. Prostitution, maybe. Politics, of course.
No. Your life is over. You're a dead man.The only thing the doctors
are hoping to do is teach you to be less of a burden to the orderlies.
And they'll probably never let you go home, wherever that would be.
So the question is not "to be or not to be," because you aren't. The
question is whether you want to do something about it. Whether revenge
matters to you.
It does to most people. For a few weeks, they plot, they scheme, they
take measures to get even. But the passage of time is all it takes to
erode that initial impulse. Time is theft, isn't that what they say?
And time eventually convinces most of us that forgiveness is a virtue.
Conveniently, cowardice and forgiveness look identical at a certain
distance. Time steals your nerve.
If time and fear aren't enough to dissuade people from their revenge,
then there's always authority, softly shaking its head and saying, We
understand, but you're the better man for letting it go. For rising
above it. For not sinking to their level. And besides, says authority,
if you try anything stupid, we'll lock you up in a little room.
But they already put you in a little room, didn't they? Only they
don't really lock it or even guard it too carefully because you're a
cripple. A corpse. A vegetable who probably wouldn't remember to eat
or take a shit if someone wasn't there to remind you.
And as for the passage of time, well, that doesn't really apply to you
anymore, does it? Just the same ten minutes, over and over again. So
how can you forgive if you can't remember to forget?
You probably were the type to let it go, weren't you? Before. But
you're not the man you used to be. Not even half. You're a fraction;
you're the ten-minute man.
Of course, weakness is strong. It's the primary impulse. You'd
probably prefer to sit in your little room and cry. Live in your
finite collection of memories, carefully polishing each one. Half a
life set behind glass and pinned to cardboard like a collection of
exotic insects. You'd like to live behind that glass, wouldn't you?
Preserved in aspic.
You'd like to but you can't, can you? You can't because of the last
addition to your collection. The last thing you remember. His face.
His face and your wife, looking to you for help.
And maybe this is where you can retire to when it's over. Your little
collection. They can lock you back up in another little room and you
can live the rest of your life in the past. But only if you've got a
little piece of paper in your hand that says you got him.
You know I'm right. You know there's a lot of work to do. It may seem
impossible, but I'm sure if we all do our part, we'll figure something
out. But you don't have much time. You've only got about ten minutes,
in fact. Then it starts all over again. So do something with the time
you've got.
***
EARL OPENS HIS EYES and blinks into the darkness. The alarm clock is
ringing. It says 3:20, and the moonlight streaming through the window
means it must be he early morning. Earl fumbles for the lamp, almost
knocking it over in the process. Incandescent light fills the room,
painting the metal furniture yellow, the walls yellow, the bedspread,
too. He lies back and looks up at the stretch of yellow ceiling tiles
above him, interrupted by a handwritten sign taped to the ceiling. He
reads the sign two, maybe three times, then blinks at the room around
him.
It is a bare room. Institutional, maybe. There is a desk over by the
window. The desk is bare except for the blaring alarm clock. Earl
probably notices, at this point, that he is fully clothed. He even has
his shoes on under the sheets. He extracts himself from the bed and
crosses to the desk. Nothing in the room would suggest that anyone
lived there, or ever had, except for the odd scrap of tape stuck here
and there to the wall. No pictures, no books, nothing. Through the
window, he can see a full moon shining on carefully manicured grass.
Earl slaps the snooze button on the alarm clock and stares a moment at
the two keys taped to the back of his hand. He picks at the tape while
he searches through the empty drawers. In the left pocket of his
jacket, he finds a roll of hundred-dollar bills and a letter sealed in
an envelope. He checks the rest of the main room and the bathroom.
Bits of tape, cigarette butts. Nothing else.
Earl absentmindedly plays with the lump of scar tissue on his neck and
moves back toward the bed. He lies back down and stares up at the
ceiling and the sign taped to it. The sign reads, GET UP, GET OUT
RIGHT NOW. THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU.
Earl closes his eyes.
***
They tried to teach you to make lists in grade school, remember? Back
when your day planner was the back of your hand. And if your
assignments came off in the shower, well, then they didn't get done.
No direction, they said. No discipline. So they tried to get you to
write it all down somewhere more permanent.
Of course, your grade-school teachers would be laughing their pants
wet if they could see you now. Because you've become the exact product
of their organizational lessons. Because you can't even take a piss
without consulting one of your lists.
They were right. Lists are the only way out of this mess.
Here's the truth: People, even regular people, are never just any one
person with one set of attributes. It's not that simple. We're all at
the mercy of the limbic system, clouds of electricity drifting through
the brain. Every man is broken into twenty-four-hour fractions, and
then again within those twenty-four hours. It's a daily pantomime, one
man yielding control to the next: a backstage crowded with old hacks
clamoring for their turn in the spotlight. Every week, every day. The
angry man hands the baton over to the sulking man, and in turn to the
sex addict, the introvert, the conversationalist. Every man is a mob,
a chain gang of idiots.
This is the tragedy of life. Because for a few minutes of every day,
every man becomes a genius. Moments of clarity, insight, whatever you
want to call them. The clouds part, the planets get in a neat little
line, and everything becomes obvious. I should quit smoking, maybe, or
here's how I could make a fast million, or such and such is the key to
eternal happiness. That's the miserable truth. For a few moments, the
secrets of the universe are opened to us. Life is a cheap parlor
trick.
But then the genius, the savant, has to hand over the controls to the
next guy down the pike, most likely the guy who just wants to eat
potato chips, and insight and brilliance and salvation are all
entrusted to a moron or a hedonist or a narcoleptic.
The only way out of this mess, of course, is to take steps to ensure
that you control the idiots that you become. To take your chain gang,
hand in hand, and lead them. The best way to do this is with a list.
It's like a letter you write to yourself. A master plan, drafted by
the guy who can see the light, made with steps simple enough for the
rest of the idiots to understand. Follow steps one through one
hundred. Repeat as necessary.
Your problem is a little more acute, maybe, but fundamentally the same
thing.
It's like that computer thing, the Chinese room. You remember that?
One guy sits in a little room, laying down cards with letters written
on them in a language he doesn't understand, laying them down one
letter at a time in a sequence according to someone else's
instructions. The cards are supposed to spell out a joke in Chinese.
The guy doesn't speak Chinese, of course. He just follows his
instructions.
There are some obvious differences in your situation, of course: You
broke out of the room they had you in, so the whole enterprise has to
be portable. And the guy giving the instructions-that's you, too, just
an earlier version of you. And the joke you're telling, well, it's got
a punch line. I just don't think anyone's going to find it very funny.
So that's the idea. All you have to do is follow your instructions.
Like climbing a ladder or descending a staircase. One step at a time.
Right down the list. Simple.
And the secret, of course, to any list is to keep it in a place where
you're bound to see it.
***
HE CAN HEAR THE BUZZING through his eyelids. Insistent. He reaches out
for the alarm clock, but he can't move his arm.
Earl opens his eyes to see a large man bent double over him. The man
looks up at him, annoyed, then resumes his work. Earl looks around
him. Too dark for a doctor's office.
Then the pain floods his brain, blocking out the other questions. He
squirms gain, trying to yank his forearm away, the one that feels
like it's burning. The arm doesn't move, but the man shoots him
another scowl. Earl adjusts himself in the chair to see over the top
of the man's head.
The noise and the pain are both coming from a gun in the man's hand-a
gun with a needle where the barrel should be. The needle is digging
into the fleshy underside of Earl's forearm, leaving a trail of puffy
letters behind it.
Earl tries to rearrange himself to get a better view, to read the
letters on his arm, but he can't. He lies back and stares at the
ceiling.
Eventually the tattoo artist turns off the noise, wipes Earl's forearm
with a piece of gauze, and wanders over to the back to dig up a
pamphlet describing how to deal with a possible infection. Maybe later
he'll tell his wife about this guy and his little note. Maybe his wife
will convince him to call the police.
Earl looks down at the arm. The letters are rising up from the skin,
weeping a little. They run from just behind the strap of Earl's watch
all the way to the inside of his elbow. Earl blinks at the message and
reads it again. It says, in careful little capitals, I RAPED AND
KILLED YOUR WIFE.
***
It's your birthday today, so I got you a little present. I would have
just bought you a beer, but who knows where that would have ended?
So instead, I got you a bell. I think I may have had to pawn your
watch to buy it, but what the hell did you need a watch for, anyway?
You're probably asking yourself, Why a bell? In fact, I'm guessing
you're going to be asking yourself that question every time you find
it in your pocket. Too many of these letters now. Too many for you to
dig back into every time you want to know the answer to some little
question.
It's a joke, actually. A practical joke. But think of it this way: I'm
not really laughing at you so much as with you.
I'd like to think that every time you take it out of your pocket and
wonder, Why do I have this bell? a little part of you, a little piece
of your broken brain, will remember and laugh, like I'm laughing now.
Besides, you do know the answer. It was something you learned before.
So if you think about it, you'll know.
Back in the old days, people were obsessed with the fear of being
buried alive. You remember now? Medical science not being quite what
it is today, it wasn't uncommon for people to suddenly wake up in a
casket. So rich folks had their coffins outfitted with breathing
tubes. Little tubes running up to the mud above so that if someone
woke up when they weren't supposed to, they wouldn't run out of
oxygen. Now, they must have tested this out and realized that you
could shout yourself hoarse through the tube, but it was too narrow to
carry much noise. Not enough to attract attention, at least. So a
string was run up the tube to a little bell attached to the headstone.
If a dead person came back to life, all he had to do was ring his
little bell till someone came and dug him up again.
I'm laughing now, picturing you on a bus or maybe in a fast-food
restaurant, reaching into your pocket and finding your little bell and
wondering to yourself where it came from, why you have it. Maybe
you'll even ring it.
Happy birthday, buddy.
I don't know who figured out the solution to our mutual problem, so I
don't know whether to congratulate you or me. A bit of a lifestyle
change, admittedly, but an elegant solution, nonetheless.
Look to yourself for the answer.
That sounds like something out of a Hallmark card. I don't know when
you thought it up, but my hat's off to you. Not that you know what the
hell I'm talking about. But, honestly, a real brainstorm. After all,
everybody else needs mirrors to remind themselves who they are. You're
no different.
***
THE LITTLE MECHANICAL VOICE PAUSES, then repeats itself. It says, "The
time is 8:00 a.m. This is a courtesy call." Earl opens his eyes and
replaces the receiver. The phone is perched on a cheap veneer
headboard that stretches behind the bed, curves to meet the corner,
and ends at the minibar. The TV is still on, blobs of flesh color
nattering away at each other. Earl lies back down and is surprised to
see himself, older now, tanned, the hair pulling away from his head
like solar flares. The mirror on the ceiling is cracked, the silver
fading increases. Earl continues to stare at himself, astonished by
what he sees. He is fully dressed, but the clothes are old, threadbare
in places.
Earl feels the familiar spot on his left wrist for his watch, but it's
gone. He looks down from the mirror to his arm. It is bare and the
skin has changed to an even tan, as if he never owned a watch in the
first place. The skin is even in color except for the solid black
arrow on the inside of Earl's wrist, pointing up his shirtsleeve. He
stares at the arrow for a moment. Perhaps he doesn't try to rub it off
anymore. He rolls up his sleeve.
The arrow points to a sentence tattooed along Earl's inner arm. Earl
reads the sentence once, maybe twice. Another arrow picks up at the
beginning of the sentence, points farther up Earl's arm, disappearing
under the rolled-up shirtsleeve. He unbuttons his shirt.
Looking down on his chest, he can make out the shapes but cannot bring
them into focus, so he looks up at the mirror above him.
The arrow leads up Earl's arm, crosses at the shoulder, and descends
onto his upper torso, terminating at a picture of a man's face that
occupies most of his chest. The face is that of a large man, balding,
with a mustache and a goatee. It is a particular face, but like a
police sketch it has a certain unreal quality.
The rest of his upper torso is covered in words, phrases, bits of
information, and instructions, all of them written backward on Earl,
forward in the mirror.
EventuallyEarl sits up, buttons his shirt, and crosses to the desk. He takes out
a pen and a piece of notepaper from the desk drawer, sits, and begins
to write.
***
I don't know where you'll be when you read this. I'm not even sure if
you'll bother to read this. I guess you don't need to.
It's a shame, really, that you and I will never meet. But, like the
song says, "By the time you read this note, I'll be gone."
We're so close now. That's the way it feels. So many pieces put
together, spelled out. I guess it's just a matter of time until you
find him.
Who knows what we've done to get here? Must be a hell of a story, if
only you could remember any of it. I guess it's better that you can't.
I had a thought just now. Maybe you'll find it useful.
Everybody is waiting for the end to come, but what if it already
passed us by? What if the final joke of Judgment Day was that it had
already come and gone and we were none the wiser? Apocalypse arrives
quietly; the chosen are herded off to heaven, and the rest of us, the
ones who failed the test, just keep on going, oblivious. Dead
already, wandering around long after the gods have stopped keeping
score, still optimistic about the future.
I guess if that's true, then it doesn't matter what you do. No
expectations. If you can't find him, then it doesn't matter, because
nothing matters. And if you do find him, then you can kill him without
worrying about the consequences. Because there are no consequences.
That's what I'm thinking about right now, in this scrappy little room.
Framed pictures of ships on the wall. I don't know, obviously, but if
I had to guess, I'd say we're somewhere up the coast. If you're
wondering why your left arm is five shades browner than your right, I
don't know what to tell you. I guess we must have been driving for a
while. And, no, I don't know what happened to your watch.
And all these keys: I have no idea. Not a one that I recognize. Car
keys and house keys and the little fiddly keys for padlocks. What have
we been up to?
I wonder if he'll feel stupid when you find him. Tracked down by the
ten-minute man. Assassinated by a vegetable.
I'll be gone in a moment. I'll put down the pen, close my eyes, and
then you can read this through if you want.
I just wanted you to know that I'm proud of you. No one who matters is
left to say it. No one left is going to want to.
EARL'S EYES ARE WIDE OPEN, staring through the window of the car.
Smiling eyes. Smiling through the window at the crowd gathering across
the street. The crowd gathering around the body in the doorway. The
body emptying slowly across the sidewalk and into the storm drain.
***
A stocky guy, facedown, eyes open. Balding head, goatee. In death, as
in police sketches, faces tend to look the same. This is definitely
somebody in particular. But really, it could be anybody.
Earl is still smiling at the body as the car pulls away from the curb.
The car? Who's to say? Maybe it's a police cruiser. Maybe it's just a
taxi.
As the car is swallowed into traffic, Earl's eyes continue to shine
out into the night, watching the body until it disappears into a
circle of concerned pedestrians. He chuckles to himself as the car
continues to make distance between him and the growing crowd.
Earl's smile fades a little. Something has occurred to him. He begins
to pat down his pockets; leisurely at first, like a man looking for
his keys, then a little more desperately. Maybe his progress is
impeded by a set of handcuffs. He begins to empty the contents of his
pockets out onto the seat next to him. Some money. A bunch of keys.
Scraps of paper.
A round metal lump rolls out of his pocket and slides across the vinyl
seat. Earl is frantic now. He hammers at the plastic divider between
him and the driver, begging the man for a pen. Perhaps the cabbie
doesn't speak much English. Perhaps the cop isn't in the habit of
talking to suspects. Either way, the divider between the man in front
and the man behind remains closed. A pen is not forthcoming.
The car hits a pothole, and Earl blinks at his reflection in the
rearview mirror. He is calm now. The driver makes another corner, and
the metal lump slides back over to rest against Earl's leg with a
little jingle. He picks it up and looks at it, curious now. It is a
little bell. A little metal bell. Inscribed on it are his name and a
set of dates. He recognizes the first one: the year in which he was
born. But the second date means nothing to him. Nothing at all.
As he turns the bell over in his hands, he notices the empty space on
his wrist where his watch used to sit. There is a little arrow there,
pointing up his arm. Earl looks at the arrow, then begins to roll up
his sleeve.
***
"You'd be late for your own funeral," she'd say. Remember? The more I
think about it, the more trite that seems. What kind of idiot, after
all, is in any kind of rush to get to the end of his own story?
And how would I know if I were late, anyway? I don't have a watch
anymore. I don't know what we did with it.
What the hell do you need a watch for, anyway? It was an antique.
Deadweight tugging at your wrist. Symbol of the old you. The you that
believed in time.
No. Scratch that. It's not so much that you've lost your faith in time
as that time has lost its faith in you. And who needs it, anyway? Who
wants to be one of those saps living in the safety of the future, in
the safety of the moment after the moment in which they felt something
powerful? Living in the next moment, in which they feel nothing.
Crawling down the hands of the clock, away from the people who did
unspeakable things to them. Believing the lie that time will heal all
wounds-which is just a nice way of saying that time deadens us.
But you're different. You're more perfect. Time is three things for
most people, but for you, for us, just one. A singularity. One moment.
This moment. Like you're the center of the clock, the axis on which
the hands turn. Time moves about you but never moves you. It has lost
its ability to affect you. What is it they say? That time is theft?
But not for you. Close your eyes and you can start all over again.
Conjure up that necessary emotion, fresh as roses.
Time is an absurdity. An abstraction. The only thing that matters is
this moment. This moment a million times over. You have to trust me.
If this moment is repeated enough, if you keep trying-and you have to
keep trying-eventually you will come across the next item on your
list.
End.
Memento
Writers : Christopher Nolan Jonathan Nolan
Genres : Drama Mystery Thriller
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a @xmath1-decomposition of a graph @xmath2 is a partition of its edge set @xmath3 into cliques of order @xmath0 .
if @xmath2 has a @xmath1-decomposition , then certainly @xmath4 is divisible by @xmath5 and the degree of every vertex is divisible by @xmath6 .
a classical result of kirkman @xcite asserts that , when @xmath7 , these two conditions ensure that @xmath8 has a triangle decomposition ( i.e. steiner triple systems exist ) .
this was generalized to arbitrary @xmath0 ( for large @xmath9 ) by wilson @xcite and to hypergraphs by keevash @xcite .
recently , there has been much progress in extending this from decompositions of complete host graphs to decompositions of graphs which are allowed to be far from complete . in this paper
, we investigate this question in the @xmath0-partite setting .
this is of particular interest as it implies results on the completion of partial latin squares and more generally partial mutually orthogonal latin squares . our main result ( theorem [ thm : main ] ) states that if @xmath2 is ( i ) balanced @xmath0-partite , ( ii ) satisfies the necessary divisibility conditions and ( iii ) its minimum degree is at least a little larger than the minimum degree which guarantees an approximate decomposition into @xmath0-cliques , then @xmath2 in fact has a decomposition into @xmath0-cliques .
( here an approximate decomposition is a set of edge - disjoint copies of @xmath1 which cover almost all edges of @xmath2 . ) to state this result precisely , we need the following definitions .
we say that a graph or multigraph @xmath2 on @xmath10 is _
@xmath1-divisible _ if @xmath2 is @xmath0-partite with vertex classes @xmath11 and for all @xmath12 and every @xmath13 , @xmath14 note that in this case , for all @xmath15 with @xmath16 , @xmath17 , we automatically have @xmath18 . in particular , @xmath4 is divisible by @xmath19 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 .
let @xmath21 an _
@xmath1-decomposition of @xmath2 is a set of edge - disjoint copies of @xmath1 covering all but at most @xmath23 edges of @xmath2 .
we define @xmath24 to be the infimum over all @xmath25 such that every @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath2 on @xmath10 with @xmath20 and @xmath26 has an @xmath22-approximate @xmath1-decomposition .
let @xmath27 .
so if @xmath28 and @xmath2 is sufficiently large , @xmath1-divisible and @xmath29 , then @xmath2 has an @xmath22-approximate @xmath1-decomposition .
note that it is important here that @xmath2 is @xmath1-divisible .
take , for example , the complete @xmath0-partite graph with vertex classes of size @xmath9 and remove @xmath30 edge - disjoint perfect matchings between one pair of vertex classes . the resulting graph @xmath2 satisfies @xmath31 , yet has no @xmath22-approximate @xmath1-decomposition whenever @xmath32 .
[ thm : main ] for every @xmath33 and every @xmath28 there exists an @xmath34 and an @xmath35 such that the following holds for all @xmath36 .
suppose @xmath2 is a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 . if @xmath37 , then @xmath2 has a @xmath1-decomposition . by a result of haxell and rdl @xcite
, the existence of an approximate decomposition follows from that of a fractional decomposition .
so together with very recent results of dukes @xcite as well as montgomery @xcite on fractional decompositions into triangles and cliques respectively , theorem [ thm : main ] implies the following explicit bounds .
we discuss this derivation in section [ fractional ] .
[ thm : explicit ] for every @xmath33 and every @xmath28 there exists an @xmath34 such that the following holds for all @xmath36 .
suppose @xmath2 is a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 . * if @xmath7 and @xmath38 , then @xmath2 has a @xmath39-decomposition . * if @xmath40 and @xmath41 , then @xmath2 has a @xmath1-decomposition .
if @xmath2 is the complete @xmath0-partite graph , this corresponds to a theorem of chowla , erds and straus @xcite .
a bound of @xmath42 was claimed by gustavsson @xcite .
the following conjecture seems natural ( and is implicit in @xcite ) .
[ conj : decomp ] for every @xmath33 there exists an @xmath34 such that the following holds for all @xmath36 .
suppose @xmath2 is a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 . if @xmath43 , then @xmath2 has a @xmath1-decomposition .
a construction which matches the lower bound in conjecture [ conj : decomp ] is described in section [ sec : extremal ] ( this construction also gives a similar lower bound on @xmath44 ) . in the non - partite setting , the triangle case is a long - standing conjecture by nash - williams @xcite that every graph @xmath2 on @xmath9 vertices with minimum degree at least @xmath45 has a triangle decomposition ( subject to divisibility conditions ) .
barber , khn , lo and osthus @xcite recently reduced its asymptotic version to proving an approximate or fractional version .
corresponding results on fractional triangle decompositions were proved by yuster @xcite , dukes @xcite , garaschuk @xcite and dross @xcite .
more generally @xcite also gives results for arbitrary graphs , and corresponding fractional decomposition results have been obtained by yuster @xcite , dukes @xcite as well as barber , khn , lo , montgomery and osthus @xcite .
further results on @xmath46-decompositions of non - partite graphs ( leading on from @xcite ) have been obtained by glock , khn , lo , montgomery and osthus @xcite . amongst others , for any bipartite graph
@xmath46 , they asymptotically determine the minimum degree threshold which guarantees an @xmath46-decomposition .
a latin square @xmath47 of order @xmath9 is an @xmath48 grid of cells , each containing a symbol from @xmath49 $ ] , such that no symbol appears twice in any row or column .
it is easy to see that @xmath47 corresponds to a @xmath39-decomposition of the complete tripartite graph @xmath50 with vertex classes consisting of the rows , columns and symbols .
now suppose that we have a partial latin square ; that is , a partially filled in grid of cells satisfying the conditions defining a latin square . when can it be completed to a latin square ?
this natural question has received much attention .
for example , a classical theorem of smetaniuk @xcite as well as anderson and hilton @xcite states that this is always possible if at most @xmath51 entries have been made ( this bound is best possible ) . the case @xmath7 of conjecture
[ conj : decomp ] implies that , provided we have used each row , column and symbol at most @xmath52 times , it should also still be possible to complete a partial latin square .
this was conjectured by daykin and hggkvist @xcite .
( note that this conjecture corresponds to the special case of conjecture [ conj : decomp ] when @xmath7 and the condition of @xmath2 being @xmath1-divisible is replaced by that of @xmath2 being obtained from @xmath50 by deleting edge - disjoint triangles . )
more generally , we say that two latin squares @xmath53 ( red ) and @xmath54 ( blue ) drawn in the same @xmath48 grid of cells are orthogonal if no blue symbol appears twice next to the same red symbol . in the same way that a latin square corresponds to a @xmath39-decomposition of @xmath50 ,
a pair of orthogonal latin squares corresponds to a @xmath55-decomposition of @xmath56 where the vertex classes are rows , columns , red symbols and blue symbols .
more generally , there is a natural bijection between sequences of @xmath57 mutually orthogonal latin squares ( where every pair from the sequence are orthogonal ) and @xmath1-decompositions of complete @xmath0-partite graphs with vertex classes of equal size .
sequences of mutually orthogonal latin squares are also known as transversal designs .
theorem [ thm : explicit ] can be used to show the following ( see section [ sec : latinproof ] for details ) .
[ thm : mols ] for every @xmath33 and every @xmath28 there exists an @xmath34 such that the following holds for all @xmath36 .
let @xmath58 let @xmath59 be a sequence of mutually orthogonal partial @xmath60 latin squares ( drawn in the same @xmath60 grid ) .
suppose that each row and column of the grid contains at most @xmath61 non - empty cells and each coloured symbol is used at most @xmath61 times .
then @xmath59 can be completed to a sequence of mutually orthogonal latin squares .
the best previous bound for the triangle case @xmath7 is due to bartlett @xcite , who obtained a minimum degree bound of @xmath62 .
this improved an earlier bound of chetwynd and hggkvist @xcite as well as the one claimed by gustavsson @xcite .
a fractional @xmath1-decomposition of a graph @xmath2 is a non - negative weighting of the copies of @xmath1 in @xmath2 such that the total weight of all the copies of @xmath1 containing any fixed edge of @xmath2 is exactly @xmath63 .
fractional decompositions are of particular interest to us because of the following result of haxell and rdl , of which we state only a very special case .
[ hrthm ] for every @xmath32 and every @xmath64 there exists an @xmath65 such that the following holds .
let @xmath2 be a graph on @xmath66 vertices that has a fractional @xmath1-decomposition .
then @xmath2 has an @xmath22-approximate @xmath1-decomposition .
we define @xmath67 to be the infimum over all @xmath25 such that every @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath2 on @xmath10 with @xmath20 and @xmath26 has a fractional @xmath1-decomposition .
let @xmath68 .
theorem [ hrthm ] implies that , for every @xmath64 , @xmath69 .
together with theorem [ thm : main ] , this yields the following .
[ thm : mainfrac ] for every @xmath33 and every @xmath28 there exists an @xmath34 such that the following holds for all @xmath36 .
suppose @xmath2 is a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 . if @xmath70 , then @xmath2 has a @xmath1-decomposition . in particular ,
to prove conjecture [ conj : decomp ] asymptotically , it suffices to show that @xmath71 . for triangles ,
the best bound on the ` fractional decomposition threshold ' is due to dukes @xcite .
@xmath72 . for arbitrary cliques
, montgomery obtained the following bound . somewhat weaker bounds ( obtained by different methods )
are also proved in @xcite . for every @xmath73 , @xmath74 .
note that together with corollary [ thm : mainfrac ] , these results immediately imply theorem [ thm : explicit ] .
this paper is organised as follows . in section [ sec : notat ] we introduce some notation and tools which will be used throughout this paper . in section [ sec : extremlatin ] we give extremal constructions which support the bounds in conjecture [ conj : decomp ] and we provide a proof of theorem [ thm : mols ] .
section [ sec : sketch ] outlines the proof of theorem [ thm : main ] and guides the reader through the remaining sections in this paper .
let @xmath2 be a graph and let @xmath75 be a partition of @xmath76 .
we write @xmath77 $ ] for the subgraph of @xmath2 induced by @xmath78 and @xmath79 $ ] for the bipartite subgraph of @xmath2 induced by the vertex classes @xmath78 and @xmath80 .
we will also sometimes write @xmath81 $ ] for @xmath77 $ ] .
we write @xmath82:=g[u^1 , \dots , u^k]$ ] for the @xmath83-partite subgraph of @xmath2 induced by the partition @xmath84 .
we write @xmath85 for @xmath86 .
we say the partition @xmath84 is _ equitable _ if its parts differ in size by at most one . given a set @xmath87 ,
we write @xmath88 $ ] for the restriction of @xmath84 to @xmath89 .
let @xmath2 be a graph and let @xmath90 .
we write @xmath91 and @xmath92 . for @xmath93 , we write @xmath94 for @xmath95 and @xmath96 for @xmath97 . if @xmath89 and @xmath98 are disjoint , we let @xmath99)$ ] .
let @xmath2 and @xmath100 be graphs .
we write @xmath101 for the graph with vertex set @xmath76 and edge set @xmath102 .
we write @xmath103 for the subgraph of @xmath2 induced by the vertex set @xmath104 .
we call a vertex - disjoint collection of copies of @xmath100 in @xmath2 an
_ @xmath100-matching_. if the @xmath100-matching covers all vertices in @xmath2 , we say that it is _
perfect_. throughout this paper , we consider a partition @xmath11 of a vertex set @xmath98 such that @xmath105 for all @xmath106 .
given a set @xmath107 , we write @xmath108 we write @xmath109 for the complete @xmath0-partite graph with vertex classes of size @xmath83 .
we say that an @xmath0-partite graph @xmath2 on @xmath10 is _ balanced _ if @xmath110 .
we use hierarchies , for example @xmath111 , where constants are chosen from right to left .
the notation @xmath112 means that there exists an increasing function @xmath113 for which the result holds whenever @xmath114 . in order to simplify the presentation
, we will not determine these functions explicitly .
let @xmath115 with @xmath116 .
the _ hypergeometric distribution _ with parameters @xmath117 , @xmath9 and @xmath118 is the distribution of the random variable @xmath119 defined as follows .
let @xmath120 be a random subset of @xmath121 of size @xmath9 and let @xmath122 .
we will frequently use the following bounds , which are simple forms of hoeffding s inequality .
[ lem : chernoff ] let @xmath123 or let @xmath119 have a hypergeometric distribution with parameters @xmath124
. then @xmath125 .
[ lem : chernoff2 ] suppose that @xmath119 has binomial or hypergeometric distribution and @xmath126
. then @xmath127 .
the following proposition shows that the minimum degree bound conjectured in conjecture [ conj : decomp ] would be best possible .
it also provides a lower bound on the approximate decomposition threshold @xmath128 ( and thus on the fractional decomposition threshold @xmath129 ) .
[ prop : extrem ] let @xmath130 with @xmath32 and let @xmath64 . for infinitely many @xmath9 , there exists a @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath2 on @xmath10 with @xmath20 and @xmath131 which does not have a @xmath1-decomposition .
moreover , @xmath132 .
let @xmath133 with @xmath134 and let @xmath135 .
let @xmath136 be a partition of @xmath137 such that , for each @xmath138 and each @xmath106 , @xmath139 has size @xmath118 .
let @xmath140 be the intersection of the complete @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath141 and the complete @xmath142-partite graph on @xmath143 .
for each @xmath144 and each @xmath138 , let @xmath145 be a graph formed by starting with the empty graph on @xmath146 and including a @xmath147-regular bipartite graph with vertex classes @xmath148 for each @xmath149 .
let @xmath150 and let @xmath151 . observe that @xmath152 is regular , @xmath1-divisible and @xmath153 now @xmath140 is @xmath142-partite , so every copy of @xmath1 in @xmath152 contains at least one edge of @xmath154 .
therefore , any collection of edge - disjoint copies of @xmath1 in @xmath2 will leave at least @xmath155 edges of @xmath152 uncovered .
let @xmath156 . then @xmath157 , so @xmath158 does not have a @xmath1-decomposition . also , @xmath159 now let @xmath160 .
we have @xmath161 and @xmath162 thus , @xmath132 . in this section ,
we give a proof of theorem [ thm : mols ] .
note that better bounds on the fractional decomposition threshold would immediately lead to better bounds on @xmath163 . for any @xmath0-partite graph @xmath100 on @xmath10 , we let @xmath164 denote the @xmath0-partite complement of @xmath100 on @xmath10 .
theorem [ thm : mols ] by making @xmath165 smaller if necessary , we may assume that @xmath166 .
let @xmath167 be such that @xmath168 .
use @xmath59 to construct a balanced @xmath0-partite graph @xmath2 with vertex classes @xmath169 $ ] for @xmath106 as follows . for each @xmath170 and each @xmath171 ,
if in @xmath172 the cell @xmath173 contains the symbol @xmath83 , include a @xmath39 on the vertices @xmath174 , @xmath175 and @xmath176 .
( if the cell @xmath173 is filled in different @xmath172 , this leads to multiple edges between @xmath174 and @xmath175 , which we disregard . ) for each @xmath177 and each @xmath178 such that the cell @xmath173 contains symbol @xmath83 in @xmath172 and symbol @xmath179 in @xmath180 , add an edge between the vertices @xmath176 and @xmath181 .
if @xmath7 , then @xmath2 is an edge - disjoint union of copies of @xmath39 , so @xmath2 is @xmath39-divisible .
then @xmath182 is also @xmath39-divisible and @xmath183 .
so we can apply theorem [ thm : explicit ] to find a @xmath39-decomposition of @xmath182 which we can then use to complete @xmath184 to a latin square .
suppose now that @xmath40 .
observe that @xmath2 consists of an edge - disjoint union of cliques @xmath185 such that , for each @xmath186 , @xmath187 contains an edge of the form @xmath188 where @xmath189 and @xmath190 .
we have @xmath191 .
we now show that we can extend @xmath2 to a graph which has a @xmath1-decomposition .
we will do this by greedily extending each @xmath187 in turn to a copy @xmath192 of @xmath1 .
suppose that @xmath193 and we have already found edge - disjoint @xmath194 .
given @xmath93 , let @xmath195 be the number of graphs in @xmath196 which contain @xmath197 .
suppose that @xmath198 for all @xmath93 .
for each @xmath106 , let @xmath199 .
we have @xmath200 let @xmath201 .
note that @xmath202 we will extend @xmath203 to a copy of @xmath1 as follows .
let @xmath204 .
for each @xmath205 in turn , starting with @xmath206 , choose one vertex @xmath207 from the set @xmath208 .
this is possible since and imply @xmath209 let @xmath210 be the copy of @xmath1 with vertex set @xmath211 . by construction , for every @xmath93 , the number @xmath212 of graphs in @xmath213 which contain @xmath197 satisfies @xmath214
. continue in this way to find edge - disjoint @xmath215 such that @xmath216 .
let @xmath217 .
we have @xmath218 and , since @xmath152 is an edge - disjoint union of copies of @xmath1 , we know that @xmath219 is @xmath1-divisible .
so we can apply theorem [ thm : explicit ] to find a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath220 of @xmath219 .
note that @xmath221 is a @xmath1-decomposition of the complete @xmath0-partite graph . since @xmath222 for each @xmath223 , we can use @xmath224 to complete @xmath59 to a sequence of mutually orthogonal latin squares .
our proof of theorem [ thm : main ] builds on the proof of the main results of @xcite , but requires significant new ideas . in particular , the @xmath0-partite setting involves a stronger notion of divisibility ( the non - partite setting simply requires that @xmath6 divides the degree of each vertex of @xmath2 and that @xmath225 divides @xmath4 ) and we have to work much harder to preserve it during our proof .
this necessitates a delicate ` balancing ' argument ( see section [ sec : bal ] ) .
in addition , we use a new construction for our absorbers , which allows us to obtain the best possible version of theorem [ thm : main ] .
( the construction of @xcite would only achieve @xmath226 in place of @xmath227 . ) the idea behind the proof is as follows .
we are assuming that we have access to a black box approximate decomposition result : given a @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath2 on vertex classes of size @xmath9 with @xmath228 we can obtain an approximate @xmath1-decomposition that leaves only @xmath23 edges uncovered .
we would like to obtain an exact decomposition by ` absorbing ' this small remainder . by an absorber for a @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath100 we mean a graph @xmath229 such that both @xmath229 and @xmath230 have a @xmath1-decomposition .
for any fixed @xmath100 we can construct an absorber @xmath229 .
but there are far too many possibilities for the remainder @xmath100 to allow us to reserve individual absorbers for each in advance .
to bridge the gap between the output of the approximate result and the capabilities of our absorbers , we use an iterative absorption approach ( see also @xcite and @xcite ) .
our guiding principle is that , since we have no control on the remainder if we apply the approximate decomposition result all in one go , we should apply it more carefully .
more precisely , we begin by partitioning @xmath76 at random into a large number of parts @xmath231 .
since @xmath83 is large , @xmath232 $ ] still has high minimum degree , and , since the partition is random , each @xmath233 $ ] also has high minimum degree .
we first reserve a sparse and well structured subgraph @xmath234 of @xmath232 $ ] , then we obtain an approximate decomposition of @xmath232 - j$ ] leaving a sparse remainder @xmath100 .
we then use a small number of edges from the @xmath233 $ ] to cover all edges of @xmath235 by copies of @xmath1 .
let @xmath236 be the subgraph of @xmath2 consisting of those edges not yet used in the approximate decomposition .
then all edges of @xmath236 lie in some @xmath237 $ ] , and each @xmath237 $ ] has high minimum degree , so we can repeat this argument on each @xmath237 $ ] .
suppose that we can iterate in this way until we obtain a partition @xmath238 of @xmath76 such that each @xmath239 has size at most some constant @xmath240 and all edges of @xmath2 have been used in the approximate decomposition except for those contained entirely within some @xmath239 .
then the remainder is a vertex - disjoint union of graphs @xmath241 , with each @xmath187 contained within @xmath239 . at this point
we have already achieved that the total leftover @xmath242 has only @xmath243 edges .
more importantly , the set of all possibilities for the graphs @xmath187 has size at most @xmath244 , which is a small enough number that we are able to reserve special purpose absorbers for each of them in advance ( i.e. right at the start of the proof ) .
the above sketch passes over one genuine difficulty .
recall that @xmath245 $ ] denotes the sparse remainder obtained from the approximate decomposition , which we aim to ` clean up ' using a well structured graph @xmath234 set aside at the beginning of the proof , i.e. we aim to cover all edges of @xmath246 with copies of @xmath1 by using a few additional edges from the @xmath233 $ ] .
so consider any vertex @xmath247 ( recall that @xmath139 ) . in order to cover the edges in @xmath246 between @xmath197 and @xmath80
, we would like to find a perfect @xmath248-matching in @xmath249 .
however , for this to work , the number of neighbours of @xmath197 inside each of @xmath250 must be the same , and the analogue must hold with @xmath80 replaced by any of @xmath251 .
( this is in contrast to @xcite , where one only needs that the number of leftover edges between @xmath197 and any of the parts @xmath146 is divisible by @xmath0 , which is much easier to achieve . )
we ensure this balancedness condition by constructing a ` balancing graph ' which can be used to transfer a surplus of edges or degrees from one part to another .
this ` balancing graph ' will be the main ingredient of @xmath234 .
another difficulty is that whenever we apply the approximate decomposition result , we need to ensure that the graph is @xmath1-divisible .
this means that we need to ` preprocess ' the graph at each step of the iteration .
the rest of this paper is organised as follows . in section [ sec : emb ] , we present general purpose embedding lemmas that allow us to find a wide range of desirable structures within our graph . in section [ sec
: absorb ] , we detail the construction of our absorbers . in section [ sec : partn ] , we prove some basic properties of random subgraphs and partitions . in section [
sec : degred ] , we show how we can assume that our approximate decomposition result produces a remainder with low maximum degree rather than simply a small number of edges . in section [ sec : pseud ] , we clean up the edges in the remainder using a few additional edges from inside each part of the current partition .
however , we assume in this section that our remainder is balanced in the sense described above . in section [ sec : bal ]
, we describe the balancing operation which ensures that we can make this assumption . finally , in section [ sec : proof ] we put everything together to prove theorem [ thm : main ] .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath252 and let @xmath253 be a partition of @xmath76 . recall that @xmath254 for each @xmath255 and each @xmath106 .
we say that a graph ( or multigraph ) @xmath100 is _ @xmath84-labelled _ if : a. every vertex of @xmath100 is labelled by one of : @xmath256 for some @xmath93 ; @xmath257 for some @xmath258 , @xmath106 or @xmath259 for some @xmath106;[label : a ] b. the vertices labelled by singletons ( called _ root vertices _ ) form an independent set in @xmath100 , and each @xmath93 appears as a label @xmath256 at most once;[label : b ] c. for each @xmath106 , the set of vertices @xmath260 such that @xmath197 is labelled @xmath261 for some @xmath262 forms an independent set in @xmath100.[label : c ] any vertex which is not a root vertex is called a _
free vertex_. let @xmath100 be a @xmath84-labelled graph and let @xmath263 be a copy of @xmath100 in @xmath2 .
we say that @xmath263 is _ compatible with its labelling _ if each vertex of @xmath100 gets mapped to a vertex in its label . given a graph @xmath100 and @xmath264 with @xmath265 )
= 0 $ ] , we define the _ degeneracy of @xmath100 rooted at @xmath89 _ to be the least @xmath266 for which there is an ordering @xmath267 of the vertices of @xmath100 such that * there is an @xmath268 such that @xmath269 ( the ordering of @xmath89 is unimportant ) ; * for @xmath270 , @xmath271 is adjacent to at most @xmath266 of the @xmath272 with @xmath273 .
the _ degeneracy of a @xmath84-labelled graph @xmath100 _ is the degeneracy of @xmath100 rooted at @xmath89 , where @xmath89 is the set of root vertices of @xmath100 . in the proof of lemma [ lem : mover2 ] ,
we use the following special case of lemma 5.1 from @xcite to find copies of labelled graphs inside a graph @xmath2 , provided their degeneracy is small .
moreover , this lemma allows us to assume that the subgraph of @xmath2 used to embed these graphs has low maximum degree .
[ lma : finding ] let @xmath274 and let @xmath2 be a graph on @xmath9 vertices .
suppose that : 1 . for each @xmath275 with @xmath276 , @xmath277 .
let @xmath278 and let @xmath241 be labelled graphs such that , for every @xmath279 , every vertex of @xmath187 is labelled @xmath256 for some @xmath93 or labelled by @xmath76 and that property above holds for @xmath187 .
moreover , suppose that : 1 . for each @xmath280 , @xmath281 ; 2 . for each @xmath282 ,
the degeneracy of @xmath187 ( rooted at the set of vertices labelled by singletons ) is at most @xmath266 ; 3 . for each @xmath93
, there are at most @xmath283 graphs @xmath187 with some vertex labelled @xmath256 .
then there exist edge - disjoint embeddings @xmath284 of @xmath241 compatible with their labellings such that the subgraph @xmath285 of @xmath2 satisfies @xmath286 .
we will also use the following partite version of the lemma to find copies of @xmath84-labelled graphs in an @xmath0-partite graph @xmath2 .
we omit the proof since it is very similar to the proof of lemma 5.1 in @xcite ( for details , see @xcite ) .
[ lem : emb ] let @xmath287 and let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath10 where @xmath20 .
let @xmath75 be a @xmath83-partition of @xmath76 .
suppose that : 1 . for each @xmath255 and each @xmath288 , if @xmath289 with @xmath290 then @xmath291.[lem : emb:1
] let @xmath292 and let @xmath293 be @xmath84-labelled graphs such that the following hold : 1 .
for each @xmath282 , @xmath294;[lem : emb:2 ] 2 . for each @xmath282 ,
the degeneracy of @xmath187 is at most @xmath266;[lem : emb:3 ] 3 . for each @xmath93
, there are at most @xmath283 graphs @xmath187 with some vertex labelled @xmath256.[lem : emb:4 ] then there exist edge - disjoint embeddings @xmath295 of @xmath293 in @xmath2 which are compatible with their labellings such that @xmath296 satisfies @xmath297 .
let @xmath100 be any @xmath0-partite graph on the vertex set @xmath298 .
an _ absorber for @xmath100 _ is a graph @xmath299 such that both @xmath299 and @xmath300 have @xmath1-decompositions .
our aim is to find an absorber for each small @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath100 on @xmath98 .
the construction develops ideas in @xcite . in particular
, we will build the absorber in stages using transformers , introduced below , to move between @xmath1-divisible graphs .
let @xmath100 and @xmath263 be vertex - disjoint graphs .
@xmath301-transformer _ is a graph @xmath302 which is edge - disjoint from @xmath100 and @xmath263 and is such that both @xmath303 and @xmath304 have @xmath1-decompositions .
note that if @xmath263 has a @xmath1-decomposition , then @xmath304 is an absorber for @xmath100 .
so the idea is that we can use a transformer to transform a given @xmath100 into a new graph @xmath263 , then into @xmath305 and so on , until finally we arrive at a graph which has a @xmath1-decomposition .
let @xmath306 . throughout this section , given two @xmath0-partite graphs @xmath100 and
@xmath263 on @xmath98 , we say that @xmath263 is a _ partition - respecting copy _ of @xmath100 if there is an isomorphism @xmath307 such that @xmath308 for every vertex @xmath309 .
given @xmath0-partite graphs @xmath100 and @xmath263 on @xmath98 , we say that @xmath263 is _ obtained from @xmath100 by identifying vertices _ if there exists a sequence of @xmath0-partite graphs @xmath310 on @xmath98 such that @xmath311 , @xmath312 and the following holds . for each @xmath313 ,
there exists @xmath314 and vertices @xmath315 satisfying the following : 1 .
@xmath316.[id:1 ] 2 .
@xmath317 is the graph which has vertex set @xmath318 and edge set @xmath319 ( i.e. , @xmath317 is obtained from @xmath187 by identifying the vertices @xmath320 and @xmath321 ) .
condition ensures that the identifications do not produce multiple edges .
note that if @xmath100 and @xmath263 are @xmath0-partite graphs on @xmath98 and @xmath263 is a partition - respecting copy of a graph obtained from @xmath100 by identifying vertices then there exists a graph homomorphism @xmath322 that is edge - bijective and maps vertices in @xmath259 to vertices in @xmath259 for each @xmath106 . in the following lemma
, we find a transformer between a pair of @xmath1-divisible graphs @xmath100 and @xmath263 whenever @xmath263 can be obtained from @xmath100 by identifying vertices .
[ lem : transformer ] let @xmath32 and @xmath323 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath306 with @xmath20 .
suppose that @xmath324 .
let @xmath100 and @xmath263 be vertex - disjoint @xmath1-divisible graphs on @xmath98 with @xmath325 .
suppose further that @xmath263 is a partition - respecting copy of a graph obtained from @xmath100 by identifying vertices .
let @xmath326 be a set of at most @xmath283 vertices .
then @xmath2 contains an @xmath327-transformer @xmath302 such that @xmath328 and @xmath329 . in our proof of lemma [ lem : transformer ]
, we will use the following multipartite asymptotic version of the hajnal szemerdi theorem .
[ thm : hajszem ] let @xmath330 and let @xmath331 .
suppose that @xmath2 is an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 and @xmath332 .
then @xmath2 contains a perfect @xmath1-matching .
lemma [ lem : transformer ] let @xmath333 be a graph homomorphism from @xmath100 to @xmath263 that is edge - bijective and maps vertices in @xmath259 to @xmath259 for each @xmath106 .
let @xmath302 be any graph defined as follows : a. for each @xmath334 , @xmath335 is a set of @xmath57 vertices . for each @xmath336 ,
let @xmath337.[transf0 ] b. for each @xmath336 , @xmath338 is a set of @xmath339 vertices .
c. for all distinct @xmath340 and all distinct @xmath341 , the sets @xmath342 , @xmath343 , @xmath344 , @xmath345 and @xmath346 are disjoint .
d. @xmath347.[transf1 ] e. @xmath348 and @xmath349.[transf2 ] f. @xmath350 and @xmath349.[transf4 ] g. @xmath351.[transf3 ] h. @xmath352.[transf5 ] i. @xmath353.[transf6 ] j. for each @xmath336 , @xmath354 is a perfect @xmath248-matching on @xmath355.[transf7 ] k. for each @xmath336 , @xmath356 is a perfect @xmath248-matching on @xmath344.[transf8 ] l. for each @xmath336 , @xmath354 and @xmath356 are edge - disjoint.[transf9 ] m. for each @xmath336 , @xmath357 is independent in @xmath354.[transf10 ] n. @xmath358.[transf12 ] then @xmath359 let @xmath360 be the subgraph of @xmath302 with edge set @xmath361 and let @xmath362 .
so @xmath363 . in
what follows , we will often identify certain subsets of the edge set of @xmath302 with the subgraphs of @xmath302 consisting of these edges .
for example , we will write @xmath364 $ ] for the subgraph of @xmath302 consisting of all the edges in @xmath365 between @xmath366 and @xmath344 .
note that there are several possibilities for @xmath302 as we have several choices for the perfect @xmath248-matchings in and .
lemma [ lem : transformer ] will follow from claims 1 and 2 below .
associated with @xmath367 .
right : subgraph of @xmath368 associated with @xmath336 in the case when @xmath369 . ]
* claim 1 : * _ if @xmath302 satisfies
, then @xmath302 is an @xmath327-transformer . _
_ proof of claim 1 .
_ note that @xmath370 can be decomposed into @xmath371 copies of @xmath1 , where each copy of @xmath1 has vertex set @xmath372 for some edge @xmath334 .
similarly , @xmath373 can be decomposed into @xmath371 copies of @xmath1 .
for each @xmath374 , note that @xmath375 \cup f^x_1 $ ] and @xmath364\cup f^x_2 $ ] are edge - disjoint and have @xmath1-decompositions .
since @xmath376 \cup f^x_1\big ) \cup \bigcup_{x\in v(h)}\big(e_s[\{x\ } , s^x]\cup f^x_2\big),\ ] ] it follows that @xmath377 has a @xmath1-decomposition .
similarly , for each @xmath374 , @xmath378 \cup f^x_1 $ ] and @xmath379\cup f^x_2 $ ] are edge - disjoint and have @xmath1-decompositions , so @xmath380 has a @xmath1-decomposition
. to summarise , @xmath370 , @xmath373 , @xmath381 and @xmath382 all have @xmath1-decompositions .
therefore , @xmath383 has a @xmath1-decomposition , as does @xmath384 .
hence @xmath302 is an @xmath385-transformer .
* claim 2 : * _ @xmath2 contains a graph @xmath302 satisfying such that @xmath328 . _
_ proof of claim 2 .
_ we begin by finding a copy of @xmath360 in @xmath2 .
it will be useful to note that , for any graph @xmath302 which satisfies
, @xmath360 is @xmath0-partite with vertex classes @xmath386 where @xmath106 . also , @xmath387 $ ] is empty and every vertex @xmath388 satisfies @xmath389 so @xmath360 has degeneracy @xmath390 rooted at @xmath346 .
since @xmath391 , we can find a copy of @xmath360 in @xmath2 such that @xmath392 .
we now show that , after fixing @xmath360 , we can extend @xmath360 to @xmath302 by finding a copy of @xmath368 .
consider any ordering @xmath393 on the vertices of @xmath100 .
suppose we have already chosen @xmath394 , @xmath395 and @xmath396 and we are currently embedding @xmath397 . let @xmath398 ; that is , @xmath399 is the set of vertices that are unavailable for @xmath397 , either because they have been used previously or they lie @xmath54 .
note that @xmath400 .
we will choose suitable vertices for @xmath397 in the common neighbourhood of @xmath401 and @xmath402 . to simplify notation , we write @xmath403 and assume that @xmath404 ( the argument is identical in the other cases ) .
choose a set @xmath405 which is maximal subject to @xmath406 ( recall that @xmath407 ) .
note that for each @xmath408 , we have @xmath409 let @xmath410 .
for every @xmath408 and every @xmath411 , we have @xmath412 roughly speaking , we will choose @xmath338 as a random subset of @xmath413 . for each @xmath408
, choose each vertex of @xmath414 independently with probability @xmath415 and let @xmath416 be the set of chosen vertices . note that , for each @xmath417 , @xmath418 .
we can apply lemma [ lem : chernoff2 ] to see that @xmath419 given a vertex @xmath93 and @xmath408 such that @xmath420 , note that @xmath421 we will say that a vertex @xmath93 is _ bad _ if there exists @xmath408 such that @xmath420 and @xmath422 , that is , the degree of @xmath197 in @xmath423 is lower than expected .
we can again apply lemma [ lem : chernoff2 ] to see that @xmath424 so @xmath425 . let @xmath426 .
we say that the set @xmath427 is _ bad _ if @xmath428 contains a bad vertex .
we have @xmath429 we apply and to see that with probability at least @xmath430 , the set @xmath427 chosen in this way is not bad and , for each @xmath408 , we have @xmath431 .
choose one such set @xmath427 .
delete at most @xmath432 vertices from each @xmath416 to obtain sets @xmath433 satisfying @xmath434 .
let @xmath435 .
since @xmath427 was not bad , for each @xmath408 and each vertex @xmath436 , @xmath437 we now show that we can find @xmath354 and @xmath356 satisfying . let @xmath438-g[z^x]$ ] .
note that @xmath439 is a balanced @xmath142-partite graph with vertex classes of size @xmath440 where @xmath441 .
using , we see that @xmath442 so , using theorem [ thm : hajszem ] , we can find a perfect @xmath248-matching @xmath354 in @xmath439 .
finally , let @xmath443 and use to see that @xmath444)\geq ( 1 - 1/(r-1)+\eps/3)s.\ ] ] so we can again apply theorem [ thm : hajszem ] , to find a perfect @xmath248-matching @xmath356 in @xmath445 $ ] .
in this way , we find a copy of @xmath302 satisfying such that @xmath328 .
we now construct our absorber by combining several suitable transformers .
let @xmath100 be an @xmath0-partite multigraph on @xmath446 and let @xmath367 .
@xmath1-expansion of @xmath188 _ is defined as follows .
consider a copy @xmath447 of @xmath1 on vertex set @xmath448 such that @xmath449 for all @xmath450 .
let @xmath451 be such that @xmath452 and @xmath453 .
delete @xmath188 from @xmath100 and @xmath454 from @xmath447 and add edges joining @xmath366 to @xmath455 and joining @xmath456 to @xmath457 .
let @xmath458 be the graph obtained by @xmath1-expanding every edge of @xmath100 , where the @xmath447 are chosen to be vertex - disjoint for different edges @xmath367 .
[ expand ] suppose that the graph @xmath263 is obtained from a graph @xmath100 by @xmath1-expanding the edge @xmath334 as above . then the graph obtained from @xmath263 by identifying @xmath366 and @xmath457 is @xmath100 with a copy of @xmath1 attached to @xmath366 .
let @xmath459 .
we define a graph @xmath460 as follows .
take a copy of @xmath1 on @xmath98 ( consisting of one vertex in each @xmath259 ) and replace each edge by @xmath461 multiedges .
let @xmath240 denote the resulting multigraph .
let @xmath462 be the graph obtained by @xmath1-expanding every edge of @xmath240 .
we have @xmath463 .
note that @xmath460 has degeneracy @xmath6 . to see this , list all vertices in @xmath464 ( in any order ) followed by the vertices in @xmath465 ( in any order ) .
we will now apply lemma [ lem : transformer ] twice in order to find an @xmath466-transformer in @xmath2 .
[ lem : embtransf2 ] let @xmath32 and @xmath323 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath306 with @xmath20 .
suppose that @xmath324 .
let @xmath100 be a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath98 with @xmath325 .
let @xmath467 .
let @xmath468 be a partition - respecting copy of @xmath460 on @xmath98 which is vertex - disjoint from @xmath100 .
let @xmath326 be a set of at most @xmath283 vertices .
then @xmath2 contains an @xmath469-transformer @xmath302 such that @xmath470 and @xmath471 .
we construct a graph @xmath472 as follows .
start with the graph @xmath100 .
for each edge of @xmath100 , arbitrarily choose one of it endpoints @xmath366 and attach a copy of @xmath1 ( found in @xmath473 ) to @xmath366 .
the copies of @xmath1 should be chosen to be vertex - disjoint outside @xmath474 .
write @xmath472 for the resulting graph .
let @xmath475 be a partition - respecting copy of @xmath458 in @xmath476 .
note that we are able to find these graphs since both have degeneracy @xmath6 and @xmath324 .
by fact [ expand ] , @xmath472 is a partition - respecting copy of a graph obtained from @xmath475 by identifying vertices , and this is also the case for @xmath468 . to see the latter , for each @xmath106 ,
identify all vertices of @xmath475 lying in @xmath259 .
( we are able to do this since these vertices are non - adjacent with disjoint neighbourhoods . )
apply lemma [ lem : transformer ] to find an @xmath477-transformer @xmath478 in @xmath479 such that @xmath480 and @xmath481 .
then apply lemma [ lem : transformer ] again to find an @xmath482-transformer @xmath483 in @xmath484 such that @xmath485 and @xmath486 .
let @xmath487 .
then @xmath302 is edge - disjoint from @xmath488 .
note that @xmath489 both of which have @xmath1-decompositions .
therefore @xmath302 is an @xmath469-transformer .
moreover , @xmath471 . finally , observe that @xmath490 .
we now have all of the necessary tools to find an absorber for @xmath100 in @xmath2 .
[ lem : absorber ] let @xmath32 and let @xmath323 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath306 with @xmath20 .
suppose that @xmath324 .
let @xmath100 be a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath98 with @xmath325 .
let @xmath326 be a set of at most @xmath283 vertices .
then @xmath2 contains an absorber @xmath299 for @xmath100 such that @xmath491 and @xmath492 .
let @xmath467 .
let @xmath493 .
write @xmath494 for the graph consisting of @xmath461 vertex - disjoint copies of @xmath1 . since @xmath495 , we can choose vertex - disjoint ( partition - respecting ) copies of @xmath460 and @xmath494 in @xmath236 ( and call these @xmath460 and @xmath494 again ) .
use lemma [ lem : embtransf2 ] to find an @xmath496-transformer @xmath478 in @xmath497 such that @xmath480 and @xmath498 .
apply lemma [ lem : embtransf2 ] again to find an @xmath499-transformer @xmath483 in @xmath500 which avoids @xmath54 and satisfies @xmath501 .
it is easy to see that @xmath502 is an @xmath503-transformer .
let @xmath504 .
note that both @xmath299 and @xmath505 have @xmath1-decompositions .
so @xmath299 is an absorber for @xmath100 .
moreover , @xmath506 and @xmath507 .
let @xmath508 be a collection of graphs on the vertex set @xmath306 .
we say that @xmath509 is an _ absorbing set for @xmath508 _ if @xmath509 is a collection of edge - disjoint graphs and , for every @xmath510 and every @xmath1-divisible subgraph @xmath511 , there is a distinct @xmath512 such that @xmath513 is an absorber for @xmath263 .
[ lem : absorbset ] let @xmath32 and @xmath514 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath306 with @xmath20 .
suppose that @xmath324 .
let @xmath292 and let @xmath508 be a collection of @xmath118 edge - disjoint graphs on @xmath306 such that each vertex @xmath515 appears in at most @xmath283 of the elements of @xmath508 and @xmath325 for each @xmath510 .
then @xmath2 contains an absorbing set @xmath509 for @xmath508 such that @xmath516 .
we repeatedly use lemma [ lem : absorber ] and aim to avoid any vertices which have been used too often . enumerate the @xmath1-divisible subgraphs of all @xmath510 as @xmath517 .
note that each @xmath510 can have at most @xmath518 @xmath1-divisible subgraphs so @xmath519 . for each @xmath93 and each @xmath520 , let @xmath521 be the number of indices @xmath522 such that @xmath523 .
note that @xmath524 .
let @xmath525 be such that @xmath526 .
suppose that we have already found absorbers @xmath527 for @xmath528 respectively such that @xmath529 , for all @xmath530 , and , for every @xmath93 , @xmath531 where @xmath532 .
we show that we can find an absorber @xmath533 for @xmath534 in @xmath535 which satisfies with @xmath417 replacing @xmath536 .
let @xmath537 .
we have @xmath538 we have @xmath539 so we can apply lemma [ lem : absorber ] ( with @xmath540 , @xmath541 , @xmath535 and @xmath534 playing the roles of @xmath165 , @xmath22 , @xmath2 and @xmath100 ) to find an absorber @xmath533 for @xmath534 in @xmath535 such that @xmath542 and @xmath543 .
we now check that holds with @xmath417 replacing @xmath536 . if @xmath544 , this is clear .
suppose then that @xmath545 .
if @xmath546 , then @xmath547 and @xmath548 .
so in all cases , @xmath549 continue in this way until we have found an absorber @xmath550 for each @xmath187 .
then @xmath551 is an absorbing set . using ,
@xmath552 as required .
in this section we consider a sequence @xmath553 of successively finer partitions which will underlie our iterative absorption process .
we will also construct corresponding sparse quasirandom subgraphs @xmath554 which will be used to ` smooth out ' the leftover from the approximate decomposition in each step of the process .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath252 .
@xmath555-partition _ for @xmath2 on @xmath252 is a partition @xmath75 of @xmath76 such that the following hold : 1 . for each @xmath288
, @xmath556 is an equitable partition of @xmath259 ( recall that @xmath139);[pa1 ] 2 . for each @xmath258 , @xmath557;[pa2 ] 3 . for each @xmath93 ,
each @xmath255 and each @xmath106 , @xmath558[pa3 ] 4 . for each @xmath255 ,
each @xmath106 and each @xmath559 , @xmath560.[pa4 ] we say that @xmath75 is a _ @xmath83-partition _ if it satisfies ( pa[pa1 ] ) and ( pa[pa2 ] ) .
the following proposition guarantees a @xmath561-partition of any sufficiently large balanced @xmath0-partite graph @xmath2 with @xmath26 . to prove this result
, it suffices to consider an equitable partition @xmath562 of @xmath259 chosen uniformly at random ( with @xmath563 ) .
[ prop : partition ] let @xmath564 .
there exists @xmath565 such that if @xmath566 and @xmath2 is any @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath252 with @xmath20 and @xmath26 , then @xmath2 has a @xmath567-partition , where @xmath568 .
we say that @xmath569 is an _
@xmath570-partition sequence _ for @xmath2 on @xmath10 if , writing @xmath571 , 1 . for each @xmath572
, @xmath573 refines @xmath574;[s2 ] 2 . for each @xmath572 and each @xmath575 , @xmath576 $ ] is an @xmath555-partition for @xmath577$];[s4 ] 3 . for each @xmath572 ,
all @xmath578 with @xmath579 , each @xmath575 , each @xmath580 $ ] and each @xmath581 , @xmath582[s3 ] 4 . for each @xmath583 and each @xmath106 , @xmath584 or @xmath585.[s5 ]
note that ( s[s4 ] ) and ( pa[pa2 ] ) together imply that @xmath586 for each @xmath572 , each @xmath587 and all @xmath12 . by successive applications of proposition [ prop : partition ]
, we immediately obtain the following result which guarantees the existence of a suitable partition sequence ( for details see @xcite ) .
[ lem : partseq ] let @xmath588 with @xmath589 and let @xmath590 .
there exists @xmath591 such that , for all @xmath592 , any @xmath1-divisible graph @xmath2 on @xmath10 with @xmath593 and @xmath26 has an @xmath594-partition sequence for some @xmath595 .
suppose that we are given a @xmath83-partition @xmath84 of @xmath2 .
the following proposition finds a quasirandom spanning subgraph @xmath53 of @xmath2 so that each vertex in @xmath53 has roughly the expected number of neighbours in each set @xmath596 .
the proof is an easy application of lemma [ lem : chernoff ] .
[ prop : random2 ] let @xmath597 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 .
suppose that @xmath84 is a @xmath83-partition for @xmath2 .
let @xmath598 be a collection of at most @xmath599 subsets of @xmath76
. then there exists @xmath600 $ ] such that for all @xmath106 , all distinct @xmath601 , all @xmath596 and all @xmath602 : * @xmath603}(x , u_j)| < \alpha |u_j|$ ] ; * @xmath604}(\{x , y\ } , u_j)| < \alpha |u_j|$ ] ; * @xmath605}(x , u_j))| < \alpha |u_j|$ ] ; * @xmath606}(y , s_j)| < \alpha n$ ]
. we need to reserve some quasirandom subgraphs @xmath554 of @xmath2 at the start of our proof , whilst the graph @xmath2 is still almost balanced with respect to the partition sequence .
we will add the edges of @xmath554 back after finding an approximate decomposition of @xmath607 $ ] in order to assume the leftover from this approximate decomposition is quasirandom .
the next lemma gives us suitable subgraphs for @xmath554 .
[ lem : randoms ] let @xmath608 .
let @xmath2 be an @xmath0-partite graph on @xmath10 with @xmath110 .
suppose that @xmath553 is a @xmath609-partition sequence for @xmath2 .
let @xmath571 and , for each @xmath610 , let @xmath611 $ ] .
then there exists a sequence of graphs @xmath612 such that @xmath613 for each @xmath147 and the following holds . for all @xmath614 , all @xmath288 , all @xmath615 , all distinct @xmath616 and all @xmath617 $ ] : 1 .
@xmath618;[lem : randoms : i ] 2 .
@xmath619;[lem : randoms : ii ] 3 .
@xmath620 , where @xmath621 if @xmath622 , @xmath623 and @xmath624.[lem : randoms : iii ] for @xmath614 , we say that the sequence of graphs @xmath625 is _ good _ if @xmath626 and for all @xmath186 , all @xmath106 , all @xmath575 , all distinct @xmath616 and all @xmath580 $ ] : 1 . and hold ( with @xmath147 replaced by @xmath627);[item : a ] 2 .
@xmath628;[item : b ] 3 .
if @xmath629 , @xmath630.[item : c ] suppose @xmath631 and we have found a good sequence of graphs @xmath632 .
we will find @xmath633 such that @xmath634 is good .
let @xmath615 , let @xmath635 be the empty set and , if @xmath636 , let @xmath637 be such that @xmath638 and let @xmath639 . apply proposition [ prop : random2 ] ( with @xmath640 , @xmath641 $ ] , @xmath642 $ ] and @xmath643 playing the roles of @xmath9 , @xmath2 , @xmath84 and @xmath598 ) to find @xmath644[{\mathcal{p}}_q[w]]=g_q[w]$ ] such that : latexmath:[\ ] ] so @xmath82\cup h$ ] has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1549 .
we now iterate lemma [ lem : big ] , applying it to each partition @xmath573 in a partition sequence @xmath553 for @xmath2 .
this allows us to cover all of the edges in @xmath1550 $ ] by edge - disjoint copies of @xmath1 , leaving only a small remainder in @xmath1551 $ ] .
[ lem : iteration ] let @xmath1552 .
let @xmath2 be a @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath10 with @xmath20 .
let @xmath553 be a @xmath1553-partition sequence for @xmath2 . for each @xmath614 ,
each @xmath106 , each @xmath1554 and each @xmath934 , let @xmath1478 be given .
let @xmath571 and , for each @xmath610 , let @xmath611 $ ] .
let @xmath612 be a sequence of graphs such that @xmath613 for each @xmath147 .
suppose the following hold for all @xmath614 , all @xmath1481 such that @xmath1248 , all @xmath615 , all distinct @xmath616 and all @xmath665 $ ] : 1 .
if @xmath636 , @xmath642 $ ] is a @xmath1555-partition for @xmath577$];[big : item:0 ] 2 . if @xmath1482 , @xmath1483;[big : item:1 ] 3 .
@xmath1556;[big : item:3 ] 4 .
@xmath1557[big : item:6 ] 5 .
if @xmath1488 , @xmath1558;[big : item:4 ] 6 . if @xmath670 , @xmath653 and @xmath671 , then @xmath1559 where @xmath621 if @xmath622 and @xmath623.[big : item:5 ] then there is a subgraph @xmath1560 $ ] such that @xmath101 has a @xmath1-decomposition .
we will use induction on @xmath1561 . if @xmath1562 , apply lemma [
lem : big ] ( with @xmath540 , @xmath1563 , @xmath1564 and the empty graph playing the roles of @xmath165 , @xmath84 , @xmath53 and @xmath140 ) to find @xmath1565 $ ] such that @xmath1566\cup h'$ ] has a @xmath1-decomposition . letting @xmath1567-h'\subseteq \bigcup_{u\in { \mathcal{p}}_\ell}g[u]$ ] , shows the result holds for @xmath1562 .
suppose then that @xmath1568 and the result holds for all smaller @xmath1561 .
note that for each @xmath106 , each @xmath1484 and each @xmath1569 , @xmath1570-r_2}(x , u_{j})\geq ( \hat\delta^\eta_{k_r}+\eps/3)|u_{j}|$ ] , since @xmath1571 satisfies and @xmath553 is a @xmath1572-partition sequence for @xmath2 .
so we may apply lemma [ lem : big ] ( with @xmath1573 , @xmath1563 , @xmath1564 , @xmath2 and @xmath1574)\cup r_2 $ ] playing the roles of @xmath165 , @xmath84 , @xmath53 , @xmath2 and @xmath140 ) to find @xmath1575-(g[{\mathcal{p}}_1]\cup r_2)$ ] such that @xmath1566\cup h'$ ] has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1518 and @xmath1576 .
let @xmath1577-h'=g-\bigcup { \mathcal{f}}_1 $ ] , so @xmath1578 is @xmath1-divisible .
observe that @xmath1579 $ ] , so @xmath1580 $ ] is @xmath1-divisible for each @xmath1569 .
consider any @xmath1569 .
we check that @xmath1581,{\mathcal{p}}_2[u ] , \dots , { \mathcal{p}}_\ell[u ] , r_2[u ] , \dots , r_\ell[u]\ ] ] satisfy the conditions of lemma [ lem : iteration ] . since @xmath1582 , @xmath1583 $ ] is a @xmath1584-partition for @xmath1580 $ ] .
for any @xmath1585 and any @xmath615 , @xmath1586=g[w]$ ] since @xmath1575 $ ] .
so holds and @xmath1583 , \dots , { \mathcal{p}}_\ell[u]$ ] is a @xmath1572-partition sequence for @xmath1580 $ ] . for , note that for any @xmath1587 , any @xmath106 , any @xmath1588 $ ] and any @xmath1589 , @xmath1590 .
are automatically satisfied . to see that holds ,
note that for any @xmath1591 and any @xmath1588 $ ] , @xmath1592=g_{q+1}[u']$ ] since @xmath1575 $ ] .
so we can apply the induction hypothesis to @xmath1580 , { \mathcal{p}}_2[u ] , \dots , { \mathcal{p}}_\ell[u ] , r_2[u ] , \dots , r_\ell[u]$ ] to obtain a subgraph @xmath1593}g^*[u']$ ] such that @xmath1580-h_u$ ] has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1594 .
set @xmath1595 .
then , @xmath1596 $ ] and @xmath101 has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1597 .
we are now ready to prove theorem [ thm : main ] . theorem [ thm : main ] let @xmath1598 and @xmath35 be such that @xmath1599 and choose additional constants @xmath1600 , @xmath1601 , @xmath860 , @xmath738 and @xmath83 such that @xmath1602 let @xmath2 be any @xmath1-divisible graph on @xmath10 with @xmath1603 and @xmath1604 .
apply lemma [ lem : partseq ] to find an @xmath1605-partition sequence @xmath553 for @xmath2 where @xmath595 .
so in particular , by ( s[s3 ] ) , for each @xmath1606 , all @xmath578 with @xmath579 , each @xmath1607 and each @xmath1608 , @xmath1609 let @xmath571 and @xmath611 $ ] for @xmath663 .
note that @xmath1610 ( with room to spare ) by proposition [ prop : extrem ] .
so we can apply corollary [ cor : randoms ] to find a sequence of graphs @xmath1611 such that @xmath613 for each @xmath614 and the following holds . for all @xmath614 , all @xmath664 , all @xmath615 , all distinct @xmath616 and all @xmath665 $ ] , @xmath1612 where @xmath621 if @xmath622 and @xmath623 .
let @xmath1613 : u\in { \mathcal{p}}_\ell\}$ ] .
each @xmath510 satisfies @xmath1614 .
note that @xmath1615-r_1 ) \geq ( \hat\delta^\eta_{k_r}+\eps)n-\lceil n / k \rceil -2\rho n>(1 - 1/(r+1)+\eps/2)n.\ ] ] so we can apply lemma [ lem : absorbset ] ( with @xmath1600 , @xmath860 , @xmath1616 and @xmath1566-r_1 $ ] playing the roles of @xmath22 , @xmath165 , @xmath1208 and @xmath2 ) to find an absorbing set @xmath509 for @xmath508 inside @xmath1566-r_1 $ ] such that @xmath1617 satisfies @xmath1618 .
let @xmath1619 . note that both @xmath2 and @xmath1620 are @xmath1-divisible , so @xmath1578 is @xmath1-divisible . since @xmath1618 and
@xmath1621 $ ] , @xmath553 is an @xmath1622-partition sequence for @xmath1578 . for each @xmath614 , each @xmath106 , each @xmath1554 and each @xmath934 , set @xmath1623 . using , and that @xmath1621 $ ]
, we see that @xmath1578 , the partition sequence @xmath553 and the sequence of graphs @xmath612 satisfy properties of lemma [ lem : iteration ] ( with @xmath1624 playing the role of @xmath165 ) .
so we may apply lemma [ lem : iteration ] to find @xmath1625 $ ] such that @xmath1626 has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1518 .
note that @xmath100 is a @xmath1-divisible subgraph of @xmath1627 $ ] , so for each @xmath583 , @xmath1628\subseteq g[u]$ ] is @xmath1-divisible .
since @xmath509 is an absorbing set for @xmath508 , it contains a distinct absorber for each @xmath1628 $ ] .
so @xmath1629 has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1528 .
thus @xmath1630 has a @xmath1-decomposition @xmath1631 .
we are grateful to peter dukes and richard montgomery for helpful discussions .
r. raman , the power of collision : randomized parallel algorithms for chaining and integer sorting . in _
foundations of software technology and theoretical computer science ( bangalore , 1990 ) _ , volume 472 of _ lecture notes in comput .
_ , pages 161175 .
springer , berlin , 1990 .
wilson , decompositions of complete graphs into subgraphs isomorphic to a given graph . in _ proceedings of the fifth british combinatorial conference ( univ .
aberdeen , aberdeen , 1975 ) _ , pages 647659 .
congressus numerantium , no .
xv , utilitas math .
, winnipeg , man . , 1976 . | arxiv |
cerebrospinal fluid ( csf ) leak is a major complication of skull base surgery , occurring after 10% of transcranial skull base procedures , with ranges from 1% to 30%.1
2
3
4 given the associated increased risk of central nervous system infection , prompt intervention often ensues following suspicion of a csf leak . during management of csf leak following skull base surgery
, one should be aware of a rare and underappreciated entity known as pseudo - csf rhinorrhea .
pseudo - csf rhinorrhea is a state of nasal mucosa hypersecretion resulting from autonomic dysregulation of the paranasal sinuses following skull base surgery or head trauma.5
6
7 this phenomenon was first described by cusimano and sekhar , who noted clear fluid hypersecretion without evidence of a dural csf leak following skull base procedures involving exposure of the petrous or cavernous internal carotid artery and transection of the greater superficial petrosal nerve.5 they hypothesized that the effect was due to injury to the periarterial sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers traveling to the nasal mucosa followed by aberrant reinnervation leading to a relative parasympathetic state .
they also noted that the nasal hypersecretion tended to be exacerbated by physical activity , elevated ambient or body temperature , and intense emotional experience .
additionally , bilateral nasal hypersecretion , interpreted as pseudo - csf rhinorrhea , has also been described in the setting of traumatic skull fractures , possibly due to injury to parasympathetic nerves synapsing at the sphenopalatine ganglion , an area prone to trauma.7
we present a case of pseudo - csf fluid rhinorrhea in a patient who underwent a transtemporal craniotomy for resection of a cerebellopontine angle mass
. the surgical intervention did not involve exposure of the petrous or cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery or injury to the greater superficial petrosal nerve , but it did involve dissection of a malignant invasive tumor from the facial and trigeminal nerves .
furthermore , the patient 's nasal fluid hypersecretion was exacerbated by mastication rather than physical activity , elevated ambient or body temperature , or intense emotions . given these distinct differences from previously described cases
, we hypothesize a novel mechanism of trigeminal facial cross - innervation to underlie pseudo - csf rhinorrhea in this patient .
a 46-year - old man presented with 1 month of right - sided suboccipital headache and right facial numbness .
neurologic examination revealed decreased facial sensation , greatest in the ophthalmic distribution , partial in the maxillary distribution , and spared in the mandibular region of the trigeminal nerve , and mild right - sided facial weakness .
magnetic resonance imaging ( mri ) revealed a 2.7 1.9 2.5 cm enhancing mass in the right cerebellopontine angle with significant surrounding edema and suggestion of dural enhancement entering the porus acusticus and meckel cave ( fig .
radiologic differential diagnosis included meningioma , vestibular schwannoma , extradural metastasis , or , less likely , a malignant glioma .
a transtemporal craniotomy with partial mastoidectomy was performed , with resection of an intra - axial mass that coated the trigeminal and vii / viii complex .
lymphoma was noted on the frozen diagnosis and confirmed on final pathology , with a decision to continue resection due to the significant amount of cerebellar edema .
a watertight primary dural closure supplemented with fibrin glue and dural substitute was performed after buttressing the mastoid air cells with fat .
sensation in the maxillary distribution of the right trigeminal nerve and facial nerve function both improved postoperatively .
( a ) axial t1-weighted gadolinium - enhanced magnetic resonance imaging ( mri ) demonstrating a right cerebellopontine angle lesion at initial presentation , extending from the mid - pons to lower pontomedullary junction , with enhancement noted to extend to the internal auditory meatus .
( b ) axial t2-weighted fluid - attenuated inversion recovery sequence demonstrating significant perilesional edema with partial effacement of the fourth ventricle .
( c ) postoperative gadolinium - enhanced mri with gross total resection of the tumor .
( d ) computed tomography cisternogram for work - up of right - sided clear rhinorrhea failed to demonstrate any contrast opacification of the right mastoid air cells , right middle ear , or adjacent sinuses . on postoperative day 9 ,
the patient noted clear fluid leakage from his right nostril that was initially exacerbated when moving into an upright position .
a lumbar drain was placed for presumed csf leak . however , computed tomography ( ct ) cisternogram failed to demonstrate any contrast opacification of the mastoid air cells , middle ear , or any other evidence of csf leak .
the patient subsequently underwent seven cycles of chemotherapy , during which he experienced intermittent clear right nasal drainage , provoked by prolonged mastication , and ceased promptly after finishing a meal .
no association with position , activity , ambient temperature , emotion , or lacrimation was noted .
the patient 's facial nerve function was noted to be symmetrical without evidence of significant right facial palsy on follow - up evaluations .
multiple ct and mri scans were negative for fluid collection in mastoid air cell , middle ear , eustachian tube , or paranasal sinuses .
sinusitis or any rhinologic infection was excluded , and there was no evidence of meningitis .
pseudo - csf rhinorrhea , as originally described , is diagnosed based on the following criteria : recent skull base surgery involving petrous or cavernous internal carotid artery , rhinorrhea ipsilateral to procedure , diminished or absent ipsilateral lacrimation , no signs of meningitis , and negative -2 transferrin testing of secreted fluid.5 it has been proposed to result from aberrant reinnervation of sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve fibers injured during skull base procedures with petrous or cavernous internal carotid artery exposure and sacrifice of the greater superficial petrosal nerve .
sympathetic innervation travels from the cervical sympathetic ganglia to the internal carotid artery to the oculomotor and trigeminal nerves to targets such as the paranasal sinus mucosa .
parasympathetic fibers travel from the superior salivatory nucleus to the nervus intermedius and facial nerve to the geniculate ganglion and greater superficial petrosal nerve before synapsing at the sphenopalatine ganglion to reach the paranasal mucosa .
interestingly , removal of either sympathetic input by stellate ganglion extirpation8 or parasympathetic input by sacrifice of the greater superficial petrosal nerve9 can result in nasal mucosa hypersecretion .
although abolition of sympathetic input logically leads to a relative parasympathetic state , it is not entirely clear why sectioning the greater superficial petrosal nerve would do the same .
hypotheses range from aberrant reinnervation leading to increased parasympathetic input , overcompensation of ancillary parasympathetic input , or hypersensitivity of postganglionic fibers arising from the sphenopalatine ganglion.5
6
nasal fluid secretion in the setting of pseudo - csf rhinorrhea is classically exacerbated by physical activity during which relative hyperemia of the nasal mucosa is not properly countered by the vasoconstrictive effects of sympathetic input .
increased ambient or body temperature along with intense emotional experiences have also been associated with nasal hypersecretion . in our case ,
the patient noted that his nasal secretion became most noticeable during mastication and would promptly resolve after he stopped chewing .
he also presented with a right facial nerve paralysis and trigeminal nerve sensory deficits in the maxillary and ophthalmic distribution , but there were no trigeminal motor deficits or atrophy of masseter or temporalis muscles .
the connection between trigeminal activation of muscles of mastication and nasal fluid secretion suggests a trigeminal - facial cross - innervation , a phenomenon not previously reported in the scientific literature .
such aberrant cross - innervation is often seen in the setting of synkinesis , or the involuntary motor innervation of a muscle upon activation of a nearby muscle .
synkinesis involving two cranial nerves , although less common , has also been reported between the trigeminal and oculomotor or abducens nerves.10
11
12 rubin et al reported facial - trigeminal synkinesis following resection of a trigeminal schwannoma through a transzygomatic temporal craniotomy , with resultant facial weakness and jaw deviation.13 electrophysiologic stimulation of the facial nerve resulted in activation of the masseter and temporalis muscles , suggesting facial nerve rewiring to control muscles typically innervated by the trigeminal nerve .
in contrast , the findings in our patient suggest that aberrant regeneration of the trigeminal and facial nerves may lead to trigeminal input on the autonomic nerve fibers of the facial nerve as demonstrated by the patient 's increased vasomotor fluid secretion in response to chewing .
our case suggests a novel presentation of facial - trigeminal cross - innervation leading to pseudo - csf rhinorrhea in the absence of injury to sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve fibers , which are most commonly injured during operation involving petrous bone removal , sacrifice of the greater superficial petrosal nerve , exposure of the petrosal segment of the internal carotid artery , or invasion of the cavernous sinus .
it is difficult to conclude whether this patient 's trigeminal - facial cross - innervation is the result of ephaptic transmission between damaged peripheral fibers or through central reorganization at the superior salivatory nucleus .
although synkinesis tends to be considered a result of peripheral regeneration , it has been shown to result from central lesions.14 electrophysiology studies may help distinguish between the two for cases recalcitrant to repeat diagnostic work - up .
empirical treatments , such as atropine , may also be efficacious from a physiologic standpoint .
pseudo - csf rhinorrhea is a rare but clinically important differential diagnosis for unilateral nasal secretion following skull base surgery .
work - up and treatment of presumed csf leaks presents significant morbidity for the skull base tumor patient population .
the limited literature on this entity proposes an underlying dysautonomia due to a constant association with violation of the cavernous sinus and greater superficial petrosal nerve .
the absence of these findings in our case in combination with the physiologic trigger of mastication prior to rhinorrhea suggests an alternative and novel mechanism of trigeminal and facial nerve cross - innervation .
early recognition and diagnosis of this important entity may spare patients from unnecessary invasive procedures . | pubmed |
Tag Archives: anachronisms
Dante and Derring-Do: The Master of Verona
adventure, anachronisms, astrology, book review, Dante, David Blixt, fate, feminism, fourteenth century, historical fiction, information dumps, narrative drive, Shakespeare, theatrical quality, unification of Italy, Verona
Review: The Master of Verona, by David Blixt
In 1314, Verona's master, Cangrande della Scala, extends patronage to Dante Alighieri, who has been banished from Florence, and his two surviving sons, Pietro, seventeen, and Jacopo, fourteen. The poet has recently published Inferno, to great renown and no little fear of heresy or impiety. But della Scala quickly realizes that Dante's not the only gifted member of the family, nor the most useful.
Rather, he fixes on Pietro, who longs to escape his father's shadow (while hoping pater will actually notice him one day and approve). And when Pietro falls in with two other youths — one noble, one from a merchant family pretending nobility — military adventure offers. Della Scala, a twenty-three-year-old wunderkind, dreams of uniting Italy under his banner. His approach to war, diplomacy, and familial politics has much to do with an ancient prophecy that says a figure called the Greyhound will realize that far-fetched scheme. He's magnetic, generous, and apparently scrupulous, a rare combination. Pietro's enthralled, and his passion takes him places, often alongside his new friends, the first he's ever had in his life.
Equestrian statue, no date, of Cangrande della Scala, Museo di Castelvecchio,
Verona (courtesy Eggbread, via Wikimedia Commons; public domain)
Between the derring-do, battle scenes, court intrigue, and the question of occupying many thinkers on the cusp of the Renaissance — do the stars foretell fate, or does free will have influence? — The Master of Verona makes for epic adventure. The thrumming plot, larger-than-life characters and perilous twists and turns evoke an approach like that of Dumas. The pages turn rapidly, numerous though they are. Astrology, poetry, chivalry, prophecy, and love figure here, all entertaining subjects, and I enjoy many of the characters, who take them seriously.
Besides Pietro and della Scala's sister, Katerina, I particularly like Dante himself, who unfortunately drops out of the narrative. Blixt portrays him as a self-absorbed narcissist conscious of his genius who has little time for his children, except when they disappoint him. The exception? His daughter, Antonia, who, at thirteen, keeps the booksellers in line and acts as self-appointed caretaker of her father's career. In letters, he calls her Beatrice, which she treasures. Katerina and Antonia are women ahead of their time, seeking power and influence denied them because of their gender.
Otherwise, the novel has wars, a horse race through the streets, trysts, duels, and every action conceivable. Not all are credible, and Pietro's powers can test belief, especially as he's received little schooling in the martial arts; but never mind. As an added conceit, Shakespearean characters and situations waft through the narrative, whether the plays belong to Vienna (Romeo and Juliet), or not (Othello, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing). Note that Blixt is an actor and director, and you can tell: His approach is theatrical, to say the least.
As a storyteller, he offers brio, panache, and a command of historical detail:
Inside the city walls, the streets were all but impassable. Spectators, gamblers, merchants, peasants, petitioners — all had traveled for days to vie for what lodging they could find. The decent rooms were already rented out to triple or quadruple capacity.… Many visitors, even noble ones, were forced to sleep on dirty floors, or in stables, where the beds were somewhat more comfortable. But fully half the people in the city were not sleeping. Other attractions called — treats and spectacles and mythical beasts, lights and sounds and smells.
However, as this passage suggests, Blixt sometimes trowels on the detail, drawing back the authorial focus and distancing the reader. This narrative technique, which can seem static, undermines the drive he achieves with the storyline and makes you work to stay connected. The author also indulges in information dumps, swelling the dialogue with facts and background, at which the reader's eye grows impatient. Or this reader's does. If these facts matter to the story, and I'm not sure they always do, better to show them through action, rather than have people explain them to each other.
I doubt fourteenth-century people, or those anytime, would speak the way Blixt has it, unless they're all pedants. Then again, these folk often think like moderns, however intently they hew to the philosophical framework of their era. Present-day vocabulary dots the dialogue, and when characters discourse on various subjects, they occasionally refer to knowledge that lies in the future. They also speak incorrect French, admittedly a minor quibble, though indicative of carelessness of writer or editor that emerges elsewhere.
But it's the discursive, lecturing quality that hampers the novel most. The final chapters are particularly striking for that, as the narrative struggles to wrap up convolutions and contradictions through speechmaking. It's an unsatisfying, melodramatic conclusion.
For a wild, evocative ride, in which action carries the day, The Master of Verona makes for entertaining reading. Less would have achieved more.
Her Story: The Silence of the Girls
"women who cause trouble", Achilles, Agamemnon, anachronisms, book review, Briseis, chauvinism, enslavement, feminism, male ownership of history, Pat Barker, Patroclus, rape, Trojan War
Review: The Silence of the Girls, by Pat Barker
Readers familiar with the Trojan War myths will recognize the name Briseis as belonging to the woman captured by Achilles and taken by Agamemnon, an insult that results in a fateful quarrel. Achilles sulks, and in his absence from the battlefield, the Greeks suffer reversals, the most serious of which is Patroclus's death. In the traditional telling, the woman herself is a thing, a bauble to be claimed, hardly worth mentioning except the trouble she causes.
But in this beautifully imagined, finely wrought novel, Briseis has her say. And when she does, she speaks for all women, those of Troy and elsewhere, of queens like herself and commoners. As she remarks with incisive bitterness, when bards craft the songs of great deeds and heroes, they don't mention the truth of conquest, "the massacres of men and boys, the enslavement of women and girls." Needless to say, neither Briseis nor her sisters in captivity cause any trouble, but even the presumption that they do suggests the tremendous power that men have — to tell the story of their battles, as though those were the only ones fought, or theirs the only story.
Achilles surrenders Briseis to Agamemnon, first-century fresco from Pompeii (courtesy Naples National Archeological Museum, via Wikimedia Commons)
Utterly engrossing from its first words, The Silence of the Girls begins with Achilles laying siege to Briseis's home city, Lyrnessus. She hears his voice, his war cry, before she even sees him, and what will happen is never in doubt. After the battle comes the looting:
Gangs of men were dragging heavy loads out of the buildings – carved furniture, bales of rich cloth, tapestries, armour, tripods, cooking cauldrons, barrels of wine and grain. Now and then, the men would sit down and rest, some on the ground, some on the chairs and beds they'd been carrying. They were all swigging wine straight from the jug, wiping their mouths on the backs of their bloodstained hands, getting steadily and determinedly drunk. And more and more often, as the sky started to fade, they gazed up at the slit windows of the citadel where they knew the women would be hiding.. . . For hours, I watched them strip houses and temples of wealth that generations of my people had worked hard to create, and they were so good at it, so practised. . . . And then they turned their attention to us.
As this description suggests, Barker writes as if she's actually seen everything that goes on, known all these mythical characters from personal experience. Achilles, a killing machine of great physical beauty but no heart save for love of Patroclus, his childhood friend, makes a disturbingly believable portrait. He's difficult to sympathize with, considering his ego, merciless outlook, and selfishness, yet you also understand how he's never grown up — and even realizes it, a little. Barker astutely wonders what it must have been like for Achilles to have a goddess for a mother, and what that must have done to his psyche. Patroclus is much kinder; he almost sees Briseis as a person — almost. Agamemnon's a loser, a bully said not to risk his skin in battle, and as such, fears that others will see his weakness.
The protagonist, meanwhile, refuses to accept her fate, as Patroclus counsels her to do in her first hours as a slave. Her struggles to cope with how it feels to be unseen, unheard, raped nightly by the man who killed her brothers, knowing that however bad her life is, it could be worse — Achilles could tire of her and hand her to his men — speak loudly. It's her story, all right, and she makes the most of it. Barker does follow the myth, but there are so many unexpected moments within that framework that nothing feels predictable.
In that, I'm reminded of my favorite Trojan War novels, The War at Troy, by Lindsay Clarke, and The Songs of the Kings, by Barry Unsworth. But I think Barker goes one better; it's my favorite of hers since Regeneration. Neither Clarke nor Unsworth would have allowed the few anachronisms in which Barker indulges — a fist pump, Briseis's knowledge that rats and plague go together, and, most important (and pervasive), modern British slang. Some readers will be put off by that, and at first, it pushes you out of the narrative — a definite no-no — but these soldiers talk like soldiers, and they seem entirely credible.
The Silence of the Girls may not be perfect, but it's pretty damn close. | slim_pajama |
What makes ABS plastic turn yellow?
If you owned old kitchen appliances or old computer you might notice that they the once cream white plastic become increasingly yellow, old and disgusting. I have read that UV lighting can damage plastics as they disrupt the structure of plastics but what really is at play here? What chemical reactions are happening? Are such damages reversible?
What you're specifically describing is typically known as UV degradation. The color change is due to the oxidation of the polymers that make up the plastic. These chemical reactions are demonstrated in satisfying detail [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4320144/). Under the section titled "Photodegradation" is where you can find the intricacies of the polymer-oxidation process. And yes, such damages are reversible. As you will read, the oxidation process results in the formation of free radicals, which are "atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons," to quote Wikipedia's definition. The formation of these radicals is the reason for the color change (since certain light gets reflected because of these new molecules, in many cases yellow light, etc...)
To get rid of the radicals, you can add hydrogen peroxide, which allows hydrogen to bond with the radical (hydrogen has an additional electron), thus de-yellowing the plastic. This is demonstrated [here](http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html).
As a further note, UV degradation is not the only process that makes plastics turn yellow, as you will probably read in that paper. There are also processes like biodegradation and mechanical degradation that are similar to photodegradation but still have their own cool processes.
Your initial question was "What makes ABS plastic turn yellow." I should point out that the first few words of the second link read "Manufacturers add bromine to ABS plastic to act as flame retardant. Over time, those chemicals react to the plastic's basic polymers and turn yellow." Ergo, there is probably more to the yellowing of *ABS plastic* in particular than just photodegradation.
Lastly, I should point out that the yellowing of plastic needn't happen in the presence of oxygen. But again, that is addressed beautifully in the paper.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
you're stunning!!😱🥰 i love me some eco! what leave in do you like best for underneath??
How does this compare to the olive oil?
Gorgeous wash and go! Love!
Looks great. Wow! I dont like the smell of weed so I'm sure the smell would get to me.
Excellent , but my wash n go's never come out like I want and I think we have similar textures…I'm going to try again though!!!
I am glad it worked out for you, I always wonder how many of the POSITIVE ingredients contained in ECOSTYLER products. They brag about having all these great oils, but often contain VERY little.
Those curls 😍😍😍. When you put that gel on that first section I knew your hair would come out great! I picked up the gel too, I wasn't super excited the first time I tried it, but now I'm going to revisit it😍. & Yes the smell can be a bit much!! | slim_pajama |
Dinaraea aequata is a species of rove beetles native to Europe.
References
Category:Staphylinidae
Category:Beetles described in 1837
Category:Beetles of Europe | wikipedia |
Dragon Age Warden's Nightmare
A/N: So apparently the way to get me to WRITE fanfiction is to have my internet quit on me while looking at gifs of gay porn on tumblr. And I'm in bed so I don't want to move to disturb the animals or my boyfriend who are all asleep while I'm awake. At any rate, I was playing through DA:O again and was reminded wardens have nightmares. So, I decided to write about Hawke comforting Anders after one such occasion.
* * *
Warden's Nightmare
Anders tossed and turned in his sleep, that was normal. Hawke never paid much attention to it. But some nights it was far worse. He'd be thrashing back and forth across the bed, muttering in his sleep. These were the times Hawke knew Anders was really not okay.
As they lay down to go to bed, there was nothing abnormal about any part of the evening. It had been quiet for them, Anders reading by the firelight, while Hawke sat beside him stealing kisses and reading letters he'd received.
"Anders, perhaps it's time to rest?" Hawke said with a yawn. He looked to his lover, who was still nose deep in a book.
"Just one more page Hawke," he replied.
"You said that an hour ago." Anders looked up and smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry. It's a good book."
"I hope it's a really good book, because I'm far too tired to do anything else tonight but lie down and sleep," Hawke said with a mocking tone in his voice. The blond mage gave a low growl.
"Come on then, sleep. It's good for you, I promise." Hawke undressed himself, and then turned his attention to Anders, removing his robes and gently kissing along the mage's jawline.
"Hawke…" he whined.
"Come on now, time to sleep." Hawke lay in their bed, pulling back the covers for Anders to join. Somewhat reluctantly, Anders joined. He settled himself into Hawke's arms and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Hawke felt movement beside him. And his chest was cold. He slowly started to awaken at the realization that Anders wasn't in his arms.
"Anders?" He asked quietly. No response. Slowly, he rolled onto his side, reaching out with his opposite arm trying to find his lover. His hand met flesh, coated in sweat, and very warm, still shaking. Hawke moved gently toward the mage, placing his hand on the other man's shoulder.
"Anders?" he questioned again. Still no response. Anders was muttering something under his breath, but Hawke couldn't tell what it was. He gently shook his lover and whispered his name again.
"Anders, wake up my love." He rolled Anders onto his back to find he was still shaking and was way too hot. Hawke pulled him into his arms, and cast the blankets aside.
"It's okay, I'm here, and nothing will harm you as long as I am here." Anders shaking slowed, and he started to move in a less unintentional manner. Hawke brushed Anders' hair out of his face and caressed his cheek.
"I'm right here Anders, talk to me," Hawke said in a soft, even tone. Anders eyes slowly opened, meeting Hawke's.
"I… I'm sorry."
"Shhhh. It's a nightmare. Not much you can do to control that now, my love." The blond slowly sat up and leaned against the pillows next to Hawke.
"Not a normal nightmare though."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Anders sighed.
"It's another one of the many gifts the Grey Wardens gave me." Hawke nodded, and took Anders' hand in his.
"Well you're safe with me. I'll protect you," He said pulling Anders into his lap. Hawke wrapped his arms around the mage's waist, and gently kissed his neck. Anders leaned back into his lover's embrace, accepting that he was safe.
"I don't know how I'd go on without you Hawke."
"Luckily you won't have to," he replied with a squeeze to Anders' waist.
"Don't make promises you can't keep…"
"Anders, I can keep that promise. Whatever happens to me, whatever happens to you, I'll make sure we're always together."
"What if you stop loving me?" Anders asked with tears starting to form in his eyes.
"Anders… I could never stop loving you. Hell, you're all I have left. My father died, my brother and sister, my mother, even my home was taken from me. So I will do everything I can to make sure you're not taken from me. I'd rather die than lose you."
"What if… what if I did something…. Something unforgiveable?"
"Anders, I love you. Unconditionally. I love you even when Justice takes over. Even if you lose yourself, I know your heart." Tears slid down Anders cheeks. Hawke gently brushed them away.
"No need for that, have you never had someone's love before?"
"I don't really remember my parents… so no, not really. Not love. Lust yes, comfort in someone else's arms. But it was always for a short time." Hawke kissed him, tenderly, sweetly.
"Well this is not for a short time, and yes, there's lust and comfort… but this is love Anders. It doesn't go away just because you hurt me. And it didn't appear overnight. I made it for a long time without you, but knowing what it's like to be with you, I don't want to live without you again. So to whatever end, I will be yours. I don't care if that means we run forever, I will stay with you. And if you decide you're making your last stand, expect me to be there beside you." Anders laid his head against Hawke's chest.
"You have no idea what that means to me…"
"I do. I know exactly how much it means. That's why I'm telling you. I'm here. No matter what happens." Anders fingers trailed from Hawke's stomach to his collar.
"And all of this…?" Hawke smiled.
"Yours. Always yours."
"You know, you sent me to bed without desert, and that wasn't very nice of you," he commented. Hawke laughed.
"So I did. Well, you want something? Take it." The mage's deft fingers found Hawke's pants quickly. He untied the laces holding them to Hawke's waist and gently pulled them down, revealing his lover's cock. Anders straddled Hawke's hips, holding the darker haired man's face as he leaned in closer. Hawke closed the gap, and sucked on Anders' lower lip.
"Hawke…"
"Yes my love?" Hawke replied, his lips still almost touching Anders.
"Why did you choose me?" Hawke tilted Anders chin up, so they were looking into each other's eyes.
"Because when I look in your eyes, I can feel the world crumble at my feet. It doesn't matter what else is around, if I have you, _I can destroy anything that stands in our way._" Hawke didn't let Anders speak again, as he pressed his lips against the blond mage's with force. Anders didn't care in the least bit. A shiver went up his spine as Hawke's hand slid into his pants. Hawke rubbed and kneaded the skin above Anders' cock, teasing him. Moans escaped Anders lips as his lover's fingers grazed his steadily growing erection.
"Hawke please…" He moaned. Hawke slid down Anders' pants, and squeezed his ass.
"Please what?" Hawke whispered against his lover's neck.
"Take me…"
"Not yet," he replied as he gently rubbed at Anders' hole. His back arched and he wrapped his arms around Hawke's neck, one hand pulling on dark hair. Anders wasn't taking 'not yet' as an answer. He pushed Hawke into the mattress, yanking his pants off and pulling Hawke's down to expose all of his hardened cock.
"Aggressive tonight hmm?" Hawke didn't mind, he got even more turned on when Anders took control. Expecting to be pounded into the mattress, Hawke took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Instead, he felt a liquid being poured over his dick, and looked down right as Anders started to slide over him. Hawke contained himself enough to not cum before he'd even started, but he wasn't expecting what he got at all.
"Oh Maker…" he sighed. Anders slid further down, until Hawke was buried in his ass. Hawke gently placed his hands on his lover's hips, prepared to take some of the pressure off of Anders' knees. Once again, Hawke was denied, as Anders started riding him like he'd never ridden Hawke before, his hands planted firmly on Hawke's chest.
"Anders…" he moaned as his hands fell to the blond's thighs. One of Hawke's hands slid around his waist and up his back, nails gently scratching at the soft flesh.
"Hawke I can't… I…" Hawke took this moment of weakness to flip Anders backwards, so he was on top and in control again.
"Shhh just lay back and enjoy it," he whispered against his lover's lips. Hawke thrust into him, getting something between a moan and a scream from his blond mage. He moved a little faster, holding Anders down. As he started to get weaker and closer to the edge, he laid on Anders, only allowing some of his weight to be on the man below him. When he knew Anders was okay with this position, Hawke started to move his hips again, his face buried in Anders' neck. He kissed the tender skin, listening to the wonderful noises Anders was making.
"Hawke... Hawke… I can't last much longer…"
"It's okay to let go," Hawke replied in a low tone. He was almost done too. Anders reached his climax first, white and sticky cum trickling out onto his stomach and Hawke's chest. Hawke wasn't far behind, and slowed to a stop, clutching Anders against him. He kissed his blond lover tenderly as he pulled out. Both men lay back on the bed, Anders clinging to his lover's waist, head on his chest.
"I love you Hawke," he said quietly. Hawke slid his hand into Anders' hair, the other on his waist.
"I love you too Anders." Hawke ran his fingers though blond hair, and pulled the blanket back around himself and his lover. He rested his forehead against Anders', and looked out the window to see the sun starting to rise.
"A beautiful morning," Anders said.
"Not near as beautiful as you." Hawke kissed Anders again, holding him tight.
"You're too good to me Hawke."
"I'd be a terrible lover if I wasn't," the darker haired man replied.
"You are certainly not a terrible lover." Hawke laughed.
"Not what I was meaning… but I appreciate the compliment. You're pretty amazing yourself."
Hawke knew that Anders wasn't a perfect man, nor did he expect him to be as such. He himself wasn't perfect either. But at least together they make it through.
* * *
A/N: Thanks for reading! :D Reviews are appreciated!
End file.
| fanfiction |
A song of Ice and Fire 1. Chapter 1
GENDRY
_She was standing 5 feet away from him. She wore a tunic and breeches, her needle strapped to her hip. Her cropped hair was tangled and she was covered in dirt. _
_Gendry began walking towards her, his hand reaching out for his lost friend. Her grey eyes met his blue ones. _
"_Arya" he said, reaching out for her , beginning to hold her in an embrace._
_She stepped back, rejecting his embrace. She just stared at him. Her grey eyes filled with betrayal."You did this to me" she said._
_Gendry was confused for a moment and then he saw it. There was blood gushing out from her abdomen at unnatural speed. He could feel the hot tears on his face. "NO!" he screamed. "No Arya! Please!" he didn't know what he was asking of her. Asking her not to die? Not to leave him again?_
"_If it wasn't for you, I would have never left. The hound would have never found me and I'd still be alive." She accused. Her hands clutched her stomach, in an attempt to stop the bleeding. She looked back up at him and then it all happened so suddenly. Her head rolled off from her body, right in front of his feet. The tiny girl's body fell down to the floor, amerced with blood._
_Gendry looked up and saw the hound in front of him. His sword was dripping in the blood of his old friend, the blood of the girl he had come to love. He was smiling, no laughing. "You did this to her, boy" he accused. He continued to laugh._
_Gendry did not have a weapon in his hand. No sword, no spear, not even his hammer. But he still charged the hound, seeking revenge for the girl that he just murdered. The hound did not even flinch. He drew his sword and slashed it at Gendry._
He woke up in a thick layer of sweat._ "It was a dream"_ he said to himself. But at the same time it hadn't been, Arya was dead and even though the hound was the one to take her life, it had been Gendry's fault. Dream Arya was right, If he hadn't been so mean to her, she would have never ran off, the hound would have never captured her and she would still be alive.
He was jealous that day. Lord Beric squire, Edric Dayne had been talking with Arya. He was a Lord, she was a lady, practically a princess and he was nothing but a blacksmith. A bastard. After they returned Arya back to her mother and her brother Robb (the king of the North) she'd probably get married to Edric and become Lady Dayne.
She was upset when Edric told her who the lady was that sired a bastard with her father. Gendry snorted and told her something along the lines of that at least her father kept Jon, his father just abandoned him. "But he's dead." Gendry recalled saying, "and your father's dead too, so what does it matter who he lay with." Gendry regretted the words right after he said them. He knew Arya loved her father and was present the day the Lannisters executed him. Yoren had prevented her from watching the actual beheading but she was still there. She heard the sword that took her father's head, the cheers of the crowd. Gendry opened his mouth to begin to apologize but she ran off. They let her go. They knew she was upset and knew that Arya just needed a couple of minutes to herself. They knew she would come back to them when she was ready. But she never came back. Harwin, Anguy, Lem and Lord Beric went to go look for her, while the others set up camp. They'd find her Gendry said to himself and then she'll run into Edric's arms and become his lady wife, he thought bitterly.
Eventually the riders came back, Arya was not with them. She must have ran off, to find her family, herself. She'd find her way home, probably following the stupid moss or the trident.
A couple of days later, they looked into the fires. Lord Beric did not see anything that night but Gendry did. He was shocked, he saw a little figure in the flames running. Some boy, Gendry thought at first, but when the flames got clearer he knew it was no boy at all, it was Arya. There was a battle commencing around her and Arya was running the wrong way. She was running towards the battle, towards the castle. Tears rolling down her eyes and then she fell to the floor. The hound stood over her body, clutching an axe in his hand, towering over the limp girl.
Not long after that night that they heard about the Red Wedding. Arya's brother was slain, they cut off his head and sowed on the head of his direwolf in place. They slit her mother's throat and dumped her naked body into the river. Some people claimed they saw the hound there as well. The brotherhood questioned every man, asking if they saw a little girl or a little boy with the hound. Gendry walked away. Fighting back the tears, he knew the answer. He saw it in the fires. The hound killed Arya, hit her over the head with an axe. She was gone. The lost lady was dead and it was all Gendry's fault. He never told anyone about the vision in the fire, so they never abandoned their search to find Arya. They didn't know she was dead. So after sleeping at an inn for a night, Gendry did not rejoin the brotherhood to resume their search for Arya. He stayed at the inn and had never left.
Gendry left his bed and made towards the kitchen. Grabbing a skin of wine and amercing himself in it. He remembered the first day the brotherhood had arrived back with the Lady Stoneheart. She was supposed to be Arya's mother, but she was nothing but a rotting corpse. Lord Beric had gave his last life to bring back Arya's mother and she was determined to find her daughters and seek revenge for every man to harm her family.
Gendry shivered and took another swing at the wine skin. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. Gendry's thoughts kept returning to the day he last saw Arya. The day she ran off. He kept on thinking if only he wouldn't have been an arse, she would still be here. Yes, she might have been married to Edric Dayne, but she'd still be alive. He longed to see her again: her smile, her scowl, those dark grey eyes. He would do anything to just see her one last time, to hold her in his arms and tell her he was sorry. But he never could. It had been 7 years since the night of the Red wedding. Gendry had been two and twenty and Arya had just been dead.
"May I have a sip?" a soft voice called behind him.
Gendry turned around and saw a girl behind him. She was wearing a long black night gown that clung tight to her body. He could make out her round hips and the buldge of her breasts. Her long brown hair covering the top of her breasts.
_Jeyne. _
She had played this game before. Painting her face, wearing revelling clothing. All in an attempt to seduce Gendry. She loved him. Gendry knew that and she knew, he knew it, as well. A couple of years ago, she had come down to the forge and they had kissed. It was a soft and tender kiss, after Gendry pulled away and opened his eyes, he saw Arya's face. He gasped and walked away, leaving Jeyne all alone in the forge. She never gave up though. She would always seek Gendry out and try to recreate that moment.
Gendry wanted to love Jeyne, the way she loved him. He had kissed plenty of girls before, back in King's Landing, even bedded a couple of them. But everything had changed after he met Arya. He couldn't do it with the whore in the brothel and he couldn't do it now, with Jeyne. His heart belonged to someone else. It belonged to a girl who had been dead for 7 years ago and as much as he tried to move on, to forget her, he couldn't. He would always love Arya and she would be the only girl he would ever love.
He handed her the wine skin, but she did not take it. She just wrapped her hands around Gendry's waist, laying her head on his bare chest. "Why are you up so early?" she asked him.
"Couldn't sleep" he muttered. Suddenly aware of the state of his clothing. He was wearing nothing but his small clothes.
Jeyne squeezed him tighter, neither could I. She reached up and brushed her lips against Gendry's. Normally, he would walk away, leaving Jeyne were she stood or telling her that he did not want her that way. But he just stood there, letting Jeyne press kisses to his face and neck.
_Arya is dead._ He thought to himself. _She's gone and she's never coming back._
Gendry cupped Jeyne's face and kissed her. His tongue sliding into her mouth, meeting hers. Jeyne gasped and pulled him closer, wrapping her hands around his neck. Gendry lifted her up, his hands holding onto each of her thighs, carrying her towards his chamber.
The sun beamed down on them, after they were done. His seed still wet on Jeyne`s curls. She was tracing patterns on his chest with her finger. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist and the other tucked under his head. Jeyne kept pressing kisses onto his chest. "I love you" she stated.
Gendry said nothing, just squeezed her tighter bringing her closer to his chest. He wanted to say I love you too, but he couldn`t. His heart had turned to stone 7 years ago and not even Jeyne could awaken it. She was so beautiful and she wanted him. He wanted nothing more than to want her too, to be with someone, to be with anyone. But he didn`t want her and he didn't love her. He closed his eyes thinking about the girl he lost, the only person his heart would ever beat for.
2. Chapter 2
ARYA
_The deer sprinted into a run. He was fast, but she was faster. She pounced on the deer, pinning it to the ground, it began to struggle. She sunk her teeth into his stomach, ripping out a large chunk of flesh. The taste of warm blood filled her mouth._
_The deer wailed and struggled harder, attempting to run free from his predator. She swallowed the meet in her mouth and tore into the deer's neck. It lay limp. _
_She noticed a small pack of wolves eyeing her prey. She bared her teeth and growled, so they ran off. _
_She knew the pack of wolves very well, she was once their pack leader. But she left them. She was now a lone wolf. She longed for her old pack, her first pack, her family. But now two of them were dead and the rest separated. _
_She turned her attention back on the food laying in front of her. She sunk her teeth into the corpse and resumed her meal._
The girl stirred awake in bed. _The wolf dreams again_, she thought to herself. Her eyes remained shut, the blanket still covering her body.
Those dreams didn't belong to her, they belonged to Arya Stark. A girl who was long gone.
She repeated the same speech, she gave herself every morning. You are not a wolf, you are no one. No one's do not have wolf dreams nor dreams about their family. No one's do not dream, for they have nothing to dream about.
Yet every night before bed, she said her prayers. Listing the people she vowed to kill. The people that meant nothing to her, but the people who Arya Stark had sworn to seek revenge on. Every night she would have her wolf dreams or dreams about the family she once had. Her father appeared in a lot of her dreams.
_No._ She said to herself. _Not her father, Ned Stark_. The man who had been beheaded almost 8 years ago. He wasn't anything to her, he was Arya Stark's father, not hers. And yet when she'd wake after those dreams she would be on the brink of tears. _Not today._ She'd always say to herself.
She opened her eyes and what she saw shocked her. She let out a gasp. She could... see? The girl who had been blind for 7 years could suddenly see again.
She raced out of bed, down the hall into the bathroom. She was nude, but she didn't care, no one came down these halls so early in the morning and even if they did, they paid no mind to her.
When she looked into a mirror she saw a stranger. She still looked much the same, as she last remembered. She was a tiny slip of a girl, with fair, smooth skin, who bore a couple of scars on her torso. She now had a slight curve of hips. Not as much as other women her age had, but more then she had when she had been a little girl.
Her age? She was now seven and ten. A woman grown. She had flowered 5 years past and now bore curls in between her legs and small round breasts. The baby fat she had was now gone, she could clearly see the shape of her bones and her muscles on her skin. She examined her face more closely. Her lips were fuller, she had bigger cheek bones and her face was more angular. Her brown hair, once tangled, dirty and cropped short; had grown slightly below her breasts now. Her curls were neat and covered her tiny breasts. She ran her fingers through her hair, it was smooth and shiny.
She felt like Sansa, she would stare in the mirror for hours admiring her beauty and that's what Arya was doing now. She never much cared for looks before but it always hurt her when people called her Arya underfoot or Arya horseface. She would pretend like it didn't phase her, but it always did. Although, no one could be saying the same thing to her now. She might have not been as pretty as her Sansa or how her mother had been. But she was still a pretty girl, perhaps like her aunt Lyanna.
_No. _She didn't have an aunt, she didn't know a Sansa and she wasn't Arya. She was no one. She ran back into her room donned her small clothes and her robe. The robe people wore who served the house of Black and White, the temple of the many faced God.
She made her way downstairs to go see the kindly old man, to tell him that she could see again. Once she reached his room she froze dead in her tracks. He was standing there at the door waiting for her, knowing that she was coming. He held a sword in his hand, but not any kind of sword.
_Needle._
They didn't do anything but stare at each other for a while. She could hear her heart thumping loudly in her chest, but she didn't move. Just stood there looking at the kindly old man with the sword in his hand,
"Who are you?" he finally asked. They had this conversation daily. He would ask her who she was and she would respond, stating she was no one. He would accuse her of lying and then she'd be on her way; either helping the waif with her potions, the cook with the meals or sorting through the items of the dead. She may have had lost her vision, but her other senses grew stronger, compensating for the eyes she had lost. She was still a useful server to the house of Black and White.
"Okay, no one. I have a task for you." He never called her no one before, he never called her anything. He had called her Arya Stark on the first day they met, but Arya Stark was not welcome here. So he never spoke that name again. He handed her the sword in his hands. At first she thought it was a trick, but she gestured her to take the sword, so she did. "Get rid of it." He instructed her.
She glanced down at needle. No. Not needle, the sword. It was not needle, it was just a sword, a stupid sword that did not belong here. Her brain kept telling her that it was nothing, to toss it away, just like she did her old possessions 7 years ago. But her heart, her heart spoke differently. It wasn't just a sword. It was Jon. It was her father, her mother, it was Robb, Sansa, Bran and Rickon. It was Winterfell. It was everything that she loved.
_No._ She said to herself, it was everything that Arya loved, but she wasn't Arya, she was no one. Just like she told the kindly old man; but, she knew she was lying to herself. If she was truly no one, the sword would mean nothing to her, she would have disposed of it already. If she was no one she would not have the wolf dreams. If she was no one, she would not long for the family and home that she lost. If she was no one...
"Who are you?" the kindly old man asked, interrupting her thoughts.
She did not hesitate, "I am Arya Stark."
"There is no room for Arya Stark here, she cannot serve."
She nodded. She took off the robe she was wearing and handed it to him. He opened the door to his room, "come with me" he instructed. She followed him to his chambers and he handed her a tunic, breaches and a bag of coins. "They were taken of a boy of three and ten, but it should fit you just fine."
He knew. She thought to herself. He knew that she had gotten her vision back, he knew that she would not be able to get rid of the sword. He knew she would leave. She didn't voice her concern, just donned on the clothes he gave to her. He was right, it was a good fit. Her breeches were a little loose, but she adjusted the belt, that came with it, to hold them up. Her tunic on the other hand, had been slightly tight at the top, revealing some of Arya's cleavage. She strapped needle into her belt loop and looked in the bag of coins. "That is enough to buy you passage on a ship, after that you are on your own." He stated.
Arya nodded and thanked the kindly old man. He didn't have to give her the money to begin with. She would probably have to go to the city and steal coin, they way how she was taught when she was Cat of the Canals. But he had given her coin and clothes and packed her off with some bread, meat and cheese and sent her on her way. When she approached the door the waif was standing there waiting for her.
"I will miss you." She said in Braavosi.
"I will miss you too." Arya replied back in the foreign tongue.
"He sent me to collect the coin." She stated.
Arya did not have to ask her what coin she was talking about. She knew they meant for her never to return. It was nothing personal she told herself. The only people that belonged here were no ones and people seeking death. She was someone, she was Arya Stark and she did not wish to seek death today. So she did not belong here. She handed the waif the iron coin that Jaqen H'gar had once given her. "valar morghulis" she said to the waif.
"valar dohaeris" the waif responded back. And with that she was off. She left the temple of the many faced God, never to return again.
She bordered a ship and paid her fare. She still had two silvers and a couple of coppers left in her sack. This was not the same ship that took her to Braavos, not the same ship were she had been Salty. But this was the ship that was going to take her back home. After the feasted, Arya went to her cabin and lay on the cot. She closed her eyes dreaming of Winterfell.
3. Chapter 3
ARYA
The war of five kings was over, long ago. Queen Daenerys Targaryen now ruled the seven kingdoms. Arya had already heard these tales back in Braavos. The Lannisters had fallen, each slain by one another. King Joffery and Lord Tywin had been slain by the Imp and Queen Ceresi died by Jamie's hand.
_They got what they deserved._ Arya thought. At one point, Arya thought the Lannisters had been invincible, but they fell like all humans do. _Valar Morghulis_.
There had been plenty of talk about the Queen and her dragons. None of the gossip that the men spoke on the ship about the Dragon Queen was new to her ears, but there was something she did not know.
"I heard it's almost like what it used to be" she heard one of the crew members saying, "Lord Bran has restored Winterfell to its former glory. He controls the north now, that one. Who would think a cripple could be so powerful."
She spoke without thinking, "Bran Stark, I thought he had died back in the war, killed by Theon Greyjoy." When she heard those rumours for the first time it felt like someone hit her in the stomach with a lead pipe. It wasn't true, Arya thought to herself, but when she heard more people speaking of the terrible tale her heart sank. Theon had been like a brother to her, they grew up together. Theon, Robb, Jon, Sansa, Bran, Rickon and herself. They were family, yet Theon had slain her two younger brothers.
"The boys were never truly dead" the crew member responded, "The Stark boy lives, rules Winterfall with his younger brother and is aligned with their uncle who holds Riverun and their sister holding the Eyrie. Everyone knows that girl."
Arya kept her mouth shut after that, she could not let them clue in, on who she really was. The war may have been over, but she could not risk being separated from her family much longer, not when they were so close.
She listened to the rest of their gossip, none of them paying her any heed.
_Quiet as a shadow._ She reminded herself.
When the ship docked, Arya knew where she was going. At first, she was considering going to the wall to see her brother, who had now been Lord Commander of the night watch. Her heart ached for Jon. She missed him with all her heart.
The Night's Watch was not her home though. Winterfell, was the only home she knew and she longed for it.
Plus the Night's Watch was filled with unhonourable men. Rapers, pickpockets and murders, Gendry had once told her that.
_Gendry_.
She shook her head, attempting to clear her thoughts of the stupid bull-headed boy. She had saved them. Gendry and Hotpie both. She took them with her, when they left Harrenhall. She was going to bring them to Riverrun and take them in as guests. She had made them apart of her pack, but they had just abandoned her. For some reason, it didn't bother her much when Hotpie left her. She was upset to learn that he was not coming with them, but Hotpie had always slowed them down and he seemed happy with his new family. But Gendry... Gendry was a different story. When he joined the Brotherhood, it had seemed as if time had stood still. She had silently wept herself to sleep that night, she had not cried before that since Ser Ilyn beheaded her father.
She would forget about Gendry, she promised herself. That was easier said than done. She never thought of him in the day, since the hound had taken her, but at night... at night she had dreams about the boy she thought was her friend. It was strange, but Gendry frequented her dreams a lot. Hotpie and Lommy Greenlands, never once frequented her dreams, but Gendry appeared in her dreams more than her mother, Sansa, Bran, Robb and Rickon. Almost as much as her father, Jon and Nymeria.
Her thoughts were disrupted, when she came across a man selling horses.
"How much?" she asked him.
"Five silvers and that's for the scrawny one to. These ones range at seven," he gestured to some horses not that much better than the scrawny one, "the decent horses at ten and the black one for a dragon."
Arya eyed the black horse, it was a magnificent horse, it looked strong and more importantly, fast; but, she could let alone afford the scrawny horse, forget about the big one.
"I only have two silvers and a couple of coppers" she said sadly.
"Perhaps we can come to a trade, I can sell you a decent horse for those silvers and coppers, with something else you have that interests me." He smirked.
Arya didn't understand what the man was talking about. She didn't have anything else with her except for the clothes on her back and...
_Needle._
"The sword is not for sale" Arya responded coldly.
"Oh it is not the sword I was referring to." He said brushing her shoulder with his hand, "there are other things you have that a man desires."
Arya was shocked, the man must have been five and forty. He moved his hand down from her shoulders, squeezing her right breast. Arya reacted almost instinctively, she drew needle and ran it through the man's heart. His eyes popped in fear and disbelief as she struck him with the sword. "Valar Morghulis" she whispered, as she yanked her sword free. The man died seconds after she pulled the sword out of him and fell to the floor. Arya searched him for possessions, just like she was trained to do in the house of Black and White. She found a dagger and a pouch of coins filled with plenty of silver and even more coppers. She saddled the black horse and rode off. She stayed away from the King's road, there would be more outlaws in the woods, but Arya rather take her chances with them then risk being recognized.
When night fell, she set up camp. She didn't risk making a fire, outlaws ran these woods and she'd be outnumbered. Arya was not stupid, she knew she could not face all those men on her own. She chewed on the cold meat and stale bread, she stole off the ship. After she finished her meal, she lay on the grass and said her prayers, before drifting off to sleep.
_She was running. She had been running all day and grew tired with every minute that passed, but she could not stop now, not when she was so close. Eventually she could not bear it anymore, she was tired and hungry. She had waited for nearly 8 years, surely she could wait a couple more hours. The wolf rested near some bushes, concealing herself from enemies. So close she thought, yet so far away._
Arya woke with a jolt, when she heard the footsteps approaching her. She closed her eyes and let her ears do the seeing for her, just like she learned to do when she was blind. Judging from the footsteps there must have been two, maybe three men. She had to face them, she told herself. _The first sword of Braavos does not run._ Syrio's words echoed in her head.
"I'm hungry, my mouth thirsts for ale and my cock for whores." Arya heard the man say. Her heart sank, in her chest. She would recognize that voice anywhere. _Raff the Sweetling_. He was the man who killed Lommy. Arya tried to remember her old friend's face but had a hard time remembering. He had been a scrawny boy who complained a lot. That's the only bit, Arya could seem to remember. But he was still her friend and he did not deserve to die. Arya unsheathed needle. She was a wolf, she told herself; a wolf waiting to strike her prey.
"There's an inn not far from here" the voice, that was unmistakably Dunsen said, "you can drink all the ale you want and fuck the inn keepers daughters if you see fit."
"What if he only got sons?" Raff asked.
"Then you can fuck his sons." Dunsen laughed.
They both froze when they saw Arya's horse.
"Well, look at this one" Dunsen spoke, "aint she a beauty"
"Where do you think his owner is" Raff asked, unsheathing his sword ``I also have the thirst for blood."
"With a horse like this, might also be the man is a wealthy fellow, might even have a couple of Drag..." Dunsen`s words were cut short, Arya had stabbed needle, in his throat.
"Valar Morghulis" she said, as she drew needle back to her, and slid into her water dancing position. She was ready to fight the other man in front of her.
"You will die for that bitch" Raff proclaimed as he charged his sword to her.
"Not today" she proclaimed, as she slid easily away from Raff's sword. She then swung needle when his back was facing hers, but he turned around in time and his sword met hers. The steel sung as the swords met. The dance went on for a while, their swords meeting one another with every passing second. Arya saw her opening and she took it.
_Swift as a deer._ She whispered to herself and with that she slid herself in between Raff's legs and pushed her needle up.
Raff hollored, Taking advantage of his moment of weakness arya slashed needle at his throat. "Valar Morghulis" she said again as she watched Raff die in front of her.
It wasn't until they were both dead that Arya felt the pain. She looked down and noticed a gash a couple of inches below her left breast where Raff must have hit her.
If they were speaking the truth, Arya needed to find the inn, they were speaking about earlier and pray that she'd find a master. Before she saddled her horse, Arya went to dig through the men's possessions. Raff carried a large bag where she could store her items. She loaded it with the remaining of the food she had, the weapons of the slain men and one more item. She went to Dunsen's body, removed the bull helm from his head and shoved it into her bag. She would return the helm back to it's rightful owner, if she were to ever see him again. If he was still alive. Her needle and the bag of coin were tied tightly in her belt loop. She threw the duffle bag over the horse and saddled him. She kicked his side, with her leg and the horse bolted to a run. One hand was steered the horse, while the other clutched to her wound.
The pain was sharp and aching. Raff must have cut her deeper then she initially thought. If the wound was to get infected, Arya would have no hope of seeing her family again.
Syrio's head popped in her thoughts, "What do we say to the God of death?" he asked.
"Not today." She said aloud and continued to focus on the road up ahead.
4. Chapter 4
GENDRY
He had been hammering anvil, the entire day. His body was covered in sweat, his muscles aching in agony, but he didn't care. He needed the distraction.
Jeyne had left two nights before, to collect food and supplies from a nearby village. Gendry wanted to come with her, but she refused. "Someone has to look after the children" she said. Gendry sighed knowing it was true, he had to stay behind. But it wouldn't be a week until she returned and he longed for her. Not in his heart, he had already explained that to Jeyne the night after he bedded her. He couldn't love anyone, but he longed for her in his loins. He was a man grown and he had needs. Needs Jeyne was more than happy to fill. Gendry had not had the touch of a woman for a long time and after remembering the pleasure he had with Jeyne, not even his hand could satisfy his desires anymore. So he kept himself busy in the forge; all he did for the past three days was: work, piss, sleep and eat.
Gendry put the hammer down and went inside the inn, it would be dinner time soon and Gendry was starving. He saw Willow standing at the front desk, he started to smile but froze when he saw what was in her hand. "Where did you get that?" Gendry demanded, gesturing to the silver in her hand.
"We had a guest check in, a few hours passed." She responded with a smile.
Gendry still felt uneasy with guests, he knew this was an inn and they needed coin but the idea of strange men living with them made Gendry shiver. "Don't you remember what happened last time we had guests?" Gendry snapped. There were two knights that came into the inn, after drinking all their wine they began to flirt with Willow, asking her how much coin it would cost for her maidenhead. Gendry became infuriated and threw them out. Luckily they had been drunk, so it hadn't been a challenge, but had they had been sober, Gendry's head might have been sitting on a spike somewhere in this inn.
"Relax Gendry, she's just a woman and she's alone. She's my age and size to and if she does try anything improper I'm sure you can handle her, with both hand tied behind your back." Willow responded.
"And where is our so called guest right now?" he demanded.
"She's had an injury, Master Alvin was attending to her wounds. If he is finished with her, then she is with Beatrice and Ruth, they are preparing her bath."
Gendry nodded. He remembered when Master Alvin first came to the inn. He was travelling, looking for a Lord who would require his services. There had been a fever going on at that time, several of the children were affected. Jeyne begged Master Alvin to tend to them, she offered him a complimentary welcome, with free food and wine, as long and as much as he wanted. The Master agreed and soon the fever had passed. Even the children who looked like they were sure to pass, soon recovered. The Master stayed with them ever since. "Food and shelter, is all that I truly need" he had said, "I cannot leave you kids without a Master, I shall stay as long as you shall have me." Gendry truly believed, Master Alvin had been the most incredible man he met. Not many people would give up the wealth of being a Lord's Master to take care of children. There was nothing but kindness in the Master's heart.
Gendry saw a boy coming inside the inn; he must have been five and ten, he had dark skin, curly hair and was covered in dirt. _Mycah. _He said to himself, remembering the boy's name.
"I watered and fed her horse, he's in the stables right now. Anything else you need Willow?" Mycah asked.
"Yes." Willow responded, gesturing to a large bag at her feet, "that belongs to our guest, bring it to her room for me. Last door on your right."
Mycah smiled, "perhaps if I'm lucky, she'll have just finished her bath."
He went to go reach for the bag but Gendry picked it up before he had a chance. "If we want more silver, we want our guests to stay longer and to do that we ought to not scare them away." He retorted swinging the bag over his shoulder and heading to the girl's room. He must have been more tired than he thought, the bag was really heavy. There was no way a girl would be to carry this on her own.
He knocked the door, of the girl's room. No one answered so he opened the door. He made for her bed, tossing her bag on top of it. It hit the mattress with a clang. Gendry recognized that sound anywhere, did the girl carry armour in her bag? Gendry shook his head, even if she had it was no concern to him. If she tried to stir up trouble, he would see to her. She was just a girl after all and if she was Willow's size, she would not be a threat. As Gendry made for the door he saw a tunic and breeches discarded on the floor. They had been soiled with blood. If she had been a woman, she certainly did not dress as one. Gendry only knew two woman, that preferred breeches over gowns.
The first had been Arya; he thought at first, the reason why she dressed the way she did was because she was trying to lead everyone into thinking she was a boy, in an attempt to hide her true identity. However, after everyone found out she was a girl, he still found her choosing her breeches over a dress. He remembered the day at The Peach, when Lady Smallwood had forced her to wear the acorn dress. Arya looked different in a gown, when he saw the rage in her face he burst out laughing. They had bathed her and dressed her up and Arya hated every minute of it. Any other lady would have loved to be pampered, but not Arya. She was different.
The second woman he thought of had been Brienne of Tath. At first he thought she was a man, but after she spoke he realised he was a she. She was a lady, yet she had become a knight, wore armour and seemed to be leading the two men with her. Arya would have loved her, he thought. She was everything she inspired to be.
When Gendry looked closer at the clothes he noticed something sticking out of it. He picked up the clothes on the floor and gasped. What he saw made his insides twitch, there was no mistaking the sword, concealed by the girl's clothes.
_Needle_.
A blinding rage fuelled inside Gendry. This was Arya's sword, it should be laid to rest with her body or with her family, not wielded by someone stupid thief.
He immediately picked up the sword and headed back to the bed. He opened the bag and in one swift movement, turned it over spilling the contents, outside. There had been swords, daggers, a couple stale slices of bread and...
His helm. The bull helm, that was taken from him the day he got captured. This was no innocent girl, Gendry thought to himself. This was an enemy. Someone from Harrenhal most likely. Parading around with his helm and Arya's sword. They weren't just possessions, Gendry worked hard on his helm, it was the first thing he took pride in. If only his mother could see it, he thought to himself. The helm had become a part of him, the bull they called him. But needle... needle had been given to Arya by her natural-brother Jon Snow, that sword meant more than some accomplishment or some sort of protection. It was the only memory she had of her family. The only thing she had that reminded her she was a Stark and now some girl stole it using it as her own sword.
He clenched his fists and heard the door knob twist open. He did not hesitate. He grabbed one of the swords on the bed. Not needle, he couldn't bear to look at, yet even touch needle for much longer. He grabbed one of the bigger swords and headed towards the door.
When the door opened, he saw no one on the other side. He went outside the room, clutching the sword in his hand when all of a sudden he felt a sharp pain in his hand, causing him to drop the sword. Had she just kicked him? He didn't have time to think, his attacker pounced on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Gendry couldn't breath. He tried clawing at his attackers hands, but they were glued shut. He was running out of air, his lungs were burning worse with every passing second. He needed to do something and he needed to do it fast.
5. Chapter 5
ARYA
It took her a few days to find the inn. She unsaddled Swift – the black horse, she had named – and tied him to a post.
"Stay" she commanded. The horse bent down and began nibbling on the grass. Swift had been very well trained, strong and fast. She could understand why the man at the stables wanted so much for her.
Arya threw the bag over her shoulder and walked inside, one hand still clutching on her wound. She hadn't gotten a fever, like she expected. That was good, it meant the wound wasn't infected, not yet at least. She saw a girl at the front desk, who looked very similar to Arya except her eyes had been brown not grey. She gave Arya a big smile when she approached the inn. Arya couldn't remember the last time she smiled, it had been a long time ago. Arya kept her expression the same.
"I need a room" she declared, "I also require someone to tend to my wound" she said gesturing at her left rib cage.
"It is a silver per night, another silver if you require food and additionally one more for a master." The girl responded.
Arya reached into her coin purse and pulled out four silvers and handed it to the girl, "make sure there's also wine."
The girl smiled again, "yes my lady."
Arya froze. Did she know who she was? "I'm not a lady!" she snapped.
"Yes, no ladies travel through these woods alone and you certainly do not dress like a lady, I only meant it as a sign of respect." The girl responded
"Oh, I'm sorry." Arya didn't mean to yell at the innkeeper but she was still so nervous. She preferred sleeping in the woods, rather than an inn, but she really required a master.
"Leave your bag here, I shall see that someone takes it to your room" she responded pleasantly. "Mycah!" She called out to a young boy in the hall. "Call Master Alvin and tell him we require his services. Tell Beatrice and Ruth to assist him and after they are done, tell them to prepare a hot bath for our guest."
"Yes, Willow." The boy responded. Arya looked closely at him, she knew a Mycah once. He had been her friend, he helped her practice swords, but then the stupid Hound killed him.
This boy did not look like the Mycah, she knew. Her Mycah had been older with fair skin, red hair and was covered in freckles. This boy was a few years younger than her with dark skin, curly brown hair and dark brown eyes.
"I also have a horse" Arya added, "I tied him to a post outside."
"When you are done with that job Mycah, see that our guest's horse is fed and watered." Willow added.
"Okay." He said before running off.
"Thank you." Arya said to Willow.
The girl smiled, "It is our pleasure" she responded.
The Master attended to Arya's wounds, he offered her the milk of the poppy or dream wine, but Arya refused. The inn seemed to be run by children, which was a good sign for her; children were easy to kill, grown men would have been a challenge. But she couldn't risk falling into a deep sleep and having one of the children kill her and steal her gold. Arya had been very paranoid, Willow and the rest of them seemed nice, but she learned to stop trusting people a long time ago.
She trusted HotPie and Gendry, they had been her friends and yet they abandoned her. She trusted Theon, and he tried to kill Bran and Rickon. She trusted the kindly old man and he made her leave. Trust was not something that would come easy to Arya Stark, everyone who wasn't her or her family, was an enemy.
The master left her room. All done, the bandages should be fine in the water, but do not put soap over that area. I shall change them once again on the morrow.
"Thank you" Arya said as the Master left her room.
"It was my pleasure girl" he responded, "be careful on your journey, these woods are not always safe."
Arya nodded.
"Come let's go, Ruth and I shall draw you a bath." One of the girls said.
"I'll meet you there, let me just get undressed first."
The girls nodded and handed her a towel, "it's four doors down, on your left" one of the girls instructed her and with that they were off.
Arya removed her clothes and threw them on the floor. She hid the bag of coin under her pillow and hid needle under her discarded clothes. She then wrapped the towel around herself and headed to the bathroom. The water had been hot, Arya let out a whimper of pleasure. The two girls, scrubbed Arya till she was clean.
As Arya began drying herself off, one of the girl`s handed her a blue gown. "It`s Willow`s" the girl said, "she said she didn't mind you borrowing."
"Tell her I said thank you, but she has done me too much kindness, I do not want to ask much more of her." Arya lied. The real reason for rejecting the garment, was that she despised gowns. She preferred her tunic and breeches, soiled or not.
The girls nodded and left the room. Arya wrapped the towel around her body and began heading for her room. She would get dressed and then she would eat. Arya was starving.
She froze when she heard noises coming from her room. It sounded like someone was rummaging through her bag.
_Stupid._ Arya thought. She knew she couldn`t trust the people at the inn, one of them had been trying to steal her stuff. This was a terrible thief she thought, he or she made way too much noise, easily giving themself away. They had to be quiet like a shadow, as Syrio once taught her; but this person had just been loud and stupid.
Arya`s hand moved towards her hip for her needle, she grasped nothing but air. _Stupid_. She said to herself, _you left needle in the room._
_Those who fear losing, have already lost._ Syrio`s voice rang in her head. _No._ She said to herself, _I will not lose_. Arya was smart and the person in her room was stupid, she would defeat him, armed or not. If Syrio was able to defeat all those men with only a practice sword, she could face the person in her room unarmed.
She reached for the doorknob. She heard the noise in the room stop and heard the person draw a sword. Arya swung the door open and hid behind the door, waiting for her prey.
She heard footsteps approaching her and then saw the shadow of a man in the hallway. He was bigger then she expected but Arya did not hesitate. That`s all it took in a battle, one hesitation and you were dead.
_Quick as a snake _she said to herself, as she kicked the man`s hand causing him to drop his sword. It flung the wrong way, it was closer to him then it was to her. She could not go for the sword, so instead she jumped on the man`s back wrapping her hand around his throat.
The man grunted and began clawing at her hands, but Arya`s hands were locked tight. She could feel his body tense, he knew he was going to die. All of a sudden he ran backwards, slamming Arya against the wall. She let out a gasp, she did not see that coming. For a moment, her hands came lose, but she quickly adjusted them back on his throat, tightening her grip.
The man tried the same thing again, running back into the wall. _Stupid._ Arya thought as she quickly let go of him and slipped around to get the sword. The man slammed himself against the wall, howling in pain. She grabbed the sword and leaped on his chest, sending him on the floor.
She brought the sword over her head, as she plunged the sword down towards the man's chest she said, "Valar Morg..." Arya froze. She finally took a look at the man she was about to kill.
The first thing she saw was his eyes. _Blue._ Like the first colour she had seen, when she got her vision back. Like the colour that her friend`s eyes had been as they journeyed to the wall with Yoren.
_Gendry._ He was no longer a boy now, but a man grown. If it was even possible, he had grown stronger and had more muscles. He was covered in sweat, his coal black hair clinging to his face.
His eyes were full of hate and loathing. She had seen that look before, it was the same look he gave to one of the men who struck her, when they were kidnapped. It was the same look he gave to the man at the brothel, when he told him she was his sister.
_Kill him. _A voice in her head told her. _He left your pack, he abandoned you, he doesn't deserve your mercy._ Arya`s hands were shaking, she couldn`t do it. He might have been a stupid bull-headed boy, but he had still been her friend. Arya tossed the sword to the side.
Gendry`s eyes went from hate to confusion. Then he narrowed his eyes, as if he was studying her.
"Don`t hurt yourself" Arya heard herself say, "there is a shortage of stupid bull-headed boys in the world and it would be a shame if we lost one."
His eyes widened in shock and there was something else in his expression that Arya could not read, "Arya?" he asked in disbelief.
She punched him in the ribs and Gendry grunted, "what kind of lady..." he began but froze when Arya wrapped her arms around his neck pressing her head into his chest. Gendry`s arms wrapped around her back, crushing her into his chest.
They said nothing, for a while. Just layed there on the floor holding one another. Arya then, slid off the boy, under her and headed into her room, she did not bother closing the door. She heard Gendry pick up the sword on the ground as he followed her inside.
6. Chapter 6
GENDRY
He was running out of air, his lungs burning worse with every passing second. He needed to do something and he needed to do it fast.
He slammed his body against the wall, crushing the girl trying to choke him. She let out a gasp and he felt her hands loosen for a moment but then she wrapped her hands back around his throat so quickly, that he was unable to shake her off.
So he did it again, but this time she let go of him in the last moment causing Gendry to feel the full force of the wall he just slammed into. He hollered in pain and before he knew it, he went crashing to the floor.
He came face to face with his attacker. She had been a small girl... no a woman, he judged after inspecting her more closely. She was so small and only some subtle features, like the slight curve of her hips and the slight bulge in her chest, indicated she was older then she looked. Her hands grasped the sword and she spoke something, in a foreign tongue, that he did not understand. _This was it,_ he thought to himself, he had been beaten and by a small girl at that too.
He braced himself for death, he would now finally be with his Arya, the girl he had failed.
But the attacker froze, the sword still clutched in her hands, her eyes studying Gendry_. Why can't she just get this over with?_ He thought, _just kill me already_. But instead the girl tossed the sword to the side, her eyes never leaving his.
What in seven hells was she thinking? If she meant to spare him, he would not be so grateful in return. His life meant less to him then the revenge for the girl he had lost. He would not hesitate to kill the girl, who stole Arya's sword.
"Don`t hurt yourself" the girl said, "there is a shortage of stupid bull-headed boys in the world and it would be a shame if we lost one."
Gendry's eyes widened. No it couldn't be, she was supposed to be dead! He took a closer look at the girl on top of him. She looked like Arya well enough, but this was a woman grown. Whenever, he thought of Arya, he thought of the boyish-looking child Arry, covered in dirt with her short cropped hair. But her hair was long and curly, drops of water were falling from her hair onto his chest – which indicated she had been freshly washed. Her face was clean of dirt and he noticed the freckles on her nose that he never saw before. Her voice was different too; she had an accent of some sort. Not the same Northern accent she once had, but one that was unfamiliar to him. His eyes drifted from her face to her body. She had a bosom and hips, he blushed when he realised that all she was wearing was a towel. But then he looked into her eyes, her eyes gave away her true identity. They were grey and empty, the same eyes that the lost girl had. "Arya?" he managed to choke out.
She punched him. Gendry grunted, yes this was defiantly the same Arya. He found himself responding, "what kind of a lady..." and then she hugged him.
Gendry did not flinch, he wrapped his arms around her body. She was so tiny, he thought as his hands stayed wrapped around the girl. He never wanted to let go, he could stay in this embrace for the rest of his life and die with a smile on his face. He could feel his heart stirring awake, he could feel the butterflies in his stomach and he could feel the warmth growing inside him. He could also feel the tears swimming in his eyes, not tears of grief, but tears of joy. His thoughts were interrupted when the girl let go of him and walked into her chambers. She left the door open so Gendry picked up the sword on the floor and followed her inside.
He wanted to ask her so many questions, like where she had been, what happened with her and the hound, was she okay, did she know the truth about her family. He wanted to tell her that he missed her, that he was sorry, that she was right he was just a stupid bull headed boy. But Gendry was at a loss for words, he just stared at the girl in front of him.
She took her towel off. She was more beautiful then he could imagine. She was lean, he could clearly see each bone and muscle in her body, covered in a layer of flawless ivory skin. Her ass was firm and there was a thin layer of dark curls in between her legs. She had a couple of scars on her stomach and back and a bandage just below one of her breasts... her breasts. They were so small and round, like the crabapple she once hit him with. He felt the urge to cup them and give them a gentle squeeze, Imagineering the softness of them.
Gendry felt himself stiffen, he looked down at his breeches and could see his cock jumping out. He wore lose pants today, for that he was lucky, as it wasn't as noticeable; but, it was clearly visible what his body was doing and he felt himself blush. "What in seven hells are you doing?" he scolded her.
Arya was donning on her clothes, that were previously on the floor. "Getting dressed stupid, what does it look like I'm doing."
"Did you just happen to forget that I am here?" he challenged.
"So what does it matter? I've seen you naked plenty of times, why can't you see me?"
Gendry felt his face getting redder, "that was different, you were a child back then, now you're a... a..."
"A woman." She finished his sentence.
"Yeah" he said as his eyes looked at the ground.
He felt something being placed on his head, he looked up and saw Arya – now dressed – placing his helm on his head. "I promised myself I'd give this back to you one day." She said.
"How did you get it?" he asked.
"I ran into Dunsen and Raff on my way here, so I killed them. Raff was the one who ended up giving me, the wound."
Gendry shuddered. The thought of dream Arya's head rolling to his feet came to mind. "I missed you" he said.
"No." Arya countered, "If you missed me, you would have never left."
Gendry felt a sharp pain in his chest, she was still upset about him joining the brotherhood. "I never meant to hurt you." He stated.
Arya did not respond, she just looked at him. So he continued, "Arya where have you been?"
"I'll tell you after dinner" she said, "I'm starving."
With that they left her room and went to the dining hall. They were served mutton with rice and baked potatoes. He noticed that Arya was drinking wine, but Gendry stuck to water.
She was taking to Willow and the other children in the inn. She told them her name was Nymeria and that her father had been a sellsword. She said that her father had once been a loyal worker for the Starks and she now wished to enlist her services with them, now that Winterfell was being rebuilt.
For desert they had lemon cakes, Gendry knew how much Arya loved them so he gave her his share. Willow eyed him suspiciously, but Gendry did not care. The only thing he cared about, was the girl sitting beside him, stuffing herself with the lemon cakes.
"I work in the forge" he said to Arya, "I'm a blacksmith. I've been told I forge very good armour and weapons, perhaps you'll be interested in buying some, Nymeria."
He wanted to get her alone, he spent the entire dinner thinking of questions he wanted to ask her, things he wanted to say to her and now was his time to do so.
"Alright" she said, playing along. "Let's see these so called weapons."
Arya had a slight stumble in her walk, from the wine. When they approached the forge, Arya lay down on Gendry's cot, stretching out her legs. "Do you always sleep here?" she asked.
"Only sometimes. When I've been working all day, I'm too tired to go back to the inn, so I just sleep here. "
Arya nodded. They said nothing for a while and then Gendry began asking her his questions. "How long are you staying?"
"Only a day, maybe two, to regain my strength."
"Where are you heading?" Gendry already knew the answer to this question, but still wanted to hear her say it.
"To Winterfell, back to my family."
"Why now? The war of five kings ended ages ago, why didn't you return home as soon as it was over?"
"Because, I didn't know my brothers were alive until a few days ago." She responded
"Where have you been?" Gendry's voice grew a little sharper now, "you have been missing for seven years, everyone thought you were dead."
"In Braavos" she responded, now sitting up on the bed.
"What in seven hells were you doing in Braavos?" Gendry's voice getting a little louder now.
"I was trying to forget my old life, I tried becoming no one, but it didn't work, so now I'm here." She responded, now getting up from the bed, her hands planted on her hips.
Gendry was screaming now, "We all thought you were dead and you were in Braavos, trying to forget yourself? Are you really that selfish? Did you not care? Did you not think about what your family must have been going through?" _What I have been going through? _He almost said.
"I was trying to forget Arya Stark" she was screaming too now, "because her life sucked. Do you know what it`s like? To be alone? To have an emptiness inside you, were there once was joy, love, sadness and anger. To feel nothing? To have every single thing, you`ve ever known and loved taken away from you?"
"Yes! I do!" he shouted back.
"How? Who in seven hells have you ever lost, Gendry? You never knew your father and your mother died when you were young, you even admitted that you don't remember her much. So how could you possibly understand that pain?"
"Because that`s how I felt when I lost you" Gendry could see the tears swimming in Arya`s eyes and he could feel the tears swimming in his own, "I thought you were dead and I have been blaming myself for the past seven years. I thought, maybe if I hadn`t been such an arse to you back then, that you`d still be alive!"
"Really?" Arya challenged, "because, I didn't see you get all that upset when Lommy died. It had been your fault too, if you weren`t stupid enough to get yourself captured."
"Lommy was different."
"How so?"
"Because, I didn`t love Lommy! I loved you!"
Gendry saw Arya freeze, her eyes widening in shock.
What in seven hells did he just say? Did he just tell her, that he loved her? Was he mad?
Arya was silent, her eyes still glued on Gendry`s. Why wasn`t she saying anything? He just told her, he loved her and she couldn`t even dignify that with response. Arya never shut her mouth, even when he wanted her to be quiet and now out of all times, she chose to be silent?
Say something, he wanted to beg. Anything. Gendry opened his mouth to say something to her, but nothing came out.
So they just stood there, staring into one another`s eyes.
_Note from the author: _Oh snap! Cliff hanger :D I won't be releasing two chapters today, like I did yesterday. I know boo, i suck Dx School is starting on Monday and I really haven't been doing any of my homework, for reading week Don't worry, a new chapter will still go up tomorrow, I'm just trying to keep up the frequency of these updates and if I release more then one chapter a day, that wont happen anymore Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did.
7. Chapter 7
ARYA
Arya froze. She looked at Gendry with disbelief. Did he just say, what she thought he said? Had he just told her that he loved _her_?
Arya's thoughts trailed back to when they were younger. The time when they were in Acorn Hall, wrestling in the smithy. The time in the brothel, when Gendry told the old man that Arya was his sister. The anger in Gendry's eyes, when she would talk to Edric Dayne. Was it possible? Had he truly loved her?
He couldn't have. She might have been decent to look at now, but she still lacked the curves that a woman her age should have. It had been worse when she was a child, people would call her Arya Underfoot or Arya Horseface. She remembered the time when, the whore in the brothel was flirting with him. Had he rejected her because he wanted Arya? She couldn't put a face to the whore, but she remembered that she was pretty. If Gendry truly picked Arya over her, he was even more stupid then she thought.
She felt her stomach twist when she looked into Gendry's eyes; it was a somewhat pleasant feeling. She saw him open his mouth to say something but he closed it seconds after. Gods, why was he so stupid? He just told her that he loved her and now he couldn't say anything!
Arya opened her mouth, but closed it back again, at a loss for words. She just stared at the boy – no the man – in front of her. She looked at Gendry, in a way she never looked at him before; in a way she never looked at anyone before. He was handsome, she judged. He had beautiful blue eyes and shaggy black hair. He was well built and his muscles were large and well defined. Arya knew she was blushing now. She held her breath when Gendry began walking towards her. She felt her heart beat faster with every step he took closer to her.
His hands cupped her face and he bent down so his face and hers were at the same level. "I love you, Arya." He said again, his breath hot on her face.
She wanted to run away, she wanted to punch Gendry in his stupid mouth; but the truth was, that's not what she really wanted at all. In one swift movement, Arya pressed her lips onto his.
The knot in her stomach, seemed to twist harder, but again, the feeling was pleasant. One of Gendry's hands slid away from her face, onto her back, pushing her closer towards him. Arya's hands were tangled in his hair.
She moaned, when his tongue reached into her mouth, meeting hers. Arya's heart felt like it was coming back to life. As if it had been frozen a long time ago and now Gendry was melting the ice away.
Arya felt both of Gendry's hands slide to her bum, pulling her so close, that she could hardly breathe. Arya's hands slipped away from his hair and began tugging at his shirt.
Gendry froze. He pushed Arya away so hard that she stumbled back a couple of steps, nearly falling to the floor.
"Arya... we can't... you're a lady... this is improper" Gendry was fumbling, his face as red as the wine she was drinking earlier.
Arya walked closer to him. With every step she took forward he took a step back, until his back was pressed against the wall of the forge. Arya pressed into him, she stood on her tiptoes, this time coming to level with him and cupping his face, "I thought I told you, I'm not a lady." She stated.
"Arya this isn't right, you're still a maiden. It isn't proper... not till you are wed." Gendry froze and narrowed his eyes, "Oh Gods, you are still a maiden, right?"
Arya blushed, dropping her gaze from Gendry, "yes" she whispered. She gathered up her courage and looked back up at him. "But I don't care. I'm not a little girl anymore, I can make my own decisions and... and... I love you too." She remembered all the dreams she had about Gendry, the way how her heart cramped when he joined the brotherhood, the way how she blushed when she first saw him bare. She did love him, she always loved him; but it took her until now to realise it. Gods, maybe Gendry wasn't the stupid one after all.
Gendry's hands wrapped around her waist, "Arya, you don't know how badly I want this, but your honour."
"With all the deceit, this realm has been through, who bloody well cares about honour anymore." With that she pressed her lips against him once more. He moaned into her moan and kissed her back, more fiercely then before. He picked her up, with one hand on her waist and the other wrapped in her hair. As he laid her on the cot, she tugged at his breeches. He helped her pull it off. She saw his cock, it was standing up. She remembered the men, back in the brothel at Braavos. There cocks would stand up too, whenever the whores began pressing themselves onto them, but Gendry's was bigger. Much bigger.
He took off her tunic, in such a desperate haste that he ripped it. She moved her hips up, helping him remove her breeches and her small clothes. When they were both bare, Gendry kissed her again. He laid on top of her, shifting his weight, so he would not hurt her. His hands travelled up her waist, grabbing a hold of her breasts, giving them a gentle squeeze. Arya gasped as he broke his mouth away from her face latching it, on her right nipple. Arya moaned and dug her fingernails into his back. He bit playfully at one of her nipples and she kicked him. That only made Gendry laugh, infuriated she kicked him again. He grabbed onto her leg and pulled it up as he pressed into her.
Arya gasped as she felt a sharp pain. It was similar to the pain she had when Raff had cut her. She looked down and saw blood. Gendry pushed into her again and it still hurt, but less than it had before. She heard a tear, as her body was trying to accommodate Gendry into her. The third time he pushed in, she felt nothing but pleasure. Arya wanted him closer, him deeper inside of her. She pushed her hips up as he pushed into her. Gendry moaned her name. She bit her lip, from screaming out his, tasting the blood in her mouth. She remembered the whores back in Braavos, remembering what they used to do to please men. With that thought, Arya flipped Gendry on his back and began to straddle his lap, rocking into him, in a fast tempo. His hands moved to her hips, encouraging her movements. Forcing her to move faster and press into him harder. She crashed her lips on his again, suppressing the moan that escaped both their mouths. Gendry's hands started moving her hips faster, Arya screamed as she felt her body shake, exploding with pleasure. She soon felt something warm pour into her. Gendry let out one more moan and went limp under her. She fell on top of his chest. They were both covered in sweat and panting heavily. A few minutes later, he pulled her off him and laid her to the side of his bed, cradling her head on his chest.
"I love you" he repeated once more.
"I know stupid" and with that Arya fell into a deep sleep, wrapped in the arms of the man she loved.
8. Chapter 8
GENDRY
Gendry woke up that morning feeling the happiest he's ever felt, in his lifetime. He had finally found out the girl he loved had been alive all these years, he told her that he loved her and most importantly she told him she loved him back. Last night, they had made sweet love and Gendry had never felt so complete.
That night he dreamt about all the adventures they had when they were younger, except in his dream, Arya wasn't the boyish-looking girl he had known all his life. This dream Arya, was the woman that she had now become.
His eyes still shut, he reached over to the girl laying beside him on the cot.
_Nothing._
His hand just hit the bed. In an instant he opened his eyes and sat up. There was no one there.
Gendry pushed the hair away from his face with his fingers. Had it been all a dream? Just a part of his imagination?
He did not try and stop the tears of frustration, pouring down his face. _It couldn't be._ He thought to himself, _It had been so real._
He got up from the bed removing the blanket. There were blood stains on the cot, from when he took Arya's maidenhead.
It wasn't a dream. But if it wasn't a dream, where in the seven hells was Arya? Gendry froze, she said she would be leaving in the morning; but she couldn't have left, could she? Not without saying goodbye.
Gendry pulled on his breeches. He looked around for his shirt but couldn't find it anywhere. He found Arya's tunic, but it would not do. It was much too small for him and more importantly it was ripped.
Bare chested, Gendry ran out of the forge.
He saw Mycah tending to the horses. Gendry did not recognize one of them. _Arya's horse._ It was a large horse, solid black. Gendry did not know much about horses, but he could tell that this was a good breed. Better than any of the horses, the inn had owned.
He went to Arya's room. He heard voices on the other side of the door. _She was still there, _Gendry sighed in relief and knocked on the door.
"Come in" he heard Arya call.
He walked into the room and saw Arya wearing his old tunic, she was pulling it as high up it would go, without revealing her breasts. Master Alvin seemed to be tying new bandages on her wound.
"All done, my girl." He had said, "Alright, now you be careful out there; the war might be over and winter might have passed, but these roads are still dangerous. Especially for a young woman like yourself.
Gendry knew Arya had been anything but helpless. If she wanted to, she could kill Gendry with ease, she almost did yesterday. She hated when people would suggest otherwise; she was a warrior, despite her tiny stature, Arya was a force to be reckoned with.
If Gendry had said the words that Master Alvin just spoke to her, she would have punched him in the ribs; but, Arya just smiled and thanked the master.
When he left the room, Gendry sat beside her on the bed. "I see that you stole my tunic" he joked.
"Well you ripped my only one, or would you rather me walk around topless." She smirked.
"I don't want any other man to see you like that." Gendry knew she was joking, but he could not stop the anger, harshening his voice.
Arya did not seem to be offended though; there was clearly something else on her mind. "I'm leaving today. Willow said that I could stay for breakfast, but then I'm on my way back to Winterfell.
"I'm coming with you." Gendry responded immediately. He lost her once; he was not prepared to lose her for the second time.
"I don't want you to leave your home for me." She responded
"This never was my home. I've never had a home Arya, not truly. All I know is, last night was the happiest night of my life. You are the only person in the world that I care about, Arya. I won't lose you again."
Gendry looked into her eyes, he could see the tears swimming in her eyes, but she chocked them back. "Do you really mean that?" she asked.
Gendry had never seen this side of Arya before. She had always been fierce and strong. For the first time ever, she looked... vulnerable.
He cupped her face, "I do" he promised. He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. It was meant to be a chaste kiss, but the sparks went off, as soon as their lips touched. His tongue, met hers passionately. Her hands were wrapped around his neck and his, her waist. She moved into his lap, sitting on her knees now, so their faces were on the same level. He flipped her on her back and she moaned, their lips never parting.
His hands began tugging at her breeches and she pushed him away, "they are expecting us for breakfast" she gasped.
Gendry smirked, "not before we have desert." With that, he pushed himself into her.
They went downstairs together. No one seemed to notice that Arya was wearing his tunic, from last night and both of their hair had been tangled. No one, except Willow. She eyed them carefully, Gendry met her gaze but none of them said a word.
"So Nymeria" Willow finally said, "did you like any of Gendry's armour?"
"Oh yes." Arya said with a smirk, "he's very talented."
"Are you thinking of purchasing any?"
"Not for myself, but I'm sure my brothers would fancy his work."
"Are they going to come here to buy any?" Willow asked.
"No I'm going to them." Gendry said. The table that been full of laughter, screaming and chattering a few seconds ago, had now gone silent.
"You're leaving?" Willow asked.
"What's the point of having a blacksmith, when no one requires his work?" Gendry asked, "I will be better off with Nymeria."
Arya put down her fork and left the table. Gendry followed her out. Once they were outside, Arya started screaming at him, "you are leaving them just like you left me!"
"What, so you expect me to stay and be miserable for the rest of my life?" Gendry challenged.
"No, but they need you here."
"Is that an order, m'lady?"
Arya screamed as she kicked him. He caught her and she fell on the ground with a thud. She lurched back up again and began punching him the ribs. He caught her wrists, lessening the blows. When she realised the fight was lost, she rested her head on his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, "do you want me to stay here?" he asked her.
"No... but"
Gendry cut her off, "So what's the point of us both being miserable. Most of the boys will be men soon and they might not be as big as me and they might not be as strong as me; but they are still men. They will take care of Willow and all the other girls and they will do just fine without me."
Arya nodded, burying herself deeper in his chest. "I want to go home" she stated. Gendry nodded, "then it's off to Winterfell we go."
Mycah saddled up Arya's horse. "It's big enough for us to both ride" she whispered in his ear. "Plus with you attempting to ride a steed, it will be winter again, once we reach Winterfell."
Gendry smirked. Arya went to Willow and handed her a dragon. Willow's eyes widened in shocked. "How... why..."
"Because, I'm stealing your blacksmith. Plus you guys have been so good to me and you need it more than I do." Arya replied.
"But Nymeria it's too much" Willow began. Gendry knew it wasn't too much. Arya was a highborn lady, they practically shat dragons.
"I have plenty of coin, I won't be missing this one." She stated.
Willow gave Arya a firm embrace, "thank you" she said.
Arya mounted the horse with ease. Gendry was about to get on, when a voice stopped him, "did you guys have a party while I was gone?"
_Shit._ Gendry had forgotten all about her. He turned around and saw Jeyne on her horse. She wasn't looking at him nor Willow nor any of the other children. Her eyes were glued on Arya, a look of pure anger in those green eyes.
9. Chapter 9
GENDRY
Gendry forgot all about Jeyne. He never thought of her, when he insisted to travel to Winterfell with Arya. But now there she was, sitting on her horse, giving Arya the dirtiest look he'd ever seen.
He knew it had been his fault. He should have never bedded Jeyne, he knew she loved him and yet he bedded her anyways; telling her that what they were doing had been meaningless, that it was just sex. Jeyne said she understood but Gendry knew she hadn't. He knew she still loved him, but he was being selfish and lied to himself, believing that they were on the same page.
He knew he had no reason to be angry at Jeyne, but she had no reason to be angry at Arya either. It was Gendry's fault, he was to blame. He could not stop the anger growing inside him, every time Jeyne looked at Arya.
"Gendry's going to Winterfell" a little girl proclaimed, "he's going to be a blacksmith for the Starks. Nymeria is going to be a sellsword there too, they were going to travel there together."
Gendry saw the hurt in Jeyne's eyes. He should have been the one to told her and she should have not caught him leaving, like this. "How very nice. Before you leave Gendry, would you mind helping me unload the supplies."
Gendry nodded. The other children went to help Jeyne as well, but Willow stopped them with a look. Arya looked down at Gendry, in confusion. "I'll be right back" he promised her. Arya nodded. Gendry headed into the inn. Jeyne left the horse outside, tied to a pole. She went inside the inn leaving the door open for Gendry, he closed it behind him when he walked inside.
Jeyne began sobbing, laying her head on his chest. "You're leaving? You're leaving me? Without even saying goodbye?"
Gendry wrapped his arms around her. He may have not loved Jeyne, but he still cared for her and it pained him to see her hurting. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking..."
Jeyne broke away from him, "No! You weren't thinking! You're just going to abandon us? You're going to leave us here to rot? Why Gendry? Why!"
Gendry did not have a good answer for her. He was leaving because, he loved Arya; because, she was going to Winterfell and he couldn't bear to be parted from her once more. But he couldn't tell Jeyne that. "Nymeria's father was a sellsword for the Starks before they fell, she says she wants to go back and serve them now that Winterfell has risen once more. They need a blacksmith too and no one really requires a blacksmith here, so..."
"Don't lie to me Gendry!" Jeyne interrupted him, "you think I didn't see the way you looked at her? I had been gone for less than a week and you crawl into another woman's arms?"
"Why would you care anyways?" Gendry challenged, "you and I both agreed what we had wasn't serious. It was just sex, remember Jeyne?"
"What can she offer you that I can't? What's so special about her anyways? What does that bitch have..."
Gendry's hand connected with Jeyne's check. The blow had been harder then he intended. Gendry never struck a woman before, the furthest he's ever gone was play-fight with Arya. He did not mean to hit Jeyne, but he could not stand her insulting Arya.
He expected her to cry again, to hit him back. But instead she locked her eyes onto Gendry, one hand still clutching the check he hit and said, "I shall wear this as a badge of honour."
"If you insult Arya one more time, I'll honour you again." Gendry responded.
Jeyne blinked in confusion, "Arya?"
_Shit._ Gendry's eyes narrowed, trying to think of a lie to save his skin; but, it was too late. Jeyne had discovered the truth.
"You are going to Winterfell, with Arya? Is that woman out there Arya Stark?" Jeyne laughed, "oh this is good. This is too good."
"If you tell anyone, I'll..."
"What are you going to do?" Jeyne interrupted, "kill me?"
"Yeah" Gendry responded. Jeyne's eyes widened in shock. Gendry didn't think he could kill Jeyne, he had just been lying to protect Arya; however, if she put her life at any risk, Gendry would not hesitate. "No one will know what we just spoke of or I will make sure that would be the last conversation you ever had." He had not meant it. She looked to be in the brink of tears again. Gendry knew that it felt like he just stabbed a knife in Jeyne's heart. He wanted so badly to tell her that he was sorry, that it was all a lie. A part of him knew, if he had never met Arya it would be Jeyne, whom Gendry loved; but that had not been the case. He met Arya and fell in love with her, they made love and his heart belonged to her.
"No one will know." Jeyne promised.
Gendry nodded, fighting back the urge to hug Jeyne, he walked out the door and saddled Arya's horse. "Let's go." He said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Arya nodded, she kicked the horse on its side and they were off. Gendry had felt like shit a few moments ago, but now with his arms wrapped around Arya everything felt right. He rested his head on her shoulder.
"You bedded her" It had not been a question. Arya was a smart girl and he knew she would be able to piece together his relationship with Jeyne and himself.
So Gendry did not bother lying to her, "yes. I thought you were dead at the time. I never loved her though, I told her that much. The only relationship we had, was a sexual one. Just to satisfy both our desires."
Arya nodded, "have you ever bedded anyone else?"
"A couple of girl's back in King's landing" Gendry admitted.
"Did you love any of them?"
"Just one. A high-born lady, but a terrible one at that. She punches me and throws things at my head, she curses, plays with swords, ow!"
Arya elbowed him in the ribs, laughing. "I do not play with swords, I fight with them." She declared.
"I can see that m'lady, you almost skewered me back at the inn."
Arya laughed, they bantered on all day. She was a good rider, they were making quick pace. He remembered the time when Arya, Hotpie and himself were riding to Riverrun, after they escaped Harrenhal. It was obvious now that Arya had been riding slow, so they could keep up with her. His mind also drifted back to the time when she found out the brotherhood had been taking her to Lord Beric first. She ran off and before Gendry could even blink, she was already out of sight. He briefly wondered if all highborn ladies rode horses, as well as she. Then again no highborn lady could wield a sword like Arya, not even some men had the skill that she possessed.
Night dawned on them and Gendry could not help but yawn. Arya slowed the horse down to a stop. "We should set up camp" she offered.
Gendry nodded. There was a river near the camp and Gendry tied the horse to a tree. She walked to river and began drinking sips of water. Gendry patted the horse and began walking back to Arya. She had laid out a couple of blankets and was preparing some food, they took from the inn. "What, you're not going to catch us some bugs?"
Arya punched him, as he sat down next to her. "We had no food back then, it was either eat a bug or starve. Girls, the lot of you."
Gendry laughed, "Are you calling me a girl, m'lady?"
"Yes" Arya challenged, "do you want to pull out your cock and take a piss to prove me wrong?"
Gendry smiled, it was all the invitation he needed. He bent his head down to kiss her. Her lips met his hungrily. Gendry pressed his tongue against her lips and she opened her mouth, her tongue meeting his. He reached his hand towards her tunic, in a desperate attempt to pull it off; but then her lips went still. She pulled away from the embrace and stood up.
Gendry opened his mouth to protest, but she just pulled of her tunic and began unlacing her breeches. "Last time I let you take this off me, you ripped it. Unless you want me to steal, the one you're wearing now, your stupid bull-headed fingers best not touch it."
Gendry got up and walked towards her, "how can my fingers be bull-headed?" she punched him in the stomach. He wanted so desperately to remove her small clothes that were still in place but she removed it herself. Arya then began removing his tunic and breeches. Gendry felt himself stiffen again. When he was bare too, Arya wrapped her fingers around his cock.
Gendry felt an immediate rush of pleasure, "Arya" he moaned. She bent down and put her mouth around it, while still rubbing his cock in gentle strokes. He was moaning in pleasure, it felt so good. Then a thought crossed his mind and he stiffened. Arya sensed it and got up, "what's wrong?" she asked innocently, "wasn't I doing it right?"
"Where did you learn to do that?" Gendry demanded. It was impossible he thought, Gendry took her maidenhead, she couldn't have been with another man before him. _But there were other things you could do, still keeping your maiden head intact._
Arya blushed, "there was this brothel in Braavos. I came to sell them clams and muscles and... I saw them do things that pleasured men, so I thought I could..."
Gendry silenced her with a laugh. She became red, but this time with fury and punched him again. He grabbed her hand before it connected with his stomach. "It felt nice, I just thought... that... I don't like the idea of you being with another man." It was a selfish thing to say, considering Gendry had been with plenty of women before Arya. But she didn't seem to mind, she just bent back down, repeating the action and before Gendry knew it, he released her seed into her mouth and heard her swallow it.
He bent down to the grown and pushed Arya down, so that now she was laying on the grass. He spread her legs apart and moved his hand onto her curls. She was wet. He pushed two fingers into her, while rubbing his thumb on her numb. She let out a moan and Gendry rubbed at a quicker tempo. She tried clamping her legs, but Gendry held them open with his other hand. He pulled out his fingers and moved his head down there. His tongue licking her sensitive parts. Arya screamed again, louder than before and he felt her shudder.
She got up and began kissing him fiercely, her tongue seeking his. He picked her up and slammed her back onto a tree. Her legs wrapped around his waist, as he shoved himself inside her. They both let out a moan. Her finger nails were digging into his back and his mouth moved from her lips onto her left breast. He nibbled on it, causing her to shriek. Her hips were moving desperately against his, as his tongue played with her nipple. One of his hands moved to her right breast, squeezing it while the other lay under her ass, keeping her up.
Their hips both moved faster now. His mouth met hers again and he thrust himself harder and deeper inside of her. She let out a moan as she peaked, him following seconds after her.
When they were done, he carried her to the blankets she laid out and he gently laid her down. He snuggled beside her pulling the covers over them both. He began pressing soft kisses on her neck. "One of us should keep watch" she offered. But they were both exhausted, so they fell asleep, entangled in eachother's arms.
10. Chapter 10
ARYA
_She bolted into a run. She was close now, so close that she could smell her. It had been eight years since they last parted and her other half was minutes within her reach. She pushed her legs as hard as she could, attempting to shorten the distance between them. She saw a horse, it hollered when she approached, but she paid it no heed. Her hunger could wait, there was something else that needed to be filled other than her stomach – her other half. _
She felt Gendry shoot out of bed, after he heard Swift holler. He reached for the sword, Arya stole off Dunsen. He was still naked, she saw his body tense and saw the sweat pool on his forehead and the back of his neck.
Arya wasn`t afraid though, she got up and walked passed him. He reached to grab her hand but he jerked it away. She didn't bother to don on her clothes or armour herself with needle. There was no enemy approaching them. _Only a friend._
A large direwolf sprung out of the trees and charged her. Gendry moved to put himself between Arya and the wolf but she shrugged him off. Nymeria leaped on her and began licking her face, Arya giggled.
Gendry stood there looking confused, his sword still in his hand. "Put that down stupid, she won't hurt you." She heard Gendry drop the sword on the floor and she could feel him eyeing her but all she saw at that moment was Nymeria.
She had grown, she was much bigger then she last saw her. It had been eight years, Arya probably looked different to the wolf too. "I missed you" she said as she nuzzled against her fur, "I`m sorry. I didn`t mean to throw rocks at you, but I knew they`d try to kill you. I needed you to get away so you`d be safe."
Nymeria continued to lick her face. Arya knew she had been forgiven.
Arya and Gendry got dressed. They were eating breakfast when Arya explained him that she was her wolf. Arya and Gendry both fed Nymeria scraps of meat as they were talking. Nymeria seemed to like Gendry, she would constantly nuzzle up to him as much as she did Arya. She knew Nymeria would take to Gendry, she had been a part of her after all. Arya knew they were connected somehow, she could sense Nymeria through her wolf dreams and she`d obviously been able to sense her too because, she found her.
They rode to Winterfell, Nymeria riding at their side. Gendry wrapped his arms around Arya's waist and she felt the knot in her stomach again. Whenever Gendry held her, it made her feel safe, but she'd never tell him that. She was too stubborn for her own good.
It took them three more nights to reach Winterfell. They only rested when it grew dark. Nymeria would run off and go hunt before she slept and Arya and Gendry would make love. Her passion for him never seemed to fade, everyday she wanted him with more desperation than the last.
They reached the gates of Winterfell and there were two Northmen guarding it, that Arya did not know. Arya was still too paranoid, so she did not reveal her true identity. "I am Lysa and this is my brother Leon. The old master at arms, Mikken was our uncle and we wish to pledge our services to the Starks."
"The Starks already got a master at arms, but perhaps Lord Bran may have use for you two." One of the guards said.
They opened the gates. One of the guards remained at his post, while the other escorted Gendry and Arya. When she saw Winterfell, Arya was dismayed. This was not the home she remembered. She heard Winterfell was burned to the ground and her brother did a fine job of repairing it; now she learned that was not enterily true. The Castle had been rebuilt, as well as the rest of the town; but it was not the same.
_It was never going to be the same, stupid._ She thought to herself. Even if Winterfell was eventually rebuilt completely, it could never be the same. Her brother was still crippled, her sister was now the lady of the eyrie, Jon was at the wall, most of the people she knew were now dead and her parents would never return to her. Arya tried to fight back the tears, _not today _she said to herself, as she choked them back_._
Nymeria ran into the woods. _She`s searching for her brothers and I`m searching for mine_.
Arya and Gendry dismounted Swift and handed her to the stable boy. "We`ll keep him here until you speak with Lord Bran, if he wishes for you to stay, it will cost..."
"Here" Arya interrupted, flinging her bag of coin to the stable boy.
His eyes widened in shock, still clutching the bag of coin. He opened his mouth to say something but, Arya already left.
They approached the door of the great hall. The guard from the gate explained the one at the door; that they wished an audience with Lord Bran. The other guard nodded and the one who escorted them to the great hall, returned back to his post.
As the guard opened the door he said, "Wait here, I shall see if Lord Bran is..."
Arya ran past him into the hall, he moved to stop her, but Arya was too quick for him. _Quick as a snake._ She saw Bran sitting at the head of the table talking to a group of men. He looked so... different. He was a man grown now. He was tall and muscular- not as muscular as Gendry, but similar to how her brother Robb was. His hair was straight and silky and reached his shoulders, he had a thin and well trimmed beard on his face. He looked so different and yet he was still her Bran.
The guard came to Arya and grabbed her by the shoulders, "my apologizes, my Lord. This one slipped through my fingers."
It was then when Bran and the rest of the men looked at her. She noticed one of the other men to be Master Luwin- she was pleasantly surprised to see he was still alive. The other men had been strangers to her. Everyone looked at her with confusion but Bran and the Master recognized her, their eyes widening at her presence.
"Arya" Bran voice cracked.
She elbowed the guard and ran to her brother. The men at the table were about to get up to defend their Lord, but Bran motioned for them to sit back down. She ran into her brother`s arms burying her face in his shoulder. She could not stop the tears this time. She wept in the great hall, enfolded in Bran`s arms.
When she finally composed herself, the man at Bran's right stood up and offered her a seat beside Bran. "This is a joyous day" Bran announced, "My sister has finally returned to Winterfell."
"Are the Boltons accompanying you, my lady?" One of the men at the table asked.
The Boltons? Why would the bloody Boltons accompany her?
Before she could respond another man asked, "Who is this you have brought with you?" he gestured to Gendry.
Every man in the hall shifted their gaze to Gendry now, each eyeing him strangely. Arya looked at Bran even he seemed to be studying Gendry. "Gendry`s a friend of mine" Arya offered, "he is a good blacksmith, I was hoping you could give him some work."
"Of course" Bran said, "Any friend of my sister`s is a friend to me. Gendry, what is your last name?"
Why would they want to know Gendry`s last name? "Waters, my lord" Gendry stated, as he bent the knee.
"A bastard from Kings landing." Bran announced, "tell me Gendry, do you perchance know who your father is?"
"No, my Lord. I never knew him."
"Interesting. Anyways will someone please escort my sister to her chambers and see that you find accommodations for her friend as well. Tonight we feast."
Bran sent a serving woman to Arya's chamber. As she bathed Arya, she filled Arya in on all the events she missed. Bran was now married to the Lady Meera Reed. Her brother Rickon was at Riverrun, acting as Lord while her uncle Edmure and the Blackfish assisted Bran in re-strengthening Winterfell. She dressed Arya in a simple blue gown and tied her hair in a braid. She offered to paint Arya's face but, Arya refused.
She made her way to the Great Hall, for the feast. She saw Gendry sitting beside a man, who she assumed was the new master at arms. He smiled at her and she returned it. She sat to Bran's right and noticed another woman sitting to his left, she assumed that to be Meera.
There were onl y a couple of people in the room she knew, Bran and Gendry had obviously been two of them; but, she also recognized Master Luwin, old nan (shockingly still alive), Hodor and a couple of other Northmen.
Everyone began asking her questions so she told them her story. She explained them everything from her father's beheading to when she arrived at Winterfell. She told them about Yoren, Harrnehal, the brotherhood, the hound, the red wedding, Braavos and the reunion with Gendry and Nymeria; she left out the part of the men she killed and her romance with Gendry.
When she finished everyone at the table eyed her with shock. "But if you were in Braavos" a man she learned to be her uncle Edmure asked, "then when did you get married to Ramesy Bolton?"
Arya spit out the wine that was in her mouth. She saw Gendry, from across the table and saw anger in his eyes. "I didn't marry a Bolton!" Arya exclaimed, "I didn't marry anyone!"
"Lord Ramsey claimed that you wed him six years past" Bran explained, "everyone received words and there were witnesses"
"Who were these bloody witnesses?" Arya demanded.
"Boltons and other men who served them." Bran explained, "Everyone thought you were dead till we heard the news. When we found out you were alive and were to marry Ramasy, we were unsure whether it would be better if you truly were dead. There have been many cruel stories about him, he is cruel man, Arya. When we did not receive any letters from you, we feared the worst."
"Once he hears about Arya's arrival at Winterfell, he will want his wife returned to him." The Blackfish claimed, "we will either have to hand Arya over or face a war."
"Then we will go into battle." Bran proclaimed.
"We will, the North will support you." The Blackfish claimed. He turned to face Arya, "have no fear my lady, so long as I live, I will not see my niece's daughter handed to the likes of Ramasy Bolton."
Arya was exhausted after the feast. She lay in her bed, even though every muscle in her body ached, she found it impossible to go to sleep. A war was coming and it was all because of her. Arya remembered the war that began when Prince Rhaegar kidnapped her aunt. Her uncle and grandfather – of the Starks- burned that day. She would not have a repeat with the Tully's. If Ramasy would still claim her, his wife and demand her returned to him, she would take the matter to trial.
Decided that she would not fall asleep tonight, Arya donned on a coat and left her room. She considered going to Gendry or Bran's chambers for a moment, but there was another place she had to visit first. She went down to the crypts and paid her respects to her mother and brother Robb's tomb. She approached her father's tomb and sank to her knees.
Her father was a good man, why had the Gods been so cruel? But there were no Gods, there was only one God; he bore many faces but he was only one. The God of death, he took her father too early. She wept herself to sleep, laying beside her father.
11. Chapter 11
GENDRY
He liked Winterfell. He spent his days working in the forge with the new Master at arms, Damon Archer. Lord Bran, was impressed with his work and paid Gendry well. He also gave him a chamber in the castle because, he was a friend of Arya's.
He enjoyed his time here; he would work in the forge all day, he was served great food and at nights Arya would seek out his chamber.
He could tell Winterfell had once been a beautiful place; if you looked beyond the rumble. Small trees and other plants were growing in the forest and the ponds and rivers were a magnificent site. It was so different from the South, no matter your status everyone was treated with respect. They seemed to be family, something that Gendry has never known.
The only thing that he disliked about Winterfell were the crypts. Just the mention of them would send a shiver down his spine. He went down there once with Arya; she showed him her father, mother, brother and the rest of her family. She asked him to go with her again, but Gendry refused; so she never brought up the subject again.
Damon and Gendry worked all day with almost no breaks; except a quick snack and to make water. If a war was coming, they needed weapons. Damon told Gendry the stories he heard about Ramsay Bolton. Each story was more cruel then the last. His temper rose, this was the man who claimed Arya to be his wife? If a war was coming he would join the battle and Gendry vowed that he would be the one to kill Ramsay Bolton.
In two moons times they got their answer. As the Starks and Tullys predicted, Ramsay heard about Arya's return to Winterfell and demanded her return. If they refused to deliver her, he vowed he would come get her himself and burn Winterfell to the ground once more.
Arya, Lord Bran, the Blackfish and Edmure Tully had a meeting in the Great Hall, moments after they received Ramsay's letter. Gendry was not invited. He paced anxiously in his room that night waiting for Arya. What in seven hells was taking them so long?
When Arya finally arrived, she did not say anything. She just wiggled out of her gown and kissed Gendry.
In that moment Gendry's anger and anxiety disappeared. All he wanted was Arya, with a passion that was almost unhealthy.
He threw her onto the bed and removed his clothes within seconds. Arya pulled him down on top her and slid her tongue into his mouth. Without breaking away from the kiss, Gendry removed Arya's small clothes and thrust himself inside her. She bit into his shoulder to muffle the screams that escaped her lips, Gendry felt the sharp pain from her bite, but he didn't care. He just moved himself deeper inside of her.
After they were done, Arya rested her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "We are leaving for Kings Landing on the morrow." She announced.
"Why Kings Landing?" He asked, "shouldn't we be marching for Dreadfort?"
Arya shook her head, "I will not have a war started because of me. No man should lay down his life for something so stupid, ours nor theirs."
"It's not stupid, that bloody bastard is a monster. I've heard the stories Arya, I will not allow him to be your husband."
"Before I was born my Aunt Lyanna was kidnapped by Prince Rhaegar. It started a war, many were slain including my uncle and grandfather. My aunt perished as well, I will not have history repeat itself."
"Then what do you propose we do? There is no way that I will allow that monster to lay his hands on you." Gendry declared.
"That is why we are going to King's Landing, we are taking this to trial."
"And if we lose?"
"I won't marry Bolton, I have a plan Gendry, you just have to trust me." There was something in her eyes that he could not read. It was the same look she gave him before the 'weasel soup' incident and it was the same look she gave him the day she told him about her plans to leave Harrenhal. There was something dangerous she was planning in her mind, but Arya's plans always seemed to fall through. He wrapped her in his arms and decided to trust her although he feared consequences.
They rode for King's Landing the eve, of the morrow. There were nearly a hundred knights that travelled with them, all donned in the armour that Damon and he forged. Arya exchanged her gowns for a tunic and breeches and donned a fur jacket over her clothes.
Nymeria and Summer – Lord Bran's direwolf – also joined. They would move on their own pace, sometimes they would run off and hunt together but they'd always manage to find the group again before nightfall.
It took them one moon to reach King's Landing. They were greeted by Queen Danereys herself. "I welcome all of you into my home" she announced, "for you are all my children, please come and share my meat and mead. I have found accommodations for all your travellers.
Lord Bran thanked the Queen and they all made their Journey into the castle.
They found out, the Boltons arrived a few days earlier then they did. The trial was marked for the morrow.
Gendry dressed well for the trial. He had taken a bath and shaved the stubble off his face. He donned on the most expensive pair of clothing he owned. Everyone else seemed to think the same way, they all the dressed to impress.
He saw Ramsay Bolton and it took all he could, to not walk up to the Lord and punch him in the face. He was much older than Arya and was as ugly as he was cruel.
He shifted his attention to Queen Daenerys, she was a beautiful woman. She had long silver hair and bright purple eyes. A gold crown rested on top of her head and she wore a long blue gown that revealed her left breast. Gendry blushed.
When he saw Arya walking in, his mouth dropped. Her hair was tied neatly in a braid, but that was the only neat thing about her. She donned on a pair of dirty breeches and a tunic. She wore chainmail and her needle was strapped into her belt loop.
Ramsay frowned at Arya, it seemed that he was disappointed. The rage in Gendry built, was he really judging her? A fat woman with all her teeth missing would be too good for Ramsay Bolton and he was sceptical of a woman as beautiful as Arya?
Gendry took a deep breath; it would not help Arya's case if her blacksmith punched the man who claimed to be her husband.
"I, Queen Daenerys of house Targaryen welcome you all to my home. Today we meet on an unpleasant day, facing a trial of Bolton versus Stark. I will allow each of you to say your peace and bring forth any witness you may have. As Queen I shall pick..."
"I demand a trial by battle." Arya interrupted.
Everyone in the hall gasped. Even her brother seemed to be shocked. Gendry felt his heart stop for a moment. This was Arya's plan? A trial by battle? What in seven hells was she thinking?
"As a right, you can choose a trial by battle. Lord Ramsay do you have a champion?" Dany asked.
Gendry could tell Ramsay was already prepared if this was to happen, as if he wanted this to happen, "I do, your grace. I announce my old friend, Ser Meryn as my champion."
He was a big man and he looked brutal. Gendry did not know much about the realms but he did know Ser Meryn was a former member of the Kings Guard before Queen Daenerys took over. He turned to look at Arya, she had a smirk on her face. She was smiling? The girl was truly mad, who in seven hells did she have that could beat Ser Meryn.
"And Lady Arya, would be so kind to name your champion." Gendry did not hesitate, if Arya wanted him to fight, he was prepared to die for her. He and a number of another Northmen including Lord Edmure Tully and the Blackfish also stepped forward, offering themselves as her champions. Arya did not turn to look at any of the men that offered themselves to her. She already had a champion in mind, she had already had something planned, like she told Gendry the night they received Ramsay's letter.
"I declare myself, as champion" she announced. Everyone gasped again and began whispering. Gendry felt his heart sank. Her words rang through his head, _I won't marry Bolton, I have a plan Gendry and you just have to trust me_. She was right; both circumstances would remove her from her marriage with Bolton. If she won she proved to the seven realms that she was not Bolton's wife and if she lost... a dead girl cannot marry a man. Gendry felt his world shatter around him, but Arya kept her head up high, ready to fight for her own life.
12. Chapter 12
ARYA
Her brother called a family meeting, after the raven arrived from Ramsay Bolton. _Dark wings, dark words._ They sat in the great hall; only Bran, her uncle Edmure, the Blackfish and herself, were allowed to attend (and Hodor, Bran needed his legs and he would not understand anything being spoken, anyways).
"We go to war" the Blackfish proclaimed, "If they mean to take Arya, they will do so prying her from my cold dead fingers."
It touched her, she had never met her uncle nor her mother's uncle (her granduncle?) before yet they were both willing to die for her. "No" she declared, "I will not have a war. Not for me."
"You are half Tully" her uncle Edmure declared, "Family, duty, honour. Those are our words."
"I never said we would not fight, I just said we will not have a war." Arya stated
"What do you propose we do?" Bran asked.
"A trial" she stated, "we take this matter to the Queen."
"That is a good idea" her uncle stated, "no blood will be shed, on both parts."
"No" the Blackfish proclaimed, "they have witnesses and we have no evidence that Arya did not marry Bolton."
"We do" her uncle declared.
Arya eyed him suspiciously, what kind of evidence did he have, that could spare her from Bolton?
"Speak, Uncle." Bran said.
"Her maidenhead is still intact, we can have a Septa inspect that. Whether or not Arya did or did not marry Bolton, a marriage can be cast aside if not consummated."
Bran and the Blackfish smiled and looked at Arya. But she lay her head down and blushed. _Stupid. _"I'm not a maiden."
She heard them gasp. Gathering up her courage she faced them. "Oh stop being stupid, If I was born a man, you would all be praising me right now."
Bran and her uncle's face remained stern but the Blackfish laughed. "The girl tells it true."
"This is no laughing matter, uncle" Edmure said, "that was our only hope at winning the trial."
"Arya's maidenhead was not the only hope we had for winning the trial." Bran stated, "The Dragon Queen is kind. She will not force a woman to marry a man she did not love. If she does not believe, Arya did not wed Ramsay, she will still cast the marriage aside."
"What if you are wrong?" the Blackfish asked, "what if she favours the Boltons?"
"She won't" Bran said, "We are more powerful allies then the Bolton's. We have Winterfell, Riverrun the Eyrie and Greywater. We also have several other allies and most of the North. The Boltons have only themselves and a few other houses. She would be a fool to anger us over them."
"Which is precisely why a battle would be better, with all these allies the Boltons..."
Arya interrupted the Blackfish, "I said I don't want bloodshed. Winterfell is just becoming stable again and a war will only hinder the progress my brother had made. We will have a trail and if we lose I will face the consequences and I alone."
"You are Cat's daughter" the Blackfish explained, "I will not have you..."
"It's my decision to make and I have made it." Arya stated.
"Yes my lady"
The three of them began to leave the Great Hall, "Arya wait" her brother Bran declared. Arya sat back down and the Blackfish and her uncle began to take their seats as well. "You two may go" Bran ordered. They bowed and left the hall.
"The blacksmith" It was not a question, it was a statement and Arya did not have to ask what he meant by that.
"Yes" she responded.
All Bran did was nod. "He shouldn't get into any trouble" Arya declared, "It was my decision as much as his..."
Bran cut her off, "no need to explain sister. I married for love and Robb did the same before me. None were bastards, but both their houses were so small, they might as well have been."
Arya nodded. She knew Bran would understand, he may have been a Lord but he was still her brother and they had been close once. Their love for one another never seemed to fade as the years went on.
"Does anyone else know?" Bran asked.
"Uncle Edmure and the Blackfish probably have their suspicions. Other than that, the only person who knows is Master Luwin. I have been asking him to make me moon tea."
Bran nodded, "that is good. If you were to get with child, Bolton will claim it is his and with an heir, we have lost. You may go sister, we leave on the morrow."
With that Arya was off. The Blackfish was right, she could not rely on the Queen. When Arya learned the news of her marriage to Ramsay, she began hatching a plan. She would have trial, but Arya would be responsible for the outcome. She would demand a trial by battle, if she won she would not have to marry Bolton and if she lost, she would die but she would still not be married to Bolton.
She ran to Gendry's chambers. This might be the very last night they shared together, as man and woman. She did not bother knocking the door, she swung it open. Gendry was pacing but he stopped when he heard her come in. He opened his mouth to say something but Arya would not have it. She took of her dress and then walked to Gendry, pressing her lips on his.
Gendry moaned as he laid her on his bed. He removed his clothes in a second and settled himself on top of her. She brought him down for another kiss, dipping her tongue in his mouth. He removed her small clothes and then thrust himself inside her.
She felt the tears swimming in her eyes but she dared not tell Gendry the truth. He would tell her brother of her ploy and a war would begin.
She bit his shoulder to stop herself from crying out. She saw Gendry wince but he did not seem to mind. He pushed her legs further apart and stood on his knees, thrusting himself deeper inside of her. Arya moaned against his lips
She could feel her climax approaching, she tried desperately to hold it back, not wanting this moment to end so soon. Gendry moaned as he spilt his seed in her and Arya climaxed with him.
He began asking her questions of the meeting and Arya answered them. Half her mind was focusing on his fingers, which were absentmindedly stroking her left nipple.
She had enough of his questions, all she wanted to do was spend her last possible moments with the man she loved. She did not want to talk, all she wanted to do was curl up to Gendry, for possibly the last time.
She cupped his face "I won't marry Bolton, I have a plan Gendry, you just have to trust me."
Gendry said nothing after that, all though eyed her suspiciously. She knew, he knew that she was plotting something dangerous; but as long as he did not know what, it would not matter.
The next morning, she climbed out of Gendry's bed quietly and was careful, to wake him. She donned her clothes and went to the Great Hall. She sat beside Bran and ate a bowl of leak soup, fried mushrooms and sausage. She washed down her meal with arbour gold.
Bran did not eat, he was writing and sealing letters. Arya did not bother try and reading any of them. She knew that he was informing everyone of the trial. "Would you mind going to the rookery and sending out these letters?" Bran asked.
Arya nodded. There were five letters in her hand. One addressed to Ramsay Bolton and the other addressed to Queen Daenerys. Those two had been obvious. The other two were addressed to Sansa and Jon. Again, not a surprise. The last one however, was addressed to Lord Stannis. Why would Bran be writing to Stannis? She wanted to read the letter, but it was already sealed. So she sent off all the letters, unopened and only wondered what Bran and Stannis were talking about.
They approached Kings Landing, in a moons time. Bolton had already arrived. They were greeted by the Queen. On the day of the trial, a maid was sent to Arya. She barley spoke the common tongue, but they were able to communicate simple sentences.
"Lady, you no wear this garb, it no good, you see Queen, no? Lady nice should look for Queen." The serving lady was flabbergasted, but Arya just dismissed her. She bowed and left the room.
There was a knock on her door. She thought it was Gendry at first, but when she opened it, she saw the Blackfish. "That is what you are wearing for the trial?" He did not seem angry, rather amused. "You may be Cat's daughter, but you take after me" he chuckled.
"I miss her" Arya admitted.
He wrapped one of his arms around Arya's shoulder; similar to how her father did, when they were having a tender moment. "I know you do, child. I miss her too. She deserved a more peaceful death then she got."
Arya flinched, they already told her about Lady Stoneheart. If she were still alive, Arya was not sure she would want to meet her. "I wasn't a good daughter. I hated needlework, I had no manners and I was a poor excuse for a lady. Mother would be disappointed."
"No, my child." He said, bringing her closer, "your mother was proud of you. When we were at Riverrun, one day we watched some of the boys training. They weren't the strongest group of lads, I'd seen. 'Arya could take on all of them' she said to me and then she wept. She wept for the daughter she loved and the daughter she thought she lost. You may have not been a lady, like your sister Sansa, but your mother loved all of you the same. She wept for all of you, much more then she wept for your father and she wept a great deal for your father; no matter how hard she tried to conceal her tears."
Arya's face was covered in tears. She buried her head in the Blackfish's shoulder and cried. _I fight for my family, I do my duty and I do so with honour. _She may have not had the Tully look, but she was still a Tully as much as she was a Stark. _Family, duty, honour._ The words rang in her head one last time.
Her uncle left. She looked on her bed and there were two swords in front of her. One was needle, the other a common sword. They were both good. Needle was built for speed and the other for strength. She had to choose which one she would fight with. The second sword would have been a better option, even though she killed with needle, it was not meant for battle; the other sword would do better. But she reached for needle all the same. She tucked needle into her belt loop and made her way to the trial.
When she walked in everyone gasped at her attire, but she didn't care. She didn't need love to win, if she meant to declare a trial by battle. The dragon Queen did not seem to mind either.
Arya bent the knee to the Queen and she began to speak. Arya did not hear any of it, her nerves were bothering her too much. There was no point prolonging any of this, Arya just wanted to get it over with. "I demand a trial by battle." She proclaimed
The crowd gasped again. _Gods why was everyone so stupid._ Ramsay named Ser Meryn as her champion. _She was fucked._ Ser Meryn was a former knight of the Kings Guard, the same knight that killed Syrio. If he could beat Syrio, what chance did Arya have? She could already taste defeat. _At least I won't have to stay married to Bolton._
_Those who fear losing have already lost._ Syrio`s voice rang in her head, once more. He was right, she would not lose, she would win. She looked at Ser Meryn, he was one of the few remaining people left on her list. He scowled at her but she smiled back.
When the Queen asked her to name her champion, she heard the footsteps of a dozen men step forward. Her father once taught her, that a man should face his own enemy. There was no honour in hiding behind someone else, to fight your battles for you. Her father's words rang in her head, _a ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is. _
_I will not hide behind anyone. I will fight my own battles, just like you taught me too. If could see me now father, you would be proud._ "I declare myself as champion."
Everyone gasped once more, whispers spread through the court.
"This is unacceptable your grace" Ramsay yelled, "a woman can fight no battles."
The Queen turned and faced the man, "a woman can do anything a man could do and so much more. If Lady Arya wishes to fight, she will fight."
Roose Bolton spoke up this time. His voice was timid, but Arya could sense the anger behind it, "what my son means to say, is the Stark girl is not being just. Whether she wins or loses, my son will have lost a wife."
"It is not unjust" the Queen proclaimed, "she has every right to demand a trial by battle and every right to declare herself as champion. If it is anything, it is wise." She shifted her attention back to Arya, "Is this your wish, Lady Arya?"
"Yes my Queen."
"Then so be it. The battle will commence within the hour. I will give both your champions a moment to prepare. I shall see you all then." Queen Daenerys left the court, her handmaidens following her closely behind.
Arya left shortly after. Her family began scolding her, "call me when it's time for the battle" and with that she dismissed them. She went to her room, only seconds after she heard a knock on her door. Arya groaned, she did not want her family trying to talk her out of this. The deed was done.
When she opened the door, she found Gendry on the other side. His eyes were blood shot red. Arya felt a sudden rush of guilt, she did not think what her death would do to Gendry.
"Don't do this." He begged.
"I've already made up my mind and it's too late to back down now."
"No" he screamed at her, "it's not too late. Let me take your place or your uncle or the Blackfish or any other person. Just... don't die."
She cupped his face, she felt the tears rolling out from her eyes too. "I will have no man fight my battles for me. My father taught me..."
"Your father." Gendry interrupted, "Yes your father was a great man; your father was valiant, your father was noble and your father was honourable. But your father died._" _He cupped her face as well, "no one will deny how amazing your father was, he had a dozen amazing qualities and he died because of them. If he wasn't so valiant, if he wasn't so noble and if he wasn't so honourable, then he might still be alive today."
"My father may have died, but my father died a great man. Singers will write songs about him and he will always be remembered. My father died a hero not a craven. If I die today, so be it; but, I die valiant, noble and honourable."
Arya knew, these weren`t the words that Gendry wanted to hear, but he kissed her anyways. She could taste the salty tears pouring down both their faces.
She made her way to the battle. Gendry took his seat and it was her and Ser Meryn on the field.
"I Queen Danereys..."
Arya did not hear any of the Queen`s speech. She eyed Ser Meryn and this time he smiled back at her. A cruel smile, that was meant to taunt her.
Arya closed her eyes and said her prayers. _Ser Meryn and Ser Ilyn. _The only two people left on her list. _valar morghulis._ She did not know if she was saying that to Ser Meryn or herself. One last prayer, she asked God. She was not praying to the Old Gods or the Seven. Neither answered her prayers in the war of the five kings. Neither saved her family from peril.
_There is only one God_ Syrio`s voice rang in her head, _and he is the God of Death. And there is only one thing we say to the God of Death. _Arya took a deep breath and whispered possibly the last two words she would ever say again, _not today._
With that she unsheathed Needle and faced the foe in front of her.
13. Chapter 13
_Note from the author: _I am sorry i realised this chapter so late, i know i left the last chapter in suspension and believe me this one and the next one end in suspense as well. It was not my intent to make u wait but i had work today from 7 am to 8 pm. And i unfortunately just got back from work at 830 BOO! Anyways im realising this chapter now, hope u enjoy it.
ARYA
Ser Meryn charged her, but Arya dodged the attack easily. Arya made the right decision, when she stuck with Needle. Needle was built for speed and that's exactly what she needed.
He charged again and Arya dodged the blow. Ser Meryn was donned in partial armour, covering his trunk. He also wore a helm and a shield. He did not dress in full armour, like Arya expected. It was obvious that he did not take her as much of a threat.
_I can win this._ She said to herself, she swung needle at Ser Meryn and his sword met hers. The blow was so strong that it nearly shattered Arya's left hand.
_I'm going to lose._ She nearly dropped her sword. Ser Meryn swung at her again and she blocked every blow with needle. Each hit, made her arm ache more.
_Fear cuts deeper then swords._ She swung needle again and Ser Meryn met hers easily. She should have gone with the bigger sword. Arya felt like her arm was going to fall off.
She needed to come up with a plan and she needed one fast. She was not sure how much more she could take.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Ser Meryn knocked her to the floor. He swung his sword down at her and she managed to get away just in time.
When she tried to get up, Ser Meryn swung at her face and this time she had not been so fast. She ducked, but the steel still hit her right check. The pain was blinding, Arya could not help but scream. He swung his sword down to finish her off, but again she managed to dodge it.
She did not hesitate. Just one hesitation and you were dead; but she could not ignore the pain either, her face was throbbing.
_I have to win._ She told herself. _I have to win for Gendry, for Bran, for uncle Edmure, for the Blackfish, for Winterfell, for father, for mother, for Jon, for Sansa, for Robb, for Rickon. I have to win for myself, for my honour._
Syrio's voice rang through her head once more, _You are the sword. _She remembered when Ser Meryn and the rest of the Lannister men came for her before they executed her father. Syrio saved her and he died for her. Ser Meryn killed him, this was her revenge.
Arya screamed when she charged Ser Meryn, swinging her sword. His sword met her every swing. She didn't feel the pain in her arm anymore, all Arya could think about was her revenge.
Arya began calling out her moves, "Right, right, left, right , right, right, left, left, right, left, left, right, right, right" on the last hit she went left. Her sword connected with Ser Meryn's shoulder. She drew blood, but he did not ssem to notice.
"You think you can win this battle by lying?" he spat.
"My mouth lied, but my eyes spoke the truth." She retorted.
"Bullshit." With that he swung at her again. Arya slid in between his legs and charged him at the back. His armour slowed him down, so he did not turn fast.
Arya's sword connected with the back of his neck. This time he hollered in pain. "You will pay for that you bitch!"
Their dance continued. Arya repeated her mantras in her head. _Swift as a deer. Quiet as a shadow. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. _
She charged at Ser Meryn but this time their swords did not meet. Arya looked down and saw he ran is sword through her stomach. He pulled his sword back to him and that's when Arya felt the pain. She fell back on the ground. _Get up. Get up!_ But she couldn't the pain was too much. She clutched her stomach to stop the blood, but it was no use. She was dying.
Syrio's voice rang in her head once more. _Arya child you are done. Run to your father._
She saw Ser Meryn charging at her with full force. _No _she said to herself, _the first sword of Braavos does not run._ She slid away in just the right time, the sword barley grazing her. Ser Meryn did not expect for her to move and he crashed to the floor.
"Valar morghulis!" she screamed as she plunged needle down Ser Meryn's throat. It slid through easily and Ser Meryn chocked to death on his own blood.
Half the crowd gasped, surprised that a girl was able to beat someone powerful like Ser Meryn; but, the Northmen cheered, as did the rest of the crowd, moments later following their lead.
Arya looked into the crowd. She did not look for Gendry, nor Bran, nor any of the Northmen. She did not look at the Queen or the Boltons. She looked at Ser Ilyn, the last man on her list. _Valar morghulis_ she said to herself.
She fell on the floor. Her body screaming in pain. She could see the masters approaching her. One force fed her the milk of the poppy.
She remembered the words she said to Gendry, that afternoon. _If I die today, so be it; but, I die valiant, noble and honourable._
Arya Stark would die with honour, singers would write songs about her. If her parents and Robb could see her now they would be proud of her.
She saw the Masters quickly tending at her wounds. She could see Gendry, Bran, Edmure and the Blackfish running to her.
Gendry lifted her head up and rested it on his lap. She felt the drops of tears, rolling from his eyes, hit her face. "Arya. Please, please don't leave me."
She wanted to respond, she wanted to say something. But she didn't even have the energy to open her lips.
She would die with honour; but she was not ready to die just yet. She had to live, she had to live for Gendry. She tried to fight, but the darkness was consuming her.
_No please, no. Not today. Not today! NOT TODAY!_
Arya fought, she fought to cling on to her life. But now all her strength failed her, the pain made it unbearable to even think. _Not today, not today._
The kindly old man once told her, death had a plan for everyone, that once it came for you, you could not fight it.
_But it's not my time yet._ She wanted to scream I'm not ready.
She fought for what seemed like hours, but eventually the darkness consumed her and everything went black.
14. Chapter 14
GENDRY
He was sitting there for hours; watching her chest slowly rise and fall. _She was still alive._ Nymeria lay beside her; at first the masters tried to shoo her away, but Nymeria bared her teeth at them and growled, so they just let her be. The wolf refused to leave Arya, she just laid at her side and occasionally licked her face.
Gendry was sitting beside her, occasionally stroking her left hand, which he had been holding. His thoughts travelled back to the battle; he remembered when their swords first met, Arya looked like the wind got knocked out of her but she continued fighting. He looked at her face, the right side of her face was concealed with a large bandage. The masters said she would bare a scar there for the rest of her life. Gendry smirked, other ladies would probably feel as if there world just ended, but Arya would probably just laugh.
How he missed her laugh, he longed to hear it soon. The masters assured them that the worst was over and Arya should make a full recovery. Master Luwin said Arya was a strong girl and she always recovered quickly; whether it be from injuries or sickness.
Gendry feared he had lost her when Ser Meryn plunged his sword through her stomach. The masters even said not many lived after those kinds of wounds. The Blackfish laughed, "you forget who you are speaking too, that girl is half Stark and half Tully. It would take more than that to bring her down."
The Blackfish was not here anymore, he left with Lord Bran and Lord Edmure on some sort of business. Gendry and Master Luwin remained. He would constantly eye Gendry strangely, but he didn't care.
They were silent for a long time before the master spoke, "Not many would do, what Arya just did. They would send another man to take their place in a battle to the death. Whenever I look at that girl, I always see her father."
"She's not a girl anymore."
The master chuckled, "no, that she is not. It felt like only yesterday, when I delivered her. She was a tiny thing back then to. Smallest baby I'd ever seen, but she was healthy and strong. I thought of all the Stark children, as my own grandchildren; I delivered all of them and watched them grow up; now I feel like I do not know any of them anymore. I wish we could go back, go back before the war, before the king named Lord Eddard his hand." The master sighed.
Gendry was about to respond, when the Blackfish walked in, "Blacksmith, you are needed, follow me."
Gendry wanted to object, he wanted to stay here with Arya; but he remembered his place, so with one last glance at Arya he followed the Blackfish.
He walked into a room and saw Lord Bran, Lord Edmure, a woman dressed in red and another man – that somewhat resembled him – chatting. When they entered the other man walked over to Gendry, "God`s be good. You two were right, this is most defiantly my brother`s son."
His brother? Who was his brother? More importantly, who was he?
"We noticed the resemblance, when he first arrived at Winterfell; but we had to be sure." Lord Bran said.
"Well, I am sure. The boy looks exactly like Edric, except more well built." The man chuckled.
The woman in red interrupted, "He is his son, I have seen it in the flames. King`s blood." She smirked.
Gendry finally found his voice, "King`s Blood?"
"Oh look at us, talking about the boy as if he wasn`t even hear. I am Lord Stannis Baratheon, your uncle. Your father was King Robert Baratheon." Lord Stannis proclaimed.
"A king? You are mistaken, my Lord. My father was no King, just a drunkard who bedded my mother." Gendry said.
Stannis smirked, "sounds like my brother to me." He turned to Lord Bran, Lord Edmure and the Blackfish, "you sure you lads want him. He is still a bastard after all, we may still merge another way. I have daughter, about young Rickon`s age."
"Rickon, already has a match" Bran interrupted, "plus Shireen, is a lovely girl, bounds of other people will be fighting for that alliance, it`s not every day you can merge two households with a bastard.`
"Yes, you speak the truth boy. We shall go to the Dragon Queen at once, perhaps she would be so kind as to get you legitimized, boy." Stannis said, looking at Gendry.
Gendry had never been so confused in his entire life, "legitimized? Legitimized for what reason, my Lord?"
"You are getting married boy, to the Stark girl." Stannis proclaimed.
Married? He is getting married and to Arya? A sudden warmth filled Gendry, when he came to Winterfell he knew the thought of marriage had been out of the question. She was still a lady and he was still a bastard; but now, he learned he wasn't just any bastard. He was the bastard of the former king. Now Gendry could spend the rest of his life with the woman he loved.
Gendry was about to thank Lord Stannis and Lord Bran when someone entered the room. She was a beautiful girl, about a couple years younger than him. She had auburn hair, green eyes and fair skin. She was thin, except she had lovely curves on her hips and large breasts.
"My Lords." She curtsied.
"Ah Lord Stannis and my dear Melisandre, let me finally introduce you to my lovely sister, Sansa Stark." Lord Bran announced.
"It is an honour to meet you both" she responded.
Gendry`s heart stopped. He forgot, Arya still had another sister._ You are getting married boy, to the Stark girl, _but to which Stark girl? It was Arya, it had to be Arya; but, Sansa was closer to his age and Arya was still unconscious. He couldn`t marry Sansa, she was a beautiful woman, but the only person Gendry loved was Arya.
He was about to ask Stannis that very question, but it seemed like he already read his mind.
"I am very sorry to hear about your loss, my lady. Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting your husband, I knew Jon Arryn and he was a good man. Although, your brother tells me he has already found another match for you." He turned and smiled at Gendry, "let`s go boy. We need to go visit the Queen and get you legitimized."
Gendry`s world just crashed before him. _Not Arya._
15. Chapter 15
ARYA
The first thing she felt, was the pain. Her face and abdomen were throbbing, the pain was so agonizing that it pulled her back into consciousness. Truthfully, her entire body was aching.
What just happened? She tried to recall the recent event that brought her in this condition; but, now her head was hurting just trying to think.
She heard a faint buzzing sound in the background, she tried concentrating on it; but, it proved useless. She just wanted to fall back into unconsciousness, she wanted the pain to subside.
The voice proved relentless. "Eh..rawr...yeah." the voice said. What? She concentrated on the voice, trying to make out the words; ignoring the discomfort. "Arya" the voice seemed to be saying.
Arya? Yes that was her name, Arya. Everything was coming back to her now. She remembered going to court and there being a fight... no a battle. Then she remembered everything, the information poured on her so quickly. The false marriage between her and Ramsay Bolton, the battle to the death with Ser Meryn, her family, Winterfell, Nymeria and Gendry.
_Gendry._ She promised herself she wouldn't die, she promised that for Gendry.
"Arya" the voice called. Was that him? No it couldn't be, the voice was much too soft. A female's voice.
She opened her mouth to reply the voice but all that came out was a groan. Arya's eyes fluttered open. Everything was blurry, she could feel her eyes starting to accommodate. Blue, that was the first colour she saw; but, it was the wrong shade, darker then it was supposed to be. When her vision fully returned to her, she noticed the blue colour, was a gown. It was worn by a woman, she had auburn hair and beautiful green eyes.
"Sansa?" Arya tried to get up but she felt something weighing her down. She looked to see Nymeria was keeping her in place. She felt something wet on her face and learned that Nymeria was licking her.
"Oh Arya, thank the seven you are alright." Sansa began, "I did not arrive on time for the battle, but I heard everything that happen. Oh it sounded dreadful, the injuries you received; it's a miracle that you are still alive. The Gods are good."
Finally oriented, Arya teased, "shouldn't you be scolding me on how un-lady like my behaviour was."
Sansa smiled, "I gave up on you being a lady a while back. I now understand that I never had a sister, the Gods had sent me four true brothers and one natural one."
Arya laughed, "If mother was here, she would be disappointed. A lady shouldn't play with swords and fight former members of the Kings guard."
Sansa was serious now, "If both mother and father are watching down on us, they would be proud. Arya what you did was, yes it was stupid; but it was also brave and honourable. You saved North from losing thousands of men, if this matter went to war. How could anyone fault you for that?"
Arya felt the tears welling up in her eyes, but she choked them back. What was happening to her, since when did she turn into such a baby? She hugged her sister, she was always afraid that Sansa and her relationship would end one time. That Arya would become too big of an embarrassment or Sansa would be to annoying, that one of them could not bear the other any longer. But, she knew know that she and her would always love each other; that their relationship would never falter.
They began catching up. Arya told her of her time at Braavos and Sansa told her all about the Eyrie.
"You got married to our cousin?" Arya asked.
"We had a beautiful son together; but, that was the only joy of our marriage. He was a good boy at heart, but Aunt Lysa spoiled him. As an adult, he was more immature then Rickon had been when he was a baby. I feel guilty for saying this, but I'm glad he's dead, Arya. Not for myself, but that boy was suffering; his sickness grew worse every day. I wish this marriage wasn't happening so soon, I want to mourn Robert, he may have not been the best husband, but he was still my husband."
"Marriage?" Arya asked bewildered, "you are getting married again?"
"Oh heavens, how did I forget telling you that." Sansa scolded herself, "Bran set it up. I am getting married to Willas Tyrell. Oh Arya, I met him once. He is so handsome. I have to hand it to Bran, one day he will be more powerful then the Queen herself. He's already got powerful alliances with the: Reeds, Aryns, Tyrells, Tullys, Martells and soon the Baratheons as well."
"Martell and Baratheon?" How did he get alliances with them?" Arya asked.
Sansa gasped in shock, "didn't anyone tell you?" she demanded.
"Tell me? Tell me what?" Arya asked.
"Well, Quentyn Martell's daughter is arranged to marry Rickon. The Baratheons however, well Bran has arranged for you to marry Robert's bastard."
Arya shot out of bed, ignoring the pain that shot through her when she did. Sansa tried to lay her back on her pillow, but Arya was furious. "I saved them! I saved Winterfell from bloodshed! I nominated myself as a bloody champion and this is how they repay me? Bran is forcing me to get married? Well I won't do it! They will have to drag me kicking and screaming but I still won't say the words, I won't marry the bloody Baratheon. I won't. I won't! I WON'T!"
Arya was much too old to be throwing a temper tantrum, but she was so angry. How could Bran do this to her?
"Arya please" Sansa pleaded, "it won't be so bad. The Queen is legitimizing him as we speak, he won't be a basta..."
"I'm not you!" She screamed, "I don't care if he is a bastard or the next bloody king. I don't want to marry him!"
"Arya, I saw him this afternoon. He's really handsome. I'm sure you and Gendry Baratheon will be very happy together."
Arya froze. Gendry?
Her thoughts were interrupted when the door opened. Gendry, Lord Stannis, a red woman, Bran, uncle Edmure and the Blackfish walked inside.
They were shocked to see her awake. They all rushed over to her side, but Arya did not pay attention to any of the other men. She made a fist and punched Gendry Baratheon in his stupid face. She heard a crack and saw blood rushing out of his nose.
Bran opened his mouth to scold her, but Arya paid him no heed. "You lied to me!" she screamed, "why didn't you tell me that you were Robert Baratheon's bloody bastard! "
Everyone seemed appalled by her behaviour except for the Blackfish, he burst into laughter. "Oh my Lords, this may be my niece's daughter but I assure you, it is my blood that runs through her veins."
"I'm not quite sure that is a good thing, Uncle." Lord Edmure chastised.
"I assure you my lady, that the boy had no awareness of his legitimacy. He believed himself to be a common bastard until this very day." The red woman spoke. Arya did not know what, but there was something very unnerving about her.
Stannis spoke, "Yes and I am sure my lady will find it in her heart to forgive him. Lady Arya I must commend you on your performance today. I was sitting in the front and enjoyed your swordsmanship quite well. Ser Meryn was an amazing fighter and for you to take him down spoke volumes. Come now, let us leave the future husband and wife a moment." Stannis led everyone out the door.
When only Gendry, Nymeria and herself remained; Gendry began complaining, "Gods Arya, I think you broke my nose."
"Well how about I run a sword through your stomach and slash of half of your face off, let's see which pain is worse." Arya grumbled.
Gendry sighed and laid her carefully back down in bed. He lay down beside her and put an arm over her shoulder. Arya rested her head on his chest, she always felt comfortable in this position.
For a while they said nothing, until Gendry spoke. "I thought I lost you. When Ser Meryn plunged that sword through your stomach, I thought that was it. That I would never see you again." Gendry winced at his words.
"When I fell to the floor, all i could think about is you. I told myself I couldn't die, for you." Arya admitted.
Gendry tucked her in closer, "do you want to?"
"Do I want to do what?" she asked.
"Do you want to marry me? I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do, If it's not what you want, I will tell Stannis..."
"Do you want to marry me?" she interrupted.
Gendry turned his face, so now he was facing her. "It's what I always wanted, every second of my life till I found out you were a girl. Back in the battle with Yoren and the Lannisters, you stayed behind to help Weasel. I told you the leave her and run, but you didn't listen. I wanted nothing more to get as far away from there as possible, but you didn't come. You stayed behind and helped her. I knew you wouldn't be able to move her, I knew she would slow you down and I feared that it would be the end of you. I don't know why or how but I found myself running back to you. I picked the girl up and threw her over my shoulders not to save her life, but to save yours. After we made camp for that night, I thought to myself, why in the seven hells did I go back. What made you so important, that I would risk my life for you. I would never have done that for Hot Pie or Lommy, but I know I couldn't bare it, if anything happened to you. It was not much after that I found out you were a girl and then I knew, I knew from that moment that I loved you and I loved you every single day after that."
"I never thought anyone would want to marry me." Arya admitted, "everyone called me Arya Horseface or Arya Underfoot. So I never wanted to get married because, I knew it would never happen to me. But, I don't know... every day I spend with you, it feels better. When I'm with you, the sun shines brighter. When you left, it hurt me more than it should. Now I know that I don't want to be apart from you. So yes, yes I want to marry you."
Gendry smiled and kissed her on the check. He hugged her tighter, a little too tight. It was too much for her to bare with her new injuries, so she groaned. Gendry immediately loosened his grip and brought something to her mouth, "drink" he commanded.
"No, I don't want to sleep now. I want to be with you." Arya protested.
"We will have plenty of nights together, but first you need to get better. Now drink."
Arya drank the milk of the poppy. When she finished, she felt the pain dim, her muscles felt weaker and her eyelids heavier. She struggled to stay awake, but the poppy consumed her and she fell into a deep sleep, the warmth of Gendry and Nymeria beside her.
16. Chapter 16
GENDRY
It took them two moons to return back to Winterfell. After Arya regained most of her strength, they first set off to Highgarden to witness the wedding of Lady Sansa to Willas Tyrell, accompanied by Lady Sansa and Lord Stannis's group.
Arya was still weak, she was unable to sustain long periods of activity and winced occasionally when she walked. While travelling to Highgarden they offered her a carriage, but Arya refused. Arya was stubborn, no man could sway her to change her mind, she refused to let anyone see her, in her moment of weakness. However, even with her objection they took much more breaks then they initially had, when they made their way to King's Landing.
Now they were finally home, preparations were being made for the wedding. Gendry had to sit in on history lessons with the younger children, so he could learn the history about different houses. He found it quite boring, but Stannis insisted it.
He barley saw Arya, since they got back. Even at nights – now that Gendry had been given better accommodations – she was unable to sneak into his room.
On the day of the wedding, Gendry was forced to entertain guests, he had been terrible with his lessons and did not recognize most of the houses that attended. Stannis introduced him to plenty of different Lords, ladies, knights and other high-born men; but, Gendry found no interest in them. They all dressed in extravagant clothing, spoke the same conversations, there was nothing unique about these people. He had already gone through one wineskin, and the wedding ceremony had yet to begin.
The wedding ceremony took place in the Godswood. Gendry waited by the trees with Lord Stannis at his side. Music began playing and the tune was too familiar; he looked at the singer and noticed it was Tom. Gendry smiled at him, he was shocked to see his old friend. He wondered if the other members of the brotherhood were here as well. Tom responded with a wink, as he began playing the song.
_My feather bed is deep and soft,_
_and there I'll lay you down,_
_I'll dress you all in yellow silk,_
_and on your head a crown._
_For you shall be my lady love,_
_and I shall be your lord._
_I'll always keep you warm and safe,_
_and guard you with my sword._
Arya walked down the aisle, accompanied by the Blackfish and Gendry gasped. Whispers broke out, as soon as Arya appeared. She looked beautiful. Arya always looked beautiful, with her tangled hair and her man clothes, but this time she looked like a woman.
She was wearing a lilac gown with myrish lace. It was tight on the top and flowed loosely below the waist. Her neck line was cut low and the dress revealed her shoulders. Her hair toppled over them, shiny in perfect brown curls. She had rouge on her face and her lips were painted red. She still bared a large gash on her right check, but for some reason it made her look all the more beautiful. Gendry's face wasn't perfect either, his nose was still crooked, from when she hit him. She wore a grey clock, with a picture if a direwolf, her house clock. His thoughts travelled back to the first time he saw her wearing a dress, forced upon by the Lady Smallwood. He laughed back then, but there was no laughing now. No woman, could ever look as beautiful as Arya did now.
_And how she smiled and how she laughed,_
_the maiden of the tree._
_She spun away and said to him, _
_no feather bed for me._
_I'll wear a gown of golden leaves,_
_and bind my hair with grass._
_But you can be my forest love_
_and me your forest lass._
They said their vows and Gendry removed her gown and placed a clock with Baratheon colours that bore a Stag, in its place. He noticed that Arya looked nervous, her voice was as faint as a whisper, as she said her vows. Was she shy? Was this the same outspoken Arya he knew? Their kiss was soft and tentative. He wrapped his arms around her waist, digging his nails inside her waist. She laid her hands gently on his chest. The crowd cheered and they broke apart.
Gendry ate the food without tasting it, he was supposed to be the happiest man in the world right now; but it was not the wedding he desired. He barley spent anytime with Arya, except for when they were feasting. He noticed that Arya barely touched her food. She hogged the cup, they shared and drank her body weight in, Dornish red.
"You look very beautiful, my lady" he teased.
"I look stupid, Sansa spent hours putting me in this awful thing. The bodice is so tight I can barley breathe, I can't wait till I can finally take it off."
"And I can't wait till I can take it off you."
For the first time that night, Arya smirked. Most women would be ecstatic on their wedding day but it seemed that Arya was hating every minute of it.
After dinner, it was their time to mingle. Stannis pushed Gendry to talk to other highborn families, but once Gendry caught sight of the Brotherhood, he rushed to great his old friends.
It was only a matter of minutes, when Stannis pulled him away. "Now look, boy. I am your uncle and what you decide to do, reflects upon me. I will not have you spending your time with some bloody outlaws, do you understand me?"
Gendry wanted to object, but he nodded. He began dancing with the Lady Shireen, Lady Meera, Lady Sansa and countless of other ladies whose names he could not remember. He was terrible at dancing, every now and then he would step on someone`s foot. He turned to look at Arya, she was dancing with her brother, Rickon. When it came time for Gendry and Arya to dance, he noticed she had a stumble in her step, from the wine.
"You're drunk" Gendry commented.
"I know, stupid." She mumbled.
"Will you be insulting me, through our entire marriage?" Gendry frowned.
"If you wanted a well behaved wife, you should have married my sister."
Gendry remembered the day, when he thought he was to marry Sansa Stark. Stannis mentioned she was getting married as well and Gendry assumed that he would be forced to marry her. He could not imagine marrying Sansa, she was beautiful but that`s where it ended. Arya was his best friend, their life would be filled with joy and fun as well as passion and lust.
When the song ended, there were cries for the bedding ceremony to begin. Gendry was dragged away by a hand full of people, that began tearing off his clothes. He was shocked, when he first witnessed the bedding ceremony, back in Highgarden with Sansa and Willas.
Men began throwing japes at him but he did not hear it. He struggled to see what had become of Arya but a group of men circled around her that he could not make her out.
After all his clothing was removed he was led into a bedroom. A few minutes after, Arya was pushed into the room as well, the door shutting behind her.
She was nude as well, her hands covering her breasts. Her face was red and he could see the tears swimming in her eyes. Gendry encircled her in his arms and she winced at the comments being made by the men outside their chambers.
Gendry was infuriated, he made his way to the door, to scold the men outside it but Arya grabbed his hand. He turned and was shocked to see how close she was, forgetting about the disturbances outside the room, he swept her into his arms and bent his head down to kiss her. She tasted of lemon cakes and Dornish red; both sweet and bitter at the same time.
Nothing was shy and soft about their coupling. He nearly threw her onto the bed. She pulled him on top of her, her tongue seeking out his as their lips met again. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he thrust himself inside her. She dug her fingernails into his back, drawing blood. He moved his hands from her waist, on to her breasts, giving them a tight squeeze, causing Arya to moan. He screamed her name when he peaked, her following soon after. They laid together two more times, that night.
When he woke up in the morning, he saw that Arya was still asleep in his arms.
He kissed her neck and she groaned.
"What's wrong?" he asked, worried.
"Shh... you're talking so loudly"
Gendry laughed, "is my lady having her first hangover?"
"Shut up" she punched him in the stomach, but that just made Gendry laugh even more.
Arya's scowled at him. She looked adorable, when she was angry; which was probably why Gendry loved angering her. "You know sex, is the best cure for a hangover, right?" Gendry said, as he took her right breast into his mouth.
"Really? I heard punching a stupid boy in the face was a better one." She challenged.
Gendry laughed as he moved his lips to hers. She giggled into his lips and they laid together one more time before going downstairs.
The guests had left and now only Gendry, Arya and the rest of the people from Winterfell remained. The Blackfish and Lord Edmure were gone too, as well as Sansa, Willas and Lord Stannis. Arya threw a peach slice that hit Gendry right between the eyes. When she went to throw the other one, Gendry caught it, in his mouth and they both giggled.
Being married to Arya, would be the best thing that happened to him. At night they lay together as man and wife, but in the day they went back to being the children they were seven years past.
17. Chapter 17
ARYA
The next couple of moons felt like heaven; when Arya and Gendry were not exploring Winterfell they were in the bedroom. Gendry continued to work with Master Damon at the forge; even though Bran explained to him, it was no longer necessary. Blacksmithing was Gendry's passion; he was a talented and even though now he was a Baratheon, no one would turn away the help of a talented blacksmith.
While Gendry spent his time at the forge, Arya would either; play with Nymeria, Shaggydog and Rickon or she would train with the knights. She would try and spend time with Bran, but now that he was Lord of Winterfell, he was faced with dealing with dreadfully boring tasks and once he was finished – even though he never told Arya – she could tell that he wanted to spend his free time with Meera.
Today, she was going to practice her water dancing. She finished polishing needle and headed to where the knights were practicing. She had gotten to know all the people at Winterfell by now, but when she approached the knights there was one man she did not recognize.
He wasn't skinny but he wasn't big either. He had some muscles on his arms but he was still slim. He had blonde hair, which was neatly kept except for the bangs that covered his eyes. She noticed he also had pale green eyes. He was not far from her age, he looked older than her but younger than Gendry.
As Arya approached, another knight named John Merryway greeted her. "Lady Arya, will you be joining us this afternoon?" he smilled.
Arya smiled at him and the other knight beside him, "I believe I am. It has been almost a week since I last practiced, I do not wish to get rusty."
Ser John laughed, "even on your worst day, you are still better than most of the knights here. Lady Arya let me introduce you to our new knight, Ser William Lannister, the second of his name.
The man smiled at her but Arya froze. What in seven hells was a bloody Lannister doing at Winterfell? Her smile turned into a scowl but Ser William laughed. "Oh my lady please, I do not bear you or any of your family any ill will. I know there is bad blood between our houses, but I was only two and ten when the war of five kings began. Lord Bran has graciously accepted me into your home and I wish to only serve Winterfell."
Arya was trained in Braavos, to tell when someone was lying to her. From what she read of Ser William`s face, it seemed as if he was telling the truth; however, there was something about him that she could not place. His smile was warm and almost familiar. She turned her scowl back into a smile, but she decided that she would place a close eye on Ser William Lannister.
"I heard my lady, took down the mighty Ser Meryn." Ser William commented.
Arya smiled, "you heard right, Ser."
"Well, in that case you must be quite a swordma- woman. Perchance my lady, would do me the honour of sparing with me."
Arya smiled, even though Ser William himself had done nothing to harm her, yet; she could not wait to send that bloody Lannister on his backside. "It would be my honour, Ser."
She unsheathed needle and he unsheathed his blade as well. Arya took her water dancing position and waited for him to charge her. Their swords met with every swing. Their dance continued for a while, every time Arya came up with a brilliant strategy to disarm him, he was one step ahead of her. They were both panting, their dance growing more heated. In the end Ser William managed to disarm her, sending Arya falling to the ground. His sword was pointed at her chest as he smiled, "I win." He tucked his sword back into its belt loop and stretched out his hand, to help Arya back up.
She refused his gesture and got up on her own. "You beat me?" She stated confused. None of the other knights at Winterfell even gave her much of a challenge and here was Ser William of house Lannister, who managed to defeat Arya.
"It was a good battle, my lady. It was close, for a moment there I thought you were going to win." He smiled back.
It had to be a fluke, Arya promised herself next time she would beat the Lannister knight. "Same time, tomorrow?" she offered.
"I would have it no other way." He smiled at her.
Every day for the next week, Arya would spare with Ser William. Some days she`d beat him and other days he`d beat her. He was a good sparring partner, they were both evenly matched. As time went by, Arya started to like the Lannister boy. Despite his family, Ser William was kind, intelligent, fun and humorous.
After their battles, they would sit on the grass and talk. They would talk about weapons and knights and they would tell each other stories until the sun went down. Then Arya would go to bed with her husband and Ser William would go seek his duties.
He sent Arya to the floor again, after a heated battle. This time when he reached his hand out, she took it allowing him to help lift her up. "I'm off today" William stated.
"Why?" she asked.
William shrugged, "I don't know. I suppose all of us deserve a break at sometime. "
Arya smiled, "why don't you join us for dinner?" Arya stated enthusiastically.
"Please my lady, I do not wish to intrude..." he began.
Arya silenced him by giving him a smack on the head. "How many times have I told you to stop calling me that? If you wish for me to call you just Will or William, stop calling me a lady."
Will laughed, "I'm sorry, will _my Lord_ ever forgive me?"
Arya smacked him in the head again and they both laughed, "Shut up! Now come, I'm hungry." She grabbed his arm as she ran towards the castle.
She sat in between Rickon and William in the Great Hall. She eyed the hall for Gendry, but he was nowhere in sight.
They feasted on fish, scallops, green beans and roasted potatoes. Arya washed down her meal with a sweet cranberry flavoured wine. When they got to desert, a thinly cooked pancake stuffed with ice creams and strawberries, Arya saw Gendry walking in.
He looked exhausted, as Rickon shuffled to the seat over to make room for Gendry. Arya greeted him with a hug and a quick kiss. "You missed most of dinner" Arya commented.
Gendry dug into the desert and drank from Arya's wine cup. "Long day at the forge, Damon and I were working all day" he said.
Arya introduced Gendry to Will. Even though William smiled at Gendry there was something cold in his expression.
"I do not care for this desert" Gendry whispered in Arya's ear, "I am craving something more sweeter."
Arya blushed and turned to Will, "My husband and I are going to retire, shall I see you tomorrow then?" she asked.
"I would have it no other way" William said.
When Gendry put his arm around Arya's waist, she noticed that William was eyeing him coldly. It seemed as if her new friend did not like her husband. She would ask him that question tomorrow; right now all Arya wanted was Gendry.
As soon as they got into their room, Gendry ripped her clothes off and began tugging at his own. His mouth met hers, as he led her to the bed. Arya lay on top Gendry, rocking herself into him. Gendry's fingers dug into her waist and slapped her ass occasionally. He stifled both their moans with rough and passionate kisses. They peaked together and then Arya lay limp on top of his body, with Gendry still inside her.
"I missed you." Gendry stated as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
"What are you talking about, stupid? We're together every single night" she said, nuzzling her head into his chest.
"Yeah we spend every night together, but not every day. When was the last time we hung out together, I love my Arya but I also miss my Arry." Gendry said, rubbing her back.
Arya smiled, "I miss you too."
He lifted her face, to meet his. "So let's spend the entire day together tomorrow. Damon won't miss me for one day and I'm sure your water dancing can wait a day too. Just me and you, what do you say?"
"Sounds wonderful" she took his mouth for another kiss and he dipped his tongue in her mouth. They made love once more that night before falling asleep.
When they woke up the next day, they broke their fast and then their journey began. They rode horses, swam in the river and play fought. He started to tickle her and she kicked him in the stomach, reminding herself of their time at the Peach. He was right, they needed this day together. She wished the day would never end. After Gendry and her reunited, it seemed all they did was make love. She missed the fun they had together when they were children. At night they told each other stories; she told him most of the stories that Old Nan had told her as a child and he told her a couple of ones he heard at the inn. This was the best day of her life; she hoped it would never end.
However, the next day Gendry had to go back to work. There was a dispute between house Frey and house Tully; Bran requested a large amount of armour, so Gendry and Damon went back to work.
Arya made her way to the place where she and William usually met, but he was not there. She wandered Winterfell and she saw found him not far from the Godswood, slashing his sword at some invisible opponent.
"Hey Will" she greeted.
He turned to look at her, but said nothing and continued battling the invisible opponent in front of him.
"I said hello. Will? Will! Why in seven hells are you ignoring me."
He turned put his sword down and turned to face her. "Why am I ignoring you? I waited for you, for three hours yesterday until I learned you were off gallivanting with your Lord husband."
"What do you want me to say?" she challenged, "he is my husband. I know we were supposed to practice, but Gendry wanted to spend some time with me, so I did not refuse."
"And to hell with me, I suppose."
Arya frowned. "It's not like that. He is my husband, my first priority is to him. I am sorry that I forgot to cancel our plans. Plus what did Gendry ever do to you? You were so cold at him at dinner."
"I just think you could do a lot better than Gendry Baratheon." Will retorted, "the man is a stupid brute."
"You don't even know him!" Arya screamed.
"All I know is, you deserve someone who doesn't choose a stupid forge over you. Someone that would spend every minute of every day showering you with love." Will declared.
"Gendry does love me and I love him. Just because, you don't see..."
He silenced her with a kiss. His mouth was warm and tasted of honeyed toast. Unlike Gendry, his kiss was soft and gentle, but still managed to twist a knot in her stomach. Not thinking, Arya kissed him back, her hand wrapping around his neck, while his were wound up in her hair. His tongue met hers, deepening the kiss. Arya's knees felt week. Gods this felt so good, almost as good as...
She pushed him away suddenly remembering she was married to Gendry. "We can't do this, I'm a married woman and I love my husband."
He wrapped his arms around her waist. "You deserve better than him, Arya. Let me love you."
He bent down for another kiss, Arya's head tilted forward to his for only a moment until she broke free of his arms. "No. I can't." She turned to run away but William grabbed her arm.
"Don't go, Arya." He pleaded.
Arya did not listen and jerked free of his arm. She ran into her room, tossing herself on the bed. What was going on, she was supposed to love Gendry and only Gendry; but it felt nice, kissing William. Oh Gods, did she love him? Tears of frustration spilled out of her eyes; what in seven hells was she going to do? She saw a wineskin in the room and she drank, hoping it would erase the last ten minutes of her life.
18. Chapter 18
GENDRY
He went to the forge reluctantly that morning. Yesterday was one of the best days of his life. Arya was first and foremost, his friend and all that seemed to get lost when the reunited again; but yesterday was different. They spent all day just hanging out with one another, they did not even have sex that night and it was still amazing.
He told that much to Damon when he arrived at the forge, prattling on about Arya this and Arya that.
"Why don't you go back to her then?" Damon asked, "spend some more time with her."
"I can't leave, if the Tully's and the Frey's go to war..."
"So what?" Damon interrupted, "we have been making great progress this week. If you weren't here, I wouldn't be as far ahead as I am now. You may have been a blacksmith once, but you are a Lord now. Now that you are legitimized, you surpass Tommen as heir to Robert Baratheon. Lord's don't spend all their time in the forge, working with the master at arms. Just go Gendry, go to your wife."
Gendry considered the thought for a moment. On the one hand he wanted to spend more time with Arya but on the other it would be cruel to leave Damon to work on his own. "Are you sure about this?"
"I'll tell you what" Damon began, "If I ever find a lady love, you can take over my shifts while I spend my days wooing her." He chuckled.
Gendry laughed at that too, Damon was only eight and twenty, his muscles were well defined like Gendry's and he was an attractive man. He would probably find a mate soon and then Gendry could repay the favour, "you got yourself a deal."
He left the forge, searching for Arya. He saw Rickon playing with Shaggydog. "Have you seen, Arya?" he asked the boy. Shaggydog growled when Gendry approached, he was not like Summer or Nymeria. Shaggydog was temperamental and Gendry was not ashamed to say he was afraid of him.
"No." Rickon said, "She never plays with me anymore. All she does is practice her stupid water dancing. Come here, Shaggydog." He said, bringing the wolf away from Gendry.
He saw Ser John practicing with a couple of other knights and asked him. "She is probably training with Ser William. He said he was going to train near the Godswood."
"Thank you." Gendry said to the knight as he made his way to the Godswood with a smile on his face. He could not wait to tell Arya that they could spend more time together. That they can have a repeat of yesterday. He heard noises coming from an area near the Godswood, when he approached he saw that Arya and Ser William kissing.
Gendry`froze. He couldn't even think of what to make of it. The knight wasn't only kissing her, but Arya was kissing him back. Her arms that were laying on his chest rose up to wind behind his neck. Gendry couldn't take much more of it, so he left.
This couldn't be happening, Arya was having an affair with the stupid knight? How could she do this to him? He loved her and he thought she loved him too.
Gendry wandered back to the pond were he and Arya were swimming yesterday. He sat at the edge of the pond, dipping his feet in the river and began throwing stones. When he ran out of stones to throw, he lied down on his back and wept. It was the most awful feeling he`s ever felt in his life. It felt like someone clawed their way into his chest and ripped his heart out. In a short while he went from being sad to mad.
Why the bloody hell was he being so pathetic, why should he suffer? He went back to the area where he last saw Arya and William, but none of them were there any longer. He made his way back to where the knights trained and saw William talking with Ser John and a couple more other knights.
He walked up to them, Ser John saw him first. "Good afternoon, my Lord." The other knights and Ser William went to face him, but before anyone could react, Gendry punched Ser William in the face. The knight`s sword forgotten, jumped on Gendry and began throwing punches, as well. The knights tried to break up the fight, but it proved to be relentless. His anger towards Ser William gave him strength to beat up the stupid pretty boy.
They fight seized immediately with the shout of Lord Bran`s voice, "EVERYONE STOP RIGHT NOW!"
Gendry and Ser William broke away. He felt a sharp pain on his nose, when he wiped it with the back of his hand he noticed there was blood. He looked at Ser William and saw that his left eye was swollen and there seemed to be the beginnings of a bruise start to form.
"Will someone explain me, what in seven hells is going on?" Lord Bran demanded.
"The man is a mad man!" Ser William proclaimed, "we were standing here, just talking and all of a sudden he punches me in the face?"
"I am a mad man?" Gendry`s rage built up again as he begun to take a step forward, but several of the knights were holding me back, "this bloody idiot, kissed my wife!"
Everyone in the yard went silent and all their heads turned to face Ser William. He saw that all the blood drain from his face and his skin turned a milky white.
"What you are suggesting my Lord is treason. Do you have any proof of these accusations?" Lord Bran asked.
"I saw them, with my own two eyes. They were in the Godswood." Gendry chocked out, he could feel the tears falling down his face. Gods not here, not now; he said to himself choking the tears back.
Bran sighed, "if this is true the kindest punishment you will get, Ser William is banishment. The harshest will be death. To take another man`s wife is one thing, but to take a Lord`s and that wife being my own sister. Well that`s another matter entirely. Ser John and Ser Marshall will you please escort Ser William to a cell. Ser Hyde and Ser Jeffery will you please accompany Lord Gendry to the Great Hall. As for you, my dear Meera, would you be kind enough to find my sister for me?"
Everyone nodded and began their tasks. Gendry was taken to the Great hall. Lord Bran and Hodor entered the room shortly after. It seemed like hours before Meera and Arya entered the hall.
He saw that her eyes were bloodshot red and there was a slight stumble in her step, which he could assume meant that she had been drinking. She looked at him with apologetic eyes, but he turned away from her and shifted his attention to Lord Bran. Ser William was not the only man at fault here, he was not the only man to commit treason. No matter how sad she was or how much she pouted, Gendry would not face her, she betrayed him and he was not sure if he could ever come to love her again.
19. Chapter 19
ARYA
No matter how much she drank, she could not stop thinking about William. His beautiful green eyes, his warm smile and the delicate kiss they shared.
Her thoughts were filled with Gendry too. His shaggy black hair, his piercing blue eyes, the rough passionate sex.
Both these men were two very different people, yet she found herself having feelings for both men. Gods something like this shouldn't be happening to her anyways. She never thought she'd find even one man to like her and now she had two? Sansa was the pretty one, not her! What in seven hells did either of them see in her anyways?
Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard a knock on the door. She initially thought it was William. It couldn't be Gendry, he wouldn't bother knocking and who else would be bothering to seek her. Gathering up all her courage Arya opened the door. Meera was standing on the other side and she smiled warmly to Arya.
"Lord Bran would like a word with you in the Great Hall." She announced.
Arya was not in the position to deal with anything that Bran wanted right now, she needed time to herself. "Would you mind asking my brother to reschedule, right now is not the best time."
"I'm afraid it's urgent." Meera insisted, "your husband and Ser William got into a fight. He claimed that he saw you two kissing, near the Godswood and now Bran means to bring this matter to trial."
Arya's heart froze. He saw them? Oh Gods, she could not stop the fresh tears from pouring down her face and she collapsed back into the bed.
Meera took a seat beside her and put one arm over her shoulder, "what happened?"
Arya and Meera barley spoke, they would greet each other casually as they ran into one another, but they never had a close relationship. For some reason, Arya found herself to be telling Meera everything. Finding comfort in her good sister.
"Do you love Ser William?" she asked, after Arya told Meera the entire story.
"I don't know" she admitted, "I mean it was a good kiss, but I love Gendry. Despite Stannis thinking, that we married for an alliance, we married for love. And now... now I'm so confused."
There was another knock on the door, "Come in." Meera replied.
It turned out to be one of the house maids, "Lord Bran is wondering what is taking so long. He says he requires both your presences immediately."
Meera nodded, "We'll be right down."
Arya followed Meera reluctantly, when they entered the Great Hall the room went silent and all eyes were on her. She turned to face Gendry, he broke his nose again and his face was covered with dried blood. He also bore some scratches and the beginning of bruises; but Arya did not pay much attention to that. She looked into his eyes. His eyes looked at her for a moment before he turned away. They were red and filled with hurt and betrayal.
"Would everyone be so kind as to leave us" Bran commanded, "I only require Lord Gendry, Lady Arya and Hodor."
Everyone began leaving the room, Lady Meera gave Bran a quick kiss on the lips and then turned to give Arya an apologetic look. Arya turned to look at Gendry again, but he did not return her gaze, he only looked at their brother, refusing her acknowledgement.
When everyone left the room Bran began, "what happened between you and Ser William."
She saw Gendry flinch at his name, but again did not turn to face her. "I was supposed to meet him yesterday, to train; but, Gendry and I spent the entire day together instead. In the morning, I went to go find Ser William, he was mad that I cancelled our plans. So we were talking and then he kissed me."
Bran waited for Arya to continue, but when she said nothing he asked, "did you kiss him back?"
Arya considered lying for a moment, but she had betrayed Gendry too much, already. "Yes." She replied.
Bran sighed, "Do you love him?"
She saw Gendry make a fist at the table, his face tightening up. But he said nothing. "I don't know" she admitted. With that she saw fresh tears pouring from Gendry's face.
"Gendry I will have you chose the punishment for Ser William. The decision is entirely up to you, but may I suggest the night's watch. I promised Jon that I would send him as many men as I can."
"You give me a great honour, my Lord. Would you be so kind as to give me a moment to decide." Gendry said.
"Of course" Bran said, he summoned Hodor, to carry him outside. "I will leave you two alone, if you would like any privacy."
After Bran left, she expected Gendry to yell or cry or say something but instead he remained where he was, his gaze focused on the fingers he was fidgeting with.
The sat in silence for a moment until Arya moved to sit beside him, resting her hand on his. Gendry pulled away at first but after he looked at her for a moment he sighed and pulled her into an embrace. She buried her head in his chest and wept.
"I'm sorry." She stated.
"I love you Arya and after I saw you kissing _him_, I didn't think I could love you anymore, but I do. No matter what happens, I can never stop loving you. All I want is for you to be happy, but we are married now and I cannot change that; however, if you wish to be with Ser William, I will not object."
He wiped away her tears with his rough thumbs and kissed her on the forehead. "Tell me your decision on the morrow."
With that, Gendry left the room, leaving Arya alone with her thoughts. She loved Gendry, there was no doubting that. The matter with Ser William was a different story.
She went down to the cells, the only prisoner was Ser William. Bran was not lying, when he said he would send every man he could to Jon. She took the keys and turned to the guard, "leave us." The guard bowed and left.
She opened the door of Ser William's cell. She noticed he had the starting of a black eye, absentmindedly she rose her hand and brushed his swollen eye with her thumb. He raised his hand to hold hers.
She looked deeply into his eyes and recognized who he was. She knew there was something familiar about him, when she first saw him. Even though his eyes were now green she still recognized the real man behind it. He now had dimples when he smiled and his teeth were whiter, but it was still the same smile she remembered.
"Does William Lannister, the first of his name really have a son?"
The man smiled and wrapped his arms around Arya's waist, drawing her closer. "No."
His touch caused her heart to beat faster and she felt the blood to rush to her cheeks."You're Jaqen H'gar." It wasn't a question.
Jaqen laughed, "I go by many names and many faces, that was once one of my identities."
"What is your real name?" Arya asked.
Jaqen's eyes narrowed, "a woman asks many questions."
Arya was infuriated now, "you claim you love me, yet you won't tell me your real name or show me your face!"
The smile was wiped away from Jaqen's face in seconds. One of his hand trailed from her waist to cup her face, his soft thumb brushing her right check just over her scar, "I will tell you anything and do anything for you, Arya. Just come with me, I will love you more than your blacksmith ever could."
The knot in Arya's stomach grew tighter, her body feverish against his. For minutes, all she could do was stare into Jaqen's eyes.
Arya finally found her voice, "I'm the one who gets to pick your punishment" she stated, "and I have decided."
"And what is my punishment" he smirked, pressing soft kisses to her neck.
Arya Stark did not know a lot of things; she did not know how to be a lady, she did not know how Gendry could be so quick to forgive her and she did not know why both Gendry and Jaqen were in love with her. But she did know who she loved, she once learned that wolves mate for life and despite the confusion that she had before between Gendry and Jaqen she did know which man she did love. She imagined both scenario's: staying with Gendry and running away with Jaqen. There was only one option that did not make sense to her, there was only one person that she could not bear living without. She might have had feelings for both men, but there was only one man she loved and it was the time to tell him.
So she cupped Jaqen H'gar's face in her hands and told him three simple words.
20. Chapter 20
GENDRY
He woke up that morning with a massive headache. He barely slept at all last night; partly because he was retching all the wine he drank and also because he could not get his mind of Arya. He refused to sleep in their chambers that night; instead he made his way to the same chambers he slept in when he and Arya first arrived at Winterfell.
In the beginning he was mad at her; he knew that plenty of men and women both have affairs. But with Arya it was supposed to be different, they were supposed to be in love. He witnessed her and the Lannister knight kissing near the Godswood but Gendry wondered what else they had done. The little sleep he had that night, were filled with nightmares of Ser William fucking his wife and Arya moaning in delight.
He began to weep again, better to get the tears out now then when someone can bear witness to them. He told Arya he would leave the decision up to her, in regards to Ser William; she may have betrayed him but he could not help but love her. All he's ever wanted was to make her happy, but he feared that she would pick the knight over him.
After Gendry composed himself, he made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Like always, he had slept in and the only people who were in the Great Hall were the Lady Meera and two knights.
"Did my Lord sleep well last night?" she greeted him.
He knew Meera was trying to be polite but how stupid could she really be. He had bags under his eyes and he was pretty sure they were still red, his hair was tangled, he still wore the same clothes from yesterday and his wife had cheated on him. Did she really think, he slept well last night? Gendry took a deep breath, cooling his rage. Meera was sweet and innocent, it would be cruel to take out his anger on her; not to mention Lord Bran would have his head, for any cruelty towards his wife.
"It wasn't the best night's sleep I've had." Gendry mumbled.
"I am sorry to hear that, my Lord" Meera replied.
Gendry was pushing his eggs around a plate and fidgeting with his bread, turning them into crumbs. He wasn't hungry, just looking at the food made him sick again. "If you excuse me my lady, I must be going now."
He headed to the forge, he needed to get his mind off Arya and William. As a boy, whenever he was feeling down he would spend the entire day hammering anvil, making the steel sing for him. He opened the door of the forge expecting to see Damon, but there was someone else waiting for him.
She sat on an unused anvil, dressed in breeches and a tunic she had stolen from him. He closed the door of the forge and took a seat beside her.
"I banished Ser William" she said.
Gendry should have been relieved, the entire night he feared she would pick the knight over him but for some reason he was still not appeased. He simply nodded to her comment.
They were quiet for a long time. Just sitting on the anvil, he could not bear to look into Arya's eyes. He knew what would happen if he did, he would sweep her in his arms and tell her that everything was alright. But everything was not alright, she hurt him too much, he could never forget her betrayal.
Arya seemed to read his thoughts as she turned to him and cupped his face, forcing his eyes to look in hers. "I love you Gendry, not William; you. I will always love you. I made a mistake kissing him back. It was the stupidest thing I've ever done and I'm sorry. Just please, please don't be mad."
Gendry sighed and brought his forehead down to hers, "I will always love you Arya, but how am I supposed to trust you again. You said your vows and you broke them." With that Gendry got up and left, leaving Arya alone in the forge.
They did not speak for three moons. Gendry continued to work with Damon in the forge, he ate with everyone in the Great hall and at night he would sleep in the same bed with Arya. They did not speak nor cuddle and since Arya continued to drink her moon tea, claiming that she did not want to have children, he had no duties to perform.
One time he walked in on her pleasuring herself, she had turned red with embarrassment. Gendry had the same needs as Arya, so he took of his breeches and fucked her. There was no passion or love behind their coupling, it was merely just a satisfaction of their own desires. She tried snuggling up to him afterwards but once she noticed that he did not return the feeling, she stopped and turned her back to him.
Arya was still his wife and there was nothing he could do to change that, other than going back to King's Landing and asking Queen Daenerys to terminate their marriage. At days he considered doing just that, but he never found the courage to actually do so.
He never stopped loving Arya. Whenever she came to bed with a new bruise or a scratch, Gendry worried about her. He wanted to kiss the pain away, to hold her in his arms and make everything all right; but everything was not all right. It could never be alright again. So he swallowed back the temptation and greeted her with a nod.
Everything changed that evening. It started just like any other day; he woke up, had breakfast, worked in the forge, had dinner and then made his way up into the bedroom he and Arya shared. When he entered the room he gasped.
Arya's lip was split, her arms and legs were covered in bruises and scratches and her ankle was swollen.
"What happened to you?" Gendry asked.
"Why do you even care?" Arya snapped.
Gendry flinched, he may have been mad at Arya but their moons apart never changed the way he felt about her. He still loved her with all his heart and wished no ill upon her. He saw a bag of ice at the side of the table. He lifted her ankle on his lap and placed the bag of ice on it.
Arya moaned in relief. "Just because I'm mad at you, doesn't mean I stopped loving you." Gendry offered.
They were quite for a moment until Arya spoke, "Rickon and I got into a fight so, Shaggydog attacked me." Gendry flinched, the direwolves were large and strong creatures. Unlike the others, Shaggydog was more viscous and difficult to tame (only Rickon could control Shaggydog, but when the boy was upset, there was no controlling him). Gendry was surprised the beast did not rip Arya's head off.
He imagined that very thought, finding Arya's cold dead body drenched in blood. He couldn't bear that thought; so he lifted Arya up from the bed and began cradling her in his lap, "I'm sorry" he said. He was being stupid, she picked Gendry over William and all he did was treat her like dirt for the past few moons. He remembered the day he thought he lost her, the day he thought the hound killed her and the day he found her. He vowed that he would never let her go and all he was doing these past few moons was letting her slip through his fingers.
His lips met hers, they were warm and he could taste the salt of her tears. It was a brief and chaste kiss, but it was probably the best kiss Gendry had. When they broke apart, she buried her face in his chest and wept. Gendry really felt like shit now, he moved his hand up and down her back, "there, there" he said, in an attempt of consoling.
He did not remember how long, they stayed like that but when he woke up in the morning, he found himself lying in the bed, with Arya still in his arms.
_Note: _Oh btw the three words were "I banish you." Yeah lol I know I tried to make it sound like "I love you"
21. Chapter 21
ARYA
She woke up that morning, wrapped in Gendry's arms. He was already awake, cradling her as if she was a child. Arya did not complain; she liked it. The hurt that had once filled his eyes was now replaced with love and remorse. Her thoughts trailed back to the night before; when he apologized, when he cradled her in his lap and the kiss. Oh Gods the kiss, Arya had not expected it, it was soft yet firm and tied a knot in her stomach. All she wanted for the past few moons was for Gendry to let the past be the past and go back to how they once were. For a while Arya thought that would never happen again; but, in that moment everything felt right. Like the whole Jaqen incident never happened.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her, interrupting her thoughts.
She knew he was talking about her wounds, though she did not care about them any longer. Right now all she could think about was Gendry and the possibility of them going back to how they once were. She wanted - no needed him to forgive her. To make it clear that last night meant something and was not just a spur of the moment. She couldn't bear to get her heart broken again; it had been her own fault, she had done this to herself but she couldn't live like this any longer.
Nevertheless, she got up and inspected her ankle; feeling Gendry's eyes on her, as she did so. The swelling had gone down, with the pain. When she moved it, she noted she was able to do so, but there was still a tiny cringe of pain that came along with it. Master Luwin was right, her ankle was not broken.
"Better" she admitted, "I'll bare some bruises and some of these scratches will leave scars, but nothing to serious."
Gendry began kissing the injuries on her arms, neck and face; as if his lips somehow possessed healing properties. His lips felt like fire on her skin, her body feverish against his. He cupped her face and kissed her on the lips, his tongue seeking hers.
Arya moaned, she now laid on his lap, her hands resting on his shoulders; while one of his hand were wrapped around her waist and the other still cupping her face. Her heart was frenzied, beating so loud she thought everyone in the entire castle could hear it; she felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. The knot in her stomach twisted again, it grew so tight she thought it was going to explode.
His hand began tugging at her laces when there was a knock on the door. Gendry groaned and Arya sought pleasure in knowing he was equally as disappointed as she was. She wanted to tell him not to get the door, that whoever was on the other side could wait. She bit down on her lip from saying just so; if someone was disrupting them, it had to be of importance. She waited three moons for Gendry, surely she could wait another three minutes? Gendry seemed to be reading her thought as he set Arya back on the bed. She watched him walk towards the door and creak it open. Gendry was whispering something to the person on the other side of the door. She saw him scratch his head while he opened the door further, revealing the person to be Master Luwin. He walked inside, Gendry following behind him.
Initially she thought he wanted to take a look at her injuries. The pain of her wounds was nothing compared to the one in her heart and the one in her loins. A slight flicker of frustration erupted towards Master Luwin, she knew he was just doing his job and that he cared for her well-being but, all she wanted to do right now was to continue kissing Gendry. "You were right, master. The ankle is not broken although I do not think I should be bearing any weight on it for a couple of days."
The master nodded, "yes, despite the look of you and your brother Rickon when you two first came to me, I knew you both would make quick recoveries. The boy is fine as well, he will keep a rather nasty scar on his right shoulder, from where Nymeria bit him; but he seems to be more proud of the scar than concerned. Either way this was not the reason why I needed to visit you. We received a letter this morning, from the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and Lord Bran wished for you to see it."
He handed her a letter, whose seal was already broken. Jon had been her anchor for these past two moons. She told him everything that happened and found comfort in his words. He was the only person whom she told about Ser William's true identity. She considered telling Gendry, but that would only complicate the matter further. Plus she did not think it would matter to him who he was, the only thing that mattered to him was that she had kissed another man.
It was strange, no one bothered to hand her Jon's letters before and why would Bran want to read it. When she went to open the envelope, she noticed the letter was addressed to her brother Bran, not her. It did not surprise her that Jon wrote to Bran as well, but what could be so important that he wanted her to know? Curiously, she opened the letter and read it aloud, so Gendry and Master Luwin could hear (if he hadn't done so already).
Dear Lord of Winterfell,
The Night's Watch is facing troublesome times. The white walkers march and have killed a great deal of our men already. The wall is still strong, but I fear it will not hold for much longer. If my worst fears come true, the wall will fall and Winterfell must be prepared to battle.
Fire, valyrian steel and obsidian are the only weapons we are aware of, that can kill these beasts.
I must thank my Lord for the generous contribution the North has given to the Night's Watch and would kindly appreciate if he may send us a few of his men, to temporarily defend the wall.
Good luck, Bran. You have made a fine Lord and father would be proud if he were here today. If the wall should fall, it rests on your hands to protect the reteam. I have the utmost faith in you, little brother.
Sincerely,
Jon Snow
Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
The letter was very formal, with the exception of the last paragraph. The start of the letter was written from a man she did not know, the Lord Commander part of Jon, but the last paragraph was her brother reaching out to their family. "I have to go" Arya immediately said, "I need to help Jon." Jon was Arya's sibling that she felt the most close to. Despite the closeness she shared with Gendry, Jon was and would always be Arya's best friend.
There was a time when she thought she was a bastard like Jon because, of their similar features. Unlike their other siblings, Arya and Jon were the only ones to take after their father. Robb, Sansa, Bran and Rickon all shared the thick auburn hair and the calm blue eyes, that their mother had (the Tully look, it was referred to as). They were all incredibly good-looking with their sharp features and their unique looks. Even though Arya, Jon and her father were never ugly, they lacked the delicacy and grace the others expressed and were plain to look at in comparison.
She noted that the Master and Gendry had given her an uneasy look after her announcement; but she didn't care. Her relationship with Jon was solid and if he needed her help, she would always be there for him and in her heart she knew he would always be there for her as well. Members of the Night's watch were sworn to give up their tittles and their families, excepting only fellow members as their "brothers." But Jon had never stopped being Arya's brother and she had never stopped being his sister. They shared a bond and a love for each other that would never falter.
Master Luwin was uneasy with the suggestion, "my lady, I assure you Lord Bran is sending all the knights he can. Your half brother will have plenty of assistance and you have sustained quite a few injuries of late. I assure you, everything will be taken care of, you need not trouble yourself."
Arya turned to look at Gendry, she expected him to agree with Master Luwin, but he understood. "If you go, I am going with you." He declared, fierceness behind his sharp blue eyes. Arya's heart melted at the sentiment, they may have their fair share of fights, but she knew Gendry would always be there for her.
Arya nodded and turned to the Master, "please tell Bran of our decision. I shall leave as soon as my brother wishes it."
The Master gave her an uneasy look but he still bowed, "yes my lady." With that he left their chambers.
Arya was about to hop to her feet, but Gendry swept her up in his arms. His face just an inch away from her own "What happened to keeping some weight off your ankle" he said, her breath hot on her face.
Arya took a second to compose herself, before she shrugged, "I can hop on one foot." She suggested.
Gendry laughed for a moment and then his face grew serious, "I do not like the idea of you going."
"But you just said..."
"I said I will accompany you" Gendry interrupted, "because, I know no matter what I say you will not change your mind. I still do not like the idea of you battling white walkers. When we go to the wall, I do not wish for you to leave my side."
Arya laughed at that, "if white walkers were to attack us it would be you who need my help, not the other way around."
Gendry smilled, "I just don't think I can bear to see anything happen to you."
Arya could not take the wait any longer, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He met her lips eagerly, his tongue seeking hers.
They both moaned into each other's mouth, it had been moons since they had last been intimate which each other; they had casual sex every now and then but there was never any passion nor love behind it.
"I do not think Bran will miss us for ten minutes "she whispered against his lips.
Gendry arched his eyebrow and smiled, "I do not think he will miss us for thirty minutes" and with that he lay her on the bed. It was like their first time all over again. It started off gentle (but when it came to Arya and Gendry, things could not stay gentle for long) and ended in rough passion.
When they were done Arya jumped on his back, since Gendry insisted on her keeping her weight of her ankle. "Onwards fair steed." She commanded.
"What am I, a bloody horse now?" Gendry chuckeld.
"Yes. The finest horse in the seven kingdoms." Arya said as she kissed him on the check. His hair prickled her lips, Gendry had now grown out a beard. Nothing as long as her fathers, but also, not the same as the stubble he'd grow when he was too lazy to get it shaved. Arya liked the look of it, it made him look even more manly.
Gendry made his way downstairs, with Arya on his back; both of them giggling with a smile plastered on their face. When they entered the Great hall, everyone was shocked to see them together; it had been a while since they were happy again. Before, Gendry refused to even talk to her, except for the occasional 'my lady' because it got on her nerves; but now, they were acting like children again.
Gendry took her off her back and laid her on the chair, taking a seat beside her.
Meera smiled enthusiastically at her and Arya gratefully returned it. Meera had been a good friend to her and she found herself talking to her a lot As much as she loved Sansa; Meera was her favourite sister (even though she was only her good-sister). She wore gowns, but she wasn't entirely a lady either. She rode horses, was a good hunter and was talented with a spear. Meera was more fun to spend time with than Rickon and she'd occasionally train with Meera, even though the knights were better opponents. It felt nice having a friend, since the incident she noted that a lot of people gave her the evil eye or a disappointed look; including Ser John, whom she believed was her friend. Meera was different though, not once did she judge Arya and she had been nothing but supportive these past few moons.
She then looked at Rickon, he had a lot of nasty gashes but Master Luwin spoke it true when he said, her brother was more proud then concerned. When he saw Arya he shot her a smile and she returned it back. All had been forgiven between the two of them.
"We leave tomorrow, at first light." Bran began when everyone settled down, "half of the valyrian steel blades go to the wall, the other half will remain here in case the wall falls. These blades are very precious and crucial to our survival so do not lose them." He turned to look at Arya, "are you sure you wish to go?" he asked.
"If Jon needs me, I'm coming." She stated.
Bran nodded, "then you will be in charge and you will lead the knights. I wish you good will sister." Bran turned to Gendry, "Luckily for us, the Tully's and the Frey's did not go to war; however, I still want a third of our provisions with them, another third remain with us and the last third will go with you to the wall. Even though Walder Frey has now passed, I do not trust his descendents as far as I can throw them and I'm a cripple. Go to Ser Damon and assist him to divide up the materials."
"Yes, my Lord." Gendry replied and with one last glance at Arya he left.
"You'll be fine with your ankle?" Bran asked her.
"It doesn't hurt anymore and the swelling has gone down. I just won't bear any weight on it for a while and it should be perfectly healed by the time I reach the wall."
Bran nodded, "then it seems everything is settled." He clapped his hands and breakfast was being served. It consisted of fried bread, fruit, sausage and eggs.
Arya ate the food happily, today had been a good day; she finally made up with Gendry, she was leading the knights into battle and she would soon be reunited with Jon. Arya ate her breakfast with a smile upon her face.
**WARNING DO NOT READ THIS FOLLOWING NOTE, IF YOU DO NOT WANT A PART OF THE FUTURE SERIES (THAT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED YET) TO BE SPOILED FOT YOU. BASICALLY GRRM CAME TO MY CITY SO MY FRIEND ASKED HIM A QUESTION AND THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE...**
**NOTE: **Okay so GRRM, arrived in Toronto yesterday for a book signing and unfortunately because of an exam, I was unable to attend (BOO!) so I asked my friend to ask him about Gendry and Arya's "relationship" and if they would ever reunite again. His response was that Arya and Gendry have separate futures but whether they'll ever meet up again, you'll just have to keep reading. Okay I just DIED! My heart is full of grief and it seems the only way we can keep this pairing alive is through their fanfictions. I'm just so heart broken right now *weeps*
22. Chapter 22
ARYA
They arrived at the wall, quicker than she initially anticipated. Since Arya was given the task to lead the knights, she did not account much for breaks during their journey. Some of the men would protest but she would silence them when she said, "are you men or children? You are supposed to be knights of the North and you are complaining about taking a break? Do you think my brother took a break when he was King of the North? Do you think the white walkers take breaks? If you expect to survive, you must learn to shut your mouths and build some stamina. If you are hungry, you may eat while you ride. If you need to piss, go on and be quick about it, you may catch up to us when you are done; I shall not be waiting for you."
She didn't care if she was being harsh, she had to put up with worse conditions when she was only ten and kidnapped by the Mountain's men. At least they never had the fear of being whipped or killed at any moment. If she was able to survive in those conditions, surely they could comply with only one break at night's fall. She knew the other men sought Gendry, to get him to speak for them. He kept bugging her about breaks, claiming that he and the rest of the men were tired and it would do no good sending men to the wall who were too exhausted from the journey there. Arya groaned but she complied and allowed one, half an hour break at midday. Some of the men complained that it was too short, but when she suggested removing the break, they shut their mouths.
Honestly where did Bran get these men? She remembered when she was younger, knights would valiantly give their lives up for their Lord or commander. She remembered Jory, how he fought alongside her father and died with honour; and these men were complaining about rest? Mind you it was only a few of her men who did so, the others would march proud and silently obeying any command Arya ordered without question.
Nymeria had joined her as well, a wolf would be a great advantage to face the white walkers; but, she also brought the wolf because, neither of them could bear to be parted from the other again. She kept good pace and hunted only at night fall, while everyone was setting up camp.
When they arrived at the wall they were greeted by two men from the Night's Watch, who escorted them inside. The weather was so cold, nothing like she ever experienced at Winterfell. Arya felt like there were pins in her fingers and toes; she wanted nothing more to go inside and warm them by a fire. She froze when she saw a familiar pair of red eyes. Before she could react, Nymeria had already pounced on Ghost and the two of them wresting as their form of an embrace.
"Seven hells" she heard a familiar voice gasp. She turned to see her brother staring at her with wide eyes.
"Jon!" she screamed as she jumped on him for a hug, similar to how she did when they were younger. She wasn't a child any longer and Jon stumbled a few feet back when she jumped on top him, but still managed to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulders. After she did so, Jon immediately wrapped his hands around her back and squeezed her tightly.
In that one moment he had been happy to see her, to be reunited with his little sister again. But once they were inside, she could sense the rigidity and tension in Jon's body. He escorted Gendry, the Northmen and herself to a large dining hall, where his brothers had already begun feasting on their dinner. Gendry began escorting her to the hall, when Jon grabbed her hand.
"A word" was all Jon said, with apprehension in his grey eyes.
Arya nodded and turned to kiss Gendry on the cheek. "Save a spot for me" she said and then followed her brother out the dining hall.
Once they were out in the hall, Jon began lecturing her on how she should have remained at Winterfell.
"You asked for help and her I am" she argued.
"I asked for men to defend the wall, not for you. Arya this is a dangerous place, there is no room for a lady..."
"I'm not a lady and I'm not some delicate flower like Sansa!" she screamed.
Jon sighed and moved his hand up, his fingers brushing the scar on her face. "When I heard about you and Ser Meryn, I could not believe it. I knew you were fierce, but a former member of the Kingsguard..." he trailed off.
"I'm stronger than a lot of the men here, you need to realise that I am an asset Jon, not a liability."
Jon recoiled. He seemed offended by her statement, "I never said you were a liability" Jon argued, "I make use of every man, woman and wildling. It's just that... Arya even though I gave up my family when I joined the watch, you will still always be my little sister. If something were to happen to you..."
"If the wall falls then it is not me you should be worried about." Arya said, "the white walkers will roam freely, destructing everything and everyone in their path. You need every single man and here I am at your disposal. All I ask is that you put me to good use."
She could tell Jon was not happy, but he nodded and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. The fight had died out of both of them and now all that remained was the love for a brother and his sister. Arya melted in to his embrace; she missed Jon fiercely. Even though she was happy at Winterfell with Bran and Gendry, there would always be a hole in her heart, a void that could never be filled. But in this moment with Jon, it felt like most of the emptiness inside her was filled.
"The blacksmith accompanied you." Jon observed, in an attempt to change the subject.
"My husband accompanied me." She corrected.
"And how are things going between you two?" he asked.
"He forgave me, we are doing much better now. Going back to how we once were before Ja- William interfered."
Jon nodded and smiled at her, "I'm glad that you're happy, at least one of us gets a chance at love."
Arya arched an eyebrow at him, she wondered what he meant by that statement, she opened her mouth to question him, but he already began escorting her into the dining hall. The food did not look appetizing; they had beans with chunks of mutton in it, accompanied with stale bread and mulled wine. She found Gendry and wedged herself and Jon beside him. Gendry on her left and Jon on her right.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Baratheon. I have heard many stories about you." Jon said stretching out his hand.
Gendry took a sip of wine, to wash down the food in his mouth and clasped Jon's hand. "Likewise."
Gendry, Jon and herself chatted during dinner. They told him about how they first met with Yoren, their reunion and their time at Winterfell. Jon told them stories about the wall, the wildings (or as the free people, as Jon like to refer to them as) and the white walkers. He seemed exhausted, she found out that he had been assigned the role of Lord Commander without his knowledge and found the task to be draining.
"Can't you refuse the position? If it's so bad why didn't you just say no or appoint someone else?" Arya asked, "you're not breaking any vows, you're just turning down a task."
Jon shaked his head, it's not that simple. If I said no, my brothers would never respect me. They wanted me to perform this task and I have to comply with their wishes. Plus, there was only one other good candidate and he's dead now. I fear for the integrity of the wall if I were to hand my title down to someone who could not face the challenge."
They were served desert now, a hard pastry filled with custard and strawberries. As Arya began attacking her desert, she noticed that Jon had been staring at a woman. She was a wilding, she had the same grey eyes as Arya and Jon. She also had long blonde hair that was wavy and kept open. She was a slender girl and was gifted in her chest. Arya looked down at her own breasts; all she had to do was chop off her hair again and she could look like a boy. There was no doubting that the girl was beautiful, Jon obviously seemed to think so. She remembered his words earlier, _I'm glad that you're happy, at least one of us gets a chance at love._ Arya sighed, he was a member of the Night's watch now and he had vowed to take no wife. Arya suffered immensely when she and Gendry had their time apart, she wondered how Jon was able to handle it.
After they finished dinner, they made their way to their rooms. Jon had provided Arya and Gendry with suitable chambers, ones that he once slept in when Stannis Baratheon had paid visit to the watch. Jon now slept in the Lord Commander's chambers.
Arya warmed herself by the fire, still wearing her layers and jacket, she was so cold. Gendry took a seat beside her and wrapped her in his arms. It was shocking how she could go from freezing to feverish; but Gendry's touch had always seemed to do just that.
She shivered, when Gendry began to remove her clothing, but the warm kisses he pressed to her skin, set her body aflame. When they were both bare, she reached over and began stroking his manhood. A deep moan wrenched out from his chest as Arya took him into her mouth. Her back was facing him and she gasped when he shoved three of his fingers inside her. She continued pleasuring him as he rubbed his fingers faster inside her. She felt his warm seed fill her mouth and swallowed. His fingers rubbed faster and rougher until she screamed and shuddered on top of him.
After they both had a moment to catch their breaths, he changed their positions; so now, he was on top of her. He lifted her legs apart as he thrust himself inside her. She arched her back, welcoming him and moved her hips quickly matching his tempo. She dug her nails into his scalp, pulling him down for a kiss. Their lips met hungrily as both their hips moved faster and more desperately. When they were done, she felt the cold air bite into her exposed body and shivered. Gendry wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her into his chest as she nuzzled her head there. He pulled a couple of thick warm blankets over them and they fell asleep near the fire.
They slept for what felt like minutes, but had actually been a couple of hours, when they were awoken by blast of a horn.
Arya woke up immediately; she donned her clothes on quickly and noted that Gendry was doing the same. She grabbed needle and Gendry grabbed another valyrian steel blade; it was big a sword, as big as her father's sword, _Ice._ Another horn sounded. One signified return of men, two signified enemies. She rushed out the room and ran outside near the tunnel where a large sum of men gathered. She was not surprised when she heard the third blast of the horn.
Three horns only meant one thing, "white walkers!" she heard men gasp.
She saw Jon quickly approaching, with Ghost at his side. Nymeria appeared as well and immediately made her way towards Arya. Jon pointed at a group of men, "You half come with me, we leave the wall to fight the enemy." He turned to the guards, "make sure, you do not let any of the white walkers in. If a man is dying, do not let him pass, understand?" The men nodded. "Everyone else, you defend from the wall. Remember to shoot only arrows that are a flame or it will be of no use. There are barrels that you can throw at the walkers as well, again remember to set them aflame. Pyp, you have the wall."
The man that Jon addressed seemed shocked at first, but saluted to him and said "aye."
Jon signalled for the men to make their way to battle and even though Arya was not in the group whom he appointed to leave the wall, she followed Jon with Gendry and Nymeria beside her. She was stopped when Jon outstretched his hand, "not you." He commanded.
Arya narrowed her eyes, "I'm just as good as any other man. I am going and you can't stop me."
Jon took that as a challenge, "I can and I will, remember I am the Lord Commander..."
"Of the Night's Watch" she interrupted, "my knights and I do not follow your command, they follow mine and if you do not allow me to fight I will command them to march back to Winterfell."
Jon was taken aback by this and shot her a pained look. "Please Jon." She begged, "have faith in me."
Jon nodded and kissed her on her forehead. "Be careful out there, little sister."
She nodded and set forth to battle the whites. When they arrived outside, she noted the battle had already commenced. Nymeria had bolted into a run and began ripping of the heads of her nearest enemies. When she saw her opponents she froze; their skin was a milky white, they had bright blue eyes and their hands were a cold black. Some had been men, others women and some even children. She saw that some were disembodied and some were just hands or bodies without heads. She felt cold hands grasp her shoulder and found herself face to face with a white. She was holding needle but could not seem to use it, her body frozen in shock. The white had a blade of his own and he grasped it to strike her but she saw another blade had run through his abdomen. The white combusted and she saw Gendry on the other side. Other women had knights in shining armour, Arya had a bull. She smiled at him and as if suddenly coming alive, she began hacking at the whites around her. They were not skilful in battle, the only issue was getting them to stay dead.
Arya was exhausted, but it seemed like the battle would never end. Choking back her frustration she slashed and slashed, ignoring the fatigue. When she thought the fight would never end, she noted that most of the whites had perished. Nymeria trotted beside her as she made her way back inside, celebrating their victory. She noted that others had stayed behind to burn the bodies of the dead; then she froze, she had lost sight of Jon and Gendry. She soon learned that Jon was fine and he was communicating with fellow men of the Night's Watch in preparation for another attack; but where in seven hells was Gendry.
She ran back outside, looking at the bodies of dead men. Some she recognized some and others she did not. She noted that Ser John had been one of the dead and she was overcome with grief, yet she continued her search. A large number of the bodies had already been burnt and she had already seen the unburnt bodies of the dead, thrice and Gendry was not one of them. She ran back inside asking people if they saw him and everyone shook their heads.
She felt her heartbreaking with every no she received; she could not take it anymore. She moved her hands to her heart and tried to clutch it. _You took away my father, you took away my mother, you took away Robb and you took away Lady. You took away Ser John, you took away Jory, you took away Yoren and you took away Mycah. You took away an ample of good men, just please, please, please don`t take Gendry away too. Not today, please not today._
She collapsed on the floor, wrapped her arms around her legs and prayed; _Not today. Not today. Not today._
23. Chapter 23
GENDRY
The Master had come to him twice, offering to heal his wounds but Gendry shook his head, "them first." He had been waiting for a while now and the pain in his arm – from where the arrow was lodged – stung incredibly; but there were only one master and a great deal of men, whom had injuries more severe than Gendry.
No matter how badly he wanted someone to take the pain away; he remembered Arya's speeches about honour. A Lord must put his men before himself and even though he did not care much for Lords and highborn men; he cared about Arya and he wished for her to be proud of him.
Arya's brother had commanded that no dying man should enter, so the other two Masters had been posted outside the wall tending to the injuries of the dying. He could not get Arya out of his head, he wondered what had become of her. He had not wanted to leave her, but he was dragged by a couple of men of the Night's watch. Even now when he wanted to leave, the guards refused; they were responsible for burning the bodies of the men that died and feared what would happen if Gendry were to pass away somewhere unknown in the castle. It was stupid, Gendry had been injured by an arrow (shot by one of Arya's men or someone from the watch) not a white, if he were to die (which seemed highly unlikely) he would not turn into a white.
He was both shocked and relieved when he saw Arya running inside. She ran towards him wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest. He put his good arm around her waist. These past couple of hours he was going insane, wondering if she was alright; but, now here she was in front of him, unharmed.
"I'm sorry' he began, "I didn't want to leave..."
"Shut up" she silenced him, examining his injured arm, "how long have you been waiting?" she asked.
"For a while now, I do not wish the master to see me, until the other men with the more severe injuries are healed."
He thought it was a noble deed but Arya flashed him a look of pure annoyance. She sighed as she got up and grabbed a bucket, filling it with mulled wine. She also got a couple of bandages and a cloth and began soaking his injury with the wine. The wine stung and Gendry tried to muffle a scream. "No... Arya... stop."
"Stop being a baby" she retorted, "I've seen Master Luwin treat plenty of injuries like this, now hold still."
He complied, she put pressure on top of his skin where the arrow pierced as she slowly began to remove the object. This time Gendry could not stop the groan that wrenched from his body. The pain was blinding; Gendry had never suffered an injury before. At least not one as severe as being punctured by an arrow. He tried to suck it up and hide that he was in pain; but he failed, he could not stop the groans and screams escaping his lips. Arya had gone through much worse than this, if she was able to cope with it, so would Gendry. Once the arrow was out she quickly wrapped him in bandages soaked with the wine and wrapped dry bandages around those ones.
"There all better." She stated with a grin.
The master advised Gendry to take it easy for a couple of days but he refused. If Arya was fighting, so was he and he was determined not to lose her this time. Once men from other realms began to arrive, their numbers rose and the whites were not much of a match against their fire and valyrian steel. Gendry was shocked by knowing, if only the realms would be a little bit more generous to the Night's watch, like Lord Bran, how easier it would be to protect the realm. Where once the wall was once at risk for falling, it was now stable in less than a moon.
Some of the other groups had already left, but Arya wished to stay with her brother as long as she could. So they would not be leaving until a few more days. Gendry could not wait till they returned back home, he was happy that Arya was enjoying her time with her brother; but, the wall was cold and the food was dreadful.
For dinner that night, they had a thick creamy soup filled with peas, carrots and chicken. It was accompanied with stale bread, olives and dreadful wine. Gendry remembered the days when this would be considered a typical meal for him. After becoming Lord Baratheon, Gendry was now accustomed to better food and finer wine. He noted that Arya had not touched her meal.
"You should eat" he offered.
She nodded and brought the soup to her lips, she had barley taken a sip when she put down the spoon and ran out of the dining hall. Gendry got up to chase after her and found her in their chambers retching.
Gendry gave her privacy, remembering the last time he had tried to be courteous, by holding her hair back when she retched and was rewarded with a punch in the ribs. When she came out of the bathroom, she looked positively dreadful. "My stomach hurts" she complained.
"Should I go fetch the Master?" Gendry offered.
"No, it's probably just my..." and then Arya froze her eyes widening in shock, the blood draining from her face.
Gendry now grew concerned,"Arya?" he said, "Arya are you okay? What's wrong?"
"What date is it?" she finally managed to choke out, her voice merely a whisper.
"Date? Why do you want to know..."
"I said, what is the bloody date!" she screamed at him, her facial expression growing anxious.
"The 5th, the 5th day of the new moon."
Arya unlaced her breeches and moved her hand in between her legs, she brought the hand back up a few moments later and inspected it.
"Stupid." She said to herself.
Gendry was getting really paranoid now, why in seven hells wouldn't she tell him what was going on? "Arya would you please just tell me what's going on."
"I was stupid, I forgot to pack some and... it was the most important thing and I forgot it. How could I be so stupid?" she said battering on to herself.
He grasped her by the shoulders and brought one hand underneath her chin, lifting her face so her eyes met his, "Arya would you please tell me what in seven hells is going on?"
This time she answered, "The third, I'm supposed to get it on the third but I'm two days late. Gendry I think I'm... Gendry I think I'm pregnant."
Gendry gasped, having children had never once crossed his mind, he was not sure how to feel about it. Arya had made it clear to him, before they got married that she did not care for kids and drank moon tea throughout their marriage. But this time, she must have forgotten to get Master Luwin, to brew her up some on their journey.
A sudden warmth felt Gendry as he imagined little wolves and bulls running around Winterfell. Arya may not have been pleased with the idea of having a child, but Gendry was elated. He gave her a big smile and went to his knees so he could kiss her stomach, where their child was growing."
"Stop that, stupid!" she barked.
Gendry got up from his knees and swept her in his arms pressing kisses to her neck, cheeks and lips. "We are going to be parents" he exclaimed with a big smile on his face.
"I know" Arya sighed, as she laid her head against his chest.
24. Chapter 24
ARYA
They were back in Winterfell and Arya's belly began to swell. Her pregnancy was terrible; every morning she felt nauseous and her back was constantly hurting. She was not allowed to ride horses, drink wine and practice her water dancing because, it was believed to be "bad" for the baby. It was really frustrating, all she seemed to do was sleep and eat, it was so boring!
She noted changes in her body; not only was her stomach growing larger, but her breasts were swelled two sizes bigger and her hips grew wider, as well. Arya remembered what Syrio said to her, _you are skinny, that is good. The target is small._ But soon she would turn into a whale and she wondered how a woman put that weight off. She felt the muscles in her body deteriorate and be replaced by fat. She had been in shape since she was a child and she did not want to turn into some pathetic hopeless woman.
Their sex life was hindered to, it was hard for Gendry to position himself on her and the roughness and intensity had gone down; he treated her like she was a gentle porcelain doll. Near the end of the pregnancy the sex had stopped and Arya was in a great deal of discomfort.
Gendry would constantly press kisses to her stomach and talk to the baby. Arya thought he was stupid, how in seven hells was the child supposed to hear him? And even if he or she did, did he really think the baby could bloody well understand him?
They were in the Great Hall eating dinner. Arya was now a few days past eight moons of her pregnancy. Arya always had a special meal planned out for her, she got the strangest cravings. Gendry was eating salted pork with mash potatoes and cooked broccoli (like everyone else). Arya ate a triple fudge chocolate cake with melted cheese and bits of steak on top.
Gendry arched an eyebrow at her.
"What?" she asked, her mouth full of food.
"How can you eat that, it looks disgusting." He said as he made a face.
"You like chocolate cake, you like cheese and you like steak. It's not disgusting." Arya challenged.
"Yeah but not together" Gendry mumbled. She flung a morsel of food at his face. He wiped it off with a napkin and he responded by throwing a piece of broccoli at her. She caught it in her mouth and took a bite. The juices of the vegetable were so repulsive that it made her stomach lurch. Arya got up to run to the bathroom and Gendry began to follow her.
That annoyed her, ever since she was heavy with child he kept on treating her like some fragile thing that needed protection 24/7. "I'm not a fucking child!" she growled at him, "I don't need you to accompany me all the time. Even when I need to take a shit, you have to be right outside the bathroom!" She screamed it rather loudly and noted that everyone had heard her. Gendry turned a bright shade of red, when all the heads turned to look at them.
Arya felt guilty, she had been getting a lot of mood swings of late and hoped Gendry understood. She wanted to apologize, but she could not delay the urgency in her stomach. She ran out of the great hall, to the chambers, she and Gendry shared. When she got to the toilet she sunk to her knees and retched. Lucky for her, her hair had been tied in a braided bun, leaving it out of the spew of vomit.
When she was done, she rinsed her mouth with lemon water, to get the taste of bile out of her mouth. The thought of eating food made her stomach clench; but, perhaps just one more bite of cake would remove the taste from her mouth.
When she rose back from her knees, her legs buckled and she fell over. Arya tried getting up but she was too weak to find the strength. Suddenly a violent pain strung through her body and she began to whimper.
_Damn._ She had turned Gendry away the first time she needed him. She tried screaming for help but all that came out was a muffled groan.
Another contraction shot through her, sending her body in turmoil. _I have to get up._ She said to herself. Arya turned her body and grabbed a hold of the toilet, in an attempt to rise. Again another contraction shot through her body, causing her to fall again on her back. She rolled herself over and began crawling to the door, but she could not bear any weight on her stomach so she had to turn back over.
She was covered in a thick layer of sweat and panting heavily, the contractions were coming and going; each one longer and more severe than the last. _No._ She said to herself, _it's too soon. I still have another moon_.
She had only made it from the bathroom to the bedroom, she considered trying to move again but she did not think she was able to do it. She tried screaming again, but her cry was too weak to elicit any reaction. She looked around the room looking for something, for anything that may help her. She caught sight of Gendry's helm and she reached for it. It toppled down the floor with a clang.
_No one._ Arya gave up, everyone was eating dinner right now, in the great hall and there was far too much noise. She closed her eyes; she remembered something Bran had once said about the wolves and being somehow connected to them. That there was a reason why there were six wolves; four boys and two girls, one for each member of the Stark (/Snow) family. She closed her eyes and prayed, _Nymeria help me._
When she heard footsteps running their way towards here and a familiar growl, she knew she had been successful. She exhaled in relief and went limp. She saw blurry bodies running towards her and heard people shouting. Just then, she received another contraction, as the pain shot through her she arched her back and groaned.
She felt someone undo the ties of her gown and remove her small clothes and Arya sighed in relief. She also felt someone cradle her head on their lap. Initially she thought it was Gendry, but the person's legs were too small and the material of the clothing was soft. She felt the person dab cool water on her face and neck.
She heard Gendry groan at the other side of the room, "seven hells" he grumbled, "oh Gods... all that blood... that looks dreadful... Arya how are you doing this?"
If Arya had the energy she would punch him, she did not need him to tell her what was going on with her body. "Alright she's ready." She heard Master Luwin's voice say, she felt cold hands slip inside her. "Arya, I need you to push."
Arya complied and gathered up all the force to push the baby out. She pushed hard and as long as she possibly could until fatigue overcame her.
"You barely made any progress." Master Luwin said, "I need you to push harder."
She barely made any progress? What in seven hells was he talking about? That push should have sent the baby flying out, but he said she barely made any progress? How in seven hells did women do this?
She spent most of her life thinking of women as the weaker gender and ladies as fragile and overly sensitive human beings; like her mother and sister. But they had both delivered children and Arya was dumbfounded how they did that. This was the most excruciating pain she'd ever felt; even when Ser Meryn had run her through with a sword, that was not even a tenth of the pain she was currently experiencing.
Arya was pushing for what felt like nearly the entire day, when she finally heard a high-pitched cry. Arya went limp as she felt the pain and discomfort leave her body.
She was panting heavily and her eyelids were growing heavy. When she managed to gather up some energy she dug her elbows to the ground, in an attempt to push herself up to take a look. Meera helped her sit up and supported Arya's weight.
She saw Gendry with a huge smile on his face, pressing kisses to their baby. He or she was wrapped in a thick blanket and Arya could not make out the baby behind it. Gendry and Master Luwin were the only men in the room, everyone else had been women (mostly hand-maidens) with the exception of her direwolf, Nymeria.
The wolf sensed her frustration and gently tugged at Gendry's breeches. Gendry looked up, his blue eyes meeting her grey ones. He immediately walked over and placed the baby in her arms.
"It`s a girl" he whispered in her ears.
When Arya saw the child she gasped, a sudden warmth filling her heart. The baby had Gendry`s shaggy coal black hair and her delicate grey eyes. Even though she shared these features, their daughter had been the splitting image of her father.
The baby looked up at her with her big grey eyes, pouting her lips which were fuller then most newborn children. Arya could not believe her animosity towards having children; during her pregnancy all she could think about was the stress and discomfort the child was putting her through; but now things were different. She was immediately taken with the small girl in her arms, the child now being her entire world.
Her heart had desired for Gendry, her heart was comforted by her family and her heart longed for her father; but in that moment her heart was consumed with the love she bore for her child.
"What are you going to name her?" Meera asked.
Gendry grew excited, beside her. "Well, I was thinking about this for a while. For a girl, I really liked the names Pricilla, Gwen and Violetta; but we can name her after your mother, Cat..."
"Ned." Arya interrupted, "her name will be Ned."
Gendry gasped beside her, "but that's a boy's name. We could name her Nadine or..."
"No, her name will be Ned." She stated, never taking her eyes from the baby in her arms.
She heard Gendry draw air in, as if to rebuttal; but he knew, once her mind was made up there was nothing that could change it."
Gendry reluctantly agreed and wrapped one arm tentively around Arya`s shoulder while the other one reaching for their babies tiny hand.
"Ned." He agreed.
After a short while, everyone left; except Arya, Gendry and Nymeria. The direwolf began licking the child in front of her and nuzzled her fur against her face. The child`s arm would reach out for Nymeria and Gendry and Arya laughed.
She rested her head on Gendry's shoulder and he tightened it around her waist.
The rest of the day was pure bliss; the two of them together staring at the beautiful girl they had made.
25. Chapter 25
GENDRY
He was surprised with the affection, Arya held for their child. Prior to the delivery, Arya had not wanted a child; she claimed she did not care for them, that they were loud, needy and stupid. Gendry was happy to become a father, he liked the idea of creating something with the woman he loved; he felt the child was a tidbit of each of them, blending into one perfect human being. He told her that much one day and Arya responded by calling him a stupid bull-headed boy.
But now, things were different. Ever since the first time she held their baby in her arms, she was reluctant to let her go. Even when Gendry would try to hold her, she had growled at him. Arya was beaming, she had a certain glow about her, that came to life with the birth of their child.
Arya loved the child, even more then she loved Gendry. Gendry was never sure whom he loved more. They both held a great place in his heart and he would do anything for either one of them. One night when Gendry cupped Arya's breast she grimaced, stating her breast was to tender. But later on, that very night when Ned cried out of her mother's milk; Arya pressed that very breast to their child's mouth and smiled at the baby she cradled in her arms.
The maids were supposed to help with the child, but Arya turned them away. She changed every wet dipper and answered every cry. _She never sleeps anymore_, Gendry thinks to himself. When the baby is awake, she is constantly with her and when the baby is asleep Arya practices her water dancing. He knows she desires to get back the body she once had. He knows it's not for her figure. Arya already regained that – for the most part – in remarkably a half a moon's time; although her breasts two sizes larger now, her hips a bit wider, her ass more prominent and there was a slight bit of fat on her belly now that was also covered in stretch marks. But, she was still the tiny slim slip of the girl he once remembered, skinner than most women her age, whom had not carried a child. Arya never once cared about looks, it was her muscle she wished to get back. She'd tire more easily and curse herself for being so weak. Gendry smiled at that thought, Arya and weak were two terms that did not comply with one another.
They received many letters of congratulations from: Sansa, Jon, Edmure & the Blackfish, Stannis, other allies and the Queen herself (shockingly). Most were filled with sweet sentiment; although Stannis' letter was a bit aggravating. He had congratulated them on the birth of their daughter and claimed that he was happy for them; but he insinuated that he was upset that Gendry had not fathered a girl. Gendry grew infuriated, as if he and Arya could control the sex of the baby. _Oh I`m sorry my Lord for not fucking my wife the correct way_, Gendry thought bitterly.
Ned was one now, her name day just one moon prior. Gendry was bouncing her on his lap while Arya was feeding her mashed peas. The girl stuck her tongue out at the fowl food and buried her head into Gendry's chest. He saw the flicker of sadness that was expressed in Arya's eyes.
"She's just like her mother." He commented, carefully cradling the baby in his lap.
Arya laid the food on the side of the table and nuzzled up beside him. He wrapped one arm around her and the other was still holding Ned. Arya reached for the baby, but she remained in Gendry`s lap, latching to her father. Gendry had never felt so happy and sad at the same time. On the one hand he was overcome with warmth that Ned sought his affection and on the other his heart went out to Arya. She spent more time with the baby and showered her with love; yet their child seemed to favour him more than her.
"She doesn't like you because you gave her a man`s name." Gendry joked, trying to make light of the situation.
"Shut up!" Arya responded, resting her head on his shoulder.
Gendry pressed kisses on Ned`s cheeks as she giggled and lay her in between both their laps. He kissed Arya on her temple and lay his head on top of hers.
She tried to get Ned to eat again but the girl refused, pressing her lips hard together as Arya attempted to bring the spoonful of peas to her mouth.
_She`s as stubborn as her mother._ Gendry thought.
When Arya finally gave up, they laid Ned to sleep. Arya and Gendry stood beside the crib, watching her chest slowly rise and fall. Gendry wrapped his arms around Arya`s now slender waist and begun pressing kisses to her neck. "The girl might get lonely, perhaps we should reward her with a younger brother or sister." Gendry whispered against Arya`s ear.
Arya grinned and pressed her lips to his. He led her back to their chambers, closing the door quietly behind them, as not to wake the baby. Gendry was desperate for her; they barely had time for sex after Ned was born. Once they were in their room, Gendry slammed her back against the wal. Arya ripped off his clothes and pressed hungry kisses onto his chest. He moaned her name and ripped off her tunic, taking her breast in his mouth. He bit down hard and tasted the sweet milk that escaped from her nipple. Arya dug her nails into Gendry`s shoulders as he sucked away; more from the pleasure than the milk. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled at it, so now his mouth met hers again, their tongues dancing with one another.
He threw her on the bed, kicking of his breeches before tugging at her own. His lips met hers again as he thrust himself inside her. She bit hard on his lip, he tasted the iron in his mouth but did not feel any pain; just pleasure. Their hips were meeting at a fast and desperate tempo. His lips slipped away from her mouth and began suckling at her neck, sure enough to leave bruises.
Their bodies were in a thick layer of sweat, he felt the pressure build inside of him. Their hips were both moving so fast, he doubted it was possible to go any faster. His hands were tightened around her hips so hard that she would bear bruises in the morning. Her nails had left several scratches on his back and he knew he would feel the pain with her when they were done. Right now, all that mattered was the pressure building up inside his body. He felt her shudder underneath him and in a few more strokes his body exploded in pleasure as he realised his seed inside her.
He rolled off her and they were both panting heavily. After a couple of minutes, their breathing settled and Arya rolled on top of him, moving her hand up to stroke his cheek. He wondered if she was aware of the fire that would shoot through his body, when she touched him.
She sighed, "you shaved."
Gendry shrugged, "why? Does my Lady, miss my beard?"
She punched him in the ribs and he laughed, "as a matter a fact, I do." She proclaimed as she bit her lower lip.
He did not know that; in truth he shaved it off because it was itchy. After the Arya and William incident, Gendry did not have the effort to do tedious things, like shave; so he had grown out a beard. Once he and Arya made up he was too lazy to shave it, until recently. Wanting to look good for their daughter`s first name day. But now that he knew the beard appeased Arya, he was determined to grow it back, no matter how itchy it was.
They laid together five times that night, each time more passionate than the last. He was not surprised to hear a week later, that Arya missed her moon cycle.
As Arya`s belly grew larger, she grew crankier. "Who's bright idea was it to make the women suffer for nine months?" Arya complained while feeding Ned, "Why can't the baby just pop out of you the next day or better yet why can't you bloody men deliver a child?"
Gendry frowned, he loved it what Arya was angry; it was one of the strange qualities that led him to fall in love with her. But he did not like it when she cursed in front of the baby, she had already started to speak (at about eighteen moons) and the babe was very impressionable; he knew sooner or later the babe would learn to pick up curses from her mother "And where does my Lady suggest the baby come out?" Gendry asked.
"You have a hole too!" she yelled.
Gendry arched an eyebrow at her, "you want me to poop them out?"
Arya groaned and pushed the mashed bananas into Ned`s mouth. She protested again, but Arya gave her a look and the baby opened her mouth and ate the food in front of her. Only Arya could strike the fear in babies; the baby may have loved Gendry more, but she was too afraid to disobey her mother.
When the bowl of food was empty, Arya got up to hand it to one of the maids to be washed; when all of a sudden he saw her eyes widen and the bowl slip from her fingers, crashing into several pieces right in front of her feet.
"What's wrong?" Gendry asked, as he rushed to her side. When she didn't respond he grew worried and began shaking her shoulders. Oh gods, what in seven hells was happening?
"The baby... he... she... the baby... kicked." She choked out.
Gendry immediately went down on his knees, the shards of glass digging into his skin; but he didn't care. He lifted up Arya`s tunic and pressed his ear against her belly. He heard it and he felt it, the baby was kicking strongly against her stomach. He smiled and kissed her on the belly button. Ned had never once kicked, she was a silent peaceful girl. But, this child had been kicking like there was no tomorrow. "Seven hells!" Gendry exclaimed, "Arya. Oh Arya can you feel that? The baby is kicking so much."
He grabbed her hand, moving it towards her stomach so she could feel to, but she jerked her hand away and slapped on the head. "Are you stupid?" she screamed, "It's inside me, obviously I can feel it!"
Gendry did not think it was possible, but Arya grew more irritable during her current pregnancy then her last. When she was carrying Ned, her emotions grew so wild that Nymeria had bit off some skin on his right upper arm. It wasn't hard enough to leave a permanent mark, but it was still hard enough to hurt. This time around, he merely suggested that she should be resting more and Arya got so mad that she flung his bull helm at his head. The impact was so hard that it had caused Gendry to lose consciousness, he woke up with a lump on his head. Arya apologized only to yell at him five minutes later.
Unlike Ned, who had arrived one moon early, it was a week past when Arya was supposed to deliver. As much as he loved Arya, he left Meera to deal with pregnant Arya. Even Bran was too afraid to see her; no matter what either one of them said, they always seemed to strike a nerve, causing Arya to grow frustrated with them.
"It`s because you are men." Meera explained to Gendry, after he asked her why Arya had never seemed to grow frustrated with her. "She feels like none of you understand what she's going through and in truth you never will; so she grows frustrated."
Gendry had gone to the forge that morning and hammered anvil, while Damon played with Ned.
"What are you so busy making?" Damon asked as he made googly faces at Ned. The babe giggled and touched the outrageous folds on Damon's face.
"Making a full suit of armour" Gendry joked, "I'll need it if I am going to survive another night with Arya."
"Consider yourself lucky" Damon teased, "At least Arya only becomes like that during her pregnancies. Ursula gets like that right before every moon cycle."
Ursula was Damon's new girlfriend; she worked in the castle as one of the cooks. "Yes, but at least Ursula can't rip your head off."
"Oh you'd be surprised how vicious she could get when she`s angry. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Damon stated.
With that, the door to the forge flung open, revealing Rickon on the other side panting. She's *pant pant* going into *pant* Arya *pant* baby *pant* now!"
Gendry ran to their chambers, leaving Ned, Damon and Rickon behind. When he made his way upstairs, to their room; he stopped when he saw Meera and outside talking to Bran. All three of them carried a worried expression; even Hodor whom did not seem to understand much.
They turned to look at him, when he arrived. Gendry made his way towards the room but two knights grabbed his shoulder, holding him back. "Let go of me!" He demanded, "my wife is having a baby, I need to see her!"
"She already delivered." Meera said her voice cracking.
What in seven hells was going on? Why were they so upset?
"Where`s the baby?" He demanded.
"He`s fine." Bran said, "A beautiful, healthy boy. He's quite big and strong for his age. He's with a wet nurse right now,"
Gendry arched an eyebrow at him. A wet nurse? What in seven hells did he need a wet nurse for? Arya had plenty of milk. "What of my wife?" he asked.
Everyone's head dropped, their eyes refusing to meet his. Gendry felt a sudden dryness in his throat. Why weren't they answering him. He turned to look at the door, the same door that the two knights had stopped him from entering. When he shifted his gaze back, his eyes met Meera's. They were wet, filled with sadness and apology. Gendry's heart thudded harder in his chest, "What of Arya?" He repeated, harshness now in his voice.
"I'm sorry" was all she said before Meera broke out into tears.
Gendry's heart sank, as he slowly pushed open the door.
26. Chapter 26
ARYA
When she woke up that morning, something did not feel right. In truth it had just been a normal day; the sun was up, she was still pregnant and the baby was kicking fiercely. But for some reason, Arya could not shake the feeling of impending doom, coming her way. She tried to shake it out of her thoughts, to think about something else.
She turned her head to her side and saw that Meera was still sleeping. Gendry had not shared her chambers for a couple of moons now and she could not blame him. She would get plenty of mood swings during her pregnancy and Gendry had been her punching dummy, to relieve her frustration. One time she had gone as far, as to throw his bull helm at his head, causing him to lose consciousness.
Meera had kept her company at night, she found comfort in her good-sister. Meera seemed to be an expert in pregnancies – even though she never had a child before – she seemed to know exactly what to do, to relieve Arya's discomfort and soothe her when she was angry.
One time Arya inquired why Meera and Bran had not had any children of their own. "We cannot seem to conceive one" she sighed, "we have tried for years but the child will not take."
Arya felt a sudden rush of guilt then. In the beginning she never wished to have children and during her pregnancies all she would do was complain. It did not seem fair to Arya that she could have children and Meera could not. She grasped Meera's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, "I'm sorry."
Meera smiled, "that is why Bran wished Rickon to act as Lord of Riverrun; when Lord Edmure and the Blackfish were here. In truth, Rosiln could have handled the duty; as I did when you made forth for King's Landing. But everyone wanted Rickon to get the practice of being a Lord; If Bran and I never have children, he will be Lord of Winterfell."
The thought of Rickon leading Winterfell, unsettled her. She never would have imagined him ruling the North; it was always supposed to be Robb. He was a great leader, he won every battle he took part in. Even though Bran was an amazing Lord, he could not hold a candle to Robb nor her father; and Rickon could never measure up to Bran. She missed her father greatly, in the past couple of days her dreams was filled with her reuniting with her dad once more. But, she knew it could not be true, her father was dead and she would never see him again.
As she tried getting up from bed, she noted a wetness on her thighs. "Meera!" she screamed.
The girl automatically got up from bed and shot to her side, "what's wrong?" Arya did not have to respond, Meera noticed the puddle on the front of her breeches and ran to call Master Luwin.
The contractions soon started. It was painful, worse than her last pregnancy. Arya could not remember why she had been complaining about wanting the baby out; the pain of labour was far more excruciating. It was not long before Meera returned back to her chambers, accompanied by Master Luwin and a couple of handmaidens.
After her clothes were removed, Meera began pressing a damp towel on Arya's forehead and neck. She felt the Master's hands slip inside of her, "Okay Arya, I need you to push."
She complied and groaned as she gathered all her energy, trying to push the baby out. It did not take long like last time, she heard the Master say that he could see the head within twenty minutes of the labour. She gathered her remaining energy and pushed; if she was strong enough, the baby should be delivered with this last push.
As Arya did so, she heard a crack. Suddenly all the pain disappeared from her body and she felt numb. She heard screaming and worried voices; she tried to get up to see if the baby was okay, but her arms were too heavy to push her up. She tried to ask Meera or the Master if everything was okay, but she could not seem to find the muscles to open her mouth either. Everything started to get blurry and she could not make out the words being spoken around her any longer.
Everything began to fade; her sensation was the first thing to go, but her vision and hearing were lost as well. The darkness consumed her as she seemed to grasp what was happening to her. So again she prayed, the same two words she prayed every night followed by Ser Ilyn (the last man on her list) and valar morghulis; _not today._
27. Chapter 27
GENDRY
She had bled. Master Luwin told him there was a complication with the pregnancy; the baby was much too big for Arya and had broken something inside her, which led to the bleed. She had lost a lot of blood, which caused her to lose consciousness. Any other person would have died from the insult but not Arya; she was a fighter. She fought when Ser Meryn had run her through and she fought the battle with the white walkers. Surely she could fight this too!
At least, that's what Gendry kept telling himself. He kept repeating the words over and over again until they would come true.
He met his son; he was a large boy, like the Master had mentioned. Their first child looked like Lord Eddard, while this child was the spitting image of his father, King Robert. He shared the same coal black hair and the piercing blue eyes.
Arya had named their first child after her dad; most likely due to their resemblance. But Gendry had no desire to name this child after his father; he never bore any love for his dad. He did not even know him; all he knew about him were the rumours and stories told and from what Gendry could grasp, he did not seem like a man who he'd be proud to call a father.
He would wait for Arya to wake up, so she could name him. She had to wake up! She just had to! He never left her side; sometimes Meera would bring Ned and their son in, but Gendry did not like it. He knew that their children needed a parent; but, Gendry did not want their children to see their mother like this and he certainly did not feel right leaving Arya's side.
His heart froze in his chest when he saw her respirations stop. This was not the first time it happened; they always seemed to return back within a minute but sometimes he feared that would be the last breath she'd take.
It had almost been two days now, since she was asleep. His eyelids were growing heavy, but he dare not close them just yet. He had not slept since the delivery and his body was protesting in agony. He tried to push the discomfort away; if she died while he was not present that would be an ache far worse than whatever his body was going through at the moment. He was sitting on the bed beside her. He held her right hand in his hand and would occasionally press kisses onto her cheeks.
"Please wake up, Arya." He begged.
He did not think it would actually work, but at that moment her fingers fluttered and her body tensed. Gendry nearly fell out of the bed, he cupped her face and whispered, "Arya?"
With the call of her name, her eyes fluttered open. "Quick!" he yelled at one of the hand maidens in the room, "call the master!"
Arya's eyes were confused for a moment until they focused on his. All of a sudden, as suddenly remembering the recent events, she tried getting up. Gendry pushed her back down, "you need rest" he commanded.
Arya scowled at him and Gendry froze. She normally had such fierceness in her face, but this time when he saw the weak expression she gave him, he felt his heart break. _She was going to be okay_. He told himself, _the worst part is over._
Arya shot him a stubborn look, a look he knew all too well. One time Arya suggested that she should have been born with the cock and him the cunt. If Gendry did not know any better, he'd believe that to be true. Normally a woman's role was to obey their men; whether it be their fathers, brothers or husbands; but Gendry always found himself falling to everyone of Arya's commands, no matter how much he protested it. She was his master and him the bitch; Gendry thought as he lifted her into his arms, carrying her weight. He didn't mind it though, Arya was his entire world and he would follow every one of her commands until the day he died.
Her belly was still too big for him to cradle her properly in his lap. So he turned her, her back to his chest and he wrapped his arms in between her breasts and her belly. She lay her head on his chest, too frail to keep it up for much longer.
"What happened?" she asked him.
"You bleed. You've been asleep for almost two days now." He replied.
Arya nodded, "And the baby?" her voice cracked.
"He's fine. He's a rather... large baby; almost as big as Ned is now." Gendry answered, Ned may have been tiny but she was still a little over two years old now.
He felt Arya's body relax. It was weird to see, how she could care so much about the health of her children when she had been close to the path of death. He idly wondered if she thought that much about him.
"I want to see him." Arya declared, "him and Ned."
He kissed her on the side of her neck and brought his lips to her ear. "You will, soon enough."
Master Luwin walked into the door, followed by Meera, Bran and Hodor. Hodor lay Bran on a chair and then he dismissed him. The master began inspecting her and she saw Bran look away, when he spread her legs, to inspect down there.
When the Master was done examining Arya; Bran spoke, "how are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'd be feeling a lot better if I could see my children." Arya responded bitterly.
Meera smiled, "they are right outside, my love. I shall bring them in soon."
The master nodded, "perhaps we should find you something to eat first. You're still quite weak and some protein should..."
"I want to see them _now._" Arya demanded.
The Master sighed but nodded and Meera opened the door to let the handmaids in, carrying her children. Gendry saw Ned running to them and he half expected her to run to him; but she didn't. She ran into her mother's lap and buried her face in her stomach. Arya wrapped her arms around her child and he saw the tears swim in her eyes. She kissed Ned on the forehead and smiled. Meera brought her son to her arms and Ned shifted to Gendry's side.
Arya needed both hands to hold the child and when Meera laid the child in her hands, they began to shake. Gendry shot Meera a look of concern and she lay her hands under Arya's; supporting the child's weight, as Arya put her breast to the babe's mouth.
Gendry smiled and chuckled beside her, "and you thought I was lying when I said he was big. It's your fault, with all that chocolate cake you ate."
Arya smiled. He expected her to say a witty retort back to him but all she asked was, "a name?"
Gendry shrugged, in truth he had not named the child because, he wanted her to survive the ordeal to name him herself. "I haven't thought of one" he lied.
Arya smiled, "we should name him Hot Pie."
Gendry could not tell if she was joking or being serious, he shaked his head. "I let you give our daughter a man's name. There is no way in seven hells that I'm going to let you name our son Hot Pie."
Arya laughed, "well if you don't like Hot Pie, you name him something better."
"How about, Arry?" Gendry offered.
He was only joking but Arya took it to heart, "Arry" she agreed.
Ten years later...
Arya had gotten all her strength back. Her hips were still wider and her breasts larger; but, she had regained all the muscle she had lost during her pregnancy. She was a warrior again and fought in plenty of battles. People would refer to her as the, _She Wolf_ so one day she asked Gendry to make her a wolf's helm.
Ned was the complete opposite of Arya, she was a Lady. She was good at her needlework and did well in all her classes. She could recite every major house and their words by simply looking at their sigils. She wore frilly gowns and despite being exposed to her mother's colourful language, she was well mannered. Arya constantly referred to her as, _a mini Sansa._
Where Ned was a proper lady, Arry was no Lord. He could not sit a horse nor wield a weapon. He was bad in his studies and would constantly sneak into the kitchens stealing desert. Arya was right, they should have named him Hot Pie or maybe Lemon Tart – his favourite desert.
They had two other children as well; twins. They had the Tully look, with their auburn hair and blue eyes. They had named the two boys, Brandon and Robb. They were a big handful; both mischievous. One time they put a frog in Ned's gown and stuffed hot peppers in Arry's food. Gendry could seldom control them, he had to leave the scolding to Arya. Even though she lectured and punished the boys, he could not help but think she was amused and impressed with their antics. She was almost eight and twenty now, but still very much a child. Even though she was a woman grown, Gendry still saw the little ten year old girl inside of her. Arya had never changed, she was still the same little wolf girl that Gendry fell in love with.
The children were busy with their studies, while Gendry and Arya were training in the Godswood. Gendry was defiantly stronger than Arya, but she had the skill he lacked. Within five minutes she knocked him on his back side. Arya than straddled his lap and brought needle down to his throat. "I win" she smirked.
Gendry sat up to kiss her. Automatically she dropped her guard and that was when Gendry pounced. He flipped her over while grabbing needle from her hands, bringing it to her neck. "actually I win" Gendry teased.
She tensed her brow as she punched him in the ribs. "You cheated!" she exclaimed.
Gendry paid her no head, he bent his head down to kiss her once more. Her fingers tangled in his hair, bringing her closer to him. He moved his hands under her tunic; gently rubbing her back before moving up to find her breasts. He could feel his arousal about to come but it seized when they heard footsteps. Automatically Gendry got up and Arya straightened her tunic.
It turned out to be Rickon and Shaggydog. "Bran says he wants to speak with Gendry" he announced.
Gendry did not have much idea, what Lord Bran wished to speak for him for. He turned to give Arya a quick kiss on the lips before he followed Rickon to the Great Hall.
Inside he saw Bran talking to some boy with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. He looked to be about Ned`s age, maybe even a year older. There was something familiar about the child, something that Gendry could not put his finger on.
They both fell silent when Gendry walked into the room, the boy was wide eyed as he began to eye Gendry. He could see his lip quivering, like he wanted to say something but could not find the words to form a sentence.
"And who may I ask, are you?" Gendry offered.
The boy said nothing, just looking up at Gendry; with a certain warmth in his eyes.
"Go on, boy" Bran encouraged, "tell him your name."
Even though Bran seemed to be kind to the child, he saw some kind of hesitance in his eyes. He had known Bran Stark for ten years now and was able to notice the look of disappointment in his eyes.
The boy dropped his gaze to the floor before gathering his courage to look Gendry in the eye. "My name is Justin m' lord. Justin Waters, your... your... your son." He gulped.
Gendry gasped and then he understood where he recognized the boy from. Even though he shared Gendry's eyes, he's features screamed Jeyne Heddle.
28. Chapter 28
ARYA
She was now beginning to understand how her mother felt. When she was younger she could not understand why her mother was so cruel to Jon. He was her best brother; he was a good person and mother treated him like he was the devil. But every time she looked at Justin she felt the rage and jealously built up inside her. In the bottom of her heart she knew it wasn't his fault, like it wasn't Jon's fault that he was a bastard; but, she could not help but see Jeyne's face when she looked at him and her thoughts were filled with all the things Gendry and Jeyne had done together. She could taste the bile in her mouth and all she wanted to do was retch. She knew it wasn't Gendry's fault, he thought she was dead and it was not like they were a couple (like her mother and father were) when Gendry fucked Jeyne. However, Gendry was the first and only man she gave herself too and even though she knew otherwise, she would always like to imagine it was the same with Gendry; but, Justin was a constant reminder to her, that this was not the case.
The other children had taken to him quickly and all ready began calling him their _brother._ Not even their natural brother or half brother, but their fucking brother! Like he wasn't a bastard, like she and Gendry were his true born parents.
Gendry was taken with him to, he loved him just like he loved all his other children. It nerved her, every time he showered Justin with attention, she felt that he was depriving his _real _children; the ones that deserved his love.
Arya stopped sleeping in their chambers; Gendry and herself were constantly fighting. She wanted Justin gone.
"And why can't he just go back to the bloody inn?" Arya screamed.
"You know his mother is dead. Willow might still be able to take care of him but he needs a parent right now; he needs _parents._" Gendry countered.
"I'm not his fucking mother and I will never be his mother!" Arya yelled.
Now Gendry started to become angry, "you out of all people should understand! You always used to tell me how you hated how your mother treated Jon. Even Theon was treated better than Jon and he was a hostage; that it wasn't fair your mother was so cruel to him for something completely out of his power!"
"Jon was different" Arya spat.
"Yes he was different. Where your father had an affair with your lady mother, to get Jon. Jeyne and I consumed Justin before I even knew you were still alive!" Gendry countered.
Arya knew he was right, he just told her the same thing she had told herself moments ago; but she couldn't help to be angry. Gendry was supposed to be the stupid one, but right now he was being logical and she seemed to take his place as a stupid bull-headed boy. She could not help but feeling hurt, she hated Justin and she hated Gendry for loving him. "Fine!" She spat, "then you can chose, me or Justin."
Gendry's eyes widened, he looked positively hurt, "Arya..." he began.
"Me or Justin?" When Gendry said nothing, she got her answer and she stormed out of the room. He tried grabbing her hand, to hold her back; but, she was _quick like a snake_ and slipped easily away from his grasp.
She walked into the Great Hall and she saw Ned and Justin eating dinner together and talking. When she walked in Ned smiled at her and Justin gave her a nervous smile as well. Arya looked at Justin and scowled at him, before running off.
She went to Meera and Bran's chambers and knocked on the door. Meera slightly creaked open the door, before she even got to say a word, Arya spat out, "can I sleep with you tonight?"
Meera smiled "um... Arya you know I love to spend time with you but right now I am a little busy."
It wasn't until then that Arya noticed that Meera was wrapped in a blanket and was not wearing anything underneath. She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks, "oh. Um... well it's okay then" she said before running off.
She tried sleeping with her children, but each of them protested stating they were too old to sleep with their mother. Arya ended up finding an unused chamber, saved for guests and she turned it into her new room.
A week had past, before Gendry found his way to her chambers. She was fast asleep until she felt a familiar arm wrap around her waist. She turned to face Gendry and before she could yell at him, he kissed her. Even though Arya was mad at him she missed her husband, his beard scratched her soft sensitive skin but she didn't care. She moaned when he slid his tongue into her mouth. He moaned as well and began tugging at her small clothes when all of a sudden she pushed him off. She scowled at him and turned her back towards him once more; crossing her arms over her chest.
Gendry was relentless, he pressed kisses onto her neck as he pulled her closer towards him. It wasn`t until her back was pressed up against him that Arya realised he was naked. She squinted in the darkness and noticed that his clothes had been discarded on the floor of her new chambers. That made her angrier, like he was expecting something and knew he would get it.
She punched him in the mouth and he recoiled. "Seven hells, Arya!" He complained.
"You`re not getting anything from me. Why don`t you just find a whore, ring her bells and sire a new bastard with her!" She spat.
Gendry looked like Arya just slapped him or ran him through with Needle. Then he recovered and looked absolutely furious. "Unlike you my lady, I do not care to have an affair while I'm married."
It was the cruellest thing Gendry ever said to her. She could not stop the tears from falling down her face. Once Gendry saw her reaction he began to apologize but, Arya did not want to hear it. "Get out!" she screamed at him.
Gendry did not budge. Angered by that, she sat up and began throwing punches to his chest. He did not try and stop her blows and did not make any sound or reaction when she hit him. Frustrated she began to weep again.
Gendry wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her closer to him. He then removed one hand and tucked it under her chin, bringing it up so now her eyes were facing his. "I love you, Arya. I love you more than any man could love a woman; but, I cannot forsake Justin. I grew up without a father because, he was to bloody high born to give a damn about his bastard children. I will not do the same with Justin. He is my blood and I will not forsake him like my father did with me."
Arya bit her lip; she hated when Gendry made sense. For the next couple of days she made a conscious effort to be nice to Justin. Gendry was right, he was a good boy. As much as Arya tried for Gendry, she could never come to love the boy. He was not her child and she could not seem to hold a place for him in her heart. Gendry seemed to understand that, he did not wish Arya to accept him as a son, but he did not want her to treat him like her mother did to Jon. _Jon, _her best brother; a bastard just like Justin.
When Arya made her peace with the boy, she wandered back into her and Gendry's chambers. He was sleeping, his chest slowly rising and falling. Arya jumped on him; smacking him in the chest with her bum as she sat on top of him. He woke up with a jolt, "seven hells..."
She silenced him with a kiss. She missed Gendry and she wanted him. He seemed to want her as desperately as she wanted him. He wound his fingers into her hair and opened his mouth so she could slide her tongue in. He unlaced her tunic and moved his hands down until he found her breasts. Arya moaned when he brushed her nipples with his thumb. He squeezed them between his thumb and forefinger and Arya screamed . She could not take it anymore, she quickly ripped off her tunic, breeches and small clothes. Luckily for her, Gendry slept naked that day so she had not needed to remove anything.
She guided him inside her and she pushed her hips against his in a fast and ferocious tempo. It all ended so quickly, he spilt his seed inside of her in a matter of minutes and she convulsed on top of him soon after.
He delicately kissed her temple as she snuggled up to him. Absent mindedly he began stroking her hair, "I missed you" he whispered into her ear.
She hugged him tighter, "I missed you too, stupid."
Gendry chuckled at the sound of his nickname, "good night my lady."
She punched him in the stomach and slept curled up in his arms with the biggest smile on her face.
The next day she made her way to the former Godswood. Even though the heart tree was now burned down, she liked going their often. Her father spent most of his time there, polishing _Ice_. She would sit by the pond and close her eyes, remembering all the wonderful memories she had of Winterfell before the war. Sometimes she wished she could go back. Back to a time when her family was whole. Back to a time when it had been just her, her father, her mother, Robb, Jon, Sansa, Bran, Rickon and even Theon. . She enjoyed the company of the Lady Meera and she loved her husband and her children immensely; but sometimes she missed her old life more. Especially the special moments she shared with her father. As she walked towards the Godswood she saw two figures already there. She approached closer and what she saw shocked her. Her daughter Ned and Justin were sharing a chaste kiss. Arya had just made her peace with the bloody bastard boy and he had to go do something stupid like this. Arya growled and at the sound of her voice, Ned and Justin broke apart and turned to face her. Her daughters face was a bright shade of red and she dropped her gaze from her mother's eyes and began staring at the ground. Justin met her gaze with an apologetic look.
It was a good thing Arya was not equipped with needle because, in that moment, she wanted to draw blood.
29. Chapter 29
`NED
Her stomach hurt. She had gotten her moon blood a week prior, for the first time. Even thought Ned had never gotten it before, her Septa explained her what generally happened. From her understanding, the pain was supposed to come during her cycle. not after. Master Luwin told her that much too, when she went to visit him that afternoon. He suspected that she may have been coming down with some other kind of illness. He told her that she seemed a little warm to him and her heart was beating faster than normal. He brewed her up some tea, to help with the illness but it did not help.
She had stayed in her room the entire day. To her surprise, the Septa was not upset about her missing her lessons but, she still insisted that she came down to the Great Hall for dinner. She told her she needed the protein and the nutrients if she wanted to fight off the illness.
Ned was not hungry. She played with the meal in front of her, tossing the peas back and forth with her fork and cutting the meat up into little slices. The Septa gave her a disapproving look, so Ned allowed one of the serving women to take her uneaten plate away. She wrinkled her nose as she brought the tea (the Master brewed to help with her illness) to her mouth. It tasted worse than it smelled and it had already smelled pretty bad to begin with. Similar to how her brother Robb and Brandon smelled after their training. The tea left a bitter taste in her mouth and she could not help but gag with every sip she took. Frustrated, Ned took a big gulp and swallowed the concoction in 3 more swings. Ned wanted to retch, but the worst was over now. She pushed the cup away from her and drank a few sips of some warm honeyed milk to wash away the taste of the tea.
She saw Justin entering the hall and her stomach lurched again. She could hear her heart beating and she felt feverish. The Master was right, she was defiantly coming down with something.
"May I have the honour of my sweet Lady`s company, as I sit for dinner?" He asked, flashing her a smile. He had a nice smile, he would flash his teeth and she noted they were straight and a pearly white colour. He also had dimples in his cheeks, that were not their until he smiled. Ned opened her mouth to say something courteous in return, but her throat felt dry so she just nodded. He took a seat beside her and she felt the warmth coming off his body. His smell was intoxicating, a mixture of coconut and honeyed melon. She knew, he played swords with her brothers Brandon and Robb (which caused him to sweat a lot); but unlike them, Justin seemed to understand the concept of grooming and hygiene.
His hair was a beautiful sandy brown colour that would turn blonde in the sun. It was clean and kept neat in somewhat of a messy fashion. Ned knew it was a contradicting statement, but it held true. Wisps of his hair with stick out in a certain disarray but it was done so neat and precise. Even as he ran his hand through his hair, the locks would fall in all the right places. Ned had only wished her hair would be that compliant, she spent hours brushing it or having one of the handmaidens do it for her, until it was smooth and silky. His eyes were a warm blue colour and they sparkled every time he looked at her. They were similar to her fathers` and her other siblings` eyes. She desired for the colour herself, it was lovely but she was born with her mother`s grey eyes. When their eyes made contact her stomach lurched again, but the feeling had been somewhat pleasant; maybe she was getting used to the pains or maybe she was just becoming mad.
"I heard you were sick, my lady. I am so sorry to hear that." He offered her, his condolences.
He heard about her? The sentiment was sweet and Ned was touched that he was concerned. Ned finally found her voice, "I thank you, brother. The Master had been kind enough to brew me some tea, which should help with my illness; but, enough about me, please tell me about your day."
He told her of his training with Brandon and Robb. He bested Robb, but Brandon sent the sword flying out his hands. Their father and Uncle Bran watched; they seemed to be impressed with the three of them and said they were all making fabulous process. After that, he spent his time with Arry, who showed him an interesting book about dragons. He offered to show it to Ned some time and she agreed.
She saw her mother walk into the Great Hall and Ned greeted her with a smile. Justin followed her lead and smiled at his good mother as well. Her mother looked at her for a moment before shifting her attention to Justin. She shot him a scowl, before storming out of the room. She saw Justin look back down at his meal and saw the sadness expressed in his face. Her Septa shook her head disapprovingly; she never told Ned, but she knew that the Septa did not care for her mother. She was no Lady, she`d dress like a man and practice swords like one as well. Ned didn't mind though, she loved her mother dearly but she sighed all the same. It really bothered her when her mother would behave so rudely to Justin. He was a nice boy and if mother just spent some of her time with him and got to know him, she knew she`d love him, like the rest of their family had.
"I`m sorry" Ned offered, "she shouldn`t be treating you like that."
Justin looked up and shot her a confused look. "She has every right to, my Lady. I am no Stark nor a Baratheon;. I am simply a bastard. Lord Bran and my Lord father were kind to take me in, but it was not needed. I should not be here, this is your Lady mother`s home and I am intruding; I should probably leave and go back to the inn with my Auntie Willow."
Ned was annoyed now. "This is as much your home, as it is mine and my mothers. You are my brother, my father`s son and you have every right to call this place your home. I love my mother but, she is being cruel. I want you to stay here and so does father and my brothers."
"I do not wish to intrude..." he began.
"You`re not." Ned stated as she brought her hand to his. As soon as her hand touched his, Ned began to pull away. It had been an instinct to hold his hand, as a sign of comfort; but, Ned knew it was not appropriate. He might have been her brother but, neither of them were children anymore. He was almost a man grown and she was a lady of two and ten and flowered. As she pulled her hand away, Justin moved his hand on top of hers and brushed the back of her hand with his thumb. Ned felt the blood rushing to her cheeks; his touch left goose bumps where they trailed off and sent a jolt of energy running up her body.
"It is almost time for bed, I should be heading to my chambers now." Ned said, as she got up from her chair and left his embrace. Justin offered to escort her, but Ned assured him her Septa would do so. He bid her goodnight and she returned the feeling.
_She was wearing a gown. It was long, white and made of silk. The neckline was cut lower than normal and the breasts – she had just developed – filled the neckline beautifully. She was in the Godswood, there were many people, eyeing her as she walked down the aisle. She did not look at them, so she could not put a face to any of the members in the crowd; she was too focused on the man a few feet ahead of her. His back was turned and all she could see of him was a beautiful mop of sandy brown hair and a Black and Gold cloak with a large Stag on it. It was similar to the cloak she was wearing, if not identical. Her father was at her right, his arm locked with her own. She looked up at him and he smiled down at her. _
"_Who gives away this woman?" She heard a voice call, but saw no speaker._
"_I do; her father, Gendry of House Baratheon. Who claims her?" He called._
_With that the man, who had his back turned to her; turned around to face them both. "I do. Justin Waters, son of Gendry Baratheon and Jeyne Heddle."_
_Ned gasped._
She woke up in a thick layer of sweat. What the in seven hells was the matter with her? Did she just dream of getting married to Justin? It wasn't right, it couldn't be right. She knew Justin was of too low birth, to wed her. Even though he had been her father`s son; he was still a bastard; and a bastard was not fit to marry a lady. Her family was never accustomed to the traditional rules and values, though. After all, her father was once a bastard too, before the Queen legitimized him so he could marry her mother.
That wasn`t the worst part though. Justin may have been a bastard but he had also been her brother. Well her half brother, but her brother none the least. They both shared their father`s blood and for them to wed would be a blasphemy. But, the Targaryens wed their siblings, why couldn't she?
What in seven hells was she thinking? Was she really having this conversation with herself at this moment? She couldn't like Justin, it was not proper. But, her heart longed for him all the same. It was then, when the obvious had finally dawned on her; she was not sick, she was in love. In love with her brother and a bastard. What would her Septa say? Oh Gods, what would her mother say?
She shook her head. She could not love Justin and she would attempt to get the lovesick feeling out of her system. Yet during the following days, when she saw him; her stomach would repeat the familiar lurch and she could feel her heart beating so hard, she thought it was going to jump out of her chest. During her lessons, she would eavesdrop on some of the older girls. She never paid them much head when they were talking about boys, but Ned was curious now. One of the girls told the others how the stable boy kissed her in the rain. It was supposedly romantic but, Ned found it embarrassing. Kissing? It sounded nice, from how the girl described it, but Ned could not imagine herself kissing someone and her face turned bright red at the very thought.
She skipped her lunch break, to spend time with Justin that afternoon. They went to the Godswood together. They walked side by side and she blushed every time his shoulder or arm would graze hers. They sat on a log, near the river and the stump of the heart tree. "My mother told me this place used to be beautiful, before the fire. I wished I was able to see it." Ned sighed.
"It`s still beautiful now." Justin offered, "Winterfell in general is a lovely place."
Ned smiled, she was a Northern girl, like her mother and was proud to be one. Justin was talking about something but Ned did not hear it. She casually bit her lip as she was thinking about the conversations the older girls were having about boys and kissing. Without thinking, Ned quickly brought her lips to his and pressed it lightly on his mouth. She pulled away just as quick and Justin stopped talking, he just stared at her, a shocked expression written on his face. Ned felt embarrassed now, she was being stupid. He didn't like her, she knew he didn't like her. How could he? He was her brother! He was probably disgusted with her.
She looked away and it shocked her when Justin held her hand, his fingers wrapping themselves delicately around hers. She looked back up to him and he bent his head, ever so gently and brought his lips down to hers. Again they only touched for a few seconds before he pulled away. Ned blushed, she felt her stomach tingle and she felt weak; the feeling was pleasant however, it was the best thing she has ever felt in her entire life. Their lips met again; when their parents kissed their mouths were open but, Ned did not know how to do that. She didn't think Justin knew either. She wanted him closer to her; but she settled for just touching her lips to his for longer period of time.
She heard a growl and Ned snapped her head to see her mother standing a couple feet in front of her, with a look of pure fury on her face. Ned face turned redder than before and she dropped her head, to avoid her mother`s gaze. Her heart was racing now, oh Gods what was her mother going to do?
"Get out!" She heard her mother yell. She looked up and saw that she was speaking to Justin; her face was a bright red as well, her hands bunched up to fists. Oh no, she wouldn't hurt him would she? Justin seemed frozen in place, when he did not move, she yelled again. "I said leave now! Go to your chambers or anywhere else for that matter, just get out of my sight."
Justin nodded and gave an apologetic look to Ned before he ran off. Her mother watched him run off. "It was my fault!" Ned exclaimed, causing her mother to shift her attention back on her. "I kissed him first! I.. I... I think I love him, mother."
"You are a girl of two and ten. You do not know what love is. You are never to see this boy again, do you understand? I am sending you off to the Eyrie, to live with your Aunt Sansa until further notice."
Ned shot her a pained look. She loved her Aunt Sansa, but she could not leave. "You can`t make me!" Ned yelled at her mother for the first time, "I won`t go! You can`t force me to leave!" She spat. She knew she was acting childish, but she didn't care. Her mother was being unreasonable.
Her mother shot her a challenging look. "I am your mother and you will do as I tell you. Now go to your room and pack your things. Do you understand me?"
"I hate you." Ned declared. She saw the expression in her mother`s face turn from anger to hurt before Ned ran off.
She did not run to her room. She ran to the forge and once she entered, she saw her father hammering away at a piece of steal. He immediately stopped what he was doing as she entered, placing the hammer on the table beside him and shot her a worried look.
Ned ran into his arms and he lifted her up, so she could bury her face in his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her back. She wept, crying so loudly, her throat was growing sore. He rubbed his hand up and down her back, before he placed his hand under her chin, bringing it up, so now her eyes met his. `
"Tell me what`s troubling you, little sweetling." He asked as he brushed her tears off, with his rough callused thumbs.
Ned took a deep breath and told him the entire story.
_Note: _Ah I knew I kind of broke away from the Arya and Gendry romance, in this chapter but I had to write a chapter, discussing the relationship bw Ned and Justin. Omg is it weird im starting to ship two characters that dont even exist? LOL. Anyways i shall continue the Gendry and Arya POV`s in the next chapter. Thank you for reading
30. Chapter 30
GENDRY
He was mad- no mad did not cut it, he was infuriated. What gave Arya the right to send _their _daughter away? Ned was as much his as he was hers and she would remain at Winterfell. He had to admit it was weird; his two children had fallen in love with one another. They may be half siblings but, they were still siblings! Gendry tried to convince himself it was okay. After all, the Targaryens claimed their siblings (and not even their half siblings but their true ones) as partners. Plus Ned took more after Arya and Justin took more after Jeyne. Maybe their blood wasn't that similar. Gendry sighed, he wanted his children to marry for love. He did not care if they wanted a bastard, a prince or even an imp. He was lucky to get Arya and he remembered the days when he never thought their love could be. His thoughts flew back to the moment he confronted her about being a girl. He had just began to love the little girl but then he found out she was a fucking lady and out of his reach. He remembered the time when they travelled with Lord Beric's squire Edric Dayne. It killed him, why did that bloody idiot have a shot of marrying her when he didn't. He did not know Arya the way he did and he did not love her or was willing to do anything for her like Gendry. Unlike Arya, Gendry understood; he understood what it was like to love someone and know you could never be with them. It was a hurt that no man should suffer and he did not want his children to suffer the way he did- or almost did.
Yet the idea of Ned and Justin still nerved him. He could understand where Arya was coming from; it was weird. But, he remembered the way Ned looked at him when she came to the forge; the tears in her eyes, the hurt she was feeling in her chest and they way it made him feel to see her like that. He made a promise to Ned and a promise to himself that he would do whatever it took, to ensure both Ned and Justin's happiness.
His thoughts were disrupted when he heard loud footsteps approaching his chambers. Gendry sighed, Arya wanted to send Ned off to the Eyrie but, the moment when Ned came into the forge and told Gendry about Arya's plot he went straight to Lord Bran. They both agreed that Ned should remain at Winterfell and commanded the guards that Arya was not permitted to speak with either Ned nor Justin, until she calmed down.
The footsteps grew louder and Gendry knew it was Arya; he took a deep breath to calm himself. He'd probably be walking out of this room with a black eye and a missing limb, after Arya was done with him. The door swung open and was slammed shut, just as quickly. Arya entered the room and immediately began throwing punches and yelling profanities at Gendry. She may have been a tiny little thing but, with all the anger built up inside her, some of the punches she was throwing hurt – a lot.
"I am not allowed to see my own children?" She demanded, "my children!" putting the emphasis on the word _my._
Gendry sighed and grabed her wrists to lessen the blows of her punches; that wasn't the brightest idea because, once her hands were contained she sent her leg , to knee Gendry in the balls, sending his whole body in turmoil. Gendry groaned and sat on the bed. Arya continued yelling at him but, seized the hitting. Once Gendry had recovered he spoke, "you may see Arry, Brandon and Robb but, at the moment your Lord brother and I do not think it is wise for you to speak with Ned nor Justin. Well... that is until you've had a moment to... cool down."
"I was asking about my children" Arya snapped, "that boy is not my fucking child!"
"That _boy_ has a name" Gendry declared, now getting up, "and Ned is my child too. I will not have you send her off to the Eyre, her home is at Winterfell."
Arya was fuming; he could swear he saw steam coming out of her nose and wondered that maybe he should begin calling her the bull. It was a joke he would save for another time, unless if he wanted to get kicked in the nuts again. "Are you really so thick?" She demanded, "They were kissing. Kissing! Ned told me she loved him and I will not have her marrying that bloody bastard!"
Gendry took a step back, hurt by her words. He could not believe she just said that. Yes Justin was a bastard but so was he. Apart of him knew she hadn't meant the way he took it but, her words did not hurt him any less. Gendry idly wondered what would happen if he was not Robert's son; what would happen if he never got legitimized. Would she still love him then? Would they still be together?
Gendry was mad now and he could not stop the anger building inside him and he snapped. "I am the Lord and you are the Lady. I make the rules here and I say Ned will remain in Winterfell. You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do and you have no input in this matter!"
Arya's expression changed. She went from being angry to being hurt in one split second. When he saw the hurt in her eyes and the impact his words had on her, he automatically regretted it. He did not mean what he said but, he could not let Arya take their daughter away from him.
He expected her to punch him or to yell at him. Arya was not an emotional person but, he wouldn't have been surprised if she even wept. But she did neither of those things. She gave him the coldest look he'd ever seen and bowed. "Yes, my Lord" she spoke before running out of their chambers.
"Arya" he began, reaching for her arm to stop her, to apologize; but, seh was too quick. She was always fast and slipped away from his grasp. Gendry ran his fingers through his hair, as he collapsed back into bed.
How did things get so different? When did things start turning around for the worst? It did not begin with Justin, it happened before with William. Gendry thought marrying Arya was all that he ever wanted, that they would live their lives and live happy ever after. But, they hadn't. All Arya and Gendry did now a days was fight; it's like she transformed into a completely different person. This was not the same Arya he knew... or the same Arya he thought he knew. Meera and Bran never dealt with this drama, they had their disagreements every now and then; but, nothing like the fights he had with Arya. He loved her and he fought for their relationship but, this was getting to be all too much. He could not continue fighting for something that was already broken. What in seven hells was he thinking? This was Arya. Arya! The love of his life, the woman who he could not bear living without.
He slept it off, but he could not stop thinking about their fight. After a couple of hours he decided to go search for her. If they wanted to make things work they would have to talk things out, they would have to figure out some way to stop fighting. Otherwise... he did not even want to think about the alternative. He searched for her for hours until he talked to the stable boy. He told her that she took her horse and ran off. Gendry sighed punched a wall in the stables with all his might. He felt the wood splintering into his knuckles and saw the blood trickling down his hand; but, that did not hold a candle to the pain he was feeling in his chest. He did not need to debate a decision any longer because, Arya had already decided for the both of them.
31. Chapter 31
ARYA
It was more of an instinct that led her to leave her home, rather than a conscious decision. She saddled Swift and left the gates of Winterfell, riding to some unknown location. She tucked herself in, mending to the shape of the horse and kicked the reins, travelling as fast as she could go. She felt the cold weather and the cool wind –generated from the ride – bite into her skin. She was only wearing a tunic and breeches; she was wearing a fur cloak earlier that day but had forgotten it back in Winterfell.
She left, she had to leave. Ever since she was a mere child she was subjected to abandonment. Everyone left her, everyone always left, well not this time. She would not give them the chance, she would leave first. She felt her family slip through her fingers: Gendry was mad at her, Bran and Meera were on his side, Ned was infatuated with Justin and none of her other children seemed to need their mother anymore. Even Nymeria had been ignoring her of late, spending more time with her children then she did with her. She remembered the time when Gendry had left her for the Brotherhood, she had made him a part of his pack and he decided that he rather become some stupid knight; now he was going to do the same thing, he would abandon her again. At one point she had asked him to pick between Justin or herself; Gendry had told her that he would not make the decision but clearly he had. He had picked him over her and soon enough he would probably leave her once more. She was determined not to give him that chance, she would leave first.
She was growing tired now and slowed Swift down to maintain a steady pace. She began to contemplate what to do. Perhaps she would go to Riverrun; her Great Uncle Brynden always seemed fond of her. She could be the Blackwolf, similar to how he was the Blackfish. She pulled the reins and Swift saddled to a stop. She dismounted the horse and found a rock on the ground; in rage she flung it against a tree. What in seven hells was she doing? She couldn't leave! Her children were back and Winterfell and despite their independence and her frustration with them, Arya still loved them with all her heart. Her mother and father were taken from her and now she was honestly making the conscious decision to leave them? No. She wouldn't do it, she would stay for their sake. It was Justin that was the problem. She hated Justin, she tried her best to accept him but in the current moment she loathed the little boy. He had done this; it had been his fault. The fights erupted with his arrival – in truth it was Arya that initiated each of the fights – but they had all been revolved around Justin. Nevertheless, Arya decided to return back, hopefully before someone realized she was gone. Even if they did, she'd just lie to them and tell everyone she went on a ride to clear her head. She grabbed Swift's reins and was about to mount the horse when she heard the rustle of leaves nearby. Instinctively Arya moved her hand to clutch needle but grasped nothing but air. _Shit._ Had she honestly been stupid enough to forget needle? She had been so mad that she just ran as fast as possible. Now here she was, alone in the forest and miles away from Winterfell without even a single weapon to defend herself.
She saw three men enter the clearing. One of them was short and stocky, with his hairline just beginning to thin. He must have been a man of about five and fourty, his teeth were a bright yellow and he had an foul odor to him. The other two men had been younger; one somewhere in his thirties and the other about Arya's age. The one closer to her age had strawberry blonde hair. He was thin, almost as thin as her but was almost as tall as Hodor. He flashed a smile at her, revealing that several of his teeth was missing and only drew attention to the patchy areas of his chin. The man had obviously been attempting to grow a beard but had failed miserably. The third man had long blonde hair that reached his shoulders. He was more comely than the other two, but not handsome in the slightest sense. He was decently built and Arya could see the contour in his body shaped by his muscles but his face was repugnant. He had a large mole on his left cheek with two strands of blonde hair emerging from them. His nose was crooked and his right eye was discolored, from a black eye he had developed. He had obviously been the muscle of the group and these men did not look like they were honest travelers; they were outlaws.
"Well look at what we got here boys" the fat man began, "such a lovely maiden in the forest alone."
Arya wanted to punch the stupid fat man in the face and tell him that she was no maiden, but she wasn't stupid so she bit down on her lip from speaking out, in fear that her mouth would get her into worse trouble.
"And look at what she's got here" the youngest spoke, "such a fine horse. Bet this one's got gold on her to, I suppose." He smiled and reached out his hand to cup her face but Arya swatted it away. "Ah and a feisty one too. Garry tell her how I like my women feisty."
The one with the mole smile, "he likes his women feisty. Just hand us over your gold and we promise that we won't hurt you."
Arya saw the twitch in his lip. There were subtle features that gave a man away when they were lying and this was one of them. They hadn't only meant to rob her but, they would probably kill her to or do something far much worse. "Haven't got any gold." Arya admitted.
The fat man cocked an eyebrow at her. "Really now? A fine girl like you aint got no gold, huh? Lovely woman like you dressed in such fine riding gear with a horse like that. Either your lying wench or you're just a pretty good damn thief. No matter, we'll strip you down just to make sure you aint hiding anything."
The man made a grab for her and Arya knew she could not play coy any longer. She made a fist and punched the large man in the face. She heard a snap as the man recoiled and cursed. All she needed was a weapon, with a sword in her hand Arya would be next to unstoppable – well at least when faced with these three idiots. She made a grab for the rusty sword in the man's belt loop but she felt a firm sweaty hand grab her wrist first. She turned to face the attacker but before she even had time to turn her head the entire way, she felt a sharp blow on her left cheek. The man with the mole had backhanded her and she fell to the ground with a thud. She brought a hand to caress the cheek that had been striked, she felt the sting as her blood pooled in that area. She got up to fight back just to be pushed back to the floor by the man with the mole. She trashed in response but the fat man grabbed her wrists and held her in place and the red haired man did the same with her legs. She squirmed and struggled, but had no hope in overpowering the three men. For the first time in her life Arya screamed. She had never once shouted for help in any of her previous battles but right now she wailed; screaming in hopes that someone would hear her and come to her rescue. Normally when Arya was out on the battlefield the only thing there to fear was death and whenever she feared that someone would kill her she'd repeat Syrio's mantra in her head to calm her down. _Fear cuts deeper than swords_. But what happened when it wasn't the sword that was the problem? These men weren't planning on slitting her throat – at least not now – they were going to rape her. The man with the mole put one hand over her mouth to muffle her screams while the other tugged roughly at her breeches. Arya bit down hard on his palm and tasted the man's blood on her tongue. He gasped withdrawing his hand to slap her twice on the cheek. The blows were so hard, she heard the bells ringing in her ears.
After that Arya learned to keep her mouth shut, with the exception of the whimpers that she could not choke back. There was no one coming for her and there was no one within miles of this area – with the exception of probably more outlaws which would each take their turn fucking her. The man with the mole unlaced his breeches and shoved his enlarged cock into her mouth to suppress her whines. He then grabbed her roughly by the hair and moved her hair back and forth. Arya laid there shocked, she could not believe this was actually happening. She had never been so terrified before in her life. The last time she had been nearly been that scared was when she escaped from the Red Keep, after the Gold Cloaks had killed Syrio. Now it had been worse, she had never been with another man other than Gendry and she had only given herself to him because she loved him. It felt wrong to be with someone else, she felt like a little girl again and her thoughts travelled back to the horrendous acts that were committed when she was a prisoner at Harrenhall. She was only a child back then so she had only witnessed the raping but she still remembered the cries of the woman subjected to them. She felt the blond man's seed spill inside her and Arya tried to pull back but he held her in place. She pushed himself so deep in her mouth that Arya gagged. He plugged her nose and the only way to prevent herself from choking was to swallow his seed
When he pulled out Arya felt water dripping down her cheeks. At first she thought it was him cum but she soon discovered it was from the tears she hadn't known she was shedding, until this moment. The man with the mole moved down to spread her legs apart and rip off her breeches; as the man with the red hair began unlacing his own. He also pulled his tunic over his head, leaving his scrawny figure bare in front of her. The scrawny man straddled her lap and began pushing himself inside of her roughly. Gendry was always rough with her, though she never felt any pain during her love making with him but this was just excruciating. Without even looking she knew her cunt must have been red and raw from the man thrusting himself inside repeatedly inside her. Arya squirmed again but the men had a tight grip on her and she could not break free. While the strange man`s body was rising and falling on top of hers, the fat man held her wrists with one hand while the other was ripping off her tunic. He exposed her breasts and began playing with her nipples; pulling them roughly forward between his thumb and pointer finger. While he was distracted, Arya found her opportunity to free her hands and punched the man in the face again, adding a black eye to the broken nose. The man with the mole left her grip on her legs as he moved to her upper body. Instead of slapping her this time he made a fist and punched her in the face. Arya screamed from the pain and she tasted blood in her mouth. She had coughed up a tooth, that got knocked out of her and Arya began to cry even more. Never once had she wept this much in her life, Sansa had been the one to always cry and over tedious things at that too. But now Arya was tearing more than her sister ever had. The skinny man seemed completely unfazed by the entire confrontation, he continued pushing himself inside of her without even a falter in his rhythm.
Arya eventually stopped fighting after several more beats and lay limp while the men continued to have her way with her: in her mouth, cunt and ass. Eventually Arya passed out from the pain. Her body was bruised and bloody, leaving purple, black and red marks all over her skin. Arya did not think she would see her family ever again. After the men were done with her, she had no doubt they would kill her and steal her horse. The only thing she could hope for was that a Northman would eventually find her bones and allow her to rest beside her father.
She was surprised to wake up again. She felt the pain of her injuries but it did not seem like any of the men were having their way with her at the moment. Were they really so cruel in waiting for her to regain consciousness before they started fucking her again. When she was oriented again she noted that her body was encircled in a pair of strong arms. "No... please" she choked out, "no more." But the man did not seem to be harming her. He seemed to be embracing her in a comforting and familiar way. She was not able to gather enough courage to meet the man`s gaze. That`s when Arya noticed that things had not seemed right. She was no longer in the dingy, murky ground of the forest floor but back in her chambers in Winterfell. Her garb was now changed to a lose night dress and her wounds had been taken care of. Finally gathering the courage to face the man embracing her, Arya rose her head so that she was staring into Gendry`s eyes. The normal bright blue was now accompanied in a background of red. They were full of hurt and sadness and he looked at her apologetically. He had the startings of a black eye forming and he bored a large bandage on his right upper arm. His hands moved up and down her arms soothingly and he never once broke his gaze from hers. Arya felt a swell of guilt arise in the pit of her stomach. He had saved her, he had always saved her. She always portrayed herself as the fiercer one, but similar to the songs he was her knight that always came to her rescue. He saved her before from the white walkers and he was the reason she fought to cling onto her life after Ser Meryn ran her through. How stupid could she have been to think that he would abandon her? He would always be her stupid bull as much as she would be his fierce little wolf girl.
"Arya…" his voice cracked. She could hear the pain behind it and saw his lips quiver, while tears were threatening to fall from his face at any moment. "I am so sorry."
She rose her hand and brushed the tears streaming down his face. She did not cry in unison, her tears were dried up. Instead she scooted herself closer to his chest as he tightened his grip on her. It was odd that Gendry always knew the right way to hold her. His grip had been firm but not rough to put pressure on any of her fresh injuries.
She pressed a kiss on his collar bone. "I should be sorry, I hadn`t meant to…"
He cut her off as he moved his finger to her lips. He brought his head down to kiss her on the forehead as he rocked her in his arms, similar to how he did to their children when they were just babes. There was never a time that Arya did not feel safe in Gendry`s arms. They always comforted her and any pain or emotions she was facing in that moment, would fade away when he came to embrace her. She was still worn out and soon she fell asleep once more in his arms. That night she dreamt about a certain bull and his wolf.
_Note: sorry for the late updates. Just finished exams and now i promise i can finally put more of my focus into this story. Well this was a very dark chapter but don't worry it gets more fluffy and sweet. Ty everyone for ur reviews and for reading my story it means a lot :D _
32. Chapter 32
GENDRY
When they were out on the road as children Arya's face was always hard. It didn't matter if they were walking, performing their tasks, eating food or even sleeping; Arya always wore the same mask like expression. Since the moment he reunited with her, he had seen Arya exhibit every kind of emotion but, whenever she slept she always looked peaceful. She may have been a woman of nine and twenty now but, when she slept she still looked as if she was a child. The hardness would leave her face, her brow would soften and the few age lines she had on her face would disappear.
Not this time. This time her brow was creased and she would writhe in her sleep. Sometimes she would mutter the words 'please, no and stop.' It crushed Gendry's heart to see her like this, to see that he let this happen to her. Since the first day he reunited with Arya, Gendry had sworn an oath to himself. He had sworn that as long as he lived, no harm would ever come to her and he would never let her slip away from his grasp again. But he had failed, he had let her run off and he had come to save her a little too late.
He remembered the moment he found out that she left. He and Arya and been having a lot of fights, as of late and Gendry was getting fed up with her. She did not approve of Just but, Gendry would not forsake him. Justin was a good boy and Gendry had come to love him just like he had with his other children. Why couldn't Arya see that? In the beginning Gendry was not sure whom he loved more, his children or Arya but, now he knew the answer. His heart did not belong to him anymore, she had taken it the first day he met her and she had kept it with her ever since. As much as Gendry loved his children, he was ashamed to admit Arya would always have priority over them. He never thought she would actually go through with it. To go as far as to run away from home. To see what had become of her, sent a shiver down Gendry's spine and chilled him to the bone. Gendry hated himself that it had taken a tragedy for him to understand what he had done to her, how he had pushed her away. As much as he did not wish to, for Arya he would send Justin back to the inn and he would send Ned to Highgarden. He would do any damn thing she asked of him, even if that meant him climbing up the wall stark naked and jumping of the damn thing. He would do it, he would do anything she asked of him, he would do anything to take the hurt away and to fix what had happened to her – if that was even possible.
It killed him to admit it, but when she first left the gates of Winterfell. Gendry did not care. He was growing so sick and tired of Arya that he had not even bothered to go after her. He needed the fighting to stop, he needed just one moment of peace and that damn well wasn't going to happen with Arya around. '_She would be fine_,' he reassured himself. They did not call her the She-Wolf of Winterfell for nothing. With needle in her hand, Arya was next to unstoppable and she grew stronger with every day that passed. After her battles, she would come home with new scars, scratches and bruises. In the beginning Gendry was highly concerned for her new injuries but, Arya would simply tell him that _every hurt was a lesson and every lesson made you better._ It was a piece of advice she had picked up from her old dancing master, Syrio Forrel and she took all of his words to heart. He had been her first mentor and shaped her into the warrior she was today. Every night, with the addition of the names of her list (every battle she returned from he noted that some of the names were no longer there and replaced with new ones he did not recognize) and the words, valar morghulis; Arya would recite all of his mantras. There was no denying Arya's strength and capability and even though he should have, at the moment he did not fear for Arya's safety because, he never thought it would be compromised.
He knew she would travel to either the Vale or Riverrun (Riverrun most like). She may have considered going to the wall but, as much as she loved her brother Jon, Arya knew he did not want her there. Jon always feared for Arya's health and was uneasy with all the battles and wars she would take part of; even more so than Gendry. No, Arya would go somewhere her services were wanted; she would probably go and assist House Tully. Her Great Unlce, the Blackfish was always fond of her. So he did not bother to chase after her. Gendry knew she would be fine on her own but, later that day when Gendry walked into their chambers, he saw that needle was placed on their bed. In that moment Gendry realised in her haste and anger, Arya had not equipped herself with a weapon. Even though the realm was currently at peace, Gendry had no doubt that outlaws still roamed the woods and he feared what would happen if Arya ran into them.
All he could do at the moment was pray that she had a dagger strapped onto her thigh or any weapon for that matter and hope that she was lucky enough not to cross the path of any outlaws. Gendry quickly gathered a group of knights and travelled the lands hoping to find Arya. They had eventually found her but, not in the way Gendry had hoped. Three filthy outlaws were on top of her, committing the most atrocious and vile acts that Gendry had only witnessed when they were prisoners at Harrenhall. The worst possible scenario Gendry envisioned and hoped never would happen, was happening in that current moment – well not worst, at least she was still alive. Gendry immediately felt the blood boil in his veins and his temper rose drastically. Enraged, Gendry led the attack towards the three outlaws, with the accompany of the knights he had brought with him. He had been the first out in the battle but Gendry was not thinking logically, there was no skill or wit to his attack; he just charged head on, beating the three men with strength he didn't even know he had. It wasn't until they were back in Winterfell that Gendry noticed the injuries he sustained but, at the moment all he could think about taking revenge on the three men that defiled his wife. There were five knights plus himself and only three outlaws. Only one of the outlaws proved to be a threat but, Gendry and the knights easily disposed of all three of them with no casualties of their own – well no casualties but Arya. Gendry remembered repeatedly stabbing one of the men, well past the time he was dead. It had taken a couple of knights to pull him back and break him from his trance.
After they pulled him off one of the dead outlaws, he noticed a pair of knights gathering around a body. The tears streamed down Gendry's face as he made his way towards Arya. She had been hurt badly. Arya was unconscious but, the steady rhythm of her breathing and the beat of her heart assured Gendry that she was still very much alive. Though she sustained many injuries on top of the cruel acts committed towards her. Arya's face was black and blue while the rest of her body was bloody. She was naked, her clothes in a messy disarray around her body. Gendry removed his cloak and wrapped it around her, before scooping her in his arms, so he could bring her back to Winterfell where Master Luwin and Master Godwin could tend to her injuries. He did not leave her side when they did so and helped the two masters wrap the bandages and clean her wounds. When they were done and pronounced that Arya would recover shortly, Gendry summoned a couple of handmaidens to fetch him a warm bucket of water and a couple of clean cloths. He began cleaning the blood off her body and the seed in between her legs. The handmaidens offered to help him but, Gendry dismissed them. After he was done cleansing her, he dressed her in a nightgown she had acquired from Braavos and cradled her in his arms. When she was awake he fed her some food, accompanied by some moon tea and mulled wine to wash down the taste and help her sleep. He half expected Arya to yell at him and state that she was perfectly capable of feeding herself, but all she did was mutter a thank you and bury her head in Gendry's chest. It broke Gendry's heart to see all the fight drained out from her, so he just tightened his grip, to pull her closer. Occasionally their children, Bran, Meera, Rickon and Nymeria would come to visit but, for the most part it was just Arya and himself in their room.
For the longest time they didn't say anything. He just held her in his arms and she would snuggle up to him. After a while Arya broke the silence, "I'm sorry" she uttered, "I've been acting like a child theses past couple of moons and I should have never ran away."
Gendry looked at her with wide eyes, there were so many thoughts running through his mind. He wanted to reassure her that it was not her fault in the slightest, that she had lost most of her childhood so she was entitled to throw a temper tantrum every now and then. Gendry wanted to tell her that _he_ was sorry. He wanted to whisper promises in her ear and tell her sweet sentiments regarding how much he loved her. He wanted to tease her and call her m'lady, so she would send a fist to his stomach. He wanted to tell her all these things and more but right now he only asked her one question, "why did you leave?"
Arya dropped her gaze from him again and bit her lower lip. "I thought you would leave me" she admitted, "I thought you hated me and that you would leave me, so I decided to leave before you had the chance."
Gendry was shocked. Had their relationship really faltered to the point that she thought he didn't love her anymore? He cupped her face and lifted it, so now her eyes met his. "I love you Arya. I meant it when I said I will love you for the rest of my life and if there is a life beyond that I'd love you as well. I will never stop loving you; I could never stop loving you." He reassured her. With that he brought his lips down to hers tentatively. His one hand still cupped her face and the other was cradling her in his lap. When he broke away from her lips, he began kissing her face, her neck, her arms, her legs. He kissed every bruise, every scratch and every scar that was not concealed by her night gown. Through every kiss he muttered soft little comments about how much he loved her.
Arya stilled his movements and brought her tiny hands to wrap around his neck. "I love you too, Gendry" she declared. She then pulled on his neck, bringing him down for another kiss. When Gendry moved his hands under her nightdress to cup her breast she shuddered but did not pull away. He traced his fingers along her nipples and felt the dents of the bites and scrapes left behind. Gendry frowned, he couldn't understand how anyone could harm a woman, let alone how anyone could harm Arya. Of course not a lot of other people truly understood how remarkable his lady was it still confused him every time when he saw someone take her for granted. He moved his hands away from her body – the touch being too soon for the both of them – and he cupped her face. He treated her as gently as he could and for the first time Arya did not complain. They made no love that night but fell asleep entangled in each other's arms after pressing kisses to one another and whispering sweet words.
The next morning when Gendry got up, he turned his head to face Arya. She was still asleep and he watched the steady rhythm of her breathing for a while. He slipped away from her grasp, careful not to wake her and made his way to the Great Hall. He saw Lord Bran in his normal seat, writing on some parchments. He took a seat beside his good brother and after a casual good morning, Gendry spoke what was on his mind. "I`m sending my son away. Perhaps to Riverrun, if the Tully`s will have a place for him. He his talented with a sword and perhaps he can become a squire."
He knew Bran did not need to ask him which son he was talking about. "Was this my sister`s idea?" He asked, "If so, I assure you Justin is welcome here. I admit I was hesitant about his arrival at first but he is a good lad. He may not be a Stark but he is a Baratheon and..."
"He is a Waters" Gendry interrupted, "he is no Baratheon. This was my idea and I believe it is the best thing to do for my son."
"For your son or for Arya?" Bran questioned.
Gendry cleared his throat. This may have been Bran`s home and he was only a guest, but Gendry was a Lord too and for the first time ever he carried himself out as one. "I am sending Bran away. I only ask permission that I may do so to Riverrun. I have no desire for him to return to the inn. The boy deserves a good life."
Bran sighed. "You may write a letter to the Tully`s, I am sure they will have no objection."
"Thank you, my Lord." Gendry bowed. Since Gendry did not know how to write, he dictated the contents of the letter to Damon. After that he signed the parchment and sealed it with his house stamp. He went to the rookery and sent off a bird with the message. Gendry sighed, Ned would be furious with him, Justin would understand and Arya would be thrilled. As he said before, he would do anything for Arya; that did not mean he would like it.
33. Chapter 33
ARYA
The boys were practicing their archery in the practice yard. Both Robb and Justin had done a fair job, neither of them hit the centre but both were not far from it either. Even Arry managed to land within the borders (on the outskirts) of the target board. Arya smiled to see Arry finally accomplishing something in weaponry. She knew her eldest son had no chance of being a knight but, he would make an outstanding Lord. Where Brandon and Robb were tough, Arry was intelligent and his intellect would make him a fine Lord of Storm's End, if Stannis failed to have another child. The Lady Shireen had passed only a few moons prior due to an illness, leaving Gendry as heir to Storm's End and Arry after him.
The three boys were now watching Brandon attempt to wield a bow. Unlike any of her other sons, Brandon lacked patience and Arya knew this would be her son's downfall in battle. In addition he was egotistical and arrogant. When Arya offered to train him, Brandon had told her he did not need training advice from a woman. Gendry was furious and demanded Brandon to apologize to his mother but, Arya let it go. She knew that eventually, her son would give in and seek her advice, especially when watching him right now. Brandon had failed to land anywhere close to the target. His arm was much too tense and his posturing needed some work as well. Brandon reminded Arya of Gendry, they were both incredibly strong but they also both lacked the skill to face an opponent when strength eluded them.
"You need to relax your bow arm" Justin advised.
"I know what I'm doing" Brandon snapped.
"Clearly not" Robb snickered, "you still haven't landed a shot."
Brandon sent a fist to punch his brother in the arm but Robb merely laughed at the blow. This time Brandon took his time to align the shot. It did not matter though, his posture was still wrong and his bow arm was more tense than ever. Arya got an idea, she picked up a bow and arrow and lined up her shot. While Brandon was still lining up his arrow, Arya released her arrow. The arrow flew past her sons, hitting the target in the centre. Everyone turned to look at her and Arya did a little bow. Robb, Arry and Justin burst out in laughter and so did Gendry, Bran, Meera and Rickon whom had been watching from the tower above. Brandon was the only one who was not amused. His face turned a bright shade of red and he threw down his bow and arrow before storming out of the practice yard. Robb went chasing after him, all while teasing that he got beat by his mommy. Arry and Justin stayed behind to clean up.
Arya watched the two boys as they began to clean up. She looked at Justin, she did not glare nor scowl at him but just watched the boy pick up the arrows, Brandon casted astray. He would be gone soon, Gendry had sent a letter to Riverrun asking her uncle to keep Justin as a squire. Arya and Gendry were just waiting for a reply, so they could send the boy off. A squire for the Tully's was a good job to have even for a legitimate son, it would be an honour for a bastard. In truth, Arya did not care where he went, she just wanted him gone and away from Ned. But now that Arya knew Justin would be leaving soon, she no longer held any hostility towards the boy. Perhaps it was the rape that made her more solemn or maybe it was just the fact that she knew she had gotten what she wanted. Justin must have sensed her staring at him because, he turned around to meet her gaze. Where there once was a fearful expression on his face (when he looked at Arya), there was now an empty look. He was not upset with her for making him leave but she knew he wished to stay. The look in his eyes was one Arya had seen before; suddenly the once warm blue eyes that belonged to Justin was now a stormy grey and his straight blonde locks turned into a curly brown. Arya gasped, suddenly Justin's face was now replaced by Jon's, giving her the same look that Jon would give to her lady mother. Arya shook her head and when she looked at him again, Justin's face returned. It was Justin, not Jon. Justin. Perhaps she had been out in the sun to long, so she turned around and went inside.
Arya was in her chambers, wearing a thin white nightgown that she had received as a present from Sansa. Arya preferred to wear one of Gendry's old tunics; unlike the nightgown his tunic was comfortable and his scent lingered onto the fabric. She had been stealing his clothes of late and Gendry was forced to wear the same clothes for the second day in a row. The handmaidens were to do the laundry tomorrow morning, so in the mean time Arya settled for the nightgown Sansa had given her. She was staring out the window to look at the rubbles of Winterfell. Arya closed her eyes and tried to picture Winterfell before the fire. She imagined Mikken in the forge, hammering at a piece of steal. She imagined Jory and Ser Rodrick dulling in the practice yard. She imagined her father in the Godswood, polishing Ice. She imagined herself roaming the castle in soiled clothes with her brothers. She even imagined the scolding she would get from her mother, Sansa and the Septa because, she wasn't acting like a proper lady.
Arya inhaled sharply as a pair of familiar arms wrapped around her waist. Gendry rested his chin on her shoulder, Arya did not break her gaze from the window. "You were brilliant today" he complimented her, his breath hot in her ear, "I could not stop laughing when I saw the look on Brandon's face."
Arya chuckled. "I wouldn't be laughing if I were you. Brandon may have been terribly skilled in archery but, I bet you'd be a whole lot worse."
Gendry did not laugh nor smile as Arya expected him to, instead he sighed. "I worry about him. That boy is to hot tempered for his own good."
Arya shrugged her shoulders, "he'll come around. Once he heard that Justin may be squiring for the Tully's, Brandon begged me to accompany Justin. He knows I won't say yes until he's learned a lesson in being humble or he'll have to wait until he comes of age and I cannot stop him anymore."
They were silent for a moment. Arya knew that Gendry had not wanted to send Justin to the Tully's, he did it for her. After he told her that he was sending Justin away he never pressed on the subject or brought up the matter again. Arya turned her body, so she was now face to face with Gendry. She rested her head on the joint between his collar bone and shoulder. Gendry moved his hands up and down Arya's back soothingly. She pushed him on the bed and began kissing his lips, cheeks and neck.
"Arya..." Gendry groaned, before stilling her movements. They had not laid together since the incident because, Gendry did not want to trouble her. Arya didn't care, she could easily separate Gendry from the three outlaws. After almost three weeks of no sex, Arya missed Gendry's touch. In a way he was right, sometimes she would still have nightmares of that terrible day but, Arya pushed the thought out of her mind. The memory would always haunt her; just as the memories of losing her family, losing her home and those who wronged her terribly enough to make it on her list (no matter if they were dead nor alive) always did. It was a pain she would never be able to block out, a memory that would be etched permanently into her brain like a scar. Yet she still held on to the memory, she did not want to let it slip from her mind because, it reminded her that she was human and for every human a winter will always come. She remembered what it was like to be no one, to feel empty and sink into an abyss of nothingness. If she ever wished to experience happiness, she must also face: sadness, anger and all the other negative emotions. If there was anything Arya learned from the war, it was that everyone experiences hardship. Everyone has to suffer at some point; _Winter is coming,_ but Arya was not the type of person to dwell on the past. What was done was done and she could do nothing to change that; it made no sense to be sad about something you could no longer change when you could be focusing your attention on something else, on someone else. All she wanted to do was concentrate on her future with Gendry, all she wanted was the stupid Bull to take her already but, he was having none of that.
He was really stubborn, she knew he needed this as much as she did. She could feel his hardness on her stomach, so Arya rubbed her hips against it, making him moan. She thought she had him there but, instead he shuffled her over so now her back was facing his front. He wrapped his arms around her waist and was settling to go to sleep. Arya arched her body, so now her ass was pushing against him. This time Gendry turned so now they were back to back.
"Are you kidding me?" Arya exclaimed, "the sun hasn't even completely set yet. When did you turn into an old man?"
Gendry laughed, "when you have five children and have you as a wife, then you tend to tire out."
Arya frowned, she knew he was lying. Gendry was now five and thirty, he did not have a single silver hair own him and he continued to grow in terms of muscle. He was not exhausted, he just did not want to bed her. Arya thought twice before opening her mouth to start another fight. "I have four children and I am married to a stupid stubborn bull, do you see me complaining?"
"You're complaining right now, m'lady." Gendry yawned.
Arya turned her body so she was now facing Gendry. She straddled his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. His lips were warm and his touch sent a want that building up inside of her. But the stupid bull pulled away and complained that he was tired so Arya gave up and lay beside him. It did not take long for him to fall asleep, she listened to the steady rhythm of his breathing beside her. Arya lay awake for hours, when she finally felt drowsy she heard a whipping sound outside her window followed by a thump. At first she ignored it, there was no danger in Winterfell and even if there was, the guards would see to it. 5 minutes later she heard the sound again and again. Arya got out of bed, careful not to wake Gendry; she donned on a fur coat and strapped a dagger to her ankle, before leaving their chambers. Arya followed to sound of the noise, which was coming from the practice yard. When she got closer she saw a shadow like figure attempting to shoot an arrow to a target, only to fail every time.
Arya silently watched the shadow continue to practice and even though he kept failing, Arya swelled up with pride. Brandon may have been a Baratheon by name and he may have had the look of a Tully but, it was Stark blood that ran through his veins; no matter how pitiful his performance was, he never gave up. Perhaps Arya still had hope for the boy yet. Out of all her children, Arya feared for Brandon most of all; he was impulsive and had more bronze than brains. She feared when he was old enough to participate in his first battle, Arya would be receiving his bones shortly after. In battle you needed both skill and strategy to be successful, without one of these qualities there was no hope in returning home alive.
Arya thought she was being as quiet as a shadow, until Brandon spoke. "How old were you when you first mastered an arrow?" he asked.
Arya smiled at the boy, "I hit it through the centre for the first time when I was 7. At the age of 9, I was confident in my skills." She might have said that other people learn at different paces and his Unlce Robb, the King of the North had not mastered that skill until he was a boy of two and ten. But, she knew her son and Brandon did not care for sympathy and he did not like it when people treated him like he was fragile; so Arya kept her mouth shut. He might have had Gendry's brute strength and powerful build but, he had Arya's stubbornness and pride.
She expected Brandon to scowl or storm out of the practice yard, angrily. Instead he nodded and walked up to his mother handing her the bow and arrow. "Teach me?" he asked her, "please" he added for good measure. Arya smiled at her son and started their training. Neither of them slept that night, they practiced all night and about an hour before the sun rose, Brandon hit his first arrow right through the centre. He smiled and jumped up and down like he was a little boy. Truthfully, he was still a child, a boy of 8 but Brandon seldom acted like one. If it was not for his size and the youth still seen on his face, Arya would have mistook him for a man grown. Every night when the sun went down, Arya would help Brandon practice. Brandon wished to keep the lessons a secret because, he did not wish anyone to know he was getting extra help from his mommy. Arya did not mind, she was glad the boy was finally seeking the help he needed, so every day after she was sure Gendry had fallen into a deep sleep beside her, she would sneak out of their chambers to meet her son in the practice yard. Whether it came to archery, water dancing, or any other form of combat, Brandon was dramatically improving with their nightly lessons and pretty soon he would be able to beat both Robb and Justin on a two to one battle.
That night when they were done their training, Brandon wrapped his already muscular arms around Arya and buried his head in her stomach. "Thank you" he whispered.
Arya smiled. It was nice to know that her children still needed their mother and Arya treasured the time she spent with Brandon. Out of all her children, Brandon was the first to leave her breast and the most independent child from the bunch but, now he was standing here, hugging her and Arya felt a warmth spread throughout her body. "I love you, Brandon" she whispered.
"I love you too" he whispered back, before he broke off from her embrace and ran to his room. For the first time Brandon looked like the boy of 8 he was supposed to be. Arya remembered a time when she did not wish to have children and how she cursed Gendry for being stupid enough to get her pregnant (even though it was her fault for forgetting the moon tea). But, now Arya could not seem to recall why; she cherished being a mother and loved all her children with all her heart.
Arya was too happy to sleep, so she went down to the Great Hall. It was empty. Which was not to be surprised considering it was the middle of the night and everyone in Winterfell (with the exception of the guards) were asleep. She grabbed a parchment and some ink and began writing the story of Brandon to Jon. Arya promised to keep their lessons a secret but, she held no secrets from her half brother. He knew more about her than even Gendry did and almost as much as Nymeria did. When she was done, she sealed the letter with a Direwolf emblem (even though she was now a Baratheon, she refused to use the Stag sigil unless it was absolutely necessary – as with formal letters) and headed off to the rookery. Just as she was about to send a bird off to the wall, another flew in. Arya untied the envelope from his leg and noted it was addressed to Gendry. She flipped the letter over and saw the trout sigil stamp on it. Arya ripped the letter open and began to read it.
_Dear Lord Gendry Baratheon,_
_We would be honoured to have your son, Justin Waters squire for us. We shall await his arrival and if he wishes, my Uncle Brynden Tully (the Blackfish as he likes to address himself) has offered to take him in as his personal squire. _
_We wish you and Lord Bran good health and wish for you to know we are all well at Riverrun. _
_Sincerely,_
_Lord Edmure Tully._
Arya re-read the letter three times. This was it, Justin was going to Riverrun and Arya would never have to see him again. This was what she wanted but, why wasn't she happy? Ned had not spoke a word to either of her parents since Gendry announced Justin would be leaving them but, she would come around eventually... wouldn't she? Arya sighed, _I'm going to regret this_ she said to herself. Arya took the letter and tossed it into the fire. She watched the remaining wisps of the paper burn away and heard the screech of the fire as she threw it in.
Arya was not quite sure where Justin's chambers were, so she asked one of the guards on night duty. She found out that he was staying in the same room Gendry had slept in when they first arrived at Winterfell. She walked to his chambers and knocked on the door. In a couple of minutes the door opened to reveal a sleepy Justin whom was wearing a loose tunic and breeches. His dirty brown hair was messy and he had circles under his eyes. At first he kept his eyes squinted, rubbing the right one with his fist but, once he found out that it was Arya on the other side of the door seeking him, Justin's eyes widened in shock and he stood up straight. He jolted up from his weariness, it was as if Arya had thrown a cold bucket of water on him to wake him from his sleep.
"My... my... my lady" he stuttered. "I... what brings you to my chambers. I mean your chambers! Well not your chambers but, you own the chambers, well technically Lord Bran does but, you do too. I'm just sleeping in these chambers that you, I mean my father, I mean your Lord husband..."
Arya grew tired of his stuttering. "I need to speak with you. May I come in?"
"Of course" Justin managed to choke out. He stepped to the side to allow Arya to walk in and he closed the door behind him. Arya sat at the edge of his bed and Justin sat a reasonable distance beside her. At first neither of them spoke a word.
Arya stared at her feet for a moment before gathering up her courage. "Do you want to go to Riverrun?" she asked him, still staring at her feet.
"What? I mean I beg your pardon, my lady." He asked.
"Call me Arya" she stated. She looked up at Justin's face, so now their eyes met. "I said, do you wish to go to Riverrun and squire for the Tully's or would you rather remain at Winterfell?"
Justin looked at her hesitantly before speaking, "I will go wherever you wish me too, my la... Arya."
"That was not the question I asked you. Do you wish to stay?"
Justin nodded his head. "I know I do not belong here but, I've never had a home before. I like it here, I like having a family."
Arya nodded, "and what is your affiliation with my daughter?"
Justin turned a bright shade of red and dropped his gaze from Arya. He was fumbling with his fingers when he answered her. "I love her... and not in a brotherly sort of affection." Justin cringed from her, as if he was expecting a slap or Arya to yell at him but, she did none of those things. Instead she got up from his bed and made her way to the door. Before exiting his chambers, she turned to look at Justin whom was shooting her a frightened look.
"If I ever see anything more than a chaste kiss on the lips, I will personally geld you."
Justin's eyes widened in shock, "my la... Miss Arya, what are you saying?"
Arya bit down on her bottom lip, this time when she looked at Justin, she did not see Jon in him – as she so often did – she saw Gendry. When she looked deep into his eyes she saw no one else, they both shared the very same eyes, right down to the speck of green on his upper right iris. Arya had often been compared to her Aunt Lyanna and after Gendry wedded her, men often joked that Robert was now finally with his Lyanna, as they were Robert and Lyanna reborn. Well it was the same for Justin and Ned except instead of taking on the characters of Gendry's father and Arya's aunt, they were Arya and Gendry. A bastard that fell hopelessly in love with a highborn lady. "What I am saying is, you can stay" and with that Arya left his chambers.
34. Chapter 34
*** Note: Did anyone see Survivor One World? Is it just me or does Kim Spradlin not make a pretty damn good older Arya? Soley on her phyiscal apperance she has her look, with the exception of her eyes but then again not even Maisie has Arya's eyes. Kim has brown wavy hair, she must have like only 5% body fat, she's lean but still has visable muscle and 39 days on the island made her dirty and grimy like I expect Arya to be. Usually for older Arya, i honestly always just imagine an older Maisie Williams but now I've taken to imagining Kim. OwO ahh anyways forgive my rant, im just a crazy fan girl. Anywhoo on with the story. Sorry for taking forever to update, I had literally been working 6 days a week until I finally gathered up the courage to tell my boss to give me less days . On the one hand, wohoo tons of money, on the other hand, i want to enjoy my summer. On top of that my laptop crashed and my uncle just installed word on my computer not to mention getting stupid writer's block. Boo! Anyways i hope to get faster updates than this, but cannot make any promises. thank you to everyone for reading my story, it really means a lot. Anywhoo without further adeu, chapter 34... ***
GENDRY
_She was wearing one of the nightgowns Sansa had sent her. It was a thin fabric, made entirely out of white myrish lace. Usually myrish lace was only used in the hems and sleeves of garments but this nightgown in particular was woven entirely out of the material, leaving gaps were he could see parts of her flesh. Gendry felt himself stiffen, this outfit left nothing to the imagination. _
_Normally he liked it when she wore his clothes. It would entice him to see her wearing nothing but one of his old tunics but he liked the gowns on her as well. On the rare occasions when she had dressed as a lady, replacing her breeches for gowns Gendry thought it made her look softer and more feminine. It never bothered him that she still dressed as a boy but, that did not mean he did not enjoy her looking like the woman she was born to be. He would never admit this to her though, knowing Arya she`d just punch him in the ribs, call him stupid and go back to wearing her man clothes. But he did not want to see her get out of this nightgown, not yet at least._
_His eyes were too busy scanning her entire body, lingering on places like her hips and her breasts. When he finally returned his gaze back to her face she had a sinful smirk upon her lips._
_She placed her tiny hands on his broad chest and pushed him onto the feather bed with more force than a woman her size should have. He gulped when she straddled his lap and began pressing her body to where he was neediest._
"_Arya__" he half moaned, half pleaded with her. He did not want to bed her, not after... the incident. He knew she wasn't ready yet despite her boldness. Every time he went to slip his arms around her waist or cup her cheek he would feel her body tense and see her cringe. No doubt the memories of the rape still etched in her brain, like a permanent tattoo that will haunt her forever. It wasn't the physical scars that bothered Gendry much but, rather the emotional ones she'd burry inside her, refusing to show anyone – not even him. The rape, her father's execution, the loss of her family, the burning of her home; she would lock away each of these painful memories deep inside her core refusing to allow anyone to see how they effected her. If there was anything Arya hated, it was being perceived as weak. She tried to be brave but in Gendry's opinion she was just being stupid. After all she was still human, like everyone else she was entitled to be scared, sad and vulnerable but, Arya was too stubborn to see that. She was the freaken She-Wolf of Winterfell, won more battles than her brother Robb Stark (the former King of the North) and was the bravest person he ever knew. Even if she did shed a tear, no one could ever think of her as weak._
_He tried telling her all of this but she would not see to reason so he had to be strong for the both of them. Every time she tried seducing him he would push her away claiming he was tired or he had some work that required his immediate attention, ignoring the desperate pleas of his cock._
_This time he was weak, he tried pushing her off and tried making up another lame excuse, like he was tired but, he found it hard to resist her when she was grinding her hips against his cock. Her nightdress was so thin that he could feel the heat and wetness of her clit through his breeches. He wanted nothing more than to grab her hips and thrust himself so hard and deep inside of her that he would be unable to tell where he ended and she began._
"_Arya. Please. Stop." He tried pleading with her but it just came out as an incoherent mumble._
_She roughly grabbed the collar of his shirt and tugged at it to jerk his head forwards so she could press her lips against his in a haphazard rhythm. She bit, sucked and pulled on his lower lip before coaxing her tongue inside his mouth, exploring every inch of him. She ran her tongue along his teeth, his cheeks before meeting his tongue, which so desperately wanted to taste her like she was tasting him. To distracted by the feel of her lips against his, Gendry was blatantly unaware of her untying the laces of his breeches until she took his manhood in her hand._
_He rolled his eyes back and let out a deep moan. For over a moon now, he would attempt to relive himself by using his own hand but, the pleasure did not remotely compare to the feel of her stroking his manhood back and forth while her thumb circled to the tip of him. He already felt his climax approaching and tried desperately to hold it back but once she positioned herself between his legs and engulfed him in her mouth, Gendry lost all control. _
He jolted out of bed, covered in a thick layer of sweat. After brushing the bangs out of his eyes he turned his head to face the side of the bed where Arya should have been sleeping but found it empty. Every now and then when he would slip out of unconsciousness at night he would not find her in bed with him. She slept during the afternoon curdled up with Nymeria on their bed and would mysteriously disappear at nightfall. He did not bother to ask her what she was up too. She needed a distraction right now and so long as she remained in Winterfell, Gendry had no doubt that she would be safe. Besides ever since the rape, Nymeria barely left her side (and that was only to hunt). The direwolf could protect her better than any man could and certainly better than he could as well. As Gendry moved to get out of bed he noticed his cock was throbbing, he was so fucking hard that he could hear his cock pulsating. He took himself in his hand and closed his eyes imagining he was still in the dream; that it was Arya's hands and mouth working at his cock, opposed to his own hand. It did not take long for him to reach his climax and he spilt his seed over his fingers.
After washing away the cum off his hands, Gendry got dressed and made his way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. On his way there he heard some rather loud noises coming from Robb's room. What in Seven Hells were they up to? Robb and Brandon had always been mischievous children, they would pull pranks on the entire castle and would get into trouble almost every day. Ned would constantly scold them on their _unlordly_ behaviour and she would be rewarded with a frog down her gown or a cockroach in her soup. Gendry would try to discipline his two sons but, they were just too stubborn. In the end he would give up and mutter something along the lines of getting their behaviour from their mother's side of the family – well their mother in particular.
Gendry did not bother knocking the door; if he did Robb and Brandon would probably cover up whatever it was they were up to, so he decided it was best to catch them in the act. After swinging the door open he saw Robb and Brandon stuffing Robb's possessions in a rather large bag while chattering excitedly about swords, armour and battles.
Gendry stood by the doorway and arched an eyebrow at his two sons. They were too captivated by whatever it was that they were doing that they completely failed to notice his presence. Gendry cleared his throat in order to capture their attention. At the sound of his voice both boys seized what they were doing and snapped their heads to face their father. "What in Seven Hells are you two up to?" Gendry asked the boys.
Robb shot a big smile at his father. "We are packing for Riverrun!" He shouted excitedly, "Brandon and I are going to be squires for the Blackfish!"
Gendry sighed. They had been over this debate before, once news spread that Justin was to go to Riverrun to be a squire both Brandon and Robb complained it was not fair that only Justin was allowed to go and they wished to squire as well. The real reason why Justin was leaving was to spare Arya's feelings; Arya had always been uneasy with Justin since the moment he arrived but, after she caught him and Ned kissing, she was seething in anger. Ironically she had taken to the Baratheon words even though she claimed she was still a Stark, _ours is the fury._ But Arya and Gendry could not tell the boys this, no one had known about the kiss with the exception of Ned, Justin, Arya and himself. Not even Lord Bran was aware of the situation, he knew something had happened between the four of them with Ned saddened and Arya furious but, he did not press the matter any further and allowed Gendry and Arya to deal with the matter themselves. So Arya and Gendry lied to their children and told the boys they would not go because they were far too young. The lie had been partially true, Robb and Brandon were only children of nine much too young to face any hardship that came with the duties of being a squire. He was not even entirely comfortable with Justin going but he was four and ten now, almost a man grown while Robb and Brandon were still children. They both protested, claiming their mother had been their age when she left King's Landing and Gendry had to remind them that she had no choice, she was escaping the Lannisters and all that hardship had severely taken an emotional toll on her.
"No you are not. Justin is going to Riverrun not you two. We have been over this plenty of times, now unpack your things" Gendry declared.
Brandon took a couple of steps forward to face his father, his voice hinted with arrogance and satisfaction. "Mother came to us early in the morning. She said Robb and I can go squire for the Tully's and Justin will remain here, in Winterfell."
Gendry could not stop the laugh that escaped his lips. The lie was so utterly ridiculous that he could not help but find humour in this rather serious circumstance. Arya would never allow Justin to remain at Winterfell, especially not know when Gendry was actually supporting her in sending the boy off. Arya would rather dress in an expensive Southern gown and drink tea with Margery Tyrell than allow Justin to remain at Winterfell even a day longer than he was supposed to. "I am disappointed boys" Gendry admitted while still chuckling, "normally your lies are much better than that."
"We're not lying!" Robb claimed, "mother said we could go!"
Gendry abruptly seized his laughter and eyed the two boys with serious expressions donned on their faces. Were they telling the truth? As their father, Gendry always knew when the boys had been lying, despite their skill at the act. And when he eyed them now he could not shake off the feeling that they were telling the truth. It was impossible though, Gendry could not fathom why Arya would even consider allowing Justin to stay here, let alone give him permission. "And where is your mother?" Gendry asked.
Brandon shrugged, "not sure. Probably in the Great Hall."
Gendry left Robb's chambers and made his way to the Great Hall. He did not find Arya there but what he did see shocked him. Ned was at the table eating some honeyed bread, eggs and fresh fruit with a big smile plastered on her face. When she saw Gendry walk in, she ran up to him and wrapped her slender arms around his waist. "Good morning father" she greeted cheerfully, as she lay her head on his chest.
Gendry was shocked, it was only yesterday that Ned was infuriated with both her parents, so much so that she refused to acknowledge their existence, but here she was embracing him in the Great Hall. He did not hesitate and instinctively wrapped one hand around her shoulders while using the other to brush away the hair on her face so he could place a kiss on her forehead. "Good morning" Gendry choked out. All his anger and frustration was gone in that moment and Gendry could not help but allow a genuine smile of happiness to spread across his lips. His mind wandered back to a time when Ned was only a child and she would run to her father, embracing him just as she was right now. He missed Ned, these past few moons of her ignoring him would do nothing but break his already fragile heart but, right now all the broken pieces were being mended. Gendry gave out a content sigh of relief and relished the moment, hoping it would never end.
"Lady Baratheon" a stern voice behind him called. Ned Broke off from his embrace and Gendry turned to see Ned's Septa waiting for her. Gendry knew her Septa had been nothing but kind to Ned and helped her immensely on her way to becoming a proper lady but he still mentally cursed the woman for ruining their perfect moment.
"Would you please give me one moment, my kind Septa." Ned announced graciously. He saw the Septa smile at her and he turned to face Ned again. She was a proper lady, filled with more charisma and grace in her pinkie finger than most people had in their entire bodies. He stared into her Stark grey eyes and could not help but wonder how someone could look so much like Arya and be so completely different. His mind wandered to their most recent visit to Highgarden, the lady Sansa had a girl a few years younger than Ned's age named Bethany. Despite his good-sister's attempts at dressing her in fine gowns and her encouragement to mend her into a proper lady, Bethany was wild little girl just like Arya used to be (and in some ways still was). If Gendry did not know any better he would have claimed the two had been switched at birth, for both took completely after the woman the claimed to be their Aunt.
"I shall see you at dinner, father" Ned announced, snapping Gendry out of his thoughts. She lifted parts of her gown to give a proper curtsy to her father before following her Septa out of the Great Hall.
"She's in a good mood today" he heard someone giggle. Gendry turned around to see Meera sitting at the table, attending to her breakfast.
Gendry took a seat beside her and upon doing so, a serving woman placed a plate of warm breakfast on his table while another filled his goblet with cool water. "Are the rumours true then?" Gendry asked, "Arya is allowing Justin to remain at Winterfell?"
Meera nodded her head. "She told Justin he could stay and allowed Brandon and Robb to take his place."
Gendry groaned. He pushed the bangs out of his eyes and nudged the plate of food away. He had no idea what possessed Arya to keep Justin in Winterfell when she had done nothing these past few moons but demand his departure. He had known Arya for twenty years now and as much as he liked to admit he knew his little she-wolf, she never seized to surprise him. On the one hand he was happy Justin would not be leaving them but, he could not help but wonder why she had allowed him to remain at Winterfell. There was also the matter of Brandon and Robb, why in seven hells was she sending them off? He loved all his children and the last thing Gendry wanted was to see him leave. He had already come to terms with letting go of one child, and now he was letting go of two? On top of it all did Arya have to go and send their two youngest children away? The boys were only nine! But Brandon and Robb were determined to go and since Arya was behind the entire plan, no matter how much pleading he did, his sons would leave him. "Why am I always the last person to find out about these things?"
Meera shrugged. "Perhaps it's because you are always the last person to wake up. I only found out this morning."
"I wish she would have asked me before she decided to send off our two youngest children to Riverrun." Gendry admitted.
Meera smiled, "I have known your wife for only half the time you've known her and you should know by now lady Arya does not ask, she tells."
Gendry returned her smile "and you should know Arya is no lady."
Meera giggled before elegantly popping another piece of bread in her mouth. She looked over at Gendry and noticed his untouched plate. "You should eat" she encouraged him, bringing out her motherly personality.
Gendry shook his head, "too distracted. I need to talk with Arya but no one seems to know where she is."
"She's in your chambers, sleeping" Meer announced, "she was here just moments before you arrived and announced that she was tired and wished to retire for the day."
Gendry cursed his luck, how did they manage not to cross paths? Especially with a 150 pound direwolf at her side. He excused himself from the Great Hall and made his way to their chambers. When he arrived, he noticed what the Lady Meera had claimed was true. Arya was sprawled in the middle of their large featherbed with Nymeria at her side. She lay on top of the freshly made sheets, using Nymeria's fur as warmth. They were embraced similar to how he and Arya once used to embrace at night time, not that long ago. Nymeria lay her head on Arya's chest while Arya's fingers were entwined in her fur, gently caressing and combing out the locks in her sleep. He just stood there for a moment, struck in complete awe at the sight of both of them sleeping. They both looked so peaceful and Gendry could not help but smile at the sight of them before he remembered he was mad at Arya.
Gendry cleared his throat rather loudly to capture her attention. He saw her and the wolf stir in bed before falling back into a peaceful slumber. Arya had always been a heavy sleeper. He distinctively remembered the time when they escaped Harrenhall, Arya had fallen asleep on her horse. Hot Pie had also gotten pretty drowsy which led him to collide into a tree. The boy hollered in pain so loudly, he was sure everyone in Westeros could hear his scream but, Arya had slept right through it all. Even as the time went by and the dangers on the road increased, she still slept so heavily and was quite difficult to rouse. The entire castle could be on fire, the source of the flame coming from this very room and Arya would probably sleep through that as well. He saw a vase filled with cool water on the table beside their bed, it took every ounce of strength Gendry had to not douse her with it. There was always a playfulness about Arya when she called him stupid or punched him but, an Arya without her beauty sleep was another matter entirely. So Gendry settled for walking up beside her, nudging her shoulder and repeating her name until she woke up. "Arya. Arya. Arya, get up." Gendry chided and this time she woke. She rubbed her eyes with her fists before stretching her entire body and releasing a rather loud and long yawn.
When Gendry took another step towards her, Nymeria raised her head to meet his gaze and growled, baring her teeth. This was her way of telling him to leave her and her owner alone and allow them to return to their slumber. Even though Gendry and Nymeria were companions, he still feared the direwolf. How could he not? The wolf never seized to grow and was now taller than Arya. When she was up on all fours her head would be levelled with the top of Gendry's chest, almost at his neck and her fangs were sharp and lethal. Lord Bran had predicted that the wolves each had a part of their owners souls embedded in them, which would explain why each wolf resembled their owner's personality. Summer was kind and gentle but still lethal if he sensed any harm subjected towards his family and loved ones. Nymeria was adventurous and spirited. Shaggydog was unpredictable and temperamental. And if Gendry had the pleasure of knowing Ghost longer than their trip at the wall, he'd imagine the wolf would be just like Jon. Since the wolf took after Arya, Gendry was not stupid enough to anger her when provoked. Arya punching him was one thing but the wolf tearing out his flesh was another matter entirely.
He cautiously backed away before Arya called her off. "Nymeria. Away."
The direwolf looked at Gendry once more before snorting at him and irritably marching away. _Yup_ Gendry thought, _defiantly like her owner._ After Nymeria left their chambers, Gendry crawled into bed beside Arya and let her rest her head on his chest.
After Nymeria left their chambers, Gendry crawled into bed beside Arya and let her rest her head on his chest.
"I don't want Brandon and Robb to go to Riverrun. They are much too young to be squires." Gendry announced.
"Can't we talk about this in the morning?" Arya whined.
Despite the seriousness of their conversation, Gendry could not help but laugh. Arya opened one of her eyes lazily to look at him and Gendry bent his head to gently press his lips on her forehead. "It is morning, m'lady."
"Ugh, then can't we talk about it later? When I'm actually awake! And how many times do I have to tell you, do not call me m'lady you stupid bull." Arya grumbled.
Gendry's face grew serious, despite his teasing he was still rather upset at the moment. "They're too young..." Gendry began but was abruptly interrupted by Arya.
"We used to send off Ned to Highgarden with a garrison when she was only eight. Neither you nor I would accompany her and sometimes she'd stay there for almost an entire moon. How is sending Robb and Brandon off any different?"
"Ned went on an innocent trip to Highgarden to visit her Aunt. She did not partake in any battles..."
"They're not going to partake in any battles. They will perform tedious tasks for the Blacksmith like polish his armour, sharpen his sword and carry around all his stuff. The most exciting thing they'll partake in is practicing with the knights, which is no different from anything they do in Winterfell and if they are lucky and a duel takes place in the North, they will help the Blackfish partake in that but, they will not participate. I have already sent off a raven to Riverrun announcing that it will be the twins squiring and not Justin and that they are only to squire for a year before returning back home. Riverrun is not far, like Highgarden is. We can visit the boys whenever we please and they will both be safe with the Tully`s. Both Brandon and Robb have been begging me to let them accompany Justin to Riverrun, so I am giving them what they want, let them find out for themselves how boring the job is and then they will return back home in a year`s time or perhaps sooner if they get fed up with the task."
Gendry had to admit, Arya`s logic made sense. He was never raised in a castle and knew nothing about squires and knights with the exception of the stories he had heard. The way Arya put it, squiring seemed pretty dull. His biggest concern was the boys safety and he had to admit she was right. They were in no danger squiring for the Tully's and after all they were one quarter Tully (and they both had the Tully look with their rich auburn hair and deep blue eyes) and had no doubt both Lord Edmure and the Blackfish would take good care of his sons. Additionally as Arya mentioned, Riverrun was only about a week's ride away from Winterfell and he could visit the boy's whenever he wished. He turned his head to face Arya to reluctantly admit to her that she was right but, once he did he found her sleeping peacefully beside him. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed, perhaps she was right, perhaps nothing would go wrong. Gendry had been born a Stag and raised as a Bull but, in the end he married a wolf of the North and her words echoed clear in his mind. _Winter is coming,_ all Gendry could do was pray that it would not come any time soon.
35. Chapter 35
_**AN at the end of the chapter.**_
ARYA
The Raven arrived this morning, it's feathers as black as the moonless night. With trembling fingers, Arya slowly untied the parchment from the raven's leg. She was no fool, a bird with wings as dark as the night only meant one thing; bad news. Septa Mordane's voice rang in her head as she cautiously opened the letter; _dark wings, dark words._
The letter was from Lord Stannis' right hand man, Davos Seaworth. His penmanship was sloppy and resembled that of a child's but it was still legible. The stamp of an onion was used to seal the letter. If not for the dire circumstances that may have come along with this letter, Arya would have laughed. Lord Davos was born a common man without a penny to his name. He had made a living by coveting valuable items to sell. One evening he was caught smuggling onions by Lord Stannis Baratheon. As punishment, Lord Stannis removed the distal digit on each of Davos' fingers. Ironically ever since that night, Davos Seaworth had been nothing but faithful to Lord Stannis. After years of servitude, Davos Seaworth rose on the social ladder from being Lord Stannis' most trusted man, to being awarded Lordship and briefly even being titled as Hand of the King. Lord Davos was allowed to craft his own sigil for his new house of Seaworth. He could have picked any creature but, Lord Davos had chosen an onion, for he claimed the night he was caught smuggling, was the night he turned everything around for his family and himself. His son Devan, had been appointed to Lord Stannis' personal squire and the Seaworth's were now a great name in highborn houses. They had even been left the vast land of Dragonstone, after Stannis left it to take Storm's End.
Cautiously, Arya unsealed the parchment and began reading the contents of the letter, addressed to her husband.
_Dear Lord Gendry Baratheon,_
_I regret to inform you that your Uncle, Lord Stannis Baratheon of Storms End has passed away._
_As rightful heir, you and your family are required to travel to Storms End where you may begin carrying out your duties as the new liege Lord._
_Lord Stannis Baratheon has given me very strict instructions before his passing. His personal squire, Devan Seaworth and myself will be happy to assist you in your duties._
_We shall make arrangements for your arrival and expect to see you on the new moon._
_Sincerely,_
_Lord Davos Seaworth of Dragonstone._
Arya had half a mind of chucking the letter into the fire and watching the flames slowly burn the parchment, erasing all evidence of the blasted letter. She was furious that Lord Stannis had been stupid enough to get himself killed before conceiving a son. If Stannis had a child, Gendry would have never been heir to his stupid kingdom and they would not have to leave Winterfell. It wasn't fair. Neither Arya nor Gendry wanted the land, why couldn't they just give it to someone else?
It was times like this when Arya gravely missed Braavos. There were many things she loved about the free cities like: it's warm climates, their delicacies, the salty smell of the ocean, their customs and tradition, her friends in the happy port; the list went on and on. But, the one thing she missed most about Braavos was her freedom. She was an acolyte for the House of Black and White because she chose to be, she was able to roam the free cities whenever and wherever she liked and no one forced her to turn into something that she did not want to be. The faceless men had been a very strict, colt-like group but, Arya did have the freedom to leave whenever she wished.
When she chose to return back to Winterfell, Arya knew she was giving up her freedom. She had to follow the proper Westori customs under the governance of the new Queen, Danereys Targaryen. She had almost been forced to marry the Bolton bastard, she had to wear dresses whenever she was in the presence of other Lord and Ladies, outside of Winterfell and even though she loved Gendry, she was forced to marry him as well. Winterfell wasn't so bad, she could wear whatever she pleased, no one said anything (at least to her face) about her un-lady like behaviour and she had the opportunity to fight in battles like the other men. And now, once more she was forced to give something up and Arya detested it; she would be forced to leave everything behind because of stupid titles. The Gods were mocking her once more; why couldn't she have been lowborn or better yet, why couldn't she have been born a bastard? She would have never been expected to live in a castle and carry on the duties of a proper lady. Gendry could have owned a forge and she could have taught others the skill of water dancing for coin. They could live together in a small and dainty home with their children. Nothing would have been extravagant but, they would have had their freedom and they could have been happy. Actually they were happy until Lord Stannis died.
After seething for about an hour and chucking random items against the wall of the rookery, in her rage, Arya stormed off to her chambers. Gendry was still sprawled on the giant featherbed as naked as his name day. She had not seen that much of him in quite a while. He had normally been cautious about proposing anything sexual towards her ever since the rape but, Arya knew he preferred sleeping in his small clothes or nothing at all, as the clothes were too restricting. After the rape, he had been sleeping fully clothed and Arya noticed how his garments would irritate him at night but, as of recent Arya had taken to sleep in the day time and she stayed awake at night, so with her continued absence Gendry must have taken to sleeping nude once more. Even though Brandon was now at Riverrun and their nightly lessons had seized, Arya had found it difficult to return back to her normal routine. For this reason she and Nymeria had volunteered to take up guard duty at night. There wasn't much to the job, they would just roam around the castle or stand watch at the gates but, typically she'd drink with the other knights as they made japes and stared into the horizon for an attack that would never come.
She bit her lip as she stared at him laying on the bed in front of her. She inwardly cursed herself for the desire building up in her stomach that she momentarily forgot about her rage. Arya shook the feeling out of her system, now wasn't the time for settling her desires, she had to face the issue at hand. Arya plopped herself on the giant featherbed and nudged Gendry's elbow. Gendry had always been easy to stir; his eyes immediately fluttered open and he dug his shoulders into the feather bed, to push himself into a sitting position. He was covered in a fine layer of sweat his messy bang covered his brilliant blue eyes. His beard was dishevelled , giving Gendry a rather rugged and sexy appearance.
She was stuck in awe for a moment, mesmerized by Gendry's beauty. She always knew he was handsome; with his looks and fine build, he could have settled for any woman he wanted. Sometimes she questioned why a man like him would settle for her. As far as Arya was concerned, she was ugly as ever with the scars and burns covering her body; she even had a large scar dominating half her face. Arya was plain compared to other girls like her sister and Maragery Tyrell. She vaguely remembered how Jeyne Heddle looked but, she remembered that she was beautiful and curvy unlike Arya. Sometimes she could not fathom why Gendry had chosen her over Jeyne. Gendry never wanted to be a Lord, he preferred a hammer and a good forge over wine and tittles. So why did he give up everything for someone as ugly and stupid as her?
"Arya" Gendry mumbled, as he rubbed the crust out of his eyes.
His voice snapped her back into the present. Angrily, Arya tossed the letter to his direction. Gendry unfolded the parchment and began to read the letter. Arya impatiently waited for him to finish reading the contents. She knew Gendry had still been learning to read but, Arya could have read the letter twenty times over by now and Gendry had still not finished reading. After a few more minutes, Gendry pointed to the second letter of the second word and asked, "what is that letter again?"
Arya huffed in annoyance. She should have understood, Gendry had been born a lowborn bastard and he did not have the opportunity to learn his letters as a child. Arya had only come across a few lowborns that did know how to read and write. When she was a cupbearer for Lord Tywin, many of his knights struggled with their letters, there were very few knights that could actually read. So she really should have understood but, Arya was much too angry. "It says, your stupid uncle died and since he was too stupid to conceive another heir after his stupid daughter died, we now have to move to stupid Storms End because now you're their new stupid Lord and we'll have to leave Winterfell to go to the stupid South because, you're the stupid bastard of the stupid Robert Baratheon. You stupid bull-headed boy."
Gendry sighed, "I'm a bloody Lord because of you, so why are you mad at me?"
"Because I don't want to leave my home!" Arya exclaimed.
"So stay."
Arya was taken aback, she did not expect that, "wha-what?" she stuttered.
"Stay" Gendry repeated. "I'll take Arry with me. He will be Lord once I die, so he will have to travel to Storm's End as well. Justin will not be able to come, so he and Ned will stay here with you. Robb and Brandon are at Riverrun and when they come back, they can decide where they want to stay."
"But what about _us_?" Arya squeaked out.
Gendry sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. He cradled her cheek with his right hand while the other hand lay on her waist. "I have to go to Storms End, there's nothing I can do to change that. I'll talk to Lord Davos and find out if there is any way that someone may take my place, perhaps Stannis has another person to pass down the title to but, for now I have no choice but to leave. I want to take you with me but, I'm not going to ask you to leave Winterfell."
Arya bit her lip and looked at Gendry. She couldn't stand the thought of being away from him for so long but, she could not leave Winterfell. The last time she left her home to venture South she had lost nearly half her family and almost herself in the process. Gendry was right, Justin could not come to Storm's End which meant Ned wouldn't be coming either and she could not spare to be so far away from Robb and Brandon. Again the Starks were forced to separate for the realm. Arya wanted no part in the game of thrones, none of her family did. They were all forced into the game and the Starks had many casualties as a result of the stupid game. So many lives were lost just for something as stupid as a throne made out of swords that no one could hope to keep for long.
History was repeating itself once more. Arya now understood how her mother felt, all those years ago when she, Sansa and her father ventured to King's Landing. For some reason Arya could not shake the feeling of impending doom out of her system. She felt if Gendry left, he would never come back, not alive at least.
"I don't want you to go." Arya pleaded.
Gendry sighed and brought his lips down to hers for a tender chaste kiss. The kiss only lasted a couple of seconds and was just a simple peck but, it spread a warmth throughout Arya's body.
Gendry tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears and cupped her face tenderly. "I thought you died when the Hound took you away from me" Gendry admitted, "when you came back, alive and unscathed... well for the most part" Gendry chuckled as he brushed his thumb over her scar. "I vowed that I would never let you out of my sight again. Though now... I don't want you to leave your home. You spent your entire life trying to return here and back to your family, I can't force you to leave it because of me."
Arya smiled at him. Gendry always understood how she felt, ever since they were children. Arya curled her arms around his neck and brought him down for another kiss. Her lips slanted over his, pressing soft feather-like kisses onto his lips. Gendry responded immediately, he surprised her when he wrapped an arm over her waist, pressing her to him. She could feel his erection pressing on her thigh, it sent waves of pleasure rippling throughout her body. Arya traced her tongue softly on the rims of his lips before Gendry opened his mouth and allowed her to explore him with her tongue.
His hands found their way under her tunic and he roughly untucked them from her breeches. "Are you sure?" Gendry whispered between there kisses.
As a response Arya helped him pull it off and they tumbled onto the featherbed.
_**A/N: Okay I'm super sorry that I haven't updated this fic in forever. Honestly i've just been so preoccupied with my other fic, The White Walkers that I completely neglected this one. I'll try to update this more regularly so you won't have to wait forever again, I do already have the rest of the story planned out for this and I believe it shall come to an end in perhaps 10 more chapters, give or take a few. Thank you so much for your support, love you all :D**_
36. Chapter 36
GENDRY
The trip to Storm's End was a long and tiring one. The journey was unpleasant without Arya at his side, he had never been away from her for this long since that one time when they were children. Gendry sighed as he reminisced on their last day together.
_ She was surprisingly tender when she pinned him on the featherbed. Arya straddled his lap and began pressing kisses to his lips, cheeks, neck, and bare torso. Gendry gazes up at his half-nude wife; he moves his hands from her face and allows them to slide over her bare back before reaching around to cup her breasts. She shows no apprehension when he rolls her nipples between his thumb and pointer finger. Instead she throws her head back and allows her eyes to flutter close. Her lips are slightly parted as she lets out faint whimpers of pleasure._
_ Gendry moves up to kiss her neck. He now holds her in his lap as he begins to suckle the spot right under her ear. She lightly scratches his back with her long fingernails, marking him as he marks her. With one hand supporting her body, he takes the other and begins unlacing her breeches, while he continues to suckle on her neck. _
_ He runs his fingers over her mound and finds that she is sopping wet. Gently he pushes one finger inside her and begins to pump ever so slowly, while keeping his eyes locked on hers. Her eyes are all but black, with a tiny silver rim around the dark lustrous pupils. She looks so beautiful to him, with her messy hair and the blush covering her flushed cheeks. She rocks her hips against his finger, so he begins to add a second one and his thumb runs lazily over her numb. _
_ She begins to moan and he stifles the noises by capturing her lips with his own. She moves her lips against his and darts her tongue inside, exploring every inch of him that she can get. _
_ Arya digs her nails into his biceps. When he feels her body tense he knows she is close. He adds a third finger and curls his fingers while his thumb is vigorously rubbing her nub. His lips are still pressed to hers, to muffle her screams. He begins to feel her clench around his fingers and she comes. Her body goes slack and she lays her head against his chest. _
_ Her lips are swollen and her body is covered in a fine layer of sweat. He brushes the hair out of her face, so he can place a kiss on her forehead. She hums in approval and he moves to lay down on the featherbed with her in his arms. She surprises him when she reaches over and grabs him in her tiny palms. Gendry lets out a grunt, as she gently strokes him._
_ "Arya, you don't have to" Gendry mutters._
_ "I know." She whispers, "but I want to." _
_ Arya presses a soft chaste kiss to his lips before she bends over and engulfs him in her mouth. Gendry lets out a strangled cry as she runs her tongue over his tip. The sensations are just too much for him and he fears he may come much too soon. She move her mouth up and down his length, suckling. Gendry whines his fingertips in her hair and guides her pace. She takes him in deeper and it is then when he has to stop her. It had been a long time since he last laid with Arya and now the sensations of her tongue, her mouth and her hands have intensified. He doesn't think he can last much longer and he doesn't want to spoil this for her just yet. He is determined to make her come again, so eases himself out of her mouth and pushes her onto the featherbed. _
_ She looks up at him, her mouth his slightly parted and her eyes show nothing but lust. Gendry tugs at breeches pulling them completely off and he begins pressing kisses all over her body. He starts at her feet, kissing everyone of her little toes, before he moves up her legs, over her stomach and his kisses linger on her breasts. He brings one nipple into his mouth and begins to gently suckle it. He bites and soothes the area with tongue. He kisses her collar bone, her neck and he makes his way to her lips, catching her bottom lip in between his teeth. He braces his weight on is arms, as he moves on top of her. "Are you sure" he asks. Because, he has to ask. He needs to know that she is ready for this. _
_ Arya doesn't answer his question but, she wraps her fingers around his manhood and moves him to her opening. Gendry cannot take much of this any longer so he thrusts his hips and in one quick action, he is inside of her. He moans when he completely fills her up. She is so tight, wet and unbelievably warm; he already knows he won't last long. He eases himself out, just to thrust back in. Her hips meet him half way and they both move into a steady rhythm. She wraps her legs around his hips and her ankles dig into his ass and they both begin to move faster and faster. Pretty soon he is recklessly slamming into her. He kisses her again and this time there is nothing soft or gentle about their lips. Their tongues battle for dominance but, Arya wins (because she always wins) and she runs her tongue greedily over ever place in his mouth. He moves his hands to her chest and he begins massaging her breasts. With the new found action, she lets out a loud moan and comes. She clenches around his cock and Gendry can't hold back anymore. One thrust, two and then he empties his seed inside of her. _
_ He collapses on top of her but, quickly shifts his weight and rolls them both over, so she is now laying on his chest. Arya absentmindedly draws patterns on his chest with her fingers and Gendry finds himself playing with her hair. "I love you Gendry" Arya whispers, just before she falls asleep in his embrace._
"Father!" He hears a voice shout beside him.
Gendry jerks and nearly falls off his horse. He sees Arry beside him and he was no doubt shouting his name for the past twenty minutes, while Gendry allowed his mind to wander.
"Y-Yes son?" Gendry stammers out. He feels the blush rise to his cheeks and he prays that his son does not notice the erection blooming in his pants.
"I said we're nearly at Storm's End" he announces. Arry points to the gates, they are open allowing Gendry and his large party to enter. He can see a great amount of people awaiting them in front of the castle. Gendry does not recognize any of the men but, he assumes the balding man in the centre with the onion sigil on his chest, is none other than Davos Seaworth.
"M'lor- My Lord" Gendry quickly corrects as he dismounts his horse. Arry follows his lead and they both march forwards to greet Lord Davos.
"Welcome to Storm's End my Lords" Davos greets as he firmly shakes Gendry's, than Arry's hand. "You must have had a long and tiring journey, come we have rooms for you and your men as well as meat and mead."
Gendry and Arry follow Lord Davos inside the castle. He hears Arry prattle on about how magnificent Storm's End is. Arry compares the landscape from what he has read in books and though Gendry admits that this castle is much larger than Winterfell, it is nowhere near as beautiful as the North. No matter how luxurious the castle is, it is not his home and Gendry yearns to return to Winterfell as quickly as possible.
"I'm sure you would like to dine first my Lords" Davos announces. "We have prepared a feast in your honour and then my son, Devan will show you to your chambers.
A serving girl opens the door for them, as they enter the Great Hall. There is a bounty full of food: cucumber soup, rack of lamb, a tray of fresh fruits, bread, a great variety of cheeses, beef stew, vegetables, a creamy chicken curry and lemon cakes. There are five pitchers of wine and two pitchers of water. The site is magnificent but, that is not what captures Gendry's attention.
Waiting for them, in the centre of the hall is the red woman. She grazes her fingers absentmindedly over the mahogany table and turns to look at them when the door opens. She doesn't look at Davos, Devan, Arry or any of the other men. Her eyes lock with his and Gendry gulps as he finds himself lost in her red irises. He had only seen the Lady Melisandre once, in Kings Landing. She did not attend his wedding to Arya nor did she pay him any visits in Winterfell.
He cannot deny that the woman is beautiful, draped in red from head to toe. Though she is enchanting, Gendry feels uneasy with her. He knows of her God and he knows of her dedication to the Lord of light. He had heard many rumours of her and Jon personally told him of the time when she burned Mance Rayder live. It was because he had Kings Blood, just like Gendry has, just like his son has. She smiles up at him and Gendry instinctively wraps his arm around Arry. She will not harm him, she will not harm anyone.
Her gaze shifts from Gendry to the child in his arms and her eyes widen. She stares at Arry with wide eyes and Gendry does not like the way she looks at him. Like he is a piece of meat, like he is just a piece in her game. Gendry clenches his fists but, he tries to keep his cool. After all they will be living with this woman now, a woman that should have been gone after she failed Lord Stannis.
He notices Lord Davos tense beside him. He catches him eying the woman warily and it occurs to Gendry that he does not like Melisandre either.
"Lord R'hlor, Lord of light, I have finally seen your vision" she whispers.
Gendry quirks an eyebrow at her, "what are you talking about" he demands and then adds a "My Lady" just to be polite.
She shifts her gaze from Arry to Gendry and smiles. "In my vision I saw that Stannis was the one to take the Iron throne and rule the seven kingdoms. You see My Lord, the red God never lies but, sometimes humans mistake his vision. The day when the dragon queen took over the lands I was shocked and I was even more shocked when my beloved Lord died without claiming the throne. You see, in my vision I believed I saw Stannis sit the Iron Throne but, I was wrong. It wasn't Stannis at all, just someone who looked a lot like him."
She shifted her attention back to Arry and smiled. She lay out her hand and respectively Arry took it. Gendry wanted to grab his shoulder and jerk him back but, he found himself frozen in place. Whether it be from shock or some sort of trick, he did not know. Melisandre caressed Arry's face and ran her fingertips through his hair. "He will be the one to claim the Iron Throne" she announced confidently.
Gendry gulped, he did not like the sound of that one bit.
37. Chapter 37
Arya lazily brushed her fingers over her swollen stomach. She thinks she'll let Gendry name this one since she had named their four others. He does not even know about the child blossoming inside of her. It has been seven months since he left for Storm's End and it has been seven months since they last coupled on their giant featherbed.
Though Gendry was not with her, life has been treating her quite well. The summer is as bright and beautiful as ever, even in Winterfell. Arya is joined by another family member; Zahra Stark formerly of house Martell. She has now joined their family and taken up the duty as Rickon's wife. She is only thirteen years of age but Arya has bonded quite well with the Dornish girl. She sometimes let Arya ride her precious sand-steed and she and Ned have become practically inseparable. Arya does not typically approve of Ned's lady friends. Arya sees through their phony disguises and recognizes the girls for the pretentious twats they are but, Zahra is genuine and Arya is proud to call her, her good sister. In a sense it is good that she is so young because despite the fact that Rickon is now a man grown, his youthfulness and child-like personality remains, making him unsuitable for a lady his age.
Arya gets out of bed but, not before giving Nymeria a soft peck on the head. Nymeria licks her face affectionately and settles back to sleep. She is not quite ready to get up yet, so Arya leaves her wolf to rest. The first place she heads off to is the Rookery. She spends most of her time there now; writing letters to Gendry, Robb & Brandon, Jon and Sansa. The climb to the Rookery leaves her frail body exhausted but, Arya makes the trip nonetheless. Master Godwin often chides her on exerting herself, he insists that she can send someone to fetch her letters for her but, Arya likes doing things for herself and politely ignores the new master's request.
When Arya gets to the top, her heart drops. She sends the messages so often that she begins to recognize which bird goes to which person, despite the fact that each animal is of the same species. Two birds have just recently arrived; one from Sansa and the other from Jon. She is used to not hearing from the boys for weeks to come. The Blackfish and her Uncle Edmure sometimes send her letters on the boys progress but, the letters do not come as often as she would like. Arya isn't worried about that though, she understands the boys are relishing their new freedom and do not wish to write to their _mommy _every so often but, she is concerned when Gendry's bird does not show up.
Arya and Gendry often wrote back and forth after he arrived at Storms End. It would take the birds only one or two days to travel but, it has now been a week with no news from Gendry. Arya had already sent another raven only two days ago because, she was so worried but, that bird has not returned either. Arya tried not to panic, Gendry was probably just busy with his Lordly duties, she was sure that no harm had come to him. Arya was probably just overreacting so she dispelled the unpleasant thoughts from her mind and sought to Jon and Sansa's letters.
The steps down the rookery were much easier than the climb up. All the exercise built up her appetite, so Arya headed to the Great Hall to dine with her brothers, her good sister Meera, Ned and Justin.
Arya was strolling peacefully along the castle at Winterfell. The atmosphere did not feel right to her, she heard whispering all around and noticed that some people were eying her really strangely. She wanted to ask someone what was going on but, she barely got out a word let alone stared to long at a guard, before they uttered the words, _my lady _and bowed respectfully.
A loud piercing shriek filled the hallways and Arya immediately stiffened. She would recognize that scream anywhere; _Ned. _Arya pressed her palm to her bump, as she ran towards the direction of the scream. She hated her stupid frilly gown and her delicate shoes, as she nearly tripped three times on her path to the Great Hall.
Once she finally made it, she saw Meera embracing her daughter as Ned cried into her shoulder. Meera's eyes were red and glistening with tears but, she seemed to be pulling herself together for Ned's sake. Arya saw Justin standing stoically beside her weeping daughter. He was incredibly pale and he looked distraught. Arya quickly cornered him against the wall and grabbed him by the collar. "What did you do?" she snarled at him.
Justin was frightened by her contact, "I... My Lady... I... your..."
"Arya let him go" Meera pleaded.
"Not till he tells me what in seven hells did he do to my daughter" Arya demanded.
"Please _Arya" _Meera's voice cracked. "Please just let him go."
Arya loosed her grip on Justin and turned to faced her daughter. Her cheeks were swollen and her entire face was puffy and red. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and she was hiccupping. "Momma. *hic* Justin didn't *hic* do anything. *hic* It's-"
"Arya" Bran's voice interrupted. "Come in please."
Arya spared one last look at her daughter, as she entered the Great Hall, following the sound of Bran's voice.
She saw him seated in the head table with his face buried in his hands. There were several guards and knights in one room, each crowded around a certain area.
"Bran" Arya called. "What's wrong? What happened?" She inquired.
Bran looked up to face her and she noticed his eyes were also red as well, fresh with tears. "C'mon." He ordered, outstretching his hands.
Arya walked up to her baby brother and he immediately wrapped his arms around her, drawing her in for a hug. "Oh Arya" he cried, "I'm so sorry, sweet sister. There was an surprise attack by the Boltons. No one knew they were even in the area. I'm so sorry."
Arya pulled away from him. "Bran, what are you talking about?" Arya asked, confused.
Bran signalled the guards with the flick of his wrist and they each took a step away from the area they were currently shielding with their bodies. Arya noticed they were covering a large white tarp, placed over a large amount of soft red pillows.
Arya slowly made her way to the tarp and noticed that it was covering an oddly shaped figure. She noticed a couple of blood stains coating the white cotton and Arya immediately gulped. The tears were already clouding her vision before she even unveiled whatever the tarp was shielding. Slowly Arya peeled away the tarp, revealing the face behind the cloth. As soon as she uncovered the face, Arya felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. It felt like all the air had been wisped away from her body and her lungs were burning with the emptiness inside of her. It felt like someone had just reached into her chest, squeezed her heart and violently ripped it away from her body. The pain hit her so strongly, pulling her into an abyss of darkness. This was much worse than watching her father get beheaded and it was much worse than discovering the truth about the Red wedding. Arya pressed her lips tightly together, trying to suppress the sobs and wails that were threatening to seep out. She carried the man's head on her lap and pressed her lips to his cold forehead. She had never lost anyone that she had loved this much before; even her father and Nymeria seemed miniscule to the man in her arms. Arya's resolve broke and she let out the most heart wrenching sobs of her life.
38. Gendry
A/N: Okay I'd like to say I'm so sorry for the lack of updates for all of my fics and I don't want to make excuses but I am in University, taking six courses working towards my degree and working part-time so it is extremly difficult to find time to sleep, let alone write any stories.
Sorry that this chapter isn't too long but, it's just sort of a filler chapter. I know you guys are all very intrested to know who died ;)
If anybody also reads the White Walkers, I made a lot of progress w that story and am now over 8500 words in, coming close to the end but, I don't know when I'll have the oppurtunity to continue writing so I'm begging for your patience. I read fanfiction a lot and I know how much it sucks not to have you're stories updated but, I am trying as hard as I can and I will see this story to the end.
Thank you for everyone's support. I love you all :D
And now onwords to the Lost Wolf.
It took him less than a moons time to arrive at Winterfell. He did not allow time for any breaks nor rest periods but, simply rode his horse until his body protested from the lack of sleep. Even then he did not rest for too long. He had to get to Winterfell. He had to get to _Arya. _
Gendry sought no accompaniment in his journey to Winterfell; his guard would only slow him down. After all, the war was long over and there were no more dangers of walking on the King's Road. Besides, he wanted all of his men to remain with Arry if he was to leave him with the Red Woman. Lord Davos assured him that he would keep a close eye on Arry but, it did not seem like the Lady Mellisandre meant Arry any harm. In fact, she seemed to be overly affectionate towards his child; showering him with gifts and love but, Gendry did not care for her plans to sit him on the iron throne.
He wanted to take his son along. This was a time to grieve and the lad should be with his family but, Lord Davos was hesitant in leaving Storm's End without an heir. The people were already questioning Gendry's loyalty and some common folks often referred to him as Gendry Stark, behind his back. In truth they were right. Though Gendry's father had been Robert Baratheon, he had never known him nor any of his other family members aside from Stannis. His family and name meant nothing to him, he only cared for Arya and her home. It was for this reason that he had agreed to stay at Winterfell, despite Stannis' pleas for him to live at Storm's End. Even though he did not particularly care for his duty as Lord Baratheon, the last thing Gendry needed was for the people to revolt and risk another war, so reluctantly he had left Arry behind.
He had forgotten how chilly it was in Winterfell. He held his furs tighter to his body but, that did not stop him from shivering. Gendry was not made for the North. Even in the summer, the weather in Winterfell was much too cold for his liking.
The gates were open, ready to welcome him back home. When Gendry entered Winterfell, what he saw shocked him. Everyone was there waiting for him. The respected members of Bran's counsel, Bran's knights, the castle workers, the villagers and even the peasants. They were all dressed in black and bowed respectfully to Gendry, once he entered.
He saw the Tyrell banners as well. Sansa was standing in between her husband Willis Tyrell and her brother, Lord Bran. Her face was red and swollen. She held a kerchief in her hands, though her face was soiled in tears. The Tully banners were there as well, along with Lord Edmure and the Blackfish.
Gendry couldn't help but, breakdown right there. He tried choking his tears back but, that did not stop them from falling. He was grateful for everyone's support. This was one of the many things he loved about Winterfell. Though the people were separated by their names and status, everyone was like a great big family. Lord Bran cared about his people, just as his father before him. He was a just and fair ruler, always catering to his people's best interests. Gendry wanted to thank everyone for their support and prayers but, he could not bring himself to do so right now. He gave everyone a tearful glance and without any words having to be spoken, everyone knew he was trying to say thank you. Gendry descended off his horse and walked straight up to Brandon.
He stopped before his son and just stared at him. It had only been ten moons since he had last seen his boy but, Brandon looked like he aged ten years. He was much taller than he was before and his auburn hair had lost its luster, making it appear almost brown. A large scar dominated his right cheek, similar to the one Arya bore. He clasped his son's shoulder before pulling him into an embrace.
Brandon began whimpering and Gendry froze. Believe it or not, this was the first time he had ever seen Brandon cry since he was a babe. The last time Brandon cried was when he was three and he crawled into his and Arya's chambers claiming that he had a terrifying nightmare but, since then Brandon never cried. Gendry clutched onto his son tighter, refusing to let him go. He was just so thankful that he was safe and he was alive. He had bonded with all his other children but, Brandon had always been... a challenge. He tried reaching out to his son but, they never seemed to get along. The only people he and ever seen Brandon get along with was Arya and... Robb.
"Your mother?" Gendry asked. It did not take him long to notice that Arya was the only person absent. He couldn't blame her though, she would be grieving.
"In the crypts" Brandon announced. "We- We couldn't wait for you. He's already buried."
Gendry gulped. He finally let go of his son and turned to face Ned. His daughter was sobbing, clutching onto Justin's hand. He noticed his son wincing every now and then from her vice grip but, he did not pull away. As soon as Gendry stood in front of her, Ned flung herself into his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder and began sobbing. "It's not fair! It's not fair!" she sobbed. Gendry encircled his arms around her waist and buried his face in her hair. Normally Ned's hair smelled of orchids and vanilla but, this time it smelled awful, like she hadn't washed it in over a moon. "I know. Things are never fair, my love."
Finally he let go of Ned and pulled Justin into an embrace. Gendry was surprised when he heard no whispers behind him. Even in Winterfell, many people would treat Justin differently because, he was a bastard but, this time no one seemed to care that he embraced his son. Slowly he walked away from his family. He meet Bran's gaze and gave him a curt nod of the head before making his way down to the crypts.
Gendry always hated the crypts, Arya came here a lot to visit her father, mother and brother's tombs but, Gendry always kept his distance. The place gave him the chills, he didn't feel comfortable around a group of dead people. Also, this area was reserved for the Starks, he always felt like an intruder for coming here.
He saw Arya hunched over a large statue and Gendry couldn't help but look at it. Made out of marble, there stood a perfect replication of his son's frame. Robb's sword was placed in front of the statue and there were fresh flowers (most likely from Highgarden) surrounding his tomb. It shouldn't have shocked him that they buried Robb in the crypts; though his last name was Baratheon and he carried the look of the Tully's, Robb was always more of a Stark than anything else.
"We should have never sent him to Riverrun" Arya announced.
Normally Gendry would have laughed. She always complained that he was too loud where she was, _quiet like a shadow. _Though now, he couldn't even find it in himself to smile.
His fists were clenched at his sides and his jaw was hard. All the sadness was now replaced with a blinding fury. "We will kill the Boltons for what they did to him. Not only did they break the peace treaty but, they also attacked Riverrun with no warning or declaration of war. It was a cowardly move."
Arya did not join in on his rage but just nodded, her back still to him. Gendry frowned, he had never seen her look so defeated. "Arya?" he called.
Arya slowly stood up and turned around to face him. Gendry could not help but gasp at the sight of her. Her hair was tangled and messy, her eyes were a bright red, her nose was runny but, that wasn't what shocked him. There she stood in a loose grey gown with her stomach swollen. She tried giving him a soft smile when she saw his shocked reaction but it looked more like a grimace than anything else.
"I wanted it to be a surprise" she admitted and then she frowned once more. "It's not fair. I feel like I had to give up a child to bring another one into this world. B-but but... I should have known. Winter is coming and it will always come." She stated quite defeated.
Gendry strode over and encircled her in his arms. She buried her face in his neck and began weeping. Gendry let his tears falls too and they wept for their son silently, _together. _
39. Arya
She remembered when she was a little girl, she climbed up a statue at the Red Keep, waiting for her father's sentence to be announced.
She remembered watching the citizens of King's Landing booing her father, throwing stones at him and calling him the most vulgar of names. If she ever uttered one of those words back in Winterfell, she would have sure to been thrashed by her Septa.
She watched her father as he knelt on the hard stony floor. He looked so old. His body was covered in filth, his eyes were hollow and he had more wrinkles, adding years to her father's true age. Right now he looked nothing like the great, Lord Eddard of House Stark. If the Lannisters hadn't done this to him and if he still had _Ice in his hand, then no man would be booing him right now._
_She remembered feeling anger. Vowing that she would kill every bloody man, woman and child (it made no matter to her) that dared soil her father's name. She would start with the cunt that threw a stone at him, hitting him in the centre of the forehead. _
_No. She took that back, she would start with Joffery. She watched as the so called "King" made his way to the stage. His stupid Weasel-like face sneering at her father and putting on a false smile for the crowd. She wished she hadn't listened to Sansa, she wished she wouldn't have stopped Nymeria from bitting that stupid ugly head from his stupid slimy body. No matter, she would do it herself. Arya vowed to herself that Joffery would be punished for his sins. He and Ceresi. And she would ensure that she would be the one to kill them. Whoever passes the sentence swings the sword. _
_Arya grabbed the pommel of her sword, ready to strike when needed too. She was angry. There was no other word to describe it. She was angry and she wanted to kill every bloody last idiot here. She wanted to take her father and go back to Winterfell... and Sansa, she had to save Sansa too. She watched as Sansa stood on the stage, trying to stay stoic and put on a brave face. But every time someone uttered a foul word towards their father or threw another stone at him, Sansa winced. At least she wasn't brain washed by Joffery just yet, at least she was still on their side. _
_This was all his fault. Joffery's. She wanted to kill him. She wanted to run up stage, take out her Needle and plunge it into his pathetic excuse for a heart. And then... that's when it happened. "But they have the soft hearts of women. As long as I'm your king treason shall never go unpunished."_
_Arya felt her heart drop. No, no, no, this cannot be happening! She screamed to herself. But then, Joffery summoned Ser Ilyn. Just like that, all her anger disappeared and she was left with the feeling of helplessness. She pushed through the crowds, so she could run to her father. She had to get to him, she had to get to him before... But it was too late. There was nothing she could do. Yoren grabbed her and shielded her eyes from the beheading but, that didn't stop her from listening. She heard the swing of the sword that claimed her father's life, she heard the thump that his head must have made when it came into contact with the floor and she heard the cheers of the crowd. She always heard the cheers of the crowd. Every time she closed her eyes she'd see them. Joffery, Ceresi, all of them. She'd see them and she'd hear the cheers of the crowd._
_Now she just felt empty. So overcome by grief that she could do nothing but stand there and breathe. Later she would make a list. Later she would avenge her father's death. But now... now she could only grieve. It felt like someone had reached into her chest and ripped her heart out. The pain was so intense that Arya just felt like giving up. Those who fear losing have already lost. Arya knew couldn't toss in the towel, no matter how badly she wanted to give up, she couldn't. She had to kill them all._
_It was the same with Robb. She knew if anyone were to lay a hand on her children she would kill them. No questions about it. But, when she saw his lifeless body laid out in front of her, she had wept. She grieved like any mother would have grieved for the death of their child. She never knew she could feel any pain worse than the pain she felt when her father died. She didn't know it was possible to hurt more, but this hurt more. _
_Losing Robb had left her a withered old woman. It felt like her tears should have run dry by now but they didn't. A stream of endless tears still fell down her cheeks every night. She could see some grey in her hair now, though not from age but from stress. She no longer hand the energy to get out of bed, she just laid there feeling helpless. Sometimes her children would come to visit and she'd cling onto them, unwilling to let them go. And then the tears started once more._
_Her children nearly had to pry themselves off of her, when they wished to leave and Arya was too weak to fight back. It had been two moons since Robb's death and everyone seemed to accept that, everyone except for her._
_In the beginning, everyone grieved like she did. In the beginning, Ned would seek her out in her chambers to sleep with her and the two women would weep together. In the beginning, Brandon would come to her chambers, lay her head gently on his lap and stroke her hair until she stopped weeping. It was as if he was the parent and she the child but, Brandon always acted older than his age. In the beginning, Arry would send countless letters to her; talking about how much he missed and loved her, how his prayers were with Robb and he frequently inquired about the health of the rest of their family. But eventually the others moved on: Ned moved back into her own chambers, Brandon stopped coming to comfort her and Arry's letters came less frequently._
_Everyone else had moved on. Everyone else had come to terms with Robb's death. Everyone except her. _
_Even Gendry had moved past the grieving stage. Fortunately, he did not return to Storm's End just yet. Lord Davos informed him that Arry was doing a fine job as liege Lord and there was no need for Gendry to return so soon. So he stayed in Winterfell and he and Bran made battle arrangements to defeat the Botlons._
_Ever since Lord Roose Bolton passed away - from an unexpected illness - the Bolton empire was degraded until it dwindled away into nothing. Ramsay ran the Bolton name to the ground; his decisions were governed by anger and not by intelligence. The Boltons no longer had any allies but themselves and with the Tyrells, Tully's and the Reed's supporting Winterfell, the Boltons stood no chance. Though it was the Tully's that the Boltons ambushed, it was the Starks that suffered most. Good men had died in their ambush but to kill a child, that was something the North could not stand for. The Boltons stood alone in battle and were defeated easily. Half of Bolton's men were killed and the rest sent to the wall._
_Gendry had fought in this battle as well. In fact, he had only returned two days ago with Ramsay's head. Arya expected him to leave after that but, he stayed. He stayed for her._
_Arya watched Gendry as he slept. Nothing had changed, the man still could not wake up early to save his life. Her bare back was pressed to his bare chest, his arms wrapped loosely over her waist and his fingers absentmindedly stroking her swollen stomach, in his sleep. He was so warm behind her and Arya found comfort having him so close, especially because they had been apart for so long. Arya slmost went back to sleep but, suddenly she felt a warm sticky wetness in between her legs._
_"Gendry" Arya whispered, lightly elbowing him in the ribs._
_She heard Gendry grunt behind her as he roused from his sleep. "Anything the matter?" he inquired, still groggy from his nap._
_"Gendry, I'm wet." she announced quite seriously._
_Gendry's eyes popped open now and he stared at her in shock, "you're... you're what?" He stuttered, "well... alright. If you're sure..." he muttered out and then began to position himself in between her legs._
_"No stupid!" Arya chastised him, kicking him square in the chest._
_Gendry let out an "oomph" as he fell back onto the large featherbed. _
_"The baby's coming!" Arya half clarified, half shouted. _
_"Oh!" Gendry screamed, suddenly now aware of the circumstances. He looked so flustered and so nervous, like he hadn't done this three times already. "Right you stay here and I'll get the master" he instructed before bolting out the door. _
_Seeing his flustered state almost brought a smile to her lips but then her first contraction started, so Arya had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming out. That plan didn't last past her tenth contraction when she let out a whimper and pretty soon she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Having already experienced this three times (well four if you count Brandon and Robb separately), Arya still found a hard time coping with the pain. It was excruciating, each contraction hurting worse than the one before. _
_She could feel the baby coming and she gathered up her remaining energy to push as hard as she could. One push, two pushes, three- and he -or she- was out. Arya let out a breath of relief upon the final push, when she felt the baby move outside her. She was so exhausted that she didn't even hear the collective gasp from the others in the room. _
_She wanted to pass out right there but, she had to see her child first. "Gendry" she muttered but there was no reply, only silence. "Meera?" she inquired, but again she was greeted with silence. Frustrated, Arya took a deep breath and slowly pushed herself up to look at the scene before her._
_One of the handmaidens tried laying her back down but, Arya ushered her away. It was then when she saw Gendry, Master Luwin and Meera gathered around the small infant. It wasn't until Arya let out a piercing shriek that the others acknowledged her. _
_She fell back into her featherbed and began crying until she felt a pair of strong arms lift her up and cradle her. "Shh Arya, shh. Go to sleep." Gendry whispered in her ear but, Arya shook her head. How could she go to sleep when not only one but, now two of her children were dead._
**A/N: Just in case if anyone was wondering what happened, her baby was a stillborn. I know very sad but, remember Winter is Coming ;) Anyways I know I kind of fell out of this story but, now I'm getting back into it and I have a couple more ideas before I finish it off but, unfortunately you guys won't be seeing an update in a while simply because I have to attend to the White Walkers first and I have attend to school before that. Anyways thanks to everyone for the reviews/kudos/comments/favourites/followers. I would like to address this to specifically bc u cant really reply to a comment other than inboxing the reviewer but, I've read every review and I really do appreciate all of them. Thanks so much.**
40. Chapter 40
ARRY
5 Years Later...
He was in his chambers, standing by a large window as he watched the snowflakes gently caress the soft white blanket of snow. He knew what his mother would say in this moment of time; she would warn Arry and his siblings about the harshness of winter and all the sorrows that came along with it. After all it was his mother's house words that had taught him to fear this season. _Winter is coming. _But unlike his mother, his siblings and even his father, Arry is no Stark. It is Baratheon blood that flowed through his veins and Baratheons do not fear winter. Baratheons do not fear anything. _Ours is the Fury. _
He watches the snow as it continues to fall. Arry knows this is his moment. While everyone else is distracted with the preparations for winter, Arry will strike. He will take back the lands that rightfully belonged to his grandfather. The lands that he is now entitled to.
He paddles naked back to his featherbed and lays on top of the warm sheep-skin blankets. Melisandre stirs beside him and she moves to place a gentle hand on his bare chest. Arry turns to face the Red woman and stares at her fondly, as she sleeps peacefully to his right. Fondly is the right word. That is all she is to him: a friend, a mentor but not a lover. They may fuck but that is all it means to either one of them- fucking. He respects her. He is grateful for her guidance, her knowledge. if it was not for the lady Melisandre, he would not be the man he is today. She taught him everything he knows and she inspired him to reclaim what was rightfully his; the Iron Throne. She has shaped him to be a befitting King. No longer is he the podgy, frightened child that hides behind his books. He is now Arry Baratheon, Lord of Storms End and soon he will be King Arry Baratheon, ruler of the seven kingdoms.
Technically he should not be Lord until his father's death but, his father renounced his title and handed down his Lordly duties to Arry. Though Arry loves his father, he knows the man is not capable of being a Lord. Though his father is legitimized, Arry knows he will always be the lowly bastard blacksmith. In fact, if he hadn't fallen in love with his mother, he doubted his father would have ever sought legitimization. Arry is a more suitable Lord but he will not keep this title for long. It is not his destiny to live the life of his Uncle Stannis but, rather do what his dear Uncle could not; take the Iron Throne.
He knows he is capable of achieving this. His fat has been replaced with hard muscle, he is strong, he is intelligent, he is charismatic, he is a leader and soon he will be king. He has been told that he has been misnamed. That he carries after his late uncle Robb Stark, the former King of the North. He has heard that his uncle was an intelligent man and a warrior on the battlefield. He has been told that he had extraordinary charisma and power that made men _want _to follow him. He has been told that he would have been King, if he did not let love cloud his judgement. Arry won't make the same mistakes as his uncle; he will not let a silly thing like love get in his way.
It is only a matter of time before he overthrows the Dragon Queen and takes back what is rightfully his. His grandfather should have killed the wench when he had a chance and now she sits on the Iron Throne. She sits on _his _throne. One dragon alone, is difficult to defeat and three dragons make the task near impossible. But her dragons lack control, discipline. Dragons are not invincible, they have been defeated before and will be defeated again.
Arry has already gathered up his bannermen and plans to overthrow the Queen. He has rallied men in the South; men who still believe Robert was their rightful King. The Brotherhood without Banners - a group of outlaws - has been his primary support for rallying troops. _When _he becomes King, he will ensure their status is upgraded to knighthood. With the support of the Brotherhood and the other Southern houses, his number already surpasses that of the Dragon Queen's unsullied and the Dorthraki army.
Arry wisely left the North out of his plan. He knows his parents would not approve of his ambitions but, they will be thankful once he takes the Iron Throne. He will not make the North an independent nation but, he will grant his family and Winterfell with the highest prestige one can bestow upon a land. If Brandon still desires to be a knight, he will name his brother head of the Kingsguard. If not, he would make a befitting Lord of Storms End.
Arry is ready to play the Game of Thrones and he is ready to win.
"Your Grace" Melisandre calls softly as she rouses from her sleep. She stretches and lets the blankets that were once covering her, fall to her waist. Her plump teats are revealed and her nipples are still red and raw. He can see the bite marks on them, from when he marked her last night.
Desire floods through him and he roughly pins her below him and swiftly enters her. She is not as tight as he would have liked- as they fucked plenty of times throughout the night - but she is warm, wet and ready for his cock.
He is thrusting his hips feverishly against hers, their skin slapping as his cock buries itself in her warm cunt. She archers her back, causing her teats to press against his chest. She grips his shoulders for support as she rises her hips up to meet his rough and haphazard thrusts. Her long, sharp fingernails dig into his back and he grunts from the action. The pain does not bother him though, as she is writhing and moaning beneath him. He moves his hands to roughly squeeze her breasts, pinching each nipple in turn. Suddenly, she clenches around him and that is all it takes to drive him over the edge. A few more thrusts and he spills his seed inside of her.
He pulls out of her and moves to his back, not wanting to crush her with his weight. They are both panting in an attempt to regain their breaths. She recovers quickly and gets straight down to business.
"The Tyrell's have offered little Alona to be you're Queen." Melisandre states.
Arry thinks about his cousin. The daughter of Willas and Sansa Tyrell. He remembers her heart shaped face with her bouncy auburn curls and emerald green eyes. The last time he had seen her, she was but a child but now she is now a woman flowered, befit to be a Queen. Arry scoffs and dismisses the thought, "she will never be my Queen" he states confidently.
"Highgarden is a powerful ally. It would be wise to win them from Daenerys while we still have the chance." Melisandre states.
Arry shakes his head, "the bloody bastards carry no honour. They have not spilled blood like all the other houses. The Tyrell's just float to whichever house has power and suck on them like vile leeches. If an enemy comes, threatening to overturn me when I am King, I rather have loyal bannermen by my side, not power hungry traitors that _might _help me win this war."
Melisandre knows that Arry needs the support of Highgarden, to help him win the battle against the Dragon Queen but, she holds her tongue. The once sweet little Stark child has now turned into a true Baratheon. And like a true Baratheon, he carries the same Baratheon temper."The Dornish?" Melisandre supplements.
Arry shakes his head, "Trust a viper over a leech? Not a chance."
"You have to marry someone, your Grace" Melsiandre informs.
Arry ponders this thought for a moment. "Very well my lady but, we shall discuss my future wife after I take the throne."
With that Arry gets out of bed and silently dresses. He can feel Melisandre's ruby red eyes boring into him as he dons on his breeches, undershirt and tunic. When he is dressed, Arry promptly leaves his chambers and heads towards the rookery. The rookery is empty with the exception of a old man who works as a messenger and a thousand ravens to keep Arry company.
He grabs a roll of parchment and a quill and begins writing his letter.
"Your Grace, shall I send off the letter for you?" the messenger asks, as Arry is sealing the parchment, with the Stag emblem.
"No need" Arry replies, as he grabs his letter and makes his way down to the Great Hall. Court was meant to start two turns ago and Arry knows he has kept his people waiting. He is happy to see that Lord Davos is waiting for him with his son Devan by his side.
"Devan, I need you to deliver this message for me" Arry states as he hands the younger man the parchment.
"Your Grace" Lord Davos interrupts, "why not just send a raven?"
"Because my Lord, the winter will be harsh soon and I shall not rely on a bird to deliver a message of utmost importance. Besides, I would like to keep this matter confidential and I need to be sure that no eyes read this message with the exception of the one person, who was intended to read it." Arry commands.
"Yes your grace" Devan responds, as he bows to Arry, "and whom may I ask, is to receive this message."
"You are to head for Winterfell" Arry responds, "that message goes to my brother, Brandon Baratheon and him alone. Not a soul, not Lord Bran, nor my father are to know the contents of this letter. Is that understood?"
"Yes, your grace" Devan bows again.
"Good. Now take as many of my bannermen as you need and set forth for Winterfell immediately." Arry commands.
Devan bows again and exits the Great Hall.
"Now" Arry begins, "let us resume court."
End file.
| fanfiction |
Writing equilibrium expressions with aqueous species
If we have the reaction: $$\ce{A +BC\_{(aq)} <=> D}$$ where $\ce{A}$ and $\ce{D}$ are generic compounds (neither is pure solid nor pure liquid) and $\ce{BC}$ is an ionic compound dissociated in water (consisting of $\ce{B+}$ and $\ce{C-}$ ions), would the $K\_{\mathrm{c}}$ expression be written as
$$K\_{\mathrm{c}}=\frac{[\ce{D}]}{[\ce{A}][\ce{BC}]}$$
or
$$K\_{\mathrm{c}}=\frac{[\ce{D}]}{[\ce{A}][\ce{B+}][\ce{C-}]}?$$
I will say the latter form is more correct, and in fact an important way to consider equilibrium with solubility and the common ion effect. You should not count any solids in equilibrium expressions though as they do not determine the final equilibrium.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Neverwinter Nights 1. Chapter 1
"Look, I don't care what you do, just make sure she doesn't show up at court looking like...that!"
Sand gestured at the amused elven warrior sitting by the fire, tapping the edge of her longsword against the wooden floor of the tavern rhythmically. The woman's hair was bound up not-so-neatly in a loose bun at the crown of her head, a few silvery-white strands already falling loose and curling down the nape of her neck. Her armor was well oiled and fitted, but had the stains and mars of many a battle, not to mention many layers of road dust settled in the cracks. She grinned at him, one corner of her mouth pulling up crookedly and dimpling her cheek. "What's wrong with the way I look, Sand?"
"Dear girl, just sitting there, you look like you could sack a thousand Ember's before breakfast." He waved a hand imperiously at Shandra before turning to leave the Flagon, his mind fluttering with the upcoming trial. "Just...make her look feminine. Elegant. Something _besides_ practiced, cold-blooded killer is what we're going for."
"But that's my best look!"
He shot Sathyra an irritated glance; normally their daily word sparring was quite a refreshing exercise for him, but today? "Well, if you prefer the "look" of a twelve foot culled rope around your neck, by all means! Ignore my advice." And with a furious slam of the front door, he was gone.
Shandra glanced at Sathyra, who chuckled as she stood, sheathing her blade between her shoulder-blades. "Well lass," said the moon elf fondly; she turned in a circle, her arms stretched wide. "I'm all yours! What's first?"
Shandra tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully, a slow grin spreading across her face. "I think we need to visit Ophala."
o o o o o o
Sand grit his teeth; the low thunder of conversation that echoed throughout the courtroom was grating on his nerves. Torio stood on the opposite podium, tapping her nails impatiently on the edge, a look of suitable boredom on her face. He glanced out the window; the sun was blazing merrily across the open space of floor between the podiums and Nasher's empty throne. _ Past noon, already. What was taking 'His Lordship' so damn long?_ He was more than a little nervous, and they hadn't even given him the chance to speak with Sathyra before the trial. He had wanted to go over their evidence, had wanted to tell her what to say (okay, what _not_ to say, to be specific), he had wanted to...
_Blast_. He didn't know what he wanted to do. He had simply realized with a looming sense of dread that if they failed today, the last time he'd see her is when the bodyguards that now hovered behind Torio would be grabbing the elf by that mess of silver hair on her head and dragging her all the way back to Luskan to be hanged. Saying "good luck" would have been a start, at least.
A hush fell over the crowd, and Sand looked up to watch Oleff enter the room and stand next to the throne. "Lord Nasher Alagondar, Defender of Neverwinter and Reverend Judge Oleff Uskar, Lord Justiciar of Tyr."
Both men entered, Nasher permeating grave sobriety; Oleff looked mildly irritated. Nasher took his seat, and intoned, "Bring in the accused."
There was a general shifting in the stands as everyone turned towards the door. Shandra entered, making a beeline for Sand, followed by...
_Sweet Mystra..._ a vision in pale, sea foam green stepped into the courtroom; her silvery hair was piled onto her head in long, luxurious curls; her skin, scrubbed free of dirt and grime, was surprisingly smooth and nearly blemish free, her cheeks glowing slightly pink. As she stepped up to him and Shandra, he found himself completely startled by the pale green of her eyes, set off by the color in the very form-fitting dress that hugged her lithe body. He hadn't noticed them before...
As Nasher and Oleff began picking through the evidence, those eyes of hers flicked to his face momentarily, and a self-satisfied smirk twitched across her mouth. Sand couldn't quite comprehend why he grinned back at her, but he swore he heard a sound somewhere in the crowd akin to a paladin and a ranger swallowing their own tongues...
o o o o o o
"Trial by combat!" Sathyra exploded, when they'd finally pushed through the crush of bodies leaving the courtroom. "We _won_, blast it! That two-faced harpy _bitch_..."
Casavir looked scandalized; Bishop burst into laughter. Qara merely rolled her eyes. "You expected different from the likes of her?" she asked scathingly. "I'm surprised she even bothered with a trial. A smart woman would have just killed you in your sleep."
Shandra seemed to be in something of a trance. "You have to fight Lorne."
"Yes, girl, we know." Sand snapped at her; his mind was racing as he faced Sathyra, his lips pressed in a thin line. "Look, you have to head to the temple for your vigil, but we've got some time to prepare. Your armor's at the Flagon, still?"
She quirked an eyebrow at him; her eyes said _What are you cooking up_? "Yes, it is, along with everything else. We figured it'd look bad on us if I walked into court fully armed." She pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. "Now it looks as though that's how I _should've _come."
"You have to fight _Lorne_."
"Shandra! I know." The elf patted Shandra's hand. "Will you relax? I'll be fine." There was a distinctly panicked note in her voice that said, _I hope._
Sand did the hardest thing he'd done that day. At least, so far. He turned to the paladin and said, through clenched teeth, "Will you take Sathyra to the temple? I need to run back to the tavern."
The paladin gave a formal little half-bow. "It would be my honor."
"You know, I _do_ know where the Temple of Tyr is. _And_ how to walk, as well." Sathyra's wry voice floated from somewhere behind his right shoulder.
"Aren't you something," muttered Bishop surlily.
He glanced back at her; her face was a picture of indignation warring with amusement. Both were directed at him. "Well, you'll forgive me, my _lady_, if I am under the assumption that you're not safe traveling alone at the moment. What with Luskan soldiers being in the city, as well said soldiers being here for the pursuant of your untimely demise." He gave her a look that brooked no argument; she stared at him coolly, but he caught the upwards twitch at the corner of her mouth, and the appraising look in her eyes made his heart beat unreasonably fast. "Very well," she said. "_Amin lungan nae llie, noldo enna._" And with a near imperceptible, sly cock of her eyebrows, she turned, and the group made their way towards the Blacklake gates, headed for the Merchant district and the Temple of Tyr.
_I bend to you, wise one._ It was a common enough phrase, used by youths as an expression of trust towards their elders. And he was most definitely her elder, but...as he watched her walk away, she glanced at him over her shoulder, and he couldn't help feeling that the lascivious swaying of her hips was slightly exaggerated as she walked.
2. Chapter 2
Hilam arched a brow as a moon elf, loaded down with a seemingly heavy sack and multiple pieces of platemail armor, came staggering through the main temple entrance.
"Sathyra!" he gasped when he came close to the priest, his knees visibly shaking under the weight.
"Follow me," intoned Hilam, and Sand managed to stumble the last few steps into the back antechamber that the priest opened for him.
"No thanks, I've got it all, no need for assistance," he gasped out as he passed the (quite burly) human. He made two steps into the room before letting the armor fall from his grip, clattering onto the floor noisily.
Sathyra turned from where she had been staring at the statue, a shifting of silk across polished marble floor. A grin crept across her face as she hurried forward, taking the sackcloth from the furious wizard's grasp. "You made it! I was beginning to think you finally blew yourself up at your alchemy bench."
He snorted at her. "You're welcome." He watched with mild embarrassment as she peered into the bag, pulling out a freshly brewed healing potion. She looked up at him, an intense, unreadable look in her eyes; the silence stretched out for a moment, and he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "Ahh...I figured that you'd want them. That you'd need them. I had extra, in my store." His voice sounded unnecessarily loud in his ears, and he would have gone on talking inanely had she not placed a finger over his lips.
"You had extra? With freshly made seals on the corks?" She smiled, setting the bag down. "You don't fool me, wizard."
Her touch was electrifying; that single, calloused finger pressed against his lips was like a bolt of lightning, charging across his tongue and shooting down to extremities that were beginning to get very warm indeed. He stepped back suddenly, realizing how close she was to him. _The girl always did like to tease you. _ "Yes, well, thank you once again for making this painfully embarrassing, Sathyra." He coughed stiffly, then turned to leave. "I shall see myself out."
Her hand was on his shoulder before he could take another step; the woman was strong, no doubt from all that sword swinging, and her grip held him fast for a moment. "Why don't you come sit with me? Take a breather; I know carrying that gear must have been murderous." He heard the wry humor in her voice. "I would know; I have to wear it all the time."
He would have said yes, any other time; the woman had intelligence that was uncommon among her other weapon-swinging, head-bashing peers, and he secretly delighted in the wicked way she always teased him. But...suddenly, having her stand there in the most delightfully revealing green dress he'd ever seen, beautifully manicured and cheerfully facing death in a mere few hours, he couldn't quite bear the light-hearted, double entendre's she usually barbed him with; the same ones that were usually riposted with witticisms of his own. He refused to turn around and look at her again, refused to be goaded into mere wordplay when what he wanted...
_Damn it._
"It's late, Sathyra," he heard himself saying. "You should rest while you can, for that is what _I_ intend to do." He broke free of her grasp, was almost to the door...
"Sand," she was right behind him, and as he turned, one eyebrow arched and a reasonably sharp retort on his tongue, her fingers sank into the soft folds of his robe, and he was inexorably pulled into her body as her lips found his. For a moment all he could smell was a faint perfume that reminded him of water lilies, a trace of leather and oil, the musty smell of the antechamber around them...her mouth had opened hungrily beneath his, and suddenly a white, hot fire took control of his mind, and he found his hands sliding down her waist, cupping the swellings curve of her hips and pulling her tightly to him. Silk threads parted with a ripping, tearing sound as his fingers dug into the soft fabric, and she made a throaty, maddeningly breathless sigh against his mouth as her back was shoved unceremoniously against the altar.
Weeks of pent up frustration, of coy smiles, of bawdy jokes, of clever retorts, of flirtatious innuendo...she had taunted and teased, complimented and cajoled, and he had born it with the rapier wit he was known for, but underneath it he had been simmering with a curious, maddening desire that he hadn't felt in years. Now, her fingers were digging into his hair just as he'd imagined they would, and he sank his teeth gently into the sweet, tender skin of her exposed shoulder, illiciting a startled, sharp intake of breath that filled him to no end with satisfaction. Scraps of torn silk were sliding off of her slender frame as his hands moved, and the soft brush of bare skin intermingling with fabric was tightening the ever growing knot that had formed below his naval; even as he began trailing kisses up her throat, he was thinking _oh gods, oh gods, oh gods...what in the _hells_ am I doing..._
"My dear," he whispered raggedly into her ear, "I hate to be a downer...but Tyr is staring at us."
She leaned back a little to look at him, a feverish glint to her eye; without a word she reached down and pulled the tattered remains of her dress up and over her head, tossing it expertly at the enormous statue that stood behind the altar; it floated through the air like a gentle leaf blown on the wind, and landed squarely on the figure's head, green silk settling over the lifeless eyes.
He registered that she was naked, that she had her arms around him, and that his hands were placed in strategically embarrassing positions against her skin. His eyes gleefully ignored the commands from his brain, and roamed over her body, one hand sliding from her hip across her flattened stomach, trailing up and gently brushing across her breasts. His brain, in retaliation to this insult, informed him that the young elven woman was making quick work of undoing his clothing.
"Sathyra, what-"
"Shhh!" She giggled madly, pressing her lips to his and silencing him effectively; a hot, nameless wave of sensation flooded through him as her tongue gently pried his mouth open once more, fingers deftly pulling apart the now-unlaced robe that normally graced his shoulders. He practically whimpered as her fingers brushed against his bare chest, sliding down the front of his stomach, then lower, to where his trews were fastened together beneath his naval.
_She's Duncan's niece! She's at least three-hundred years younger than you. _ _She's bearing a broken piece of githyanki craftsmanship in her chest. _His mind was reeling with excuses at to why he should stop this, right now, and leave. But with every excuse that surfaced, another piece of his clothing was discarded, and then the cold air of the antechamber was hitting his skin, and the long, soft length of her was finally pressed against him...
...and she was _kneeling_...
_My gods,_ he thought; He let out a ragged exhale, his hands gripping the edge of the altar, as a wave of hot, piercing sensations shot through his body, _I sincerely hope that none of the priests walk in here right now..._
Moments later, he could no longer stand it, and he pushed her down onto the floor, her eyes laughing up at him. His hands roamed the curves of her body, and he felt a wave of satisfaction ripple through him at the agonized, delighted gasp that came from her throat as he gently parted her legs and positioned himself in-between them.
Her mouth was pressed against his ear throughout it, an attempt to muffle her cries; but her sweet, low voice whispering, whimpering, gasping against the sensitive, pointed shell that graced the side of his head nearly drove him insane, and at one point he nearly cried out as her fingernails raked down his back.
_If we get caught..._
_...oh gods, we're in a _church
And in a final, shattering moment, he exhaled her name and lost himself in her body, his arms encircling her, pulling her against him with all of his strength, his thoughts silenced by the warm, clenching heat that seared his entire being.
They lay for quite some time, afterwards; silent, the only sound their steady breathing, his body covering hers. Then, her trembling fingers gently pushed strands of his black hair away from his face, and she chuckled, the sound low and throaty, like the purr of a satisfied cat. "That," she whispered, "was the best comeback you've ever come up with."
o o o o o o
When Casavir visited her sometime later that night, he found her sitting blithely on the floor, alone, wearing her armor and packing healing potions into her belt. He knelt in front of her, offered to fight for her.
She smiled. "No...thank you, Casavir, but no." Her cheeks were flushed; he asked her if she was feeling ill. "No, not ill." Was she nervous about the fight? "No, not really." A mischievous light came in to her eyes. "Maybe being here with the God of Justice has calmed me, somewhat."
Casavir cleared his throat, his expression confused. "My lady?"
"Yes?"
"Why is your dress draped over Tyr's head?"
3. Chapter 3
It was the longest fight Sand had ever witnessed.
And of course, he had the dubious pleasure of sitting next to Khelgar; it was either him, or Duncan, and the moon elf just didn't have the courage to even look the bartender in the eye, much less exchange their usual parlay of insults. He was mildly terrified that, when faced with a scathing remark from Duncan, the only comeback he would be able to come up with is, "Well, it just so happens that I made love to your niece last night," followed by much bloodshed and screaming, both of which would be centered around him. He was sure there'd be plenty of bloodshed and screaming today without his getting involved in it.
So he sat, coolly attempting to ignore the dwarf's raucous cheering; everyone around him went wild as Sathyra walked into the arena, a wall of fire springing up behind her in order to block her escape from the ring. His nervousness bordering on nonsensical panic was mingled with flashes of memory, images from the night before that kept replaying in his mind; her large green eyes staring into his, the softness of her skin, and the soft, compelling sounds she had made in his ear in response to the things his body had been doing to hers. He found his eyes trying to discern her expression as she entered the field, even though he could barely make out any of her features at all from where he stood. Her shoulders were squared, her armor gleamed dully, her sword was drawn, resting easily in her hand. The rising sun gleamed against her pale, silver hair, once again wound in an unflattering, messy bun. She looked suitably heroic as she faced Lorne, who was easily five hands taller and six hands wider than she was.
He found himself thinking, _At least I was able to lie with her before she died._
_What kind of a thing to think is that? _
_Just trying to be optimistic._
Well, and what if she did die? He would feel her loss, surely; he didn't want to imagine her dying, certaintly. But with a guilty pang, he realized he was more worried about what would happen if she _survived_.
And then it began, swords clashing, spectators shouting; through it all, Sand stayed in his seat, watching the process with a growing knot of dread in his stomach. Every time a swing from Lorne's greatsword cut dangerously close to a vital part of Sathyra's body, the crowd gasped, and the knot clenched tighter. But he sat, calmly. Even when the moon elven warrior dodged inside Lorne's guard, sacrificing a blow to her shoulder for a stab at the man's midsection. Even when she danced back again, blood spilling down her arm. Even when Lorne charged her, head bent like a battering ram, and literally sent her flying with the sheer momentum behind his skull, butting her backwards and sending her sprawling onto her back in the dirt.
Even when she remained there, lying motionless as Lorne advanced...
The dwarf next to him was unslinging his weapon, screaming in rage along with many members of the audience. And then, as Lorne stood over her, raising his greatsword above his head, Sand realized he was on his feet, stepping over heads and shoulders and whatever reasonably flat surface he could find, an incantation readied on his lips. A pair of hands gripped him, pulling him away from the edge of the stands; he had been about to step over that, as well, had nearly had one foot planted on the low wall that rose in front of the first row of seats. Then another pair of hands held fast to him too, and he realized that two of the guards were dragging him back to the seats, and the greatsword was swinging down...
He saw, over the shoulder of the guard that was currently muscling him backwards, Sathyra shift, saw her longsword come up as the giant loomed over her; she placed her foot against the crossguard of her own blade, and rammed it upwards with all her might. Lorne's downward sweep stopped abruptly, and the most satisfying look of surprise crossed his features. For a moment, he stood suspended, impaled nearly to the hilt of Sathyra's blade as silence fell on the arena. Then the greatsword clattered to the ground, and the giant soon followed, toppling over and hitting the dirt with a dull, fatalistic _thud_.
He saw Sathyra scramble wearily to her feet, and vaguely heard cheering erupt all around him; his head was light, a wave of dizziness washing over him suddenly as the guards let him go. Khelgar pounded him on the back, sending the elf swaying to and fro drunkenly. "She did it!! She's won, wizard!!!"
"Wonderful," he mumbled blearily; and then, without further ado, Sand promptly passed out.
4. Chapter 4
When he opened his eyes again, the late afternoon sun was blazing inconsiderately through his window, casting a warm glow throughout his own bedroom (which, apparently, he was lying in.) The light gave him an instant headache, and he shut his eyes again, both against it and the images that flashed through his head.
_She won._
_Yes, and then you fainted._
_Did I, really? _He remembered with some embarrassment how he had launched himself from his seat, trying to call up a few magic missiles to throw across the arena and into Lorne's face; he'd nearly jumped down into the pit with the two fighters. Then the guards had pulled him back, Khelgar has shouted, his mind had gone from chilling, icy rage to warm relief and eventual panic within the flick of an eyelash, and then he'd blacked out.
_And everyone...?_
_Oh yes, the whole crowd witnessed it._
Well. It had been a while since he'd made a complete fool of himself; he supposed he'd been due for it sooner or later. But over a woman? Especially when said woman had just obliterated seven feet of solidly muscled Lorne, all on her lonesome?
He groaned, shifting to cover his eyes with his left hand...except that his hand was pinned down onto the bed by some unknown weight. One eye opened slightly; Sathyra sat next to his bed, bent forward and squash-faced into the mattress, her forehead pressed against the back of his hand while her fingers rested lightly somewhere close to his elbow. She was, if indicated by the soft snoring and tightly closed eyelids, deep asleep.
An unfamiliar flash of tenderness jolted through him. _All right. Admit that you like her._
He...respected her, yes. The gods knew (especially Tyr) that he was _physically_ attracted to her. She was one of the few out of that entire group of misfits that could trade words with him on some level of intelligence. And the only one brave enough to _tease_ him. A few times she'd rendered him speechless after a particularly jaunty barb of hers, and he hadn't known whether to be pleased or outraged.
And she'd seduced him. In a _church_. He wasn't sure if he was pleased or outraged over that, either. His eyes followed the curve of her jaw as she slept, smooth and stubbornly set, running down into the arch of her long, white neck. Images flashed through his mind from the night before, and he felt a rush of heat permeate his skin.
_Well_. Pleased it was, then.
But, he had to admit, she had quite the ulterior motive for reaching out to him on the eve of what might have been her last battle. Death had loomed on her horizon, and she might have been merely looking for comfort of the basest nature. They were conveniently good enough companions that she could have merely felt more comfortable inciting a one night dalliance with _him_, as opposed to the other two...candidates. And he couldn't deny that there was a physical pull between both of them, a tension that had existed since the moment she'd turn around to face him as he walked into the flagon, that first day; her delicate, moon-elven beauty offset by the tarnished, earthen, bloodied armor she wore. He had been shocked, aroused, intrigued by the complete paradox she represented, just by standing there. And she had returned his stare momentarily, eyes wide, lips slightly parted, inhaling sharply for the merest of moments...
Then he had turned, as if ignoring her, and had sent a barrage of off-handed insults in Duncan's direction, attempting to regain some ground. Afterwards, the wordplay between her and him was almost constant, but that first moment had been there, simmering under the surface...
His hand, as if by it's own volition, turned underneath her weight, his thumb sliding across the bridge of her nose and down the smooth plane of her cheek. She muttered something, shifted, sucked in the slow, deep breath of those returning to consciousness, and opened her eyes.
Her head remained on the bed, turned towards him; she felt his hand on her face, and seemed to freeze, her face expressionless. Sand felt a surge of panic...
...that disappeared as a shy smile curled her lips. "Look who's awake," she said, her voice drawling in the same light mockery she always used with him.
"I could say the same for you, dear girl," he said archly. His hand dropped to his side. "Is it customary for all warriors to drool in their slumber?"
She scowled at him, but her eyes danced merrily. "As customary as it is for all wizards to faint at the sight of battle."
He sniffed at her disdainfully. "I'll have you know that I was interrupted in the midst of my spellcasting; I can't be blamed for the after effects of such an action." He sat up, propping his back against the headboard, and realized with a disconcerting downward glance that he was clad in only his trews. _ Well...it's not as if she hasn't seen it, already._ "May I ask where my clothes are?"
She sat up and stretched, yawning slightly as she gestured to the wardrobe on the other side of his room. "Khelgar and Casavir carried you here all the way from the arena; we didn't know what was wrong with you, and Elanee advised that we get you as un-constricted as possible, and in to bed."
Sand rolled his eyes. "Ah yes, the answer to everyone's ailments; just remove their clothes."
"And you're surprised, with the way she dresses?"
He snorted a laugh, which quickly died when he felt her hand on his; he met her eyes, and she frowned at him slightly, the teasing gone from her voice. "You _are_ all right though, yes?"
"Perfectly fine, dear girl." He yawned himself, stretching his arms behind his head...he noticed how her eyes flicked from his face down to his bare chest and back up again, and felt a smirk of satisfaction twitch across his mouth. "Although it's _quite_ possible that I didn't get enough sleep last night."
Heat flared in her eyes as one delicate, pale eyebrow shot up. "Oh? And why is that?"
His voice was offhanded. "Why, I knew the dangers you'd be facing, girl; I couldn't rest until I'd gone to the temple to pray for your safety."
She blinked at him, and he felt a momentary flash of triumph when he realized he'd managed to render _her_ speechless, for once. Then laughter burst from her throat, and she lifted herself up, crawling forward onto the bed until her knees were on either side of his waist...her hands slid up his bare chest, and he felt his blood thunder wildly in his ears at the feel of her straddling his lap, the warm weight of her pressing down against the heat that was gathering below his waist. Her face, her lips, were tantalizing close to his as she practically purred, "And what about now, wizard? Am I in danger now?"
His hand lifted from the bed, sliding up the back of her neck and entangling itself in that lustrous, silver hair. His other arm slid around her waist, pulling her down so that her body pressed fully against his. "More than you even know, girl." And with a slight pressure from his fingers, he pulled her face downward, kissing her with such sudden ferocity that a startled gasp escaped her lips, muffled against his passionate onslaught.
_Well, I can safely say that this was _not_ just a one night dalliance...was there such a thing as two night dalliances?_
Her tunic was discarded a few moments later, and her fingers were slowly working the laces at his waist; he assumed she was purposefully brushing her fingers against him in the process...
_She seems enthusiastic about this whole thing...and in all fairness, death is imminent for all of us on a daily basis, so I suppose it's not illogical_
She definitely had a penchant for tossing clothing, as he watched his trews sail across the room and land expertly on the doorknob. Hers landed somewhere behind the wardrobe...
_You know, I could get used to this..._
He buried his face against her neck, arms encircling her waist, her fingers sinking into his hair as she fused the minute distance between them with a slow, downward thrust of her hips; and after that, the thoughts disappeared, and there wasn't much else that he could have focused on, had he wanted to.
o o o o o o
She stirred slightly, mumbling something, and he opened his eyes drowsily. "Hmm?"
"I said, this is a lot warmer than sleeping alone."
"Hmm." He had to agree; thanks to Duncan banking the fires of the common room at night, the rooms were downright freezing, and it was much more comfortable having a nude Sathyra curled up next to him. _Yes. Comfortable._
"Maybe we should...?"
"Hmmm?"
"Oh come on, Sand."
He chuckled. "Is it worth risking being murdered by your uncle just to share a bed with you?"
He felt her shift, saw a pair of green eyes move in front of his vision, pale hair gleaming in the moonlight that now streamed through the window. "You tell me." She stared down at him, eyes wide, lips slightly parted, inhaling sharply for the merest of moments...
He sighed. _Death was imminent anyway, after all_. "If you promise to keep your uncle from disemboweling me with a keg tap, then I..._suppose_ it wouldn't do any harm..."
"I'll do my best." She grinned. "It's not like I'm going to _tell_ him where I'll be spending my nights."
He gave her a dubious look, and she responded by kissing him, the sensual pressure of her lips igniting a tiny flame inside of him once again. He inhaled deeply, the scent of waterlilies invading his nostrils, and with a swift motion turned her onto her back, illiciting a surprised squeal from her throat.
As her arms wrapped around his neck, he resigned himself, with the grace and stoicalness of all martyrs, to the fact that, from this point forward, sleep was going to be an elusive concept, indeed.
End file.
| fanfiction |
synapses in the brain are able to change their strength in response to neural activity and these modifications to synaptic strength are thought to contribute to memory formation and also to brain development .
these modifications take the form of long - term potentiation ( ltp ) , which is the activity - induced enhancement of synaptic transmission , and long term depression ( ltd ) , which is the activity induced reduction in synaptic transmission . whether ltp or ltd is induced is determined by the frequency of stimulation in the induction protocol , with ltp typically induced by high frequency stimulation and ltd typically induced by low frequency stimulation ( lfs ) .
in addition to these forms of plasticity , synapses that have recently undergone ltp can have this synaptic strengthening reversed in a process termed depotentiation ( dp ) , a process that is also triggered by lfs .
deficits in dp have recently been described as a result of manipulations that are thought to be relevant to schizophrenia , and so one of the aims of this review is to highlight the relevance that deficits in dp may have to this debilitating disorder .
an additional question that will be addressed is whether dp and ltd constitute essentially the same phenomena , of if they are distinct processes .
the question arises because both forms of plasticity can be induced by similar lfs type protocols , and because they result in a similar effect , which is a reduction in synaptic efficiency .
as it is possible that ltp may have been induced previously at synapses being studied , due to the in vivo neuronal activity prior to acute slices being made , it remains a possibility that the only difference between dp and ltd is the time that has elapsed since a previous ltp inducing stimuli . if this is the case it seems to be unlikely that it will be possible to distinguish the role in behavior that these processes play , as it will not be possible to selectively antagonize one of them either pharmacologically or by genetic manipulation .
if unique signaling pathways are uncovered however , these will serve to characterize dp as different from ltd and may allow the selective antagonism of dp allowing its role in behavior to be assessed .
also , if dp is dis - regulated in neurological diseases , understanding its molecular characteristics may provide pharmacological targets by which it may be modulated .
this review will therefore also explore the molecular mechanisms involved in dp and highlight evidence that suggests that dp and ltd are in fact distinct processes and are relevant to different behaviors .
dp is a form of synaptic plasticity that can be induced by two general patterns of synaptic stimulation , both in vitro and in vivo .
the most widely studied induction protocol involves delivering lfs to the pathway being studied.1 - 4 where lfs is used to induce this form of plasticity it is often delivered at a frequency that is shown to be ineffective at inducing ltd in the preparations used2,5 which is one indication that this phenomenon maybe of a distinct nature from ltd . thus in some reports
2 hz lfs is able to induce dp but is unable to induce ltd.2,5 the second pattern of stimulation that results in dp is theta frequency stimulation , either delivered after the induction of ltp,6 - 8 or during the ltp induction protocol itself.9 as theta oscillations are a characteristic of hippocampal neuronal activity10 induction protocols that are based on them may be said to be more physiologically relevant .
in addition dp can be induced pharmacologically , by applying nmda11 or dhpg12 at concentrations that are not able to induce ltd , as well as by application of the hormone leptin.13 these differences in the induction requirements for dp compared to ltd may indicate that after ltp synapses enter a different state compared to the basal state , in which they are more sensitive to specialized stimuli that are able to reduce the efficiency of synaptic transmission . in some experimental conditions
this form of plasticity has been observed to occur only within a short time frame after ltp induction.5,11,14 however in other conditions it has also been observed to occur outside this time frame.2,15,16 one possible explanation for these divergent findings is that the strength of the ltp induction protocol may determine how long after ltp the synapses remain susceptible to dp .
for example where it has been observed that it is only possible to induce dp for a short time after ltp relatively strong ltp induction protocols are used .
for example , repeated trains of high frequency stimulation , typically two 1 second tetani delivered at 100 hz 20 seconds apart.5,11,14 however where dp is observed to occur more than 30 minutes after ltp induction , weaker protocols are used to induce ltp .
these may be a single 100 hz tetanus2 or theta bursts.15,16 consistent with this hypothesis are the findings that additional signaling mechanisms are recruited if strong ltp induction protocols are employed , for example l - type voltage - dependent calcium channels.17,18 potentially these additional signaling mechanisms may result in a form of ltp that becomes resistant to dp more quickly .
one way to distinguish between dp and ltd is to examine the molecular mechanisms involved . in summary
it appears that although some of the mechanisms in dp and ltd are held in common , evidence is accumulating that many molecular signaling pathways are distinct .
for example dp is reported to be dependent on the activation of nmda receptors in some experimental conditions3,11,14 and on metabotropic glutamate receptors in others2,19,20 which is similar to the case in ltd.21 however , although nmda receptors are thought to play a role in the induction of both forms of plasticity , there is some evidence that the nmda receptor subunit nr2b is involved in ltd whereas nr2a is involved in dp.22 - 24 one of the first signaling pathways suggested to be involved in dp involves adenosine signaling .
exogenously applied adenosine is able to decrease the magnitude of ltp5,25 and antagonists of adenosine a1 receptors are able to block dp induced by synaptic stimulation5,26,27 however see.28 this mechanism is thought to be triggered by the efflux of camp and its extracellular conversion to adenosine , and to be via a1 receptors coupled to gi / o proteins that reduce intracellular camp concentrations , thus abrogating pka signaling.5 the current evidence is that adenosine receptors do not play a role in ltd in area ca1 of the hippocampus as , for example , ltd and ltp are both intact in a1 knock out mice29 and application of adenosine produces only a transient depression in synaptic transmission.30 the signaling induced by a1 receptor activation in dp is thought to converge on mechanisms involved in ltd however . like in ltd,31 antagonists of protein phosphatase 1 ( pp1 ) or
protein phosphatase 2a ( pp2a ) block dp , possibly via the regulation of pka signaling outlined above.5 in both ltd and dp it is suggested that protein phosphatases subsequently dephosphorylates ca calmodulin dependent protein kinase ii ( camkii ) , leading to the failure of ltp.32 there are differences in the requirements for protein phosphatases in dp and ltd however .
for example if pp2a is selectively antagonized ltd is blocked but dp is retained.33 in addition a third protein phosphatase , calcineurin a has been found to be specifically involved in dp , as in calcineurin a knock out mice both ltp and ltd can be induced , whereas dp is absent.34 an additional down stream effector of adenosine a1 receptor activation in dp may be g - protein - activated inwardly rectifying k+ ( girk ) channels .
these channels are stimulated by adenosine a1 receptors,35 and the trafficking of girk channels is regulated by similar mechanisms to those involved in dp , involving neuronal activity , nmdars and pp1.36 consistent with this , dp is deficient in girk2 knock out mice.35 as girk channels regulate neuronal excitability , this may suggest that the degree of excitability may be important for determining whether dp can occur , for example by regulating the magnitude of ltp that dp is reversing .
consistent with this , in animal models of disease in which excitability is enhanced , depotentiation is also absent.16 please find these molecular mechanisms illustrated in fig .
conversely several groups have found that targeted manipulations that block nmda receptor dependent ltd , have no effect on dp .
firstly mice that are engineered to express the sv40 small t antigen known to inhibit pp2a , are deficient in nmda dependent ltd , but exhibit ltp and dp of the same magnitude as controls.33 secondly , mice that do not express a specific isoform of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase ( pi3k ) , pi3k , also have a specific deficit in nmda receptor dependent ltd , with intact ltp and dp.37 thirdly , the janus kinase ( jak)/signal transducer and activator of transcription ( stat ) pathway has been found to be specifically involved in nmda dependent ltd , but not in ltp or dp.38 in the first two cases behavioral experiments also showed a deficit in flexibility of memory , findings that firstly implicate nmda receptor dependent ltd in this type of memory , and secondly indicate that dp is not required as it was intact in these models .
thus although a role has not yet been suggested for dp in a specific form of memory , by exclusion it appears that its role is not the same as for nmda dependent ltd .
similar to the expression of ltp and ltd39,40 ampa receptor trafficking is involved in the expression of dp .
ampa receptors mediate the vast majority of excitatory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain , and their trafficking to and from synapses is under a high degree of regulation .
ampa receptor subunits have either long cytoplasmic tails ( glur1 and glur2l ) or short cytoplasmic tails ( glur2 and glur3 ) , and on these cytoplasmic tails are many binding sites that enable them to interact with specific binding partners to control their movements . in dp
it is trafficking of ampa receptor subunits that have long cytoplasmic tails that has been found to be particularly involved .
this mechanism involves rap2 , c - jun nh2-terminal kinase ( jnk ) and the nmda receptor subunits nr2a.24 there is evidence that there are differences in the mechanisms of ampa receptor trafficking in dp and ltd , however .
for example in ltd ampa receptor trafficking is not regulated by rap2 and jnk , but by rap1 and p38 mapk dependent mechanism.24,41 in addition there are also distinct dephosphorylation patterns on ampa receptors in ltd and dp . in ltd serine 845 of glua1
is dephosphorylated , but not serine 831 , and in dp the opposite arrangement is seen ; serine 831 is dephosphorylated and serine 845 is not.15 thus although signaling mechanism involved in dp and ltd may converge on the same expression mechanism , ampa receptor trafficking , the regulation is demonstrably different , again pointing to distinct forms of plasticity .
one theory on the etiology of schizophrenia suggests that it could be caused by subtle differences in neurodevelopment that result in erroneous neuronal connectivity.42 a range of factors influences the chance of developing schizophrenia including genetic factors and environmental insults during development .
several specific genes have been linked to this disease , and so it is possible that alterations in their function may contribute to its symptoms .
one such gene is neuregulin 1 ( nrg-1).43 it is therefore of note that a role has also been discovered for nrg-1 in dp , via activation of d4 dopamine receptors.44,45 this finding suggests that a deficit in this form of synaptic plasticity may play a role in the etiology of this disease .
also , erbb4 , the receptor for nrg-1 , is expressed on parvalbumin ( pv ) expressing interneurons,46 which is of interest as there are consistent physiological deficits reported to be present in schizophrenia , one of which is disruption to gabaergic inhibition , as evidenced by a loss of the gaba synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 ( gad67).47 importantly the loss of gad67 in the hippocampus occurs preferentially in pv expressing interneurons and the expression of pv itself in these interneurons is also reduced in schizophrenic patients.48 therefore the recent finding that dp is absent in mice in which the expression of erbb4 has been specifically ablated in pv expressing interneurons,49 provides a convincing case that nrg-1 function is necessary for dp through an effect on the neuronal network , and that in schizophrenia a deficit in dp may result in behavioral or cognitive abnormalities . despite the reported genetic associations in schizophrenia ,
a clear pathophysiological role has not been established for them all , and it is unlikely that one genetic deficit alone could underlie the plethora of symptoms of this disease .
in addition the rate of concordance for schizophrenia between twins is only 50%.50 among the various environmental insults that have been implicated as risk factors emphasis has been given to maternal starvation , perinatal infections , and cannabis use.51 in order to study the role of neurodevelopmental disruption in schizophrenia in a controlled way , the effect of a single injection with the methylating agent methylazoxymethanol acetate ( mam ) on embryonic day 17 has been studied .
this disrupts development in a temporally specific way , and results in behavioral and histopathological changes that are thought to be similar to those observed in schizophrenia.52 interestingly there is also a deficit in dp in this model of schizophrenia , although ltp and ltd remain intact.16 that a less specific molecular manipulation is able to result in a similar deficit to the highly specific ablation of nrg-1 signaling adds further weight to the hypothesis that risk factors of different natures may converge on common physiological deficiencies , like a deficit in dp , and that these common abnormalities may then underlie the symptoms observed in schizophrenia .
it has been suggested however that during development , dp prevents spurious information being stored that may otherwise be encoded by the incidental correlated firing of neurons.53 more generally , this suggests that depotentiation may act as a quality control mechanism for information storage and it is tempting to speculate that a deficit in depotentiation may have a detrimental effect on the verisimilitude of the information that is encoded by the brain . in the context of schizophrenia therefore , a deficit in depotentiation may , by allowing uncorroborated information to be stored , contribute to the positive symptoms experienced by patients of this disease .
recent evidence that is consistent with this hypothesis is that mice in which erbb4 expression has been ablated in pv interneurons , and that show a deficit in dp , also show behavioral deficits that are thought to resemble the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.49 this hypothesis will be difficult to prove , however if correct it would suggest that tailoring pharmacological therapies to enhance dp might have benefits for schizophrenic patients . | pubmed |
PRODUCTION # 802345
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
Screenplay by
Tony Gilroy
and
Scott Z. Burns
and
George Nolfi
Screen Story
by
Tony Gilroy
Based on the novels by Robert Ludlum and Universal's
"The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Ultimatum"
FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT
June 20, 2007
Notice:
This material is the property of Beach City Productions LLC
(A wholly owned subsidiary of Universal City Studios, Inc.) and is intended and restricted solely for studio use by studio personnel. Distribution or disclosure of the material to unauthorized persons is prohibited. The sale, copying or reproduction of this material in any form is
also prohibited.EXT. NIGHT. HOUSING PROJECTS -- MOSCOW 1 1
SMASH CUT
MOTION -- flat out -- it’s us -- we’re running -- stumbling
-- breathing rushed -- blood in the snow...
We are JASON BOURNE and we’re running down an alley...Supered below: MOSCOWBLUE LIGHTS -- from the distance -- strobing through the
night -- rushing toward us -- POLICE CARS -- three of them -- SIRENS HOWLING as they bear down -- closer -- faster -- until they whip past the alley...
Up against the wall -- BOURNE is hidden in the shadows. BOURNE is badly wounded -- shot through the shoulder --
bruises and broken bones from the final car chase in SUPREMACY...
With a GROAN, he lifts himself up, staggers across a park
toward a PHARMACY...
INT. NIGHT. PHARMACY -- MOSCOW
4 4
ROWS of MEDICINE and FIRST AID supplies, and in the
background, a DOOR being jimmied...It’s BOURNE...The ALARM goes off...
MACRO ON -- MEDICINE BOTTLEVICODIN, as BOURNE grabs it...Then PENICILLIN...Then SURGICAL SUPPLIES:Scalpel...Forceps...Sutures...Cotton gauze...Betadine...BOURNE finds a large sink...Rests his gun there...Lays out
SURGICAL SUPPLIES...Checks out his back in the mirror...Opens the capsules of penicillin and pours the powder directly into the wound...Begins treating himself...
EXT. NIGHT. PHARMACY -- MOSCOW
5 5
A POLICE CAR pulls up to the curb, lights flashing. One
POLICEMAN goes to the jimmied DOOR. SECOND POLICEMAN sees blood and footprints. He motions to his partner to follow...
INT. NIGHT. PHARMACY BATHROOM -- MOSCOW
6 6
BOURNE finishing up -- splashes water on his face -- he
seems a man on a mission. He looks up -- 1A MIRROR.
His face...
FLASHBACK -- JUMBLED STREAKY IMAGES: FB1 FB1
“415” written on a building.
DISEMBODIED VOICE (HIRSCH)
Welcome to the program...
POV Bourne walks down a corridor (corridor #1).
INT. NIGHT PHARMACY -- MOSCOW 6AA 6AA
The cops approaching.
FLASHBACK -- JUMBLED STREAKY IMAGES: FB1A FB1A
Daniels leading Bourne down the corridor.
DISEMBODIED VOICE (V.O.)
You’ll be saving American lives.
A black sack is thrown over Bourne’s head, then:
(STOCK) A torrent of quick shots of Bourne’s kills: the
Professor, Jarda, the blonde guy in Paris, Mr. And Mrs. Neski...
And finally. BANG -- Marie hit in the head. The car off
the bridge. She sinks away dead...
INT. NIGHT PHARMACY -- MOSCOW
6A 6A
The POLICE enter the back room, guns drawn.
POLICEMAN #1
Put your hands on your head and
turn around slowly!
BOURNE snaps out of it, doesn’t move. POLICEMAN #1 (older) approaches him. When BOURNE doesn’t respond to his questions, the POLICEMAN starts forward. BOURNE turns and in one motion grabs his gun from the sink and disables the POLICEMAN.
BOURNE freezes POLICEMAN #2 with his gun and a look.
BOURNE
(in Russian)
Give me your gun and radio.
POLICEMAN #2’s gun and radio skittle across the floor.2BOURNE
(in Russian)
My argument is not with you .
BOURNE smashes the radio and takes the gun.
BOURNE exits...
BLACK SCREEN
A TITLE fades in --
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
SUPER: Six Weeks Later
OMITTED 6B 6B
OMITTED 6C 6C
OMITTED 6D 6D
OMITTED 6E 6E
OMITTED 6F 6F
OMITTED 6G 6G
OMITTED 6F 6F
OMITTED 6G 6G
EXT. DAY. LANGLEY, VA 8B 8B
Establishing shot -- CIA Headquarters
INT. CIA -- DAY 8C 8C
A workman installs a nameplate that reads: Ezra Kramer,
Director, CIA.
INT. KRAMER’S OFFICE -- DAY 8C 8C
Kramer listens to a recording with Landy and Cronin. There
are unhung pictures and a few other items that indicate he has just moved into this job. 3Two other senior CIA officials sit in on the meeting.
Kramer looks at a file on Bourne and Abbott.
BOURNE (V.O.)
So we got in the way? Is that why Neski died? Is that why you killed Marie?
Kramer glances at a
photo of Marie in the file.
ABBOTT (V.O.)
You killed Marie the minute you climbed into her car. The minute you entered her life she was dead!
Kramer looks at
Abbott’s official photo .
BOURNE (V.O.)
I told you people to leave me alone! I fell off the grid. I was half way around the world.
ABBOTT (V.O.)
There’s no place it won’t catch up to you. It’s how every story ends. It’s what you are, Jason. A killer! You always will be.
THUMP!
CRONIN
We think that’s Bourne hitting him on the head and then--
He makes a gun with his hand, i.e. Bourne putting his gun to Abbott’s head.
ABBOTT (V.O.)
Go ahead! Go on! Do it!
BOURNE (V.O.)
She wouldn’t want me to. That’s the only reason your alive.
The tape clicks off.
KRAMER
Who’s “she?”
CRONIN puts a picture of MARIE in front of KRAMER.
LANDY
His girlfriend, Marie. She was killed in India three weeks ago.
Kramer looks down at another image.
Abbott dead after his
suicide.4KRAMER
A dirty section chief in league
with a corrupt Russian Billionaire commits suicide when confronted by Jason Bourne. You couldn’t make this stuff up.
(holds up the photo of
Abbot dead)
You watched this happen?
Landy nods. Kramer shakes his head in disgust at the whole situation.
KRAMER
Bourne’s last confirmed location is Moscow, three days ago?
LANDY
Right.
KRAMER
So what does he do now?
LANDY
I think he’s looking for something he hasn’t found.
KRAMER
Like what? What’s he after?
LANDY
I’m not sure. Maybe he hasn’t gotten his memory back yet. Not all of it.
A look from Kramer...
KRAMER
Pam, what I need to know is, what kind of a threat is he to us?
LANDY
If he just wanted to hurt us he could have sent this tape to CNN.
KRAMER
Maybe he still will. Maybe he gave it to you because he wants to throw you in the opposite direction of his real plan. I don’t know. I just know my number one rule is “the only way to stay safe is to assume the worst.” As far as I’m concerned Bourne is a serious threat until proven otherwise. 5OMITTED 8D 8D
OMITTED 8E 8E
OMITTED 8F 8F
OMITTED 8G 8G
OMITTED 14A 14A
EXT. TURIN, ITALY - ESTABLISHING SHOT 14AA 14AA
SUPER: TURIN, ITALY
INT. DAY. ITALIAN CAFE BACKROOM -- TURIN R15 R15
ROSS interviews DANIELS, a TAPE RECORDER on the table
between them. ROSS shows DANIELS some of the evidence he’s assembled...WANTED POSTERS of JASON BOURNE.
ROSS
(with poster)
...This one’s three years ago -- had half of Interpol after him -- disappeared...Turned up in Naples -- Berlin -- Moscow -- disappeared again...
(Daniels says nothing)
The girl he was on he run with -- Marie Kreutz -- she turned up dead halfway around the world, from a sniper’s bullet...
(beat)
What connects the dots? Is it Treadstone?
DANIELS
Turn off that tape recorder.
OMITTED
15A 15A
OMITTED 15B 15B
INT. DAY. MARTIN’S APARTMENT -- PARIS 24 24
The charm of old Paris captured in the workings of an
elevator operating in a wrought-iron shaft...6A WORK TABLE, covered with sheet music, music paper,
pencils. And, sitting on the upright piano against the wall, a framed PHOTO of MARIE...
A KNOCK on a door beautifully, heavily lacquered with
centuries of paint...
MARTIN KREUTZ, late 20s, opens the door and finds BOURNE. A
long look between them -- like two lost brothers who recognize each other -- each has been waiting for this moment for a long time.
INT. CONTINUOUS. MARTIN’S APARTMENT
Martin looks out the window.
MARTIN
Where is my sister?
BOURNE
She’s dead. She was killed.
MARTIN
I knew it was going to end this
way. It was always going to end this way...
BOURNE
I didn’t believe that.
MARTIN
Why did she die?
BOURNE
She was shot. A man came for me.
MARTIN
And then you killed him.
Bourne nods.
MARTIN
Now what?
BOURNE
Someone started all this...and I’m going to find them.
Bourne looks at him for a beat and leaves.
EXT. SUBWAY -- DAY
Bourne climbs the stairs. Bourne rounds a corner and stops, sees a bodyguard at a
door up the street hail a car then go back inside. 7Bourne walks up to the door, the bodyguard comes out again.
Bourne knocks him aside. Grabs the man behind him, ELLATRACHE.
BOURNE
(in French)
Who started Treadstone?
The bodyguard comes back, gun out--
ELLATRACHE
(in French, to
bodyguard)
It’s OK!
(in French, to Bourne)
They’re still looking for you. You are taking a big risk coming here.
Bourne shoves him against the wall, hard.
BOURNE
(in French)
Just tell me what I want to know!
ELLATRACHE
(in French)
I just provided them weapons. I don’t know who started--
BOURNE
(in French)
You know something. Tell me where to start looking.
ELLATRACHE
(in French)
There’s a journalist in London. Simon Ross. He seems to know a lot about you. He has a source inside the program. Someone there from the beginning. What should I tell them if they contact me?
BOURNE
(in English)
They give me the name I want, or I burn their entire house down to get it.
EXT. DAY. HEATHROW AIRPORT -- LONDON
16 16
ROSS hurries to catch a TAXI as he talks on his cell phone. 8ROSS
...This is big -- a skein of lies
-- you pull at it and it just keeps coming -- I’ll fill you in when I get home. And it’s not finished, either.
(beat)
They’re calling it ‘Blackbriar’.
Follow this SEQUENCE as...
INT. DAY. CIA SUBSTATION -- LONDON
17 17
A LISTENING STATION in England scoops up MILLIONS of CELL
PHONE CALLS...Sifts through BILLIONS of words...One word EMERGES from the CHATTER...
BLACKBRIARA TECHNICIAN sends the data to NSA back in the
States...Where another COMPUTER gathers up the rest of the phone call...As we listen...
TECH#3
“Blackbriar” echelon hit.NSA, please confirm receipt.
EXT. DAY. CIA HEADQUARTERS -- LANGLEY
R18 R18
And there in the CRI HUB, another TECHNICIAN receives the
DATA. Stops SUPERVISOR and reports.
TECHNICIAN #1
Sir, we intercepted a call from London, keyword “Blackbriar.”
SUPERVISOR
Okay, send it to CRI right now.
EXT. DAY. THE SKYLINE -- NEW YORK CITY
25D 25D
NOAH VOSEN, deft and confident, arrives at CRI
Headquarters.
INT. DAY. CRI OFFICES -- NEW YORK CITY 25E 25E
As VOSEN steps out of the elevator and into his office, he
is met by his #2, WILLS.
WILLS
We tracked the phone. Registered to a London reporter named Simon Ross. He works at the Guardian newspaper.9They enter a hallway through double doors towards the HUB.
VOSEN
You tracking him?
As they pass through, colleague hands WILLS a file.
WILLS
Yeah, thanks Mike. We have a
survey team covering him at work...and a sneak and peek’s on their way to his apartment.
VOSEN
Well, who talked to him? How did he find out about Blackbriar?
WILLS
We don’t know, we pulled his background and ran a cross check on any known anomalies, but we’ve come up with nothing. But, I think if we follow Ross, we are going to be able...
VOSEN
Right. Ross is easy. I want the source.
They enter the HUB.
EXT. DAY. GARE DU NORD -- PARIS
26 26
BOURNE buys a newspaper, enters the station and gets on the
EUROSTAR.
INT. DAY. CRI DATA ROOM (was 25E) 26A 26A
VOSEN and WILLIS listen to the phone call.
ROSS (VOICEOVER)
Have you heard of an Operation
Blackbriar? I’m going to try and get my head around this, see you first thing.
VOSEN turns.
VOSEN
Is that all?
WILLS
Yeah.10VOSEN
I want rendition protocols and I
want the asset put on standby, just in case.
INT. DAY -- CRI HUB
26B 26B
VOSEN steps out from DATA ROOM...addresses the HUB.
VOSEN
People, listen up, this is a full
priority situation
WILLS
Jimmy, give me Ross’s profile on one.
(points at the big
screen on the wall)
ROSS’S information come up on the center screen.
VOSEN
Our target is a British national, Simon Ross, a reporter. I want all his phones, his blackberry, his apartment, his car, bank accounts, credit cards, travel patterns...I want to know what he’s going to think before he does. Every dirty little secret he has. And most of all, we want the name and real time location of his source.
This is NSA priority level 4, any
questions?
No response from the HUB.
VOSEN (CONT’D)
All right, let’s get to it.
EXT. DAY. EUROSTAR -- ENGLAND
26C 26C
The EUROSTAR winds it’s way to London.
INT. DAY. EUROSTAR 26D 26D
BOURNE reads The Guardian. He sees an article written by
Simon Ross. Title: ”RENEGADE ASSASSIN LOSE IN EUROPE”. It mentions BOURNE. There is a photo of Marie--
FLASHBACK
FB2 FB211Marie smiles at him. Marie shot. Marie fades into the
depths, dead. Bourne burns Marie’s stuff
INT. DAY. EUROSTAR 26D 26D
BOURNE comes out of the flashback. He is still carrying
the pain of her loss
Bourne finds Ross’s name on the masthead, then goes to the
name just below it in the news department.
EXT. DAY GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER -- LONDON 29 29
Ross crosses a busy London street -- heads to Guardian
office building. A CRI TEAM watches from a parked car.
INT. DAY -- CRI HUB 35H 35H
TECH #1 watches the data arrive.
TECH#1
Copy that. Mr. Vosen, subject is
entering his office.
VOSEN watches the feed.
VOSEN
Where’s my picture please?
TECH#2
Coming online...Online...Now.
A surveillance picture flashes onscreen -- ROSS works in his office. HUB chatter about ROSS phone.
TECH#3
Take an hour to get his phone...
VOSEN
That’s too long.
Off VOSEN.
INT. DAY. GUARDIAN EDITOR OFFICE -- LONDON
R34 R34
ROSS reports to his EDITOR.
EDITOR
So how do we know he’s not
spinning for someone?
ROSS
There’s more. He was scared.12EDITOR
Scared of what?
ROSS
Blackbriar.
A REPORTER sticks her head in.
REPORTER
Sorry, a call for you.
ROSS
Who is it?
REPORTER
Won’t give hie name.
ROSS leaves to pick up the call.
INT. CONTINUOUS. GUARDIAN -- NEWSROOM 35Y 35Y
ROSS crosses the busy newsroom...
REPORTER
He’s on my line...
ROSS picks up the phone.
Ross (CONT’D)
Simon Ross.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB -- NEW YORK CITY 35H 35H
VOSEN watches as ROSS takes phone call.
VOSEN
Why aren’t we hearing this?
WILLS
That’s a hard line, Jimmy, why
don’t we have it?
JIMMY
We have his line, sir, but he’s not on it.
WILLS looks confused.
INT. DAY GUARDIAN -- NEWSROOM
35Y 35Y
ROSS listens.
BOURNE (V.O.)
Waterloo Station, south entrance,
thirty minutes.13ROSS
Who is this?
BOURNE (V.O.)
This is Jason Bourne.
INT. DAY -- EUROSTAR TRAVELING 35Z 35Z
Bourne
You want to talk to me. Come
alone.
BOURNE hangs up.
INT. DAY. GUARDIAN -- NEWSROOM 35Y 35Y
ROSS looks bewildered -- hangs up the phone -- gathers his
stuff -- puts his notebook in his pocket and leaves.
SURVEY ONE (V.O.)
Are you getting an image?
VOSEN 35H 35H
Where’s he going?
WILLS
Okay, he is on the move. Target
is mobile.
The HUB reacts. .
WILLS
Okay, people, look sharp, give me eyeballs on the street.
INT. DAY. BUILDING -- ACROSS FROM GUARDIAN
36 36
SURVEY ONE has panned down to the entrance of the GUARDIAN
building. Because ROSS is on the move...
SURVEY ONE
Subject is on the move. Go mobile One and Two.
WILLS
Where’s that audio on the street? I want to know where he’s going...
EXT. CONTINUOUS. LONDON STREET
36A 36A
ROSS hails a BLACK TAXI. The SILVER VAN pulls out behind
him...14INT. DAY. NEW YORK HUB 35H 35H
VOSEN watches as the feed from the SILVER VAN comes
through.
MOBILE 2
(over radio)
We have the subject confirmed.
VOSEN
Where is he heading?
MOBILE 2
Waterloo Station.
EXT. DAY. WATERLOO STATION -- LONDON 37 37
BOURNE arrives on the EUROSTAR. Enters the station.
EXT. CONTINUOUS. STREET 38 38
As the taxi moves away, the SILVER VAN pulls out behind it.
A CYCLE COURIER momentarily blocks its path. Looking in on
ROSS sifting through documents in the back seat.
HUB (V.O.)
Stand by at Waterloo...
EXT. DAY. WATERLOO STATION -- LONDON 39 39
BOURNE moving toward the rendezvous...
INT/EXT. DAY. BLACK CAB -- YORK ROAD 63 63
ROSS pays the DRIVER, exits. Checks his watch. Looks
around. Isn’t sure what his next move is--
INT. DAY. CRI HUB 64H 64H
TECHNICIANS searching for ROSS on the busy street.
TECHNICIAN #2
Mobile One -- give us eyes on the
subject.15EXT. DAY. YORK ROAD -- LONDON 63 63
MOBILE ONE-- two people from the van-- take up a position
in an open stairwell three floors up. They focus a camera down on Ross.
EXT. DAY. ENTRANCE -- WATERLOO STATION
63A 63A
BOURNE buys a cell phone. Activates the SIM card on the new
phone. Dumps the pay-as-you-go package in a bin. Rounds a corner. Out of sight.
OMITTED
63B 63B
INT. CONTINUOUS. CRI HUB -- NEW YORK CITY 64H 64H
Screens come alive with a POV of ROSS. VOSEN studies the
monitors. ROSS arrives at Waterloo, pays TAXI.
TECHNICIAN #1
Sir, subject just arrived at the south entrance to Waterloo Station.
INT. DAY. WATERLOO -- ENTRANCE
63 63
ROSS moves to the entrance.
Behind him, inside the tube station portico, BOURNE
arrives.
Sees ROSS. Sees the two survey teams. MOBILE ONE up the
stair well and MOBILE TWO at street level.
Commuters coming up the escalators. BOURNE joins them -
moving towards Ross.
Closer.Right on him. ROSS oblivious. Looking out onto the
street.
BOURNE brushes past him and PUTS THE PHONE IN HIS POCKET..ROSS feels the contact. Checking himself -- he’s okay.
But now a phone is ringing -- looks around, must be someone else.
But the vibration’s coming from his jacket pocket.ROSS takes out the phone -- not his -- puzzled.ROSS hits “answer.”16ROSS
Hello?
BOURNE (O.S.)
Don’t ask questions. Just
listen...
INT. CONTINUOUS. NEW YORK HUB 64H 64H
VOSEN watching...
VOSEN
What’s he doing? I thought we
blocked his cell? Who the hell is he talking to???
WILLS
Jimmy, I need that phone!
VOSEN
(beat)
Activate the asset.
WILLS
Sir, we haven’t yet become operational --
VOSEN
I said activate the asset. I want options.
Wills keys in a CODE...
EXT. DAY. BMW -- LONDON STREET
64 64
PAZ, 20s, cool and predatory, drives and waits for
instructions...His PHONE buzzes...He reads the code...Accelerates toward Waterloo Station...
EXT. CONTINUOUS. FOOTBRIDGE
70 70
BOURNE reaches the top of the stairwell on the other side
of the road.
His POV to the left -- a LONDON BUS is approaching.To the right -- a young man in a hooded top -- speaking on
his cell -- walking toward a BUS STOP...
A plan is forming.
INT. CONTINUOUS. WHITE VAN
71 71
SURVEY TWO -- camera zooming in on ROSS.17SURVEY TWO
What’s the ROE on this one?
PANNING TO REVEAL
INT. CONTINUOUS. NEW YORK HUB 64H 64H
VOSEN thinking it over as he watches the image of ROSS.
EXT. DAY. YORK ROAD -- TUBE -- BUS STOP 75 75
ROSS looking around. Then --
BOURNE (O.S.)
To your left. Blue hooded top.
Walking towards the bus stop
ROSS has clocked him.
The HOODY walks to the bus stop. One hands-free EARBUD
swaying down by his side as he moves to a seat.
Sitting down. Checking his watch.ROSS shifting nervously from one foot to another.
BOURNE (o.s.) (CONT'D)
Go to the bus stop, sit next to
him. Head down...
The LONDON BUS approaching.
ROSS begins to move.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB -- NEW YORK
64H 64H
Things are beginning to happen.
TECHNICIAN #1
Target is on the move.
WILLS
Okay, who’s the guy in the blue
hood?
Screen POV. ROSS standing next to the HOODY -- head down. Trying to play it cool -- ROSS in clear view of the cameras. “Speaking” with the HOODY. Camera zooming in.
VOSEN
Okay, there, he’s talking to the guy with the hood. Take them down.
Just then --18A BUS pulling up to the bus stop, blocking both SURVEYS’
views. Rifle mics picking up the bus chatter, instead of ROSS.
VOSEN. Annoyed now.
VOSEN
Watch that bus! The bus! --
don’t lose them! Stay triangular and don’t get blocked.
The crackle of the survey teams as they try and reframe.
POV SCREEN -- SURVEY ONE seeing the bus clear. The HOODY
has gone.
POV ANOTHER SCREEN -- SURVEY TWO -- camera finally catching
up, picking out the HOODY on the bus as it begins to pull away.
VOSEN?
Grab Team B. Grab the hoody and stay with Ross...
TECH’S giving orders...
EXT. ACROSS FROM YORK ROAD -- DAY
77 77
SURVEY TWO -- three men racing across the road on foot.
Weaving through heavy traffic.
EXT. DAY. FOOTBRIDGE AREA 78 78
BOURNE watching his plan unfold...Only a few seconds to get
ROSS out of there...
BOURNE
Take the footbridge. Go to the West Entrance. I’ll meet you at the newsstand.
EXT. DAY. YORK ROAD -- CONTINUOUS
79 79
ROSS rearing this -- Moving away --
The BUS moves up to the traffic light. The AGENTS moving
across the street...
INT. DAY. NEW YORK -- ENCRYPTED AREA -- CONTINUOUS 64H 64H
VOSEN looking at the screens. Pointing...19VOSEN
No, no, look...Ross is not on the
bus. Split up the team -- get the guy on the bus and send someone to stay on Ross.
EXT DAY. YORK ROAD -- CONTINUOUS
R81 R81
One AGENT peeling off, to keep ROSS in check.
The other two AGENTS racing to the bus as it pulls away
from the lights. Kicking the doors open, leaping on.
GUNS drawn. So quick. Passengers screaming.
AGENT ONE
(to Hoody)
You. On the floor. Down.
Pushing the HOODY to the floor.
AGENT TWO
Driver, stop the bus!
On the HOODY.The HOOD is pulled back.An innocent YOUNG MAN -- terrified, bewildered.
EXT. DAY. FOOTBRIDGE AREA
83 83
ROSS on the move across the walkway.
INT. DAY. STAIRWELL 84 84
SURVEY ONE moving up the steps, only to meet-
BOURNE coming down. Three quick moves and he's down-
slumped against a wall- just another drunk to step over in the rush hour.
Pulls the feed. Takes the earbud. Then back up and falls
into step behind ROSS.
Listening in to the chaos he has caused -- an ocean away.
INT. DAY. NEW YORK HUB
64H 64H
TECHIES scrambling to restore the feed. VOSEN staring.
TECHNICIAN #2
We’ve lost signal.20TECHNICIAN #1
What happened to Survey One?
VOSEN
I don’t like this. Patch me
through to Met surveillance.
INT/EXT. DAY. CAR -- LONDON STREETS 86 86
PAZ parked up -- gets the call -- pulls out into the
traffic.
Slicing through to the target area. Waterloo up ahead.
EXT. DAY. WATERLOO 87 87
A SECOND SURVEY TEAM -- out of their vehicles. Furtively
they lock and load their side arms.
Fanning out towards the station.
EXT. DAY. WEST ENTRANCE WATERLOO - NEWSTAND R88 R88
Bourne stops Ross, surprising him.
BOURNE
Why do you know so much about me?
ROSS
What?
BOURNE
The article. You talked to
someone from Treadstone. Someone there at the beginning. What’s his name?
ROSS
I can’t tell you that.... Who’s following me?
BOURNE
Whoever they are it’s trouble.
ROSS
Are they Blackbriar?
BOURNE
Blackbriar, what’s Blackbriar?
ROSS
I don’t know. I heard the name this morning for the first time. Whatever it is, my source said it started with you.21BOURNE
What? What are you talking
about?
ROSS
Look, just help me get away from these people...and we can talk more...we can--
BOURNE
(spotting approaching
operatives)
We have to move.
Bourne moves Ross toward the concourse.
BOURNE
Answer your phone.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB
64H 64H
SCREENS coming alive again. They are through to MET
SURVEILLANCE -- the AREA around WATERLOO.
TECHNICIAN #1
Last sighted heading to the West entrance.
VOSEN
He’s got to be close. Seal the entrances.
EXT. DAY. WATERLOO
90 90
The new SURVEY team moves towards different entrances --
Ready to beat out the quarry.
EXT. DAY. WEST ENTRANCE R88A R88A
CAMERAS suddenly alive. Movement across the footbridge.
The net's been thrown.
INT. CONTINUOUS. CONCOURSE -- WATERLOO 91 91
Into the station concourse.
ROSS moving fast. Fighting through the crowds of faces.
Each one a killer in ROSS’ tormented mind.
BOURNE on the periphery looking out across the throng,
picking out the inconsistencies.22One AGENT, then another approaching.
He dials.
BOURNE (O.C.)
Three o’clock. Female. Blonde
black top.
ROSS
Has she seen me?
BOURNE
Not yet. Dip left past the photo kiosk.
ROSS spinning round. Dipping left. BLACK TOP passing in the background missing him.
BOURNE crossing close behind - marshalling the pieces at
breakneck speed.
BOURNE (CONT'D)
Straight ahead. News kiosk.
ROSS turning. Weaving through the commuters.
BOURNE seeing cameras turn. ROSS heading into their path.
BOURNE (CONT'D)
Change of plan. Stop. Tie your
shoelace.
BOURNE seeing ROSS dip out of view as a group of TOURISTS block the CCTV’s line of sight.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB
64H 64H
That same scene -- scores of TOURISTS -- from VOSEN’s point
of view. The TECHS try to get another angle...
EXT. DAY. CONCOURSE -- WATERLOO 94 94
ROSS looking through the sea of legs as he finishes tying
his laces. Cameras sweeping past.
ROSS
Are we clear?
BOURNE
Clear. News kiosk. Straight ahead.
ROSS on the move. Sweating. Paranoid.
Seeing a BIN MAN coming toward him -- reaching into his
trolley.23ROSS
Straight toward me. Bin man?
BOURNE
Negative.
ROSS
He’s got a gun.
BOURNE
Negative. Keep straight ahead.
But ROSS swerves out of his path as the BIN MAN pulls out --
a bunch of keys.
CCTV CAMERAS turn -- ZOOMING IN ON ROSS.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB -- NEW YORK 64H 64H
Ross’ face on all screens.
TECH#1
We got a hit. Middle of the
concourse.
VOSEN pacing.
VOSEN
We’re losing him! We cannot afford to lose him!
Frenzied teching as they capture and transmit an image of Ross to...
EXT. DAY. TAXI RANK -- WATERLOO
96 96
PAZ flipping open his phone. A voice crackling in his
earpiece.
VOICE
Waterloo concourse. Subject heading east.
Paz jamming the wheel hard right. Doing a high speed U-turn.
Heading towards the east side of the station.
EXT. DAY. CONCOURSE
94 94
BOURNE realizes ROSS has been seen. Sees the AGENTS
starting to form the box...
BOURNE
Get into cover. Now!24ROSS moving faster.
VOSEN
What’s the status of the asset? 64H 64H
WILLS
In place in one minute.
VOSEN
Alright, I want to take him now.
Get him out of there and have the asset cover it.
WILLS gives orders...
INT. CAR TRAVELLING-- MEPHAM STREET -- DAY.
96 96
PAZ pulling into a side street. Out towards a series of
arches that lead underneath the terminal. In his ear...
VOICE
Target moving towards the stores.
ANOTHER VOICE
Asset in play. ETA thirty seconds. All exits covered.
PAZ through the archway. Grabbing a station plan. Studying it.
Through a subterranean maze of corridors. Up steps.
98 98
Through doors.
On his way to the kill zone.
EXT. CONCOURSE-- CONTINUOUS -- DAY 99 99
ROSS moving through crowds around the departures board.
BOURNE hearing that last exchange in his earpiece too.
Asset in play?
BOURNE
Keep moving...
BOURNE’s POV: AGENTS closing the box. The departures board. Platform 7. A train waiting.
BOURNE (CONT’D)
Faster....
Commuters waiting for the platform
BOURNE (CONT’D)
The front...25Suddenly -- CLICK -- PLATFORM 7 displays.
A wave of commuters flooding away -- sweeping the AGENTS
back with them towards platform 7.
BOURNE (CONT’D)
GET IN THE STORE.
BOURNE’S bought them thirty seconds.
INT. TUNNELS ABOVE THE CONCOURSE -- DAY 100 100
PAZ on the move. Earpiece crackling. Through a door. Taking
a left down another tunnel.
Opens another security door and moves up some steps.
Towards a ladder.
EXT. CONCOURSE WATERLOO -- SIMULTANEOUSLY -- DAY 100A 100A
The AGENTS regrouping. Speaking into their radios.
Voice
He’s in the store -- still moving
east.
ROSS out into the open again. In front of him another STORE COMPLEX.
BOURNE
INSIDE!
BOURNE searching the concourse. Something bothering him. The threat level clicking another notch.
INT. MAINTENANCE AREA-- SIMULTANEOUSLY -- DAY
102A/B 102A/B
PAZ heads up some stairs to a service platform.
Climbs a ladder.
EXT. CONCOURSE -- CONTINUOUS -- DAY 101 101
ROSS into the store complex. To one side is a service
doorway.
BOURNE sees the AGENTS approaching. Looks the other way --
up at the hoardings above.
Something’s not right. Treadstone instinct.
BOURNE
Service doorway -- Now!26INT. NEW YORK HUB -- SIMULTANEOUS -- DAY 64H 64H
An image of Ross as he enters the store complex appears on
the screen.
TECHY 2
Store. Three means of egress.
VOSEN
Close him down...
INT. STORE COMPLEX -- SIMULTANEOUSLY -- DAY 105 105
ROSS through narrow store corridors. Sheer panic now.
Two of the AGENTS move in after him.
BOURNE behind them.BANG - takes the first out silently.
BOURNE
Keep moving.
ROSS moving out to the light as another AGENT follows.
BOURNE (CONT’D)
Through the store room.
ROSS travelling through. The second AGENT right behind as-BOURNE steps out from behind the store room door. The dull
snap of bones as second AGENT falls to the floor.
INT. DAY -- CRI HUB
64H 64H
On a screen VOSEN watches, transfixed, as BOURNE takes out
all his agents and then grabs ROBB...
VOSEN
Jesus Christ, that’s Jason Bourne.
WILLS
Maybe he’s the source?
VOSEN
It doesn’t matter, the asset now has 2 targets. Take them both out.
WILLS taps in the order...
INT. MAINTENANCE AREA-- DAY
102B 102B
PAZ moves cross a narrow walkway.27Now he’s behind a mechanical 'tri-panel' hoarding. The kind
that displays a different advert every 15 seconds. He waits for the change and then---
-- A huge field of vision across the concourse stretching
out down below him- a sniper's heaven.
PAZ pulling open the motor-casing from the side panel, goes
to work on it.
Slowing the rotation. Rearranging the large triangular
prisms to give him just the right time-gap to pull the trigger- and just enough cover to disappear.
He takes out rifle parts from his rucksack. Starts to
assemble them.
INT. BEHIND THRESHERS (BEHIND THE SILVER METAL DOOR)
102C 102C
BOURNE
I’m going to get you to safety
but you have to stay calm do exactly what I say.
ROSS
(fear-induced autopilot)
Sure, okay.
BOURNE
No, listen to me:
Exactly what I
say this time. Understand?
Ross snaps to focus. Looks Bourne in the eye.
ROSS
Yes.
BOURNE
Stay here while I look for an escape.
Ross nods.
INT. MAINTENANCE AREA
102B 102B
PAZ puts together the rifle.
INT. WATERLOO STATION 103 103
BOURNE exits from the silver door behind Threshers. He
stays on the phone with Ross.
Hidden from the view of the CCTV cameras by the thick
crowd, Bourne sees the approaching agents abruptly pulling back.28ROSS (PHONE V.O.) (CONT’D)
I can see the entrance from here
I can make it out--
BOURNE
No, stay behind that door.
INT. HUB 64H 64H
CCTV view of the silver door behind Threshers that ROSS is
behind (not Bourne) . Wills is on phone.
WILLS
There. That silver door.
Bourne’s behind that door?
TECH
Confirmed.
WILLS
Okay, pull the agents back and give Bourne’s location to the asset.
INT. MAINTENANCE AREA
107 107
On his cell phone Paz receives a text indicating Bourne’s
location. Paz finds the silver door and aims his rifle at it.
SCOPE POVA shape barely visible moving behind the window. (It’s
Ross but Paz and the Hub think it’s Bourne.
INT. BEHIND THRESHERS / WATERLOO CONCOURSE-- DAY
111 111
INTERCUTTING BETWEEN ROSS AND BOURNE:
Bourne spots the agents pulling back per Wills’ orders.
ROSS (INTO PHONE)
If I run now I can make it--
BOURNE (INTO PHONE
No. Something’s not right.
INT. MAINTENANCE AREA 107 107
Paz awaiting his shot--29SCOPE POV
The door comes open slightly, but from this angle Paz
doesn’t have a clean shot at his target (who he thinks is Bourne).
INT. CONCOURSE -- WATERLOO
111 111
Bourne searches the rafters, looking for any threats from
above.
ROSS (TEL. V.O.)
I’m going to go for it, okay?
BOURNE
Don’t move until I tell you.
Bourne is distracted by the last of the agents disappearing. Something is definitely wrong--
ROSS
I’m going to go for it.
BOURNE
No, No not now.
Ross suddenly sprints out from behind the door--
SCOPE POV
110A 110A
Paz sees the shape emerge--
INT. MAINTENANCE AREA -- DAY 110A 110A
PAZ fires--
INT. WATERLOO -- SERIES OF ANGLES 111 111
But it’s Ross, not Bourne. Ross is hit by Paz’s shot. He
falls, inches from the silver door, dead. Blood has splattered on the door.
INT. PAZ’S NEST
110A 110A
Paz snaps his head back to the scope, realizing he’s shot
the wrong person. Then he catches a glimpse of Bourne --
Bourne ducks behind the gathering crowd, out of Paz’s line of sight, and goes to the body. 30INT. HUB 64H 64H
Vosen and Wills stare at the screen. At the image of Ross,
dead on the concourse. The room -- normally full of chatter has gone dead silent...
Vosen puts his head in his hands. This is a monumental
screw up and everyone here knows it. He just had the wrong man killed....
VOSEN
Oh...shit...
Then suddenly Vosen snaps back to focus:
VOSEN (CONT’D)
Get the asset out of there ...
WILLS
What about Bourne?
On the HUB MONITORS we see Police moving in... Vosen doesn’t need to see anymore.
VOSEN
Get him out of there - NOW!
INT. WATERLOO -- DAY
111 111
Bourne feels Ross’ body for something.
OMITTED 110A 110A
PAZ’S NEST 110A 110A
Paz is frustrated by the order. He’s itching to get another
shot off at Bourne, but after a beat, packs up quickly, as ordered.
INT. WATERLOO -- DAY
111 111
Back in Waterloo, Cops run in from all sides.
INT. DAY. WATERLOO STATION 111A 111A
On the screens and in real life, the aftermath of the hit.
PARAMEDICS try helplessly to deal with ROSS -- killed instantly by the head shot meant for BOURNE...POLICE arrive and seal off the crime scene...31EXT. CONCOURSE WATERLOO -- SIMULTANEOUSLY -- DAY 113 113
BOURNE on the move. Fast --
Past platforms. On his way up to the Tri Panel.Up stairs. On to a walkway. To his right he sees a figure
disappearing...
PAZ.BOURNE hammers down the walk - way in pursuit.
EXT. PLATFORM AREA -- DAY
114 114
BOURNE tailing PAZ down on to a parallel platform. PAZ
dipping down into the underground entrance.
INT. TUBE STATION -- WATERLOO -- DAY 115/116 115/116
PAZ moving deliberately through the evening rush hour--
blending in...
BOURNE in pursuit. Chasing on instinct.There...A glimpse of PAZ at the bottom of an escalator.BOURNE fights past people. PAZ disappears into the crowd. BOURNE rushes to catch him. Rounding a corner... A long walkway -- at the end, two staircases lead to
different tube lines. BOURNE hesitates-- measures the choice.
The sound of a train fills the station-- BOURNE -- Fast downstairs. Watches-- just as PAZ gets onto the car at another door. BOURNE lunges to get on the train...But the doors close...BOURNE’S POVWatching PAZ from the platform as he SAGS down onto a seat,
nauseated, his skin clammy, his head pounding...He takes out the PILLS and dry-swallows them...Looks up...
CLOSE ON -- BOURNEWatching PAZ...As if he’s looking in the MIRROR at his old
self...The self before THE BOURNE IDENTITY...32CLOSE ON -- PAZ
He looks straight ahead, just another commuter...BACK ON -- BOURNEWatching PAZ, as the train pulls away...Then BOURNE is
immediately in motion...
INT. DAY. DIRECTOR’S OFFICE -- CIA -- LANGLEY, VA
119 119
KRAMER
Hello.
VOSEN
It’s Vosen. We have a situation.
EXT. NIGHT. DANIELS OFFICE -- MADRID 119B 119B
Establishing Sewell and Marbury.
INT. NIGHT. DANIELS OFFICE 120 120
DANIELS watches news of ROSS murder on TV. DANIELS panics,
opens his safe, packs up papers, takes Blackbriar FILE. Sets alarm. Leaves.
EXT. NIGHT. INTERNET CAFE -- LONDON.
120C 120C
BOURNE sits at a computer, the ROSS notebook open in front
of him. He pages through it, finding names, places, “HOW DID THIS ALL START?” -- and Blackbriar. He Googles “Sewell and Marbury”-- finds Paris, Berlin, Madrid. BOURNE continues to search and finds receipt from Madrid.
BOURNE leaves.EXT. DAY. POSH HOTEL -- NEW YORK CITY
123 123
LANDY steps out of a TAXI...
INT. DAY. POSH HOTEL -- NEW YORK CITY 123A 123A
Vosen’s sitting.
VOSEN
(to waiter)
Sparkling. And a “Heart-Healthy”
omelet with goat cheese and peppers.
Landy arrives. 33VOSEN
You’re late. Traffic?
WAITER
(handing her the menu)
Ma’am?
LANDY
Nothing for me.
Vosen looks at her, surprised.
VOSEN
I’m buying.
She shakes her head, no. She sits, without taking her coat
off. She’s not staying long.
VOSEN
When the Director called, it was suggested we bring you on--
LANDY
Suggested?
(beat)
Are you sure it was just a suggestion?
VOSEN
Funny how different things look depending on where you sit. I look at this as doing a favor for you. Giving you an opportunity to complete some unfinished business.
LANDY
Meaning?
VOSEN
Jason Bourne.
LANDY
Bourne’s finished.
VOSEN
Really?
LANDY
It was finished the moment I realized I was chasing him for something he didn’t do. The case is closed. 34VOSEN
So what do you make of this?
(handing her
surveillance photos of
Bourne in Paris)
French intel picked up Bourne meeting Pierre Elattrache on Tuesday. He threatened to burn our house down if you didn’t tell him who started Treadstone. That’s a big problem, wouldn’t you agree?
LANDY
This doesn’t feel like Bourne to me.
VOSEN
Why’s it so hard for you to believe?
LANDY
Probably because it’s coming from you, Noah.
VOSEN
Lets try and be adults okay? We all thought he was done, off the grid. But Bourne’s back. Maybe he’s a threat. We both want the same thing here.
LANDY
So what happened at Waterloo?
VOSEN
We have a leak. Bourne showed up in our surveillance. We had very little time to react.
LANDY
And the reporter ended up dead?
VOSEN
Bourne saw us coming.
Landy looks at him, suspicious.
LANDY
So what was he doing?
VOSEN?
We don’t know. But just the fact that he was there means he’s up to something, don’t you think? Maybe he’s the source?35LANDY
The real question is how you
managed to get in a fire fight in the middle of a public train station.
VOSEN
Don’t second guess an operation from an armchair, Pam. It’s not fair.
LANDY
I’m going to the office now. I’ll make my own introductions.
Off VOSEN...
EXT. DAY. ATOCHA TRAIN STATION -- MADRID
125 125
AN AVE train pulling into the vast station. BOURNE stepping
out, walking up the platform.
Moving out through the station...
INT. DAY -- CRI HUB 125A 125A
TWO NEW TECHS plus the three we met before. All watching
VOSEN lead LANDY and CRONIN into the room.
WILLS
This is Pamela Landy. She’s gonna be quarterbacking our search effort. I think what we oughta do, just to get started, let’s go around the room, say who you are and what your spec is.
LANDY stepping in before this gets going --
LANDY
Let’s do names later.(she’s got the floor) What’s Bourne’s last fixed position?(impatient)
Anybody.
TECH#3
London. Twelve hundred Zulu.
LANDY
Status? Wounded? Armed?
TECH#2
Alive. Mobile. Unknown.36LANDY
Where are your grids coming from?
TECH#1
NSA Tactical.
LANDY
You have an Echelon package?
TECH#1
Yes.
LANDY
Why isn’t it on?
TECH#1
We were waiting.
LANDY
For what?
(no takers)
You’re nine hours behind the
toughest target you’ve ever tracked. I want everyone to sit down, strap in, and turn on
all
you’ve got.
(beat)
That would mean now.
That lights it. They’re moving.
LANDY (CONT’D)
Thank you.
VOSEN watches...
LANDY (CONT’D)
I want everything you’ve got on Ross on screen one.
LANDY watches as the screen lights up with ROSS information...
EXT. DAY. SEWELL AND MARBURY -- MADRID
125B 125B
Bourne arrives, begins to recon the area.
He goes to the front door finds “Sewell and Marbury” and
rings the bell. No answer. Two cops come around a corner.
Bourne sees them, notes the side of the building and
leaves. 37INT. DAY. CRI HUB -- NEW YORK CITY 125E 125E
TECH#1
Sir, we just hacked Ross’s email
account at the Guardian and found a round trip ticket to Turin, yesterday. 0800 arrival, 12:05 departure.
LANDY
I think we can be pretty certain that Bourne’s not your source then?
VOSEN
How?
LANDY
Ross’s call to his editor, where he said he just met the source on Blackbriar, took place just after his flight landed. His met his source in Turin.
VOSEN
So?
LANDY
So, what, Bourne met Ross for breakfast and then, at noon the same day Bourne calls Ross to demand a meet at Waterloo?
CRONIN
(Needling Wills)
Maybe they were even on the same flight?
VOSEN
Cross check the secure cell phone usage of everyone with Blackbriar SCI clearance against all calls in and out of Turin during the morning Ross was there
TECHNICIANS start pounding keyboards.
LANDY
The guy you’re after is a CIA operative with clearance above Top Secret. He was committing treason by talking to Ross. Do you really think, while doing that, he used a cell phone he knows we can track?
TECH 3 (JIMMY)
Zero results on the cross check.38VOSEN stares daggers at her.
WILLS
Do you have a better idea?
LANDY
Yeah, I’d look at all the people
whose cell phones were switched off the entire period Ross was in Turin.
WILLS
Do it Jimmy.
TECHNICIANS start tapping.
LANDY
(looks at Cronin)
I mean if your people use their cell phones as much as mine do, the list should be pretty small
TECHNICIAN 3 JIMMY
Three names: Tom Brewster, Jack Boulin, Neal Daniels.
The names display on the screen:
Tom Brewster, Jack Boulin
Neal Daniels.
The HUB employees can’t help but be impressed by LANDY.
WILLS and VOSEN notice their response.
LANDY
Now check everything in Ross’s apartment against those names. Look for common patterns, look for -
CRONIN
Initials .....Bring that up on main.
LANDY turns. CRONIN is leaning down in front of a computer screen. Point to something for the tech --- who puts it on the big screen, blown up.
In a set of handwritten notes by ROSS it says “
per
N.D.”next to several scrawls.
LANDY
Neal Daniels. He’s Station
Chief in Madrid now, isn’t he?
WILLS
Jesus Christ.39VOSEN
Call the RSO at the Embassy and
have them take Daniels into custody if he’s there. If he’s not, get a grab team to the Calle Norte safe house. Send them in heavy and tell them we’ll assist with entry.
LANDY
“Heavy?” Daniels isn’t--
VOSEN
I’m worried about Bourne. If he’s not Ross’s source, then he must be
after Ross’s source -- just
like us.
Off LANDY...
EXT. MADRID STREETS -- NIGHT 125F 125F
BOURNE in a TAXI turning a corner into a narrow street.
The rain has slowed, but the streets are still quiet.
BOURNE gets out and walks past the SEWELL and MARBURY front
door, picks the lock and gains entry.
INT. SEWELL AND MARBURY. -- NIGHT 126B 126B
BOURNE up the stairs. Finds the office. Jimmies the door.
Disables the alarm.
All the signs of a hurried exit. A half filled cup of
coffee -- cigarette burned down in an ashtray but not snubbed out -- a light left on -- files and documents, some shredded, some not.
INT. HUB
127H 127H
Vosen paces back and forth. The hub is MUCH quieter than
it was in the Waterloo scenes.
TECH 1. (LUCY)
Parque Vasquez is clean. No sign of subject.
VOSEN
Team two, ETA Callee Norte?
FILTERED V.O. (KILEY)
Three minutes.40EXT. MADRID STREETS -- NIGHT 127A 127A
A BLACK CAR moving briskly through traffic and --
INT. MOVING BLACK CAR -- NIGHT 127A 127A
HAMMOND at the wheel. KILEY with the map. Shutting off his
phone.
INT. SEWELL AND MARBURY -- NIGHT 127B 127B
BOURNE checks the office. Soon he finds a photo of
Daniels with Albert Hirsch .
EXT. HOSPITAL ANNEX -- OVERCAST DAY -- FLASHBACK FB3 FB3
Bourne arrives at a nondescript steel door with two CCTV
cameras covering it. He sees 415 written above the door.
INT. SEWELL AND MARBURY -- NIGHT 127B 127B
The flashback overwhelms Bourne.
INT. SRD CORRIDOR -- DAY -- FLASHBACK FB3A FB3A
POV shots of Bourne walking down the long corridor with
Daniels. Other shots revealing that Bourne is in Army dress greens (without hat). Daniels knocks and leads Bourne into--
INT. SEWELL AND MARBURY -- NIGHT
127B 127B
Bourne is driven to his knees.
OMITTED FB3B FB3B
INT. TANK ROOM -- FLASHBACK FB3C FB3C
Bourne is dragged into a room with a large water tank. His
hands have been bound behind his back, the sack’s drawstring pulled tight, and he has been weighted down. Bourne is shoved into the water.
UNDERWATER SHOT -- FLASHBACK
FB3D FB3D
Bourne falls into the water. SPLASH. He starts to sink.
The wet sack allows us to see the outlines of his face. Also POVs as Bourne sinks. 41SERIES OF SHOTS FROM ABOVE AND BELOW WATER --FLASHBACK FB3E FB3E
Bourne struggles wildly at first. Tries to get out of his
restraints. But to no avail. SRD men watch him from the edge of the tank. Perhaps also on monitors. Expressionless.
UNDERWATER SHOT - FLASHBACK
FB3F FB3F
Bourne fights every human instinct to draw a breath. Also
shot from Bourne’s POV:
HIRSCH (FILTERED, EERIE)
You’re going to drown. There is nothing you can do to prevent this. Stop struggling and accept it.
Finally Bourne can’t hold his breath for an instant longer. His mouth opens. Water rushes in. He convulses, begins to drown...
INT. TANK ROOM -- FLASHBACK
FB3G FB3G
Bourne’s body goes limp. SRD men watch. No reaction.
UNDERWATER SHOT -- FLASHBACK FB3H FB3H
Bourne goes limp. POV of him blacking out.
INT. SEWELL AND MARBURY -- NIGHT 127B 127B
BOURNE comes out of the FLASHBACK. As he staggers across
the room, he notices a car arriving on the monitor...
EXT. STREET 127C 127C
A car approaches.
INT. SEWELL AND MARBURY 127B 127B
Bourne snaps out of it and sees the car on a security
monitor.
EXT. STREET. 127C 127C
Agents get out of car and approach building.42INT. DAY -- CRI HUB 127H 127H
TECH#3
Sir, they’re at the front door.
VOSEN watches...
EXT. NIGHT. MADRID SAFEHOUSE 127C 127C
HAMMOND AND KILEY enter the building.
INT. NIGHT. SAFEHOUSE 127D 127D
BOURNE runs water into the TEA KETTLE -- sets the trap...
INT. NIGHT. SAFEHOUSE 128A 128A
HAMMOND and KILEY enter.
HAMMOND
We're in.
BOURNE listens from his hiding spot.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB 127H 127H
LANDY paces.
VOSEN
Okay, put it live.
INT. NIGHT. SAFEHOUSE 129 129
HAMMOND moves quickly into the room -- gun raised.
HAMMOND at the alarm box.
HAMMOND
Alarm’s down.
INT. DAY -- CRI HUB 127H 127H
VOSEN
That has to be Bourne.
VOSEN already moving to the monitor.
INT. NIGHT. MADRID SAFEHOUSE 131 131
HAMMOND and KILEY -- move cautiously from room to room --
they’ve done it before...43HAMMOND
(into mike)
Safe’s cleaned out.
INT. CRI/GRID ROOM 127H 127H
VOSEN pacing impatiently around the speakerphone --
VOSEN
Shit... Track the passports.
INT. NIGHT/RAIN -- SAFEHOUSE 133 133
KILEY gestures to a light moving under a door.
Kiley crouching...leaning in...hand on the knob, and --Pulls the closet DOOR OPEN -- Nothing. Sink, dishes. a small kitchen. And... on the
stove...a tea kettle and a spoon...
Which is the last thing they'll remember, because...BOURNE -- coming around the corner fast -- full stop and --BOURNE lays out HAMMOND... KILEY turns to find BOURNE --
who takes him out too.
Then it stops.BOURNE yanks the headsets. Closes the PHONE.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB
127H 127H
The SCREENS go black. Silence...
VOSEN
Goddamn it! Get a back-up team
in there!
INT. MADRID SAFEHOUSE - NIGHT 127D 127D
TEA KETTLE payoff...
INT. HUB 127H 127H
VOSEN
How long till back-up arrives?
The hub scrambles to answer that... Landy paces in the
background. Suspicious of Vosen...44VOSEN
How long?
(beat, loud, to the
entire hub)
Stop! Hang on. I have an
idea...
INT. NIGHT. MADRID SAFEHOUSE 136 136
ON A SECURITY MONITOR -- BOURNE sees another figure moving
up the stairs...Checking his watch, reloading his gun. Twisting into the path to shoot as the door opens, hesitating because-
It’s NICKY.A beat -- long unbroken.
BOURNE
What are you doing here?
NICKY
I was posted here after Berlin.
BOURNE
Where’s Daniels?
The office PHONE goes. Bourne waving her to it. She picks
it up. He hits the speaker phone.
INT. HUB
127H 127H
NICKY (V.O.)
Hello.
VOSEN
Who is this?
NICKY (V.O.)
This is Nicky Parsons. Who’s
this?
Landy reacts to her voice...
Both Vosen and Landy strongly suspect Bourne is there and
listening...
Vosen reads her “Duress Challenge” identity check off the
screen. It reads:
Challenge: “Sparrow”Response if Under Duress: “Ruby”Response if Normal: “Everest”45VOSEN
Nicky, I need to do an ID
challenge first. Code in: “Sparrow.”
Vosen looks at the screen to check her response...
NICKY
Response: “Everest”.
VOSEN
Nicky, this is Noah Vosen. How long have you been on site?
NICKY (V.O.)
I just walked in.
VOSEN
We have two officers on site. Are you in contact with them?
NICKY (V.O.)
They’re down. Unconscious, but alive.
VOSEN
Is there any sign of Daniels?
NICKY (V.O.)
No.
LANDY
Nicky, this is Pam Landy. We have reason to believe there is a connection between Neal Daniels and Jason Bourne.
NICKY (V.O.)
Bourne, are you still looking for Bourne? I thought the case was closed.
LANDY
No, some people are convinced he’s still a threat. I disagree but to find out I need to talk to him.
VOSEN seething because LANDY has interrupted him...
VOSEN
Hold on Nicky.
Vosen hits the mute button.
VOSEN
What are you doing? You know Bourne’s probably listening.46Landy doesn’t answer. Vosen to Wills:
VOSEN
How long till back up arrives.
Wills holds up three fingers. Vosen unmutes.
VOSEN (CONT’D)
(into microphone again)
Listen, Nicky. I want you to
stay put and secure the premises. It could be an hour until another team arrives.
LANDY piercing VOSEN with a look...
INT. SAFEHOUSE - NIGHT
138 138
BOURNE continues to hold the gun in her face -- NICKY is
very calm considering the predicament she is in.
NICKY
Okay.
DIAL TONE as the line gets closed at the other end.
NICKY
They know you’re here.
BOURNE
How long do I have?
NICKY
Three minutes...
EXT. NIGHT. MADRID STREET 138A 138A
FLASH: TWO SEDANS squeal around a corner. CRI
reinforcements.
INT. NIGHT. CRI SEDAN -- MADRID STREET 138AA 138AA
DELTA DUDE
2 minutes to safehouse.
INT. NIGHT. MADRID SAFEHOUSE 138B 138B
NICKY
My car’s outside. I know where
Daniels is.
BOURNE lowers his gun, grabs the phone and dials “1-1-2”47SPANISH OPERATOR (SUBTITLE)
Emergency operator. Where is
your emergency?
BOURNE answers her in perfect Spanish with a perfect Madrid accent, but worked up, like a civilian would be...
BOURNE (SUBTITLE)
334 Calle Norte. I hear gunfire. And men shouting. I think they’re Americans --
BOURNE pushes the phone off the desk -- fires four shots into the ceiling -- calmly moves Nicky towards the back door...
INT. HUB
127H 127H
VOSEN
You “disagree” he’s a threat? He
just took out two more of my men. Not to mention his ultimatum to Ellatrache?
LANDY
The only way this has a happy ending, Noah, is if we find a way to bring Bourne in voluntarily.
VOSEN
He wants revenge, Pam. The only realistic way to deal with this is to eliminate the threat.
INT. NIGHT. BACKSTAIRS
139 139
BOURNE and NICKY rapidly descend.
BOURNE
Okay, where is Daniels headed?
NICKY
8 o’clock this morning, he wired
$100,000. to a numbered bank account in Tangier.
BOURNE
Okay, Tangier is about 300 miles away, we can make the morning ferry.
NICKY
And then what?48EXT. NIGHT -- MADRID SAFEHOUSE STREET 139A 139A
Bourne and Nicky exit on to the street. Suddenly they hear
tires squealing nearby.
NICKY
They’re coming.
They continue to walk down the street towards Nicky’s car.
INT. HUB 127H 127H
Vosen and Landy are watching this live.
As they cross the street two MADRID POLICE CARS come around
the corner the wrong way and screech to a stop.
Vosen reacts...
EXT. MADRID -- NIGHT 139A 139A
Four cops jump out and take aim at the AGENTS.
SPANISH POLICE
Manos Arriba! Manos Arriba!
More sirens closing in. A third police car appears.
Then a fourth...
INT. HUB 127H 127H
Vosen can’t believe it--
EXT. MADRID -- NIGHT 139A 139A
The agents drop their guns and surrender.
BOURNE and NICKY continue around a corner -- they get in
her VW GOLF and drive away...
INT. HUB 127H 127H
Vosen stares at Landy. A beat, then she walks out.
VOSEN
Issue a standing kill order on
Jason Bourne, effective immediately.
OMITTED
139AB 139AB49INT. NIGHT -- VOSEN’S OFFICE -- CRI 139B-C 139B-C
VOSEN on the phone.
VOSEN
We lost Bourne.
KRAMER
You still think he’s after
Daniels?
VOSEN
Yeah. Nicky’s just the means. But if we find Daniels, we’ll find Bourne.
KRAMER
Daniels knows way too much. Daniels knows everything. We can’t let them meet.
VOSEN
I’ll take care of it.
KRAMER
Good.
(beat)
And fill Hirsch in. Just in case.
INT. NIGHT. TRUCK STOP -- SPAIN
R145 R145
BOURNE and NICKY sit over coffee. A long silence...then:
NICKY
What are you after, Jason? Why
are you looking for Daniels?
BOURNE
Do you know who this is?
Bourne puts the photo of Daniels and Hirsch on the table between them. She looks at the photo, points.
NICKY
That’s Daniels.
(points at Hirsch)
I don’t know who that is.
BOURNE
I have to get back to the beginning...or I’ll never be free of this.
NICKY
Who is he?50BOURNE
I think he started Treadstone. I
remember meeting him. I remember the first day...
(beat)
Daniels brought me to him.
Nicky looks back at him....not sure what to say.
NICKY
What happened?
BOURNE
An initiation...I guess...
FLASHBACK
FB3B FB3B
QUICK FLASH: Bourne, head in sack, is held underwater,
struggling desperately for breath--
INT. NIGHT. TRUCK STOP -- SPAIN R145 R145
Bourne comes out of the flashback. Nicky is looking at
him....
NICKY
Jason...that wasn’t some one-off initiation. Daniels said they did that to you over and over again. That’s how they...
She doesn’t finish. And Bourne doesn’t ask her to. Just a long pause.
BOURNE
Why are you helping me?
NICKY
It was difficult for me...with you.
BOURNE looks up. Another long pause...
NICKY (CONT’D)
You really don’t remember anything?
BOURNE
No.
NICKY’S face.
Two SPANISH COPS enter the cafe.
BOURNE (CONT’D)
We should move. 51They get up and leave...
INT. VOSEN’S OFFICE -- DAY 145A 145A
Vosen goes to his safe.
VOSEN
(to voiceprint mic)
Noah Vosen.
Then he puts his thumb into a print reader. The safe door
pops open. He pulls out a file marked “Top Secret.”
INT. DAY. LANDY’S OFFICE -- CRI 145B 145B
CRONIN makes his way down the hallway.
LANDY works at her desk. CRONIN enters...
CRONIN
They tracked Daniels’ passport to
a hotel in Tangier. They’re holding up a bank transfer he made to keep him in place while they move an asset in from Casablanca.
Off LANDY. This just keeps getting worse...
INT. VOSEN’S OFFICE
145C 145C
Landy enters without knocking.
LANDY
Since when do you have
authorization for lethal action against Daniels?
VOSEN
Since he cleaned out a Blackbriar safe and fled to Morocco!
LANDY
So grab him--
VOSEN
I don’t have the people on the ground to do that and I’m not going to risk that file falling into the wrong hands.
LANDY
What’s going on? What’s Daniels got?52VOSEN
What’s he got? He ran all of
Blackbriar’s operations in
Southern Europe and North Africa.
LANDY
I think the world’s well aware we have a rendition and lethal action capability at this point, Noah.
VOSEN
For Christ’s sake, Pam, he’s got our entire playbook. Names, dates, ghost sites, how we train our assets.....
LANDY
You still don’t have the authority to kill him.
VOSEN
Oh, yes I do, Pam.
Vosen holds up the file we saw him pull out of his safe. It is labeled “
Blackbriar: Lethal Action Protocol .”
VOSEN
That’s what makes us special. No red tape. No more getting badguys in our sights and then watching them escape while we wait for some bureaucrat to issue the order.
Landy opens up the file. Sees the words “
instantaneous
lethal action is authorized when ...”
LANDY
You just decide? No oversight.
No checks and balances.
VOSEN
Come on, Pam, you’ve seen the raw intel. You know how real the threat is. We can’t afford to have our hands tied like that anymore.
EXT. DAY. FERRY -- ESTABLISHING
148 148
BOURNE and NICKY ride the ferry from Gibraltar to
Morocco...53EXT. DAY. TANGIER HARBOR 150 150
They arrive and pass through CUSTOMS...
EXT. DAY. TANGIER 150A 150A
DANIELS drives...
OMITTED 148H 148H
EXT. DAY. TANGIER 148A 148A
DESH arrives, grabs a TAXI...
INT. DAY. PENSIONE -- TANGIER 148B 148B
BOURNE and NICKY enter a shabby room. Turn on the
fluorescent lights...
BOURNE tosses his BACKPACK on the bed...NICKY plugs her LAPTOP into the USB port...ON THE SCREEN, as NICKY hacks into the system...BLACKBRIAR...
OMITTED
148C 148C
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE -- DAY 148CA 148CA
Landy on the phone.
LANDY
It’s Pamela Landy for him.
Would you tell him it’s urgent?
INT. KRAMER’S OFFICE -- DAY 148CB 148CB
The phone buzzes. Kramer picks it up.
ASSISTANT (PHONE V.O.)
It’s Pam Landy. She says it’s
urgent.
On Kramer...the wheels turning....
KRAMER
Tell her I’m unreachable.
Kramer hangs up.54INT. LANDY’S OFFICE -- DAY 148CA 148CA
Landy receives the news.... The wheels turning in her
head.... She hangs up. A pensive moment, then she gets up and heads for--
INT. DAY -- CRI HUB
148H 148H
LANDY AND CRONIN enter the hub--
VOSEN is in the middle of giving the kill order.
VOSEN
Give me the subject’s location.
TECHNICIAN #2
Subject is currently on foot and
now entering Hotel Velazquez. 45 Route Commerce, Tangier.
VOSEN
Get an elevation and a floor plan, tic-tac-toe. Locate the room. Give the asset Daniels’s location and the route between Daniel’s hotel and the bank.
INT. TAXI
149B 149B
DESH looks down at his beeping cellphone. It has a MAP on
the screen.
INT. HOTEL 149C 149C
Nicky at her computer.
SHE LOGS IN WITH HER USER I.D.Bourne looks on.TIGHT ON MONITOR: 3-D IMAGE OF HOTEL WITH DANIEL’S ICON
PINPOINTED
INT. HUB
148H 148H
Vosen and Wills. Landy still pacing
VOSEN
Do we have that room yet?
TECH 2(ARKI)
Yes sir Room 117. 55VOSEN
Get the hotel’s trunk line. Run
all calls through here with an iso on 117
TIGHT ON COMPUTER MONITOR: DESH’S ICON STOPS MOVING.
MEDIUM CLOSE UP ON TECH
TECH
Sir, the asset is acquiring the
materials.
INT. LOCK-UP GARAGE. DAY
154 154
DESH opens a lock-up and goes in. He comes out with a
scooter and drives off.
INT. HOTEL 149C 149C
Nicky types on computer. Enters search parameter: NEAL
DANIELS. ACCESS DENIED.
NICKY
His location’s being blocked.
BOURNE
Now they found Daniels, do you know where he is?
NICKY
They’ll get one of the operatives to terminate him.
BOURNE
Find out who.
INT. LOCK-UP GARAGE. DAY
154 154
Desh works on a bomb.
NICKY (O.C.)
Desh.
INT. HOTEL 149C 149C
DESH BOUKSANI’s profile.
BOURNE
Tell him you’re going to meet him
and that you have a new phone for him.56NICKY
If you stop Desh they’ll just get
someone else.
BOURNE
We’re not going to stop him. We’re going to follow him. He’ll take us right to Daniels.
INT. LOCK-UP GARAGE. DAY
154 154
CU DESH (AND INSERT PHONE) HE RECEIVES NEW ROUTING
INFORMATION FROM NICKY.
“Meet me Tangier Cafe Paris”The bomb is finished on the Work table.
EXT. LOCK-UP GARAGE. DAY
154 154
Desh takes the scooter out.
EXT. TANGIER ESTABLISHING 154 154
EXT. STREET. 155 155
Bourne and Nicky walk.
Desh rides his scooter.
TIGHT ON COMPUTER SCREEN: DESH’S ICON TURNS OFF COURSE.INT. HUB
148H 148H
TECH (LUCY)
Sir, the asset is deviating.
VOSEN
Find out why.
EXT. ACROSS FROM CAFE DE PARIS. DAY 157 157
BOURNE, recalculating. Looking around him.
A scooter is pulling up and the driver walks toward BOURNE.
TIGHT ON COMPUTER SCREEN: DESH’S ICON IS NOW STATIONARY57INT. HUB 148H 148H
TECH (LUCY)
Asset unscheduled stop.
EXT. CAFE DE PARIS 159 159
NICKY SITS, Desh walks up and snatches the phone off of the
table.
A scooter is pulling up and the driver walks toward BOURNE.
He brushes past him, taking the key.
Keeping DESH in sight as he returns to his Vespa and pulls
out in to traffic.
TIGHT ON COMPUTER SCREEN: DESH’S ICON IS MOVING AGAIN
TECH
Sir, the asset is on the move, in
route to subject.
INT. HUB - DAY 148H 148H
TECH #1
Sir, the asset is back on course.
VOSEN looks up.
WILLS
Sir, we have an unauthorized
breach. Someone with active system knowledge has penetrated out protocols. Information was passed to the asset at 14.11.
(beat)
The trace is confirmed and valid. It comes from a computer belonging to Nicky Parsons.
VOSEN looks over at Landy....his wheels turning. A series of cuts between them.
VOSEN
Where did the course deviation occur?
TECH (LUCY)
South to Rue Belgique. Stationery at Place de France.
VOSEN
That’s where Parson’s is.
He pauses, deciding what course to take. Landy watches.58VOSEN
When we’re finished with Daniels
send the asset after her. We find Parsons, we find Bourne.
LANDY (OVERLAPPING)
(going to Vosen, firm)
Noah, what are you doing?
VOSEN
Not now.
LANDY
Now. I want to know what’s going on.
VOSEN
Not now.
LANDY
I’m asking on what basis you’re continuing this operation.
VOSEN
On the basis that Nicky Parsons has compromised a covert operation. She is up to her neck in it.
LANDY
This is about Daniels, not Nicky!
VOSEN
She has betrayed us!
LANDY
You don’t know the circumstances!
VOSEN
She’s in league with Jason Bourne for Chrissake!
LANDY
You don’t have the authority to kill her or Bourne!
VOSEN
Yes, I do Pam, it’s right here and it’s legal.
VOSEN slams a document on the desk. INSERT SHOT:
“Blackbriar: Lethal Action Protocol.”
LANDY
She’s one of our own. You start down this path...where does it end?!59VOSEN
It ends when we’ve won.
LANDY turns and storms out...
VOSEN
Notify the asset of the
additional target.
BRYAN
Yes, sir.
BRYAN codes in a kill order on NICKY...
EXT. DAY. TANGIER 164A 164A
As he rides his VESPA, DESH receives additional target
information..Pictures of BOURNE and NICKY.
DESH glances in his rearview mirror -- spots BOURNE.
INT. DAY. HUB -- MEDIUM CLOSE UP: 148H 148H
VOSEN
Have the bank release the funds.
A TECH calls DANIELS.
INT. DAY. VELASQUEZ HOTEL 167 167
DANIELS answers phone.
BANK OFFICER (FRENCH, SUBTITLED)
Mr. Daniels, Bank of Tangier.
Your funds are now available.
Daniels leaves.
EXT. DAY. TANGIER STREET 168 168
DESH parks the motorbike and walks around the corner,
BOURNE follows.
DANIELS’ car coming down the street. BOURNE stops and sees
the car -- realizes the danger.
BOURNE turns back to see DESH with the detonator in his
hand.
BOURNE locks eyes with DESH. Before BOURNE can react --
DESH detonates.
BOOM! DANIELS is DEAD. 60BOURNE is thrown across the street by the blast. He lays
MOTIONLESS.
DESH POV. He looks back to see BOURNE not moving, lying in
the street .
DESH gets on his motorbike and heads off to kill NICKY.
EXT. PETIT SOCCO -- CONTINUOUS *
NICKY still at that café waiting. Taking out her phone- *
puzzled. *
She answers. Looking around. *
NICKY *
Code in? *
(no reply) *
Code in? *
Nothing. Just the noise of traffic. *
EXT. VESPA TRAVELLING *
DESH on the move towards Petit Socco. On the cell - making *
that 'silent call'. *
EXT. AVENUE D’ESPAGNE -- THAT MOMENT *
BOURNE'S too late- hearing the 'line busy' tone. Knows this *
tactic. *
And those POLICEMEN are getting closer. *
INT. NEW YORK HUB -- ENCRYPED AREA -- CONTINUOUS *
Frenzied teching. A screen comes alive. *
TECHY *
We have a trace. *
TECHY 2 *
Target heading north. Rue des *
Chretiens. Intercept ETA six *
minutes. *
VOSEN *
Okay, that’s it. Bar her cell. *
Tie it off. *
EXT. RUE D’ESPAGNE -- CONTINUOUS *
DESH is disappearing from view. *61And the POLICEMEN are surrounding BOURNE. Demanding to see *
his papers. *
BOURNE speaking in Spanish - fishing for his papers. *
Looking back up the street. Forming a plan. Checking his *
watch. *
More POLICE arriving now. *
And DESH has disappeared out of sight. *
No time for this. *
BOURNE breaks away. Through the crowds into the traffic. *
Police whistles- shouting. Confusion. *
The chase is on. *
Three policemen turning into his path. No choice. BOURNE *
taking them down. Sprinting out across the road. *
A KID and his moped. Caught up in the police dragnet. *
BOURNE leaping on the bike - kick-starting it. *
Away into traffic as two squad cars turn and make chase. *
BOURNE weaving through traffic. One hand on the bike the *
other on the cell, desperately trying to call NICKY. *
But now, at least he's got a dial tone. *
EXT. PETIT SOCCO -- CONTINUOUS *
NICKY grabbing the cell. Answering. *
NICKY *
Bourne? *
BOURNE *
Nicky? Listen to me. You need *
to - *
The line goes dead. Looking at the screen - 'SERVICE *
DENIED' *
Really spooked now- looking around. Time to move. *
Dismantling the phone instinctively - scattering it's *
components. *
She starts to make her way out of the square. *
EXT. STREETS -- CONTINUOUS *
DESH through the streets-getting closer - heading towards *
the PETIT SOCCO. *62EXT. MOPED TRAVELLING *
BOURNE picking up the pace. Three more police cars out of a *
side road just missing him. *
BOURNE choosing his exit. *
Up ahead- a narrow alleyway - taking it. *
The squad cars crunching to a halt, behind him. *
EXT. PETIT SOCCO -- CONTINUOUS *
DESH crossing the SQUARE weaving through a sea of push *
bikes. *
Parking his Vespa at the corner of RUE DES CHRETIENS. *
Travelling on foot. *
EXT. RUE DE CHRETIENS -- CONTINUOUS *
NICKY - trying to keep calm. Checking each alley. Moving *
on. *
EXT. PETIT SOCCO -- CONTINUOUS *
BOURNE arriving - seeing NICKY has left. Seeing DESH'S *
Vespa parked up. *
More police - on foot now. *
BOURNE parking up. Seeing the crowded streets. Looking up *
to the rooftops. He needs to get higher. *
Starts running up steps. *
INT./EXT. RIAD/ROOFTOPS -- CONTINUOUS *
BOURNE into a riad. Through a courtyard - up more stairs - *
up a ladder. Out onto the rooftops. Scanning the skyline. *
A beat. Has he misjudged? *
No, there in the distance at the top of a narrow street- *
NICKY walking slowly and behind DESH. Moving quickly. *
BOURNE tailing him - trying to close the gap. Dipping down *
through another riad - through an alley. Up more stairs. *
Back up onto another roof. He's gained a few metres on *
DESH. *63Desh goes up to the rooftops now. Bourne has him in sight - *
DESH is prepping his gun with a silencer. *
DESH speeding up. BOURNE sees NICKY down below amongst the *
crowds. In Desh's sights. *
BOURNE knows he has to gain more ground. *
CABLE CAM shot - Two trained assassins leaping across the *
narrow streets - silently effortlessly -- the cops down *
below searching the alleyways, oblivious to the chase *
unfolding above them. *
BOURNE nearly on terms with him - then -- *
DESH dipping down again into the street below. Avoiding *
the police -- he melts into the crowds. *
STEADYCAM SHOT - following BOURNE as he heads downstairs. *
More stairs. Through a corridor then a courtyard - *
bursting out of a door into the street - *
A police checkpoint. Right in his path. Bourne forced to *
dog leg and take another route. *
BOURNE'S lost him- for the moment. *
EXT. RUE DE CHRETIENS -- CONTINUOUS *
NICKY - walking fast up the Rue des Chretiens. Wondering *
why there are so many police around. *
Suddenly stopping - seeing DESH - knows instantly that he *
is coming for her. *
Now we see NICKY'S skills. Has to think on her fee t- *
TREADSTONE MINDSET -- *
Checking the alleyways. Slipping out of sight. *
NICKY looking to the rooftops -- taking the advantage. Up *
some steps -- into a riad. *
Desh tracking her. *
EXT. RUE DE CHRETIENS -- CONTINUOUS *
BOURNE seeing Desh again - further up the street. Heading *
in that direction. *
INT. RIAD -- CONTINUOUS *
NICKY through one hallway - then another. Moving up all *
the time. *64EXT. RIAD -- CONTINUOUS *
DESH arriving at the steps. Looks up to where Nicky is *
going. Takes the entrance to the next building. *
Anticipates her next move. Aiming to cut her off. *
EXT. RIAD ROOFTOP *
NICKY up steps. Out onto the rooftops. Looking for a path *
across them. *
Scrabbling across the roof of this crumbling riad. Knows *
she can't go back down. *
She makes it across to the next building. *
Where Desh is… *
EXT. ANOTHER ROOFTOP -- CONTINUOUS *
BOURNE up high. Seeing NICKY on that other roof. *
He can't get across to her. Moving fast now. *
Down steps. Into the riad courtyard. *
INT. RIAD *
BOURNE entering the hallway. *
Moving up the stairs. Towards Nicky. *
And towards Desh. *
Meanwhile NICKY moving down. Looking out into the *
courtyard below. The sound of POLICE getting nearer. *
BOURNE hearing the POLICE too as he moves up onto a *
landing. *
*
BOURNE into a main room - something stirring on a couch - a *
girl and her little sister having a siesta. *
In another room two small boys fast asleep. TV playing. *
One wakes. *
A noise on the stairs above. Quickly arranging a mirror - *
getting line of sight - Bourne dipping into a corner. *
It's NICKY. *
She gives him a look -- DESH is in here somewhere. *65The door goes below them. The noise of Police entering the *
Riad. *
NICKY signalling to BOURNE - this way. *
They climb narrow stairs to the next floor. *
Down below Police begin searching rooms. Waking the *
sleeping family. Shouting, crying. Commotion. *
INT./EXT. -- NARROW STAIRWELL *
BOURNE and NICKY creeping up the steps. *
Then - suddenly NICKY spinning round as two silenced *
bullets speed past her - And DESH bursting out of a landing *
toilet. *
On to Bourne. *
Full on Treadstone fighting in the narrow stairwell. *
Crashing into a tiny disused lift cage- silent constrained- *
vicious. *
Downstairs a young POLICEMAN hears the noise- heading for *
the lift. *
NICKY seeing the handle turn. Thinking quickly. She sends *
the lift up to the next floor. *
The POLICEMAN stepping back from the door -- directing the *
other cops out to the courtyard. *
People are spilling out into the atrium. It's pandemonium. *
EXT. ROOFTOP -- CONTINUOUS *
Bourne and Desh spill out of the elevator and onto the *
roof. *
BOURNE kicking the gun - spinning across the floor - he and *
DESH facing each other. *
DESH with BOURNE - straight over the edge. *
DESH still on top - just. *
A brutal exchange. Matching each other's moves like *
shadows. *
Relentless. Rolling - falling onto another roof level. *
And another. *66The two men tiring now. DESH grabbing for the bag. The *
pills. BOURNE kicking them away. *
BOURNE has the upper hand now. DESH'S reaction's slowing. *
No longer the match he was. *
BOURNE drags him to the ground. He's finished. Bourne's *
won. *
DESH- shivering -- convulsing. *
In the struggle, BOURNE strangles Desh.
BOURNE and NICKY hide DESH's body. 194 194
BOURNE
Alright, we need to be dead. You
need to code that in.
NICKY CODES into DESH’S PDA -- BOTH OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED...In the CRI HUB the message comes up...VOSEN and LANDY believe NICKY and BOURNE are both DEAD...
INT. DAY. HUB -- CRI -- NEW YORK
196A 196A
The code from DESH remains on screen -- BOTH OBJECTIVES
ACHIEVED -- like an EPITAPH for BOURNE and NICKY...VOSEN packs his briefcase. Turns to WILLS.
VOSEN
I want to be sure. Have the station chief in Rabat confirm the deaths and do a sub-rosa check...And keep and eye on Landy.
Off WILLS...
INT. DAY. LANDY’S OFFICE -- DAY
197A 197A
Cronin enters.
CRONIN
The hub just got word Bourne and
Nicky are dead.
Landy looks at him.
LANDY
Confirmed?
CRONIN
Not yet.
Landy looks away...thinking. Wheels turning.67LANDY
Get me a copy of Bourne’s
personnel file.
EXT. DUSK. PENSIONE 195A 195A
Bourne and Nicky enter.
INT. DUSK PENSIONE -- WASHROOM -- TANGIER 198A 198A
BOURNE scrubs the blood from his hands. REVEAL Nicky
watching him from the bedroom.
INT. DUSK. LANDY’S OFFICE (LONELY LANDY) 197 197
Landy sits at her desk reviewing files on Treadstone. Open
on her desk we see the file she will be looking at in the Supremacy phone call.
The way she examines the papers we get the sense she thinks
something is missing, some piece, some file.
INT. DUSK. PENSIONE -- WASHROOM
198A 198A
Bourne scrubbing the blood from his hands. Nicky comes in,
touches his shoulder. There’s a tenderness to it, a re-assurance. For a moment it looks like Bourne might react...but the moment passes....
INT. DUSK. LANDY’S OFFICE (LONELY LANDY)
197 197
Landy opens a new file. Bourne’s operations.
INT. DUSK. PENSIONE -- WASHROOM 198A 198A
Bourne is toweling off.
BOURNE
I can see all their faces. But I
can’t remember any names....
INT. DUSK. LANDY’S OFFICE (LONELY LANDY) 197 197
Landy looks at Bourne’s kills. The faces Bourne remembers.
But there names are here, and who they were, why they were killed.
INT. NIGHT. PENSIONE -- BEDROOM/SITTING ROOM
198AC 198AC
Bourne and Nicky sitting together.68BOURNE
I was starting to remember who
they were...in India...with Marie.
A beat.
NICKY
It’s just going to lead to more killing, Jason. Are you sure you want that?
Bourne takes her words in. But who he is is eating him alive from the inside...
BOURNE
I’ve killed people and I’ve tried to apologize for what I’ve done, for what I am. None of it makes it better...
Another moment passes between them...then:
BOURNE
They’re going to come for you again. You are going to have to run now.
She gets up.
INT. BATHROOM
198 198
Nicky dies her hair BLACK. Starts cutting it shorter.
EXT. NIGHT. TANGIER BUS STATION 199 199
Bourne walks with a now dark-haired Nicky. They exchange
looks for a long beat. She turns towards the bus.
BOURNE
It gets easier.
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE. NIGHT 197 197
Landy finds a denotation in Bourne’s file that he was
“recruited to Treadstone by Neal Daniels.” Further down the page it says “Bourne was inducted into Treadstone at the Special Research Department facility at 415 E 71st, New York, NY.” Then “Facility closed by order of Director, June 2002.”
INT. TANGIER MORGUE
198C 198C
Bourne looks at the tattered remains of Daniels’ body and
belongings. 69He goes through his briefcase and finds a nearly destroyed
piece of paper with “Noah Vosen - Director of Operations - CRI” written on it. Bourne slips the morgue attendant a bribe.
INT. VOSEN’S OFFICE -- DAY
198DA 198DA
Vosen is shaving.
WILLS
Station chief in Rabat just
called, they found a body. Bourne?
VOSEN
Desh.
INT. AIRPLANE -- DAY
198DB 198DB
On final approach to JFK. Bourne looks out the window to
see the Verizano Narrows bridge. And beyond it, Manhattan. Bourne is coming home.
EXT. NEW YORK
A202 A202
Establishes skyline.
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE. DAY 200 200
CRONIN
Pam, You need to see this.
Landy follows CRONIN into--
INT. CRONIN’S OFFICE -- DAY 201 201
BOURNE’S PASSPORT is displayed on the computer monitor.
CRONIN (CONT’D)
This passport just cleared
Immigration at JFK ten minutes ago. It’s an early Treadstone identity registered to Jason Bourne but he never used it and it never went to the grid. Bourne’s alive.
LANDY
They don’t know.
CRONIN
No, if they knew Vosen wouldn’t be in his office right now.70INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL 202 202
Bourne moves through the airport.
LANDY (O.S.)
It’s a hell of a risk.
CRONIN (O.S.)
Yeah. Maybe Bourne wants us to
know, just like Naples, maybe he’s communicating.
INT. CRONIN’S OFFICE
201 201
CRONIN
Maybe he’s trying to communicate
with you.
LANDY
Maybe we should communicate back. Because I think I know what Bourne’s looking for.
SERIES OF SHOTS
202 202
Bourne over the 59th Street Bridge -- arrives at CRI --
goes into the adjacent building --
INT. OFFICE BUILDING ACROSS FROM CRI -- DAY 202A 202A
Bourne uses his monocular to zoom in on a file Vosen is
looking at -- he sees the word “Blackbriar.” Vosen puts the file back in the safe.
INT. DAY. LANDY’S OFFICE -- CRI -- NEW YORK
203 203
LANDY’S cell phone rings. She answers it.
LANDY
Pamela Landy.
INT. UNDEFINED SPACE 204 204
BOURNE
I hear you’re still looking for
me.
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE 203 203
LANDY puts down her pencil. CRONIN watches.71LANDY
Bourne?
INT. VOSEN’S OFFICE 206 206
His phone rings. He picks it up.
WILLS (TEL. V.O.)
Get in here! Bourne called
Landy!
Vosen jumps up, sprints toward the hub--
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE -- DAY 203 203
LANDY
I guess I owe you an apology.
INT. HUB -- BACK ROOM 207 207
Vosen rushes in--
BOURNE (V.O.)
Is that official?
VOSEN (OVERLAPPING)
Are we triangulating?!
LANDY (V.O.)
No. Off the record. You know
how it is.
BACK ROOM TECH (OVERLAPPING)
Trying--
BOURNE (V.O.)
Good-bye.
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE 203 203
LANDY
Wait. Wait.
She opens a file on her desk.
INT. UNDEFINED SPACE 204 204
Bourne listening--
LANDY
David Webb. That’s your real
name. 72INT. HUB -- BACK ROOM 207 207
VOSEN
Why the hell did she give him
that?
LANDY (V.O.)
You were born 4/15/71 in Nixa, Missouri.
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE
203 203
LANDY
Why don’t you come in, and we’ll
talk about it?
(beat)
Bourne?
INT. UNDEFINED SPACE 204 204
BOURNE
Get some rest, Pam.
INT. HUB -- BACK ROOM 207 207
BOURNE (V.O.)
You look tired.
Vosen realizes--
VOSEN
(rushing out)
He’s got line of sight on us!
INT. LANDY’S OFFICE 203 203
She spins to look for Bourne--
OMITTED 210 210
INT. HUB 207 207
Vosen moving across the floor.
VOSEN
...This is a national security
emergency. We have an imminent threat.73INT. LANDY’S OFFICE -- DAY 212 212
Landy takes out her gun. Checks it.
INT. HUB 207 207
VOSEN
Jason Bourne is alive and at
large in New York City. We believe in one thousand yards of this building. I want an immediate twelve block lockdown of the area. Send a FLASH message to Langley, prep for local backup assistance.
EXT. CRI -- DAY
217 217
HIGH ANGLE: Landy leaves CRI.
INT. HUB -- DAY 207 207
Wills walks over to Vosen. The look in his eye indicates
that he thinks there’s something odd about this:
WILLS
Landy just left the building.
Vosen looks at Wills.... A beat, Vosen’s suspicion building, though he can’t quite put his finger on what he suspects...
VOSEN
Check Landy’s phone. Is she using it?
EXT. NYC STREETS -- DAY
217B 217B
Landy receives a text message.
INT. HUB -- DAY 207 207
Vosen leans in to the Hub’s back monitoring room.
VOSEN
Nothing? No calls since Bourne--
?
BACK ROOM TECH
Wait a minute. Wait. She just got a text. 74EXT. NYC STREETS -- DAY 219 219
Landy heads for someplace -- now with purpose.
INT. DAY. CRI HUB 217A 217A
VOSEN confers with WILLS.
VOSEN
What the hell do you mean we
can’t read it?
TECH
Working on it--
VOSEN
(frustrated)
How do you know a text came if you can’t read it--
(to Wills)
Are we on Landy?
TECH
Six men. More on the way.
VOSEN
I want that goddamn text. We need to get out in front of her!
TECH
Seconds...
VOSEN paces anxiously.
TECH (CONT’D)
Got it!
TECH points at big screen: “Tudor City Pl & 42nd. Ten minutes. Come alone. Come on foot.”
VOSEN
Surround it. Anyone not on Landy goes to Tudor City. Now!
(to Wills)
Get the trucks. We’re going mobile.
OMITTED
218A 218A
EXT. MANHATTAN -- DAY 219 219
LANDY walks east toward Tudor City. She looks around her
for any signs of surveillance but finds nothing out of the ordinary.75EXT. CRI BUILDING -- DAY 221 221
Vosen and AGENTS come running out of the front door.
Others leave through a side entrance. They jump in sedans.
OMITTED
221A 221A
EXT. STREET. 223 223
Landy still being trailed by foot.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV 222A 222A
Vosen and agents race to Tudor city. An electronic map on
the dash.
AGENT 3
Copy, we’re going to take a left at 41st. One block, settle at the corner.
VOSEN
Get the map up.
AGENT 4
It’s a bad place to pick, it’s too exposed.
VOSEN
He wouldn’t have chosen it if he didn’t have a reason.
EXT. MANHATTAN
223 223
LANDY walks east through the crowded streets.
EXT. MANHATTAN 224 224
BOURNE walks down the street, enters a building.
OMITTED 225 225
EXT. TUDOR CITY ROOFTOP 225A 225A
Spotter on a rooftop.76EXT. MANHATTAN -- DAY 226 226
LANDY is on the east side now, walking toward Tudor City.
An agents trails her on foot. Another parallels her from across the street.
EXT. TUTOR CITY OUTSKIRTS
227 227
SERIES OF SHOTS: CRI cars arrive, careful to stay several
blocks from the meet site. They jump out and try to set up surreptitious surveillance posts.
AGENT 3 (V.O.)
Okay folks here we go, box at two hundred meters. Let’s lock it down.
INT. STAIRWAY
226A 226A
Bourne climbs stairs.
EXT. TUDOR CITY 226 226
Landy walks, agents are everywhere looking for her. Vosen
is still in car.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV 226B 226B
VOSEN
As soon as you have eyes on
Landy, I want to know.
EXT. TUTOR CITY 226 226
She becomes clear to AGENT 3.
AGENT 3
Okay, here we go.
INT. STAIRWAY 226A 226A
Bourne climbs stairs. Walks down a dank hallway.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV 229 229
VOSEN
Copy that, I see her.
Landy stands on a corner waiting for Bourne.77VOSEN (CONT’D)
Any sign of Bourne?
INT. AMBIGUOUS SPACE 229A 229A
TIGHT SHOT on Bourne’s face. FAST TILT to TIGHT ON his
hands, pulling up what seems like a piece of clear tape. We can’t tell where we are or what he’s doing.
EXT. TUDOR CITY
230 230
Landy looks around.
INT. AMBIGUOUS SPACE 229A 229A
TIGHT ON Bourne’s hands placing the clear tape on a piece
of clear plastic. Again we can’t tell what’s going on.
EXT. TUTOR CITY 231 231
Agents watch Landy.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY 232 232
Vosen’s cell phone rings.
VOSEN
Noah Vosen.
BOURNE (V.O.)
This is Jason Bourne.
VOSEN reels for a beat. Then quickly scans the streets,
trying to see if he can spot BOURNE.
VOSEN
How did you get this number?
BOURNE (V.O.)
You didn’t actually think I was coming to Tudor City, did you?
VOSEN
No, I guess not. But if it’s me you want to talk to maybe we can arrange a meet.
BOURNE (V.O.)
Where are you right now?
VOSEN
In my office. 78BOURNE (V.O.)
I doubt that. If you were in
your office--
INT. VOSEN’S OFFICE -- DAY 233 233
REVEAL that BOURNE is inside VOSEN’S office .
BOURNE
We’d be having this conversation
face-to-face.
BOURNE hangs up. Puts a portable dictaphone up to VOSEN’S SAFE and his play:
VOSEN (TAPE V.O.)
Noah Vosen.
As he places the plastic slide we saw in the ECUs into the fingerprint reader. The safe pops open--
INT. DAY. VOSEN SUV
234 234
VOSEN stunned.... Is it possible? Is it a trick?
INT. DAY. VOSEN’S OFFICE 233 233
From the safe, BOURNE scoops out the “TREADSTONE:
Blackbriar” folder Bourne saw Vosen putting into his safe.”
He flips it open. He scans down the page. His eye
stopping at the words “ US Citizen .”
He flips to another page -- another photo, and again “US Citizen.”
BOURNE shoves the folders in his backpack and leaves.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY
234 234
VOSEN
This is a code ten abort, I want
everybody back in the vehicles this is a code ten abort! Back to the vehicles immediately, back to CRI immediately.
OMITTED
237 237
INT. SERVICE STAIRS 237B 237B
Bourne rushes down with his back pack.79INT. VOSEN’S OFFICE 237C 237C
Wills grabs the phone and hits a speed-dial:
WILLS
Bourne got into your safe!
EXT. MANHATTAN 239 239
Bourne onto the street with back pack.
OMITTED 234 234
EXT. MANHATTAN -- DAY 238 238
SERIES OF SHOTS -- VOSEN’S SUV races, lights and sirens,
across town. 2) Other CRI cars race back across town.
EXT. MANHATTAN -- DAY 239 239
BOURNE walks out of a building, backpack over his shoulder.
CAMERA BEGINS TO CRANE UP...
BOURNE walks around a corner near CRI. He hears a siren
turn on a few blocks away. Then another. He starts to
run.
INT. CRONIN’S CAR -- DAY 240 240
A SEDAN pulls to a stop as a door comes open. CRONIN’S
inside. REVEAL Landy on the sidewalk. She jumps in.
LANDY
What just happened?
CRONIN
Bourne got into Vosen’s safe.
LANDY
What?!
Cronin pulls out.
CRONIN
Where to?
LANDY
415 East 71st Street.
Cronin puts it together.
CRONIN
4.15.71... Jesus, Pam.80EXT. MIDTOWN WEST -- DAY 240A 240A
BOURNE walking away from CRI.
Agents leaving a building. Getting into unmarked sedans
and peeling out.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY 240AA 240AA
As Vosen races across town.
VOSEN
...I want the entire building
searched. Every room. Every hallway. Every closet. Every goddamm airduct. Do you understand? I want him found!
INT. CRI CAR -- DAY
240B 240B
The passenger side agent sees BOURNE, points--
BOURNE cuts to the south side of the road so the passenger-
side agent doesn’t have a shot, while controlling the car makes it almost impossible for the driver to fire accurately.
EXT. 41 STREET -- DAY
240C 240C
The westbound car cuts sharply and drives up on the
sidewalk. But Bourne is too fast. He’s already past them. The passenger side agent jumps out. But he’s still got to get around the door and then move a few steps to get a bead over the hood of his car on Bourne.
The other CRI car races the wrong way on the street but
gets immobilized and trapped by the onrushing tunnel traffic.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY
242A 242A
Vosen and Wills race West on 41st.
SERIES OF SHOTS 242B 242B
CRI cars close in -- on 42nd, on 39th, on 10th Ave.
EXT. MIDTOWN WEST -- DAY 242C 242C
Bourne races through the tunnel traffic and onto 40th
street. He rushes east toward the spaghetti of concrete ramps leading into and out of Port Authority. 81He runs across 10th Avenue as a third CRI car screams up
the street at him.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY 243 243
Several radios blare.
CRI AGENT (RADIO V.O.)
He’s heading for Port Authority!
Subject up the ramp, eastbound into Port Authority.
VOSEN
(to Tac Team Leader)
Lethal force is authorized.
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER
I told-
VOSEN
Tell them again!
EXT. PORT AUTHORITY -- DAY
258 258
Bourne runs up a one lane outgoing ramp.
INT. CRI CAR -- DAY 258A 258A
The driver pilots his car up the ramp behind Bourne. He
jams the accelerator down. He’ll be on top of Bourne -- running him over -- in seconds--
EXT. PORT AUTHORITY -- DAY
260 260
A New Jersey-bound bus exits the complex and heads around
the corner of the ramp -- it skids to a stop when it sees Bourne and the CRI car giving chase heading right at the bus.
INT. CRI CAR -- DAY
260A 260A
The driver has to skid to a stop to avoid hitting the bus.
Bourne slides between the side of the bus and concrete guard rail. The driver calls it in--
SERIES OF SHOTS
261 261
Cops and CRI cars close in on Port Authority. One agent
jumps out of his car on 8th Avenue and rushes for the stairs.82TACTICAL TEAM LEADER (V.O.)
Block every exit. I want a full
perimeter on Port Authority--
EXT. ROOFTOP PARKING LOT -- PORT AUTHORITY 262 262
Bourne races up a set of stairs the rooftop parking lot.
He surveys every aspect of his environment on the fly (which includes his taking a quick peak over the concrete railing at the east end of the roof.
Next Bourne rushes toward the parked cars. Smashes the
window of one to set off its alarm. Then a second and a third, setting off their alarms.
The fourth window Bourne smashes in doesn’t set off an
alarm. Bourne pulls the door open and climbs in.
Inside the car Bourne reaches under the dash and yanks
handful of wires off the steering column and starts to expertly hotwire the car.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY
263 263
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER
(into radio)
Box him in! Box him in!
SERIES OF SHOTS 264 264
Agents race up stairwells. Two CRI cars careen up the
ramp to the passenger parking (a separate ramp to the bus ramp we saw Bourne on earlier.) A third CRI car races through the parking level just below the roof and up the circular ramp to the roof.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER
(to Vosen)
He’s on the roof. He’s trapped.
EXT. ROOFTOP PARKING LOT -- PORT AUTHORITY
Bourne works to hotwire the car. A CRI car gets to the roof. Two agents come from the
elevator lobby. The three car alarms distract them. They search for Bourne, but can’t find him at first...
Bourne gets the car engine on - but, given the wonders of
modern anti-theft technology his steering wheel is still locked.83A second CRI car arrives.
Bourne slams the car into low gear and backs up at high
speed.
He smashes into the car across the aisle from him. With a
sharp metallic snap the wheel in Bourne’s car is suddenly free, he jams the car into drive pulls out into lane and
stops.
Three CRI cars here now. Two head straight for him. A third blocks the exit ramp.
Bourne checks the rearview and sees two more agents pour
from the elevator lobby, one carrying the serious firepower of an M-4 (an M-16 variant whose bullets can penetrate metal and concrete). They move into position to get a bead on him.
Bourne assesses. But he doesn’t move. The agents swarm
toward him. What the hell is he doing?
Why is he waiting ?
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY 267 267
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER
We’ve got him! He’s got nowhere
to run!
VOSEN
Take him out!
EXT. ROOFTOP PARKING LOT -- PORT AUTHORITY 268 268
The agents clear their obstructions and drop their barrels
toward Bourne--
But before they can get a bead-- Bourne slams the car into reverse again. Petal to the
metal in reverse--
The agents open fire. Bourne ducks the lead slugs ripping through the windshield.
But there’s no dodging the shower of broken glass.
As Bourne disappears below the dashboard, the CRI agent
adjusts his fire into the car’s grill.
Virtually blind, Bourne races the hard-pressed vehicle
backwards as the agent’s fire decimates the car’s driveline.
Bourne slips the car into neutral and takes a quick peek
behind him. 84Steers still speeding but quickly dying car towards a small
gap between two parked cars at the edge of the parking structure.
Bourne’s car splits the gap between the parked cars, hits
the base of a low angled wall that slams the back of his car up and over the wall.
Bourne is pounded as his car jounces onto the wall, a
second later the front end seesaws over the top, the sudden angle change exposes for an instant the bottom of Bourne’s car, to the shooters.
Several rounds rip through the floorboard and tear past
Bourne’s head just before his car
drops upside down for 25
feet and slams onto a row of parked cars .
The impact rips Bourne from the seat and slams him hard against the roof.
Bourne struggles out of the car, knowing he has only a
moment before the armed agents will fire down into his over-turned car.
CRI AGENT
Ho-ly shit!
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY
269 269
VOSEN
(practically screaming
into his handheld)
He did what?!
EXT. ROOFTOP PARKING LOT -- PORT AUTHORITY 270 270
The CRI agents race to the spot where Bourne’s car
disappeared over the railing and reflexively fire into Bourne’s car but they’re too late! Bourne’s already out. He disappears from sight under the covered parking structure.
LEAD CRI AGENT
Get down there! Get down!
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY
271 271
As it speeds toward the spaghetti of ramps leading in and
out of Port Authority -- two blocks away.
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER
Who has eyeball on him?! Who has eyeball?!85EXT. ROOFTOP PARKING LOT -- PORT AUTHORITY 271A 271A
One of the agents scrambles over the edge and starts to
climb down. Other agents race for the stairs.
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER (V.O.)
Don’t tell me--
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY 274 274
TACTICAL TEAM LEADER
--you’ve lost him! Who’s on
street level?! Street level backup?!
Clearly there is no one down there. Bourne’s car jump from the roof has completely flat-footed them.
VOSEN
(to Wills)
Get NYPD backup! And FBI, DEA, any other federal assets we can draft!
OMITTED
A274A A274A
INT/EXT. CIRCULAR RAMP 274A 274A
Two CRI cars race down from the roof to try to get to the
level Bourne’s on.
INT./EXT. PARKING GARAGE -- TWO LEVELS BELOW ROOFTOP 275 275
Bourne cuts off a guy cruising for a parking space and
pulls him from his car and races away as the agent from the roof lands hard behind him.
Bourne’s race to the exit is cut off as a 3rd CRI sedan
slides into view and it’s occupants open fire on Bourne in a head on charge.
The just stolen vehicle takes heavy fire as Bourne reacts
instantaneously; thumbing on the cruise control, shouldering his door open, and slamming the gas pedal to the floor as he dives out of the car.
The agents react as Bourne’s sedan torpedoes them head on.
Hit hard they’re taken out of the fight as metal collapses, glass shatters, and airbags explode.
Bourne tumbles to a stop at the rear of a parked car as his
car implodes against the oncoming agents. 86Instantly Bourne is on his feet, moving between the parked
cars to engage another CRI sedan traveling parallel to the course of the wrecked one.
The agents in this sedan are distracted by the still
echoing crash and are caught off-guard as Bourne steps out and points his gun at the driver.
The driver ducks and floors his gas pedal in a desperate
effort to save his own life. As the sedan suddenly accelerates, Bourne deliberately shifts his aim to the sedan’s front tire and fires.
The tire explodes and the car suddenly veers left and slams
into a parked car, pitching the driver violently against the unyielding interior of the sedan.
An instant later Bourne rips the radio off the dazed
drivers belt just before he cold cocks him with it.
With the wreck still echoing through the garage Bourne has
to deal with the arrival of the first NYPD sedan.
Bourne takes on the persona of an alarmed witness as the on
edge cop climbs out of his car but Bourne’s performance is cut short as the agent running from his drop from the roof, arrives and opens fire.
The police officer goes down in the hail of gunfire as
Bourne turns and expertly drops the gunman with a single shot.
The increasing volume of squealing tires alerts Bourne to a
new threat, he pulls the officer into some cover and grabs the officer’s radio.
BOURNE
10-13. Shots fired. Officer down. Port Authority parking lot. Level four.
Bourne rips a piece of his sweater off and ties a makeshift tourniquet for the officer. Then he hands the cop his radio back.
BOURNE (CONT’D)
Stay out of sight until one of your own arrive.
Bourne disappears.
We pick him up as he jumps into the cops car and guns the
engine and heads for the exits.
CRI agents are confused for a second -- until they pick up
the NYPD car exiting Port Authority on one of the ramps. But that’s all the time Bourne needs--87OMITTED 276 276
EXT. CROSSTOWN STREET -- DAY 277 277
Bourne turns on his lights and siren and speeds east,
followed closely by a CRI sedan.
As cars yield to Bourne’s siren a taxi tries to jump into
Bourne’s wake but a CRI sedan punches the taxi back to the right. It ricochets off several parked cars before regaining control.
OMITTED
277A 277A
OMITTED 280 280
EXT. CROSSTOWN STREET -- DAY 281 281
Bourne struggles to keep his over-matched vehicle ahead of
the more powerful CRI Sedan which tries to spin Bourne out by hitting his bumper.
Bourne tacks right quickly and barely avoids a stopped car.
The CRI sedan flanking Bourne’s slams into the rear of that car, spinning it 180 degrees into the path of the trailing CRI sedan which destroys itself in the resulting collision and blocks the path of the other CRI sedan.
INT. BOURNE’S CAR -- DAY
282 282
Bourne is home free. He looks around and spots a sign that
indicates a right turn and says “To Holland Tunnel / US 95.” Bourne turns right--
Suddenly the window next to his head explodes as two more
shots rip through his door to
tear a jagged wound into the
top of Bourne’s leg .
REVEAL Paz , his SUV racing along the curb lane. As
Bourne’s car crosses in front of a small car stopped at the intersection Paz swerves his car into that car and punches it into the side of Bourne’s car.
Bourne’s car is knocked spinning, Paz keeps charging
forward and slams into the back of Bourne’s car. With his front tires spinning wildly Bourne fights to straighten his car as another CRI sedan appears and tries to box Bourne’s car by sliding into his path.
OMITTED
283 28388EXT. MANHATTAN STREET -- DAY 284 284
Bourne just manages to punch his car into the right rear of
the CRI Sedan and race down the Avenue with Paz and the slightly damaged sedan in pursuit.
Paz gains on him and Bourne is forced to swerve violently
to deny Paz the kill shot he is all too capable of.
Just ahead of Bourne, two government SUVs slide into the
intersection completely blocking his path.
Bourne instantly spins his car 180 degrees and continues
on, barreling into the roadblock backwards.
As Bourne’s car plows through the SUV’s he whips the wheel
and his car spins through a reverse 180 as Paz and the other sedan race through the wreckage in Bourne’s wake.
Paz and the CRI sedan are all over Bourne as he slides a
right hand turn onto South St. as Paz and the CRI sedan overwhelm Bourne’s battered vehicle.
OMITTED
284A 284A
INT. BOURNE’S CAR -- DAY 287 287
On his police radio, Bourne singles out an NYPD officer
(call sign Alpha-2503) racing toward the intersection just ahead.
Bourne slows, then speeds up quickly to time it right:The CRI car almost hits his bumper, then has to accelerate
through the upcoming intersection. As he does, the cop car Bourne was listening to on the radio slams broadside into the CRI sedan drafting the bumper of the mangled cop car.
Swerving wildly Paz avoids the pileup and slams his heavy
SUV into the back of Bourne’s car, pushing him into the oncoming traffic.
Several cars swerve left and right as Paz pushes Bourne
sideways onto the ramped end of a K-Rail dividing the street ahead.
The nearly upended car grinds down the K-Rail until the
rear of Bourne’s car strikes an obstruction which punches it back into the lane as it slams against the front of Paz’s SUV, knocking the SUV sideways, into a row of parked cars.
Bourne’s car hits parked cars on the other side of the
road.
SMOKE and STEAM -- SIRENS -- CHAOS 89BOURNE kicks the window out of the police car. Gun up...
Ready--
NEARBYPAZ in the car. Still.
Bloody from the crash, really 287A 287A
fucked up. He comes to...and Bourne is there. Gun pointed
at his head...
The two assassins look at each other...then Bourne lowers
his gun...and disappears...
ON PAZ -- as the wheels start to turn...
INT. HUB 287B 287B
WILLS
The asset lost Bourne. We lost
him.
Vosen reacts--
EXT. UPPER EAST SIDE -- LATE AFTERNOON 289 289
Bourne exits from the subway. Bourne walks north.
INT. HUB A288A A288A
Wills pacing... Bourne’s profile is up on Screen 2. It
says “David Webb (AKA Jason Bourne)” on the profile. A tech comes to Wills.
TECH
Sir, this may be nothing but, look at Bourne’s birthday.
Wills looks at the profile. Bourne’s birthdate is listed as 9/13/70.
WILLS
What about it?
TECH
Well, Landy told Bourne his birthday was 4/15/71 so...
Wills gets it instantly.
WILLS
Everything stops.
(to the room now)
EVERYTHING STOPS! LISTEN UP!
(they’re listening)
New assignment.
Numbers. Four. 90
(MORE)Fifteen. Seventy-one. What do
they mean?
Wills grabs his headset--
EXT. CRASH SITE -- DAY 288A 288A
A CRI agent approaches Vosen.
CRI AGENT
Landy gave Bourne a false
birthday. Wills thinks it’s a code.
It sinks in for Vosen...oh...shit...
EXT. SEVENTH AVENUE -- DAY
289 289
BOURNE emerges into the crowed street, headed uptown.
INT. HUB 289A 289A
Wills watches the techs work.
TECH #3
-- if you plug them in as
variants of latitude and longitude you get Cameroon -- Peru -- Colombia --
TECH #2
-- San Francisco’s got a four-one-five area code --
TECH #1
-- 41571 is the zip code for Varney, Kentucky --
TECH #4
-- there’s no 415 West 71st Street, but there is a 415 East
71st --
TECH #1
-- if it’s a substitution code, we’re way short on variables, which I --
(no chance to finish as--
)
WILLS
--
hang on -- wait -- Seventy
First Street? Like what? Like York and First?91
WILLS (cont'd)TECH #4
That’s correct.
Wills like he’s been hit. Like hard. As we cut to --
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- DAY289B 289B
They race uptown.
WILLS
She gave him the facility. She
gave him--
VOSEN
(into cell phone)
I know.
(to driver)
Go! Go! Drive!
(into cell phone)
We’re already on our way. Turn the teams around. Bring them in behind me.
OMITTED
291 291
OMITTED 292 292
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- LATE AFTERNOON 303 303
Vosen steely eyed as they race uptown. He dials a number--
EXT. UPPER EAST SIDE -- LATE AFTERNOON 304 304
Bourne reaches 71st street and 2nd Ave. He looks up at the
sign...
INT. HIRSCH’S OFFICE (NEW BUILDING OF HOSPITAL) -- LATE 306 306
AFTERNOON
Hirsch’s office is located in the SRD’s “front office”,
which is located covertly on a floor of the new building of the hospital. He is the longtime head of SRD and a powerful behind-the-scenes official at CIA.
THE CAMERA FINDSDR. HIRSCH, 70, is, put simply, not a man to be trifled
with. He’s a 45 year CIA veteran. One of the great brains in the Agency’s history, but also a man who knows how to wield power silently, invisibly, and to tremendous effect. His phone buzzes. 92DR. HIRSCH (INTO PHONE)
Hello.
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- LATE AFTERNOON 306A 306A
VOSEN at the other end of the line --
VOSEN (INTO PHONE)
Bourne knows everything. I think
he’s heading for you right now.
Dead pause.
INT. HIRSCH’S OFFICE (NEW BUILDING OF HOSPITAL)-- DAY 306 306
HIRSCH (INTO PHONE)
He’s coming home, Noah.
There’s a wistfulness in the way he says it. But also the
sense that this was absolutely inevitable. And he’s calm about it, doesn’t show any fear, doesn’t reach for a gun.
HIRSCH (INTO PHONE)
How long do I have?
VOSEN
Not long. Get out of there.
HIRSCH
No. I’m going to stay.
VOSEN
Are you crazy, he’ll--
HIRSCH
He’ll come to the training wing. That’s what he knows. I’ll keep him in play until you arrive.
EXT. NEW YORK -- HOSPITAL -- LATE AFTERNOON
309R 309R
Bourne arrives at the “Johnston Medical Center.” He looks
up to see “415”.
FLASHBACK FB5 FB5
The image of “415” that has been haunting his dreams.
EXT. NEW YORK -- HOSPITAL -- LATE AFTERNOON 309 309
This is the place... When he looks down Landy steps out of
the lobby to meet him on the sidewalk.93BOURNE
They’ll kill you for giving me
this place.
LANDY
4/15/71 isn’t much of a code. My guess is Vosen’s already on his way.
BOURNE
Why’d you do it?
LANDY
This isn’t us, David. What they turned you into, what they’re doing with Blackbriar... This has to stop.
BOURNE
Then stop it. Everything you need is in there.
Bourne hands her the black bag and enters the hospital.
LANDY
David... Come in with me. It’s better if we do this together.
BOURNE
(shakes head)
This is where it started for me, this is where it ends.
She watches the doors close behind him.... Landy lets him go.
EXT. NYC STREETS -- LATE AFTERNOON
323 323
QUICK SHOTS of six different CRI sedans and SUVs rushing
toward the hospital.
EXT. HOSPITAL -- LATE AFTERNOON 309R 309R
Landy looks in the backpack.
JUMPCUTS: --She unzips the backpack and looks in at the the
Blackbriar Operations File.
--A cover page inside: “utmost secrecy”... “potentially
explosive public reaction would jeopardize the program”...
--Another page: “Terminated” stamped across the photos of
victims. Next to the victim from the inciting incident, the words: “US citizen”... 94LANDY
Oh, my God...
--A third page, more photos, no “terminated” on these.
Future victims. “US citizen” stamped next to each one...
INT. HOSPITAL -- LATE AFERNOON 310 310
Bourne uses the card reader he took from Vosen’s safe to
enter a “restricted access elevator.” A guard comes. Bourne aims his pistol at him as the elevator door closes.
EXT. FIRST AVENUE -- OUTSIDE HOSPITAL -- LATE AFTERNOON
309R 309R
Landy walks down the street. She looks up to spot two
black sedans speeding east on 71st, turns south -- two SUVs coming up York. Shit--
INT. VOSEN’S SUV -- LATE AFTERNOON
323 323
A block south of the hospital, stuck in traffic, Vosen
points.
VOSEN
Landy! Right there! She’s got
Bourne’s backpack !
INT. 8TH FLOOR ELEVATOR LOBBY -- LATE AFTERNOON 310R 310R
Bourne flips up the elevator stop button and uses the
access card to enter a secure corridor--
INT. LOBBY -- LATE AFTERNOON 323 323
Landy runs across the lobby.
EXT. FIRST AVENUE -- LATE AFTERNOON 323 323
Vosen’s SUV careens to a stop behind a bunch of traffic.
Still a half block from the entry door but it’s close
enough--
INT. CORRRIDOR 322 322
Bourne rushes down a nondescript corridor--
INT. HOSPITAL LOBBY -- LATE AFTERNOON 325 325
Vosen and CRI agents rush into the lobby. 95VOSEN
(to a group of six
agents)
I’ll find Landy. You get to the
training wing and get Bourne!
A security guard comes over.
VOSEN
Do you know who I am?
(the guard nods)
Where’s your security room?
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR 324 324
Landy looks around. Finds an open office. She pushes open
the door and runs to the fax machine. She starts faxing the Blackbriar documents Bourne took from Vosen’s safe.
INT. SECURITY ROOM -- LATE AFTERNOON
324A 324A
Vosen enters.
VOSEN
I want to see all your footage
for the last three minutes.
INT. SRD TRAINING WING (OLD BUILDING OF HOSPITAL) -- LATE 322 322
AFTERNOON
Bourne stares down the corridor from his dreams , the
corridor Daniels lead him down in his flashback. We
see Bourne go into --
FLASHBACK FBA3 FBA3
That first day, Bourne’s POV being led down this corridor
by Daniels.
BACK TO SCENE 322 322
Bourne moves down the corridor.
INT. SRD TRAINING WING (OLD BUILDING OF HOSPITAL) -- LATE 322 322
AFTERNOON
Bourne reaches the end of the hall. He looks around
“flashback style” --96FLASHBACK FBB3 FBB3
Bourne was standing at this door....
INT. OFFICE -- LATE AFTERNOON 331 331
Vosen enters the room. The last pages have been faxed...
LANDY
You better get a good lawyer.
She exits...
BACK TO SCENE 322 322
Then spins, gun up--
Hirsch is there, halfway down the corridor behind him.
HIRSCH
Put the gun down. I wouldn’t be
here if I didn’t want to talk.
BOURNE
I’ve spent three years running. Three years trying to find out who I was.
Hirsch moves toward Bourne, completely unfazed by the gun.
HIRSCH
You still don’t have it all back, do you? You haven’t filled in all the pieces?
BOURNE
Let’s start with the moment you found out I wouldn’t execute Wombosi. The amnesia wasn’t the issue, it was the fact that I didn’t pull the trigger....
HIRSCH
One lapse meant your conditioning had failed.
Bourne grabs Hirsch and slams him against the wall
BOURNE
It was always you, behind Conklin, behind Abbott.... They were just following orders.
Bourne grabs Hirsch and pushes him to the wall. Searches him for weapons. 97HIRSCH
(completely calm)
I’m unarmed, Jason.
BOURNE
(shoving Hirsch hard
against the wall)
“David.” I’m David Webb.
CLOSE ON Bourne’s face--
HIRSCH
You were David Webb, but not
anymore.
INT. SRD TRAINING WING CORRIDOR -- LATE AFERNOON 322 322
Bourne stands with Hirsch.
BOURNE
Why me? Why did you pick me?
A beat...
HIRSCH
You really don’t remember, do
you?
(beat)
You picked us, Jason.
BOURNE
What does that mean?
HIRSCH
You volunteered.
Hirsch uses his free hand to hit the keypad on the wall. The “room in use” sign lights up.
Bourne looks up “flashback style”--
FLASHBACK
FBA1 FBA1
Bourne remembers that keypad, that “room in use” sign from
the first day...
INT. ROOM WHERE BOURNE FIRST MET HIRSCH 322 322
Bourne and Hirsch enter...
HIRSCH
You volunteered right here....
You didn’t even blink, Jason. You just handed me these...98Hirsch removes a pair of dog tags from his jacket pocket.
Holds them out to Bourne.
Bourne takes the dog tags. Stares at them.INSERT of the dog tags:Webb, David946610190O NegativeCatholic
FLASHBACK
FB9 FB9
Bourne hands over his dog tags....
HIRSCH (CONT’D)
Has everything been explained to
you.
BOURNE
Yes, sir.
PRESENT DAY 322 322
HIRSCH
You were a soldier ready to serve
his country. Just like thousands of others, except you were a prodigy with languages...and a perfect shot.
FLASHBACK
FBB3 FBB3
HIRSCH (CONT’D)
Your missions will save American
lives.
PRESENT DAY 322 322
BOURNE
You said I’d be saving American
lives. Instead you just turned me into a killer.
Bourne raises the gun to Hirsch.
HIRSCH
You could have left at any time. And you knew exactly what it meant for you if you chose to stay.99FLASHBACK FB9 FB9
HIRSCH
When we’re finished with you,
you’ll no longer be David Webb.
BOURNE
I’ll be whoever you need me to be, sir.
PRESENT DAY
322 322
HIRSCH
Stop running from the truth,
Jason. You chose to come here! You chose to stay! And no matter how much you want to forget it...eventually you’re going to have to face how you chose,
right
there, to become Jason Bourne!
FLASHBACK: FB10 FB10
Bourne sitting in a chair, looking terrible. Hirsch looks
at him from behind the desk...
HIRSCH (CONT’D)
You haven’t slept for a long time have you David? Have you made a decision? This can’t go on, you know. You have to decide.
BOURNE
Who is he?
HIRSCH
We’ve been through that.
BOURNE
What did he do?
HIRSCH
It doesn’t matter.
(beat)
You came to us. You volunteered. You said you’d do anything it takes to save American lives. You’re not a liar are you? Or too weak to see this through? This is it. Let go of David Webb. Will you give yourself to this program?100Bourne looks down, a gun in his hand. He gets to his feet
swiftly and fires the pistol several times into a hooded
figure. The man slumps over.
Bourne stares at what he’s done.
HIRSCH (CONT’D)
You’re no longer David Webb. From now on you’ll be known as Jason Bourne. Welcome to the program.
Daniels pulls the hood off the figure to show that he is dead.
Just then
Kramer walks through the door .
KRAMER
He’s ready. Send him to
Operations.
PRESENT 322 322
And now, in real time, Bourne comes out of the flashback.
He stares back at Hirsch....
HIRSCH
Do you remember now?
Bourne lowers the gun.
BOURNE
I remember. I remember everything.
HIRSCH
You can’t outrun what you did, Jason. You made yourself into who you are.
BOURNE
I’m done running. That’s why I’m here. To end you, to shut this down. I’m no longer Jason Bourne.
HIRSCH
So now you’re going to kill me?
BOURNE
No. You don’t deserve the star they give you on the wall at Langley.
Just then Bourne spins -- agents arrive at the door. It’s locked. 101INT. HALLWAY 322 322
The agents fire at the door handle to get it open.
INT. ROOM WHERE BOURNE FIRST MET HIRSCH 322 322
Bourne looks out a window. Sees the layout of a roof
several stories below. Then he turns and shoots out the room’s mirrored observation window. Bourne dives through it just as agents rush in and open fire at him.
SERIES OF SHOTS
Bourne races through corridors, loosing the CRI agents.
EXT. ROOF -- NIGHT
352 352
Bourne runs out onto the roof. Rushes across it to look
over the edge. It’s a straight drop to the FDR -- 12 stories down.
He races to another ledge -- the East River below him. But
he has to clear a 10 foot supporting wall at the base of the building to hit the water. He backs up to get a running leap.
As he does, he turns and sees Paz, who is holding a gun on
him.
PAZ
Why didn’t you take the shot?
Bourne looks at him.
BOURNE
Do you even know why you’re trying to kill me? Look at what they make you give.
Bourne turns and runs off the roof.
Paz fires into the air...FOLLOW Bourne as he drops fourteen stories into the
freezing river--
MULTIPLE ANGLES -- Bourne goes into the river...
UNDERWATER
352 352
Bourne in a dead man’s float...as his clothes soak through
he begins to sink ....102PULL BACK...farther and farther from Bourne’s dead still
sinking....as OVERLAPPING, INTERWEAVING VOICE OVERS begin:
ANCHOR 1 (V.O.)
FBI agents arrested several senior CIA officials today in connection with the broadening scandal enveloping Washington today--
ANCHOR 2 (V.O.)
Assassination program code-named “Blackbriar” was exposed by a former assassin named David Webb---
ANCHOR 3 (V.O.)
Program reportedly targeting
US
Citizens in some cases...
ANCHOR 4 (V.O.)
CIA Director Ezra Kramer produced explosive documents for the Senate Committee indicating “Blackbriar” was authorized at the highest levels of government.
INT. BAR -- URUGUAY -- SUNSET
356 356
Nicky goes to the bar of at a low end tourist bar with
several other customers. She stands there, eyes fixed on a TV behind the bar:
ANCHOR 5 (V.O., CONT’D)
Webb, who was known inside the intelligence community, as “Jason Bourne” jumped from the fourteenth floor of the CIA facility where he was trained in New York into the East River below. While experts say it would be nearly impossible to survive the fall, despite two weeks of efforts, his body has still not been recovered.
PUSH in on the smile that develops on Nicky’s face. As we CUE the Moby “Extreme Ways” sting---
UNDERWATER
352 352
Bourne’s body sinking toward the bottom...when all of a
sudden it comes to life -- arms together, legs kick powerfully--
And Bourne swims away...103THE END104 | screenplays |
Weera Koedpudsa , born July 1, 1984, simply known as Ra is a Thai former professional footballer who plays as a Goalkeeper.
International career
Weera has been a member of the Full Thailand National team on a number of occasions but has so far failed to be used in any means other than an unused substitute
International
Honours
Club
Bangkok United
Thai Premier League 1: 2006
International
Thailand U-23
Sea Games Gold Medal 1; 2007
Match fixing scandal and ban
On February 21, 2017 Weera was accused of match-fixing on several league games. He was arrested by royal thai police and banned from football for life.
References
External links
Category:1984 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Nan Province
Category:Thai footballers
Category:Association football goalkeepers
Category:Bangkok Bank F.C. players
Category:Bangkok United F.C. players
Category:Muangthong United F.C. players
Category:TOT S.C. players
Category:Port F.C. players
Category:Sisaket F.C. players
Category:Nakhon Ratchasima F.C. players
Category:Thai League 1 players
Category:Thailand youth international footballers
Category:Thailand international footballers
Category:2007 AFC Asian Cup players
Category:Southeast Asian Games medalists in football
Category:Southeast Asian Games gold medalists for Thailand
Category:Competitors at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games | wikipedia |
pubmed |
|
The LXN-RE is an expansion unit for the Loxone Enclosure range. Loxone recommend using multi stack patch terminals across the top rail where all incoming cables get routed to, keeping the control low voltage and 24V RGBW to one side and mains to the other side. This makes the LXN-RE Ideal for this setup, or retrospectively adding units to an installation or for adding to a larger unit to meet specified requirements.
The unit is designed to be paired with an LXN enclosure with included studs to attach the two together and matching cable holes for connections. | slim_pajama |
Until I moved to Kansas, the only use of the words "livestock" and "futures" in one and the same sentence I could think of was: How much livestock should I give my future wife's family for her? A Lebanese friend told me: "If she hot, sky is limit. If she so so, goats okay." I was also told that the more I offered for my future spouse, the better wife she, proud of being appraised high, would be; and my new mother-in-law would thank me much, too, for so graciously taking her daughter off of her hands. Later, I learned that in some cultures it worked the other way round and the woman's family would pay the future bridegroom quite handsomely; but by then the deed was done and there was no turning back.
Only recently I came to the understanding that livestock is bought and sold just like any commodity and therefore not only during a physical process of handshakes and sweaty palm-to-palm exchange of hard cash, but in transactions which are in effect future contracts in a thriving trade dominated by electronics and rife with words such as aggregation, cross hedging, leverage, spot, circuit breaker, spike and drop, call and put, bear cycle, yield curve approach, derivative, volatility, pulpit, open outcry, boom and, not to forget, bust. A bull cycle has nothing to do with a bull on the hoof; a bull spread is not the same as a bull pen; ticks are not the ones that make you sick; and range is not the open range where the cattle roam or one would hope to build his home. Yet the cattle on feed report is as accurate as can be and, same as the steer-corn ratio, a most important decision tool for anyone who wants to survive in the livestock trading business.
Driving into Kansas City, Missouri from the Kansas side makes one aware of the town's rich past as the only cattle trading place competing with Chicago. Coming from the west, one drives on roads from which one looks down onto the imposing confluence of the Kansas ("Kaw") River and the mighty Missouri River, the Bottoms, and the silhouette of K.C.'s downtown behind it. It is like entering Paris, France from a high position overlooking the winding of the Seine River. The map of Paris makes a lot of sense; even with the Seine's confusing bends its lay-out provides a clear picture of the city and an easy penetration whether on wheels or on foot. Kansas City, its initial plan designed by a Frenchman along the lines of Washington D.C. and Paris, becomes rather obscure once entered on street level even if there are a few well-designed "boulevards" and abundant fountain-adorned plazas and parks. Its problem is, of course, the tragic fact that so much of the old city and of the once thriving river areas was destroyed or left to rot and disappear after the boom became rather a bust. Not so much a real bust: in the blunt American tradition, Kansas City just let its beautiful old city center and the trading center at the river fade away, and built newer business and shopping areas and residential neighborhoods ever farther away from the old, then connected them haphazardly with wide freeways. It's funny how this so optimistic approach to city planning leaves me with a feeling of pessimism, distress, even depression. "That is the problem with Americans, isn't it?" wrote John le Carre long ago (in 'A Small Town in Germany'). "All this emphasis on the future. So dangerous. Therefore they are so destructive to the present." Le Carre could have been talking about American cities where so much "old" is discarded and anything new gets all the attention, and then the new becomes old, and so on and on. I believe it is much nicer to be able to also look back, instead of just forward.
Notwithstanding that some old, and also quite a few newer, suburbs are rather attractive, the emptiness left behind in the city center cannot be ignored. To me, too large an area looks like what I experienced as a kid in the Netherlands, where a Bezuidenhout section of The Hague and most of the city center of Rotterdam were blown away by bombardments, in The Hague mistakenly by the British, in Rotterdam by the Germans in the beginning of WWII. I remember I played amongst the rubble until 1955, and walked through flattened areas in Rotterdam until the mid-1960s. Most effects of the war, though, had been made to disappear some fifteen years after the war ended. In Kansas City the boom stopped in 1932 at the latest, the harbor area became lack-luster in 1935, the cattle stations and trading facilities of the Kansas City Stockyards became obsolete in 1950, and now, more than half a century later, these areas along the railroads, at the rivers, and in downtown still appear as if they were just bombed into oblivion. Enormous holes were created neither by enemy nor by friendly bombardment, but by bulldozers appointed by men who didn't give much thought to wrecking numerous buildings. Often well-designed, well-built and once loved structures reminding of an elegant past disappeared to leave only large parking areas of broken concrete overgrown with weeds behind. All soul –and if I read the Kansas City history correctly, not to mention present-day tourist propaganda, it had a whole lot of soul– was taken away. The city's heart was cut out not with a surgeon's scalpel but with a very blunt knife. What a pity.
Of course, and luckily, in the past years a few initiatives led to wonderful improvements even if they were restricted to small portions of the city and merely created sophisticated islands in the middle of a sea of barren concrete. The Stockyards, for instance, and the Crossroads area. A couple of old buildings were bought by Bill Haw, a banker, real estate developer, big-time cattleman and art collector who smartly, in the world-wide proven developers' way to success, first invited artists to occupy nice apartments and studios, created art spaces and galleries and restaurants, planted trees and took care of a pleasant street scene – and thus prepared these neighborhoods for an affluent public. It is an ongoing investment which hopefully will not be slowed down much by the present dire economic straits. In short, Kansas City has acquired quite a few pleasant quarters even if I do not count the suburbs, some of which especially on the south-west side are more than merely pleasant. The city, as said, is famous for the hundreds of fountains, "more than one can find in Rome," and for its extensive city parks. And its wonderful museums. The Nelson Atkins is rightly famed, the Kemper Contemporary less so but a good one nevertheless, and in Johnson County across the river the Nerman Museum of Art is another contemporary favorite of mine. The Kansas City Symphony is an important orchestra; and there are many more cultural assets of good stature. Lots of cosmopolitan life in K.C.
Walking in Kansas City can be a true joy if one manages to avoid the open spaces between buildings and areas –if one concentrates on the sections that form neighborhoods–, which cannot be done if one is eager to visit one of the most famous of old and soulful Kansas City scenes. If one arrives at 18th and Broadway with full expectations based on scores of tales, movies, and jazz recordings, the area is a slap in the face. Nothing reminds in a glorious, proud way of the glamorous if tough K.C. jazz era. Barren lands surround the former jazz town and the few buildings that are still standing look forlorn and desperate. Fake walls are painted to simulate the former club entrances, but the painting was done so haphazardly and amateurishly that the sites do not deliver testimony of local pride in the quarter's history at all. Only one or two of the previously notorious live jazz clubs and restaurants are still open, no more than one or two nights a week. Most days, the streets are deserted but for a few lost-looking tourists and a couple of black junkies and prostitutes.
Luckily, a few monuments were created that do have something to tell of historic importance. The Jazz Museum. The African-American Baseball Museum. These adjoining buildings may present interiors not to everyone's taste –with lots of contemporary-styled and hi-tech displays that do not convey much of the atmosphere of the relevant periods in history–, the jazz museum opens the doors to so many interesting images and sounds that one can easily spend hours there; and the baseball museum proudly honors the players who were shut out from the game by a "gentlemen's agreement" of the white boys until 1945. That year, Jackie Robinson was the first black player to be allowed to integrate (most players remained confined to their own black, segregated, league until 1955, a sad fact that had completely escaped my knowledge). In both museums one can find fascinating memorabilia by the thousands and is met by, I must say, a delightful and welcoming staff. They could do with more funds, though — here and there the paints are peeling, texts are fading, and spotlights or earphones need to be replaced. Go visit to give support.
Earlier this year, I spent two weeks in Kansas City while housesitting for friends who themselves were in Paris and London. I hadn't given it much thought until I walked and drove around K.C., but it was more than seventeen years ago that I spent an extended period in "a real city." Less than three days in Chicago and a half day in Denver, that's all I can remember (I do not count my short visits to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, neither of these being a real city). I came to realize that, after having lived, worked and often vacationed in big cities in the first fifty years of my life, I had spent practically all of my days since age fifty out in the boondocks. Most of my journeys in the mid-1990s were already to isolated places in the American West and when the traveling days were over, late in 1997, I settled first in Abiquiu, New Mexico with a mere 1,500 "neighbors" living dispersed over the high desert, then in Matfield Green, Kansas with less than fifty names in the phone book and surrounded by endless prairies, with only cattle for company. After September 1997 a visit to a respectable store or restaurant demanded a good drive on a long stretch of country road, while earlier in my life I had often been able to just walk to restaurants or a movie theater, or to attend a ballet, a concert, and visit museums and art galleries.
Two weeks in Kansas City. What strange experience it was. To be able once again to grow familiar with a city's structure and beat. To slowly get the feeling of belonging while being surrounded by close to two million others. The visit was a joy and made more enjoyable to me, now the country bumpkin, because K.C. away from old town is such a spacious and green place, with good distances between homes even in the less affluent areas and countless gracious mansions in a rolling hills landscape disappearing behind wide lawns and abundant foliage. I caught myself at foremost appreciating Kansas City because so many of its residential sections and even some recent suburbs have a rural, almost pastoral, appearance. I caught myself at no longer being the cosmopolitan guy I thought I had remained even after dwelling away from cities for so long. I had believed I would never stop being "streetwise" and at home in any city however big or old or new. Indeed, I felt a little at home in Kansas City, I was excited by the traffic, some architecture, the fashionable people and their pace of life, the great art in the museums, the grand stores, and the continuous movement in the corner of my eye. I was fascinated. And then … I discovered that a fortnight was a little long to be away from my precious quiet, even silent, prairie. I was ready to leave. And so I drove home to Matfield Green with a song in my heart.
Union Station in Kansas City—testimony of the times when arrival from and departure for a rail journey was a grand experience. | slim_pajama |
Rosario + Vampire 1. Chapter 1
The early morning sun shone red through Tsukune's window bathing his face and causing him to stir slightly before shielding his opening eyes. His blanket fell to his waist as he sat up and looked around at his rather Spartan living courters. His eyes blearily rolled around the room till his memory booted up and a stray thought came to mind.
Looking to the calendar that hung over his bed he gasped at the note scrawled under the current date. _Today is our big project for class, I remember Miss Nekonome saying something about partners. I hope I can be with Moka for this one, though the other girls will probably all be fighting about it._ His thoughts drifted to his fellow high spirited friends and how they made every day an adventure for him. He truly was lucky to have such good friends though they could be ever overbearing.
Pulling himself out of bed he headed for the showers with his favorite yellow towel hanging over his bare shoulder, little did he know that through the window a certain Ice Woman watched from across the ally.
Mizore had gone to Moka's room which was (by luck or fate we will never know) directly across from Tsukune's. She had been there a good while and had kept watch for the last few hours, admiring Tsukune as he slept. Moka stood behind her with a slight blush as she sweat dropped at her friend's odd stalkerish behavior.
Moka turned away to grab some tea but a slight intake of breath from Mizore caused her to turn back to the resident stalker.
"Mizore what's wrong?" Moka asked in curiosity.
"Tsukune woke up," she replied in her soft monotone voice, "With no shirt on."
"Ehhh!" Moka's cheeks flamed red as Mizore moved out of the way so Moka could see. For a human he was rather well built with fine defined muscles that fit his frame oh so right in the eyes of the two on lookers.
While they were admiring him Tsukune got an odd feeling, like a pressure that was coming from the window.
One hand on the door knob to the bathroom Tsukune looked over at the window and saw the two girls. Moka (if possible) turned redder then she already was for being caught peeping while Mizore simply waved, as if this was an everyday occurrence.
Tsukune sighed at the development and waved back earning a smile from Mizore while Moka hid behind her fists in embarrassment.
After Tsukune entered the bathroom Mizore turned to Moka a slight blush gracing her pale skin, "I can't wait till he comes out again." Moka looked at Mizore with fish eyes and stuttered out a "w-w-w-why?" The Ice Woman's eyes glinted when she replied. "He didn't take any clothes in with him." Moka promptly passed out.
Later that day during lunch time the whole gang found themselves hanging out on the roof of Youkai Acadamy. Moka and Kurumu sat to Tsukune's left while Mizore sat with Yukari on his right. The current conversation that permeated the group was of the regular string.
"I SWEAR! IF YOU LAY YOUR HANDS ON MY TSUKUNE AGAIN IM GOING TO CUT YOU TO SHREADS!" exclaimed one Kurumu Kurono to a rather red in the face Mizore as she was currently busy rubbing her ample bosom along Tsukune's arm. She quickly released him and dodged left as Kurumu's elongated nails slashed at where she had once been. "You won't beat me." Mizore retaliated by simply freezing Kurumu inside a rather large chunk of ice before returning to her previous sport on Tsukune's arm.
Moments later a large pot materialized from out of nowhere and landed squarely on Mizore's head. This set off another round of "The Great Fight for Tsukune." The normalcy did not last though.
As Tsukune was busy trying to break up the current battle playing out on the roof he felt a chill run up his spine. The other must have felt the same sensation because as suddenly as the fighting had started, it stopped.
The feeling only grew as they looked around for the source of their discomfort.
"What's going on? What's this feeling?" Moka asked wrapping her arms around herself, she felt very cold and empty. Looking at the others she knew they felt the same.
"I feel like I'll never know another happy moment." Kurumu murmured falling to her knees with wide fearful eyes.
"Tsukune what is going on? What is happening?"
"I don't know Kurumu, but it can't be good." He replied looking everywhere for the cause of this very unsettling feeling.
Suddenly there he was. Crouching on the spires above them he sat, bandaged eyes gazing down at them.
Tsukune found the girls surrounding him on all side in what could only be described as a defensive maneuver.
The stranger jumped down and landed in front of the group, his black combat boots leaving imprints on the concrete underneath. They could all see he was dressed in the school uniform, with a few moderations.
The first was he had ripped the sleeves from his shirt and jacket exposing well-muscled arms while a single chain hung from his pocket and ran to the belt loop at his left side. He had long wild brown hair that hung down over his eyes which were not to be seen due to the dirty white rag that had been tied around them.
The thing that most stood out however was his right arm. It was tattooed from his fingers all the way up to his shoulder. The odd thing though was that they were not regular tattoos. Instead of lying black against his skin, the ink glowed vibrant neon blue before it faded to red then back again. The Skin of the arm was both red and green and looked like it had the consistency of rock.
Stepping forward he raised his hands above his head, showing he meant no harm on the group though they didn't drop their guard even for a second. The next step caused Murumu's claws to lengthen.
"I'm not here to fight." His voice was low and rocky and set them on edge
"What do you want?" Tsukune asked
The stranger looked blindly at him, "You." That one word was more than enough. Ice formed around Mizore's hands while the succubus growled low as she dropped her human image allowing her wings and tail to appear while Yukari pulled her wand.
"We won't let you!" Moka shouted.
"Damn RIGHT!" Kurumu yelled as she launched herself forward fully ready to land a killing blow. Just as her claws where inches from his throat the stranger swept out her arm with his own, sending the blow over his shoulders while Kurumu's momentum carried her farther into the strangers range of attack.
He brought his normal fist into Kurumu's stomach causing her to spit up blood onto the concrete as she momentarily hung off his fist before he brought his other, deformed, fist in and laid it across her head sending her barreling into the concrete wall where she laid still as stone, eyes still open.
Shocked at the quick defeat of her rival Mizore ran left, sending a rain of icicles at the guy who had obliterated her friend in two strikes. However with the forward guard gone he saw his opportunity.
His next movement seemed to stop time as he ceased being where he was and as suddenly as he had disappeared, he reappeared in front of Tsukune.
A half second stretching into eternity as Tsukune locked eyes with this dark man. Then the man buried his five figures into Tsukune's chest. Everything stopped as the girls watch the fingers of their attacker passed the flesh and bone of Tsukune.
He pulled his hand free of the gore and began walking away while the Mizore, Moka and Yukari all bent over Tsukune, cries of fear and pain spilling into the daylight clouds.
2. Chapter 2
Kurumu opened her eyes, squinting at the sudden painful burst in her head from the sunlight. Slowly she sat up cradling her bandaged head between her palms. She scanned the room and noticed all her friends had gathered and where sleeping in various arm chairs and sofas that where set among the offices furniture, well, all but one.
Kurumu scanned those in attendance and failed to find Tsukune. Her heart skipped a beat thinking that he had not stopped by to see her, till her gaze landed on the sick bed next to her.
Crying out and waking everyone else at the same time she rushed to Tsukune's side where she knelt down and took the hand that was resting on his chest.
Moka was the first to respond out of her sleep to Kurumu's cry.
"W-w-what happened here? Why is Tsukune hurt?" she asked through tearful eyes, knowing she had failed to protect him.
"After that guy knocked you out Mizore attacked, but he was too fast. One moment he was standing there, and the next, he had his hand in Tsukune's chest. Then he left. We haven't seen him even once after that. We even had Ruby look around for him." Moka wrapped Kurumu in a tight hug and Kurumu just cried all the harder into Moka's shoulder.
A slight stirring brought all the girls attention back to the injured party as Tsukune began to thrash about in his bed alarming everyone who saw.
Yukari ran out of the room screaming "NURSE! NURSE!" at the top of her lungs.
The writhing got worse as his body began to contort into unnatural poses, like he was a marionette on tangled strings. Lines of light began to appear on his face, chest and arms as he coughed up buckets of blood all over himself.
"OH MY GOD!" Moka shouted at the agonizing movements he made.
"Calm down, he is okay." They all turned to the voice and took in their breaths at the sight of the man who had done this to their Tsukune.
"What do you mean he's okay! Look at him!" Moka whimpered out.
He fixed her with his sightless gaze before walking over to the possessed Tsukune.
"Get away from HIM!" Kurumu once more lunged at the stranger but this time instead of hitting her he just side stepped her coming attack. As she crashed into the wall on the other side of the room he held out his hand and a flash of light shot towards the prone Succubus. On contact the light wrapped around her in a tight net effectively rendering her useless for the time being.
"I'm not here to hurt him or anyone else for that matter."
"How can we trust you?" Moka asked. "Last time you hurt him really really badly." Moka walked around and stood between Tsukune and the stranger. He looked at her and sighed in a way that slightly irritated everyone present.
They were brought back to the situation as Tsukune let out and agonized scream as his body went through another round of ill looking movements.
"All I did was awaken the power inside him, right now his body is struggling to contain that power."
Moka looked at the man, disbelief evident in her eyes. "What do you mean Power?"
"I mean that he is no ordinary Human, and at the same time is no Monster at all."
"Then what is he?" Kurumu asked from her rather uncomfortable position lying against the wall.
"He is a Demon." That statement rendered the room silent before they all cried out at the absurdity of the notion.
"Allow me to make myself clear. He is no normal Demon, but a Half-Breed. He is part Human and part Monster. They once ran rampant through the Feudal World. They were known as _Tenebris Custodes_. In Japanese it means Dark Guardians. I too, am one of these." He held out his right arm which appeared normal till it slowly changed into what they remembered from their previous fight, if it could be called that.
"We have the ability to change our bodies into our demonic image. Or we may keep our Human appearance. By hiding in the Human form most of our abilities are sealed away. But once we take our demon forms we are some of the most terrifying forces this world will ever know." He lowered his head then in what could only be grief.
"Our numbers however, have fallen to three. Myself, Lis, and one other named Abyssus. We were in a great battle that destroyed all but us three."
"What caused the battle?" asked Yukari as she and the nurse interred the room. The nurse placed her hand on Yukari's shoulder after looking at Tsukune and shook her head.
"I've seen these things before. There is nothing I can do for him." She then left the room, the girls where in bleak tears of despair and looked back at the man who sat oh so calmly on the edge of Tsukune's bed.
"There was a traitor among us who sought to take the world for his own. He gathered an army of and headed for the surface world. The rest of us had learned of his ambitions and went to stop him. The battle raged for a thousand years. The _Tenebris Custodes_ who lead the armies to take the world was Abyssus. He along with Lis, who lead by my side in stopping Abyssus was gravely injured and took refuge in this world. They both took the bodies of humans and recovered here on earth." He reached into his coat pocket and took out a cigarette and calmly lit it.
"They recovered for generations, their souls being passed down from one generation's body to the next. Abyssus is nearly healed and I have just found Lis. She is in the body of your young friend there. And I have awoken her power." Tsukune's harem couldn't take the carpet bombing of unbelievable information. Moka showed it by falling onto Kurumu's vacant bed with her head cradled in her palms.
End file.
| fanfiction |
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Neverwinter Nights 1. Back from Stronghold
Three good jobs had gone past and he was happily drinking some ale with Karnwyr beside him when his dire wolf's head lifted, and turned towards the door. The dire wolf stood and wagged his tail in a very puppy-like fashion. Bishop grinned, knowing what that meant. The dire wolf smelled the hobbit. The little woman had been away for almost three months now and even he was beginning to miss their glaring wars. It had been too boring there without someone to bug.
Then there she was. She stood at the door while her female friends called to her from their table and the dwarf howled for some brew. Avera didn't have a chance to get to the table. Karnwyr barked and ran right to her. She turned and a smile lit her little face as she jumped into his chest fur, "Puppy! I missed you, Runt!"
The man behind her looked as if he were about to attack the dire wolf but when he saw the little woman cuddle up to the animal, he took his hand off the handle over his shoulder. Bishop let go of his bow as soon as the larger man resettled himself. Now what was attached to that handle? He could not see behind this towering man. But that human certainly kept close to the hobbit.
He watched as a gnome bounced around Karnwyr and looked him over, singing a little tune under his breath, "Oh my but he is such a big boy. Is he yours!"
Avera sputtered through the fur, "Karnwyr is this ranger's familiar or animal companion, actually."
The human looked down at her with a mellow expression upon his face, "He certainly seems to like you."
She peeked out from under the fur then gave Karnwyr one last rub before sending him back to a glaring Bishop.
"Avera!" Yelled one of the urchins as she bowled the woman over, "Look, look! New clothes! I made them all with that cloth you brought back! Why didn't you stay?"
"I had to do some more work. We found a lost stronghold for Khelgar."
The girl squealed in glee, "Wolf will love to hear about that!"
"Well, you go on and tell him. Maybe Grobnar can sing you his song that he's been working on. But don't shirk your chores!" She stood with help from the large man. Their hands lingered together for a few moments longer than was probably necessary.
"You are good with them." His voice was level but there was a tone of pride that Bishop could not miss.
"Wouldn't she make a fine mother some day?" Elanee chirped.
"Would you and Neeshka quit?"
Elanee deflated, "Well, I'm sure you would."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
"It's ok. I know you have to be tired." Elanee tapped a pot of tea, "Good timing! Sal just made this up for us."
Avera took her seat as the man shadowed her. Bishop watched him carefully realizing that he was a paladin. How in the world did she pick up a gnome and a paladin? Did she go hunting for the weird and unusual? And how did she get the paladin watching over her like a huge, walking shield?
"I am sure she would make a wonderful mother when she is ready." The paladin turned his head and looked directly at Bishop. He sized up the ranger as he realized the ranger was watching his leader, and sizing him up as well, "Is there anything I should know about this place? When we last came it was only for a couple of nights."
Bishop could almost hear the, "And he was not here sneering at you."
"Not much." Khelgar grunted as he plunked down their ale, "You already know to get yourself what you need; bug Sal, the kids or Duncan for something. Other than that, this is our side of the room and we can hang out by the fireplace if we like. That," He pointed to Bishop's table, "Is his area."
"And the two shall not meet." He assessed the ranger one more time.
"Something like that." Neeshka admitted.
"Well, it has been a long day. If you do not mind, I shall retire."
Avera grabbed her mug of tea and got off her chair, "I need a good bath then to bed I go. Will you escort me to the washing room?"
"Of course, my lady." Casavir answered and the two left the common room.
What was this "my lady" bit? That paladin was going to be a complication. He just knew it.
Nnn
He walked into the common room to a strange sight. The group was at their table for breakfast but Avera was turned to the side, glaring at the ranger directly across from them. There was an untouched plate of food beside her and a cup of tea that she was picking up for a drink and putting back down without looking.
"Morning Casavir." Elanee watched him walk towards the table.
"What is this?" He asked while looking back and forth between Avera and Bishop. One of the children ran up to him so he pointed to Avera's plate, "New food please. The cats can have that."
The little boy grabbed the plate from the table without bothering Avera and ran to the kitchen.
"It's a glaring match, lad." Casavir raised an eyebrow as Khelgar went on, "Started up a bit before we went to Old Owl Well. They do this every now and again. Test of wills, it is."
The child who had taken the cold food returned with two dishes of hot food. Another child put another mug and a new pot of hot tea on the table. Casavir put one plate in front of Avera then placed the other beside the first, and sat down directly in front of the woman to break off the staring match, "You should eat, my lady. I think it will likely be another long day ahead for all of us." He had no idea who this person was but he knew he did not like him looking at Avera. He did not like it at all.
Bishop leaned back and smirked. So this man was protective and jealous.
2. Farm Girls and Oil
Duncan was being eaten up with concern. His niece and her friends had left the Flagon a couple of days ago but had not returned or sent word to say where they would be going. Wolf had been able to get some information from one of the guards at Blacklake's gate by pretending that Avera was his mother and he and his father were worried. He explained that they had gone to see the sage Aldanon then went to the city records vault for some reason. From there they had left Neverwinter in a hurry.
Finally the group entered the tavern. Duncan rushed over to his niece and looked her over to make sure she was alright, "You have been gone for a couple of days! What happened?"
"We saw the sage Aldanon. The shards are part of some sword but we needed to find out about a living relative to a man who had a sword like this. We went to the city records vault to search their records, and found out that the githyanki were going to go after this woman here." She pointed to Shandra, who nodded to Duncan.
"Well, now this is someone new to my establishment. Now who is this young lady?"
"This is Shandra - Shandra, Duncan. Duncan, Shandra."
"Please, lass, come in, come in. Make yourself at home. This here is the Sunken Flagon, I own it - you'll be safe here. Grobnar, play a tune or something, make the lady feel welcome."
"Why, of course, I was just th-"
"Look we don't need a lecture on what passes through your head and out your mouth. Just play."
Shandra grimaced, "Well, the innkeeper certainly runs hot and cold."
"He's my uncle. You can trust him. It's just that Grobnar tends to frustrate him at times."
The woman took a closer look at the hobbit, "Really? You don't look anything alike."
"His half brother is my foster father."
"Oh. All right, I agreed to let you bring me here, now I want some answers." She stood tall and looked down on the hobbit as if githyanki would spew from her mouth, "What happened at my farm? Who were those creatures? And why were they after me?"
"It is a long story and I don't have all the answers. I was hoping that we could work together to figure it all out."
Shandra continued to glare at Avera, "I am not sure what you think I know."
Casavir stepped forward and spoke to the woman in a calming tone, "Shandra, we realize this is difficult, but your life may be in danger - and I swear to you, we are trying to protect you, not make more trouble for you."
"Oh." The farmer became meek and apologetic, "All right, sorry. Guess the whole thing's hard to take all at once." She became coy towards the paladin, making both Neeshka and Avera upset.
"A little paladin charm sure calmed her quick." Neeshka quipped to Avera in a low whisper.
"Too quick." Avera said in muffled tones and grimaced.
"Does it bother you that much?" The tiefling continued whispering.
Avera sighed, "I think I am going to need mallow tea. I feel ..."
"Ick? I will see if I can drum some up for you."
Shandra ignored the two women. She finally shook herself out of staring at the paladin. She had noticed him while they traveled to Neverwinter but did not take much notice as his back had been to her almost all the way. Her mind had been onccupied with escaping the gith. Now that he had spoken directly to her, she acknowledged him with growing interest, "But... what could I know that's so important?"
Avera closed her eyes for a moment, "It is what an Ammon Jerro knew which is important. The creatures that were after you, the githyanki, want to get to his haven."
"Ammon Jerro? He was my grandfather. Or my great-grandfather … or was it my great-great-grandfather?" She cocked her head to the side, "I heard he was an eccentric, but humble wizard - but he died a long time ago. What's he got to do with this whole mess?"
"There is information stored in his haven about a silver sword. These githyanki want the sword and need you to find it."
"My mother told me about the Haven when I was a child. I thought it was just a tale she used to make me do my chores on time. She always threatened to lock me in there if I wasn't a good girl."
"The Haven is real, and we need to find it before those creatures do. We have to stop the gith from doing more harm to people."
"I have no idea where it is. Knowing its location wouldn't help you much anyway. My mother said something about a ... path you have to walk to get to it. Like a series of challenges, but I don't remember what they are."
The hobbit rolled her shoulders to get out the kinks. Casavir immediately rubbed the tense area until she seemed better. She put her hand back to touch his fingers, "Challenges? Just what we need."
"She also said getting into the Haven requires a pint of fresh blood. And not just any blood will do ... it has to be Jerro blood." The woman put her arms around herself, shivering. She thought about what she had just said then her eyes grew wide in fear, "Wait... is that why you 'rescued' me? So you could bleed me?"
Casavir shook his head, "That was not our intention, Shandra. Please ... hear us out."
Shandra looked the paladin over, thinking about just how handsome he was but not willing to put down her guard, "Well, if you think I'm going to some dark dungeon that used to give me nightmares, well... think again."
"There is no way I would force you to go somewhere you did not wish to go. You've been through too much as it is. We will find a different way to enter the Haven."
"Oh... Well then, I'm glad you understand. That's a little more than I was expecting, actually." She spoke to Avera but kept her eyes on Casavir.
"What else did your mother tell you about the Haven?" Avera rubbed a hand over her mouth in thought.
"My mother said his Haven was like a hundred twisting corridors jumbled together into an inescapable labyrinth, filled with the deadliest traps and evil beasts conjured from the Abyss." The woman thought it over for a moment, "Or... something like that. I think she was exaggerating."
"I can see why a person would have nightmares of the place."
"Perhaps it is just childhood stories, but even if I knew where the Haven was, it's the last place I'd want to go."
"Do you know anything more about Ammon Jerro?"
"I have no memory of meeting him. But my mother told me that he saw me a few times as a babe, but I was too young to remember. Mother said he would cradle me and sing to me, and I would pull out his beard hairs."
"Eh. Just keep your distance from me, lass."
Avera laughed, "If Ammon Jerro was 'eccentric, but humble,' it's not likely his Haven is a place to fear."
Shandra nodded, "Hmmm... you know, I never thought of it that way. You may be right. Look, I can barely think, let alone stand. I really need rest and something to drink."
"Shandra, I believe Duncan has rooms upstairs, and you are welcome to join us at our table." Casavir announced.
"I do have rooms upstairs and fine brew, too."
"Oh ... uh, thanks for the hospitality ... uh, Casavir, right? I appreciate it."
The paladin nodded, trying to reassure her, "Of course. You have been through a great deal, it is the least we can offer."
"That I can offer, he means. My inn, you know, always eager to help a lass in distress, we are, here at the Sunken Flagon."
Avera touched Casavir's arm, "I am going to visit the children. There seems to be a peeking nymph over there who is looking for my attention." A dark mop of hair suddenly disappeared into the hallway.
He grinned, "Very well. We will see you shortly then."
As Avera left the room, Shandra sat down in the chair the hobbit normally used and Casavir walked down the hall towards their rooms.
Nnn
The ornamental bottle in his hand was light but the intention behind buying it was weighted. It was a small gift which he had tried to rationalize with the belief that it was only to relieve Avera's tension.
Lying to himself about his desires was becoming more and more difficult to continue. Every day that he was near her became a blinding struggle. Her scent drove him mad, and it was agonizing trying to keep himself from touching her. He could feel when she was disturbed, without even looking at her then he would try to soothe her nerves.
There was an internal battle raging within him concerning whether his feelings were true and whether Avera felt the same. The fight on what to do about his feelings kept him from doing anything. He knew he wanted her. It was not a purely carnal interest. That kind of affection he could ignore. What he wanted was much more. The carnal and the love. To be a partner, sharing in everything that made up both of them was his goal.
This was surprising as he had expected to die honorably at Old Owl Well in order to atone for the pain he had caused. He thought he would never love again as all love, or mistaken love, had done for him was to hurt others and himself. So he had planned on leaving Katriona and the troops at night to traverse the Eyegouger cave alone.
Then she showed up and their eyes met.
Teachers had told him to trust in visions from Tyr. If you asked then you would receive the truth in dream and day visions. That was Tyr's way for loyal followers. But he had fought the dream visions out of fear. How could he love after all that had happened? But this halfling woman had continued to amuse, stimulate and amaze him like no other could.
Their closeness while they were alone traveling from Old Owl Well to the Sunken Flagon had almost broken his strength of will. She seemed to want him as much as he wanted her. But he never acted on his urges no matter how tempted he was. Even though he knew what he wanted, he could not get over his insecurities. He was afraid that his feelings were wrong or that Avera would not return his affections.
He thought of when he first gave her a backrub. It had begun as a friendly gesture. Then he noticed himself wanting to touch her bare skin more. He kept telling himself that it was only to satisfy her need for comfort. That was only part of the truth. The other reason was so he could touch her and to hear her being pleased by his ministrations. It gave him a thrill to know that she reacted so positively to his touch.
That is what brought him to get her this present.
They had to travel through a market while they were returning from Shandra's farm. The farm girl grabbed Avera, forcing her to go off to shop. Khelgar and Grobnar also went to find supplies leaving Casavir guarding their packs.
Shopping was not something he was interested in at that time. Worry etched itself into his brain as they had found further danger for Avera to confront. The danger to herself was great yet she still put herself at risk to save Shandra. He was torn between admiring her resolve and pulling her away from the endangerment. But he knew that she would continue to fight just as he would. It scared him and made him admire her even more.
As he waited for his partners to return, he slowly assessed the market's stalls. His eyes scanned the area until one stall stood out. This particular vendor was selling scented oils.
Now he stood in her bedroom beside the mattress she slept on. Without Avera's presence it felt awkward. Her warmth infused him when she was there. When she was away it was cool but nowhere near as inviting. His resolve started to splinter. The nervous side of himself kept feeling she would not accept this token. His stolid side felt that she would not only accept it but appreciate it as well.
All he needed to do was leave the bottle on her favorite pillow and leave. She would require a backrub later in the evening, and he believed she would know the present was from him. He could decide then if the timing was right to talk to her about their feelings for each other.
He noticed a scroll under the pillow as he put the bottle down. There were further scrolls hidden by more pillows. Being a snoop was not a thing he wished to be but he could not force himself away. His hand removed a scroll and opened it. It was an enlargement spell. Further investigation proved that they all seemed to be the same type of scroll.
A smile crept onto his face as he returned the scrolls to their proper place. Maybe he had been worrying too much about whether she felt the same way he did. He hoped he was right about his and her feelings.
He made sure the bottle was settled in it's spot then left with a lighter heart.
3. Dresses and Dances
Khelgar yelled at Casavir as he got up to get drinks, "Get some for all of us, lad."
"You wouldn't?" Elanee coughed.
"I would and I am." The dwarf snapped. He had left things alone until Duncan had left their table. That man had chatted with the farm girl for too long, as far as he was concerned. Then Casavir came back from wherever he had gone. Now that neither of them were at the table to get in the way, he was going to give her what for, "Grab another chair, lass."
Elanee stepped down from the raised section that held their table and obtained another chair. She placed it at the end of the table and sat back in her seat.
Khelgar tapped the table to get Shandra's attention, "First thing's first, lass." He said, taking her attention off Casavir.
"What is it?" She was confused by the dwarf's tone, and unhappy to be taken from dreamily watching the paladin.
"Get out of Avera's seat or I will throw you out of it. That is her spot and hers only!"
Shandra looked shocked. She noticed the dwarf meant it so got out of the seat as requested and went to the new chair.
"Next," Khelgar started but was interrupted.
"Back off with the paladin!" Neeshka barked.
"What?" That was an even bigger surprise to the farmer.
"You heard the lass. Our little woman likes the man and we're not going to allow you to brazenly flirt with him in front of her."
Neeshka pushed forward, sneering, "If you hurt her then we're likely to drop you back off at your farm for the githyanki to go find you. Next time, no one will save you."
"It is your fault they attacked me in the first place!"
"Oh grow up!" Snapped Elanee to everyone's surprise, "You were already told that they want your blood to get into your grandfather's haven. Did you just glass that part over?"
"But they didn't come after me until after you all showed up."
The dwarf noticed Casavir turning with the drinks and pointed.
Elanee knocked Grobnar's shoulder as he had been standing at the table, ominously in his own little word humming a tune, "I think Casavir wanted to know how you came up with your foot fungus song."
"Oh he did? That's wonderful!" With that the gnome was off to intercept the paladin to tell him the full tale of his great song.
Neeshka watched as Grobnar stopped the paladin then turned back to Elanee, "That was cruel. Maybe you have been with us too long."
Elanee shrugged, "It was for the greater good."
Khelgar chortled, "Anyway, those gith were after Avera before you, yes, but they didn't go after you because of her. They want your blood and they would have attacked you no matter what."
"So you want me to back off?"
"Yes. Avera is the one who decided we should save you when we found out that the gith were after you. They want you alive for your blood but they want her dead! She risked her life to save yours. I think you owe it to her." Neeshka glanced back at the gnome and paladin to make sure they were still by the bar.
Shandra sighed, "He is gorgeous but I guess you're right. She really did not have to help me, especially when it was such a risk to herself to do so."
"It's not like you have a chance with him, but your flirting can hurt her." Neeshka snickered.
"And what makes you think I wouldn't have a chance with the man?" Shandra was offended.
The tiefling snorted in disdain, "Had you been so caught up by his looks that you didn't notice?"
"Notice what? I'll have you know …"
A mug fell and broke. The group looked back to see Grobnar grabbing a tray from Casavir as the man could only gape at the little woman who just entered the room. He had completely forgotten that he was carrying a tray of drinks.
"Oh my, Sir Casavir, you almost dropped them all!"
Neeshka snickered and waggled her eyebrows at the farm girl, "That's why. No chance at all."
Avera stood near the table, wearing a gown that hugged her like no ready made dress could. The group clapped or whistled as the hobbit swirled around to show off her new acquirement.
"You like?" She asked in a quiet tone, hoping that they would. It was red with a touch of brown accents to it with other areas in a light cream.
"It is … lovely, my lady." He stood on the lower section of the floor, looking her up and down. Casavir had never seen her in a gown and this one was amazing. He touched Avera's arm then felt the material, "This is that leather we brought back."
"It is really soft and is almost as thin as cotton clothing." Avera put her hand over his, "That trader wasn't lying when he said it would stay cool. We have to find him again some day!"
"Where in the world did you get this tailored? To get this made especially for you is expensive! Look at the detail!" Elanee walked around, admiring the dress, "How did you ever find the time to get that outfitted?"
"I didn't." She beamed and pointed at a little head peeking around the door to the hallway, "Dora made it for me."
Khelgar sputtered, "The child? She has talent, that's fer sure!"
Dora ran into the room, and hugged hobbit, "You really like it?"
"Of course I do. You did a lot of work just for me. I can't thank you enough."
"No. We can't thank you enough. You gave us a home!"
Shandra gasped, "That must have taken at least a month to make!"
Dora shrugged, "A couple of the others helped a bit. I took Avera's measurements before you all went to Old Owl Well. Then I made a practice dress to get it right. When you came back with that wonderful material I decided that it was perfect for this."
Casavir leaned down, "You should be commended, Dora. That was a lot of work and it is a wonderful dress." He tapped her nose with a finger and winked at her.
"You like it too?"
"Of course I do! Very much so. Thank you for making Avera happy."
The girl couldn't contain herself.
"Would you like it if Grobnar came to sing for you guys tonight? Maybe you can have a little party for doing all that hard work." Avera smiled.
"Will he? Could we?"
"Oh, I would love to sing for the children!" Grobnar bounced up and down as much as the little girl, "Maybe even sing my foot fungus song."
"And Avera's Bugbear Stew?"
"Oh yes! That too!"
Dora looked to Avera, expectantly, "He will be up soon. For now he has to play some music for me. Now, you go play."
The child ran into the hall. The hobbit chuckled as she turned back and found herself looking directly into Casavir's eyes, "I assume you are interested in dancing then, my lady?"
Should I or shouldn't I? Avera was wondering what she should do when she thought of how Shandra had been watching Casavir before she got the dress and all the time Dora was there. She probably was still checking him out. Well, forget it gal, "I would love to dance with you but … could I use you first?"
His right eyebrow shot up, and his eyes got wide, "Use me?"
She giggled, "For a special dance, silly."
"I would be honored to dance with you."
"Uhm," She fidgeted with a sleeve of her dress until he put his hand on hers, "Not quite a normal dance. You wanted to see me dance like I did while Darmon and his men were here, did you not?"
He licked his lips without noticing what he was doing. His heart pounded as he remembered what Khelgar said that dance had been like. It made him more jealous that Darmon was able to see it when he had not. But now he could see her dance up close, "That would be nice." He tried to stay calm. What in the world could she want him to do? "But I have no idea …"
"All you would have to do is stay in place. I direct you to stand or move your arms. Other than that, you just watch and enjoy."
"So you would dance around me?"
"Yes." She cupped his chin with a hand, "Unless you don't want to. I mean, people would be watching us. You are not used to having an audience, and … well … much of the dance would be suggestive. That might be a bit too much for you. Especially in public."
His mind went into a daze but he shook himself back to reality. She was searching his eyes for a sign. He was not sure what exactly to do. To have her dance for him, with him as her center, sensually, but in public? His heart pounded as he tried to think of what to do, "Would you have to get someone else for it if I … opted out?"
She smiled and traced the line of his jaw with a forefinger, making him tremble in reaction, "I would dance alone then. This is another reason I couldn't be a dancer." Avera lowered her eyes then looked up at him from under her lashes, "I … I cannot get myself to dance like that with just anyone."
The words stuck in his mind. She couldn't do it with anyone. But she chose him. She wanted to dance for him, and even though it would be in public it would still be for him. It was hard to think. His privacy meant so much to him. He wanted the pleasure of seeing her dance, but for her to do so like that with him in public? He was not sure he could do it.
Then the door opened startling him. He looked over as Sir Darmon walked into the Sunken Flagon. Casavir watched as the man took a seat, and proceeded to glare at him for being so close to Avera. He noticed Darmon turn his attention from him to his lady, looking appreciatively at her dress, over her body, savouring every curve.
His attention returned to the hobbit's face. She was waiting patiently, smiling intently at him. He badly wanted her to dance for him, and only him. He did not want to share her with anyone else. Especially Darmon or that ranger, who was also watching them carefully. If she danced for him there, in front of others, it would be for him … not them … should he? If she danced alone it would also be for them and he could not handle that.
How could he say no to her? He knew she wanted to do this with him. For him. How could he let her down? "If you would like me to be with you for this dancing then how could I disappoint you?"
"Want me to count the ways?"
He grinned his half grin that made her feel like she would melt, "No. Shall we do this?"
Her smile brightened, making him shiver with delight, "Good." She took his hand and directed him to the center of the room. The tables had been removed for dancing so she did not have to request anything to be done in that regard. She directed Casavir to a spot and left him there to talk to Grobnar and Sand.
Casavir looked about, suddenly noticing eyes on him. He felt nervous. She had been correct that he was not used to an audience. At least not this type. He was used to directing people, and being in command. Not this.
But his eyes traveled to the ranger and Darmon. Both men watched him. The fact that they would not be able to feast their eyes on Avera's movements without realizing she was dancing for him made him feel a bit better. But was it wrong to revel in this? He was not sure. All he knew was that he wanted them to know she was doing it for him. Not them.
Avera returned and directed him into a crouch. She placed her hands on his shoulders beside his neck then put her left ankle onto his right shoulder. He gasped in surprise, realizing that the outfit's legs were made to look like a dress but they were really wide pant legs. It would give her the ability to be more agile than she could be in a normal dress, "Avera?"
"Shush, my paladin." She whispered, "This is your last chance to back out. I warn you ... this will get intense. I do not wish for you to go through with something you are not comfortable with."
Her fingers tickled his neck, and his breath caught, "I … I am fine. I will be fine."
She gave him a hopeful look. She was not sure if she should continue or not. He looked uncomfortable but also interested. And Shandra was still ogling her paladin.
Avera exhaled as she raised her arm for Sand to throw the spell. He could feel her leg grow so that her knee was at his shoulder instead of her ankle. Suddenly their foreheads touched and they were looking at each other eye to eye. The sweetness of her mouth so close caught him off guard. He could taste her breath on his lips. Then she put her left hand on the side of his face and pulled her body closer to his eliciting a gasp.
Grobnar started playing his lute while Avera slowly lowered herself over Casavir's leg. She hung there for a moment to indicate the start to her dance's story. Her eyes shimmered as she watched his features soften. A sigh of pleasure escaped him then he shuddered involuntarily as she arched her back to start into the dance.
She moved slowly then the music started to move faster, so she did as well. Casavir stood easily as she directed with a touch here or there. He seemed in tune with her, mesmerized by her movements. It took little time for him to forget about anyone else being there.
All he could do was follow her direction and watch in amazement. He had no idea what the story to the dance was. He didn't care. All he cared about was how she twined around him, moved about near him and the sensations her scent brought to him. Casavir's features were schooled, giving away nothing to his feelings, but he thanked Tyr that his plate mail was a long shirt style.
His estimation that the wide pants of her dress would allow her to be more agile was correct. She incorporated gymnastic moves which involved rolls and tumbles that melded into the dance seamlessly.
He noticed that some of the moves she used in her dancing were those used while fighting as well. The way she rolled around his legs to stop at his side reminded him of how she would do this to stop an attacker from getting to his kidneys. It fell into place that she had probably learned both dancing and fighting at the same time. Maybe her fighting instructor taught her how to incorporate the two.
She wound the dance down, getting him back into the crouch, and resettling herself in her original posture with their foreheads touching. She smiled at him, hoping that he was fine. He gave her his handsome half grin to show her that he was pleased. Their eyes feasted on each other.
They grudgingly untangled themselves while people cheered them on. Grobnar started up a slow dance, "Would my lady like to dance with me instead of around me?"
"With pleasure, my paladin." They stood into each other's arms. Her head dropped onto his shoulder while his arms circled her. Now if this didn't make him want to stop by her room for more than giving her a backrub then she had no idea what would.
4. Warnings and Gith
The music picked up for some high energy dancing which Casavir and Avera opted out of. The hobbit was tired from the long day and the dancing she had already been involved in. They went back to their table to find that Shandra had gone to her room. Avera wasn't surprised. Khelgar was having a drinking contest with a man by the bar while Neeshka and Elanee were quarrelling about whether Elanee should introduce herself to this nice looking elf a couple of tables back. Grobnar continued playing music that people were requesting.
Avera glanced at her mug. There was nothing in it so she got up to get some more. Her hand touched Casavir's as she left the table, and she turned her head to smile at him as she hopped down from the higher flooring to the lower. She almost skipped over to the bar and requested a drink from Sal when a hand grabbed her by the elbow, "There is something I need to tell you." Darmon pulled her behind the wall which held the fireplace, "It is about that man you travel with … Casavir."
Avera cocked her head slightly, raised her right eyebrow and squinted at him with her left eye, "And?"
"That is the reason I wanted you to ride with me back to Neverwinter when you saved my horse and myself from those bugbears."
Casavir noticed Avera being pulled to the side so he walked in that direction. He stopped as he realized that Sir Darmon was speaking to her on the other side of the wall. He turned to the nearest table, and sat down with his back to Sal.
He had noticed both the ranger and Darmon glaring at him after Avera's dance. He ignored them so that he could enjoy mutual dances with the little woman, but now he wasn't sure if he should have ignored this man. He had to know what Darmon would say even though his brain told him it was wrong to eavesdrop.
Behind the other side of the wall, Avera's arms crossed her chest as she watched the officer of the nine, "What do you mean?"
"He left his order. It was a disgrace."
"I know that he left his order. What is it to you?"
"The thing is what it should be to you. You do not know why he left his order and you need to know. You have to stay away from him."
"Is that so?" Her tone was deadpan. Casavir's hopes rose as he realized that she was not accepting the officer trying to turn her against him.
"Look, he left his order because …"
Avera put up a hand, "Did Casavir tell you why he left?"
Darmon blinked and tried to figure her out, "No. He just ran off without warning."
"Then where did you get your information from?"
"I got it from a man named Pierval. He knows what happened. Believe me; you have to stay away from him. He …"
"If Casavir wishes to tell me the reason for him leaving his order then he will do so himself. You have no right telling me to stay away from him. Next thing you will be telling me is that I have to stop being around Neeshka."
He didn't catch the hint, "You do need to."
"Excuse me?" Casavir cringed at the tone she used. He almost felt sorry for the other man. Well, not really.
"They will cause problems for you and tarnish your name. You have to make them leave."
"Are you so used to commanding troops that you need to tell everyone in your life what to do? Do you not warn a person that you believe there is a problem; talk to them about possible issues; or discuss things you believe is important ... but instead tell them that they have to do something?" Her voice started to rise, "Who in the nine hells are you to tell me whom I should associate with? If I wanted a lecture I would go back to West Harbor and whiz on my father's good shoes!"
Casavir almost choked. He chuckled quietly then noticed the ranger in the seat directly across from him, listening in as well. They glared at each other momentarily then decided to leave everything as a truce for the moment. If they did anything else then Darmon and Avera would hear them.
Darmon backed up from the little fury, "I'm only concerned with your welfare."
"Maybe so, but I'll have you know … these people are my friends and I care for them. They are family. They stand with me because they want to! Not because they are under my command as they are not soldiers or anything like that!" She snapped.
"I did not wish to insult …" He suddenly realized that he had made a huge blunder thinking that the people she traveled with were guard members.
"You should be happy about me being friends with Neeshka. She had been telling me since the night we met that I should take you for a swing in the hay. I am certainly glad that I did not listen to her. I don't need a person in my life who would be telling me how to run it! My life is mine. No one … no one tells me to get rid of any of my friends. Not even my father!" She snarled.
"I did not realize they were not of the guard. Except for Casavir."
"As for Casavir ... for your information, I have been traveling with him for months, and he has proven himself many a time to be an honorable man."
She stalked into the other side of the Sunken Flagon's bar, and stopped cold. Someone was talking about her. She glanced across the room to see her uncle relaying a story to a customer.
"She took the whittling knife and stabbed him in the eye. That is why I call it the 'hobbit maimer.'" Her uncle was telling some man about her worst memory. Why was her uncle telling some stranger about her having to stab a man out of self defense before she had even been five?
Darmon tried to follow her but halted as he noticed the hobbit shaking. He had heard Duncan's words and they sunk in, making him wonder. There was more to the bartender's story than he was telling.
Avera growled as she moved around the table Casavir and Bishop sat at then over to the fireplace. She removed her whittling knife from the wall and threw it across the room. It stuck into the far wall inches from her uncle's nose, "That is not a tavern tale! Do you know the whole story to that?"
People stopped what they were doing. Her friends gaped as she clenched her little fists in fury.
Duncan stared at the knife then looked over to his niece, "Yes."
"Do you tell the whole story?"
"No. Just that you were attacked and you stabbed the hobbit."
She took a deep breath, "Good. Don't! Don't ever!" She screamed then stomped out of the room and ran down the hall to her bedroom.
Casavir got up from his seat in order to go after her when githyanki burst in through the front door.
Nnn
The sound of the door slamming was pleasurable to her ears. She stripped off her new dress and put it up before allowing herself the comfort of flopping down onto her mattress.
A clinking made her turn in surprise. The bouncing had shaken a scroll from it's spot and beside it was a bottle. She lifted the glass container while looking into it with curiosity. It had an airy scent of strawberries. Her eyes shone with expectation, taking away some of the hurt she had been feeling.
Carefully, she opened the vessel and poked her little finger in then reset the stopper. The liquid was an oil which felt smooth on the skin. She rubbed the oil onto the back of her hand. It felt so good that she had to bite her bottom lip.
This must have been there since she got the dress from Dora. She had changed in the girls' room upstairs and the children brought her armor down to her room as she went to show the dress off.
Her heart jumped with emotion because of this little treasure. She held the bottle to her chest. It had to be from Casavir. No one else would think of that or even suggest giving her a backrub. What to do now? Certainly he would follow her but here she was in her underclothing. That would look good. Hey baby, I noticed this massage oil. Come get.
A giggle escaped her lips as she grabbed her clean leather armor. It wasn't as if they could do much even if he was interested in more than giving her a backrub. Her womanly cycle had begun just after she had danced with Casavir. That was luck for her. It didn't dampen her spirits much because the present was more than enough to keep her in a thrilled state for quite a while.
As she wiggled into her slacks, she noticed the sounds of fighting. Her eyes grew wide as her Uncle cried out an alarm about intruders. Damn. She furiously put on her slacks.
Then her door opened. A githyanki strode into her room instead of her paladin. Her heart sank. She had yet to put on her armored jerkin and here was the enemy, sneering at her, happy to see the Kalach-cha in such a delicate state.
Without a thought she threw the bottle. As it hit the intruder she cringed, but she had no time to mourn the loss of an object. She pulled on the rest of her armor and grabbed her mace.
The githyanki tried to remove shards of glass as her mace pummeled down onto it's head. It fell near her window and tried to get up. But it set off the acid trap Neeshka had set to keep certain individuals from trying to get in. It slid down the lower part of the wall, dead.
She didn't have time to pay attention to the corpse. Another gith came through. From there she could only hope that there were not many in the hallway. The fighting in the common room sounded nasty. It made her realize there were quite a few of the creatures. But she concentrated on the here and now. There was nothing she could do for anyone else until she got out herself.
It wasn't an easy to kill gith but she finally managed. She ran into the hall and back into danger. Her uncle was fighting with two githyanki on his own with no weapon at hand. Her temper flared. Her mace took out the ankle of one gith then kept going into the side of the second one. It gave her uncle a chance to start pummeling the one that had fallen to the ground from her foot attack as she took on the one that was still up.
She had never seen her uncle fight. Even out of shape he fought with a passion that indicated a near berserk personality. They were back to back keeping their opponents from getting together to hit on only one of them. It seemed like ages until they were able to kill them. It was only moments, but the fear for her friends made it seem much longer.
Her little legs moved of their own accord to bring her into the common room. She was happy to see that the children had not been in there or they did not stick around.
Khelgar and Neeshka were fighting three gith together in a far corner. They fell one and turned onto another. They were doing well so she turned her attention to more of the room.
She watched as Qara was backed to the fireplace by two other gith. With a scream of hatred, the sorceress made them both burst into flames. Avera ran up to her and stood in front of her protectively, "Dang good job!"
"That was nothing." Qara reported in her high and mighty manner.
"I know." Avera winked at the young lady as she turned to see what else was going on. Qara followed her example and looked about as well.
Grobnar and Elanee just finished taking down another enemy. Bishop was shooting his arrows with a blinding speed which made her jealous. She turned from them after making sure that Neeshka and Khelgar were ok.
She ran around the wall that partitioned the Flagon and stopped in wonder. Casavir was fighting back to back with Darmon against five gith. She threw herself into the fray and soon worked her way to her paladin's side, between him and the officer of the nine. The battle was difficult as more gith came to the fallens' aid but with working together they were able to whittle them down.
They were down to one adversary when she noticed Casavir's eyes widen. She swirled in order to hit what was behind her but the gith dropped. Multiple arrows stood out from it's head and neck.
She looked over at the ranger. Bishop sneered then shrugged as if it all did not matter to him.
There were no more githyanki to fight so Avera pulled herself into a chair at the edge of the wall barrier to catch her breath. This was a definite surprise.
Darmon walked over to her, "I will have to inform Lord Nasher about these creatures." He pulled his hand back as he was about to touch her arm, "I am sorry that I upset you."
"I know that you only wanted to protect me. You just chose the wrong way to go about it."
"That is true and I regret it. I hope that you will greet me with pleasure instead of disfavor the next time I come for a drink." He took her hand, kissed it and left.
Casavir watched as the man removed himself from the Sunken Flagon. He noticed that without thinking of it his hand had navigated itself to the hobbit's shoulder, "Are you ok?"
"Yes." She looked up at him, "I had to use your gift."
"What?" What in the world could she mean by that?
"A gith came into my room before I could get my jerkin on. I threw it to hurt and distract it."
He put his palm over her cheek, "It was used for your protection. My lady's life is more important then mere oil."
As they turned to check out their friends, Duncan came into the common room in a rage, "That lass, Shandra, has been taken! How in the hells did those githyanki get into the city?" Her uncle snapped making everyone realize what the githyankis' goal had been.
Bishop knelt over one of the dead. A cocky grin adorned his lips as he stood up and looked at Duncan, "Does that matter? You'd best hurry if you want to get her back." His eyes trailed over the gith to it's boot, "Look, this one has a sprig of Duskwood trapped in his boot. That means they came from deep within Luskan territory... and that's where they'd be returning to."
Duncan advanced on the ranger, "Luskan... that's your territory, Bishop."
"Yes, but it's not my problem." His no nonsense tone hinted for Duncan to back off, "I'm not going into Luskan territory for some farm girl, and certainly not with any kin of yours, Duncan."
Avera raised an eyebrow, "You actually think I want you with us? I'd rather recruit a dire porcupine. At least they are less prickly!"
The ranger raised an eyebrow and snorted. She had quite a mouth to her. She was a bard so what did he expect? But she certainly was no gentle bard.
Duncan became forceful, "You'll help them, Bishop, whether you like it or not."
"And what makes you th..." His voice turned into a cold, sinister snarl, "Calling it due, are you, Duncan? Are you sure?"
"A woman's life is at stake, Bishop. If that's what it takes to move you to do the right thing, then so be it."
"Fine, it will be worth it to be rid of you - and for such a small price, too. You're a fool, Duncan." Bishop sneered.
"So be it."
"What?" Avera growled, "Whoa, hold on there! Since when did you become the leader of this merry little band, Uncle?"
"He knows Luskan so he has to go." She had never heard her uncle being so uncompromising but this was hers and her companions' lives at stake. She was not willing to throw in with someone who hated herself and her uncle that much.
"How far away is Duskwood?" Her nose wrinkled in distaste.
"Two, three ... maybe four days depending on how fast those little legs of yours can go."
Her eyes narrowed, "You don't want to see what these 'little legs' can do, Bishop."
"Don't be too sure. I've already seen one wrapped over a paladin, and those dance moves show much more of what they can be used for."
Avera sputtered as Casavir took a step forward, "You shall not treat her with disrespect, ranger."
"I will treat her with whatever respect I feel she deserves."
"You will take that ..."
She put a hand on Casavir's arm and stood, "We don't have time to squabble."
Casavir nodded, "You are correct. We need to get going if we are to save Shandra."
"At least she is not the kalach-cha. They will likely keep her alive for whatever they need to use her for to get into the haven."
"Then that gives us an advantage. We will need all we can get." Bishop grumbled.
End file.
| fanfiction |
Grey's Anatomy 1. Chapter 1
**Photographic Memories**
by greyeyedgirl
Summary: What is tragedy? Everyone's favorite GA couple finds out in this sad-paced story set in the future.
The whir of the ambulance as it flew through the Seattle streets was loud and full of menace, Burke clutched desperately to her hand as they whipped into the parking lot of Seattle Grace.
"It's all right," he murmured, "It's okay, baby."
The EMTs lifted the gurney out, and Bailey and Grey met them at the door to the hospital, both stone-faced. Burke said nothing to them as they grabbed hold of the stretcher and got moving. Bailey looked down at Cristina's head and cringed. "Page Shepherd," she told Meredith. Burke squeezed Cristina's hand even harder, not being able to speak.
"Twenty-nine year old Asian female, victim of head-on collision as a result of a drunk driver. Seems to be having severe subderral bleeding and palpitations...her pupils are totally shot," The EMT finished, looking at the surgeons with concern. At that moment Dr. Shepherd came running down the hall with Meredith, they both had faces that were very white, and looked visibly shaken. "Let's get her to MRI, now," Derek said, gasping for breath. "You okay?" He murmured to Burke.
Burke didn't respond, he simply squeezed Cristina's hand harder to him, looking down at her with tears in his eyes.
"So...as you can see...the damage to her skull shows that her brain suffered severe bleeding. I need to get her into surgery immediately to repair the damage, but as you know...with this type of injury...it..."
Burke glared at him, the whites of his eyes were blood-shot, and their were tiny crystals sitting at the sides, ready to fall free.
"I'm so sorry, Preston," Derek said softly.
"Go on," Burke said hoarsely. He knew what was wrong with her, the words he had read in the textbook so many years ago were swimming in front of his memory, he looked at Dr. Shepherd, daring him to speak the inevitable.
"It might have affected her memory."
Burke stared at Derek, rage exploding in him, his mind couldn't seem to accept the facts they were already aware of, and he felt himself shaking, trying desperately to release his anger, do anything to get rid of the powerful emotions stirring all around him.
"What do you _mean?_ She might not remember us? She might not remember her _life_?"
"Often..." Derek began softly, looking at him sadly. "Often, with this type of cases...they simply rewind a bit, going back to a traumatic or important memory. Whatever memory it goes back to...Cristina might remember everything up to then, but from then on it'll all be a blank."
"So she could wake up and think she's..._twelve_, or something? There has to be something you can do...A hemispherical construction...a-"
"Dr. Burke. You know I can't, not if I want to plan on repairing the extent of her injuries."
"Get her into the OR. Now! What are you waiting for? She's bleeding out, you have to get her in the OR! Go!" Burke looked down at the woman laying in front of him, bandages already soaked with blood wrapped around her head. "It's okay," he murmured, kissing her hand. "It's okay, baby. They're going to take care of you."
It was almost nine hours later that Cristina was allowed to have visitors again, and Burke sat carefully next to her, taking hold of her hand and resting his head onto the hospital bed. His face was tired and his eyes blood-shot, as he desperately squeezed her hand, looking at her for some kind of life, besides the monotonous beep from the machine in the corner. There were now clean bandages wrapped around her head, along with several along the right side of her stomach and legs. "How could this have happened," he whispered.
Izzie and George watched hopelessly from the doorway, Izzie wiping silent tears from her eyes. George pulled her away silently, taking her into the stairwell, where he held her tightly, letting the tears fall. Izzie shook violently, crying into him. "The other guy," she gasped. "The drunk. Did they tell you he's fine? A sprained wrist and a head concussion. Cristina's in there, her memory might be gone, and Dr. Burke's a mess...and the guy that did this to her has a sprained wrist and a head concusssion."
"He's only a kid," George whispered. "Only 16 or something."
"Do you think that _matters?_ Do you think that makes it _okay?_ George, Cristina could have _died!_ She could have-"
"I'm not sticking up for him," George said quietly. "I'm just saying. He's only a kid." His face contorted into an uncharacteristic one of rage, his voice sounded suddenly unfamiliar to her, then Izzie realized she'd never heard the sweet, puppy-dog eyed surgeon sound bitter. "And he just ruined a bunch of lives for no reason."
Izzie felt her tears flow faster, she leaned against him again, shaking even harder into him, and he wrapped his arms around her tightly as she cried into his chest, tears soaking his scrubs.
"Sir, I...I picked Avery up from daycare. She's with George in the cafeteria...I think he's getting her some milk. I can watch her, if you want to be with Cristina," Meredith said, looking at Burke awkwardly.
"Thank you," Burke said quietly, not looking away from Cristina's body. "I appreciate it."
"Of course," Meredith said quietly. "Would you like to see her?"
"Yes. In a little bit. I just...I need to hold her. Make sure she's all right." For the first time he looked up at Meredith, and Meredith could see the sickness in his face, his jacket was collared just below his neck, and he looked uncharacteristically unhappy. "Can you have O'Malley bring her up in 15 minutes or so? I want to sit with Cristina for a while."
"Of course, Dr. Burke. Is there anything else I can do?"
Burke looked up at her, and Meredith was instantly sorry she had asked. "I'm sorry, sir," she said. "I'll...have George bring her up in about 15 minutes. I..." She drifted off, not being able to bear looking down at her friend, and backed off, finally averting her gaze to Dr. Burke. "I'll be going now, sir. Have a nice...I mean...I..." She closed her eyes. "I'll be going now, sir."
Burke didn't look up from where he'd latched his eyes back on Cristina, his hand grasping her non-IV'd arm.
"She should have woke up by now," Shepherd whispered to Meredith. Meredith didn't answer, as she watched Burke in Cristina's hospital room, gently holding his daughter with his arms as he sat next to Cristina's bed.
"She's not responding to the medication or to her IV filter."
Meredith felt her eyes filling, she forced her gaze away from the window to Cristina's hospital room. "She's in a coma," she whispered.
Derek looked at her sadly.
"I'm so sorry, Meredith. I know you two are close."
"It's not enough. It's not enough that she wouldn't remember her life, or her family, or her friends! She's not even going to get the chance to build new ones. She won't even get to make _new_ memories." Meredith felt herself shaking, their was a pounding at the side of her head as she brought her hands to her face, trying to wipe away the fresh river of tears, the first ones she had allowed herself to shed.
Derek tried to force himself to be positive. "You don't know that. She could be fine, for all we know. She could wake up tomorrow, and remember everything, with no more than a few broken ribs and a headache for a couple of weeks." He tried to smile. It faltered at the look on Meredith's face. "Meredith, I'm so sorry," he whispered, moving closer to hug her. Meredith moved away. "It's not enough," she whispered. "It's never enough."
Derek bit his lip, trying to hold back his tears, as he nodded quietly to Meredith, taking her into his arms as her tears continued to fall.
2. Chapter 2
**Photographic Memories**
by greyeyedgirl
chapter 2 (I meant for this to be a one-shot originally, but...oh well. There's just too much to tell in just a few pages. BTW, there's a story slightly similar to this one...it's by prestinaluvr, Cristina gets hurt in the parking garage of her and Burke's apartment. Anyway, just saying, if you like this story, you might want to read hers, Prestinaluvr is a brilliant writer, I like to think I'm the Princess of BANG fic, but pluvr is most definitely the queen. )
"Dr. Burke. I know this must be hard for you to hear. I'm sorry, I know. But-"
"What did you say?" Burke's voice had a quiet anger in it, he was looking at Derek dangerously. Shepherd tried to clear his throat. "I'm sorry, Preston. I know this is tough, but-"
"Did you just say you _know?"_ Burke took a step closer to him, his eyes flashing. "Did you just say you _know_ what it feels like? That you've had the love of your life snatched away from you, and had to watch her _suffer?_ Had to watch her _bleed?_ And when she wakes up-and now you're telling me..._If_ she wakes up..." Burke looked at him, rage seething through his muscles. "You're telling me you _know?_ Excuse me if I'm thinking incorrectly, Dr. Shepherd, but it seems to me that you don't know a damn thing!"
Derek hung his head, exhaustion sweeping over his body like the chill that runs through as summer fades to autumn.
"She's fallen into a coma. But we don't know-Dr. Burke! We don't know anything, she could wake up tomorrow, she could wake up in 20 years. We just can't know."
"What am I supposed to do?" Burke whispered. "What about Avery? What's _she_ supposed to do? She needs her mother-she's only a baby-"
Derek tried desperately to hold back his tears. "I'm so sorry, Preston," he said softly, before turning to walk away.
Miranda Bailey was sitting in an on-call room that presided on the left side of the fourth floor when Meredith Grey came bursting in, her hair a mess and her face red. "Dr...Dr. Bailey," she said.
Bailey looked up at her intern, the exhaustion evident on her face. "What is it, Grey?"
"Dr. Bailey," Meredith said, obviously out of breath. "We ran some tests. On Cristina. And one of them...showed us something. So we...me and Izzie...we ran another test. And it showed us..."
Bailey looked up at her with tired eyes, mentally preparing herself for the worst. "What, Grey?"
Meredith handed her a cream-colored folder, showing her the results of the lab. "I think you should look at this, Dr. Bailey."
Bailey took the folder from her, peering down at the chart. "Oh, my god," she breathed.
Burke sat silently in the chair next to Cristina's hospital bed, Avery crying wildly in his arms. "Shhh," he whispered, trying to comfort her. "It's all right, baby, shhh, don't cry." He wrapped the blanket gently around his daughter, pushing a strand of curly black hair behind her ear. Avery cried desperately for a few more minutes, but Burke wrapped her tiny fingers around the arm of her teddy bear, and slowly, Avery's cries subsided. "Shhh. See, baby, it's okay," Burke whispered, trying to hold back his tears. "There ya go," he murmured, slipping her bottle into her tiny baby mouth. "See? All better."
Meredith opened the door tentatively, sticking her head into the room. "Dr. Burke?" She asked hesitantly.
"What is it, Grey," Burke said dully, all the light and humor in his eyes gone.
"We needed to talk to you about something. It's really important."
"Who's 'we,' Grey?"
Meredith turned to look behind her. "George," she said reproachfully. Slowly, tentatively, George and Izzie came into view. Dr. Burke looked at them silently for a few moments, and then stood up, following them out of the room as he cradled Avery carefully to his shoulder.
"This had better be important, Grey." Burke said, staring at Meredith as Avery burst into tears again. Meredith looked from the baby to Burke, then seemed to hesitate. "You know, we could...watch her," Meredith said tentatively. "Avery. For a few days. At my house. Or at _least_ for a few hours, you look like you could get some sleep..."
Burke glared at her, before handing Avery her teddy bear that she'd dropped, cuddling his daughter closer and trying to calm her. "_This_ is what you pulled me away from my wife for?"
"Actually," Izzie said nervously, obviously trying not to anger or upset him any more, "We're waiting for someone..."
And at that moment, Addison Montgomery rounded the corner, and spotted Burke speaking to the interns. "Dr. Burke," she said quietly. "I'm not sure if they told you..."
"Told me what, Addison? What is going on?"
"Maybe...we should go someplace more private. Grey, Stevens, O'Malley...Find somewhere else for yourselves to be."
George made a gesture like he was going to protest, but Addison shot him a look that made him stop. The interns all turned, heading down the hall. Addison led Burke to an on-call room.
"Preston...I'm not sure how to tell you this..." Addison whispered. Burke looked at her, frowning as Avery spit out her bottle. "What are you talking about, Addison?"
"Meredith and Izzie were...running some routine tests on Dr. Yang. And they discovered something. Preston, Dr. Yang was-is, actually...almost three months pregnant."
Burke stared at her in shock. "What the hell are you talking about!"
Addison looked at the floor. "You should be happy, Preston," she whispered. "To suffer the shock and the trauma that Cristina's body has went through, and to not lose the baby...I never would have predicted it. It's...it's a medical miracle. The chances of it not suffering some kind of trauma, or there being complications...they're slim to none. But you've got a little fighter in there."
Burke took a step back, staring at her. "It's impossible. We used precautions. We were planning to start trying again next spring, but it's impossible. Cristina _can't_ be pregnant."
Addison looked at her hands, wringing them. "I looked at the labs, Preston. We did an ultrasound. Well," she looked up, and for the first time she appeared angry. "The interns did an ultrasound. There's no way to know...how the baby's been affected by the accident...but Cristina Yang is definitely pregnant."
Burke looked down at his baby daughter, who had somehow managed to fall asleep, and was now cooing softly, blowing a raspberry in her sleep.
3. Chapter 3
**Photographic Memories**
chapter 3
by greyeyedgirl
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Preston Burke sat in the stiff, hard chair just lining Cristina's hospital bed. The baby was gone from his arms, sleeping soundly in Meredith's arms two floors away. Burke held Cristina's hand gently, carefully rubbing it with his fingers, before bringing it to his lips.
The monitor in the corner gave a resounding beep, Burke stared up at it and then down at his wife, panicked. "Cristina!"
There was a slow, silent stirring on the hospital bed, a flash of movement of a few strands of dark curly hair, as a head jerked restlessly, a pair of almond brown eyes fluttering open.
"Burke?" The voice was weak, soft, but it was Cristina's voice, and Burke's heartbeat seemed to rush at the sound, he felt his eyes fill as the thought '_She remembers' _drifted through his mind, he squeezed Cristina's hand harder and then kissed it again. "It's okay, Cristina," he whispered. "I'm here."
Cristina made an obvious motion to sit up, Burke pushed her shoulders gently back down, staring into her face concernedly. "SHEPHERD! DEREK, GET IN HERE!"
Cristina looked up at Burke's face, confusion etched in every delicate line and crease of the beautiful face he had fallen in love with.
"What...happened? What's going on-"
At that moment, Derek Shepherd came running into the room, his stethoscope flopping around his neck, his face red, his breathing tired. "What's happened? What's wrong-" He cut off, staring at the figure of Cristina, eyes open, trying even more stubbornly to sit up even though it was obviously causing her pain.
Preston Burke's face could have lit up the room. "She's awake," he whispered. "She remembers-She said my name-"
Derek allowed Burke one sad look of sympathy, before turning his expression back to Cristina. "What's the date, Cristina?" He murmured sadly.
Cristina had been looking around the hospital room, horror, confusion, and panic all settling on her features. "Um...the uh..." Her breath weakened. "The thirtieth?" She was looking around again, then her eyes slid cautiously to Burke.
Burke's glowing beam slid off his face, he looked down at Cristina tentatively. It was the fifteenth.
"What month, Cristina? What year?" Derek was looking at her sadly, his voice gentle.
Cristina stared at him, obviously just noticing her broken rib, she seemed to be struggling in pain. "September. 2005."
Burke felt his breath intake.
Derek looked at her, sadness etched into his deep face. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Cristina frowned, not needing to think, then a strange look passed over her face, and she shrugged. "I don't remember," she said simply.
Burke's heart starting to re-pump with one large, violent beep, his mind whirring. "It's okay, Cris," he murmured quietly, almost sadly, looking down at her face. "Shepherd knows about us."
Cristina looked up at him, fear and pain on her face. "Wha-how-what are you..." She looked down, this time the pain in her eyes having nothing to do with her injuries. Burke felt his lungs shake.
"You said...Derek you said she might go back to a traumatic memory."
Derek nodded, his voice slightly back to normal in this sudden familiar territory. "That is most common, in these cases."
Burke stared down at his wife, slightly sick. "Cristina..." he muttered. "Is the last thing you remember...the...the on-call room. . . . The-whe...when I..."
Cristina looked up at him, and her eyes said it all. Burke looked away for a second, heartbreak causing his face to distort, his voice came out very hoarse and un-Burke like.
"That was over three years ago, Cristina."
Cristina stared at him. "What?" She looked genuinely confused. Burke looked down at her.
"You miscarried the baby a week later," At this, Cristina's breathing seemed to stop, "and we were together again right after you woke up. We were living together a few months later. About a year after the pregnancy...I asked you to marry me. You got pregnant again a few months after the wedding. We have a little girl, Cristina."
Cristina looked at Burke, confusion, disbelief, and pain staring at him. "Wha-bu-I-" Each word seemed to hurt to say, Cristina frowned as she rested her head back, closing her eyes, her mind seeming to find it hard to think. "What are you-what happened?" She paused. "A...daughter?" She added, as an afterthought.
Burke squeezed her hand, bowing his head. "Avery," he whispered. "The only name we both liked. We fought for ages over it. But finally I gave in to your suggestion." His mind seemed to collapse at the memories.
Cristina couldn't seem able to take it in, her mind was spinning, and it hurt just to think, she felt so many different kinds of pain as she laid there, various tubes and bandages causing her added discomfort. "How'd this happen."
"You were hit by a drunk driver in your car." Burke seemed to find these words even harder to say then the other ones, his voice tightened as the roaring monster leaped into him again as he thought of the man who had done this to her.
Cristina didn't look at him. "How long have I been out?"
"A week and a half," Burke said quietly. He seemed to be inspecting her face, memories of how she had been like at the beginning of their relationship causing him to stare in slight fear, wondering how she would take it all.
Cristina looked at him. "Avery, huh?" She looked almost frowning, like the things she was being told didn't make sense, they didn't add up.
"She's an angel," Burke whispered. "She's so beautiful. She'll be one in a couple of months." He tightened his grip on her hand, but she didn't respond. Burke closed his eyes briefly, trying to force his head into the situation it had just been placed in. This wasn't His Cristina, his wife, this was his Old Cristina, the woman he had had so much trouble convincing that she loved him, he could already sense the wall she had built up, the distance she was trying to put between herself and this new-found family. He wanted to whisper to her that he loved her and was going to take care of her no matter what, but unadorned fear prevented this. He was going to have to go through the old arguments all over again, feel the same pain, do the same convincing, and this time the circumstances were going to be totally different, she was no longer an ignorant intern, he was no longer just discovering the powerful new attraction he'd been feeling, and most important of all, there were two tiny, innocent little lives depending on Cristina's recovery. This time, it was more than a mistaken pregnancy that seemed to push itself back and away, leaving Burke and Cristina to deal with the damage. This time, it was more than an accidental life. It was their children, the tiny little sacraments that proved the life they'd built.
And she couldn't remember any of it.
4. Chapter 4
**Photographic Memories**
chapter 4, by greyeyedgirl
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Derek Shepherd stared at the back of the curly mass of hair, head bent over the charts at the nurse's station, a large bandage on the left side. He took several strides forward.
"Dr. Burke," he said smoothly, standing next to her. Cristina jumped, looking around frantically, then at Derek, frowning. "What are you talking about? Where is he? He said he was going to get the baby, then-" She broke off, realizing, then bent her head back down, looking over a chart, pretending to be completely absorbed.
"You should really be in bed. You're risking rupture, your head could start bleeding again at any second-"
Cristina ignored him, flipping through the chart. "So what's all been happening since...I last remember?" She asked nonchalantly. "Any interesting Seattle Grace gossip?"
Derek grinned, thinking, remembering.
"You have no idea..."
Cristina didn't look up from the chart.
Derek inspected her, taking in the expression as she coolly pretended to be fascinated by the case of neuralgia. "What's with the hostility, Dr. Burke?"
Cristina looked up for the first time, her expression tight. "Don't---_call_ me that!"
"Dr. Yang, then."
"Um, last time I remember, you had conveniently forgotten to mention to my best friend that you had a wife. Sorry if the friendliness and love isn't just rolling off my tongue, I know that's what you're used to from me." Cristina looked at him pointedly, turning to walk away with the chart, then wincing, holding onto her stomach.
"Yes," Derek said patiently, noticing. "You have a broken rib, it was minor, but that's why you should be in bed." Cristina didn't respond, just glared, moving to leave.
"CRISTINA! What are you doing!" Burke had suddenly headed down the hall, holding a squirming Avery, moving quickly towards her, anger and worry evident on her face. "Come on, Cristina," he said quietly, taking hold of her arm with his free hand, moving to lead her back to her room. Cristina pulled away, subtly, but surely, and Burke frowned down at her sadly.
"Do you want to hold the baby?" He asked quietly.
Cristina jumped, wide-eyed, staring. "The baby? _That_ baby?"
Burke looked at her calmly. "Our baby."
Cristina took a step backwards. "Actually, I'm going back to bed just now. I'm going to take a nap. I don't feel so well."
Burke stared after her, watching, as she headed down the hospital hallway to her room, dragging her IV pole along with her.
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When Burke entered her room 15 minutes later, it was to find Izzie, Meredith, and George in there with her, all talking to Cristina animatedly about their various patients. "And Mr. Mason, I swear to god, he's nuts, he was _hitting_ on me-in front of his wife. You know. The one about to give birth to their child." Izzie leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes.
"Excuse me," Burke said, clearing his throat. "Could we have a moment?" Izzie and George jumped up, hurrying out of the room, closely followed by Meredith. Burke took one of the empty seats, nudging the bottle into Avery's mouth as she let out a soft gurgle.
Burke looked at her for several moments, Cristina avoided his gaze by staring at the blankets of her hospital bed.
"What do you want to know?"
Cristina looked up at him.
"You've never been one who likes being left in the dark," Burke explained. "Ask me anything, I know you're curious."
"How did you find out?"
Burke looked at her calmly, waiting for her to elaborate.
"How did you react?"
Burke searched his mind, all the way back to three years ago, trying to think what thoughts might have been going through Cristina's mind. "About the baby?"
Cristina nodded to her blanket.
Burke frowned, barely managing the words. "You collapsed in the O.R."
Cristina winced.
"My OR. In the middle of the surgery. I knew something was wrong when you didn't answer my question."
Cristina frowned, not meeting his eyes, or acknowledging the soft gurgling noises Avery made as she gulped down her milk.
"Your mother came. After your surgery. You had an...it was ectopic. About 7 weeks." Burke forced the words, each memory bringing fresh pain. "That was when I found out you didn't care for your mother. Then...we were together again a few days after the surgery...I stayed with you in your hospital bed." He paused, watching Cristina intently. "I asked you to move in with me the day after Thanksgiving. You agreed a little after New Years. We got married on June fifth, 2007. Avery was born in September of 2008. And today is July second, 2009."
Cristina didn't make any response, just looked down at her sheet. "Who's Chief Resident?" She asked finally.
Burke actually managed a smile at this.
"You are. And I'm Chief of Surgery...Richard retired six months ago. His wife made him, he had a heart attack. Mild, but sufficient enough to get the man to cut back." Burke looked away from Cristina. "They just named his replacement three weeks ago, I was interim chief for a while, but this made it official. We went to dinner a few days before...the accident. Half celebration, you'd just been named Chief Resident and I was Chief of Surgery...and half our anniversary, we'd had to work on the actual day." Burke knew she was avoiding his eyes without even having to look at her.
"Oh," she said finally.
"What else do I...not...remember?"
Burke didn't answer, not being able to meet her eyes, trying to clear his thoughts, find words to explain what their life was like, to tell her that they'd been happy, finally, she'd been happy.
"I know this is scary. It must be. But I'm not going anywhere. You're worth whatever this takes. Cristina, we're more than an on-call room fling. I want you to know that." Burke looked at her solemnly, taking in her closed off expression.
"Um...can I have some...privacy, please?"
Burke looked at her, hurt, but stood up. He gripped Avery tighter, looking down at Cristina one last time. "Say bye-bye to Mommy, Avery," he said softly, as his daughter gripped one of his fingers. Avery looked down at her mother, holding out one arm. Cristina looked at the child in alarm for a moment, then looked away. "Not now, munchkin," Burke said quietly to her, turning the baby away. "Mommy doesn't feel well."
Cristina watched in silence as Burke took her out of the room.
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It was much later in the day, and with the absence of their daughter, that Burke reentered Cristina's room that night, and sighed, not finding her in her bed. He was about to start patrolling the halls, when a disconcerting sound came from the second door in the room.
Burke moved to stand behind it, leaning in to talk through it concernedly. "Cristina?"
He grimaced, hearing the nonverbal response. He went to open the door, rolled his eyes, as it was locked, and knocked on the top upper portion.
"Go away," Cristina yelled.
Burke leaned closer to talk to her through the wood. "It's okay, Cris," he said. "Here, I'll help you, unlock the door."
At this, the door swung open, but when Burke glanced downward he found himself looking straight into the deep glare of Cristina Yang. "Help me with _what_?"
"You sounded sick. I'm your husband. I'm not going to be scared away by a little vomit," Burke looked at her, slightly incensed.
Cristina looked him over carefully. "It doesn't make sense." She pushed past him and back into her bed. Burke turned, his eyes lingering on her small frame. "What doesn't?"
Cristina looked up at him, her eyes narrowed. "I'm sick. My stomach hurts. But there wasn't anything on my chart about abdominal jostling, bruising, no organ damage whatsoever. It doesn't make sense that I'm sick."
Burke picked up Cristina's chart from the side table a few feet from the bed, skimming over it. He put it back down, relieved. Addison hadn't changed anything yet.
"It's okay. I'll see what I can get you for it. Just some simple antibiotics should do the trick," he said smoothly. Cristina looked up at him from where she'd been looking at her bedspread, her head seemed to point upwards very, very slowly, but her eyes rested quite steadily on him.
"Avery's with Stevens, she offered to watch her for a couple hours."
"Who?" Cristina said blankly, then remembered, face flaming. Burke looked down, pushing his hands together in his lap, curling and straightening his fingers.
"It's hard to get used to. I know. I know this is hard for you. But you're not alone. You have a life. A family." Burke sighed, looking sideways, trying to focus his breathing.
"You remember me as...the guy that dumped you. The man you'd slept around with in the on call room, but essentially, nothing more. But-"
Cristina shook her head, her thoughts confusing her, still not able to look at him. "Are you really my...we're _married?_"
Burke managed a tiny smile, a pained one, finally turning his head, she raised hers, and their eyes locked for the first time. "Yes," he said.
Cristina looked back down. She had never planned on getting married, and she had no idea what to say to the man that had, somehow, managed to change her mind. "You weren't..." She said finally, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at the same spot on her blanket. "You were never just a guy."
Burke exhaled, smoothly, then finding it harder to breathe in. He took her hand between his, bending his head.
"Of course not," he said, but this time the smile wasn't pained. He'd finally gotten reassurance of feelings, not by His Cristina, but by his Old Cristina. The memory was one to be remembered. He winced, as this thought came barreling into his senses.
"This is a lot to take, Cristina. More so, because it is you. I know this is shocking. I know you're probably not happy about it. But this is what is, and I'm not leaving you." Burke looked at her again, Cristina's eyes were swimming, the familiar brown overwhelming to him. "I need you. Avery needs you. Ou-" He started to say something else, then broke off, wincing. "It'll be okay eventually. That's all." Burke looked at her, hesitant to see how Old Cristina would react to New Burke.
Cristina's eyes had traveled down to the bedspread again, but this time there was something different in her eyes.
5. Chapter 5
_Photographic Memories_
written by greyeyedgirl.
Chapter five
Summary: Inspiration can be found in the oddest of places.
Addison Shepherd headed purposefully down the hall, and was in the process of opening the door to room 307 when Burke turned the corner with Avery, catching sight of her and rushing forward.
"Addison!"
Addison turned to him, smiling pleasantly. "I was just going to talk to your wife, Preston, about maybe getting her an ultrasound."
Burke cleared his throat, looking at the ground. Addison's smile fell.
"_You haven't **told** her?_" Addison glared at him, staring up and down the hall. Burke winced.
"How could you not have **told** her?" Addison hissed, staring at him.
"She just woke up. She's adjusting," Burke said quietly.
"Do you think she's just not going to **_notice_**?" Addison asked, looking annoyed. "Because when I walk in there to give her an epidural in 6 months, my guess is she's going to realize something's up!"
Burke sighed. "I'm going to tell her. Just...not right away. She doesn't even think of me as her husband yet." His face grew even more pained. "She doesn't even think of Avery as her _daughter._ ... She's...not _ready_ to be a mother."
Addison looked at him in silence. "You have to tell her. If you don't, _I_ will."
Burke looked at the ground. "I'm going to tell her," he repeated. Addison just watched him in silence.
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Derek Shepherd strolled purposely down the hall of Seattle Grace just hours after his wife had done. He paused outside door 307, before swinging it open.
"Afternoon, Drs. Burke."
Cristina glared at him but Burke smiled, looking up at him over Avery's head. "Good afternoon."
"How are you feeling, Cristina?"
"Fine." Cristina was staring blankly out the window.
"Really fine? Because someone mentioned to me you were feeling a little nauseous." Derek winked. Cristina glared, then reverted the gaze to Burke, who winced. "But that's to be expected, of course," Derek said quickly. Cristina stared at him. "Why is that to be expected?" She asked. Derek stared at her for a full minute, then comprehension dawned on his face. He shot an unreadable glance towards Burke
"Well, you just had surgery, of course you aren't at your best." Derek responded. He cleared his throat. "Actually," he said. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to talk to you two about a surgery."
Burke looked at him blankly.
"It's _very_ new, it's only been performed five times. There's..." His voice got quieter. "A sixty percent failure rate."
"What are you talking about?" Cristina demanded. Burke continued to stare, but now there was a small frown on his face.
"It's known as a ultrascanpicol craniotomy, and it's for cases such as yours." Cristina looked at him curiously as he went on. Burke took several deep, angry breaths.
"With electric therapy and three invasive procedures, it can return up to 80 of your memories."
"That's with the two out of five people who survived, right?" It was Burke who was speaking now, the words coming out in a yell as rage cornered on every line of his face. Derek swallowed, taking a long breath.
"Yes."
"I would remember everything?" Cristina was staring at Derek as if she had never seen him before, her eyes widened slightly.
"Most likely, yes. But the failure rates of this surgery are _not_ hopeful. I've only seen this performed twice, and one was unsuccessful. The amount of blood lost and the stress put on the brain from the shock...it is a very, very dangerous operation." Derek took a tentative step away from Burke, who was trying very hard not to crush Avery in his arms.
"I want it." Cristina looked at Derek, her voice loud and brass, no doubt on her face. Burke inhaled loudly, taking a step forward.
"Cristina," he said softly. "We should talk about this."
Cristina didn't look at him. Derek stared at her, then Burke, and finally Avery, before backing away the final few steps to the door. "There's...something else," he murmured. He took a gasping breath. "Preston, you have to tell her..." His voice was almost inaudible.
Burke stared at him, and in that moment, something inside him snapped.
"**GET OUT! NOW! GO!"**
Derek looked at him sadly, exiting the room. Cristina stared at Burke, confused, and a little scared. Burke turned from the door to face Cristina. He took a few tentative steps, his eyes widening as he bit his bottom lip with emotion, a tiny dimple emerging from his chin.
"You don't understand," he said quietly, his face still flushed with anger. "You don't know what it's like. You don't know how this feels." He stopped, clearing his throat painfully, not being able to breathe. "Our life. You married me. We were happy." Burke was shaking, and Cristina watched him, then slowly sat up further, reaching out for Avery, who Burke was having trouble holding. Burke's voice was rough with emotion, the pain on his face all too real. She had had nightmares of seeing that anger, had actually heard that tired, stressed, and heartbreaking voice what felt like days ago in an on-call room.
Cristina looked down at the small child in her arms, feeling panicked. The small girl, who she had tried not to look at before, was breathing softly, obviously oblivious to the stirring air around her. Her small face was similar to both Cristina and Burke's, as Cristina looked down at her, she saw Burke's eyes but her lips, the delicate structure of the face was taken solely from the baby's mother. At that moment Avery let out a soft coo, and Burke looked down at the baby from where he was standing next to Cristina's bed.
"I know," Cristina said quietly, and Burke froze at the sound of her voice. He had heard her speak that way only a few times, and when he did he knew she had finally let something go. That was the soft quality that always reminded him of a small child, one scared and begging to be held and protected, one that made him want to come closer and take a step back all at the same time. "I know this has to suck. I _know_ it does, because just..." Cristina broke off, staring off in the distance, as Avery wiggled slightly. "Just imagine, you wake up one morning, and you don't know where you are or how you got there. The night before you'd been terrified of the next morning, but when it finally arrives, it's even more terrifying than you'd imagined. You're married to a person you barely know, you're still so confused as to the last thing you remember, you can't believe you're never going to have to deal with it again because it's over. You just..." Cristina shook her head vehemently, her voice returning to normal. She spoke as if she hadn't said anything before. "That's why I have to get this surgery. I have to know things. I have to understand. I can't just...pretend this is fine, and I'll get used to it. I have to know."
Burke stared at her, his face in pain. "I can't let you. I can't lose you, I can't lose two of the most important--" He stopped talking. Cristina just stared.
"What did you say?"
Burke didn't respond, just looked down at Avery, who was now turning over onto her stomach, touching Cristina's face lightly, puckering her lips. Cristina slowly looked down at the baby.
"She's hungry," Burke said quietly. "But it's fine, I can get her a bottle-" Cristina just stared.
"What did you say?"
"Hold on---I've got a bottle in the bag here---" He rummaged restlessly through the baby bag, taking out diapers and a small teddy bear and setting it on the bed stand.
"BURKE, what did you **_say_**?" Cristina was shaking, looking at him in horror, taking smooth, slow, gasping breaths.
Burke took a step closer, not taking his eyes off her as he rummaged through the bag for the bottle.
"We planned to start trying for next year. You said being an only child sucked, and you didn't want her to be that way." Burke's voice was almost inaudible, the deep quality of his tone measuring out with the soft volume.
Cristina just stared at him, then nodded slowly, scaredly, as if in a daze.
"By...you mean..."
Burke sat tenderly next to her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her, lightly grazing the top of Avery's head with a finger. "We're so lucky. It's a miracle that it survived."
Cristina wasn't looking like she thought it was a miracle. She stared up at him, lower lip trembling, then took a deeper breath.
"What's wrong with it?"
"What?"
"The accident. There must be complications now."
Burke closed his eyes, burying his face in her hair, desperate for his wife. "We don't know yet," he whispered. "Addison ran some tests...She wants to do a sonogram..."
"The surgery. The craniotomy. It would kill it, wouldn't it?"
Burke winced, then felt his anger return. "You are by no means getting that surgery, Cristina."
Cristina felt her face tighten as she gritted her teeth inside her mouth. "You're not the boss of me!"
Burke jumped up, staring at her. "I'm your husband!" He yelled. "This is your life! This is our _child's_ life! You're not an irresponsible intern anymore, Cristina!"
He stood quietly for a moment, gasping for breath. Cristina was frozen, looking up at him, taking in his appearance from her spot on the hospital bed.
"I'm not, am I?" She asked quietly.
Burke took a deep breath, still shaking. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I understand why you want it. But Cristina-" He paused, looking frantically around the room, not able to look at Cristina, before finally resting his gaze on their daughter, who was still crawling on Cristina's chest and stomach, puckering her tiny lips.
After a long pause, Burke took his hand out of the bag, handing something to Cristina. "Here's her bottle," he said softly.
Cristina stared at him, shaking violently under a large mop of hair. Avery climbed farther up Cristina's body, pushing her light open lips against her mother's face, leaving a tiny trail of drool from under her small mass of curls. "Buh," she murmured. Cristina looked at her hesitantly, before pushing the bottle into her mouth awkwardly.
6. Chapter 6
_Photographic Memories_
chapter 6
by **grey**eyedgirl For the Morethancoffee-ers: Fine. I know, I am weak. The no-update thing lasted about 3 hours for me. But you know what? I had a right to be insulted. Pluvr and greymind got to be BANG fanfic queens, and what was I? Not even allowed to be IN that little club? What am I, the STEPCHILD?
Hmph.
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CHAPTER SIX PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES BY GREYEYEDGIRL
The sound of the baby crying hurt her ears, the loud wailing was worse than a siren, and much less stimulating. Cristina loved the sound of sirens. It meant someone was coming that was sick and needed her to slap 'em onto a table and slice 'em open.
But there was that loud screaming, unrelenting and unstoppable, coming from only a few feet away in Burke's arms.
"WHAT THE HELL'S _WRONG_ WITH THAT THING?" She yelled over the sound of Avery's cries. Burke looked at her, glaring.
"That thing is your daughter. She always cries when she wants you to hold her."
Cristina looked at him, horrified, then averted her gaze to the wailing child. "Can't you stick a pacifier in her to shut it up?"
Burke continued frowning but did not respond. Cristina seemed to realize that this was not the right thing to say, because she looked at Burke's face timidly for a moment, and then looked over at the corner, awkwardly.
"Muh!" Avery yelled. Cristina closed her eyes tightly, as Burke opened his mouth desperately. "Cristina, you are being ridiculous. Just hold her for a minute. I _have_ to go, I have an aortic aneurysm in 10 minutes. I am the Chief of Surgery. I have to _go._" He closed his eyes, shaking his head, then lightly set Avery on Cristina's stomach, which was responded to by Cristina looking at him as if what he had just done was unforgivable.
"I will be back in a few hours." Burke leaned down quickly, kissing Cristina's forehead and then Avery's, Cristina stared at him as he exited the room.
Cristina looked at Avery's face, in which she could see similarities to both herself and Burke.
"Well, little munchkin...What are we going to do with you?" She murmured.
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"Shhhh...shhhh! Shhh, baby, it's okay. Here...um..." She stopped, thinking. She began to sing timidly.
"A-B-C-D-E-F-G..." Cristina stopped, wincing. Apparently Avery did _not_ want to learn the alphabet.
"Um...Twinkle twinkle little star..." She sang desperately. Avery's screams grew louder, as she swung her arms, digging one tiny fingernail against Cristina's shoulder. Cristina squeezed her eyes shut as hard as she could, and started to sing the first song that came into her head. "L..." she sang softly. "Is for the way you Look...at me..."
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_"L...is for the way you Look at me...O...is for the only One I see..."_
Preston Burke took two tentative steps into Cristina's hospital room, the soft sound of Cristina's singing reaching his ears.
Cristina was lying in her hospital bed, Avery in her arms exactly as Burke had left them. Avery's eyes were now closed, though, and Cristina was looking at her slightly nervously, as if she were waiting for something to happen.
_"V...is Very, Very...Extraordinary, **E..."**_
Burke cleared his throat loudly, and Cristina jumped, looking up at him in alarm. "Burke!"
Preston grinned, taking a few more steps into the room. "Don't be embarrassed. You sounded nice."
Cristina's face burned. Burke smiled at her for a moment, then it slid slowly off his face, and his expression turned to one that was intent.
"Cristina."
Cristina didn't look at him, her gaze drifted slowly to her left wall, her face still flaming.
"What made you think of that song?"
Cristina looked at him, slightly confused. "I don't know," she said, looking at him blankly. "I guess it just popped into my head. It was the only thing that made her stop crying."
Burke walked forward, until he was directly next to her bed. "We danced to that song at our wedding. We used to play it to Avery to help her get to sleep."
Cristina frowned, obviously deep in thought, and didn't respond. Whether it was because something was coming to her, or she was embarrassed to be caught in a moment with her guard down, Burke might never know.
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7. Chapter 7
**Photographic Memories**
chapter 8
by greyeyedgirl
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This chapter is dedicated to norabelle, aka Vella, who was very persistant in getting her fanfic updates. :D
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"Ow! Burke, she bit me!"
Preston Burke took away Cristina's hand from off her lap, where sure enough, there was a small hole where a miniature tooth might have gone. "Don't be ridiculous," he said smoothly, seeing the bite mark. "She's only got 3 teeth, I doubt she could bite you if she _wanted_ to."
Cristina glared at him as the small baby crawled across her stomach, disturbing the IV cord with her tiny foot. "What kind of child have you been _raising_?" She asked pointedly.
"Oh, she didn't get biting from _me,_" Burke laughed. Cristina smirked, sitting up the rest of the way as Avery crawled towards her, scratching her face with her tiny fingernails. "Don't do that, munchkin," Cristina said absentmindedly. Burke looked up from where he'd started to scribble something on her chart.
"Sico dinefo. Buh deeko feecie," Avery gurgled, a bit of drool dripping down. Burke smiled lightly, sweeping her up from off of her mother. "That's about all for you, today, Avie," he murmured, cradling her in his arms. Cristina watched them carefully, not letting her emotions show.
"Muh!" Avery whimpered. Burke rubbed her soft curls, before getting her bottle and letting it gently enter between her lips. "There ya go, Avery," he muttered, as Cristina looked on.
"So where do you guys live?" She heard herself ask. Burke glanced up, surprised. "Ummm, a house a couple blocks away, the street right next to Grey's. Mendon road. It's a big white one with green shutters. There used to be a fence, but you made me get someone to take it down...something about not being a...'freaking soccer mom.' I have a 2008 Porsche, and you have an SUV. You gave up your bike right after we found out Avery was coming."
Cristina nodded vaguely, drinking in all the details of their life.
"What about everyone else? What's going on?"
Burke closed his eyes, thinking. "Hmmm. Karev transferred to a hospital in Los Angeles, where he's pursuing a career in plastics, I believe. O'Malley's going into cardio-thoracic for his specialty, so are you." He paused. "At least, you were. Grey wants to specialize in neuro. Stevens actually took some time off right before your guys' second year . . . a friend of hers passed away, she took it pretty hard . . . Anyway, she's going into neonatal. Her and Addison are pretty fond of each other, they're pretty good friends."
Cristina tried to process all this new information, and apply it to what she already knew.
"So we're...How did this all happen?" Cristina tried to sound politely interested, but couldn't hide every ounce of confusion she had.
Burke glanced up from where he was feeding Avery, waiting for her to continue. When she didn't, he smiled.
"You mean, how'd I convince you to marry me?"
Cristina frowned uncomfortably. She did not know him well enough to be able to think of him as her husband. Still, it was _Burke._ The way she felt about him didn't allow her to really be able to think of him as _anything._ She wasn't sure how to describe it.
"If you want to put it that way...fine. How did you...as you said...get me to do that?"
Burke brought Avery to his shoulder, cradling her head gently. "There were a lot of factors. We realized we were in love with each other. We grew closer after I got hurt-"
"What do you mean?" Cristina broke in, frowning. "Hurt!"
Burke looked at her. "I got shot, right before your second year. I was coming into the hospital one night, and the shooter was obviously just crazy."
Cristina felt a weird kind of anger, it scared her to feel anything so powerfully that didn't have to do with work. "He's in _jail_, right!"
Burke started to burp Avery, who made a soft cooing sound. "He shot himself...He was killed. Anyway, the bullet lodged itself into my spinal cord. I experienced some . . . tremors . . . after the surgery, but you pulled through fantastically in the end. You were there for the three months of my physical therapy...and after that you were never really the same. I think you realized something about yourself." He set Avery down in the small carrier he'd set on a nearby chair, giving her a pacifier and her favoirte rattle.
Cristina frowned, watching him play with their daughter. This wasn't the Burke she remembered, he seemed so much more domestic, and the way he looked at her and their daughter scared her. It was weird to her to have to _look_ for the cockiness, for it was still there, there was a precision and almost arrogance in the way he moved, he was so sure of himself, so sure that she would still be in love with them, once she got over the initial shock.
"Muh. Deco nifita," Avery slurred, stretching out her arms. Burke bent down, picking her up. "Shhh, shhh," he murmured, as she started to cry. He bounced her gently, pushing back her small mass of dark curly hair. "What's the matter. Princess?" He murmured.
"That's her diaper cry," Cristina heard herself say. She frowned. _Where did **that** come from?_ She'd only been around this kid for a couple weeks... There was something familiar about her words, like she'd heard something similar once long ago, but she couldn't place it. She frowned, trying to concentrate.
Burke, meanwhile, had unzipped Avery's pink footie pajams, and was inspecting quickly. "You're right," he said, his eyebrows crinkling as he turned to look at her. Cristina averted her gaze towards the painting of the sailboat in her room.
Burke had just taped the sides of Avery's fresh diaper and slipped her feet back into her footies, when there was a knocking on the door. Burke turned to see Derek walk in, right as he was zipping up Avery's pajamas, rubbing her tummy lightly as he did so.
"Dr. Burke," Derek said smoothly, smiling his brainless-brainsurgeon smile. "Dr. Yang." He grinned, moving closer to Avery and rubbing her soft hair. "Hey to you, too, cutie," he said smiling. Burke casually but quickly picked up his freshly-changed daughter, cuddling her once again to his shoulder.
"Dr. Yang," Derek said, his tone changing slightly. "I was wondering how you were doing, looking at the literature I gave you? Like I mentioned, if we're going to proceed with the surgery, we have to start it soon. The more you continue to go on without it, the less of your memory may return, even with an excellent surgery. The point is, every second is precious." He turned to smile at Avery. "I know the risks are high _and_ it is a difficult decision, but honestly, it must be made in the next couple days, or it might not even be worth the try." He looked at Burke, who was frowning greatly. Cristina bit the inside of her bottom lip gently, trying to think.
"Okay. I _will_ think about it. I just...need some time. Okay?" She tried to avoid Burke's gaze, thinking he would be angry, but he was looking at her almost curiously. Derek tried to smile, and nodded.
"All right then. I'll try to check in with you as often as possible, and lets make the deadline for your decision...Um, Tuesday?" He looked at her questioningly.
"Tuesday. Like in two days," Cristina breathed. She tried to smile. "Right. Great. Well...Other than some weird jostling in my stomach-" Burke flinched. "I feel fine," Cristina continued. "I'll see you later, Dr. Shepherd."
Realizing he was being dismissed, Derek tried to smile, before exiting, winking at Avery as he did so. Burke sighed, taking a step forward towards the bed.
"I didn't say I was getting it, Burke," Cristina said, noticing his stiff composure.
"I know," Burke responded quietly. Avery cooed from his arms, reaching out her hands towards Cristina. Burke raised his eyebrows at his wife, and after getting her nod, handed their child to her. Cristina allowed Avery to curl up next to her, as she looked at Burke and continued.
"...Burke..." She said quietly. "I didn't say I was _not_ getting it either."
"I know," Burke said, even quieter.
Cristina looked at Avery, who already had closed her eyes and was breathing softly, her tiny chest raising up and down. "I'm not her mom, Burke, " Cristina said, pushing back her hair. "I _can't_ be a mom." She looked up at him, then back at Avery.
"Don't you think she deserves her mom back?"
Burke didn't answer, just took a step forward, taking her hand in both of his.
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a/n: I'll try to get a update up soon, but I'm having serious issues on my writing computer. Anyway, leave a review...Oh, and wish me happy birthday for today, June 5th...I'm 15 today:D
8. Chapter 8
Photographic Memories
chapter 8
by greyeyedgirl
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"Awwww, look at the little cutie, the wittle sweetie pie---" Cristina came out of the bathroom of her hospital room to see Izzie, George, and Meredith all cooing and giggling over Avery.
"I left you alone with her for _two minutes_, can't you stop the googoo-gaga stuff for that long?" Cristina carefully laid back down on her bed, as Izzie handed Avery to her.
"We can't help it. She's so cute. Look at all that hair she has!" Izzie grinned, looking down at the baby. "You used to yell at me for letting her watch Care Bears when I baby-sat. You said it was a cheesy show and it was uneducational, which would lead your child to grow up thinking they could slide down rainbows and always trust people." Izzie ran her fingers over Avery's curly hair and laughed. "You made it sound like you came in on me giving her a shot with an AIDS needle." Izzie sat the baby down on Cristina's stomach.
"Hey, did I mention?" Meredith asked. "Fellowships are starting next week. We're all staying, but there's also a new doc coming in from Boston. Should be interesting."
"Mmm," Cristina said, genuinely interested, lifting Avery slightly so she was resting her head on Cristina's chest. "It's weird to think about starting our fellowships. I remember our first day here so clearly."
Meredith, Izzie, and George exchanged glances. It wasn't usual for Cristina to talk about her little "problem."
"So how are you feeling?" Izzie asked, gesturing to Cristina's stomach. George and Meredith both grimaced, they had both learned their lesson about asking Cristina was doing during her _last_ pregnancy, but Izzie as usual was a little slow.
Cristina looked up, oblivious. "About what?" Her face burned when she realized, and she looked down at her daughter who was sitting up on her lap. "Oh."
"So have you…been thinking about your decision?" George asked. Meredith elbowed him strongly in the stomach, as Cristina looked up.
"Morning!" A voice said suddenly, and Cristina turned her heart-stopping gaze to the door, where Burke was strolling in. He nodded, smiling, to the other doctors, as he walked over to Cristina's hospital bed. "Hey," he said softly to Avery, picking her up. "Did you have a good morning?"
"It was fine," Cristina said calmly, looking up at him. "How was your surgery?"
"It went well," Burke said smiling. "Mrs. Riley's heart had a lot of damage, but I repaired the rupture to her superior vena cava without too much difficulty."
Cristina nodded vaguely, as the interns all gave each other subtle looks and headed towards the door. Burke waited until they were gone before pulling up a nearby chair to her bed and sitting down, cradling Avery carefully.
"So, it's Monday," he said delicately.
Cristina glanced from the baby to him. "Um, yes."
Burke sighed. "So, tomorrow is Tuesday."
Cristina laughed. "Good work there, Burke."
Burke just looked at her. Cristina looked away, uncomfortable.
"I need more time," she said finally, quietly. Burke smiled tightly, nodding, looking away for a moment.
"How much time? Because if you're going to get the surgery, Shepherd isn't going to want to wait long. And if you _do_ decide to get the surgery…" Burke seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, then smiled again, the fakeness and tightness of his curled lip like a rubber band stretched too thin. "Waiting will make your odds even lower. I've done research on this surgery, Cristina. It's not worth it."
Cristina didn't seem to want to look at him, just fingered the IV going into her arm. Burke took another deep breath.
"I know this must seem like the biggest decision ever for you. But if you don't get it, if…" Burke tightened his arms around the squirming Avery, staring up at the ceiling. "If you don't remember, it changes nothing. We're still married. We're still parents. We're _going_ to be parents for a second time. There's always the chance that something will trigger parts of your memory. Even if things don't seem the same, we can make it work. We have to make it work. This is our lives, Cristina. Avery…Avery needs you. If you get this surgery…If you…" Burke closed his eyes, trying to get a better grip on the crawling child in his arms. "If you don't….if something happens to you…that's not worth it, it's not worth you just not remembering. We can make new memories. It won't be the easiest thing in the world, but we've been through stuff like this before. We can do this, Cristina." Burke looked at her, his face contorting into almost anger. "We're not just an intern and an attending breaking stupid hospital rules anymore, Cristina! We're not just _screwing._ We have a life together. A _life._ And I'm not going to let you give up yours, just because your scared of what feelings you have about this." Burke looked at her somberly. "We can survive whatever problems arise in the next few months. But I can't survive the thought of you getting that surgery."
Cristina closed her eyes, opening her lips to respond. The sound of beeping filled the room, and Avery started to cry as Burke stood up, looking down at his pager, which read **RILEY 911.** Handing the baby to Cristina, Burke let out a sigh of frustration, running towards his patient's room to help with the code.
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a/n: Mwahahahaha…I'm evil, I know. I will update asap, but with 4H coming up, I'm really busy. Which means I'll be updating:P When I update, ALWAYS assume there was something extremely productive I was _supposed_ to be doing. But anyway, I hope you liked the chapter. Hit that little button, please! Reviews make the world go round….
9. Chapter 9
Photographic Memories
Chapter 9
By Miss Greyeyedgirl
-o-
"Careful, munchkin…Avery!" Cristina's voice turned from casual to frantic as she reached for her daughter, as the baby slipped down and almost off of the hospital bed. Burke grabbed her just as Cristina did, and he smiled at her as she lifted up the small child and set her back on her lap.
"Look at this little monkey…what are we going to do with you, Avery Nicole?" Cristina's voice mocked strictness, as she bounced Avery lightly. Burke paused from his spot about to sit back down. He frowned slightly, turning to look at her.
"What did you say?"
Cristina looked up at him from her spot playing with Avery. "What?" She asked blankly.
Burke looked at her, blinking. "You called her munchkin. I figured that wasn't a big deal, maybe it was just a, a thing that came naturally. But…how did…" He paused, looking at her in confusion.
"Cristina…Who told you Avery's middle name?"
Cristina stopped bouncing Avery, staring at the child and then turning her gaze to Burke. "Huh?"
Burke took a step towards her, placing the newspaper he had picked up back onto his chair. "You called her Avery Nicole. I never told you her middle name. So how did you know it?"
Cristina tried to remember. "I don't…know. It feels sort of déjà vu-y. Maybe…" Cristina tried to think. "Maybe Izzie mentioned? I don't…" Cristina frowned, forcing her brain to concentrate. "I can't remember."
Burke frowned at her in confusion, trying to organize his thoughts "You-"
"Ahem. Good morning, doctors." Derek Shepherd strode into the room, looking around at both of them and smiling slightly uncomfortably. "Happy Tuesday."
Cristina let her face of intense concentration relax, trying to smile at Derek. "Oh. Yeah. Morning."
Derek turned to look at her, his smile slightly broader. "Do we…have a decision yet?"
Cristina tried to regulate her breathing, closing her eyes for a moment. "Not…yet. But I will by tonight."
Burke looked at her, biting the tip of his bottom lip tightly. "Alright," Derek said smoothly.
"I want to get you into the MRI today. I need to see how your brain is healing, and if you _do_ decide to get the surgery, it will be a key tool on what exactly I need to do and fix. I'm also ordering some higher level tests, I want to see what exactly is going on inside that head of yours, see how your body is reacting to the first surgery, and just get some knowledge of the general picture."
Cristina nodded, as Avery put her tiny hand on her mother's arm and then slipped it into Cristina's hand. "Muh!" She squealed, giggling.
"And I believe," Derek said, his smile now slightly tight, "That my wife wants to get you into an ultrasound later. But obviously if you opt for the surgery that won't be an issue."
Cristina felt slightly as if her breath was knocked out of her, but she managed an uncomfortable smile towards Derek as Burke took a step forward in anger.
"Derek, you can't do that! You're trying to pressure her towards having the surgery-"
Cristina gave Burke a look that silenced him, and he stood glaring at Derek, silently fuming. Derek sighed, looking around.
"I have to go, I have more patients to see. I'll send an intern down later to get you to the MRI."
"And I-" Addison Shepherd stepped through the still-open door, flashing a smile towards Burke, which he happily returned, "Will be performing an ultrasound and some more tests later, to see how that little fighter of yours is doing." Addison grinned, winking at Preston. "And how's this other pugilist of yours doing?" Addison laughed, rubbing her hand over the top of Avery's head.
Cristina bit her lip slightly, uncomfortable, as she averted her gaze from the spouses in front of her. "She's fine," she said firmly.
Addison smiled, turning to nod at Derek. "That's excellent. I just came to see how you were doing, but I have a C-section in twenty minutes and a soon-to-be mother who doesn't seem to be getting much from her epidural, so I will be back in a few hours, alright?"
"That sounds fine, Addison," Burke said, suddenly calm and smiling, as Addison grinned at him and exited. Derek stood stock-still, a look of frustration on his face, before he too smiled and turned to exit. Preston could hardly hold back a laugh as Derek exited the room, walking towards Cristina and lifting Avery into his arms.
"What was _that_ about!" Cristina nearly exploded.
Burke turned to look at her, in some surprise. "Oh…Addison? She's delightful, very charming. Doesn't let Shepherd get away with that crap." He smiled, shaking his head.
Cristina raised her eyebrows. "So why didn't you marry _her?_"
Burke nearly dropped Avery, turning to stare at her. "Because she's not Cristina Yang," he said blankly, shaking his head. Avery grinned from the familiarity of her father's arms, reaching out a hand and pulling her mother's hair gently.
"I'm going to go find Avery some milk from the cafeteria, and I'm going to grab breakfast. What would you like?"
Cristina shrugged, watching Avery blow a raspberry next to her father's ear. "Just coffee."
Burke smiled, nodding. "Coffee. Done. I'll be right back, alright?"
Cristina nodded, as Burke strengthened his grip on Avery, who let out a little giggle. "Mmhmm."
Burke leaned down to kiss her lightly, Cristina responded with some surprise but then felt herself sinking into it. "See you soon," Burke said quietly, straightening back up. Cristina nodded, trying to wipe the smile off her face, as Avery waved her arm at her from over her father's shoulder.
-o-
10. Chapter 10
Photographic Memories
Chapter 10
By greyeyedgirl
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"Are you okay?"
…
"_It's a sign of, it's a…it's a sign that the tumor has infiltrated the pericardium."_
…
"_That guy shot you?"_
…
"_Don't ever die."_
…
_There was a projector, Burke was on stage next to Bailey and Dr. Webber, she was watching him wring his hands from her seat next to Meredith._
…
"_Shut up, shut up! Come on munchkin, shhhh, stop, stop. No…shut it! Oh, oh…"_
"_What are you doing?"_
…
_L…is for the way you look…at me…_
…
"_Is there any way you can pick up Avery for me? Mr. Frank's surgery is bumped up, his ulcer perforated. And I have the whipple after that, pre-rounds tomorrow…I think it's gonna be an all-nighter."_
"_No problem, I got her. I'll see you tomorrow." Burke leaned forward to kiss his wife, not knowing that, in a way, it would be their last._
-o-
"Baby. Cris, wake up."
Cristina jerked awake, opening her eyes to see Burke leaning gently over her, cradling Avery carefully to his chest.
"I brought you lunch. Addison Shepherd will be in in a while, she wants to run some tests. See how the baby's doing."
Cristina flinched, sitting up the rest of the way on the bed. "What time is it?"
Burke glanced at his watch, shuffling Avery to his other arm. "Quarter after noon." He frowned, looking at her carefully. "Did you sleep all morning? You should tell Shepherd if you're feeling faint, he won't be able to operate if you don't have all of your strength-"
"Burke, I'm fine." Cristina picked at the salad on her tray, taking a sip from the juice carton as Avery held out her arms to her. "Just a little tired. Nothing to worry about. And I didn't sleep all morning, I had to get more tests taken, remember?"
Burke kept his gaze skeptical, allowing Avery to leave his embrace as she crawled on her mother's bed.
"So you've decided, then."
Cristina was pulling Avery more onto the bed, protecting her from the edge instinctively. "Hmm?"
Burke forced a tight smile, letting his gaze rest on hers for a long moment. "You didn't contradict me. You're letting him operate."
Cristina glanced up, one hand reaching towards Avery to prevent her from knocking over the lunch tray. "Burke..."
Burke paced slightly, turning his eyes towards everything but her. "You don't have to explain. You're still the intern. You don't understand what you feel, you don't want to accept it. Your mind focuses only on your career, on surgery. You know this is the only way to get back to it, without having to deal with the parts you don't want to acknowledge. This is your easy way out, your way of entailing that all the messy parts be dealt with by someone not you, the 'new' you you feel you must have become, or just pushed away altogether. I may have married the 'new' Cristina, but I have not forgotten who exactly I first fell in love with. You hide from it, drowning yourself in work, in things that have an exact answer with no fuzzy edges or uncertainties. This is the only choice you can imagine. Fine. You don't have to explain that to me."
Cristina tried to open her mouth to speak, but Burke held up a hand to silence her. "I don't….know."
Preston looked back down at his watch, raising one eyebrow in a would-be nonchalant manner. "Addison will be in soon. Derek said he'd be back sometime this afternoon with your films. We can tell Addison she's not needed. I'd rather not see the ultrasound, if you've already made your decision. I don't see what good could come of that."
Cristina didn't speak, she had closed her eyes tightly as if trying to remember something.
"Two out of five. The odds aren't in your favor, but Dr. Shepherd is certainly a talented surgeon. Capable."
There was a buzzing in her ears, she could feel Avery tap her shoulder then pull her hair, giggling when she let go and they fell back into the curls.
"Maybe it'll turn out fine. Maybe it's better this way." Burke sat down on a chair in the corner, wringing his hands, pulling his glasses off and wiping them on his lab coat. "I don't want to force you into this. It's still your life. You don't think you're ready. You can't think of yourself as Avery's mother, as this child's mother. You need this. You're still that intern."
Cristina watched his hands, seeing them wipe at his glasses over and over again in her mind. Instinctively a feeling of nervousness rose in her, she had the urge to comfort him, though his voice was firm and accepting.
He had put his glasses into his jacket pocket, and now restarted the act of wringing his hands. She saw him flex his fingers into a fist over and over again.
"Two out of five…It's a foolish risk. Unnecessary. I'm not going to give you a deadline like Shepherd. You could have as long as you want, to adjust. We could take things slow. You'd learn to trust me. It's not worth it. Two out of five, Cristina."
Avery was pulling on her hair more insistently now. Cristina looked into the tiny face, seeing Burke's deep eyes look back at her from within the delicate features. Avery's round lips pouted a bit, before releasing a small whimper. Of course. It was lunchtime. She was hungry.
"Can you hand me her bottle?"
Burke had been staring at her intently, but obediently reached for the bag lying a few feet away from him, handing her the milk.
"You can still recognize her cries. You know when she's hungry, or tired, or needs to be changed. It's not as hard or scary as it sounds. You're a good mom."
"Bailey taught me," Cristina said absentmindedly. "You just listen to them. You catch on pretty quick."
Burke frowned at her words, thinking. "You're remembering things."
Cristina's head was bent over Avery, holding the bottle carefully. "What?"
Burke leaned back in his chair. "Her middle name. Songs."
Cristina shook her head, still leaning over her daughter. "It's like…studying really hard for a test. You memorize the formulas, you think about the concepts. You get your test, and it's easy. Simple. But then that one question comes up, and you know it, you know you do, but it's pushing its way to the back of your mind, and even when you try to remember it, try to imagine the page, what data tables were on it and which vocab word goes with it, the typing on the page is blurry, and no matter how hard you squint you can't remember, you can't give it a name. You know if you just got a hint you'd be perfect, but it just stays blurry as you try to think about everything else on the test and what information or concept is missing from it."
Burke looked at her carefully. "I can give you the hints, Cristina. Every day the print is getting sharper. You've got the textbook memorized, you just have to try to take it one section at a time."
Avery started to spit the bottle out of her mouth, turning her head and crying. Cristina pulled the hand holding the bottle away, wiping the white trail dripping down the baby's chin. She looked up at him for only a moment, her hair falling over her face and showing pure exhaustion.
"Burke, I'm tired. Do you mind if I just sleep until Dr. Shepherd gets back?"
Burke ran his hands over his knees, watching Avery turn slightly on her mother's chest.
"Yes. Get your rest. Do you want me to take her? She's due for her nap, anyway."
Cristina shook her head, closing her eyes. "She's okay."
Burke nodded, removing his glasses from his pocket and wiping them carefully. There was something familiar about this scene, waiting for a decision to be made that would effect their entire lives. He wanted to tell her which one was the safest, wanted to make sure she knew better than to take stupid chances, but remained silent, watching her troubled face under the fluorescently-lit room, her closed eyes squinting slightly, from either pain or trying to see.
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a/n: It's almost done. I know what's going to happen. Heh heh, YOU don't though, so review if you'd like to find out. :P XD Yep. Greyeyedgirl is back. :P :D
11. Chapter 11
Photographic Memories
Chapter 11
By greyeyedgirl
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"It's going to be alright. I know you're scared, and this wasn't your plan, and you don't think you're ready. But I've watched you, for the past nine months. You can do this. You are Cristina Yang."
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"_Aw…look, her eyes, they're _just_ like Dr. Burke's…"_
"_Hush, Izzie…Look, he's coming. Be careful-Izzie! Don't drop it!"_
"_I'm not going to drop the baby George, I'm not a-OMIGOD!"_
"IZZIE!"_ Yelled three different voices. Izzie stared around at them nervously, the smile wiped from her face._
"I was only kidding…"
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"I'm still waiting for Cristina Burke's second MRI to get back, the lab guy said it might be awhile. Why don't you go and get her ready for pre-op, maybe that can help her gain some extra strength along with it." The floppy-haired brain surgeon lifted a odd dark and bright lamination-like paper into the light. "I can't tell…if she moved at the wrong angle, that could have caused the appearance of this connection, perhaps just a line from the machine…I'm going to wait and examine her more extensive work-up labs. Why don't you go run down and take the chief and her through it again, answering any last minute questions or insecurities. I'm going to go check something, tell Bailey I'll page her within the next half hour or so."
"Yes, Dr. Shepherd," the small, bespectacled man said immediately, nodding quickly. Derek returned the nod to his intern, seeing him dart unhesitantly towards the elevators.
Derek looked back down at the MRI results, squinting harshly, wondering to himself.
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He knew it was there somewhere. She liked to move them around, leave them laying hazardously over the house, but he was sure he'd put them back since the last time she'd glanced through them. She hardly ever did, and it'd been ages since she'd been home, much less have time to go through them. Burke looked up from where he'd been rummaging through the shelf of thick volumes, darting his eyes around the room carefully.
The sight that met his gaze astounded him. He knew he'd been tied up lately, first from the stress of becoming chief and then with the horrible ordeal of the past several weeks, but there was no way he'd have let things get this bad. Had they been robbed? He scrunched his eyebrows together, concerned.
Of course! The attic. They might have gotten moved up there, when he'd been reorganizing things in the library, trying to make room for the large assessment of young adult classics he'd purchased for Avery to grow into. Cristina had earned herself a night of the silent treatment after making a comment about him bringing in copies of various works of literature, making a face as she leaned down to give him the _Charlotte's_ _Web_ book he'd dropped.
He heard his breath get rougher as he sprinted up the stairs two steps at a time. He needed to get the albums now, before running back to the hospital in time for Cristina's surgery. He'd miraculously won himself a few more hours from the lucky MRI mistake, and he silently praised whatever higher power might exist as he grabbed a pile of the albums from a box in the corner, labeled neatly with a Sharpie: "FAMILY-PORTRAIT ALBUMS AND MOMENTOS."
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"So, basically, the main men of our hospital, excluding McSteamy, are headed off for a weekend at Brokeback Mountain to celebrate…what? Izzie not getting lost during her 'shadowing' experience?"
"_Mm."_
"And you know what's the worst thing about it? We're going to have to see the mediocre surgeons perform. As in, our Chief, our head of cardiothoracic, our main neuro-guy, everyone, is gone. We'll be stuck with that brain surgeon who makes you stand 5 full feet away and makes sure the only instrument you lay a hand on is your stethoscope. Oh, and the worst part! Joe! Joe, Mer! Our only solace is heading off for a romantic weekend in some disgusting, dirty woods fishing for something that's just going to have an outbreak of some crazy poison resulting from it anyway. No bar. No Joe." Cristina sighed. "Where are we going to get the booze?!?!"
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"What do you mean, what am I doing? Whether she's decided to have the surgery or not, I am still her doctor until there is no longer a living being inside her. I'm going to see how she's doing and take some tests on the baby. Finding out the child is healthy could very well impact her decision to have the operation. That's what you're afraid of, isn't it? Your job is not to push her into this Derek, just because YOU want to get published and you think-"
"Yes Addison, thinking about how this could affect her decision IS scaring me. Finding out the baby is NOT healthy, which you know as well as I do is much more likely, could put her into a sense of panic. Her blood pressure would be affected, her mind would be unable to relax. I need her to rest, I need to make sure she has full energy for this operation. That means a stress-free environment. If you want to do an ultrasound, or even a CHECK-UP on Dr. Burke and the baby, you need to bring it up to the Chief."
"Derek, I'm going, and I-"
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"Before--before I wouldn't have even been in that room. I wouldn't have gotten involved. I would have never frozen in surgery, and I would have told him what I thought he should do. I had an edge, sir. I had an edge, and I've lost it, and I need it. I need it back."
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She was sweating. She sat up in her bed, feeling Avery squirm next to her. Her hospital gown was sticking to her, and a throbbing fist kept pounding at her mind, drowning it in fog.
Avery was crying. Cristina groaned, reaching for her, trying to push back the mass of curls that kept falling in front of her face.
Where the hell was Burke? Shepherd should have been back with her new MRIs by now. Had he pulled Burke out to tell him something, before waking her?
She leaned back, rubbing her fingers over Avery's thick curls to calm her. She thought she might be forgetting something, something important, but the information just kept hiding behind her subconscious, silently tormenting her. Stupid little facts kept coming back to her, teasing her. She was so tired. She felt so impatient.
Avery was mumbling incoherently. Cristina watched her for a moment, lost in thought, barely comprehending the noise.
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Images rolled silently like off an old projector or slideshow. Snapshot after snapshot, flashing away before she could examine them. Slowly she became aware of sensations, an arm around her, the feeling of a scalpel being placed in her hands. She was writing something on the OR board, she was staring into the skeptical eyes of a parent.
She was laying in bed, trying to close her mind off, feeling her mind race with the facts she'd been trying to cram into it, the emptiness of the apartment stifling her.
The baby was crying, and Burke was speechless. Addison was smiling at both of them, seeing the new father examining his child.
She was feeling the softness of her daughter's skin, fear pulsating through her. His arms had draped around her waist, following her gaze from over her shoulder.
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"Cristina."
She opened her eyes, seeing the short, stubborn woman look at her concernedly. Avery was awake and mobile, playing a form of solitary patty-cake with her hands.
Cristina sat up. "Where's Burke?"
Bailey continued to watch her intently. "He left not too long ago. You've been sleeping quite a bit. That's normal, though, of course, from the trauma your body has endured, especially with the possible risks of your pregnancy. Dr. Burke said he wouldn't be gone too long, though. I think he just needed some time to think."
Cristina nodded, trying to avoid her gaze. "Shepherd…said he'd be right back. My new results should be in by now."
Bailey swallowed a snappy retort, though didn't mask her expression in time. "He's still by the nurse's station, arguing with his wife about which one of them is your doctor. Probably hasn't even picked up the new MRIs yet."
Cristina forced another nod. "Oh."
Bailey was looking at her carefully. Cristina made her eyes drift toward her, sensing her muscles twist into the inquisitive smile upon her face.
"Dr. Bailey?"
Bailey jumped slightly, not sure if she should resume a business-like manner or be straight. She made up her mind in a second. Cristina wasn't one to swallow the crap she'd been tempted to feed her.
"Nothing. I'm just remembering something. A lot of things."
Cristina continued to look at her, knowing her smile was gone, her expression only bordering on polite.
"After I had Tuck, I lost a lot of respect. When the scandal with Izzie came up, it just heightened that. My judgment was questioned. I had to prove myself over and over again, and the opportunities I had were few."
Cristina stayed silent.
"Motherhood changed me, but I knew it was worth it. I knew, eventually, that I could get past all the accusations I was getting at work. I knew I could prove myself, I could be a good mother and a good doctor. I just knew I could do it."
Cristina's eyes had drifted down. She could feel Bailey's gaze still on her, but instead of it being scrutinizing and judgmental, it was just…disappointment. She could feel Avery wiggling, and knew the baby was spending too much time on that bed. She should be crawling, playing.
"Cristina."
Cristina rubbed her thumbs over Avery's tiny fingers.
"Preston Burke didn't change you at first. He just brought out more of you. But when he got shot…you were willing to give up everything for him. The respect and friendship of your peers, the good standing with your superiors. I think, in the end, you were even willing to give up him. You were doing scut at 4 in the morning to help insure his perfect reputation remained intact, you stayed late studying every one of his procedures to make sure he would have your complete support in that OR. He was building resentment towards you, towards himself, for putting you through that. Your colleagues had their own suspicions. And you just…didn't care. You didn't care when I yelled at you, you only worried about protecting him. Things were so tense between you two, I didn't see either of you loosen up for weeks. But you never complained about him, never complained about what you were doing, you didn't even need to be asked to do it for him! You knew, Cristina."
Cristina was watching her now, listening carefully.
"If you know, nothing will stop you. You're the most stubborn and loyal intern I had, and that's saying something." Bailey looked caught between a laugh and a tirade. She continued recklessly. "And if you don't know, if you don't think you can learn, that's alright. But." Bailey took a step backwards, nodding to Cristina.
"I think you know."
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Addison strolled down the hall of Seattle Grace Hospital, barely managing a triumphant smile to transform her features. The easy part was over. Derek had stomped off to radiology for Cristina's high-level MRIs and films. Now she had to go talk to the patient. Now she had to go observe the Chief of Surgery's wife, the intern she respected, medically, the most, deal with the most tremendous decision of her life, the one that would inevitably result in the loss of at least one.
Cristina was sitting up. The small form of Cristina and Burke's daughter resided on her lap, drawing designs on the blank bedspread with her fingers. Addison raised her eyebrows slightly, glancing around the otherwise empty room.
"Dr…Yang."
Cristina turned to look at her, her face stoic. The tall woman regarded her cautiously, taking in her drained appearance, the clouds draping her eyes as she opened her mouth.
"We have to wait for Burke."
Addison stared at her. Cristina flashed the quickest of hesitant smiles, looking down and sighing to herself.
Addison looked at her to confirm. Cristina remained silent, her hair slipping past her ears to mask her face.
"Page me."
Cristina raised her head, a small smile evident, as she nodded.
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The sight of the flashing lights disturbed him, an unsettlement in his stomach causing him to force his eyes away. Policemen were trying to get the traffic going, proving unsuccessful against the cars that had paused to survey the wreckage. Burke beeped his horn loudly, an unusual occurrence, swearing below his breath. The sight of the totaled car was unnerving. He closed his eyes, before hearing the movements. He opened his eyes hopefully, only to drive forward a few feet. More cars were honking urgently, adding to the pounding in his head.
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Something rustled in her stomach, causing her to screw up her face in pain. Shepherd was expected any moment. Burke should have been back by now. She felt a sharp pain in her chest, wondering where he might be. Burke wasn't known for his unpunctuality.
The pain in her abdomen escalated, causing her to inhale quickly, clenching her teeth. She was glad George had come in and offered to take care of Avery until Burke returned. She didn't want to have to worry about keeping track of her while struggling control over her body. She wiped a sweaty curl from her face. She needed to do something. Anything. Her body wasn't meant to be sedentary.
Her mind was aching for some kind of stimulus, anything more interesting than just laying there. She tried to muster up some energy, something to clear the fog draping her mind and smothering her limbs. She was still tired.
She sighed, laying backwards into the bed, pushing the blanket away from her and closing her eyes.
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She wouldn't go into surgery without him. She couldn't have. He needed to speak to her first, to comfort her. He needed to tell her he was there for her, he just…
Burke spared only a moment looking into the hospital room, observing her empty bed. Panic was flooding through his veins, driving him to be rash, use instinct. He was fighting to control his breath, just fighting to regain control. She was gone, she hadn't said good-bye; there was only a two out of five chance that he'd even speak to her again. The chance for their second child was escaping at this very moment, the chance of him losing his wife was becoming more and more likely with every second, with every possible moment that a scalpel could be in motion.
Shepherd should never have allowed this to happen so rashly. She'd been pressured into this. He knew she wasn't completely herself at the moment. He knew how important it was to him to talk to her beforehand.
He stared down the hallways, wondering how they could possibly be deserted. Why hadn't he been paged? He was the Chief of goddamn Surgery!
"Where is my wife?" Burke glared down at the first presence he encountered, an intern, who looked terrified at Burke's menacing voice.
"Sir…Dr. Shepherd…"
"What were her test results? What exactly did they show?"
"Sir, I-I think they were flying blind. It was pretty sudden."
Burke stared. "What the hell are you talking about?" A cold, compressed rage radiated from each syllable.
"Sir-I just know Dr. Shepherd-nuero-um, came in, and then the other Dr. Shepherd, and she was mad, and he tried to yell at her, but she just rushed Dr. Yang…uh…Burke…and…"
Burke froze.
"Where is my daughter?"
"Dr. O'Malley, I think, sir. Um…"
"What is happening to my wife?"
"Um…it's some kind of distress, Dr. Shepherd is operating-not the neuro, I mean-"
Burke did not try to comprehend the meaning of this, just stared at the nervous intern.
"What OR?"
The intern swallowed. "1, sir."
Burke's body unfroze, pushing into action with a sense of immediacy.
"Sir, Dr. Shepherd said…Montgomery Shepherd…"
Burke was already down the hall. He turned to stare. The intern mumbled his final piece of information.
"…Critical…"
Burke felt his mind clench. His muscles burned, his breath harsh. OR 1 was the next floor. The elevators had never taken so long to cooperate, including when it had stuck on the two interns.
Seconds stretched like hours. The noises of the hospital were surrounding him, choking him. His wife…the surgery…he'd never felt so confused. He needed to hear her, to decipher what the scared intern had been talking about.
The only thing he could think about was watching her, holding Avery, whispering their song, falling back into her syncs.
And that word, and Shepherd's face, mouthing statistics, and the intern looking terrified, and seeing Addison show him the ultrasound Cristina's friends had run, confirming after the accident that she was pregnant.
She'd been so tired that morning.
If he just could have convinced her…if they'd ran extensive lab work-ups a few days ago…
He needed to be by her side. He needed her to know.
Critical, critical, critical.
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Only one more chapter! Please tell me what you think. If you didn't follow, here's the main point: Cristina had decided not to have the surgery, but Burke didn't get there in time to find that out. Only ONE more chapter! I promise you, there are shockers to come. Review PLEASE, it'll make me update very fast. :D
Hugs,
Greyeyedgirl
End file.
| fanfiction |
Does concentration of salt increase or decrease rate of rusting?
I want to know whether increasing the concentration of salt, specifically $\ce{NaCl}$, increases or decreases the rate of rusting. There are conflicting theories that explain opposite outcomes:
1. Increasing concentration of salt decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen and thus **decreases** the rate of rusting
2. Increasing concentration increases electron mobility and thus **increases** rate of rusting
I haven't been able to how rusting works in full detail nor have I been able to understand why there are two contradicting theories present. It seems that people write it more out of opinion than with factual basis.
Can someone please clarify?
In general, salt (particularly NaCl) will **increase** the rate of corrosion (rusting).
To understand why, consider metallic iron $\ce{Fe}$ which rusts (oxidises) to iron(II) oxide $\ce{Fe2O3}$ in the presence of oxygen $\ce{O2}$ and water $\ce{H2O}$.
$$\ce{4Fe +3O2 +6H2O->4Fe(OH)3}$$
Corrosion (rust) is a 'redox' reaction, which means it involves reduction of oxygen into hydroxide ions and oxidation of metallic iron to iron cations.
For any redox reaction to take place, electrons are transferred. In this case, from the metallic iron which loses electrons to oxygen. The presence of salt (or any electrolyte) in the water accelerates the reaction because it increases the conductivity of water, effectively increasing the concentration of ions in the water and so increasing the rate of oxidation (corrosion) of the metal.
The situation is complicated by the fact that salt dissolved in water actually reduced the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water. This is because the water molecules are attracted to the dissolved ions from the salt ([solvation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvation)), which has the tendency to decrease the weak affinity of non-polar oxygen molecules to water, thereby deriving dissolved oxygen out. So if the metal is totally submerged in water, higher salt concentrations can actually reduce the rate of corrosion, if the water is not aerated.
So it depends upon the amount of oxygen getting into the water and onto the metal. For example, underwater plants can release oxygen in salty water which will accelerate the rate of corrosion of the submerged metal. Of course, if the metal is not completely submerged in salt water but only partially submerged, or is affected by salt water 'spray', it will be still be exposed to oxygen and will rust faster.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
this retrospective review was conducted through a medical record search to identify all patients with a diagnosis of nmo or transverse myelitis admitted from the emergency department at johns hopkins hospital .
patients were included in this study if they had a history of nmo as defined by the 2006 clinical diagnostic criteria , were admitted to the hospital between 2009 and 2015 , and presented with an acute exacerbation defined as new or worsening neurologic symptoms in the setting of a presumed relapse .
workup for all patients included neurologic examination , mri at the time of admission , and hematologic and urine studies .
demographic information , data on signs , symptoms , workup on admission , and information on final diagnosis were aggregated .
two distinct nmo cohorts were subsequently described : one group consisting of patients diagnosed with true relapses and the other with pseudorelapses .
the gold standard for a relapse in this study was defined as a clinical exacerbation presenting with new or worsening symptoms with a change on neurologic examination that correlated with a new or enhancing mri lesion .
the gold standard for a pseudorelapse in this study was defined as a clinical exacerbation with similar symptoms and signs , but the mri was negative for a new or enhancing lesion and there was an alternative cause for the symptoms that , when treated , resulted in the improvement of neurologic symptoms
. these gold standard definitions for relapse and pseudorelapse do not encompass the full spectrum of nmo spectrum disorder ( nmosd ) disease in practice .
the purpose for including only cases that met these strict criteria is to identify early clinical and objective measures that could definitively exclude a pseudorelapse .
the motor examination was scored as no change ( none ) , a 1-point change in the medical research council ( mrc ) motor scale ( mild ) , a 2-point mrc change ( moderate ) , or 3 + change ( severe ) .
mris were obtained by using either 1.5- or 3-tesla scanners : philips healthcare ( best , the netherlands ) , ge healthcare ( milwaukee , wi ) , and siemens ( erlangen , germany ) . diffusion - weighted imaging and t1-weighted ,
data analysis was performed using graphpad prism statistical software ( graphpad software , la jolla , ca ) to compare differences between the 2 cohorts ( see table e-1 at neurology.org/nn ) .
the fisher exact probability test was used to test statistical significance in race , sex , urinary tract infection ( uti ) , weakness , numbness , bowel / bladder symptoms , and vision complaints on admission .
seventy - four individual hospital admissions met criteria for inclusion , 57 of which met gold standard criteria for true relapses and 17 met the criteria for pseudorelapses . the average age at presentation in the true relapse cohort was 41.2 years ( range 378 ) and was 37.7 years ( range 371 ) in the pseudorelapse cohort ( table 1 ) .
the sex distribution was skewed toward female in both groups , with a female to male ratio of 13:5 and 12:3 in the relapse and pseudorelapse cohorts , respectively .
there was also a higher proportion of african american patients overall , with 56% of the relapse cohort and 53% of the pseudorelapse cohort , reflecting the nmosd patient population in baltimore , md . of the patients who presented with true relapses , 75% had a positive anti
demographics of the neuromyelitis optica cohorts of the 57 hospital admissions for true relapses , 64% demonstrated upper and/or lower extremity weakness ( table 2 ) ; 53% of the 17 admissions for pseudorelapses also had documented weakness compared to prior baseline .
of note , more than half of all true relapses were graded as mild with only a 1-point worsening in the mrc score ( table 2 ) .
numbness or worsening sensory loss was recorded in 52% of true relapse patients and 24% of pseudorelapse patients , which was not different .
twenty - one percent of true relapse and 41% of pseudorelapse admissions presented with bowel and/or bladder symptoms , including urinary incontinence and increased frequency and urgency .
thirty percent of relapse and 35% of pseudorelapse admissions had documented utis . in sum , there were no differences in the following between the 2 groups : age at presentation , sex , race , uti , white blood cell count , weakness , numbness , and bowel / bladder symptoms ( table 3 ) .
clinical presentations of the neuromyelitis optica cohorts the only difference found between the groups at presentation was unilateral or bilateral worsening of visual acuity , both by symptomatic presentation and visual acuity examination , consistent with an acute optic neuritis .
the prevalence of visual symptoms was notably different between the 2 cohorts ; 41% of true relapse admissions vs 12% of pseudorelapse admissions presented with complaints of changes in visual acuity ( p = 0.039 , table 2 ) .
neither of the 2 subjects in the pseudorelapse group presenting with visual complaints had detectable changes on visual acuity testing or any other ophthalmologic finding .
of the 24 patients with true optic neuritis relapses presenting with visual complaints , all had ophthalmologic findings on examination , and all but one had reduced visual acuity compared to baseline . among admissions with true relapses ,
93% were treated with a course of steroids and 30% required plasma exchange . among patients with pseudorelapses who were ultimately determined to have an alternative , noninflammatory etiology for their worsening neurologic symptoms , 35% were initially treated with a course of high - dose steroids .
the most common cause of pseudorelapses included infections , hyperglycemia , pancreatitis , hypomagnesemia , lupus , dysautonomia , medication withdrawal , medication overuse , and conversion disorder .
for patients with true relapses , defined as an inflammatory attack of the cns causing neurologic dysfunction , delaying or deferring immunosuppressive treatment may result in permanent damage and increasing disability .
however , unnecessarily immunosuppressing patients with nmo presenting with pseudorelapses can worsen metabolic syndromes , contribute to long - term steroid toxicity , and accrue costly , and avoidable , medical expenses . therefore , correctly distinguishing between true relapses and pseudorelapses in patients with nmo with new or worsening symptoms can significantly change their long - term medical and neurologic outcome . in this analysis
, we found that worsening visual acuity is a sensitive biomarker of a true relapse of acute optic neuritis in patients with nmo . while inflamed optic nerves in multiple sclerosis are susceptible to uhthoff phenomenon and other metabolic abnormalities early in the first 2 months of the recovery period , our data support the observation that worsening visual acuity sustained for more than 24 hours is more concerning for a true relapse .
in contrast , loss of motor function in patients with nmo is not a sensitive marker for a true relapse .
pseudorelapses and true relapses were equally likely to present with worsening weakness with no threshold for severity of motor dysfunction that rules out pseudorelapses .
numbness just failed to reach statistical significance , which may have been attributable to a small sample size .
therefore , we conclude that for patients with nmo presenting with symptoms and signs of a transverse myelitis relapse , an mri is necessary to rule out a pseudorelapse .
first , data collection for this retrospective study was based on extraction of relevant patient information from electronic medical records .
second , selection bias is present because johns hopkins hospital is a tertiary nmo referral center ; however , this bias applies to both the relapse and pseudorelapse groups .
third , our definition of a true relapse based on mri evidence may be too restrictive as we did not look for other evidence of inflammation such as spinal fluid pleocytosis , in all pseudorelapse cases . and
finally , our study is limited in sample size because of the rarity of nmosd and the number of nmosd relapses and pseudorelapses that met our strict gold standard criteria .
r.a.k . : contributed to the design and conceptualization of the study , analysis and interpretation of the data , and drafting of the manuscript . m.a.m .
: contributed to the design and conceptualization of the study , analysis and interpretation of the data , and drafting of the manuscript .
m.l . : contributed to the design and conceptualization of the study , analysis and interpretation of the data , and drafting of the manuscript .
m. levy served on the scientific advisory board for asterias , chugai , alexion , is an editorial board member for multiple sclerosis and related disorders , holds a patent for an aquaporin-4 sequence that elicits pathogenic t cell response in an animal model of neuromyelitis optica , consulted for guidepoint global , gerson lehrman group , cowen group , received research support from viropharma / shire , acorda , apopharma and sanofi , genzyme , alnylam , alexion , terumo bct , ninds , guthy - jackson charitable foundation . | pubmed |
Naruto, Star Wars 1. Chapter 1
My friends and I came up with the story. If you must know, there is **_no Uchiha massacre_**, which is why **_Sasuke is not an arrogant, self-centered__, and selfish person_**. There is massive OOC for all the characters. After reading this, please review and tell me what you think.** NO SASUKE HATERS PLEASE!** That is all. Sayonara!
2. Chapter 2 need help
_**Naruto & Sasuke the Chosen Ones?**_
_**Ch.1**_
"Please…take care…of..Na..ru…to…" a red haired lady said as she died. A cloaked man looked from her to the blond baby whom was crying.
"I, Revan swear to raise this little boy as you have asked, not just because I am a jedi and once sith lord, but as this child is my one and only grandson." The cloaked man now known as Revan said picking the child up and turning to his old friend the third Hokage. "This does not leave this cave. For his safety He will be known as Naruto Uzumaki and I will raise him away from the village. So that the hatred the villagers hold will not affect him. I will teach him all I know and ask if you would give me some scrolls to teach him on jutsus. I will bring him back when he turns twelve for the exams and co-teach whomever team he is on. Do you agree or not."
"I agree. Come to my office in two hours. I should have everything ready." The old man said. He turned and left. Revan again looked at his grandson and started to walk to his ship.
-Time skip/2 hours-
"Aw, good you're here. Here are the scrolls and two special scroll." The old man said. He handed them to Revan, who look curious at the special scrolls.
"What so special about them?" Revan asked.
"Well, it is a summon scroll. When you think he is ready have him put his blood on the scroll and he will be able to summon the creature it is on. The ones I gave you are the phoenix and dragon."
"Ok. What does the council think about it?"
"They say he should die and not be allowed to leave, but I said that no matter what it was better to have him leave with you."
"That good and about the other one?"
"Sasuke can also go. His father was reluctant at first but when I said to train and become stronger than anyone he said yes."
"Good. I will go pick him up know and then leave. See you in twelve years." Revan said waving and then ran to go pickup Sasuke.
-Time skip/12 years-
A ship landed deep in the Konaha forest. When the bay doors opened three people came out. One was 5'5'' with blond spiked hair that fell slightly and had blue eyes that could shame any sky. On his cheeks were three birth mark like lines on both sides. He wear a black shirt with a white coat that had blue flames at the bottom trim and blue pants with open toed sandal shoe thing. The boy next to him had black hair and black eyes. His hair was flat on top and two bangs framed his face while the back was spiked. He wear black everything. His shirts neck covered his and his coat was red with black flames on the trim. Behind them a man stood with a black cloak on with his hood up. A big white wolf came to the blonde's side and the black wolf went to the raven haired boy.
"Alright, I trained you and you are ready. Remember don't use the 'force' or your lightsabers unless the situation calls for it. Understood?" the black cloaked man said.
"Yes Revan-sensei." They said at the same time.
"Good, it's time to see the Hokage and tell him you're back." Revan said as they ran to the village know as Konaha.
_**End ch. 1**_
3. Chapter 3
**I need help! If you have any ideas for the story or what you think should happen. Stupid writers block!** TT_TT
**Sorry guys.**
End file.
| fanfiction |
\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper}{}\section{testing\+:\+:internal\+:\+:Action\+Helper$<$ Result, Impl $>$ Class Template Reference}
\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper}\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper$<$ Result, Impl $>$@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper$<$ Result, Impl $>$}}
{\ttfamily \#include $<$gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h$>$}
\subsection*{Static Public Member Functions}
\begin{DoxyCompactItemize}
\item
static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a25176836b0a381d883d61c3a2dc60662}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$$>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a08d2e199b0a3a1f9e05982cae07db3ec}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a96d8d8399ff3322e77ba1de51c166f4e}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_ad450478d185cbcac0e1383f7517f5c36}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a2ceda08aeb7b9fd1ad6ccb0821a3ea39}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_afd2d1dcea480db63416fc3b8604dec56}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a58e3b1699dd3a4404ed2cd652327d8ca}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a457f1505b200c5125c3bb370fb7e7bb4}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 , typename A7 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a1f851f76793206daf2dd8a2f9621f43c}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 , typename A7 , typename A8 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_afcc265631df5d3a0f8955e9aa35c57f7}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 $>$ \&args)
\item
{\footnotesize template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 , typename A7 , typename A8 , typename A9 $>$ }\\static \hyperlink{typedefs__d_8js_a28287671eaf7406afd604bd055ba4066}{Result} \hyperlink{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_adfe6c86332cc09b352ec5ccbad1d3988}{Perform} (Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9 $>$ \&args)
\end{DoxyCompactItemize}
\subsection{Detailed Description}
\subsubsection*{template$<$typename Result, class Impl$>$\\*
class testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper$<$ Result, Impl $>$}
Definition at line 512 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\subsection{Member Function Documentation}
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$$>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple<> &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$$>$ \&}]{args}
\end{DoxyParamCaption}
)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a25176836b0a381d883d61c3a2dc60662}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a25176836b0a381d883d61c3a2dc60662}
Definition at line 514 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0 $>$ \&}]{args}
\end{DoxyParamCaption}
)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a08d2e199b0a3a1f9e05982cae07db3ec}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a08d2e199b0a3a1f9e05982cae07db3ec}
Definition at line 522 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1 $>$ \&}]{args}
\end{DoxyParamCaption}
)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a96d8d8399ff3322e77ba1de51c166f4e}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a96d8d8399ff3322e77ba1de51c166f4e}
Definition at line 530 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2 $>$ \&}]{args}
\end{DoxyParamCaption}
)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_ad450478d185cbcac0e1383f7517f5c36}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_ad450478d185cbcac0e1383f7517f5c36}
Definition at line 538 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3 $>$ \&}]{args}
\end{DoxyParamCaption}
)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a2ceda08aeb7b9fd1ad6ccb0821a3ea39}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a2ceda08aeb7b9fd1ad6ccb0821a3ea39}
Definition at line 546 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 $>$ \&}]{args}
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)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_afd2d1dcea480db63416fc3b8604dec56}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_afd2d1dcea480db63416fc3b8604dec56}
Definition at line 555 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 $>$ \&}]{args}
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)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a58e3b1699dd3a4404ed2cd652327d8ca}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a58e3b1699dd3a4404ed2cd652327d8ca}
Definition at line 565 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
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\item[{const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 $>$ \&}]{args}
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)\hspace{0.3cm}{\ttfamily [inline]}, {\ttfamily [static]}}\hypertarget{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a457f1505b200c5125c3bb370fb7e7bb4}{}\label{classtesting_1_1internal_1_1_action_helper_a457f1505b200c5125c3bb370fb7e7bb4}
Definition at line 575 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 , typename A7 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
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Definition at line 585 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 , typename A7 , typename A8 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
\begin{DoxyParamCaption}
\item[{Impl $\ast$}]{impl, }
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Definition at line 595 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
\index{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}!Perform@{Perform}}
\index{Perform@{Perform}!testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper@{testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}}
\subsubsection[{\texorpdfstring{Perform(\+Impl $\ast$impl, const \+::testing\+::tuple$<$ A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9 $>$ \&args)}{Perform(Impl *impl, const ::testing::tuple< A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9 > &args)}}]{\setlength{\rightskip}{0pt plus 5cm}template$<$typename Result , class Impl $>$ template$<$typename A0 , typename A1 , typename A2 , typename A3 , typename A4 , typename A5 , typename A6 , typename A7 , typename A8 , typename A9 $>$ static {\bf Result} {\bf testing\+::internal\+::\+Action\+Helper}$<$ {\bf Result}, Impl $>$\+::Perform (
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Definition at line 605 of file gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h.
The documentation for this class was generated from the following file\+:\begin{DoxyCompactItemize}
\item
/home/bhargavi/\+Documents/\+S\+D\+R/\+Copy\+\_\+\+Exam\+\_\+808\+X/vendor/googletest/googlemock/include/gmock/\hyperlink{gmock-generated-actions_8h}{gmock-\/generated-\/actions.\+h}\end{DoxyCompactItemize}
| slim_pajama |
Dr. Fenglian Xu is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University, MO, USA. She obtained her Ph.D in Neuroscience from the University of Alberta, Canada. She completed her postdoctoral training from the University of Calgary in Canada. Dr. Xu is the invited reviewer for several journals including, Scientific Report, Molecular Brain, Neuroscience, Neurotoxicology Research,International Journal of Nanomedicine, Journal of Lipids in Health and Disease, etc.
Dr. Xu's research interests lie in the field of brain development and neurodegeneration. Specially, she investigates how neuronal circuitry of brain cells are established during early stage of development. She also study how environmental neurotoxins may interfere with critical genes or proteins and cause developmental retardation or neuronal degeneration. The ultimate goal of her research is to identify genes, proteins and cellular signaling pathways that are critical for brain development and help develop strategies to ameliorate negative effects of environmental neurotoxins.
2. Ghazavi, A., Westwich, D., Xu, F., Wijdenes, P., Syed, N.I., Dalton, C. (2015) A circular, planar electrode serves as a better substrate for neuronal stimulation than sinusoidal and spiral electrodes. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 248: 51-58.
7. Zhu, Z., Xu, F., Ji, W., Ren, S., Chen, F., Chen, P., Jiang, H., Mi, Z., Hu, B., Zhang, J., Xiong, Y. (2014) Synaptic mechanisms underlying thalamic activation-induced plasticity in the rat auditory cortex. Journal of Neurophysiology, 111(9): 1746-58.
8. Ren, S., Shao, H., Ji, W., Xu, F., Chen, P., Jiang, H., Mi, Z., Wen, Bo., Zhu, G., Zhu, Z. (2014) Riluzole prevents soluble Aβ1-42 oligomers-induced perturbation of spontaneous discharges in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats. Amyloid, 4:1-9.
14. Xu, F., Proft J., Gibbs, S., Winkfein, B., Johnson, J.N., Syed, N.I., and Braun J.E.A. (2010) Quercetin causes cysteine string protein dimerization and impairs synaptic transmission. PLoS ONE, 5 (6): e11045.
15. Xu, F., Luk, C., Richard, M.P, Zaidi, W., Svetlana, F., Getz, A., Lee, A., van Minnen, J., and Syed, N.I. (2010) Antidepressant Fluoxetine suppresses neuronal growth and perturbs synapse formation between cholinergic neurons. European Journal of Neuroscience, 31(6): 994-1005.
16. Xu, F., Hennessy, D.A., Lee, T., and Syed, N.I. (2009) Trophic factor-induced intracellular calcium oscillations are required for the expression of postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors during synapse formation between Lymnaea neurons. Journal of Neuroscience 29 (7): 2167-2176.
17. Xu, F., Tse, F.W., and Tse, A.. (2008) Stimulatory actions of pituitary adenylate cyclaseactivating polypeptide (PACAP) in rat carotid glomus cells. Advanced Experimental Medical Biology 605:69-74.
18. Xu, F., Tse, F.W. and Tse, A. (2007) Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) stimulates the oxygen sensing type I (glomus) cells of rat carotid bodies via reduction of a background TASK-like K+ current. Journal of Neurochemistry 101(5):1284-93.
19. Xu, F., Xu, J., Tse, F.W. and Tse, A. (2006) Adenosine stimulates depolarization and rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration in type I cells of rat carotid bodies. American Journal of Physiology– Cell Physiology 290(6):C1592-8. | slim_pajama |
micrornas ( mirnas ) are approximately 22-nucleotide - long non - coding rna molecules that were first discovered in caenorhabditis elegans but are now known to be expressed in all metazoans .
mirna genes are present singly or in clusters , often with their individual promoters and regulatory elements , while some mirna genes are also present within the introns of other protein coding genes .
mirnas are transcribed as long primary transcripts and are processed first in the nucleus by the microprocessor drsh-1/drosha and then in the cytoplasm by the dcr-1/dicer complex to generate the active 21 to 23-nucleotide rna molecules .
these are recruited by the rna - induced silencing complex ( risc ) and guided to the 3 ' untranslated regions of target messenger rnas ( mrnas ) with complete or incomplete sequence complementarity , resulting in either degradation of the target mrna or inhibition of its translation .
a single mirna can target multiple mrnas and this ability to control the expression of numerous genes makes mirnas pivotal in regulating various life processes , from development through metabolism to senescence , aging and death ( reviewed in ) . while animals like c. elegans contain hundreds of mirnas , little is known about their functions .
moreover , with the advent of deep sequencing technology , novel mirnas are being discovered in different model organisms , requiring faster and more convenient methodologies to study their functional importance through inhibiting their activity in vivo .
a recent report by zheng and colleagues now demonstrates the efficient and specific inhibition of mirnas in c. elegans by dextran - conjugated modified antisense oligonucleotides .
mirnas were first identified in c. elegans in 1993 and since then this elegant model system has been extensively utilized for functional analysis of mirnas .
c. elegans is so useful for these analyses because of its easy genetics , completely sequenced genome and simple anatomy . to study the role of individual mirnas in different cellular pathways ,
forward genetics approaches have yielded many ' loss of function ' ( lf ) mutant strains for various mirnas .
although such mutant strains have been extensively used for functional studies of the target mirnas , their generation is both time consuming and labor intensive .
further , it is tedious to generate knockout alleles for mirnas that are essential for survival and development , and in cases where the mirnas are located in the intronic sequences of protein coding genes , it is possible that their knockout will perturb expression of the protein coding gene .
it is also difficult to specifically knock out a single mirna from a mirna gene cluster without affecting the expression of the remaining mirnas in the cluster .
many groups have tried using reverse genetics approaches to inhibit specific mirna function transiently in different model systems .
the most popular tool of choice is differently modified antisense oligonucleotides , which are easy to synthesize and deliver .
several research groups have demonstrated inhibition of mirna function with limited success using antisense oligonucleotides such as locked nucleic acids ( modified rna nucleotides ) or morpholinos ( nucleic acid analogs ) in drosophila , zebrafish , and mice [ 8 - 10 ] . c. elegans has been widely used as the model system to study the biological role of small non - coding rnas and yet , to date , no standard techniques or protocols are available to effectively and conveniently knockdown mirna function transiently .
to inhibit mirna expression in c. elegans , zamore 's group injected 2'-oxy - methyl oligonucleotides into developing embryos .
their embryo injection technique is technically difficult and , therefore , has not been used extensively .
furthermore , the primary drawback of using these modified oligonucleotides is the incumbent toxicity caused by poor solubility and inadequate cytoplasmic retention and tissue distribution . to address these issues , zheng and colleagues conjugated 2'-oxy - methyl antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the target mirnas with the polysaccharide dextran , which has high solubility in water and shows increased cellular uptake and availability .
the authors also modified these oligonucleotides by conjugating one to three molecules of rhodamine per molecule of dextran .
these modified antisense oligonucleotides were injected into the syncytial gonads of adult worms and embryos were selected based on the presence of rhodamine ( figure 1 ) .
schematic representation of the technique elaborated in the study by zheng and colleagues . in this technique , a dextran - conjugated rhodamine - labeled antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the target microrna
are selected by the presence of rhodamine . in these progeny the antisense oligonucleotides bind to and deplete the available pool of target mirna , thus inhibiting mirna function in the animal .
zheng and colleagues used antisense oligonucleotides complementary to lin-4 and let-7 and comprehensively demonstrated robust knockout phenotypes similar to those seen in the respective loss of function mutant strains of lin-4 and let-7 .
for example , progeny of animals injected with antisense oligonucleotides against lin-4 show delayed exit in differentiation of seam cells and lack of vulva formation , known phenotypes for lin-4(lf ) .
the progeny of worms injected with antisense oligonucleotides complementary to let-7 demonstrated a bursting vulva phenotype with lack of alae ( longitudinal ridge ) formation in 100% of animals , consistent with the phenotype shown by let-7 knockout mutant animals .
by contrast , progeny of animals treated with antisense oligonucleotides complementary to mir-84 , a let-7 family member , exhibited no visible phenotype , consistent with the known phenotype of mir-84(lf ) mutants .
mir-84 has a sequence that is highly homologous to let-7 sequence , yet the phenotype observed in the mir-84 knockdown animals was completely unlike the let-7 knockdown phenotype therefore confirming the specificity of inhibition . using a similar strategy
, the authors could demonstrate specific inhibition of lys-6 mirna in the asel neurons , where it functions to maintain left - right symmetry .
this technique also successfully demonstrated the inhibition in activity of mir-42 , which is active only during embryonic development .
in addition , the authors demonstrate that this new class of antisense oligonucleotides could be utilized for specific and simultaneous inhibition of two mirnas , in this case lin-4 and lys-6 . as with all antisense techniques ,
the dextran - conjugated antisense 2'-oxy - methyl oligonucleotides have a limitation , in this case with respect to the period of efficacy of inhibition against target mirnas in the animal .
the inhibition was robust until 15 - 20 hours after the l4 molt with higher doses of injection , after which the effect diminished , most probably due to the dilution of the antisense oligonucleotides inside the animal .
for this reason this method of mirna inhibition might not be the most effective for long - term functional assays , such as aging assays , where the mirna in question needs to be inhibited throughout the life span of the animal .
overall , the data presented in the report by zheng and colleagues convincingly suggest that this new class of antisense oligonucleotides could prove to be a very powerful and effective tool for the robust and specific inhibition of mirna function in vivo
. this technique would be very useful for studying the different biological functions of essential and novel mirnas in c. elegans . while it remains to be tested
, this technology does not appear to be limited to just c. elegans , and could be applicable in other organisms as well . | pubmed |
magnetic reconnection is invoked to explain plasma heating and energization in a variety of space environments , including earth s magnetosphere and the solar corona @xcite . despite kinetic numerical simulations and theoretical work @xcite ,
it remains unclear precisely how magnetic energy is converted to particle kinetic energy during collisionless reconnection and how the conversion process depends on the plasma conditions .
analysis of spacecraft data collected in earth s magneto - tail @xcite and a laboratory reconnection experiment @xcite suggest that @xmath0 of the magnetic energy released by reconnection is carried by the bulk electrons .
we develop a model for the electron heating through the diffusion region of symmetric , anti - parallel magnetic reconnection .
the diffusion region is a small volume where electron kinetic effects break the frozen flux condition , and it is a main focus of nasa s mms mission @xcite . while the electron heating in the diffusion region has been studied before @xcite , no previous model has offered predictions for how the electron temperature increase depends on the plasma conditions . in previous work
, we found that the electrons are energized anisotropically as they advect towards the x - line in the reconnection inflow @xcite .
the fractional changes in parallel ( with respect to the local magnetic field ) and perpendicular temperatures turn out to scale in a predictable way with @xmath1 , the upstream ratio of electron to magnetic pressure . here
, we consider how the dependence on @xmath1 extends into the electron energization within the diffusion region itself .
the result is a model for the electron heating from upstream to the end of the diffusion region in which two main physical mechanisms operate : ( 1 ) the inflowing electrons are energized through an adiabatic trapping process @xcite and ( 2 ) the reconnection electric field then does additional work on a current sheet carried by meandering electrons within the diffusion region @xcite .
relatively simple estimates developed here predict the additional heating within the diffusion region up to a factor of order unity that is determined empirically from kinetic simulations .
the simulations cover a wide range of @xmath1 , and they demonstrate the limit of validity of the adiabatic model . the net increase in the electron temperature is found to scale roughly as @xmath2 .
this scaling is consistent with a survey of themis magnetopause reconnection observations @xcite . in the observations , the electron temperature increase @xmath3 from the inflow to the exhaust at least tens of ion inertial lengths downstream from the x - line scales with the upstream alfven speed squared , @xmath4 , which is equivalent to @xmath2 for anti - parallel symmetric reconnection .
because only a small portion of the electrons in the far exhaust have passed directly through the diffusion region , it is not clear that the temperature scaling for the diffusion region and farther downstream should be the same .
there is numerical evidence , however , that the diffusion region heating is related to the downstream temperature . in a numerical scaling study @xcite , the peak electron temperature was found to become nearly uniform from the end of the diffusion region out @xmath5 @xmath6 into the exhaust .
additional evidence comes from the electron temperature illustrated in figs [ fig : teopen](a - d ) at late times from a particle - in - cell ( pic ) simulation of anti - parallel reconnection ( similar to ref .
@xcite , but with an ion - to - electron temperature ratio of 5 and background density of 0.25 the peak harris density ) .
figure [ fig : teopen](e ) shows the time evolution of the electron temperature along the mid - plane ( @xmath7 ) .
note that the peak electron temperature is reached first at the end of the diffusion region near @xmath8 , and this value then fills the exhaust as reconnected field lines are advected downstream at the outflow velocity .
this suggests that additional energization processes @xcite allow the elevated temperature set in the diffusion region to fill the exhaust as reconnected flux is carried downstream .
furthermore , the formation of magnetic islands within the diffusion region interrupts the diffusion region heating .
the exhaust electron temperature in the affected flux tubes remains decreased as the reconnected plasma travels downstream .
this modulation of the exhaust temperature is noticeable on both sides of the x - line , not only the side that contains the ejected island . because reconnection is driven by steady inflow boundary conditions in this simulation , neither the global reconnection rate nor the overall geometry of the exhaust without an island changes .
this provides further evidence that the initial heating in the diffusion region plays some role in setting the ultimate temperature of the downstream exhaust . in section [ sec : pic ]
, we describe the pic simulations we use to guide and confirm our model of electron heating .
the kinetic energization processes and their resulting electron velocity distributions are presented in section [ sec : pdf ] .
some details of a previous inflow heating ( section [ sec : inflow ] ) model and a new simplified diffusion region heating model ( section [ sec : edr ] ) follow .
to study electron energization in the diffusion region , we performed a series of 2d pic simulations of anti - parallel harris sheet reconnection using the code vpic @xcite with open boundary conditions @xcite . in our coordinates ,
the initial magnetic field and density are @xmath9 and @xmath10 , where @xmath11 .
the computational domain is @xmath12 cells @xmath13 , where @xmath14 is the ion inertial length based on the peak density @xmath15 .
other parameters are initial uniform temperatures with @xmath16 , @xmath17 , and @xmath18 particles per species per cell .
we use a mass ratio of @xmath19 because a ratio of @xmath20 is necessary to capture the dynamics of electrons that follow adiabatic trapped orbits @xcite .
the background density @xmath21 is varied so the initial upstream electron beta is @xmath22 with @xmath23 . besides the main scan with varying @xmath21
, we test the dependence of the electron heating on upstream electron temperature @xmath24 with two additional runs performed at fixed @xmath25 , with @xmath26 for @xmath27 and @xmath28 for @xmath29 ( where @xmath30 is the harris sheet electron temperature ) . to study the dependence on mass ratio , we use three runs reported on previously @xcite with varying mass ratio @xmath31 .
finally , while an exhaustive parameter scan is not feasible in 3d , data from the 3d run of @xcite ( with @xmath32 and @xmath33 ) is presented and is consistent with the model .
indeed , 3d effects @xcite have been found not to substantially alter the dynamics of anti - parallel reconnection in typical magnetospheric regimes with @xmath34 @xcite .
each simulation was run until reconnection reached a quasi - steady state .
typical field profiles during quasi - steady reconnection are plotted in fig .
[ fig : e-4 ] from the run with @xmath35 .
as described previously @xcite , a parallel electric field structure develops in the inflow to trap electrons and maintain quasi - neutrality .
the effect of electric trapping is measured by the pseudo - potential @xmath36 ( the integral of the parallel electric field along magnetic field lines ) .
@xmath37 in fig .
[ fig : e-4](a ) peaks at @xmath38 and traps the bulk electrons .
combined with the perpendicular cooling that results from @xmath39 conservation , the trapping results in a temperature anisotropy with @xmath40 [ figs . [
fig : e-4](b ) and ( c ) ] that obeys known equations of state @xcite , and it reaches @xmath41 [ fig .
[ fig : e-4](d ) ] .
the temperature anisotropy supports the current layer near the x - line [ figs .
[ fig : e-4](e ) and ( f ) ] , which is peaked in a sheet of width 24@xmath42 and length @xmath43 ( @xmath42 based on the density @xmath44 upstream of the x - line ) .
we refer to this area as the electron diffusion region .
the electron temperature @xmath45 is plotted in fig . [
fig : box](b ) with the boundary of the electron diffusion region indicated by a dotted box . a typical electron orbit is also shown .
the electron follows a trapped trajectory in the inflow , characterized by the repeated reversal of its parallel ( @xmath46 ) velocity direction .
sample reduced electron velocity distributions @xmath47 are plotted in figs .
[ fig : box](c - f ) at each point marked by an @xmath48 in fig .
[ fig : box](b ) . the upstream distribution [ fig .
[ fig : box](a ) ] is maxwellian .
the inflow distribution [ fig .
[ fig : box](c ) ] is a typical trapped distribution that is elongated in the parallel ( @xmath46 ) direction @xcite . the electron orbit in fig . [ fig : box](b ) then undergoes meandering motion @xcite within the diffusion region and oscillates across the inner current layer .
here within the diffusion region itself , the velocity distributions more finely structured .
as electrons meander across the central sheet , they gain energy from the reconnection electric field @xmath49 .
this process produces a distribution with a striated triangular tail extended in @xmath50 near the x - line [ as in figs .
[ fig : box](d ) ] @xcite , where each striation is composed of electrons that bounced a set number times across the diffusion region layer .
further downstream , the reconnected magnetic field component @xmath51 mixes the striations [ fig .
[ fig : box](e ) ] @xcite . finally , in the exhaust [ fig .
[ fig : box](f ) ] , the typical electron orbits include regions of chaotic motion , and pitch angle mixing produces nearly isotropic velocity distributions @xcite .
as far as bulk energization , the electron distributions thus indicate two separate processes . first , the inflow trapping elongates the velocity distributions and increases the effective parallel temperature by @xmath52 while adiabatic cooling from @xmath39 conservation leads to a decrease @xmath53 .
we denote the initial total temperature increment @xmath54 .
next , the meandering electrons within the diffusion region are accelerated to larger @xmath55 by the reconnection electric field , forming the tips of the triangular velocity distributions .
chaotic mixing finally produces isotropic distributions in the exhaust with an increased effective temperature @xmath56 .
we refer to this additional temperature increase within the diffusion region as @xmath57 . both @xmath58 and @xmath59
depend on the upstream plasma conditions .
the differences at varying @xmath1 are evident in the velocity distributions computed near the x - line in figs .
[ fig : box](g ) and ( h ) .
the distributions are only mildly anisotropic and have a small tail accelerated by @xmath49 at @xmath60 , while there is strong anisotropy and a tail accelerated to large @xmath61 for @xmath62 .
we now review a model for the inflow heating @xmath58 and develop estimates for the diffusion region heating @xmath59 to determine how the temperature increments scale with the plasma parameters .
our results for the inflow heating derive from the fact that the electron temperature anisotropy and the pseudo - potential @xmath37 saturate when the electrons approach the firehose instability threshold , @xmath63 .
this follows from gross momentum balance , which requires electron anisotropy to balance a large fraction of the @xmath64 magnetic `` tension '' force on the electron jets that flow in the diffusion region .
typically , the electron temperature anisotropy therefore peaks at a value @xmath65 immediately upstream from the electron jets @xcite .
we follow the method of @xcite to estimate the inflow anisotropic heating .
first , upstream parameters @xmath21 , @xmath66 , and @xmath24 are found @xmath67 upstream from the x - line to use in normalizing the equations of state for the inflow electrons .
these may differ by up to @xmath68 from the initial asymptotic values .
next , we numerically solve @xmath69 based on the equations of state for adiabatically trapped electrons , @xmath70 and @xmath71 @xcite , to determine the magnetic field strength @xmath72 upstream from the diffusion region , measured where the electron current falls to @xmath73 of its peak value .
this is illustrated in fig .
[ fig : bheos](a ) .
note that for anti - parallel reconnection , the equations of state do not apply in the center of the diffusion region where the electron orbits are unmagnetized .
although they typically break down before the value @xmath72 is reached , the equations of state at the firehose threshold give a good estimate for the magnetic field immediately outside the current layer .
finally , it is found empirically that evaluating the equations of state with @xmath74 ( the factor of 1.1 provides a better fit over the larger range of @xmath1 studied here than the factor of 1.25 used originally in @xcite ) and @xmath75 yields good estimates for both the peak pseudo - potential @xmath37 and the electron temperatures @xmath76 and @xmath77 .
see fig .
[ fig : bheos](b ) .
the model of @xcite was confirmed numerically for a somewhat limited range of @xmath1 .
meanwhile , additional simulations @xcite showed that the adiabatic model breaks down at low @xmath78 . the range of @xmath1 considered here covers the span of parameters from low @xmath1 where the adiabatic model begins to fail to high @xmath1 where the weak inflow heating is very difficult to resolve both in spacecraft data and in particle - in - cell simulations . predictions and simulation data are plotted in fig . [
fig : curves ] . for low @xmath1 , the adiabatic model outlined above predicts the pseudo - potential scales as @xmath79 , the peak temperature anisotropy scales as @xmath80 , and @xmath81 .
our scan of kinetic runs demonstrates that the parallel pseudo - potential in the inflow becomes larger than predicted by the adiabatic model at very low @xmath1 .
the peak temperature anisotropy @xmath82 decreases somewhat .
this results , however , from an increase in @xmath77 above the adiabatic predictions .
the net energization @xmath83 is greater than predicted by the adiabatic model .
a simplified model is derived below that reproduces the scalings with plasma parameters we observe in a large number of kinetic simulations , even though it uses several approximations concerning the morphology of the electron diffusion region current layers .
a single overall coefficient of order unity is determined empirically to fit the model to the simulation data . to estimate the diffusion region heating
, we consider the electron conservation equations for mass , momentum , and energy over a control volume that covers the diffusion region of length @xmath84 and width @xmath85 24@xmath86 .
these typical length scales cover the electron jets in the diffusion region , as plotted in fig .
[ fig : uex ] where the length scales are normalized to @xmath86 based on the upstream density .
the dependence on mass ratio @xmath31 is plotted in fig .
[ fig : uexmime ] .
while a previous study found that the size of the diffusion region scales as @xmath87 @xcite , our runs did not confirm this scaling .
the precise length of the diffusion region may be sensitive to boundary conditions and the time selected for measuring its length . in any case
, the nominal sizes we choose are sufficient for our estimates within the range of parameters relevant to magnetospheric reconnection that we consider .
number or mass conservation demands that the inflowing flux of electrons @xmath88 and the diffusion region exhaust flux @xmath89 be equal , and we denote this single particle flux @xmath90 .
furthermore , a current sheet supported by anisotropy consistent with the equations of state for the inflowing electrons also requires that the magnetic field strength just upstream from the electron jet be uniform and equal to the value @xmath72 . by ampere s law ,
this magnetic field is proportional to the net current in the sheet .
while maintaining its magnitude @xmath72 , the magnetic field rotates in direction with the electron flow @xcite .
as shown previously @xcite , the peak net out - of - plane flux within the diffusion region is therefore also of the same order as the in - plane flux , @xmath91 .
the left panels of fig .
[ fig : uex ] show the electron outflow jets , and the right - hand panels show mean electron flow profiles @xmath92 , @xmath93 , and @xmath94 averaged over the width of the diffusion region . at higher @xmath1 , the peak @xmath95 does not reach the peak @xmath96 @xcite .
this approximation concerning the magnitude of the electron fluxes is thus roughest in the high @xmath1 cases where the electron jets do not flow much faster than the background alfvenic outflow . in these cases ,
the diffusion region electron heating is small , and it is at the limit of resolution in both pic simulations and spacecraft observations . as confirmed by the kinetic simulations , the main contributions to energy balance integrated over the diffusion region are advection across the boundaries and work done through @xmath97 .
an exception is at the lowest @xmath1 of @xmath98 , where the thermal heat flux driven by instabilities carries nearly @xmath99 of the energy dissipated by @xmath97 .
the electric field does work on the electrons ( per unit length in the out - of - plane direction ) of size @xmath100 where the factor of @xmath101 accounts for the current density profile falling off from its peak value at the center of the sheet . for our estimates , we take a typical value for the reconnection electric field of @xmath102 , although @xmath103 tends to decrease with increasing upstream density @xcite
. meanwhile , the net electron thermal energy advected out of the box is @xmath104 balancing the contributions from eqs .
[ eq : edotj ] and [ eq : pu ] , the temperature change across the diffusion region is @xmath105 , or in terms of the upstream conditions , @xmath106 our approximations , which include neglecting the precise current and field profiles , turn out to overestimate the diffusion region heating .
we thus introduce the factor of @xmath107 to fit the simulation data .
the model predictions are plotted in fig .
[ fig : delta](a ) .
the model for first stage of heating , involving adiabatic trapping in the inflow , predicts both @xmath52 and @xmath108 , and the predictions are plotted along with the total @xmath58 .
contrary to predictions , @xmath109 increases somewhat for @xmath78 .
this results from non - adiabatic motion and streaming instabilities , and it highlights the need for an extended model at low @xmath1 . also plotted is the model for the second stage of heating within the diffusion region @xmath59 based on eq .
[ eq : test ] .
note that @xmath59 in eq .
[ eq : test ] scales as @xmath110 [ see fig . [
fig : delta](c ) for numerical results ] . on the other hand , @xmath58 is independent of the mass ratio as long as the trapped electron bouncing motion is adiabatic ( usually for @xmath111 ) .
the net temperature change @xmath112 therefore scales more weakly than @xmath110 ( similar to @xcite ) , although our model predicts that it in fact does not follow any simple power law in @xmath113 .
the results highlight that care must be taken when comparing various heating processes in kinetic simulations to observational data because different processes depend on the numerical parameters , such as mass ratio , in different ways . at the physical mass ratio of @xmath31=1836 , the diffusion region heating of our model will typically be of a similar magnitude or smaller than the inflow heating . evaluating the model for the total temperature jump @xmath114 at the physical proton mass ratio yields the black curve fig . [
fig : delta](c ) .
it compares favorably to , though it is slightly lower than , the empirical scaling @xmath115 ( red curve ) determined from the themis survey of reconnection exhausts in magnetopause crossings @xcite .
observational data points from events with a weak guide field , corresponding to magnetic shear angles @xmath116 , are also plotted .
the empirical scaling is equivalent to @xmath117 for weak guide fields , and the data are re - plotted normalized to @xmath118 in fig .
[ fig : delta](d ) .
the model is consistent with the scaling @xmath119 to a good approximation for @xmath120 .
again , it is somewhat unexpected that our model based on the diffusion region agrees fairly well with spacecraft data collected possibly @xmath121 @xmath6 @xcite downstream from the x - line .
this is consistent , however , with numerical calculations that show a uniform electron exhaust temperature @xcite and the relationship between the diffusion region dynamics and the downstream temperature presented in the introduction . in the run of fig .
[ fig : teopen ] , islands within the diffusion region temporarily reduce the length of the electron current sheet by as much as 50% , and as a result @xmath122 is reduced from @xmath123 ( in agreement with eq .
[ eq : test ] ) to @xmath124@xmath125 .
the dip in temperature persists more than 100 @xmath6 downstream into the exhaust .
the model for electron heating has a couple of implications for high - resolution electron measurements such as those available from the mms mission .
first , it could possibly be combined with other methods , for example analyzing the striated diffusion region electron distributions @xcite , to help place constraints on the size of @xmath103 and the reconnection rate .
furthermore , the model suggests that the diffusion region striated electron distributions should be most apparent in low @xmath1 reconnection . in this regime , @xmath122 may be larger than the upstream @xmath109 , and the striations should therefore be distinctly separated @xcite .
in summary , a model for the diffusion region in symmetric anti - parallel reconnection predicts the electron heating .
the first stage of energization occurs in the inflow because of adiabatic trapping , and it results in anisotropic heating with @xmath126 and @xmath127 described by known equations of state . as demonstrated by our simulations spanning a wide range of @xmath1 , an extended model will have to be formulated for low @xmath78 when the adiabatic assumption breaks down . in the next stage ,
meandering electrons in the diffusion region are further energized by the reconnection electric field , and the temperature increases by an additional amount @xmath59 .
it is worth noting that , unlike the adiabatic inflow heating for @xmath128 , the diffusion region heating is sensitive to the mass ratio employed in numerical simulations .
we developed a simple scaling law for this additional heating @xmath122 , and the composite two - stage model agrees with an empirical scaling based on spacecraft measurements taken downstream in the reconnection exhaust . while it was not evident that the diffusion region heating could affect the temperature far downstream , this dependence is consistent with simulations that show a flux tube retains the temperature set in the diffusion region as it is advected far into the exhaust .
it is interesting to note that while the individual anisotropic increases @xmath129 and @xmath53 of the inflow depend sensitively on @xmath24 , the predicted total heating @xmath114 turns out to be roughly proportional to @xmath130 to a good approximation for @xmath131 .
this scaling also held in the magnetopause observations @xcite and a previous numerical scaling study @xcite .
a fluid model based on magnetized electrons appropriate for reconnection with a guide field also resulted in a nearly identical scaling for the electron temperature in the exhaust @xcite . in the fluid model
, the electron heating is related to overall pressure balance of the reconnection exhaust . for guide fields that are not too large
, force balance requires the plasma pressure in the current sheet to compensate some significant fraction of the upstream magnetic pressure @xmath132 .
it is thus natural that the total electron heating scales with the upstream magnetic pressure .
the predicted level of heating and partition of energy between electrons and ions , however , depends in addition on the assumed equations of state for each species .
adiabatic ion and double adiabatic electron closures yielded good results , suggesting heat transport is somehow limited .
the observational survey @xcite and numerical study @xcite included a range of guide magnetic fields and plasma parameters .
meanwhile , it has been found that the mechanisms that energize the electrons in the far exhaust such as parallel electric field acceleration and drifts in perpendicular fields @xcite play relatively smaller or larger roles depending on the strength of the guide field @xcite .
it thus remains an open question how various electron processes , from adiabatic electric trapping to meandering diffusion region orbits to fermi bounce acceleration in the far exhaust , conspire to yield relatively uniform electron temperature profiles that obey a simple scaling law to a good approximation for a broad range of plasma parameters found in the magnetosphere .
a.l . was supported by nasa grant nnx14al38 g at the space science institute and by the ldrd office at lanl . j.e .
acknowledges support through nsf gem award 1405166 and nasa grant nnx14ac68 g .
w.d.s work was supported by nasa s heliophysics theory program .
simulations were performed on pleiades provided by nasa s hec program and with lanl institutional computing resources . | arxiv |
the pooled global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( copd ) in adults aged 40 years or older is ~10% , and it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the us.15 copd is believed to be caused by inflammation induced by inhaled smoke and particulates , and possibly by infecting pathogens as well , leading to the structural changes in airways and alveoli that result in irreversible airflow limitation ( figure 1 ) . despite the fact that smoking causes most cases of copd , only 25% of smokers develop copd.6,7 conversely , epidemiologic data indicate that approximately 1 of 6 patients with copd has never smoked.8 this variable susceptibility to copd most likely reflects genetic variations in the inflammatory and structural responses to inhaled smoke and to microorganisms colonizing the airways of smokers.911 the most common colonizing bacterium is nontypeable ( ie , unencapsulated ) haemophilus influenzae ( nthi).12,13 this organism is found in the lower respiratory tract of ~30% of individuals with copd at any time.12,1417 in addition to colonization during clinically stable periods , acquisition of new strains of nthi is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infection , resulting in exacerbations of copd.13,1820 together , these findings suggest that persistent or repetitive exposure of the airway to nthi products may contribute to airway inflammation in copd.18 furthermore , several studies have found that smokers with copd have an increased risk of lung cancer ( 3- to 10-fold ) compared with smokers with comparable cigarette exposure but without copd.21,22 in this review , we will discuss the existing data regarding the roles that nthi plays in copd development and lung cancer promotion .
based on the definition of the global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease , copd is a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible .
the airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles and gases.23 although copd and asthma both involve inflammation in the respiratory tract , the inflammatory processes differ markedly.10,24 histopathological studies show a predominant involvement of peripheral airways ( bronchioles ) and lung parenchyma in copd , whereas asthma involves inflammation in all airways but minimal involvement of the lung parenchyma.25 both innate and adaptive immune responses are involved in lung inflammation in patients with copd . in histopathologic specimens of distal lung and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( balf ) from copd patients , macrophages and neutrophils are prominent.2628 there is also an increase in the total numbers of t lymphocytes in lung parenchyma and peripheral and central airways of patients with copd , with a greater increase in cd8 than in cd4 cells.25,29,30 although the absolute number of cd8 cells is more than cd4 cells , there is strong evidence to support a role for cd4 t helper 1 ( th1 ) cells in maintenance of chronic inflammation in copd.31,32 loss of lung function in patients with copd is associated with a high percentage of cd4 and cd8 t lymphocytes that express chemokine receptors ccr5 and cxcr3 ( markers of th1 cells ) , but not ccr3 or ccr4 ( markers of th2 cells).33,34 cd8 cells are typically increased in airway infections , and it is possible that chronic or recurrent colonization of the lower respiratory tract of copd patients by bacterial and viral pathogens contributes to this inflammatory response.35 it has also been shown that cd8 t cells are required for inflammation and destruction in cigarette smoke - induced emphysema in mice.36 the accumulated volume of b cells in small airways ( mainly seen in lymphoid aggregates)2 and in bronchial biopsies of large airways37 is higher in patients with copd than in controls without airflow limitation and even higher in more severe copd .
the humoral , or antibody , immune response is essential for host defense against viral and bacterial pathogens .
b cells probably contribute to the inflammatory process and/or the development and perpetuation of copd by means of a specific antigen - driven process.38 the lung has the ability to respond quickly to some pathogens through stimulation of resident antigen - specific memory b cells . alternatively , after exposure to a new pathogen , the lung can generate de novo both a systemic and local ( mucosal ) antibody response .
the resulting production of antigen - specific igg and iga acts in concert to help clear the invading pathogen and reduce subsequent colonization of respiratory epithelium.39 primary adaptive responses are triggered by immature myeloid dendritic cells ( dcs ) , which carry antigen from the lungs to regional lymph nodes.40 antigen presentation by these mature dcs is required to activate naive cd4 t cells , which are essential to generate polarized type 1 or type 2 responses and for robust immunologic memory .
persistent and chronic inflammation recruits natural killer ( nk ) cells and more dcs.40 nk cells exposed to interleukin-12 ( il-12 ) favor survival of dcs that prime for th1 responses , whereas nk cells exposed to il-4 do not exert dc selection , leading to th2 responses .
additionally , previous pulmonary infections or immune responses increase the number of lung dcs and populate the lungs with clones of memory b cells and t cells that are immediately available to respond to infections.40 in addition to the traditional th1 and th2 subtypes , recent developments in cytokine biology imply that copd might be better explained by the t helper 17 ( th17 ) phenotype.41 effector molecules produced by cd4 th17 cells include il-17a , il-17f , and il-22.41 il-17a and il-17f both bind to the il-17 receptor ( il-17r).42 it has been shown that il-17r signaling is required for lung cxc chemokine and granulocyte colony - stimulating factor ( g - csf ) expression , neutrophil recruitment , and host defense against gram - negative bacteria .
43 il-17a , the prototype of this new cytokine family , is a 2030-kda glycosylated homodimeric
cytokine produced predominantly by t cells.44 many of the inflammatory effects of th17 cells are attributed to the expression of il-17a .
for example , il-17a upregulates the expression of a number of cxcr2 chemokines , including cxcl1 , cxcl6 , and cxcl8 , together with the neutrophil survival factors granulocyte - macrophage colony - stimulating factor ( gm - csf ) and g - csf from the airway epithelium .
this would suggest that th17 cells are important in promoting and sustaining the neutrophilic inflammation observed in copd .
in addition , il-17a can act synergistically with viral infection as well as other inflammatory mediators that include tumor necrosis factor ( tnf ) to potentiate these responses.45,46 transgenic overexpression of il-17a in the lung induces inflammation and mucous metaplasia.47 primary human tracheobronchial epithelial cells stimulated by an extensive panel of cytokines upregulated the muc5ac and muc5b genes in response to il-17a.48 additionally , il-17a potently induces epithelial cells and fibroblasts to secrete neutrophil attractants , notably cxcl8.4851 finally , il-17 family members increase the sensitivity of macrophages to pathogen - associated molecular patterns and may even directly induce tnf.51 cellular inflammation in copd is accompanied by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines , which amplify inflammation via the activation of the nf-b pathway , leading to increased expression of multiple inflammatory genes.5256 nf-b activation occurs primarily through ib kinase ( ikk)-dependent phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of specific inhibitors , the ibs , which retain nf-b in the cytoplasm . upon activation ,
nf-b dimers enter the nucleus , where they modulate transcription of a large variety of target genes.52,53,57,58 these genes code for mediators of immune and inflammatory reactions , such as tnf , il-1 , il-6 , ifn- , il-18 , il-32 , and th17 cytokines , the chemokine il-8 , and cell adhesion molecules .
tnf is mostly produced by macrophages , and also by many other cells , such as mast cells , epithelial cells , and b and t cells , and activates nf-b.59 tnf levels are increased in the sputum of patients with copd during exacerbations60 and contribute importantly to cigarette smoke - induced emphysema in mice.59 il-1 stimulates alveolar macrophages from patients with copd to secrete inflammatory factors,61 and together with tnf induces icam-1 expression on endothelial cells.54 il-18 , part of the il-1 superfamily , plays an important role in th1 polarization and various th1-type diseases , inducing tnf , il-1 , gm - csf , and chemokine production by monocytes and t lymphocytes.62 in mouse models , it has been shown that constitutive il-18 overproduction in the lungs induces emphysema.63 il-6 is acutely produced by monocytes and macrophages at the site of inflammation , as well as by t cells in chronic inflammation .
il-6 activates intracellular signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 ( stat3 ) in epithelial and immune cells.64 stat3 upregulation was observed in lung tissue from both smokers and nonsmokers with copd , and this was associated with upregulation of its target genes.65 increased levels of il-6 have been found in induced sputum , exhaled breath condensate , and balf from copd patients,66 and when overexpressed in the mouse airways results in emphysema - like airspace enlargement and airway inflammation.67 ifn- is produced by th1 cells , activated macrophages , and dcs , inducing them to produce il-12 , the main th1- inducing cytokine . when overexpressed in the murine lung it results in emphysema , and it has also been shown to be upregulated in lymphocytes isolated from emphysematous lung tissue samples , balf , and sputum from copd patients.33,68,69 il-32 produced in nk cells , t cells , epithelial cells , and monocytes has been recently recognized as a proinflammatory cytokine.70 an increased expression of il-32 in the lung tissue of patients with copd has been demonstrated and correlates with the level of tnf and the degree of airway obstruction , suggesting that il-32 is involved in the specific immune response observed in copd and may have an impact on disease progression.71,72 il-8 , a cxc chemokine , is a neutrophil chemoattractant and activator .
it is secreted by macrophages , neutrophils , and airway epithelial cells and may contribute to copd progression by attracting neutrophils to the lung.73 increased levels found in sputum samples from copd patients correlate with the airway bacterial load , and its constitutive overexpression in the lungs of mice induces emphysema , furthermore suggesting its important role in the pathogenesis of copd.53,63
in histopathologic specimens of distal lung and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( balf ) from copd patients , macrophages and neutrophils are prominent.2628 there is also an increase in the total numbers of t lymphocytes in lung parenchyma and peripheral and central airways of patients with copd , with a greater increase in cd8 than in cd4 cells.25,29,30 although the absolute number of cd8 cells is more than cd4 cells , there is strong evidence to support a role for cd4 t helper 1 ( th1 ) cells in maintenance of chronic inflammation in copd.31,32 loss of lung function in patients with copd is associated with a high percentage of cd4 and cd8 t lymphocytes that express chemokine receptors ccr5 and cxcr3 ( markers of th1 cells ) , but not ccr3 or ccr4 ( markers of th2 cells).33,34 cd8 cells are typically increased in airway infections , and it is possible that chronic or recurrent colonization of the lower respiratory tract of copd patients by bacterial and viral pathogens contributes to this inflammatory response.35 it has also been shown that cd8 t cells are required for inflammation and destruction in cigarette smoke - induced emphysema in mice.36 the accumulated volume of b cells in small airways ( mainly seen in lymphoid aggregates)2 and in bronchial biopsies of large airways37 is higher in patients with copd than in controls without airflow limitation and even higher in more severe copd .
the humoral , or antibody , immune response is essential for host defense against viral and bacterial pathogens .
b cells probably contribute to the inflammatory process and/or the development and perpetuation of copd by means of a specific antigen - driven process.38 the lung has the ability to respond quickly to some pathogens through stimulation of resident antigen - specific memory b cells .
alternatively , after exposure to a new pathogen , the lung can generate de novo both a systemic and local ( mucosal ) antibody response .
the resulting production of antigen - specific igg and iga acts in concert to help clear the invading pathogen and reduce subsequent colonization of respiratory epithelium.39 primary adaptive responses are triggered by immature myeloid dendritic cells ( dcs ) , which carry antigen from the lungs to regional lymph nodes.40 antigen presentation by these mature dcs is required to activate naive cd4 t cells , which are essential to generate polarized type 1 or type 2 responses and for robust immunologic memory .
persistent and chronic inflammation recruits natural killer ( nk ) cells and more dcs.40 nk cells exposed to interleukin-12 ( il-12 ) favor survival of dcs that prime for th1 responses , whereas nk cells exposed to il-4 do not exert dc selection , leading to th2 responses .
additionally , previous pulmonary infections or immune responses increase the number of lung dcs and populate the lungs with clones of memory b cells and t cells that are immediately available to respond to infections.40 in addition to the traditional th1 and th2 subtypes , recent developments in cytokine biology imply that copd might be better explained by the t helper 17 ( th17 ) phenotype.41 effector molecules produced by cd4 th17 cells include il-17a , il-17f , and il-22.41 il-17a and il-17f both bind to the il-17 receptor ( il-17r).42 it has been shown that il-17r signaling is required for lung cxc chemokine and granulocyte colony - stimulating factor ( g - csf ) expression , neutrophil recruitment , and host defense against gram - negative bacteria .
43 il-17a , the prototype of this new cytokine family , is a 2030-kda glycosylated homodimeric
cytokine produced predominantly by t cells.44 many of the inflammatory effects of th17 cells are attributed to the expression of il-17a .
for example , il-17a upregulates the expression of a number of cxcr2 chemokines , including cxcl1 , cxcl6 , and cxcl8 , together with the neutrophil survival factors granulocyte - macrophage colony - stimulating factor ( gm - csf ) and g - csf from the airway epithelium .
this would suggest that th17 cells are important in promoting and sustaining the neutrophilic inflammation observed in copd .
in addition , il-17a can act synergistically with viral infection as well as other inflammatory mediators that include tumor necrosis factor ( tnf ) to potentiate these responses.45,46 transgenic overexpression of il-17a in the lung induces inflammation and mucous metaplasia.47 primary human tracheobronchial epithelial cells stimulated by an extensive panel of cytokines upregulated the muc5ac and muc5b genes in response to il-17a.48 additionally , il-17a potently induces epithelial cells and fibroblasts to secrete neutrophil attractants , notably cxcl8.4851 finally , il-17 family members increase the sensitivity of macrophages to pathogen - associated molecular patterns and may even directly induce tnf.51
cellular inflammation in copd is accompanied by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines , which amplify inflammation via the activation of the nf-b pathway , leading to increased expression of multiple inflammatory genes.5256 nf-b activation occurs primarily through ib kinase ( ikk)-dependent phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of specific inhibitors , the ibs , which retain nf-b in the cytoplasm . upon activation ,
nf-b dimers enter the nucleus , where they modulate transcription of a large variety of target genes.52,53,57,58 these genes code for mediators of immune and inflammatory reactions , such as tnf , il-1 , il-6 , ifn- , il-18 , il-32 , and th17 cytokines , the chemokine il-8 , and cell adhesion molecules .
tnf is mostly produced by macrophages , and also by many other cells , such as mast cells , epithelial cells , and b and t cells , and activates nf-b.59 tnf levels are increased in the sputum of patients with copd during exacerbations60 and contribute importantly to cigarette smoke - induced emphysema in mice.59 il-1 stimulates alveolar macrophages from patients with copd to secrete inflammatory factors,61 and together with tnf induces icam-1 expression on endothelial cells.54 il-18 , part of the il-1 superfamily , plays an important role in th1 polarization and various th1-type diseases , inducing tnf , il-1 , gm - csf , and chemokine production by monocytes and t lymphocytes.62 in mouse models , it has been shown that constitutive il-18 overproduction in the lungs induces emphysema.63 il-6 is acutely produced by monocytes and macrophages at the site of inflammation , as well as by t cells in chronic inflammation .
il-6 activates intracellular signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 ( stat3 ) in epithelial and immune cells.64 stat3 upregulation was observed in lung tissue from both smokers and nonsmokers with copd , and this was associated with upregulation of its target genes.65 increased levels of il-6 have been found in induced sputum , exhaled breath condensate , and balf from copd patients,66 and when overexpressed in the mouse airways results in emphysema - like airspace enlargement and airway inflammation.67 ifn- is produced by th1 cells , activated macrophages , and dcs , inducing them to produce il-12 , the main th1- inducing cytokine . when overexpressed in the murine lung it results in emphysema , and it has also been shown to be upregulated in lymphocytes isolated from emphysematous lung tissue samples , balf , and sputum from copd patients.33,68,69 il-32 produced in nk cells , t cells , epithelial cells , and monocytes has been recently recognized as a proinflammatory cytokine.70 an increased expression of il-32 in the lung tissue of patients with copd has been demonstrated and correlates with the level of tnf and the degree of airway obstruction , suggesting that il-32 is involved in the specific immune response observed in copd and may have an impact on disease progression.71,72 il-8 , a cxc chemokine , is a neutrophil chemoattractant and activator .
it is secreted by macrophages , neutrophils , and airway epithelial cells and may contribute to copd progression by attracting neutrophils to the lung.73 increased levels found in sputum samples from copd patients correlate with the airway bacterial load , and its constitutive overexpression in the lungs of mice induces emphysema , furthermore suggesting its important role in the pathogenesis of copd.53,63
nthi is a small ( 1.0 0.3 m ) gram - negative coccobacillus that lacks a polysaccharide capsule ( hence its nontypeable classification ) .
it colonizes the upper respiratory tract of up to 75% of normal adults and primarily acts as a mucosal pathogen.74 although it lacks a mucinous capsule , nthi possesses characteristic coat proteins .
the p2 protein is the major outer membrane protein ( omp ) of nthi , constituting ~50% of the protein content of the outer membrane .
p2 is a target of human serum bactericidal antibody , indicating that the protein is important in the human immune response to nthi.75 p6 is a 16-kda peptidoglycan - associated lipoprotein that is present in the outer membrane of all strains of nthi76 and shows a high degree of sequence conservation among strains.77 several lines of evidence suggest that p6 elicits bactericidal antibody responses.76,78 berenson et al have shown that p6 is a specific trigger of bacteria - induced human macrophage inflammatory events , with il-8 and tnf as key effectors of p6-induced macrophage responses.79 another study has shown that although the migration of mature dcs into the pulmonary lymph nodes is attenuated after repeated airway challenge of mice with omps of nthi , the in vitro p6-specific t cell proliferation in cultured pulmonary lymph node cells was enhanced and subsequently linked to the development of p6-specific iga production and the development of protective immunity in the airway of mice.80 nthi lipooligosaccharide ( los ) is a major virulence determinant and may play a role in colonization and invasion of mucosal surfaces in the respiratory tract.81 nthi los is analogous to the lipopolysaccharide ( lps ) of enteric gram - negative bacteria in that it contains lipid a linked by 3-deoxy - d - manno - octulosonic acid to a heterogeneous sugar polymer.82,83 nthi los , however , differs from classic enterobacterial lps in that it does not contain repeating o - antigen units and is therefore more similar to that derived from neisseria and bordetella species.82,83 like most other bacterial infections , nthi infections induce inflammation with prominent release of cytokines and chemokines .
extensive in vitro studies have shown that nthi lysate activates the nf-b pathway in airway epithelial cells and markedly increases expression and release of proinflammatory mediators , including il-6 , il-8 , and tnf.18,8486 airway epithelial cells are capable of sensing and responding to inflammatory stimuli through innate immune mechanisms that result in lung inflammation.87 these mechanisms mostly function through toll - like receptors ( tlrs ) , a family of evolutionarily conserved transmembrane receptors that serve as pattern recognition receptors .
they recognize conserved microbial motifs in molecules such as bacterial lps , peptidoglycan , flagellin , unmethylated cpg dna , and doubleand single - stranded rna .
activation of the corresponding tlr by any of these molecules results in the activation of antimicrobial responses88 and the initiation of an inflammatory response , alerting the host to the presence of microbial invasion and initiating an immune response.89,90 because the tlrs share sequence similarity with the il-1 receptor ( il-1r ) family in their cytoplasmic regions , it is not unexpected that downstream events are mediated by common components , such as myeloid differentiation primary response gene ( 88 ) ( myd88 ) .
myd88 is an adaptor protein that links the il-1r to il-1r - associated protein kinase ( irak ) , a serine threonine kinase that is related to the pelle kinase of drosophila . upon binding of ligand to il-1r , irak phosphorylates ,
subsequently dissociates from the receptor complex and associates with tnf - receptor - activated factor 6 ( traf6 ) .
this process results in the activation of two different pathways that involve the c - jun nh2-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen - activated protein kinase ( mapk ) family and the rel family transcription factor nf-b.91,92 tlr-4 is the signaling receptor for lps , the major proinflammatory component of the gram - negative cell wall , in concert with cd14 , which serves as the ligand - binding part of the lps receptor complex . triggering of tlr-4 results in the activation of two distinct intracellular pathways , one that relies on the common tlr adaptor myd88 and one that is mediated by toll / il-1r domain - containing adaptorinducing ifn- ( trif).93 wieland et al have shown that alveolar macrophages from cd14 and tlr-4 knockout ( ko ) mice are virtually unresponsive to nthi in vitro.93 intranasal administration of nthi in the mouse results in a brisk elaboration of il-1 , il-6 , tnf , macrophage - inflammatory protein ( mip)-1 , and mip-2 in balf and a corresponding mobilization of intrapulmonary neutrophils .
after intranasal infection with nthi , cd14 and tlr-4 ko mice showed an attenuated early inflammatory response in their lungs with diminished il-1 , il-6 , tnf , mip-1 , and mip-2 in balf and a notable absence of intrapulmonary neutrophils , which was associated with a strongly reduced clearance of nthi from the respiratory tract.93,94 additionally , myd88 ko , but not trif mutant mice , showed an increased bacterial load in their lungs upon infection with nthi.93 these data demonstrate that the myd88-dependent pathway of tlr-4 is important for an effective innate immune response to respiratory tract infection caused by nthi .
this suggests that the airway epithelia might contribute to sensing nthi infection and signaling the innate immune response.94 tlr-2 also plays a critical role in mediating inflammatory responses against bacterial pathogens in the lung.95 nthi strongly activates nf-b in human epithelial cells via two distinct signaling pathways : nf-b translocation - dependent and nf-b translocation - independent pathways.85 the nf-b translocation - dependent pathway involves activation of the nf-b - inducing kinase ( nik)ikk/ complex , leading to ib phosphorylation and degradation , whereas the nf-b translocation - independent pathway involves activation of mkk3/6-mapk .
tlr-2 is required for nthi- induced nf-b activation through both pathways , and omp p6 appears to also activate nf-b via similar signaling pathways .
85 nthi also induces cox-2 and pge2 expression in a p38 mapk and nf-b - dependent manner through tlr2 in lung epithelial cells in vitro and lung tissues in vivo.96
nthi is frequently present in the airways of adults with copd.1417 this gram - negative bacterium is found in the lower respiratory tract of ~30% of individuals with copd at any time , and with serial sampling more than 60% of copd patients show colonization.97 several studies have shown higher inflammatory responses in the presence of nthi colonization in stable copd patients and smokers without copd.98100 for example , colonized smokers , with or without copd , had more bronchial neutrophilia compared with noncolonized ones.15 bacterial colonization has also been associated with increased frequency of exacerbations and an accelerated decline in lung function.97 furthermore , the acquisition of new nthi serotypes is associated with exacerbations of copd.12,13,1820 in one study , nthi was found in the bronchial tissues of 87% of patients with exacerbations compared with 33% of stable copd patients and 0% of healthy controls.14 the immune response that develops after an exacerbation seems to be strain specific and protects against recurrent exacerbation due to the homologous strain but leaves the patient susceptible to exacerbations caused by antigenically unrelated heterologous strains , and this likely represents a mechanism for recurrent infections.101 studies using molecular techniques indicate that some patients with copd are persistently colonized with nthi even after antimicrobial therapy and despite a negative sputum culture .
this suggests that bacteria may cause a greater proportion of exacerbations than is revealed by sputum culture alone.102104 defective immune responsiveness and impaired phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages might provide an immunologic basis for persistence of nthi in the airways of adults with copd.105 cigarette smoke induces mucus dysfunction by several mechanisms106110 and ultimately increases mucin production , reduces mucus hydration , and decreases mucus clearance , which might also contribute to airway colonization in copd patients.111 other possible mechanisms of colonization include airway epithelial cell invasion,20,103 antigenic alteration,112114 and biofilm formation.115 nthi could contribute to copd progression by inducing neutrophilic influx into the airways , neutrophil necrosis with release of neutrophil elastase and other matrix metalloproteinases , and production of oxygen radicals.79,86 these mediators can overwhelm the antiproteinase barrier of the lung and damage airway and alveolar structures , thereby amplifying smoking - induced lung damage.116 we have shown that weekly exposure of mice to an aerosolized nthi lysate induces lung inflammation with a profile of mediators and inflammatory cells similar to that observed in copd patients.117 repetitive exposure to nthi lysate results in a 10-fold increase in total inflammatory cell numbers in balf , dominated by neutrophils ( 81% ) with fewer macrophages and lymphocytes .
this was accompanied by marked increases in inflammatory cytokines ( tnf and il-6 ) , th1 cytokines ( ifn- and il-12 ) , and the neutrophil chemoattractant kc .
consistent with the rapid rise in the levels of inflammatory cytokines , nf-b was rapidly activated after each exposure . in the weeks following chronic activation of this innate immune response , a marked copd - like inflammatory process ensues .
peribronchiolar and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration and lymphoid aggregates ( after 8 weeks ) , similar to those described in copd patients , were seen .
the chronic inflammatory response was characterized by infiltration of the airway wall by macrophages , cd20 b cells , cd8 t cells , cd4 t cells , and neutrophils .
there was increased fibrous tissue around airways , similar to that described in copd patients , after 25 weekly nthi exposures , and this further increased after 50 weeks of exposure.117 flow cytometric analysis of balf and lung homogenates after eight nthi exposures has also shown an increased number of il-17-producing cd4 t cells ( th17 cells ) , associated with high expression of il-17 in inflamed lung tissue and in the balf ( unpublished data ) .
furthermore , exposure of mice genetically deficient in il-17r to the nthi lysate resulted in a lower level of neutrophilic influx into the balf and less inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue , indicating a major role for th17 cells in nthi - induced copd - like airway inflammation ( unpublished data ) .
as transgenic overexpression of tnf in the airway epithelium caused balf neutrophilia and inflammatory cell infiltration around airways , but not fibrosis,117 this suggests that innate immune inflammation alone is insufficient to induce airway fibrosis .
studies have shown that both human and mouse alveolar epithelial type ii ( at ii ) cells express mhc ii molecules and that at ii cells are capable of activating t cells in vitro.118120 a recent study shows that naive cd4 t cells are specifically activated against a lung - specific antigen by at ii cells independently of lymphoid tissue and dcs in vivo.121 these data offer the strongest evidence to date that the lung itself , independent of the classical antigen - presenting cells of the immune system , can present foreign and self - peptides and differentiate cd4 t cells into regulatory t cell subsets.122 we also demonstrated that nthi lysate could induce innate resistance in the lungs , resulting in broad protection against a wide range of pathogens,87 which occurs independent of alveolar macrophages and recruited neutrophils .
this protection derives from stimulation of local innate immune mechanisms , and activated lung epithelium is the most likely cellular effector of this response .
furthermore , gene expression analysis of lungs from nthi - exposed mice demonstrated nf-b signaling to be the most enriched process , followed closely by interferons , il-6/stat3 , and tlr signaling , including myd88 , tlr-2 , and tlr-4.123,124 to further dissect the importance of the nf-b pathway in this phenomenon , we have targeted nf-b in the airway epithelium using a genetic strategy and have demonstrated a lower level of neutrophilic influx into balf after a single nthi exposure ( unpublished data ) . together
, these findings suggest that exposure of the airway to nthi products contributes to lung inflammation and airway fibrosis in copd , which is mediated by innate immune activation of epithelial cells that signal to adaptive immune cells .
worldwide , lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality and is expected to account for 30% of all male and 26% of all female cancer deaths in 2009.125 cigarette smoking causes 90% of all lung cancers and is believed to do so primarily by inducing dna mutations.126 in addition , epidemiologic data indicate that chronic inflammation also plays a role in lung epithelial carcinogenesis.127 genetic factors have also been shown to play a role in determining susceptibility to lung cancer .
these genetic factors are believed to confer an inherent susceptibility ( exaggerated or maladaptive response ) to chronic inflammation from cigarette smoking .
consistent with many cancer models , this inflammatory stimulus in the lungs results in tissue remodeling , dna damage , and impaired cell cycle control.128 multiple studies have found that smokers with copd have an increased risk of lung cancer compared with smokers without copd.21,22,127,129,130 there is strong evidence that a patient s forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration is an independent prognostic marker for developing lung cancer in both smokers and exsmokers,129,130 and the incidence of lung cancer seems to be higher for those with more severe airflow obstruction .
the presence of mild emphysema , even without demonstrable airflow obstruction , confers a substantial risk of developing lung cancer.131 the likelihood of developing lung cancer within 10 years is three - fold greater in patients with mild - to - moderate copd and 10-fold greater in patients with severe copd compared with smokers with normal lung function.22 it has also been shown that increased lung cancer mortality is associated with a history of copd , even among people who have never been active smokers.132 several possible mechanisms may link lung cancer to copd , and both genetic and environmental factors may play a role . this link could be related to inflammation and the body s attempt to repair emphysematous airspaces.133 on the basis of existing in vitro studies showing that nthi activates proliferative and antiapoptotic signaling pathways,84,85,134 colonization with this bacterium may also promote carcinogenesis by stimulating growth and inhibiting apoptosis .
we have shown that nthi - induced copd - like airway inflammation promotes lung cancer in a clara cell - targeted k - ras mutant mouse model ( cc - lr ) of lung cancer.135 in contrast , existing epidemiologic data do not suggest any definite association between allergic airway inflammation ( including asthma ) and lung cancer , and some even suggest a protective role.136140 to test this , cc - lr mice were sensitized intraperitoneally to ovalbumin ( ova ) and then repetitively challenged with an ova aerosol weekly for 8 weeks .
this resulted in eosinophilic lung inflammation associated with increased levels of th2 cytokines and mucous metaplasia of airway epithelium , similar to what is seen in asthma patients .
however , this type of allergic inflammation did not result in a significant difference in lung surface tumor number.124 il-6 has been implicated in inflammatory responses in human copd,6,26 and the il-6 pathway has been found to be one of the mechanisms linking inflammation to cancer.64 therefore , to determine the causal role of cytokines that mediate copd - like inflammation in lung carcinogenesis , we genetically ablated il-6 in cc - lr mice .
this not only inhibited intrinsic lung cancer development ( 1.7-fold ) but also inhibited the promoting effect of extrinsic copdlike airway inflammation ( 2.6-fold).124 taken together , we found that there is a clear specificity for the nature of inflammation in lung cancer promotion ( th17 type ) , and il-6 has an essential role in lung cancer promotion .
we suggest that copd - like airway inflammation induced by nthi provides a tumor microenvironment that favors lung tumor promotion and progression .
this occurs via release of inflammatory mediators ( il-6 and tnf ) from innate immune cells ( neutrophils and macrophages ) secondary to activation of epithelial innate immune signaling pathways ( myd88/ nf-b ) .
this in turn activates more intracellular signaling pathways ( nf-b and stat3 ) in the airway epithelium and immune cells , resulting in activation of prosurvival , antiapoptotic , and proangiogenic signals accompanied by skewing toward a protumoral adaptive immune response ( th17 response ) ( figure 1 ) .
it appears that surface components of nthi induce lung inflammation by innate immune signaling mechanisms and that this progresses to airway fibrosis by recruitment of the host adaptive immune system .
a straightforward strategy to reduce the incidence of copd is the prevention of tobacco consumption .
however , because of the persistent risk among former smokers , additional strategies that stop the progression to advanced copd are highly attractive . based on the demonstrated ability of nthi to induce lung inflammation and airway fibrosis and its persistent colonization of the airways of copd patients , dissecting underlying mechanisms
furthermore , this would have a major impact on preventing the leading cause of cancer death by providing the basis for rationally directed therapy in patients at high risk for lung cancer development . | pubmed |
Fred Weicker August 1, 1906 March 7, 1955 was an American athlete. He competed in the men's discus throw at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
References
Category:1906 births
Category:1955 deaths
Category:Athletes track and field at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Category:American male discus throwers
Category:Olympic track and field athletes of the United States
Category:Place of birth missing | wikipedia |
In the KU Lock'n Load section it says that the older 1"-based L&L items will work with the new KU version. Does that mean that the Hand Warmer and Handgun Bearer pouches will work on the KU packs? What about the Cargo Chair and the old Grab-it?
Davesuvak, not sure about the Hand Warmer and Handgun Bearer pouches from the hunting side, but the Cargo Chair and standard Grab It will not. They are not Lock n Load items which attach to webbing channels. They use 1" 3-bar sliders to connect to common loops and triangles for their attachment.
The handwarmer pouch/handgung bearer pouch will not work on the UL without some modification. The shoulder strap adjuster & sternum strap buckles on the KUL aren't wide enough to accept the 1" 3-Bar sliders.
It will work by sliding a "slik-clip" into the loop of the webbing above the 3-Bar slider and then fastening the "slik-clip" onto the shoulder strap.
Thanks for the info on the slik-clip. Since the straps on the handwarmer/handgun bearer are 3/4" I was wondering if I could replace the male buckles on my handgun bearer with the male buckles from the KU lash kit. This would allow them to connect to KU female components which I assume can be attached to the KU shoulder straps. Do you think this would work?
Also I notice your location is Helena, MT. I'm not too far away in Kalispell.
If you scroll down to the repair kit, you will see the slik-clips.
I think that would work. I will be playing around with a bunch of the KU accessories pretty soon.
If you ever get to Helena let me know and I'll buy you a beer!
I also would expect to see a connector option for the Handwarmer pocket down the road not too far and hope to see a UL version of the Handwarmer sometime in the future.
Thanks again for responding to my questions. I'll let you know the next time I'm in Helena and the second one will be on me. | slim_pajama |
Napoleon also known as Heroes & Villains: Napoleon is a 2007 United Kingdom television film first broadcast on BBC One on 12 November 2007. It tells the story of Napoleon's part in the Siege of Toulon in 1793.
It was filmed on Malta and Gozo from November 2006 to April 2007. The Beethoven-influenced musical score took a seventy piece orchestra and was not completed until mid-2007.
Cast
References
External links
Category:2007 television films
Category:BBC Television programmes
Category:British television films
Category:Biographical films about Napoleon
Category:British films | wikipedia |
How is it possible to exert a force on a static object?
Assuming mass doesn't change, force is defined as mass \* acceleration. Acceleration is the change in velocity as time changes. How is it possible then to exert a force on an object that doesn't move? If velocity doesn't change, then acceleration must be 0.
It is only **NET** force that is equal to mass times acceleration, not each individual force. You need to take the vector sum of the forces acting on a body to get the net force. It is possible to exert a force on a body that doesn't move if the resultant of that force together with all the other forces acting on the body sum to zero. (P.S. Michigan....GO BLUE)
>
> force is defined as mass \* acceleration.
>
>
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From the well known [hyperphysics](http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.html) web site:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/p69Rz.gif)
[Image credit](http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/newt.html)
The *net external* qualification is crucial.
Take the help of Newton's first law which says that an object would be at rest or would move at a constant velocity if there is no net force acting on the body.
It is possible to exert force on a stationary body because force is a push or pull. Now, if this force is less than or equal to the frictional force or any other force which acts in the opposite direction of the applied force, then body won't move, because there is no net force on the body and remember forces like frictional force are self adjusting means that they can exert a same force as applied force in opp. direction unless the applied force crosses their maximizum value and we also can only find the maximum value for these forces, hence if the applied force is greater than these forces the the body would move.
$ F=m×a $ is not a definition; it is one form of Newton's 2nd Law of Motion. What it means is if a net force, $ F $, is applied to an unconstrained mass, $ m $, the mass will move with a motion that instantaneously has an acceleration in the same direction as the applied force, with magnitude $ a $.
If there is only one force, let us say gravity, and you let go of a rock of mass $ m $ at time $ t=0$, then the left hand side of the equation will be replaced nby Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation, with the masses being that of the earth, $ M $, and that of the rock, $ m $, and the distance being the radius of the earth, $ R $, plus the additional height to where the rock is being held, $ z $.
Then we have $ F= G× M×m/(R+z)^2=m×a $.
After dividing through by $ m $, which appears as a common factor on both sides, one is left with $ a $, the acceleration of the rock, due to the local gravitational force a distance $ z $ above the surface of the earth. As this doesn't change much for small distances, it is often taken as a near constant, designated $ g=9.8 m/s^2$.
Having solved the equation for the force, we have the acceleration, and can now determine the force of a rock of a given mass, $ m $, by applying this derived equation, $ F=m×g $.
For more involved situations the free body diagram is drawn, identifying all of the forces on each mass, taking into account any constraints, and then applying Newton's Laws of Motion to each mass, taking into account all circumstances. Things can get complicated very quickly.
For your question, let's put the rock on the ground, and find the force of gravity on the rock: it's $ F=m×g $, which we found earlier. But clearly the rock is not moving: ther is a constraing force, from the ground, pushing up on the rock. By Newton's 3rd Law of Motion this force is equal and opposite to that of gravity. From the free body diagram you would show an arrow going down for gravity, labelled $ mg $, and one pointing up, the so-called normal force, labeled $ N=-mg $. If you were to push on the rock, so that it slides, the friction would oppose your push, and would equal the magnitude of the normal force times the coefficient for friction. If you were to roll the rock, there would be a lever arm and a force, resulting in a torque, etc.
But stpping with the rock sitting still on the ground, we have found the force, and the force is not zero. you can easily convince yourself of this by putting something compressible between the rock and the ground!
| stackexchange/physics |
Why does the viscosity of honey decrease when mixed with other viscous fluids?
In order to make honey mustard, I mix honey and mustard. But the resulting mixture is less viscous then both honey and mustard. How does mixing two viscous substances give a less viscous one?
Honey is a homogeneous substance, a solution of around 98% sugar and water.
Mustard is a heterogeneous mixture, containing about 1:1:1 oils, proteins and water, all in very small particles. The proteins act as a stabiliser to the small oil droplets. They cant slide past each other easily, and act more like a dense network of small solid particles. Like a heap of wet sand.
Now if the aqueous phase gets much larger due to the honey, the oil+protein droplets loose direct contact, and you no longer have the solid-like behaviour of wet sand.
Your aqueous honey-phase however now contains perhaps 25 or 30 percent of water instead of 15 or so in pure honey, and that lowers its viscosity *a lot*.
You have a major phase with reduced viscosity, and a disperse phase which is no longer continous (not "percolated"), and so the whole thing flows rather easily.
(Btw. the viscosity of mustard is not that high, however it usually shows a *yield stress*, that is it does not flow at all e.g. under its own weight. You open a mustard glass and the inside looks just the same as it did when you last closed it. Honey however is just a boring Newtonian fluid, no shear thinning, no thixotropy, nothing.)
| stackexchange/chemistry |
The following is a list of the highest scoring games and widest winning margins in the TT Pro League since its inception in 1999. The record for the biggest win and highest scoring game is W Connection's 170 victory against Tobago United at Ato Boldon Stadium on 13 October 2004. In fact,
the match produced five hat-tricks from Dwayne Ellis, Joe Luciano Viera, and nine goals from Saint Lucian Titus Elva, who is the current holder of the TT Pro League single game scoring record.
Highest scoring games
Widest winning margins
See also
List of TT Pro League hat-tricks
References
External links
Official Website
Soca Warriors Online, TT Pro League
Games | wikipedia |
New Zealand is a stunning country that is blessed with scenic mountain views, dense native forests, pristine beaches, glaciers and thermal regions–all of which offer an unlimited range of tourist attractions and activities. Whether you are looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure, a relaxing commune with nature or experience New Zealand's modernity and traditional Maori culture–New Zealand has something to suit everyone's taste and interests, including these five must-try tourist attractions and directions.
If you are on vacation in New Zealand during winter, do not miss the chance to ski down its legendary slopes. One of the best places to visit for a world-class skiing and snowboarding experience is Wanaka.
Nestled along the shores of Lake Wanaka in the South Island, Wanaka makes an ideal winter holiday destination, particularly for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. Home to the largest and most varied ski terrain in Australasia, Wanaka boasts of five international ski areas and the largest heli-skiing area in the Southern Hemisphere.
Treble Cone, the largest ski area in South Island, is just a 30-minute drive from Wanaka. Other ski areas, such as Cardrona, Snowpark and the Nordic ski resort Snowfarm, are all located about 35 km from Wanaka.
You can also find in Wanaka other winter activities that will keep you just as occupied. Take a scenic flight around Milford or Mt. Aspiring and treat yourself to spectacular views of snow-capped peaks, pristine waterways and the surrounding native bush. Or if you are feeling quite adventurous, try tandem sky diving over the region's scenic terrain. Spend a day at downtown Wanaka and entertain yourself with optic illusions and mazes at Puzzling World, relax and see a movie at Cinema Paradiso or satisfy your taste buds with the local coffee and cuisine.
Wanaka is located 428 km southwest of Christchurch and 68 km northeast of Queenstown. It has its own airport for scenic and chartered flights and is served by three international airports: Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. Daily bus services link Lake Wanaka with Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, Invercargil and the West Coast.
Take a dip in the soothing waters of a geothermal hot spring while surrounded with the awe-inspiring creative powers of fire? Then Rotorua will not disappoint you.
Geothermal activity was Rotorua's prime attraction. There are five geothermal areas where you can see a variety of hot springs, boiling mud pools, geysers and steaming craters up close.
First of this is Whakarewarewa that combines the unique experience of walking through a living Maori village together with the beauty of a geothermal landscape. Aside from an abundance of hot springs, Whakarewa is home to the largest geyser in New Zealand, the Pohutu Geyser. This impressive geyser shoots water up to a hundred feet about 15 times a day. In the Maori village you can roam among the Maori traditional carved houses or whares and catch a glimpse of how New Zealand's indigenous people living in harmony with the rich geothermal environment.
Aptly called "Hell's Gate", Tikitere is a vast 50-acre geothermal park set with spurting geysers, steaming hot springs and boiling mud pools. It feels like home in the scorching waterfall, Kakahi and to New Zealands largest mud volcano and hot whirlpool. Spend a day in a spa and experience the therapeutic relief afforded by their exquisite hot pools and mud baths.
Twenty minutes south of Rotorua sits Waimangu, a spectacular site that stands as a testament to the devastation brought on by the eruption of Mt. Tarawera in 1886. The volcanic eruption created some of Waimangu's most famous attractions, including the Emerald Pools, the amazingly blue Inferno Crater and the sizzling Frying Pan Lake.
Another 20-minute drive south of Rotorua you will find Waiotapu, the region's most colorful thermal park. Feast your eyes on hot pools hued anywhere from turquoise blue and emerald green to burnt orange and golden yellow. Other commendable attractions in the area include the Champagne Pool, so aptly named for its deep green water and vibrant orange rim and the daily timely eruptions of Lady Knox Geyser.
Located about 40 minutes from Rotorua on the River Waikato is Orakei Korako, a thermal park renowned for its pristine beauty. Dubbed as the "Hidden Valley", Orakei Korako is only accessible by a boat that only leaves by request. In it you will find boiling hot springs and mud pools, marvelous silica terraces, about 35 variable natural geysers and the geothermal cave Ruatapu.
Rotorua is 235 km (about 3 and a half hours) away from Auckland, 109 km (approximately an hour and half) away from Hamilton and 51.6 km (about 46 minutes) from Tirau. When traveling by car, you can take the Hamilton route, taking State Highway 1 and then joining State Highway 5 at Tirau.
Rotorua is serviced by a small international airport with direct flights from Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown offered by Air New Zealand. Trams-Tasman offers direct flights from Sydney on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
One of the most accessible glaciers in the world is the Franz Joseph Glacier that gives you the unique experience of exploring a dynamic glacier environment set admits a lush temperate rainforest.
The Maori knew Franz Joseph Glacier as Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere or "The Tears of Hinehukatere", from a local legend. The legend tells of Hinehukatere, a girl who had lost her lover to an avalanche and her flood of tears froze into the glacier. Europeans first explored the glacier in 1865 and was presently named after Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I by the German geologist Julius von Haast.
There are several guided and unguided walks within the glacier valley that you can take and the glacier's terminal face is just a 40-minute walk from the carpark. Take a guided ice walk if you actually want to make contact with the ice. Helicopters or ski planes can take you up where the glacier begins and professional guides will lead the journey on ice.
Franz Joseph Glacier is located in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast, 5 km from the Franz Joseph town. From there, drive south over the Waiho River bridge and then turn left to the Franz Joseph Glacier Access Road.
The classic New Zealand wine trail is a sign-posted 380 km self-drive touring route that takes you through four of New Zealand's scenic regions, including three major wine producing regions that account for more than 80% of the country's annual total wine production. The trail is a true gourmet treat, offering anyone who trek the trail an opportunity to experience a multitude of vineyards, restaurants and cafes.
Sitting on top of the trail is Hawkes Bay in North Island, a rural haven blessed with a Mediterranean climate and a rich Scandinavian heritage. It is New Zealand's oldest and second largest wine region, with over 150 years of winemaking heritage. Most prominent of their grape varieties is Merlot followed by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Other notable varieties include Semillon, Gris, Pinot, Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Recently, they have added cycling trails that allows you to effortlessly cruise the coast and the vineyards of Bridge Pa and Gimblett Gravels.
At the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail is the distinctly boutique Wairarapa. It offers two distinct locations that is a must-see for food and wine lovers. The Martinborough Wine Village features over 20 mostly family owned vineyards that produce premium wine, particularly Pinot Noir. Nearby is Greytown, a country village that features well preserved Victorian wooden houses, buildings and several commendable spots for visitors with a taste for good cuisine and boutique shopping.
The wine trail then continues over the picturesque Rimutaka Mountain to Wellington, where the premium wines and produced wine trail come together on a plate. With over 400 cafes and restaurants to choose from, you will have a busy time tucking into every delectable food experience the city has to offer. Take a sip of Wellington's best coffee concoctions, satisfy your palate with first-rate cuisine, chug down some of the city's best craft brews or while the night away in one of the city's trendiest cocktail bars-whatever it is, take your fill of this gourmet capital city before heading back to the trail.
Hop onto a plane or take a ferry and head on to the southernmost wine region in the classic New Zealand wine trail. Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough holds a reputation as the producer of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world. There are over 70 wineries to choose from, including some of New Zealand's most renowned wineries such as cloudy Bay, Hunters, Saint Claire, Herzog and Alan Scott.
Finally, what a visit to New Zealand or to the North Island without a stop off at the Shire? The epic trilogy Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies have all been filmed in New Zealand. Although there are themed tours that will take you to the exact spots where certain scenes were filmed, the only set still standing is Hobbiton.
Hobbiton is situated southeast of Hamilton in the town of Matamata. The site was built on the Alexander family farm with its scenery very similar to the description of Middle-earth in the book.
Spend some time in Middle-earth and entertain yourself with stories and insider scoop on how the Hollywood blockbuster was filmed. You can even dress up as one of the characters in the film as you stroll around Hobbiton and pose in front of a hobbit hole or beside the Party Tree. After the tour, you can relax at the Green Dragon Inn–an exact replica of the one featured in the Lord of the Rings film–with a tumbler of old-fashioned ale or cider plus a roaring fire to warm you up if you come in winter.
If driving by car, head for the Shire's Rest Café on Buckland Road. Otherwise, Inter-city buses offer daily services from Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo, Auckland and Wellington. | slim_pajama |
this work is focused on a process , discussed in the context of the early phases of planetesimal formation , known as the bouncing barrier @xcite . initially ,
dust grains in protoplanetary disks collide , stick together and grow @xcite .
the aggregates are initially fractal or very porous and if they consist of sub - micron icy grains they might grow large in the above fashion @xcite .
however , if they consist of micrometer sized silicates they are supposed to become compact at millimeter to centimeter sizes .
@xcite showed that an initially highly porous aggregate with a volume filling factor of 0.15 has a volume filling factor of 0.36 after many collisions with a wall at velocities up to 0.35 m s@xmath0 .
experiments by @xcite and @xcite showed that a filling factor of 0.30.4 seems to be a common value in collisional evolution up to high speeds of several tens of meters per second for ( sub- ) millimeter aggregates . in any case , aggregates are eventually compacted to such a level that further collisions no longer include large dissipations of energy through restructuring the whole aggregate .
the aggregates then tend to bounce off each other in mutual collisions , as observed in many individual experiments .
this has also triggered theoretical work on understanding bouncing @xcite , which supports that growth no longer proceeds under the premise of continuous bouncing .
this barrier was introduced by @xcite as the bouncing barrier .
the existence of a bouncing barrier has severe consequences for planetesimal formation . if the aggregate size where bouncing dominates and growth becomes stalled is too small , pure growth of planetesimals can not proceed .
if larger seeds are provided by some mechanism , the growth of larger bodies is possible by mass transfer @xcite . in that case the bouncing barrier is required to keep high the number of small aggregates on which the larger seeds can feed . alternatively
, large objects can form by gravitational collapse of clumps of particles concentrated previously e.g. in zonal flows or by streaming instabilities @xcite .
early work mostly considered particles to be concentrated by streaming instability if their stokes numbers ( the ratio between gas grain coupling time and orbital period ) are on the order of 1
. however , recent work showed that much lower stokes numbers might suffice .
@xcite find the onset of a streaming instability for stokes numbers larger than @xmath1 .
this is consistent with work by @xcite who find the onset of streaming instability at stokes numbers between @xmath2 and @xmath1 . in this work
this is equivalent to millimeter - sized particles and we also consider the possibility that collisions of millimeter - sized particles ( chondrules or chondrule aggregates ) at low speeds might lead to further growth , enhancing the effect of the streaming instability . @xcite combine a model for streaming instability and particle coagulation , and show that the bouncing barrier for silicate dust might be below the limit required for streaming to set in ( stokes number @xmath1 ) .
in general , a particle reservoir at the bouncing barrier ( often referred to as pebbles ) might benefit accretion by larger bodies @xcite . due to the importance of the bouncing barrier , we extend earlier laboratory experiments on this topic .
@xcite supported the existence of a bouncing barrier .
they studied ensembles of compact aggregates interacting with each other in thousands of collisions per aggregate .
they found no long - term growth of a larger cluster of aggregates . in those earlier experiments the sticking probability in individual collisions
could not be determined unambiguously as the spatial and time resolutions were not sufficient .
also , only one size and shape of initial aggregates was used . to elaborate
more on the robustness of the bouncing barrier we improve the set - up and extend the parameter set studied .
a high resolution camera system was installed to allow the study of individual collisions .
we now can clearly classify individual collisions in terms of bouncing or sticking and quantify contact areas .
also , various aggregate shapes were studied .
the reason behind the choice of triangular- and square - shaped aggregates is that sticking at long sides might form stronger bonds .
this might enhance the stability of clusters in comparison to cylindrical aggregate clusters where curvature would , e.g. , prevent sticking at several distinct sides of two aggregates . we do not expect aggregates in protoplanetary disks to be such shapes .
in fact , if aggregates grow and are compacted by colliding with other grains from all sides they will tend to be roundish .
however , this depends on the overall distribution of solids within the disk , e.g. , a fraction of large bodies might exist at the same time ( as needed in pebble accretion scenarios , @xcite ) .
fragments of their collisions might join the sub - bouncing barrier particle fraction .
then aggregates might not be spherical but have angular shapes .
so our choice is meant to evaluate the possible extremes that might break the bouncing barrier .
in addition , the ensemble evolution was studied with individual larger aggregates embedded .
the idea here is that larger aggregates might act as seeds for more stable clusters . in summary , we consider the influence of ( 1 ) aggregate shape and ( 2 ) aggregate size differences , and ( 3 ) quantify the underlying fraction of individual sticking collisions as necessary for growth . +
principles of the basic set - up of the experiment ; a concave lens is heated and illuminated diffusely from below .
dust aggregates on top levitate under low pressure conditions ( vacuum chamber not shown ) .
the motion is observed by a camera outside the vacuum chamber .
aggregates always move in random motion due to asymmetries in the levitation .
a nozzle can be used to excite the velocities . ]
the principle experimental set - up is shown in figure [ fig.setup1 ] .
dust aggregates are placed on a back - lit surface heated to 900 k. at an ambient pressure of 15 mbar the dust aggregates lift off and hover over the surface due to thermal creep @xcite .
the free aggregates have random speeds which lead to collisions .
the speed can be enhanced by exciting the aggregates with a short air pulse .
compared to the forces during collisions , the remaining gravitational force of the slightly curved heater and the mostly repulsive gas drag associated with the lifting principle are negligible . for further details
we refer the reader to @xcite . it should be noted here , however , that in this earlier work the low spatial and temporal resolutions did not allow the unambiguous qualification of individual collisions as being bouncing or being repelled by the gas flow without actual collisions . as in the earlier work ,
dust aggregates are manually pressed and removed from molds , but these are now of different size and shape .
we have three different scales in the experiment , the dust grains , the aggregates built from the dust grains , and ( small ) clusters built from the aggregates .
the basic dust grains are irregular @xmath3 quartz grains with a size range between 0.1 and 10 @xmath4 .
a detailed size distribution is shown in figure [ fig.sizedistribution ] .
size distribution of the quartz grains as basic entities of the dust aggregates ; the distribution was measured by a commercial instrument based on light scattering ( malvern mastersizer 3000 ) . ]
the height of the dust aggregates is determined by the thickness of the molds and is always 0.2 mm .
sample dust aggregates have been weighed and were found to have volume filling factors of 0.33 .
this agrees with the natural value to be expected in collisions , as quoted above @xcite . at low spatial resolution
the absolute velocity of the aggregates was tracked and gives the velocity distributions shown in figure [ fig.velocities ] .
example of the absolute velocity distribution of eight aggregates within an ensemble tracked for 4.3 s ; red : without excitation ; blue : with excitation ] this indicates the order of magnitude and distributions of the collision velocities ( quantified below ) to be expected for collisions . +
for cylindrical aggregates of the same size ( 1 mm in diameter ) individual collisions were studied .
collisions were observed at high spatial ( 1.6 @xmath4 ) and temporal resolutions ( 1000 fps ) .
an example of two aggregates sticking together after a collision is shown in figure [ fig.collidesample ] .
example image of two aggregates sticking after a collision .
the bright circle is the field of view . ] from the distance profile with time as seen in figure [ fig.distance ] , sticking collisions and bouncing collisions can easily be qualified as such .
in addition to the simple hit - and - stick and bouncing collisions we qualitatively distinguish two more sub - types . in some sticking events
the aggregates roll over each other , i.e. the contact point changes while the aggregates stay in contact .
some bouncing collisions show variations of the aggregate rim which we call restructuring . in some events
the restructuring looks like mass being transferred from one aggregate to the other .
distance over time for a sticking collision ( top ) and bouncing collision ( bottom ) ; the red lines are fits to determine the velocity during approach @xmath5 ( collision velocity ) and rebound @xmath6.,title="fig : " ] distance over time for a sticking collision ( top ) and bouncing collision ( bottom ) ; the red lines are fits to determine the velocity during approach @xmath5 ( collision velocity ) and rebound @xmath6.,title="fig : " ] for the sticking collisions we further determined the extension of the connecting area ( a line in the 2d projection ) .
as shown in figure [ fig.connectingline ] , there is a clear trend that higher collision velocities are correlated to larger connecting lines .
while the aggregates can be compact with a filling factor of 0.33 , the rim obviously still allows some restructuring . as the impact energy has to be dissipated , this small scale restructuring might account for this
it is likely that the outer part of an aggregate continuously changes slightly due to collisions .
however , the resulting dimer after a sticking collision of two aggregates is always peanut shaped and the contact between aggregates is a weak point of a cluster of aggregates .
dependence of the contact line width with collision velocity ( error bars are partly smaller than the symbol ) ] in total , of the 899 collisions studied , 181 lead to sticking and 460 to bouncing .
a detailed distribution of the different kinds of collisions is shown in figure [ fig.pieceofcake ] .
fractions of different categories of collisions for a cylindrical aggregate ensemble of 1 mm aggregates .
measured collision velocities are below 35 mm s@xmath0 ; the absolute numbers observed and percentage of total collisions are given . ]
due to the lifting mechanism there is some small repulsive force , and in earlier work by @xcite collisions were not resolved enough to rule out that aggregates only approach each other without colliding physically . our results with the improved imaging
now clearly prove the earlier assumption that a large fraction of the collisions leads to sticking .
this is a firm result .
sticking occurs at velocities of at least up to 35 mm s@xmath0 . due to the bias of the small field of view in high resolution
, very small and very large velocities can not be quantified .
we therefore do not provide a velocity dependent sticking probability .
the weak aggregate connections after sticking behave like rated break points and further collisions can separate aggregates within clusters again . to study if specific configurations would allow cluster growth nonetheless , we observed the long - term behavior of collisions in the aggregate ensembles .
figure [ fig.variety ] shows different initial settings with different shapes and size ratios .
the different configurations of aggregate ensembles studied , title="fig : " ] the different configurations of aggregate ensembles studied , title="fig : " ] the average collision velocities for each ensemble are shown in table [ table ] .
.average collision velocities and standard deviations for the different ensembles studied [ cols="<,^,^",options="header " , ] collision velocities in protoplanetary disks systematically vary with size , e.g. , in random , turbulent motion @xcite . with this in mind , at first glance , the average collision velocities in table [ table ] might also show a correlation with shape and size .
we therefore note that there is no systematic variation .
the values were just set by a random excitation . with some variation ,
our velocities are essentially maxwellian distributed as is , e.g. , also considered for particles in clumps formed by streaming instabilities @xcite .
in contrast to earlier work by @xcite we varied the shape of the aggregates and mixed aggregates of different size in an ensemble .
observations used lower spatial and temporal resolutions to track the ensembles .
as seen above , individual collisions frequently lead to sticking .
this is also visible at lower resolution , as the clusters of aggregates from dimers to clusters of a few aggregates move together for a certain time .
however , these clusters are destroyed again , eventually , as clusters interact with other clusters or aggregates in further collisions . in the 50 minutes observed the visual number of clusters always stayed close to the original number of individual aggregates used ( figure [ fig.clusternumber ] ) .
this shows that on the long - term no growth of clusters occurs .
all ensembles without exception showed this behavior .
neither shape nor size variation promotes the stable formation of larger clusters .
number of individual aggregates over time for one example ensemble ]
whatever the shape of compact dust aggregates in the studied range of sizes and collision velocities , the result is always the same . although individual collisions , studied in detail for cylindrical aggregates , lead to sticking between two aggregates with a high probability , this has no effect on the long - term evolution of an aggregate ensemble
the aggregate contacts within a cluster are so weak that clusters are never stable in the given data sets ( low collision velocities ) . in the long - term clusters
are always destroyed again .
this also holds for the ensembles of different shapes and sizes , although we did not quantify these in high resolution imaging . following @xcite
, one might estimate that the probability , @xmath7 , to obtain a large cluster consisting of @xmath8 aggregates would be @xmath9 , where @xmath10 is the sticking probability .
this might eventually lead to a large cluster or a lucky winner .
however , this can not be applied at the bouncing barrier as , in addition to sticking and bouncing , there is also detachment , which is a fragmentation but only undoing a previous collision . with 20% sticking all aggregates
should form dimer clusters after five collisions on average , and so on . however , even after more than 1000 collisions for each aggregate there is no stable growth .
the probabilities of growing a large cluster are obviously suppressed .
currently , we can not quantify the detachment probability from observations directly , but it prohibits the formation of larger clusters in our experiments .
so at the bouncing barrier at least in the cases studied the detachment probability has to be on the same order as the sticking probability or larger .
this behavior does not rule out further growth but this requires , e.g. , a seed large enough that collision velocities go beyond meters per second where fragmentation becomes important .
still , a bouncing barrier in such scenarios among the smaller aggregates would be important or beneficial @xcite .
the velocities considered for collisions by @xcite for growth are in the sub - millimeter per second range .
these are included in our collisions but we can not say what the lowest limit of detaching collisions is .
so we can not rule out that growth can proceed at significantly lower velocity ranges .
the aggregates used in this study are composed of silicate grains that are micrometer sized .
it is well known that the grain size as well as material have major effects on sticking @xcite .
how variations of size and material would change the outcome of collisions is a subject for future studies .
we also did not study how aggregation would approach the bouncing barrier and what the final size of aggregates would be , but concentrated on a saturated case of compact aggregates .
a more self - consistent growth starting from smaller and more porous aggregates is also planned for the future . in any case , without loss of generality , our experiments show that the bouncing barrier among small compact aggregates is very robust .
this work is funded by the dfg as ke 1897/1 - 1 . | arxiv |
Organization Name: Best Buy Co. Inc.
Gallup Organization estimates that companies sacrifice over $300 billion every year to such productivity issues as engagement, interpersonal issues and group dynamics. Clearly, this is a lot of money, almost twice the total cost of the U.S. Space Shuttle since its inception. What can be done?
Companies in the last number of years have been experimenting with Social Media to reach employees and get them involved. I believe companies are seeing this technology as a way to build their employee engagement. Studies conducted by companies such as Gallup, and Towers Perrin report companies with highly engaged employees achieve better financial results than those companies with disengaged employees. A Towers Perrin study of 50 global companies reported business performance improvement of 51% higher operating income with 39% higher earnings per share for those companies who have an employee engaged culture compared to one's with a disengaged culture.
An environment where worker's contributions, ideas, and actions are valued and recognized.
Best Buy is a company who has experimented and embraced Social Media in many aspects of their business . They have a very comprehensive Social Media strategy that has increased their business performance. Gina Debogovich, Best Buy's Community Manager described the depth and breadth of their Social Media program in her presentation entitled Best Buy's Social Media Engagement Presentation.
. Other forums with video .
Jennifer Rock, Director of Employee Communications (US) is interviewed by HR Reporter (Employee Engagement and Social Media) where she provides more insights into how Best Buy is using Social Media. She stresses an important aspect for a Social Media is leadership courage and support. Leaders need to encouraging employees to have open dialogue and listening to what employees are say about the company.
Another interesting aspect of Best Buy case is their focus on looking at the ROI (return on investment) of all their initiatives. In the article "Competing on Talent Analytics" Harvard Business Review, October 2010 identified Best Buy can precisely identify the value of a 0.1% increase in engagement at a particular store to be more than $100,000 in the store's annual operating income.
While another article by Baird & Parasnis "Social CRM", they reported that Best Buy is experiencing improved employee morale, better knowledge sharing and connections across the enterprise, corporate passion for social media innovation and significant brand buzz. With these types of results, one can easily understand why companies are looking at Social Media as a way to take employee engagement to the next level.
Employees will be able to collaborate and share their experience and passion about the company's outcomes and success.
Employees will be better connected to a company's goals and values.
Better communications at all levels within an organization will develop over time.
Your company's culture and leadership will be impacted by Social Media.
All social media initiatives need to have a business case with an ROI statement.
Leadership courage, curiosity and fortitude are necessary for a Social Media to be successful.
The importance of Best Buy's Social Media Program is best summarized by Chief Marketing Officer Barry Judge when he said "to be relevant in a digital world you need to live digitally with your communications to your customers and staff and live digitally with the products you sell". | slim_pajama |
Can 2 observers isolated from each other measure a virtual particle and get different results?
Given 2 observers isolated from each other and a virtual particle (electron?) is measured for "Spin" by Observer 1 --- condensing it into reality with a state of "Up".
Observer 2 makes measurement of what they still perceive as a virtual particle with an unknown 50/50 chance of "Up" or "Down".
Could Observer 2 get different result for the Spin state?
This sounds like a variant on the 'Wigner's Friend' thought experiment. Wigner's friend has a lab inside an isolated box. He measures a particle's state, which has been prepared so it could be 50:50 'up' or 'down', and he observes 'up'. Wigner outside the box does not know what his friend observed; there is no interaction between them. As far as Wigner is concerned, no measurement has been made. The question is whether before Wigner opens the box, the particle and his friend are in a state of superposition, or whether his friend's observation has already collapsed the state.
Different interpretations of quantum mechanics disagree. Collapse interpretations (most of them) would mostly say that Wigner's friend collapses the wavefunction to a pure 'up' state, and any subsequent observation will give the same answer. The Everett interpretation (usually known as the Many Worlds Interpretation) says wavefunctions never collapse. So Wigner's friend *is* in a superposition of an observer seeing 'up' and an observer seeing 'down', and when Wigner opens the box, Wigner enters a superposition of seeing 'up' and seeing 'down' too.
In this latter case, it could be said that there is a version of Wigner's friend who sees 'up', and simultaneously a version of Wigner seeing 'down', which would seem to meet your requirements. However, the two states are orthogonal to one another, and cannot interact or perceive the other. When Wigner compares notes with his friend, they will always agree - either both see 'up' or both see 'down', never a mixture. The alternate history is unobservable. So nobody can be certain whether or not it happened.
There is no experimental way to decide which interpretation is correct - they make the same predictions about what will be observed, they differ only on what is unobservable. There is no definitive answer to your question - it depends on which interpretation of quantum 'collapse' you subscribe to. Reasons to pick one might be which is the simplest, most mathematically elegant, parsimonious, intuitive, or easy to calculate with. It's up to you.
| stackexchange/physics |
noncovalent interactions
are of fundamental importance to biomolecular
systems , as they help determine the structures and functions of proteins
and nucleic acids and play a central role in molecular recognition .
a reliable representation of noncovalent interactions therefore is
critically important to computational modeling of biomolecules , with
applications that include rational drug design and protein engineering . in molecular simulations ,
noncovalent interactions are typically
modeled by the nonbonded terms in an empirical force field .
these account for electrostatic and van der waals interactions and
may also include terms to account for time - varying changes in electronic
polarization during the simulation .
although
the parameters in an empirical force field are typically adjusted
to optimize agreement with experimental data , growing computer power
and a shortage of suitable experimental data are also driving increased
use of quantum mechanical ( qm ) calculations to parametrize and test
force fields . in addition , concerns regarding the accuracy of empirical force
fields are motivating the direct application of
qm methods to the study of noncovalent binding in host guest and protein ligand systems .
it would be ideal
if such applications could take advantage of
the highly accurate qm approach often viewed as the gold standard
for computing noncovalent interactions , that is , counterpoise - corrected
couple - cluster theory with single , double , and perturbative triple
excitations extrapolated to the completed basis set limit .
however , the computational demands of such ccsd(t)/cbs
cp calculations make them too time consuming for routine use in force
field parametrization and prohibit direct application to biomolecular
systems . as a consequence
because all of these methods make approximations for the sake of computational
efficiency , it becomes essential to evaluate their accuracy .
while
there are many studies that rely on high accuracy reference results
for relevant molecular systems , there is still a need for broader comparative validation studies
that will provide users and developers with a perspective of the strengths ,
weaknesses , and trade - offs among the various qm approaches and their
applicability to specific classes of noncovalent interactions . here , therefore , we contribute a systematic assessment of accuracy
and speed for a range of qm methods using a reference data set of
over 1200 gas - phase dimers , for which ccsd(t)/cbs cp reference energies
are publicly available in the benchmark energy and geometry database
( begdb ) .
the categories of the qm method
examined are semiempirical , density functional theory ( dft ) with and
without dispersion corrections , and symmetry - adapted perturbation
theory ( sapt ) .
the semiempirical pm6 and
pm7 methods , the most computationally
efficient methods tested here , rely on empirically adjustable parameters
and are often combined with additional interaction terms .
we examine
the pm6 method , with post hoc corrections for dispersion and hydrogen
bonding interactions ( pm6-dh2 , pm6-dh+ ) , and halogen interactions ( pm6-dh2x ) .
the pm7 method , which is based on pm6 , is
also included without additional corrections , as its parametrization
strategy accounts for such interactions .
we test the widely used dft
functionals b3lyp , b97-d , and m062x , with and without added dispersion
corrections , as well as the b97x - d functional , which includes its own correction
for dispersion .
finally , we test sapt , which is distinct from the pmx and dft approaches in that it is
applicable only to the calculation of noncovalent interactions ( e.g. ,
it can not be applied to geometry optimizations ) and that it provides
an informative decomposition of the overall interaction energy into
electrostatic , induction , exchange , and dispersion components . in
sapt ,
the interaction energy is computed as an expansion of perturbative
terms , and we examine the sapt0 , sapt2 , sapt2 + , sapt2+(3 ) , and sapt2 + 3
truncations .
we also explore the potential
for the fast sapt0 ( fsapt0 ) method to afford accurate results through
empirical scaling of its energy terms , much as done previously in
a smaller study , and make available the
detailed energy decompositions afforded by sapt across all of the
test systems , as these can be useful to guide force field parametrization .
the present study provides a unique perspective
of the reliability and efficiency of a broad range of qm methods and
should be a useful guide to their selection and further improvement .
a growing collection of benchmark
data sets provides high quality geometries and interaction energies
for noncovalent complexes . here , we use
several data sets ( table 1 ) from the begdb
to explore the accuracy of various qm methods for noncovalent interactions
spanning a range of system types and sizes .
we study a total of 1266
dimers , ranging in size from 20 electrons in 4 atoms to 478 electrons
in 101 atoms ( figure 1 ) .
these various begdb
data sets probe different classes of noncovalent interactions . in
particular , the s225 and s668 data sets both contain noncovalent complexes
categorized as hydrogen bonded ( electrostatics dominated ) , dispersion
dominated , or mixed electrostatic and dispersive .
the l7 data set contains even larger extended complexes ;
all of them containing greater than 200 electrons .
several of these
data sets , s225 , s668 , x4010 , and ionic , contain geometries generated along
a dissociation path relative to the equilibrium geometry and thus
include many nonequilibrium conformations .
because the aug - cc - pvtz
basis set used in the present study is not applicable to iodine , we omit the
nine iodine - containing complexes in x4010 and term the reduced
data set x3110 .
lastly , we also include the a24 data set , which contains small complexes sized to enable
comparisons of more accurate approaches that would otherwise be unfeasible
for larger complexes .
begdb provides counterpoise - corrected ccsd(t)/cbs
interaction energies for all of these data sets , except for jsch ,
which contains energies evaluated using ccsd(t)/cbs and mp2/cbs without
counterpoise ( cp ) correction , and l7 , which uses qcisd(t)/cbs cp .
it is also worth noting that there are variations within and across
these begdb data sets in both the basis sets and extrapolation schemes
employed to obtain the cbs results .
such details are not trivial and
can produce discrepancies as large as 0.7 kcal / mol , as elaborated
in the results section .
note that the names match those
on the begdb web site , which are not necessarily consistent with the
corresponding publications .
for example , the x40 , x4010 , and
ionic data sets have also been referred to as
the
pm6 methods were examined with corrections
for dispersion , hydrogen bonding , and halogen interactions . pm6-dh2 and pm6-dh+ differ
in the hydrogen - bonding correction used , with the latter having improved
long - range behavior .
pm6-dh2x adds an
empirical repulsive correction for halogen interactions to the same
dispersion and hydrogen - bonding corrections implemented in pm6-dh2 .
the more recent pm7 method is parametrized
against a larger reference data set than that used for pm6 and includes
its own terms to account for dispersion and hydrogen bonding .
the dft calculations with cp correction were carried out with the
aug - cc - pvtz basis set in revision c.01 of gaussian 09 . where scf calculations failed to converge using
default run parameters , the keyword integral = ( acc2e = 12 ) was used
to increase the two - electron integral accuracy .
b3lyp , b97-d , m062x , and b97x - d functionals were
selected based on previously assessed performance for noncovalent
interactions .
the d3 dispersion correction
was applied using dft - d3 , version 3.0 , to b3lyp , b97-d , and m062x using the default parameters .
however , we
have found that for the s22 data set , aug - cc - pvtz and ( aug-)def2-qzvp ,
without any dispersion correction , give results that are within 0.18
kcal / mol rmse of each other , across all of the methods examined in
the present study . we also observed that using the dft - d3 parameters
optimized for ( aug-)def2-qzvp reduced the rmse across all data sets
by up to 0.12 kcal / mol , compared with using those optimized for (
johnson
damping for the d3 correction ( d3bj )
was also tested for b3lyp and b97-d using parameters optimized for
( aug-)def2-qzvp ; there is no such correction available for m062x .
the original
d3 corrections are so - called
because they employ a damping function for which the dispersion energy
approaches zero with small internuclear separations .
we note that ,
with the exception of b3lyp , all the functionals already contain some
treatment of dispersion .
the sapt energy calculations at varying
orders ( sapt0 , sapt2 , sapt2 + , sapt2+(3 ) , sapt2 + 3 ) were carried out
with psi4 . in sapt ,
the total interaction
is computed as a sum of energy terms that are each classified as resulting
from electrostatic , exchange , induction , or dispersion effects .
the
specific truncations of the sapt expansion are detailed in table s1
of the supporting information .
due to memory
limitations , only lower order sapt calculations were completed for
larger systems .
jsch was evaluated through sapt2 with the
exception of nine amino acid pair geometries ( f30k46 , f30l33 ,
f30y13 , f30f49 , f30y4 , f49k46 , f49v5 ,
f49w37 , and f49y4 ) taken from a rubredoxin crystal
structure ( pdb 1rb9 ) , for which only
sapt0 calculations were completed . on the opposite end of the system
size spectrum ,
all other data sets ( s225 , s668 , ionic , and x3110 )
were evaluated through sapt2+(3 ) .
we use
the root mean squared error ( rmse ) as the primary metric of error
in comparing the various computational methods
. however , the mean
signed error ( mse ) is also provided to further characterize the performance
of each method ; a negative mse indicates that a method overestimates
the attractive interactions of a noncovalent dimer .
relative error
is often reported in the literature , presumably because errors are
thought to increase with interaction energy . here
, however , we saw
no correlation between error and interaction ( r < 0.2 for all methods ) , so relative errors are not reported .
timing studies were carried out on eight cpus of a 16-cpu node ,
which was dedicated entirely to the calculation being timed .
the timings
of dft and sapt methods were examined by applying them in triplicate
to each system in the a24 data set and noting the shortest of the
three wall - clock times reported as elapsed
this timing approach accounts for the efficiency
with which each method uses the eight available cpus .
the timings
for
dft with d3 dispersion correction are recorded without the add - on
correction , as it requires negligible resources compared to the main
calculation .
the sapt0 interaction
energy is the sum of seven energy terms , as detailed in table s1 of
the supporting information . in the fsapt0
schemes a separate scaling factor is applied to some or all of these
terms .
the linear scaling factors for the sapt0 energy terms were
determined by randomly splitting the systems in all combined data
sets , except l7 , into two equal subsets .
thus , we applied multiple linear regression
of the sapt0 energy terms to the corresponding ccsd(t)/cbs cp reference
energies for the training set to obtain a set of fitted coefficients .
we then used these coefficients to compute interaction energies for
the test set and computed correlation coefficients and rmse for the
test set results .
this procedure was repeated 1000 times , with different
random selections of the training and testing subsets .
three different
fitting schemes were tested : fsapt0(1 ) scales all sapt0 energy terms ;
fsapt0(2 ) scales only the two dispersion terms , edisp(20 ) and eexch
disp(20 ) , treated independently ; and fsapt0(3 ) scales
only the sum of the two dispersion terms , edisp(20 ) and eexch
we also tried applying scaling factors
to sapt2 thru sapt2+(3 ) , but this did not lead to significant improvements
in accuracy .
we tested a spectrum of
quantum mechanical methods , spanning semiempirical
( pmx ) , dft , and sapt , by comparing their results with reference interaction
energies for a collection of noncovalent complexes in the gas phase .
the reference collection , which comprised the a24 , ionic , jsch , l7 ,
scai , s225 , s668 , and x3110 data sets from begdb ,
totals 1266 entries and includes a variety of molecules
nonpolar ,
polar , ionized , and halogenated in equilibrium and nonequilibrium
geometries .
the supporting information provides
the interaction energies , calculated using the various qm methods
for all the systems studied , along with the corresponding begdb reference
energies .
the present quantum mechanical results were compared
with the highest - accuracy
reference energies available in the begdb for the data sets used .
these were generated with ccsd(t)/cbs calculations including counterpoise
corrections , except as noted in the methods section .
it is worth noting that the reference energies in the s22 and s66 data sets ,
which are more limited versions of the s225 and s668 data
sets used here , were recently revised based on larger basis sets ,
additional points for the cbs extrapolation , or both .
the more rigorous
results differ from those originally published by 0.2 and 0.1 kcal / mol
rmse , respectively , with maximum unsigned errors of up to 0.7 kcal / mol .
given that the reference energies were not computed at such a high
level , they also presumably have errors similar in magnitude .
this
uncertainty in the reference energies implies that the present study
can not meaningfully resolve errors less than about 0.2 kcal / mol .
the following subsections provide an overview of the results , followed
by more detailed discussions of the pmx , dft , and sapt approaches .
finally ,
we show that a simple scaling of sapt0 energy components offers substantially
improved accuracy at minimal computational cost .
as shown
in figure 2 and tabulated in table 2 , the rmse values
of the various quantum methods averaged across all data sets range
from 0.52 to 3.76 kcal / mol .
the methods that yield the lowest overall
errors are sapt2+(3 ) and m062x , both with and without its dispersion
correction , but a number of methods also yield overall rmse values
within 1 kcal / mol .
the methods that yield the highest overall errors
are the semiempirical ( pmx ) methods , b3lyp without dispersion correction ,
and sapt0 .
the mse values are more informative ; they show that both
the pmx and dft methods without dispersion corrections tend to provide
interaction energies more positive ( less favorable ) than the reference
results , while the sapt methods tend to provide interaction energies
more negative ( more favorable ) than the reference results . as expected ,
supplementing the dft methods with negative dispersion energy terms
reduces the tendency to overestimate the interaction energy ; the resulting
improvement is particularly striking in going from b3lyp to b3lyp - d3 .
sapt2
calculations were only evaluated for 134 out of 143 of the jcsh systems .
higher orders of sapt calculations were
not completed for some data sets due to memory limitations .
a24 was
evaluated at orders through sapt2 + 3 , scai through sapt2 + , jsch through
sapt2 , and all other data sets through sapt2+(3 ) .
sapt2 calculations were only evaluated
for 134 out of 143 of the jcsh systems .
the performance of the quantum approaches varies significantly
across the data sets , as shown in figure 2 .
perhaps most striking is that the pmx methods provide substantially
better relative results for the s225 , s668 , scai , and
jcsh data sets and worse results for a24 , ionic , and x3110 .
the problems for a24 and x3110 appear to arise largely from
errors associated specifically with halogenated molecules .
the ionic
data set includes no halogens , however , and we speculate that the
errors here may trace to the lack of ionized hydrogen - bonded complexes
in the data sets used to parametrize the pmx methods .
in addition ,
the minimal basis sets used in the pmx methods may have difficulty
accounting for the strong polarization effects present in such ionized
complexes .
other than b3lyp , lower - order sapt , and pmx , all methods
are within 1 kcal / mol rmse of the reference energies for all sets
except jsch . for jsch , all approaches yield larger errors ( note the
scale of the vertical axis in figure 2c ) .
this
is perhaps not surprising because the jsch data set contains the largest
dimer systems , and one may expect larger systems to effectively include
more interactions , each potentially associated with some level of
error ( figure 1 ) .
ranking the methods according
to their overall accuracy and their accuracy on each data set ( table 2 ) shows that although certain methods remain near
the top of the rankings across the board , the detailed ordering of
the methods varies across data sets .
the scatter plots in figure 3 provide further
insight into the performance of the various approaches .
all the methods
tested provide excellent correlation with the reference energies ( r > 0.86 ) , and not surprisingly , those with
the largest rmse values ( figure 2 ) also yield
the lowest r values ( figure 3 ) .
this analysis also allows further characterization
of the errors associated with some of the methods .
further analysis
indicates that each arc corresponds to the dissociation curve of one
dimer system , and the dimer systems that generate these arcs are ones
for which the pmx method yields idiosyncratically high errors , as
discussed below .
second , most of the errors of the b3lyp method are
associated with dimer systems whose interactions are primarily dispersive ,
as indicated by the red cluster of off - diagonal points .
in contrast , the tendency of the sapt methods to overestimate dimer
affinities is largely independent of interaction type , as points of
all colors are found below the lines of identity in the sapt scatter
plots .
third , adding a dispersion correction to the dft methods uniformly
improves the correlation , and the d3 correction performs somewhat
better than d2 , where the comparison is made ( b97-d versus b97-d3 ) .
finally , the dft methods have a weak tendency to overestimate the
unfavorable energy of the most repulsive interactions , while the pmx
and sapt methods tend to assign overly favorable energies in these
cases .
these repulsive interactions tend to have intermediate electrostatic
dispersive character , as indicated by the cyan color of these points .
we present only
those data sets to which all methods could be applied , i.e. , a24 ,
ionic , s225 , s668 , and x3110 .
each entry is colored
by interaction type character ( see spectrum below ) , which is defined
as |edisp / eelst| , where edisp and eelst are the total electrostatic and dispersion energy
components taken from the sapt2+(3 ) calculations .
it is of interest to examine how the performance of the various
methods depends on whether they are applied to equilibrium versus
nonequilibrium geometries .
data sets s225 , s668 , x3110 ,
and ionic make such comparisons possible , as they contain dissociation
curves for a total of 134 dimer systems ( see methods ) .
figure 4 compares the mse and rmse for
each method at close , equilibrium , and far separations , defined here
as 90% , 100% , and 200% of the equilibrium separations , respectively .
the rankings of the methods for equilibrium geometries correlate well
with the rankings for the close geometries but poorly with rankings
at far separations ( table 3 ) .
evaluation of qm methods
for equilibrium and nonequilibrium geometries . dashed
lines mark rmse levels
of 0.5 and 1.0 kcal / mol . given
that the long - range interactions are smaller in absolute
terms , this observation suggests that a study of equilibrium geometries
suffices to determine which methods work best overall . on the other
hand
, the errors rise at a short distance for all methods , so that
none provide excellent accuracies for the close geometries , and only
m062x has an rmse below 0.5 kcal / mol . at far separations ,
all methods
are within 1.0 kcal / mol rmse , and several fall under 0.2 kcal / mol
rmse , which is comparable to the size of errors associated with basis
set choice in computing the ccsd(t ) correction , as discussed above .
the semiempirical pmx methods
are roughly comparable in accuracy to the dft - d3 and higher - order
sapt methods for the s225 , s668 , and jsch data sets but
is considerably less accurate for a24 , ionic , and x3110 , much
as previously noted .
we conjecture that
this difference stems in part from the fact that the pmx methods considered
here , as well as their corrections ( e.g. , dh+ ) , were parametrized
using systems similar in character to those in the s225 , s668 ,
and jsch data sets . in addition , as suggested by the scatter plots
in figure 3 , some of the larger errors of the
pmx methods are associated with specific systems for which they give
idiosyncratically poor results .
in particular , the pmx methods supply
problematic results for bromobenzenetrimethylamine
and systems containing hf , i.e. , hf dimer , hfmethane ,
hfmethanol , and hfmethylamine .
accordingly , omitting these problematic cases significantly improves
the rmse of the pmx methods by 0.81.8 kcal / mol for the a24
and x3110 data sets and by 0.20.7 kcal / mol across the
full reference collection of data sets , as shown in table 4 . the bromine
nitrogen problem , as found
here in the bromobenzenetrimethylamine system , is
a known issue for the pm6 method and is improved by the halogen ( x )
correction for pm6 or by going to the pm7 method .
however , we have
not found previous comments on the issue for hf , and we are not aware
of a correction for it . the fact that hf is problematic for all of
the pmx methods is evident from the fact that the corresponding rmse
values for the a24 data set , which lacks the bromobenzenetrimethylamine
system , improve by 0.50.9 kcal / mol when only the hf systems
are omitted . when the bromobenzenetrimethylamine
and hf - containing systems are omitted from the pmx results , their
rmse values across all systems fall to 1.41.6 kcal / mol ( table 4 , bottom row , right ) .
however , this improvement
does not significantly change their position in the rankings in table 2 .
for example , although pm7 has a slightly better rmse across the entire
data collection than the corrected pm6 methods , it is not clear how
significant this difference is , as its relative performance is quite
inconsistent across the separate data sets ( figure 2 ) .
the pm6-dh2 and pm6-dh2x methods are equivalent for all
systems except those containing halogens and thus produce identical
results for s225 , s668 , ionic , scai , and jsch data sets .
as expected , using pm7 or applying the x correction
provides significant improvement in rmse for the halogen - containing
x3110 data set .
however , removing the specific problem systems
mentioned in the prior paragraph essentially eliminates the advantage
of these more advanced methods .
the utility of the x
correction , which is specifically designed to improve the treatment
of halogens , may be examined more closely by comparing the various
pmx methods for the full x4010 data set , for which all systems
contain at least one halogen atom , and which includes both equilibrium
and nonequilibrium distances .
pm6-dh2x is more accurate than pm6-dh2
at all distances , except that the x correction generates
a particularly large error ( 22.6 kcal / mol rmse ) for dimers at 80%
of their equilibrium distances , as shown table s2 of the supporting information .
interestingly , when the
iodine - containing systems are omitted , to create the x3110 subset
of x4010 , the x correction yields improved or
equal results at all distances , and the anomalously high error at
short range is absent .
thus , although the x correction
yields an overall improvement , it seems problematic for the particular
case of short - ranged interactions involving iodine .
the pm7 method
lacks this short - range anomaly but is somewhat less accurate for the
iodinated compounds at longer ranges .
the dft
methods that incorporate some treatment of dispersion show good overall
performance , with rmse values ranging from 0.52 to 0.83 kcal / mol .
in contrast , uncorrected b3lyp yields a rather large rmse of 3.76
kcal / mol , and its largest errors are associated chiefly with dispersive
systems ( red in figure 2 ) , for which the method
underestimates the attractive forces . supplementing b3lyp with attractive
d3 dispersion corrections markedly improves the overall rmse across
all test systems to 0.68 kcal / mol with d3 and to 0.55 kcal / mol with
d3bj .
for the b3lyp functional , the bj - damped version of the d3 correction
typically produces results closer to reference compared with zero - damped
d3 .
interestingly , there is no marked improvement going from the two - body
d2 correction to the three - body d3 correction in the context of the
b97-d method , even for the larger systems in the jsch and scai data
sets , where three - body contributions are expected to be more important .
furthermore , while b97-d3bj has a lower overall rmse across all systems
compared with b97-d3 ( 0.65 kcal / mol compared to 0.79 kcal / mol ) , the
former produces higher rmse values for the ionic and scai data sets .
thus , it is difficult to gauge the benefit of applying bj - damping
over zero - damping for b97-d .
the uncorrected m062x method performs
equally well for electrostatic and dispersive systems ( figure 3 ) , but its accuracy appears to be slightly improved
by supplementing it with the d3 dispersion term ( figure 2 ) .
the b97x - d method includes its own dispersion correction
distinct from d2 or d3 , and this method ranks well across all the
data sets .
it is perhaps worth noting that the counterpoise corrections
for all for dft methods ( b3lyp , b97-d , m062x , and b97x - d ) are
small , averaging 0.15 kcal / mol across all methods and systems .
the
mean correction rises only slightly to 0.21 kcal / mol for nonequilibrium
systems at close range ( 90% of equilibrium separation ) .
these corrections
are small , in the sense that they are similar in magnitude to the
uncertainty in the reference energies used here , as discussed above .
finally , it is worth noting that the low errors observed for d3-corrected
dft functionals in s225 are , perhaps , unsurprising , because
the same molecules in similar geometries were included in the data
set used to parametrize dft - d3 .
the accuracy
of the sapt approach tends to increase
with order , as expected , and the higher orders are comparable in accuracy
to the best dft methods ( figure 2 ) . the trend
of increased accuracy with increased order holds for all individual
data sets , except ionic , for which sapt2 yields a lower rmse than
sapt2 + .
because sapt2 + differs from sapt2 by only two dispersion terms ,
it is interesting that the inclusion of these terms seemingly degrades
accuracy here .
perhaps the excellent performance of sapt2 for this
particular data set results from a fortuitous cancellation of errors .
it is worth noting that all orders of sapt tend to overestimate attractive
forces , regardless of system character , as evident from the negative
mse values in figure 2 and by inspection of
the scatter plots in figure 3 .
this overestimation
is particularly marked for sapt0 , suggesting the presence of a systematic
error that might be mitigated by a post - calculation correction .
finally ,
because the sapt energy components can be useful for tuning individual
force field terms , we provide in the supporting information the detailed sapt2+(3 )
decompositions for all the dimer systems studied here .
we used the a24 data set to compare
the computational speeds of the various methods .
the pmx methods all
finished in less than 0.02s real ( wall clock ) time on a single cpu ,
making them over 1000 times faster than the dft or sapt methods .
figure 5 plots real time against system size , as measured
by the number of atoms , while figure 6 plots
the trade - off between accuracy and computer time .
overall , sapt0 is
clearly the fastest approach , sapt2+(3 ) is the slowest , and the dft
timings are rather similar to each other and to sapt2 + .
the level
of accuracy broadly correlates with computer time , except in the case
of uncorrected b3lyp .
results
are presented
for the a24 data set , where system size is measured by the number
of atoms in each dimer .
accuracies are
presented as rmse across the a24 , ionic , s225 , s668 , and
x3110 data sets , while calculation times are averaged for the
a24 data set alone .
note that the post hoc d3 dispersion corrections
and the sapt0 fitting require negligible calculation time .
the scaling of computer time with system size was
examined by fitting
the timings for each method to a power model of the form t
= an , where t is real time and n is the number of atoms or electrons .
as shown in figure 5 , all of the dft methods
except b97x - d have exponents of about 2.5 and prefactors of
about 0.4 .
the b97x - d dft method appears to scale rather differently ,
as its exponent and prefactor are 1.65 and 3.13 , respectively . on
the other hand ,
the r value of its fit
to the power model is only 0.67 , so its scaling behavior is not clearly
defined by these data .
sapt0 scales as the number of atoms to the power 1.49 ,
while the sapt2+(3 ) time varies as the 2.44 power .
analogous trends
across the methods are observed when one fits the timings to the number
of electrons in the system , rather than the number of atoms . perhaps
surprisingly , however , the r values of
the fits are much lower , as evident in table s3 of the supporting information . of the methods
tested here ,
sapt0 is faster than all but the semiempirical pmx methods ,
as detailed above .
the fact that it decomposes the total dimer interaction
energy into seven contributions , which capture aspects of electrostatics ,
exchange , induction , and dispersion , provides an opportunity to try
generating a fast method with improved accuracy by scaling these contributions ,
as detailed in methods .
table 5 lists the means and standard deviations of the resulting
scaling coefficients for the sapt0 terms across the 1000 different
training sets and the mean and standard deviations of the rmse and r values when the trained coefficients are applied
to the respective test sets . most of the scaling coefficients are
near unity ; the term that requires the most scaling is the eexch
disp(20 ) term . scaling all terms in fsapt0(1 ) produces
the lowest test set rmse , followed by scaling the dispersion terms
individually in fsapt0(2 ) , and then by scaling the summed dispersion
terms in fsapt0(3 ) .
the fact that these results are obtained on test
sets not used to set the coefficients means that the improvement in
performance for the more highly parametrized models do not reflect
overfitting .
the accuracy of the three scaling schemes is also compared
with the various qm methods in figures 2 and 3 and tables 2 and 3 . across all data sets , except l7 , applying scaling
factors to the sapt0 terms reduces the rmse from 1.58 kcal / mol to
as low as 0.47 kcal / mol and corrects the tendency of sapt0 to overestimate
the attractive nature of the dimer interactions .
indeed , the fitted
sapt0 results approach the accuracy of the dft methods , with the differences
within the estimates of ccsd(t)/cbs basis set choice errors ( above ) .
note that this improvement in sapt0 , through the application of simple
scaling factors , incurs negligible additional computational cost ,
so that the fsapt0 scaling methods provide a particularly favorable
combination of efficiency and accuracy , as shown in figure 6 .
figure s1 of the supporting
information furthermore examines the accuracy of fsapt0 , as
well as the other qm methods , for the large noncovalent complexes
of the l7 data set ; the results are generally consistent with those
obtained for the other data sets .
the energy components of the fitted
sapt0 method still correlate well with the corresponding energy components
calculated at the sapt2+(3 ) level , as detailed in table s4 of the supporting information .
the good agreement suggests
that the energy decomposition derived using the scaled terms is still
physically meaningful .
three different
fitting schemes
were tested : fsapt0(1 ) scales all terms ; fsapt0(2 ) scales only the
two dispersion terms , edisp(20 ) and eexch
disp(20 ) , treated independently ; and fsapt0(3 ) scales only the sum of the
two dispersion terms , edisp(20 ) and eexch
the scaling factors were determined over 1000 iterations of multiple
linear regression on randomly selected training subsets of the dimer
systems , while rmse and r were evaluated
over the same iterations using test subsets comprising all dimer systems
not included in the training subset .
the present study systematically evaluates the accuracy and speed
of a broad range of electronic structure methods for estimating noncovalent
interaction energies .
methods spanning pmx , dft , and sapt were applied
to over 1200 geometries of gas - phase dimers drawn from the begdb resource ,
which is tailored to probe a variety of interaction motifs relevant
to biomolecules and drug - like compounds .
these results offer useful
guidance regarding which methods are most suitable for various types
of applications where gold - standard ccsd(t)/cbs cp
calculations are too time consuming or impractical , as now discussed .
the pmx methods studied here are dramatically faster than both
the dft and sapt approaches , and they are more readily applied to
larger molecules .
however , they are in general less accurate , particularly
for halogenated and ionic molecules , as well as for a few types of
systems with idiosyncratic results
. perhaps
surprisingly , none of the various pmx methods tested here are clearly
superior to the others in terms of overall accuracy .
the dft methods
are slower and more difficult to apply to large systems , but they
can achieve high accuracy , so long as dispersion is accounted for ,
either implicitly , as in m062x , or via an add - on term , as in b97-d3 .
the performance of the sapt approach depends strongly on the order
of the sapt expansion .
the sapt2 + and sapt2+(3 ) orders span the range
of accuracy seen for the dispersion - corrected dft methods . however ,
while the speed of the sapt2 + method is comparable to that of the
dft methods , the more accurate sapt2+(3 ) is considerably slower .
it
is also worth noting that , at least in the current psi4 software ,
the memory requirements of sapt at orders higher than sapt0 can become
problematic for the larger systems examined here .
the lowest order
of sapt , sapt0 , is similar in accuracy to the pmx methods but significantly
slower .
however , we find that a simple empirical scaling of one or
more sapt0 energy terms leads to accuracy approaching that of the
best dft methods , at far less computational cost . with further development ,
an empirically adjusted sapt0 approach might provide a powerful alternative
to dft methods for the study of noncovalent interactions in larger
systems .
the results of this study have implications for improving
the treatment
of noncovalent interactions in molecular modeling , as qm calculations
are used to guide the development of force fields for simulation and
may even replace force fields in some applications .
the more accurate
dft and dft - d3 methods maybe most suitable for force field parametrization
given their reliability and consistency across many types of molecular
systems and the fact that their moderate computational cost is not
a major liability for this application . despite the high speed of
the pmx methods , their lower accuracy , especially for ionic systems
and halogens ,
along with occasional idiosyncratic performance , makes
them less suitable for parametrization of force fields .
however , continued
development of such semiempirical methods , including training on broader
data sets , remains promising .
in addition , these methods may already
be more accurate than typical simulation force fields , so their high
speed makes them a reasonable choice for direct modeling of biomolecular
systems .
the higher order sapt methods are about as accurate as dft
but are relatively slow , while sapt0 is fast but inaccurate .
interestingly ,
the scaled sapt0 method offers a promising blend of accuracy and computational
speed , especially for larger molecular systems .
in addition , the present
scaling approach is relatively simple , and more sophisticated schemes
that account for geometry and chemistry might be even more accurate
at minimal computational cost . | pubmed |
discrete choice models are important models in economics for the choice of agents between a number of exhaustive and mutually exclusive alternatives .
they have applications in many areas ranging from empirical industrial organizations , labor economics , health economics , planning of public transportation , evaluation of public policies , etc . for a review
, the interested reader can refer to the nobel lectures of d. mc fadden @xcite .
we consider here a binary choice model where individuals only have two options . in a random utility framework
, an agent chooses the alternative that yields the higher utility .
assume that the utility for each alternative is linear in regressors which are observed by the statistician .
the regressors are typically attributes of the alternative faced by the individuals , _ e.g. _ the cost or time to commute from home to one s office for each of the two transport alternatives . because this linear structure is an ideal situation and because the statistician is missing some factors ,
the utilities are written as the linear combination of the regressors plus some random error term .
when the utility difference is positive the agent chooses the first alternative , otherwise he chooses the second .
the logit , probit or mixed - logit models are particular models of this type .
we consider the case where the coefficients of the regressors are random .
this accounts for heterogeneity or taste variation : each individual is allowed to have his own set of coefficients ( the preferences or tastes ) . like in @xcite , we consider a nonparametric treatment of the joint distribution of the error term and vector of random coefficients .
nonparametric treatment of unobserved heterogeneity is very important in economics , references include @xcite .
it allows to be extremely flexible about the joint distribution of the preferences ( as well as the error term ) .
@xcite considers treatment effects models with random coefficients in the case where the allocation to treatment corresponds to a decision mechanism formulated in the form of model below .
random coefficients models can be viewed as mixture models .
they also have a bayesian interpretation , see for example @xcite for a model similar to on the sphere .
nonparametric estimation of the density of the vector of random coefficients corresponds to nonparametric estimation of a prior in the empirical bayes setting . in the nonparametric random coefficients binary choice model
we assume that we have @xmath5 i.i.d .
observations @xmath6 of @xmath7 where @xmath8 is a random vector of euclidean norm 1 in @xmath9 and @xmath10 is a discrete random variable and @xmath10 and @xmath8 are related through a non observed random vector @xmath11 of norm 1 by @xmath12 in , @xmath13 is the scalar product in @xmath14 .
we make the assumption that @xmath8 and @xmath11 are independent .
this assumption corresponds to the exogeneity of the regressors .
it could be relaxed using instrumental variables ( see @xcite ) .
@xmath15 and @xmath16 are labels for the two choices .
they correspond to the sign of @xmath17 .
@xmath8 and @xmath11 are assumed to be of norm 1 because only the sign of @xmath17 matters in the choice mechanism .
the regressors in the latent variable model are thus assumed to be properly rescaled .
model allows for arbitrary dependence between the random unobservables . in this model
, @xmath8 corresponds to a vector of regressors where , in an original scale , the first component is 1 and the remaining components are the regressors in the binary choice model . the 1 stands because in applications we always include a constant in the latent variable model for the binary choice model .
the first element of @xmath11 in this formulation absorbs the usual error term as well as the constant in standard binary choice models with non - random coefficients .
we assume that @xmath8 and @xmath11 have densities @xmath18 and @xmath19 with respect to the spherical measure @xmath20 on the unit sphere @xmath21 of the euclidean space @xmath14 .
because in the original scale the first component of @xmath8 is 1 , the support of @xmath8 is included in @xmath22 .
we assume , for simplicity , through out this paper , that the support of @xmath8 satisfies @xmath23 . in @xcite ,
the case of regressors with limited support , including dummy variables is also studied but identification requires that these variables , as well as one continuously distributed regressor , are not multiplied by random coefficients . the estimation of the density of the random coefficient can be viewed as a linear ill - posed inverse problem .
we can write for @xmath24 , @xmath25=\int_{b\in\xsd}{\rm sign}\left(\langle x , b\rangle \right)f_{\beta}(b)d\sigma(b)\ ] ] where @xmath26 denotes the sign . as recalled in @xcite , if @xmath27 is homogeneous of degree @xmath28 , _ i.e. _ there exists a function @xmath29 on @xmath21 such that @xmath30 , where @xmath31 is the euclidean norm , then @xmath32 we can rewrite this in terms of another operator from integral geometry : @xmath33 + 1}{2}=\int_{b\in\xsd}{\ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\langle x , b\rangle > 0}f_{\beta}(b)d\sigma(b ) \triangleq\mathcal{h}\left(f_{\beta}\right)(x).\ ] ] the operator @xmath34 is called the hemispherical transform .
@xmath34 is a special case of the pompeiu operator ( see , _
e.g. _ , @xcite ) .
the operator @xmath34 arises when one wants to reconstruct a star - shaped body from its _ half - volumes _ ( see @xcite ) .
inversion of this operator was studied in @xcite , it can be achieved in the spherical harmonic basis ( also called the fourier laplace basis as the extension of the fourier basis on @xmath35 and the laplace basis in @xmath36 ) , using polynomials in the laplace - beltrami operator for certain dimensions and using a continuous wavelet transform .
@xcite , and in a certain extent @xcite , also discuss some of its properties .
it is an operator which is diagonal in the spherical harmonic basis and which eigenvalues are known explicitly .
the estimation problem is a deconvolution problem on the sphere where the left hand side is not a density but a regression function with random design .
deconvolution on the sphere has been studied by various authors among which @xcite .
because of the indicator function , this is a type of boxcar deconvolution .
boxcar deconvolution has been studied in specific cases in @xcite .
there are two important difficulties regarding identification : ( 1 ) because of the intercept in the latent variable model , the left hand side of is not a function defined on the whole sphere , ( 2 ) @xmath34 is not injective ( this can easily be seen from where @xmath27 can not be identified from only the imaginary part of its fourier transform , even less when @xmath8 has limited support ) .
proper restrictions are imposed to identify @xmath19 .
treatment of the random design ( possibly inhomogeneous ) with unknown distribution appearing in the regression function that has to be inverted is an important difficulty .
regression with random design is a difficult problem , see for example @xcite for the case of wavelet thresholding estimation using warped wavelet for a regression model on an interval , or @xcite in the case of inhomogeneous designs . @xcite
propose an estimator using smoothed projections on the finite dimensional spaces spanned by the first vectors of the spherical harmonics basis .
it is straightforward to compute in every dimension @xmath37 ( the specific tools are recalled in section [ s21 ] ) .
convergence rates for the @xmath38-losses for @xmath39 $ ] and clt are obtained in @xcite .
they depend on the degree of smoothing of the operator which is @xmath40 in the sobolev spaces based on @xmath41 , the smoothness of the unknown function , the smoothness of @xmath18 as well as its degeneracy ( when it takes small values or is 0 , in particular when @xmath42 is approaching the boundary of @xmath43 ) .
the treatment of the random design is a major difficulty that we deal with in this paper .
the goal of this paper is to provide an estimator of @xmath19 which is adaptive in the unknown smoothness of the function .
needlets are localized frames built on the spherical harmonic basis , they were introduced in @xcite .
they were successfully used in statistics to provide adaptive estimation procedures in @xcite .
as they are built on the spherical harmonic basis , they are very well suited for deconvolution on the sphere , this was used in @xcite . unlike these articles , and in the spirit of @xcite , we propose a method with a more accurate data - driven thresholding method .
we use the notation @xmath44 and @xmath45 for respectively the minimum and the maximum between @xmath42 and @xmath46 .
we write @xmath47 when there exists @xmath48 such that @xmath49 and @xmath50 when there exists @xmath48 such that @xmath51 .
we also write @xmath52 when @xmath47 and @xmath50 .
we denote by @xmath53 the space of real valued @xmath54 integrable functions with respect to the spherical measure @xmath20 , we denote the @xmath38-norm by @xmath55 .
@xmath56 is a hilbert space with the classical @xmath41 scalar product .
+ every function in @xmath57 can be decomposed in the following way : @xmath58 where @xmath59 @xmath60 ( resp .
@xmath61 ) is the even ( resp .
odd ) part of the function @xmath29 ( taking @xmath41 limits of functions which are well defined pointwise ) .
we can write the orthogonal sum @xmath62 it can be further decomposed as the orthogonal sum @xmath63 where @xmath64 are the eigenspaces of the laplace - beltrami operator on the sphere , corresponding to the eigenvalues @xmath65 .
the spaces @xmath64 are of dimension @xmath66 each such finite dimensional space is generated by an orthonormal basis of spherical harmonics of degree @xmath67 that we denote by @xmath68 .
@xmath69 ( resp .
@xmath70 ) , is the orthogonal sum of the @xmath64 for @xmath67 odd ( resp .
the space @xmath71 of spherical harmonics of degree 0 is the one dimensional space spanned by @xmath16 .
the projector @xmath72 onto @xmath64 is a kernel operator with kernel @xmath73 having the simple expression @xmath74 where @xmath75 are the gegenbauer polynomials and @xmath76 .
the gegenbauer polynomials are defined for @xmath77 and are orthogonal with respect to the weight function @xmath78 on @xmath79 $ ] .
@xmath80 and @xmath81 for @xmath82 while @xmath83 .
they satisfy the recursion relation @xmath84 it is classical ( and follows easily from ) that the squared @xmath41-norm with respect to either one of the argument of the kernel is a constant : @xmath85 recall that @xmath86 .
the condensed harmonic expansion of a function @xmath29 in @xmath57 is the expansion @xmath87 . in @xcite ,
smoothed projection operators are used , they have good approximation properties in all @xmath53 spaces and are uniformly bounded from @xmath38 to @xmath38 ( the @xmath88 norm of the kernel is uniformly bounded ) .
they are obtained using a proper damping of the high frequencies .
one such operator is the delayed means ( @xcite also considers the riesz means ) .
it is obtained via a @xmath89 and decreasing function @xmath90 on @xmath91 supported on @xmath92 $ ] , such that @xmath93,\ 0\le a(t)\le 1 $ ] and @xmath94,\ a(t)=1 $ ] .
the delayed means are defined through the kernels @xmath95 these kernels have nearly exponential localization properties ( see theorem 2.2 in @xcite ) .
they are building blocks for the construction of needlets in @xcite .
define @xmath96 such that @xmath97 it is nonzero only when @xmath98 and satisfies @xmath99,\ b^2(t)+b^2(2t)=1 $ ] and thus @xmath100 we assume as well that for some positive @xmath48 , @xmath101 if @xmath102 $ ] .
the needlets are the functions @xmath103 where for all @xmath104 , @xmath105 and @xmath106 are respectively the nodes and positive weights of a quadrature formula on the sphere that integrates exactly all functions in @xmath107 , and satisfy , for some positive @xmath108 , @xmath109 where @xmath110 denotes the cardinal of the set @xmath111 .
the quadrature formula is given in corollary 2.9 of @xcite .
note that for @xmath112 , @xmath113 is constant and one takes @xmath114 as a singleton .
note that the addition formula is a very useful tool because the needlets , unlike the spherical harmonics , have a simple expression in every dimension .
the @xmath38-norms of the needlets satisfy , for constants @xmath115 and @xmath116 uniform in @xmath117 and @xmath118 , @xmath119 this is a consequence of the following localization property around the nodes of the quadrature formula @xmath120 if @xmath121 for @xmath39 $ ] , then @xmath122 in @xmath53 .
the needlets form a tight frame : @xmath123 in the sequel , we denote by @xmath124 the @xmath125-norm of a vector .
the following lemma from @xcite is useful in the analysis .
[ lem1 ] 1 .
[ lem1i ] for every @xmath126 $ ] , there exists a positive constant @xmath127 such that @xmath128 2 .
[ lem1b ] there exist a constant @xmath129 and subsets @xmath130 with @xmath131 such that for every @xmath126 $ ] , there exists a positive constant @xmath132 such that @xmath133 3 .
[ lem1ii ] for every @xmath39 $ ] , there exists a positive constant @xmath134 such that @xmath135 @xcite discuss three formulations of the besov spaces @xmath136 on the sphere .
the besov spaces will be our scales of smoothness for the adaptive estimation .
one characterization is in terms of the approximation error .
if @xmath137 , @xmath39 $ ] and @xmath138 $ ] , @xmath29 belongs to @xmath136 if and only if @xmath29 is in @xmath53 and @xmath139 where @xmath140 whatever the function @xmath90 in the definition of the smoothed projection operators , the above norm is equivalent to the following sequence space norm @xmath141 we denote by @xmath142 the ball of radius @xmath143 for the above norm in @xmath136 . from the proof of the continuous embeddings in @xcite
we can get easily : [ lem2 ] 1 .
[ lem2i ] if @xmath144 , @xmath145 2 .
[ lem2ii ] if @xmath146 and @xmath147 , @xmath148 3 .
[ lem2iii ] if @xmath149 and @xmath150 are its needlet coefficients , then @xmath151 where @xmath152 , @xmath153 and @xmath154 .
note that @xmath155 implies that @xmath156 .
recall as well that , when @xmath29 belongs to @xmath157 with @xmath158 , then @xmath29 is continuous and bounded .
the hemispherical transform is a mapping from @xmath56 to @xmath56 which maps a function @xmath29 to a function which , evaluated at @xmath159 , is the integral of the original function on the hemisphere @xmath160 .
it is a special case of the pompeiu operator and is strongly related to the spherical radon transform .
several inversion formulas as well as properties of this mapping are given in @xcite .
these inversion formulas include polynomials in the spherical laplacian ( for certain dimensions ) and a continuous wavelet transform , the known inversion formula in the spherical harmonic basis is recalled .
we make use of this latter because the needlet frame is very well suited to this decomposition .
a consequence of the funck - hecke theorem ( see , _ e.g. _ , @xcite ) , is that @xmath161 is a diagonal operator in the spherical harmonic basis @xmath162 with the same eigenvalue on the spaces @xmath64 .
we thus only index them by the degree of the harmonics .
@xmath161 is a self - adjoint operator on @xmath56 with null space @xmath163 its nonzero eigenvalues @xmath164
( @xmath67 indices the degree of the harmonics ) are @xmath165 note that @xmath166 .
it is easy to check ( see , _
e.g. _ , @xcite ) that @xmath161 is continuous from @xmath167 to @xmath168 and that its inverse is continuous from @xmath168 to @xmath167 , where @xmath168 is the restriction to odd functions of the sobolev space @xmath169 .
@xmath170 is defined , for arbitrary @xmath171 , by @xmath172 equipped with the norm @xmath173 the inverse of a function @xmath174 in @xmath168 is @xmath175 we use a parenthesis to stress that the last equality is not practical if we work in arbitrary dimensions but can nevertheless be used in proofs .
let us also recall the following bernstein type inequality from @xcite .
[ tbernstein ] @xmath176,\ \exists b(d , p)>0:\ \forall p\in\bigoplus_{\substack { k=0\\k { \text { odd}}}}^kh^{k , d},\ \|\mathcal{h}^{-1}p\|_{p}\le b(d , p)k^{d/2}\|p\|_{p}.\ ] ] throughout the paper , we denote by @xmath40 the degree of ill - posedness of the inverse problem .
it is the same degree of ill - posedness as that of the radon transform in @xmath9 which appears in tomography and in @xcite for the estimation of the vector of random coefficients in the linear regression problem .
let us review the main arguments for the identification of @xmath19 that are taken from @xcite .
imposing , as we do , that @xmath11 belongs to @xmath2 is not sufficient .
first , the left hand side of is only defined on the support of @xmath18 . through
out the article we make the following assumption .
@xcite present cases where it could be relaxed when we do not assume that all coefficients are random . [ ass1 ] @xmath177 and @xmath178 $ ]
is well defined pointwise on @xmath179 .
first note that , because @xmath19 is a density , @xmath180 we can now introduce the function @xmath174 such that
@xmath181&\mbox{when}\ x\in h^+\\ -{\mathbb{e}}[y|x =- x]&\mbox{when}\ -x\in h^+\\ \end{array}\right .. \ ] ] it is the unique extension of the regression function which is compatible with and .
we can now write @xmath182 thus , implies implicitly , if @xmath19 belongs to @xmath56 , that @xmath183 and is thus continuous on the whole sphere .
also , from properties of section [ s23 ] , there exists a unique @xmath184 in @xmath185 such that @xmath186 .
the function @xmath184 can be retrieved via the inversion formula .
we need yet another assumption to identify @xmath19 , this is due to the non invertibility of @xmath161 in the whole @xmath187 space .
[ ass2 ] @xmath19 is defined pointwise and has a support included in some hemisphere .
assumption [ ass2 ] appears in both @xcite . in many applications
this is a plausible assumption .
it is the case for example if one coefficient has a sign or if some coefficients are non random .
for example , if one regressor is the price difference , then the price coefficient is negative in the binary choice model . indeed ,
when the price difference increases there is substitution from the good labeled 1 to good labeled -1 and the choice probability for good 1 decreases .
using assumption [ ass2 ] , we can recover uniquely @xmath19 via @xmath188 note that we do not need to know which hemisphere contains @xmath189 .
given an estimator @xmath190 of @xmath184 , we shall always use @xmath191 as an estimator of @xmath19 .
the first stage of the proof of proposition 4.2 in @xcite tells us how to relate the loss in the estimation of @xmath19 with that of the estimation of @xmath184 . for the purpose of estimation
, we also exploit the following relation which is valid for any @xmath192 in @xmath56 . @xmath193\\ & = 2 { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}_x \left [ \frac{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}_y(y|x)g^{-}(x)}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}(x)}\right ] \\ & = 2 { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}_{(x , y ) } \left [ \frac { y g^{-}(x)}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}(x)}\right]\\\end{aligned}\ ] ] the expectation could be approximated by @xmath194 where @xmath195 is an estimator of the unknown @xmath18 , possibly trimmed to avoid the division by quantities close to zero . like in @xcite , we rely on a plug - in estimator of @xmath196 .
many such estimators exists and we would like to mention one particular estimator which is the needlet thresholding estimator of the density of @xcite .
the following theorem gives lower bounds on the minimax risk .
[ t1 ] assume that @xmath197 . 1 . [ t1i ] when @xmath198 , @xmath199 , @xmath200 ( with the restriction @xmath201 is @xmath202 ) and @xmath203 ( the parameters are in the dense zone ) , @xmath204 2 . [ t1ii ]
when @xmath198 , @xmath199 , @xmath200 and @xmath205 ( the parameters are in the sparse zone ) , @xmath206 the proof of this result is given in section [ s4 ] . as discussed in section 4.3 of @xcite , the classical assumption that @xmath196 is bounded from below is very restrictive for the model at hand . in the @xmath207 case , it would imply that , in the original scale , @xmath8 has tails larger than the cauchy tails .
it is therefore important for applications to allow for densities which are unbounded from below .
we make the dependence on @xmath208 explicit .
however this does not give that the estimation problem is more difficult when @xmath18 can take values arbitrary close to 0 , it does not even take into account that @xmath18 is a density as the larger @xmath209 the greater the lower bound .
we therefore expect these lower bounds to properly characterize the difficulty of the estimation problem when @xmath18 is bounded from below but to be too optimistic otherwise .
@xcite introduces , in the case of the estimation of the regression function and inhomogeneous designs , risks where the rate is a function and can vary with the points in the support of the density of the design .
there are no extensions to inverse problems up to our knowledge
. it will also appear in section [ s4 ] that even if @xmath18 were known but unbounded from below , good rates require trimming of the density @xmath18 for design points where the density is low .
not knowing @xmath196 might degrade the optimal rates in one step procedures .
this is discussed in section [ s5 ] .
in this section we present an ideal benchmark estimator .
we assume that the density of the design is known and bounded from below . in practice
it is unknown and in most cases unbounded from below ( see the discussion in section [ s3 ] ) .
+ using the identity of section [ s25 ] with @xmath210 for fixed @xmath42 , we estimate @xmath211 by @xmath212 where @xmath213 if @xmath67 is even and @xmath214 if @xmath67 is odd . the subscript @xmath215 stands for the ideal estimator where the density of the random design is known . because @xmath64 is a vector space , @xmath216 . +
a smoothed projection estimator with kernel and smoothing window @xmath90 ( in the ideal case where @xmath196 is known ) can be written as @xmath217 we can also estimate @xmath184 using the needlet frame with the same smoothing window @xmath90 .
the needlet coefficients are equal to @xmath218 where @xmath219 is the expected value of @xmath220 ( the spherical convolution @xmath221 ) .
the needlet coefficients can be estimated by @xmath222 moreover @xmath223 which belongs to @xmath107 , thus , from the quadrature formula , @xmath224 and @xmath225 $ , $ b^2(t)+b^2(2t)=1$)}\\ & = \frac12\sum_{\substack{k=1\\k { \text { odd}}}}^{2^{j-1}-1 } \frac{1}{\lambda_{k , d } } \widehat{l_{k , d}r}^i + \frac12\sum_{\substack{k=2^{j-1}+1\\k { \text { odd}}}}^{2^j-1 } \frac{a\left(\frac{k}{2^{j-1}}\right)}{\lambda_{k , d } } \widehat{l_{k , d}r}^i\quad \mbox{($b^2(t)=a\left(t\right)-a(2t)$)}\\ & = { \ensuremath{\widehat{{\ensuremath{{{\ensuremath{f_{\beta}}}^{-}}}}}}}^{i , a , j-1}\end{aligned}\ ] ] the smoothed projection and needlet estimators coincide .
they are biased and the bias corresponds to the approximation error . the unbiased estimators of the needlet coefficients @xmath226 are used to define the needlet thresholded estimator @xmath227 where @xmath228 is a suitable level and local dependent thresholding function depending on some @xmath229 . in the subsequent analysis , we consider the hard thresholding function @xmath230 the highest resolution level @xmath231 that should be used to obtain a needlet estimator of section [ s41 ] that achieves the minimax rate of convergence depends on a prior knowledge of the smoothness of the unknown density of the random coefficient .
hard - thresholding is a nonlinear estimation method where we allow for a larger highest resolution level @xmath231 , independent of the smoothness of the unknown function , but where thresholding allows to perform a bias / variance trade - off at the level of the coefficients in the high - dimensional space . as we will see this yields an adaptive procedure .
we define the empirical variance estimator @xmath232 and the data driven thresholds @xmath233 where @xmath234 is some upper bound on the sup - norm over of @xmath235 of @xmath236=g_{j,\xi}^i(x , y)- \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}$ ] ( remark that @xmath234 can be chosen equal to @xmath237 ) and we use the short hand notation @xmath238 using and proposition [ tbernstein ] , we get the following upper bound which is uniform in @xmath118 @xmath239 it depends on some prior knowledge of @xmath240 . the higher order term in the definition of @xmath241 which involves @xmath234 allows to control the fluctuations of this estimated threshold .
the estimator of @xmath19 that we consider is @xmath242 where @xmath243 is the above hard thresholding function with the data driven threshold .
we shall use below the constants @xmath244 and @xmath245 defined by @xmath246 [ toracle ] for all @xmath247 , @xmath248 , @xmath249 , @xmath250 the two following inequalities hold : + when @xmath251 , @xmath252\leq \left\|{\ensuremath{{{\ensuremath{f_{\beta}}}^{-}}}}^{i , a , j } -{\ensuremath{{{\ensuremath{f_{\beta}}}^{-}}}}\right\|_{\infty}^z\\ & + ( j+1)^{z-1}{\ensuremath{c''}}^z_{\infty}\left\{a_{n,\infty , z , j } \sum _ { j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z/2}\left(\sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| \leq t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j}\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z{\ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right ] \right)\right.\\ & \qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad + \frac{4}{n^\gamma } c_{\xi } \sum_{j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)(z/2 + 1 ) } \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\\ & \qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad \left.+ \left(\frac{c_{\xi}4}{n^{\gamma}}\right)^{1 - 1/\tau}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\left\|\frac{1 } { { \ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}2^{jz(\nu+(d-1)/2)}\right)^{z } 2^{j(d-1)(1 - 1/\tau)}b_{n,\infty , z , j,\tau}\right\}\end{aligned}\ ] ] where @xmath253 while when @xmath254 , @xmath255\leq \left\|{\ensuremath{{{\ensuremath{f_{\beta}}}^{-}}}}^{i , a , j } -{\ensuremath{{{\ensuremath{f_{\beta}}}^{-}}}}\right\|_p^z\\ & + ( j+1)^{z-1}{\ensuremath{c''}}^z_pc_{\xi}^{z/(p\wedge z)-1}\left\{a_{n , p , z , j}\sum_{j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)(z/2-z/(p\vee z))}\sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j}\left ( \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| \leq t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right)\right.\\ & \qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad
\qquad\qquad\ + \frac{4}{n^\gamma}\sum _ { j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z(1/2 - 1/(p\vee z ) ) } \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^ { a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\\ & \qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad\ \left.+ \frac{2^{2 - 1/\tau}}{n^{\gamma(1-\frac{1}{\tau})}}c_{\xi}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\left\|\frac{1 } { { \ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}2^{j(\nu+(d-1)/2)}\right)^{z } 2^{j(d-1)(1-z/(p\vee z))}b_{n , p , z , j,\tau}\right\}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] where @xmath256 the inequalities of theorem [ toracle ] provide some theoretical guaranty valid without any assumptions on the function @xmath257 . when @xmath231 is well chosen depending on @xmath5 and under some minimal regularity assumption on @xmath257
( see for instance theorem [ t2 ] ) , the only two meaningful terms are the approximation term @xmath258 and the term involving @xmath259 and @xmath260 .
this second term can be interpreted in term of oracle inequality , where the oracle estimates @xmath261 if and only if the error made by estimating this coefficient is smaller than the one made by discarding it .
indeed , such an _ oracle _ strategy would lead ( when @xmath262 ) to a quantity of the form @xmath263\right)^{1/z } } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| >
\left({\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right]\right)^{1/z}}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] proving that such an oracle inequality holds would require to lower bound @xmath264\right)^{1/z}$ ] . in the inequalities of theorem [ toracle ] the ideal quantity @xmath265\right)^{1/z}$ ]
is replaced by @xmath266 , we call this term a _ quasi - oracle _ term .
the remaining terms can be made as small as we wish by taking @xmath267 large enough .
upper bounds of these types , uniform on besov ellipsoids , yield an approximation error which can be expressed in terms of the regularity of the besov class and is uniformly small for @xmath231 large enough and allows to treat the bias / variance trade - off in the quasi - oracle term uniformly over the ellipsoid .
data driven thresholds are known to perform much better than thresholds involving deterministic upper bounds on the variance of the coefficients in finite samples .
the inequalities of the theorem [ toracle ] show that they work at least as well as a deterministic one using the unknown variance of each coefficient .
the general inequalities of the previous section can be used to derive minimax results .
we condider here some besov ellipsoids and obtain [ t2 ] take @xmath231 such that @xmath268 . if @xmath269 , @xmath270 , @xmath271 and @xmath200 we have 1 .
[ t2i ] for any @xmath249 , there exists a constant @xmath272 such that if @xmath273 , @xmath274 where @xmath275 2 .
[ t2ii ] for @xmath254 , @xmath200 ( with the restriction @xmath201 is @xmath202 ) , there exists some constant @xmath276 such that if @xmath277 , @xmath278 where @xmath279 with @xmath280 and @xmath281 in the dense zone @xmath282 and @xmath283 with @xmath284 and @xmath285 is arbitrary such that @xmath286 in the sparse zone @xmath287 the constant @xmath288 corresponds to the limit of @xmath289 as @xmath54 goes to infinity .
it should be noted that these upper bounds blow - up when @xmath196 is unbounded from below .
we will see in the next section that trimming allows to avoid this problem , at the expense of a more complicated control of the expected loss .
in this section , we consider a modified estimator to handle the case where the density of the design is unknown and possibly unbounded from below . we show a modified version of theorem [ t2 ] in that case .
we assume now that one has a preliminary estimator @xmath290 of @xmath196 , based on a different sample .
expectations are taken conditional on that first sample .
the estimator can be trimmed by a proper constant @xmath291 to allow for designs with density approaching zero .
this is particularly useful in the neighborhood of the boundary of @xmath43 , in order to avoid too stringent assumptions on the distribution of the design . using a simple plug - in rule
, @xmath196 can be replaced in the previous estimators by @xmath290 yielding the estimated harmonic projection of the extended regression function @xmath292 of expectation @xmath293= \left\langle r\left(\frac{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}{{\ensuremath{\widehat{f_x}}}}\right)^+ , l_{k , d}^-(\cdot , x ) \right\rangle\ ] ] where @xmath294 is the even extension to the whole sphere of @xmath295 ( initially defined on @xmath43 ) .
this gives rise to the following linear estimator @xmath296 the plug - in estimators of the needlet coefficients are @xmath297 which yields the thresholded estimator @xmath298 in this section we consider the data driven thresholds @xmath299 where @xmath300 and @xmath301 is some upper bound on the sup - norm over of @xmath235 of @xmath302=g_{j,\xi}^p(x , y)- \beta^{p , a}_{j,\xi}$ ] , where the expectation is conditional on the sample used to estimate @xmath290 , and @xmath303 the expectation of @xmath304 , again conditional on the sample used to estimate @xmath290 , @xmath305 the following uniform upper bound could be used @xmath306 below we denote , for @xmath307 , by @xmath308 where @xmath309 is the constant of the @xmath38 continuity of the smoothed projections ( wee lemma 2.4 ( c ) of @xcite ) .
the expectations in the theorem below are conditional on the sample that is used to estimate @xmath290 .
[ t2b ] take @xmath231 such that @xmath310 . if @xmath269 , @xmath270 , @xmath271 and @xmath200 we have 1 .
[ t2bi ] for any @xmath249 , there exists a constant @xmath311 such that @xmath273 , @xmath312 where @xmath275 2 .
[ t2bii ] for @xmath254 , @xmath200 ( with the restriction @xmath201 is @xmath202 ) , there exists some constant @xmath313 such that if @xmath277 , @xmath314 where @xmath279 with @xmath280 and @xmath315 in the dense zone @xmath282 and @xmath283 with @xmath284 and @xmath316 is arbitrary such that @xmath286 in the sparse zone @xmath287 two quantities appear in the upper bound that account for the design and the estimation of the density of the design : @xmath317 and @xmath318 . since in most design distributions of interest in the original scale @xmath319 ,
the corresponding density on the sphere @xmath18 is bounded from below , it is useful to work with estimators @xmath290 which are trimmed estimators of an original estimator @xmath320 for a properly chosen @xmath291 .
for such trimmed preliminary estimators we obtain @xmath321 .
now , the quantity @xmath322 appears in the term @xmath323 .
it is possible to use the upper bound @xmath324 for a trimmed estimator , this yields , for example , @xmath325 moreover , for @xmath326 , @xmath327 note that on the one hand @xmath328 is good for @xmath329 to be as small as possible , but a multiplicative factor @xmath330 is paid . on the other hand choosing
@xmath331 implies a multiplicative factor equal to 1 .
thus , based on the upper bound , the best choice for @xmath332 and @xmath291 depends on the smoothness of @xmath290 and the sample size of the first sample , as well as the function @xmath333 .
let us prove two lower bounds .
they yield the lower bounds in the dense and sparse zone .
we conclude by checking for which value of the parameters one rate is larger than the other one .
consider a set of measures @xmath334 indexed by a finite family of densities @xmath335 which are the distributions of an @xmath5 i.i.d .
sample of @xmath336 when @xmath337 and for a given @xmath196 .
the tower property of the conditional expectation yield that the kullback - leibler divergence between two measures @xmath338 and @xmath339 is given by @xmath340.\ ] ] it is easy to check that @xmath341\\ & = n{\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}_{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\left[\frac{{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_m - f_0)(x)^2}{{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_0)(x)}+\frac{{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_m - f_0)(x)^2}{1-{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_0)(x)}\right]\\ & = n{\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}_{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\left[\frac{{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_m - f_0)(x)^2}{{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_0)(x)\left(1-{\ensuremath{\mathcal{h}}}(f_0)(x)\right)}\right].\end{aligned}\ ] ] the general reduction scheme together with the corollary 2.6 of the fano lemma from @xcite yield : we take the indices @xmath349 that correspond to vectors of 0 and 1 of size @xmath350 .
we consider the family @xmath351 where @xmath267 is small enough to guarantee the positivity of @xmath352 for all @xmath349 and the fact that for one of them , @xmath353 , corresponding to a vector @xmath354 , @xmath355 for some @xmath356 . because @xmath357 , the last condition implies that @xmath358 .
this yields a family @xmath359 of functions of cardinality @xmath360 . the varshamov - guilbert bound ( see , _
e.g. _ , @xcite ) yields that there exists a subset @xmath361 such that @xmath362 , @xmath363 .
we denote the corresponding family of functions @xmath364 by @xmath365 , it is of cardinality @xmath366 .
when @xmath251 , we work with the whole family @xmath359 .
+ @xmath367 implies that @xmath368 . take @xmath369 as well
indeed , when @xmath370 , @xmath371 it is straightforward to check that the same condition is also sufficient when @xmath372 .
+ lemma [ lem1 ] yields that for @xmath254 , @xmath373 and @xmath374 in @xmath375 , @xmath376 while for @xmath251 , @xmath373 and @xmath374 in @xmath377 , @xmath378 for @xmath354 and every @xmath349 in @xmath375 , we get @xmath379 in the @xmath251 case we replace @xmath380 by @xmath381 above .
@xmath108 is an upper bound and we can replace by the constants for @xmath381 and @xmath380 .
condition of lemma [ lem5 ] is satisfied once @xmath382 the larger @xmath383 or @xmath384 above is obtained for the smaller @xmath117 in the above condition thus @xmath385 .
lemma [ lem5 ] now yields for every @xmath39 $ ] and @xmath199 , @xmath386 consider now the hypotheses @xmath387 where @xmath118 belongs to @xmath381 and @xmath388 to ensure the functions are positive .
the constant is adjusted so that for one of the @xmath389 that we denote @xmath353 , @xmath390 with @xmath356 .
+ we denote by @xmath391 the distributions of an n i.i.d .
sample of @xmath336 when @xmath392 and for a given @xmath196 . here
@xmath343 is the cardinality of @xmath381 thus @xmath393 . like in @xcite , we make use of the following lemma from @xcite .
we denote by @xmath394 the likelihood ratio .
recall that @xmath395 $ ] .
is satisfied when @xmath404 .
this is more restrictive than the condition to ensure positivity because we assume that @xmath405 .
thus , now we take @xmath406 .
@xmath383 in is obtained as follows , if @xmath118 and @xmath407 belong to @xmath408 , @xmath409 @xmath410}{j(d-1)\log 2}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] thus , condition is satisfied when @xmath411\le \alpha j(d-1)\log 2\ ] ] for @xmath342 .
the same computations as in the beginning of section [ s41 ] yield that we need to impose @xmath412 , thus @xmath413 we can check that it is possible to take @xmath414 which yields the desired rate .
we know from @xcite that for all @xmath54 in @xmath415 $ ] @xmath416 we also use that for @xmath417 , @xmath418 the second term is the approximation error .
let us focus on the first term which corresponds to the error in the high dimensional space . when @xmath251 , we thus have @xmath420 while for @xmath262 , we obtain @xmath421 the last inequality is obtained using the fact that when @xmath422 , @xmath423 while by the hlder inequality when @xmath424 , @xmath425 note that for the case @xmath262 the inequality is sharp if and only if @xmath426 . for the simplicity of the notations we will sometimes drop the dependence on @xmath267 in the sets of indices .
+ we first focus on @xmath427 by construction , @xmath428 we introduce two `` phantom '' random thresholds @xmath429 and @xmath430 for some @xmath431 to be defined later .
they are used to define `` big '' and `` small '' original needlet coefficients .
we will also use @xmath432 , @xmath433 and @xmath434 that are respectively , with high probability , deterministic lower bound , upper bound and upper bound of the previous quantities .
this yields @xmath435 we can bound the expectations of each term as follows @xmath441 & = \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|\leq t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{s1 } \right ] & \leq \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \max \left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma } < t^{s}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } , { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|>\delta_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right ) \right]\\ & \leq \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\{\exists \xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j,\ t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma } < t^{s}_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right\ } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\{\exists \xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j,\ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|>\delta_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right\ } \right ) \\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{b1 } \right ] & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right]\\ \intertext{using the hlder inequality with $ \tau>1 $ to be specified later } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{b2 } \right ] & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^{z\tau } \right]^{1/\tau } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \max\left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1 } } } _ { t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } > t^{b}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } , { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > \delta_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right)\right]^{1 - 1/\tau}\\ & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^{z\tau } \right]^{1/\tau } \left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\ { \exists \xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j,\ t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } > t^{b}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \right\ } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\ { \exists \xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j,\ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > \delta_{j,\xi,\gamma } \right\ } \right)^{1 - 1/\tau } \\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{s0 } \right ] & = \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|\leq t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{s1 } \right ] & = \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\max\left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma } < t^{s}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } , { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|>\delta_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right ) \right]\\ & = \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\ { t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma } < t^{s}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \right\ } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\ { \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|>\delta_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right\ } \right)\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{b1 } \right ] & = \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ & \leq \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{b2 } \right ] & = \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \max\left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1 } } } _ { t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } > t^{b}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } , { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > \delta_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right ) \right]\\ \intertext{using the hlder inequality with $ \tau>1 $ to be specified later } & \leq \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^{z\tau } \right]\right)^{1/\tau } \left ( { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\ { t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } > t^{b}_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right\ } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\{\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > \delta_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right\ } \right)^{1 - 1/\tau}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] [ lem7 ] for any @xmath446 and @xmath447 positive @xmath448\le 2 \left ( c_{2,z } \left ( \frac{2}{\sqrt{n } } \frac{1}{c_\sigma + c_m \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } } \right)^z + c_{1,z } \left ( \frac{4}{3 n } \frac{1}{c_\sigma \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m } \right)^z \right)\ ] ] * proof .
* the bernstein inequality yields @xmath449 setting @xmath450 yields @xmath451 we use now @xmath452 & = \int_{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{r}}}^+ } z u^{z-1 } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\ { |x|>u\ } du\end{aligned}\ ] ] and the upper bounds and to derive @xmath453 & \leq \int_{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{r}}}^+ } z \tau^{z-1 } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{p}}}\left\ { \frac{\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } -\beta^{a}_{j,\xi } \right|}{c_\sigma \sigma_{j,\xi}^i + c_m m_{j,\xi}^i } \geq \tau \right\ } d\tau\\ & \leq \int_{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{r}}}^+ } z \tau^{z-1 } 2 \left ( e^{-\frac{1}{4 } n \left ( c_\sigma + c_m \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}\right)^2\tau^2 } + e^{-\frac{3}{4}n\left ( c_\sigma \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m\right)\tau } \right ) d\tau\end{aligned}\ ] ] this yields @xmath454 taking @xmath455 and @xmath456 yields @xmath457 \leq 2 \left ( \left ( 2 c_{2,z}^{1/z } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{\sqrt{n } } \right)^z + \left ( \frac{4}{3 } c_{1,z}^{1/z } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{n } \right)^z \right)\ ] ] while taking @xmath458 and @xmath459 we obtain @xmath460 & \leq 2 \left ( c_{2,z } \left ( 2 \frac{1}{c'_\sigma \sqrt{\log n}+ c'_m \frac{\sqrt{n}\log n}{n-1 } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } } \right)^z\right.\nonumber\\ & \qquad\qquad \left.+ c_{1,z } \left ( \frac{4}{3 } \frac{1}{c'_\sigma \sqrt{n } \sqrt{\log n } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c'_m \log n \frac{n}{n-1 } } \right)^z \right)\nonumber\\ & \leq 2 \left ( c_{2,z } \left ( 2 \frac{1}{c'_\sigma \sqrt{\log n } } \right)^z + c_{1,z } \left ( \frac{4}{3 } \frac{1}{c'_m\log
n } \right)^z \right)\label{elem7ii}\end{aligned}\ ] ] the following lemma is useful for the @xmath251 case .
[ lem8 ] for any @xmath461 , @xmath462 & \leq \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n } } \frac{1}{c_\sigma + c_m \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } } \right)^z \left(2 + \left(\log\left(c_{2,z } \left|\xi'_j\right|\right)\right)^{z/2 } \right)\nonumber\\ & \qquad + \left(\frac{8}{3n } \frac{1}{c_\sigma \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m}\right)^z \left(2+\left(\log\left ( c_{1,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right)\right)^z \right)\label{elem8}\end{aligned}\ ] ] * proof .
* a uniform union bound yields @xmath463 we thus derive , for any @xmath464 and @xmath465 positive , @xmath466 & \leq \int_{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{r}}}^+ } z \tau^{z-1 } \min\left(1,\left|\xi'_j\right| 2 e^{-\frac{1}{4 } n \left ( c_\sigma + c_m \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}\right)^2\tau^2 } \right ) d\tau\\ & \qquad\qquad + \int_{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{r}}}^+ } z \tau^{z-1 } \min\left(1,\left|\xi'_j\right| 2 e^{-\frac{3}{4}n\left ( c_\sigma \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m\right)\tau } \right ) d\tau\\ & \leq \tau_2^z + \int_{\tau\geq\tau_2 } z \tau^{z-1 } \left|\xi'_j\right| 2 e^{-\frac{1}{4 } n \left ( c_\sigma + c_m \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}\right)^2\tau^2 } d\tau\\ & \qquad\qquad + \tau_1^{z } + \int_{\tau \geq \tau_1 } z \tau^{z-1 } \left|\xi'_j\right| 2 e^{-\frac{3}{4}n\left ( c_\sigma \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m\right)\tau } d\tau.\end{aligned}\ ] ] let @xmath467 by construction @xmath468 this implies @xmath466 & \leq \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n } } \frac { \sqrt{\log\left ( c_{2,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right ) } } { c_\sigma + c_m \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } } \right)^z + 2 \left ( \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n } } \frac{1 } { c_\sigma + c_m \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } } \right)^z \\ & \qquad + \left(\frac{8}{3n } \frac { \log \left(c_{1,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right ) } { c_\sigma
\inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m}\right)^z + 2 \left(\frac{8}{3n } \frac{1}{c_\sigma \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c_m}\right)^z\end{aligned}\ ] ] which allows to conclude @xmath454 if @xmath455 and @xmath456 reduces to @xmath469 & \leq \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n } } \right)^z \left(2 + \left(\log \left(c_{2,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right)\right)^{z/2}\right)\\ & \qquad + \left(\frac{8}{3n } \sup_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } \right)^z \left(2+\left(\log\left(c_{1,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right ) \right)^z \right)\end{aligned}\ ] ] note that one could have used the uniform bounds @xmath470 ( see ) and @xmath471 instead of @xmath234 and @xmath472 and obtain @xmath473 \leq \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n}}\sigma_{j}^i \right)^z \left(2 + \left(\log \left(c_{2,z}\left|\xi'_j\right| \right)\right)^{z/2 }
\right ) + \left(\frac{8}{3n } m_{j}^i \right)^z \left(2+\left(\log \left(c_{1,z}\left|\xi'_j\right| \right)\right)^z \right)\ ] ] along the same lines , with @xmath474 and @xmath459 , we obtain @xmath475\nonumber \\ &
\leq \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{c'_\sigma \sqrt{\log n } + c'_m \log n /\sqrt{n-1 } \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i } } \right)^z \left(2 + \left(\log\left(c_{2,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right ) c_{1,z}\right)^{z/2 } \right)\nonumber \\ & \qquad + \left(\frac{8/3}{c'_\sigma \sqrt{n\log n } \inf_{\xi \in \xi'_j } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{m_{j,\xi}^i } + c'_m \log n}\right)^z \left(2+\left(\log\left(c_{1,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right)\right)^z \right)\nonumber \\ & \leq \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{c'_\sigma \sqrt{\log n } } \right)^z \left(2 + \left(\log \left(c_{2,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right)\right)^{z/2 } \right ) + \left(\frac{8}{3 c'_m \log n}\right)^z \left(2+\left(\log\left(c_{1,z}\left|\xi'_j\right|\right)\right)^z \right ) \label{esuporacle}\end{aligned}\ ] ] recall that when @xmath476 , @xmath477 .
@xmath482 & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{s0 } \right]+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{s1}\right]+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{b1}\right]+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{b2}\right]\end{aligned}\ ] ] with @xmath441 & = \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|\leq t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{s1 } \right ] & \leq c_{\xi } 2^{j(d-1 ) } \frac{4}{n^\gamma } \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{b1 } \right ] & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right ] \\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ m_{j , z}^{b2 } \right ] & \leq \left ( c_{\xi } 2^{j(d-1 ) } \frac{4}{n^\gamma } \right)^{1 - 1/\tau } \left ( \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n}}\sigma_{j}^i \right)^{z } \left(2^{1/\tau}+ \left(\sqrt{\log \left(\left|\xi_j\right| c_{1,{z\tau}}\right)}\right)^{z } \right)\right.\\ & \mspace{240mu } \left .
+ \left(\frac{8}{3n } m_{j}^i \right)^{z }
\left(2^ { 1/\tau } + \left(\log \left(\left|\xi_j\right| c_{1,{z\tau}}\right)\right)^{z } \right)\right)\end{aligned}\ ] ] where we have used @xmath483 for @xmath484 . this yields @xmath485}{(j+1)^{z-1 } { \ensuremath{c''}}^z_{\infty } } & \leq \sum_{j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z/2 } \left(\sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|\leq t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}+{\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left
[ \sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi } - \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right ] \right)\\ & + \frac{4}{n^\gamma } c_{\xi } \sum_{j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)(z/2 + 1 ) } \sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \\ & + \left ( c_{\xi } \frac{4}{n^\gamma } \right)^{1 - 1/\tau } \sum_{j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)(z/2 + 1 - 1/\tau)}\\ & \quad \times \left ( \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n}}\sigma_{j}^i \right)^{z } \left(2^{1/\tau}+ \left(\sqrt{\log \left(\left|\xi_j\right| c_{1,{z\tau}}\right)}\right)^{z } \right ) + \left(\frac{8}{3n } m_{j}^i \right)^{z } \left(2^ { 1/\tau } + \left(\log \left(\left|\xi_j\right| c_{1,{z\tau}}\right)\right)^{z } \right)\right)\\ & \triangleq o'_{\infty , z } + r'_{1,\infty , z}+r'_{2,\infty , z}\end{aligned}\ ] ] as in the @xmath262 case , one can plug the uniform bounds on @xmath472 and @xmath234 as well as the bounds @xmath488 to obtain @xmath489 \\ & \leq \left ( c_{\xi } \frac{4}{n^\gamma } \right)^{1 - 1/\tau}\left [ \left(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{n}}{\ensuremath{c}}_{2}b(d,2 ) \left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2 } \right)^{z } \left(2^{1/\tau}+ \left(\log \left(c_{2,{z\tau}}\left|\xi_j\right| \right)\right)^{z/2 } \right ) \frac{2^{j\left(\nu z+(d-1)(z/2 + 1 - 1/\tau)\right)}}{1 - 2^{-\left(\nu z+(d-1)(z/2 + 1 - 1/\tau)\right)}}\right.\\ & \quad\quad\left .
+ \left(\frac{8}{3n } { \ensuremath{c}}_{\infty}b(d,\infty)\left\|\frac{1 } { { \ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+ ) } \right)^{z } \left(2^ { 1/\tau } + \left(\log \left(c_{1,{z\tau}}\left|\xi_j\right| \right)\right)^{z } \right ) \frac{2^{j\left(\nu z + ( d-1)(z+1 - 1/\tau)\right ) } } { 1 - 2^{-\left(\nu z + ( d-1)(z+1 - 1/\tau)\right)}}\right]\end{aligned}\ ] ] denote by @xmath491\end{aligned}\ ] ] because @xmath492 , we get @xmath493 & = { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right]\\ & \quad+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j}\left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \geq \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right]\\ & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right]\\ & \quad+{\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j}\left(\frac { \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| } { t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}{\ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \geq \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right)^z\right ] \sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j}\left\ { \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \geq \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right\},\end{aligned}\ ] ] thus @xmath494\right ) \sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j}\left\ { \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| \leq t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right\ } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left[\sup_{\xi \in { \ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right].\end{aligned}\ ] ] using now with @xmath495 and @xmath496 , we get as @xmath497 gives the upper bound in theorem [ toracle ] .
we have @xmath500 & = { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{s0 } \right]+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{s1}\right]+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{b1}\right]+ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{b2}\right].\end{aligned}\ ] ] with @xmath501 & = \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|\leq t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{s1 } \right ] & \leq \frac{4}{n^\gamma } \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^ { a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z \\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{b1 } \right ] & \leq \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z}^{b2 } \right ] & \leq \frac{4^{1 - 1/\tau}}{n^{\gamma(1 - 1/\tau ) } } \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } 2^{1/\tau } \left ( \left ( 2 c_{2,z\tau}^{1/(z\tau ) } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{\sqrt{n}}\right)^z + \left(\frac{4}{3 } c_{1,z\tau}^{1/(z\tau ) } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{n } \right)^z\right)\end{aligned}\ ] ] where we have used @xmath502 .
this yields @xmath503}{(j+1)^{z-1}{\ensuremath{c''}}^z_p c_{\xi}^{z/(p\wedge z)-1 } } & \leq \sum _ { j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z(1/2 - 1/(p\vee z ) ) } { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ s_{j , z } \right]\\ & \leq \sum _ { j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z(1/2 - 1/(p\vee z))}\sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left ( \left| \beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|\leq t^{s,+}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right)\\ & \quad + \frac{4}{n^\gamma } \sum _ { j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z(1/2 - 1/(p\vee z ) ) } \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left| \beta^ { a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\\ & \quad + \frac{2^{2 - 1/\tau}}{n^{\gamma(1 - 1/\tau)}}\sum _ { j=0}^j 2^{j(d-1)z(1/2 - 1/(p\vee z ) ) } \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left ( \left ( 2 c_{2,z\tau}^{1/(z\tau ) } \frac{\sigma_{j,\xi}^i}{\sqrt{n}}\right)^z + \left(\frac{4}{3 } c_{1,z\tau}^{1/(z\tau ) } \frac{m_{j,\xi}^i}{n } \right)^z \right)\\ & \triangleq o_{p , z } + r_{1,p , z } + r_{2,p , z}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] denote by @xmath510 { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\end{aligned}\ ] ] because @xmath492 , we get @xmath511 { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } & = { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \geq \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\\ & \leq { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } + \frac{{\ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] } { \left(t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right)^z } \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } \geq \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}},\end{aligned}\ ] ] @xmath512 } { \left(t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right)^z}\right ) \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| \leq t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } + { \ensuremath{\mathbb{e}}}\left [ \left|{\ensuremath{\widehat{\beta}}}^{i , a}_{j,\xi}-\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^z\right ] { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] now using the results of section [ s721 ] with @xmath513 @xmath514 } { \left(t^{b,-}_{j,\xi,\gamma}\right)^z } & \leq \sup_{j,\xi } 2 \left ( c_{2,z } \left ( 2 \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\gamma } \sqrt{\log n } } \right)^z + c_{1,z } \left ( \frac{4}{3 } \frac{1}{2/3 \gamma \log
n } \right)^z \right)\\ & \leq 2 \left ( \left(\frac{\sqrt{2}c_{2,z}^{1/z}}{\sqrt{\gamma \log n } } \right)^{z } + \left ( \frac{2c_{1,z}^{1/z } } { \gamma \log n } \right)^z \right)\end{aligned}\ ] ] thus @xmath515 { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma}}\right).\end{aligned}\ ] ] the proof of this result requires to upper bound the approximation error , the @xmath504 and @xmath509 terms in the upper bound of theorem [ toracle ] when @xmath426 using the prior knowledge that the unknown @xmath184 belongs to the ellipsoid @xmath516 .
@xmath517 from lemma [ lem1 ] and the definition of the besov spaces as a sequence space , @xmath518 which yields that @xmath519 it is enough to consider the worst case where @xmath520 and to check that @xmath521 in the two zones .
+ on the first zone @xmath522 thus @xmath523 which yields @xmath524 . because @xmath271 and @xmath525 , @xmath526 , which yields @xmath527 and gives the result .
+ on the second zone , it is straightforward , because @xmath271 , that @xmath528 .
we also have @xmath534 with the aforementioned choice of @xmath231 , @xmath535 and @xmath536 ( it even decays to 0 ) . together
these yield that @xmath537 is of the order of a constant .
+ this term is also of lower order than @xmath533 for @xmath538 large enough such that @xmath539 .
first note that @xmath541 .
+ we take @xmath542 uniform in @xmath118 : @xmath543 as well as the following consequence of @xmath544 & \leq 2 \left ( \left ( 2 c_{2,p}^{1/p } \frac{\sigma_{j}^i}{\sqrt{n } } \right)^p + \left ( \frac{4}{3 } c_{1,p}^{1/p } \frac{m_{j}^i}{n } \right)^p \right)\\ & \leq 2 \left ( 2 c_{2,p}^{1/p } { \ensuremath{c}}_{2}b(d,2 ) 2^{j\nu}\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2 } \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\right)^p\\ & \qquad\qquad + 2\left ( \frac{8}{3 } c_{1,p}^{1/p } { \ensuremath{c}}_{\infty}b(d,\infty)2^{j(\nu+(d-1)/2)}\left\|\frac{1 } { { \ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+ ) } \frac{1}{n } \right)^p\\ & \leq 2^{jp\nu } \frac{1}{n^{p/2 } } \left\|\frac{1 } { { \ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{p/2 } 2^{p+1 } \left ( c_{2,p}^{1/p } { \ensuremath{c}}_{2}b(d,2)+ \frac{4}{3 } c_{1,p}^{1/p } { \ensuremath{c}}_{\infty}b(d,\infty ) \right)^p\\ & \leq \frac{\left(t^{s,++}_{j,\gamma}\right)^p}{(\gamma\log n)^{p/2 } } 2 \left ( 2 \frac{c_{2,p}^{1/p } { \ensuremath{c}}_{2}b(d,2 ) + \frac{4}{3 } c_{1,p}^{1/p } { \ensuremath{c}}_{\infty}b(d,\infty ) } { 3\sqrt{2}{\ensuremath{c}}_{2}b(d,2)+ 104{\ensuremath{c}}_{\infty}b(d,\infty ) \left ( \sqrt{\gamma } \right ) } \right)^p\\ & \leq \frac{\left(t^{s,++}_{j,\gamma}\right)^p}{(\gamma\log n)^{p/2 } } 2 \left ( \frac{\sqrt{2}}{3}c_{2,p}^{1/p } + \frac{c_{1,p}^{1/p}}{78\sqrt{\gamma } } \right)^p\end{aligned}\ ] ]
let @xmath545 now , for any @xmath546 , @xmath547 { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\gamma}}\right)\\ & \leq \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left ( \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^p { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| \leq t^{s,++}_{j,\gamma } } + \frac{\left(t^{s,++}_{j,\gamma}\right)^p}{(\gamma\log n)^{p/2 } } { c_{\sigma , p}}^p { \ensuremath{\mathbf{1}}}_{\left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right| > t^{s,++}_{j,\xi,\gamma } } \right)\\ & \leq \left(1+\frac{{c_{\sigma , p}}^p}{(\gamma\log n)^{p/2}}\right)\left ( t^{s,++}_{j,\gamma}\right)^{p - z } \sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^{z } \\ & \leq \left(1+\frac{{c_{\sigma , p}}^p}{(\gamma\log n)^{p/2}}\right)\left(\sqrt{\gamma}t_n \left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}c_{\gamma } \right)^{p - z } 2^{j\nu(p - z)}\sum_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^{z}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] we then need to sum over @xmath117 and will take two different values for @xmath548 , one that we denote @xmath549 for @xmath550 and one that we denote @xmath551 for @xmath552 .
@xmath549 , @xmath551 , @xmath553 will be specified later , depending on the value of the parameters @xmath554 and @xmath54 such that we are in the dense or sparse zone . up to a multiplying constant ,
we thus need to control @xmath555}\sum_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{z_1}\\ & + \left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p - z_2}\sum_{j = j_0 + 1}^{j}2^{j\left[\nu(p - z_2)+(d-1)(p/2 - 1)\right]}\sum_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{z_2}\end{aligned}\ ] ] where we choose adequately @xmath549 , @xmath551 and @xmath553 in the two zones . because of lemma [ lem2 ] we only consider @xmath525
+ let us first consider the dense zone .
we define @xmath556 in the dense zone , @xmath557 , @xmath558 and @xmath559 with @xmath560 , we get @xmath561}\sum_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{r}.\ ] ] lemma [ lem2 ] gives that @xmath562 where @xmath152 , @xmath153 .
note that @xmath563 thus @xmath564 for @xmath200 if @xmath565 and for @xmath201 if @xmath566 ( i.e. @xmath202 ) .
taking @xmath567 we get @xmath568 which is the rate that we expect in that zone . + as for @xmath569 , we take @xmath570 , this yields , using lemma [ lem2 ] , @xmath571}\sum_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{\overline{r}}\\ & \lesssim m^r \left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\overline{r}}\sum_{j=0}^{j_0}2^{j\left[\nu(p-\overline{r})+(d-1)(p/2 - 1)-\overline{r}\left(s+(d-1)(1/2 - 1/\overline{r})\right)\right]}\\ & \lesssim m^r \left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\overline{r}}\sum_{j=0}^{j_0}2^{jp(\nu+(d-1)/2)(1-\overline{r}/\tilde{r})}\quad \mbox{(using \eqref{evaraux})}\\ & \lesssim m^r \left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\overline{r}}2^{j_0p(\nu+(d-1)/2)(1-\overline{r}/\tilde{r})}\\ & \lesssim m^r \left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\tilde{r}}\quad \mbox{(from the definition of $ j_0$)}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] let us now consider the sparse zone .
we define by @xmath572 in a such a way that @xmath573 and @xmath574 take @xmath575 .
@xmath576 } \sum_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{r}\\ & \le\left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p - r}\sum_{j=0}^{j_0}2^{j\left[(\nu+(d-1)/2-(d-1)/p)\frac{p}{\tilde{r}}(\tilde{r}-r)\right]}d_{j}^{r } \quad \mbox{(using \eqref{edec2})}\\ & \lesssim\left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p - r}2^{j_0\left[(\nu+(d-1)/2-(d-1)/p)\frac{p}{\tilde{r}}(\tilde{r}-r)\right]}m^r,\end{aligned}\ ] ] the last inequality holds because @xmath577 , indeed because we are in the sparse zone @xmath578 . taking @xmath579 yields the upper bound of the order of @xmath580 for @xmath569 .
+ for @xmath581 we take @xmath582 , @xmath583 } \sum_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{\overline{r}}\\ & \lesssim\left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\overline{r}}\sum_{j = j_0 + 1}^{j}2^{j(\nu+(d-1)(1/2 - 1/p))p(r-\overline{r})/\tilde{r } } d_j^{\overline{r}}\quad \mbox{(using \eqref{edec2})}\\ & \lesssim\left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\overline{r}}2^{j_0(\nu+(d-1)(1/2 - 1/p))p(r-\overline{r})/\tilde{r } } m^{\overline{r}}\\ & \lesssim\left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{p-\tilde{r}}m^{\overline{r}}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] due to the choice of @xmath231 the bracket term in the expression of @xmath487 in theorem [ toracle ] is less than 1 , as well the second term in the expression of @xmath596 is of smaller order than the first term .
the order of @xmath596 is @xmath597 .
thus @xmath598 this term is also of lower order than @xmath595 when @xmath538 is such that @xmath593 .
note that here @xmath599 is of the order of a constant .
we shall proceed like for the @xmath540 term in section [ s823 ] . using
we obtain that up to another constant ( previously of the order of @xmath600 ) , @xmath601 \lesssim \left(\sqrt{\gamma}t_n \left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2 } \right)^{z-\overline{z } } 2^{j\nu(z-\overline{z})}\sup_{\xi\in{\ensuremath{\xi}}_j } \left|\beta^{a}_{j,\xi}\right|^{\overline{z}}\ ] ] for arbitrary @xmath602 $ ] .
we thus need to upper bound @xmath603 } \quad\sup_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{z_1}\\ & + \left(\left\|\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{f_x}}}\right\|_{\xln^{\infty}(h^+)}^{1/2}t_n\right)^{z - z_2}\sum_{j = j_0 + 1}^{j}2^{j\left[\nu(z - z_2)+(d-1)z/2\right ] } \sup_{\xi\in\xi_j}\left|\beta_{j,\xi}^{i , a}\right|^{z_2}\\\end{aligned}\ ] ] for some well chosen @xmath604 , @xmath549 and @xmath551 . because @xmath29 belongs to @xmath585 , for all @xmath605 , @xmath606 the result follows using this upper bound in @xmath569 and @xmath581 and computing @xmath607 with @xmath608 , @xmath553 such that @xmath609 and @xmath610
. * proof . *
@xmath614 conclusion follows from the @xmath38 continuity of the smoothed projections ( lemma 2.4 ( c ) ) and the nikolski inequality ( proposition 2.5 ) of @xcite , the hlder inequality and since @xmath615 and @xmath616 are odd @xmath617 + the constant @xmath618 could be taken independent of @xmath54 , it is enough to take the uniform upper bound on the @xmath619 norm of the smoothed projection kernels with respect to one of its argument according to the young inequality ( see @xcite ) .
a maximal resolution @xmath231 should be imposed to obtain an additive term of the order of a constant , it depends on the quality of the estimation of @xmath18 and its smallness at certain points through @xmath622 . + * proof . *
as long as @xmath623 , @xmath624 , thus we get , with @xmath625 , using lemma [ lem1 ] , @xmath626 using lemma [ lem3].@xmath454 zalcman , l. ( 1992 )
. a bibliographic survey of the pompeiu problem , in _ approximation by solutions of partial differential equations _
( b. fuglede et al . , eds . ) .
kluwer academic publ . ,
amsterdam , 185194 . | arxiv |
Antaeotricha hemiscia is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Lord Walsingham in 1912. It is found in Guatemala.
The wingspan is about 26 mm. The forewings are rather shining, white, with a smoky greyish fuscous suffusion along the dorsal half, dilated upward to the apex and mottled throughout with a darker shade of the same colour. This darker mottling is reproduced on the whiter costal half in a costal spot at one-third, almost connected obliquely by a paler shade to the upper edge of the cell, in a paler, outwardly oblique, shade from the middle of the costa to the upper angle of the cell, and in another costal spot a little beyond it, on the outer side of which some white scaling is continued in an outwardly curved line through the fuscous suffusion to the tornus. There is no clear definition of the suffused portion of the wing, the white ground colour blending with it and to some extent contributing to its mottled appearance. The hindwings are pale brownish fuscous.
References
Category:Moths described in 1912
Category:Antaeotricha
Category:Moths of Central America | wikipedia |
The Hamiltonian and Energy
if anyone can give assistance on this question it is much appreciated! Suppose I have a Hamiltonian
$$H=\frac{p^{2}}{2m}+V(r)+F(r,t)
$$
where $$F(r,t) = Q(r)\Re{(e^{{iT(t)}})}:\quad Q(r), T(t),T'(t) \neq 0$$ is seperable.
Now since $$ \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}=Q(r)\Re (ie^{iT(t)}\cdot \frac{d T}{dt}) \neq 0
$$
does this mean the Hamiltonian (being time dependent) is not conserved (this is my guess, since it does not equal zero)
Also since the Hamiltonian is time dependent and we have that
$$T=\frac{p^2}{2m}, \quad V=V(r),\quad E=T+V \Longrightarrow H-E \neq 0 \Longleftrightarrow H \neq E
$$
i.e. because we have that extra time dependent term, I'm guessing that signifies the Hamiltonian cannot be the total system energy. Any information/places is apppreciated :)
Your Hamiltonian has the "potential" $U = V + F$, just because $F$ is time-dependent doesn't make it not part of the potential. You are correct that the Hamiltonian is not conserved.
The Hamiltonian is the total energy of the system if the Lagrangian does not contain terms linear in the velocity or when the generalized coordinates in the Lagrangian do not depend explicitly on time. In that case, the Hamiltonian is T+V and is automatically the total energy.
However, if these conditions are not met, it does not mean that $H$ is not the total energy. The obvious example here is the vector potential.
| stackexchange/physics |
VoiceOver can help you set up Apple Watch and pair it with your iPhone. To highlight a button or other item, swipe left or right on the display with one finger. Tap to activate the highlighted item.
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When pairing is complete, on iPhone, swipe right to the Set Up Apple Watch button, then double-tap.
To choose your wrist preference, swipe right on the Wrist Preference screen to select Left or Right, then double-tap.
Review the terms and conditions, swipe right on the Terms and Conditions screen to select Agree, then double-tap. Select and double-tap Agree in the alert that appears.
To enter the password for your Apple ID, swipe right to the Enter Password button, double-tap, then enter the password for the Apple ID you use on your iPhone. Then double-tap the Return key in the lower-right corner of the keyboard.
To choose a Location Services option, swipe to your choice, then double-tap.
To choose a Siri option, swipe to your choice, then double-tap.
To create an Apple Watch passcode, swipe right on the Passcode screen to select Create a Passcode, then double-tap. On Apple Watch, enter a four-digit passcode of your choice, then reenter to confirm. Swipe, tap, or drag your finger around the display to select a number, then double-tap.
On Apple Watch, choose whether to unlock Apple Watch when you unlock iPhone.
To choose whether to install additional apps on Apple Watch, swipe to highlight Install All or Choose Later on iPhone, then double-tap.
Apple Watch syncs with iPhone. This takes a few moments—swipe to Sync Progress on iPhone to hear progress. When you hear "sync complete" Apple Watch is ready to use, displaying the watch face. Swipe left or right to explore watch face features. For information about using VoiceOver with Apple Watch, see VoiceOver. | slim_pajama |
Candy Candy 1. Chapter 1
**Tomorrow in your life **
**By Mallory Quinn **
**Think: Candy, Terry and the whole gang, in our time, today… **
**Chapter 1 **
**"Between heaven and earth" **
- Would you like something, Miss Andrew? Asked the stewardess
- A fruit juice please, answered Miss Andrew
The stewardess gave her a little bottle of fruit juice with a little plastic cup.
- Thank you she said
- You're welcome
Candice White Andrew was sitting in first class in a Boeing 747 that was taking her to London. The plane had just left and was suppose to stop at New York. She was obeying, almost against her will, Uncle William's order. But she had to obey him, because, after all he had the goodness of adopting her. She was abandoned as a baby in front of the Pony House, an orphanage in Michigan. Her best friend, Annie found the same day as her, was adopted by the Brighton at six. She had lived without her best friend during all those years, at the age of 13, she was hired as a companion in the Reagan family, for their two children Neil and Eliza; in the beginning, then she became the maid, the stable girl… but because of her friendship with the cousins of the Reagan children, that were leaving close by, she was adopted by the Great Uncle William. Anthony, Alistair and Archibald all fell under her charm, but she was under Anthony's spell. She was in love with him and he was in love with her. They had plans; to go to school together, make their life together. They went to the fair and they saw a gipsy woman that told them the she will have a good life full of obstacles… to Anthony she said he will have a nice life , but that there was a cloud and her face changed saying that. She then went back on her words saying that they both will have a nice life together… they had left happy. But not much longer after that, when Candy was officially adopted by the Great Uncle William, Anthony took the car to buy her a present. On the way back, he had had a terrible accident and he was dead on the scene. That day, that was suppose to be the most beautiful day of her life had become the saddest day in her life. The Great Aunt Elroy was angry at Candy. Anthony went to buy her a present and he died. It was Candy's fault! Why did William adopt her? She only brought bad luck to their family. The others kids were sent to London in boarding school, St. Paul Academy. Candy went back to the Pony house to cry on the shoulders of her two mothers, Miss Pony and sister Maria. Then George, Uncle William's assistant, came to take he a little after Christmas to send her to London to be with the others. There, she took the plane at Chicago airport to London.
She was sitting at the window and sleeping during the stop in New York. She woke up when the plane was in the middle of the Atlantic. She asked herself at first where she was. She opened her eyes slowly and saw a face that seemed familiar …
"_Anthony she whispered" _
But looking closer, she saw that it wasn't him, but a young man that was crying in silence. He seemed so sad. He wiped his tears.
- Are you all right? Asked Candy, do you need any something?
The young man was startled a little; a little confused to have been caught crying.
- No thanks! He said dryly
- Ok, said Candy, I wanted to help … that all! No need to bite my head off!
She took her laptop out and started sending e-mails to Miss Pony, Sister Maria and all those little friends of the orphanage. When she finished, she started at Anthony's picture that she had put as a wallpaper; Anthony was smiling, she will never see those beautiful bleu eyes and his nice smile. She closed her computer and fell tears coming into her eyes, that she closed with pain. Oh, how she missed him! She loved him so much! She didn't know the young main next to her, saw what had happened.
- You miss your boyfriend?
- Mind your own business! Said Candy suddenly
- Ok, I've deserved that! Let's start over, from the beginning. Terrence Grandchester he said give her his right hand smiling, you can call me Terry.
Candy that could never stay mad for too long took his right hand and smiled and said;
- Pleased to meet you Terry. Candice White Andrew, you call me Candy.
- Pleased to meet you Candy. That's your boyfriend on the picture? You miss him?
- Yes I miss him so much said Candy, but can we change the subject? It's much too painful to talk about him…
- You love him that much? Ok, let's change the subject. You're travelling alone? I like your freckles…
This young had a sudden change of subject!
- No, there's, my uncle's assistant, George who is business class… he's taking me to London. What about you, are you travelling alone?
- All alone, like a big boy…
- Your accent indicates that you're British…
- My father is British and my mother is American
- It's New Year's Eve; wouldn't you want to be with your parents?
- In a perfect world, yes. But…
- …we all know that this world is far from being perfect, finished Candy.
They continued to talk of this and that. They had the choice in watching movies; they both had a small screen in front of them. They watched a movie they chose together; "William Shakespeare's Rome and Juliet" with Leonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes.
- I always wanted to see this movie said Terry, I wanted to see how they transposed one of the most beautiful love story into the 20th century.
- Me too, I've always been fascinated by this impossible love story. I'm wondering how they will put those lines in modern English…
- I think they left it as before…
- Really? So let's watch…
They started watching the movie and Terry was reciting the role of Romeo whispering. They had headphones on their ears to listen to the sound of the movie, so Candy noticed that he was reciting when she turned to look at him. Once the movie over, they took their headphones off.
- Well? Asked Candy
- Well being a fan of Romeo and Juliet, I found the movie…
- Not so bad?
- Yes not so bad he said smiling, they kept the story and the lines almost intact…
- Leonardo is very cute…
- For girls…
- Not for boys?
- Whatever!
Candy smiled. They talked about the movie, Hollywood actors… a stewardess announced a few minutes before midnight that the Commander was offering a glass of champagne to all the passengers to welcome the New Year. The passengers in first class had a buffet, cold and warm of food. At one minute to midnight, the captain joined them for the last few seconds…All the passengers were standing next to the Commander. Candy was next to Terry. Everybody started to count, 10…0…8…7…6…5…4...3…2…1….HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Everybody around them were kissing on cheeks. The couples were kissing on the lips. Terry kissed Candy on the cheeks. He wanted to kiss her on the lips, but… she would probably take it very bad, since she had a boyfriend, Candy, on her part held Terry against her. Then realising what she had just done, she stopped.
"Anthony she thought"
- Oh excuse-me she said to Terry blushing, I didn't want to…
- No. That's ok said Terry
But she walked away towards the washrooms. She into a vacant one, she put water on her face. What did she just do? She held another boy in her arms? What about Anthony? She had betrayed him! She started to cry.
"Oh Anthony, I missed you so much! She said, why did you have to die? Why wasn't I in the car with you? It's too hard to live without you!"
She cried for a while. Then her eyes were red. She waited a little for her eyes to clear. When her face was fresh, she finally got out of the washroom to return to her place. Terry stood up to let her pass but at that moment, there was an air pocket at that precise moment, Candy stumbled and land in Terry's arms. He smelled the fresh perfume of her hair which mad him a little excited for a second.
- Freckles… I know you find me irresistible, but…
- I'm sorry she started… oh you! She said when she realised that he was joking, and my name is Candy!
She went to sit near the window. This young man was exciting her. When she was near him, she felt good. And that hadn't happen since Anthony's death. But was she allowed to feel good without Anthony? She felt like she was betraying him by feeling better with another one, so soon after his death.
- Penny for your thoughts said Terry
Candy came out of her daydream
- You were thinking about him, weren't you?
- I miss him so much…
She hadn't told him that Anthony was dead. She didn't want to accept it. Terry a twinge in his heart. He wondered why.
- I'm going to cheer you up he said
And he started to tell her funny stories, about tricks he played on maids even some of his luxurious adventures… Candy couldn't help herself from laughing. He had managed to cheer her up. She took her laptop, turn it on and Anthony's picture appeared in front of her eyes. Terry looked and felt a twinge in his heart again. She loved him so much she had his picture a wallpaper.
- You can give me you e-mail address, we might not see each other again, but thanks to technology, we can keep track of each other, from time to time
Saying that he also took his laptop and turn it on. She gave him her e-mail address. He sent her a message right away that was saying.
_**Hello Freckles,**_
_**I hope that you'll see your boyfriend soon, so that you won't be sad any more. You are much prettier when you laugh than when you're crying.**_
Candy felt her heart jump.
_"Like my prince of the hills, like Anthony…is it a sign from you my dear Anthony? Are you trying to tell me that life goes on?"_
She answered him like this;
_**Dear Terry,**_
Thank you so much to have kept me company during this trip. I spent a nice time wit you. I know it's because you were sitting next to me, but you didn't have to do it. Thank you for cheering me up. I hope to see you again one day.
_**Sincerely,**_
_**Candy**_
They saved their e-mail address in their address book. They shut down and put their computers away. They watched another movie and talked about it. It was the new version of "The parent trap" with Lindsey Lohan.
- I saw the old version with Haley Mills said Candy
- Another remake? Are they out of ideas or something? Said Terry
- It doesn't bother you to watch another romantic comedy?
- When you're sitting next to a beautiful young girl, how could you resist not pleasing her?
Candy started to laugh and Terry was smiling. The movie started and they put the headphones on. The beginning started with a song by Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E. Candy loved the song and started to sing and looked at Terry who was singing too. He looked at her and they sang the song till the end. The staff and the other passengers were looking at them smiling.
**♪♪L is for the way you look at me,**
**O is for the only one I see,**
**V is very very extraordinary,**
**E is even more than anyone that you adore and**
**Love is all that I can give to you,**
**Love is more than just a game for two,**
**Two in love can make it ,**
**Take my heart yet please don't break it,**
**Love was made for me and you.**
**L is for the way you look at me,**
**O is for the only one I see,**
**V is very very extraordinary,**
**E is even more than anyone that you adore and**
**Love is all that I can give to you,**
**Love is more than just a game for two,**
**Two in love can make it,**
**Take my heart yet please don't break it,**
**Love was made for me and you.**
**Love was made for me and you.**
**Love was made for me and you.♪♪**
- Now every time you heard this song, you'll think about our duet and the stranger you met on the plane said Terry
- You too, you'll think about the young girl with freckles that kept you company…
Candy fell asleep for a little while during the landing and her head was on Terry's shoulder. This last one was pleased to have her leaning against him, he smelled the fresh scent of her hair. He liked her company, which was something that had never happened to him with someone he had just met. But this young girl with freckles was different… the plane was getting ready to land, but there was some turbulence because of the bad weather. The plane was moving and Candy woke up, fastened her sit belt and held Terry's hand without thinking… she left it a once, but he took it back, to calm her. Once the plane touched the ground, all the passengers started to clap their hands. Once the plane had stopped, the passengers started to get off. George came to get Candy to get off the plane.
- Miss Candy are you ready?
- Hi George, yes, I'm ready…
Then turning to Terry;
- Ok, Good bye Terry. Se you one of these days…
- Good bye Freckles, see you one of these days…
She left with George. Once the formalities over, she got out of the airport and saw Stear and Archie.
- Candy, over here! They cried
- Stear, Archie, I'm so happy to see you!
They hugged each other.
- I missed you said Stear hugging her hard…
- I missed you too said Candy, How are you? Really?
- You mean without our "third musketeer"? It's hard, Candy, very hard. But life goes on said Stear.
They walked toward the front of the airport where a limo sent by Uncle William, was waiting for them. When she was entering the car, Candy saw Terry from afar in a red car leaving. Their eyes crossed… like to say goodbye. She felt a little sad. She was going to miss him, after all those hours she spent next to him on the plane… she really liked his company.
- How is the boarding school?
- Like all boarding school in the world, strict, very strict said Stear
- Are we a lest allowed to have our computers and cell phone?
- Yes, thank God. But not in the classroom said Archie
- That's normal said Candy, they wouldn't want to be disturbed by cell phones ringing during class
- Did you have a good trip? Asked Archie
- You weren't bored all by yourself? Asked Stear
- I wasn't alone, I met a boy…
- Oh… said Archie, with a twinge in his heart
- It was my sit neighbour; he kept me company, that's all. I was pretty depressed because of Anthony, He cheered me up…
- Good for you said Archie
But he was a little disappointed, he wanted to be there to cheer her up and little by little declare his flame. He was crazy in love with her. But before she was his cousin's girl friend, but his cousin was no more, she was available…
When they arrived at school, they took Candy suitcases in her bedroom. A few students that didn't go home for the Christmas vacations were walking in the dorm. They met the "adorable" Eliza Reagan with other girls as "adorable" as her. She looked at Candy with mean eyes and whispered something into her friends' ear and they started laughing. Candy and her new cousins continued their way and talking life there was nothing to it. Candy's room was big and nice.
- Wow, it's big! Said Candy; do I share it with someone?
- I don't think so said Archie, Uncle William asked that you be alone and calm
- Oh but… I wanted to share my room with someone to talk with… well
- We have to go. We can't stay for too long in the girl's dorm
- Ok, guys, so I'll see you tomorrow? Thanks for coming to pick me up she said hugging them, see you!
Candy was arranging her stuff .There was a computer in the room already and the whole she-bang. She will use her laptop during classes. She also had a radio-cassette with a CD player. She put it on a small table near her bed. The door was opened, a young girl a little chubby with glasses appeared.
- Hi, can I come in?
Candy turned around a smiled.
- Hi, come in please…
- My name is Patricia O'Brien, you can call me Patty
- Candice White Andrew, you can call me Candy, sit on the bed
- You're new, said Patty sitting down
- Yes. I come from Chicago. How is it here?
- Strict, with the nuns, no alcohol, no cigarettes, no sex…
They burst out laughing.
- Well I don't really care about that … I'm going to be right at home she joked
- Even the sex…?
- Even the sex!
- You've never done it? You're so pretty…
- Patty, have you done it?
- No. But, I'm not as pretty as you…
- Patty, stop saying nonsense. You're a pretty as anybody else…And shouldn't take sexual relations lightly. It's very intimate and very personal that should be reserved for the one you love…
Candy took Anthony's picture framed and put it on her night table.
- That's you boyfriend?
- Yes said Candy sadly
- He's handsome…
- Yes he was handsome…
- Was?… Oh Candy, I'm sorry
- Car accident… two months ago. Anthony, I missed him so much…
- Life goes on, don't worry, you'll get another one…
- You have a boyfriend?
- Not at the moment. I had one, we broke up…
- Oh… I'm sorry
- No, that's ok. It was mutual
- The trip here was full of surprise. My sit neighbour was also a young boy, he cheered me up, I couldn't stop crying. Well I think that I will never see him again… but I have his e-mail address…
- Good for you. Maybe he's your future boyfriend…
- Unless he's in this school by miracle, I don't think so…
- You never know. By the way, I write articles for the school paper. I'm the editor in chief…
- Wow! But I never thought about writing for the paper…
- Think about it, you never know. You may be a reporter in the making…
- We'll see, said Candy smiling
Patty helped her with the rest of her stuff in the bedroom, doing her bed and put the clothes in the closet. In the closet, there was the school uniform in a lot of it. There were grey skirts and pants, white blouses and navy blue
pullovers and blazers.
- Well you've got everything you need said Patty…there's even a box with everything you need for school….
- My Uncle William didn't want me to miss anything, literally!
- That's the least we could say… you even got a little fridge!
- And it's full said Candy opening it
- You'll need your schedule, I think there's someone in the office… but we can go tomorrow
- Why not now? It's New Year's day and we are in school
Candy and Patty got out of the room and went to the office. They found one of the nuns that gave them Candy's schedule and the number of her locker with a padlock and the combination.
- Your locker is next to mine said Patty
- Super! At least I wont feel to lost with you
They heard the voice of the "adorable" Eliza.
- Well look at what Patty dragged in, the stable girl
- Eliza said Candy, it's always a pleasure to see you. You're always so adorable… these are your friends? Hello, Candice White Andrew, I'm Eliza's cousin… you can call me Candy. See you around!
Before Eliza could say anything, Candy left with Patty. Eliza was fuming.
- That's your cousin? Asked Louise
- By adoption…
- She's your cousin, insisted Louie, she's part of the family and she's part of the heirs…
- Don't remind me! Said Eliza, Anthony died because of her. And for that, I will never forgive her… she's going to pay
- Calm down Eliza said Brittany another friend, we'll thinking about something
Candy and Patty arrived in the living room where there was the television or video cassettes. There was a vending machine for chips, candy and pop drink. Candy saw her cousins, Stear and Archie
- Candy said Archie
- Hi said Candy, Stear, Archie. This Patricia O'Brien, Patty , my new friend
- Hi said Stear with a smile
- Patty said Archie
- Hi. You're watching a movie? Asked Patty
- We haven't choose yet said Archie
- We were thinking about "Eraser" with Swarzenegger said Archie, but I wanted to see "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? With di Caprio
- I saw it on the plane said Candy
- I thought you had company said Archie
- We watched it together said Candy innocently without knowing that she was hurting Archie
- Oh… said Archie
- So. Let's find a movie that will please everybody said Patty… Why not "Waiting to exhale" or "Clueless"?
- Let's got for "Clueless" said Archie, we can laugh a little
The others in the room agreed. They looked at the movie and laughed alone in the beginning. They other student started to arrive in the room. Eliza's group arrived and started to talk very loud.
- Still here? She said to Candy
- I'm fine too Eliza, what about you?
- Anthony is dead because of you!
- It was an accident said Archie, enough with that, Eliza
- We all know that what's really bothering you it's the fact that he loved candy and not you! Said Stear, change your record!
Another group of snob girls were also in the room watching the movie.
- Can we watch the movie? Said their leader, your mumbling is of no interest to us! Hey Blondie, who killed your stupid boyfriend, we don't care! We want to watch the movie…
Candy was hurt to hear Anthony's death denigrate like that. And that, she couldn't take it! Archie knew she was mad.
- Candy calm down…
But she was not listening to him.
- What's your problem? Said Candy angry, who gives you the right to talk about him? You don't even know him! The subject doesn't concern you, plug your ears and shut your mouth. It's not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversation and even worst to talk ill of the dead. Especially the one you don't know!
- How dare you talk to me like that? Do you know who I am?
- I don't give a damn, who you are! You have no right to talk about him! Other wise, the next time, I won't stop to words…
- But…
- Did I make myself clear?
The girl remained silent, too stunned by Candy's anger to answer, she couldn't place a word! Candy was so mad, that she left to go back to her room. She slammed the door behind her and burst into tears. Will she get over Anthony's death?
"I miss you so much she said looking at his picture. "
She cried for a while. She decided to check her e-mails. She opened the big computer and went in her mailbox to check her e-mail. The page opened on Terry's last message. She smiled. She had a lot of messages from her little friends of the Pony house. There was also one from Terry that said:
_**Hi Freckles,**_
_**I hope that you're ok. You thanked me for keeping you company. I have to thank you too for keeping me company. I know you saw the tears I was trying to hide. Your presence, your laugh cheered me up… we mutually helped each other. The universe knew what it was doing, by putting us together on the same plane… Thank you so much**_
_**I'm looking forward to hearing from you**_
_**Terry**_
Candy smiled and felt a lot better. Was it Terry's e-mail? Anyway, she was happy. She answered Terry like this:
_**Hi Romeo.**_
_**You nickname me "Freckles", I'm nicknaming you "Romeo", because I saw you reciting the role by heart while we were watching the movie. I'm happy too that the universe had put us together for this trip. There is a reason for everything they say. Maybe this time was so that we could cheer each other, but I don't think that the universe will be so brief. I'm sure it still has a lot surprises for us. I'm looking forward to discover what's waiting for us in the future.**_
'**_til next time_**
_**Candy**_
2. Chapter 2
**Tomorrow in your life… **
**Chapter 2**
**"Queen of spades, King of hearts"**
There was a knock on Candy's door.
- Candy? Said Patty, can I come in?
- Yes, Patty, come in
Patty came in.
- What are you doing? She asked, are you all right?
- I'm fine and I'm responding my correspondent… wait…there, I'm done. I'm sending it. I'm sorry for leaving you, but if I had stayed a second more, I would've strangled that girl…
- Euh Candy, you've made yourself an enemy. That girls and her boyfriend rule the school. No one is going to talk to you…
- But you're going to talk to me?
- Yes, you're courageous, standing up to Lizzie, that's unbelievable!
- So, I don't care about the others, if you and my cousins speak to me, that's all that matters
In the living room, Stear and Archie said to Eliza;
- After the scene we just saw, said Archie, I think you're going to stop with Anthony's name…
- And let him rest in peace said Stear
- But it's her fault…
- It was an accident. Accidents happen everyday, and Candy was not driving…
- But he went to buy her a present
- And to pick up your dress or did you forget that little detail?
Eliza remained silent, confused and left the room. If she was blaming Candy for the accident, she had to blame herself too. Her group of friends followed her.
- Candy stood up to Lizzie said Louise, she's got guts…
- But… said Eliza
- Eliza said Brittany, Lizzie and her boyfriend rule the school; she made herself an enemy for life…
- She's got guts repeated Louise
- I bet she didn't even know what she was doing … said Eliza
- She was defending the memory of her boyfriend said Louise, you could've reacted, since you love him so much…Eliza, you should've…
- Oh shut up! Said Eliza leaving
The group stayed behind and laughed at her. After diner, Candy went to bed. She was thinking about Anthony. But surprised herself thinking about Terry, how she fell asleep on his shoulder… Stop Candy! You're getting ridiculous! She fell asleep and dreamed about Anthony, but his face changed into Terry's…
The following days were calm. Eliza and her brother stayed away form Candy who was spending time with Patty. Lizzie and her group whispered and no one was speaking to Candy. She didn't care because she had her new friend Patty, Stear and Archie. The students on vacation started to come back on Sunday night. Among them, an African American named Tanisha came to see her in her room.
- Hi my name is Tanisha she said nicely, welcome to St. Paul…
- Thanks. My name is Candy
- I heard you stood up to Lizzie…
- Good news travels fast…
- I salute you! If there were more people like you, she wouldn't have all the power they give her… her boyfriend… is not that bad, he could put an end to her reign if he wanted to…
- How?
- Simply by dumping her…
- Oh…
- We'll see that later said Tanisha. My group and I are going to continue to talk to you. Good night
- Thanks and goodnight
A few moments later, there was a knock on her door again.
" I hope it's not another girl with compliments…"
- Come in! She cried
The door opened and there was a silence for a while. Finally a little voice was heard…
- Candy?
Candy would have recognised that voice among millions for having heard it a big part of her life.
- Annie?
- Yes, it's me…
- ANNIE! She cried, I'm so happy to see you!
She ran to her and hugged her hard. Annie, her childhood friend, a little ashamed.
- Candy, I wanted to say, I'm sorry
- No, Annie, no need. You were obeying you're new mother… you didn't want to disappoint her…
- But you were with me since the first day, you were my sister… I abandoned you…
- Annie the important thing is that you're here now. Oh I missed you so much, especially after Anthony's death…
- I'm sorry about Anthony…
They cried together of joy. Patty knocked on the door, came in and found them crying.
- Did someone died? Oh… I'm sorry Candy she said confused
- No Patty it's fine. This is my sister and best friend, Annie Brighton. Annie, this is Patricia O'Brien, Patty.
- Hi said Patty
- Pleased to meet you said Annie
- Now we have a group! Apparently that's trend here
- What's this story with a certain Lizzie? You provoked the group of snobs?
- Oh Annie, she was denigrating Anthony's death, I couldn't remain silent
- Candy, I know you, if you screamed at her, she deserved it said Annie
- Thanks! I'm going to like this school, just for the two of you!
They started laughing all three of them
A young boy was in his room in boarding school checking his e-mails. He wanted to answer but there was a knock on his window. He closed the e-mail page and his inbox. He went to open the window. - Lizzie!
- Honey!
Elizabeth Barrington, his girlfriend, Lizzie for short. She jumped in his arms and they kissed on the lips.
- I missed you so much she said
- I missed you too he said, I was going to come to your room later…
- I couldn't wait she said, I missed you too much
He laughed softly. Lizzie was treating him like her private property.
- What's new in school?
- I'm happy that you're asking me that, there's this new girl who dared to scream at me!
- What did you do?
- Why do you assume I did something?
- Lizzie, come on…
- Ok, hon. I might have mentioned that I didn't care who was responsible for the death of her stupid boyfriend…
- Nice, Lizzie, really nice… and you're surprised she yelled at you?
- No, well yes, a little…
- You didn't want her to give you flowers, did you?
- But she humiliated me in front of everybody…
- You talked ill of her death boyfriend!
- She humiliated me, honey she insisted
He had a sigh of annoyance. Lizzie was acting like a baby sometimes, the spoiled brat. Since the both of them ruled the school, they knew that if he ignored that girl who had yelled at Lizzie, every body was going to do the same, well almost. Some were not intimidated and he was pleased. It was good to know that some people didn't let themselves intimidated. Playing the "king" in school, was fun, it made boarding school interesting. He could've stayed at his father's and commute, but he liked the boarding school atmosphere; it was interesting to live with a lot people your own age, from different countries, different cultures. Lizzie and her ridiculous problem… he knew what she wanted. She wanted him to ignore the girl in public so the rest of the school will follow and the poor girl will be alone for the rest of the year… she would be lucky if anyone talk to her…
- Ok, Lizzie, I'm not promising you anything… we'll see tomorrow at lunchtime, ok?
- Ok, you'll see. She's only a dirty little American idiot. Now honey, show me again, how much I missed you with proof and gestures, this time…
He kissed her and took her to bed… Lizzie went back to her room very late that night. After she left, he smoked a cigarette. All that time he was with Elizabeth, he couldn't stop thinking about another girl…
Candy woke up early, took a shower and arranged her long blond wavy hair and blow-dried them so they will be straight. Then she attached them in half a ponytail on the top of her head. Put a light make up on her face and put her uniform on, took her books and got out. Patty and Annie were waiting for her in front of the door.
- Hey girls! Said Candy smiling
- Hey Candy they said at the same time
- Ready to face the world? Asked Candy
- Let's go! Said Annie
- Come what may! Said Patty
The trio went to class. Eliza and her group were already there.
- Well the stable girl… Annie Brighton, I thought you were more refined than that. What will your mother say?
- That I'd rather stay with nice people said Annie, I'm sure she'll understand
- Why are you answering her, Annie said Patty, she doesn't care…
- You're right Patty said Eliza, I don't care for the company you keep either she said looking at Candy with mean eyes
- Oh… I love you too, Eliza! Said Candy smiling
She went to sit next to Annie and Patty. The others were whispering. Lizzie and her boyfriend were going to decide of Candy's fate. Lizzie was looking at Candy with disdain. After her boyfriend rejects her at lunch, she will be the laughing stock of the boarding school. Lizzie looked at her so careless and happy. She was impatient for lunchtime to come.
After recess and a noisy morning, lunchtime was finally there and Candy was famished. All the bad things they had told her on British food taste was not important. She needed something in her stomach. She went with her friends to the cafeteria and walked to the buffet, served themselves and they wanted to find somewhere to sit. She saw a group standing in front an empty table and walked toward there with her friends.
Lizzie was there with her boyfriend. He hadn't decided if he was going to punish the girl, who was only defending the memory of her defunct boyfriend. He will see how he's going to feel when he sees her. His back was turned and he heard a voice…
- Excuse-me, can I pass, my friends and I are very hungry, and we want to eat…
Everybody was waiting for his answer. He turned around…
- Candy! He said surprised
- Terry! Said Candy with a smile, how are you?
To everyone's big surprise, they knew each other! Candy's fate was in the hands in of Terry! It was a no brainier, he couldn't stop thinking about her and he was very happy to see her… everybody was waiting for his answer.
- I'm fine, he said, what about you?
- I'm fine thanks she said sinking her emerald green eyes into Terry's deep blue eyes
- You know her? Asked Lizzie outraged, but how?
- We met on the plane and we kept each other's company said Candy without dropping Terry's deep blue eyes, didn't we, Terry?
- Yes said Terry without dropping her eyes too
He moved to let her pass with her friends.
- Have a nice meal!
- Thanks Terry, see you around…
Everybody started to whisper, Terry went to sit a on another empty table. Lizzie was ready to explode.
- How could you do this to me?
- Lizzie, you're ridiculous… enough
- Ridiculous? You saw her on the plane for 10 seconds…
- For the whole trip, actually …
- So what? You became the best friends in the world? How could you do this to me?
- She lost her boyfriend and you denigrated him… it's got nothing to do with you… Lizzie, I said enough! You leave Candy alone!
There! Candy's fate was done. She was free. Terry was protecting her. Lizzie was fuming. Terry was protection Blondie?
Terry on his part still couldn't believe it. Candy was in his school and the boyfriend he thought alive, was not. She was available! She was free! Let her time to get over the death of her boyfriend and … But there was Lizzie…
Eliza and her group had assisted to the scene with her brother Neil. That Candy was always so lucky; first Anthony and now Terrence Grandchester? The "king" of the school? Not possible! What a lucky she-devil! She had to find a way to hurt her and erase that eternal smile on her face!
Candy and her friends were talking while they were eating. Stear and Archie
Came to sit at their table.
- Hey girls, said Archie
- Hey Archie, said Annie
Candy looked at Annie; she always blushed in Archie's presence.
- Hey, said Stear
- So, what was the show about? Asked Archie
- I think it was Candy's fate, said Patty
- Oh… and what happened? Asked Stear
- Well, Candy travelled with Lizzie's boyfriend…Terry said Annie
- Oh… said Archie disappointed
- So Candy is "free" said Patty, Lizzie was ready to blow a gasket!
- You're lucky said Stear
- Are you going to stop saying that? Said Candy, all this is ridiculous! Two people can't dictate the law to everybody….
- Apparently, yes…Said Patty
- But Terry was so nice on the plane…
- That was certainly to hit on you…said Archie
- No, I was crying Anthony and he cheered me up… he didn't try anything, even when we were clinking the New year… he was a real gentleman
- Oh… Said Stear
- Well he's got another attitude here, said Archie, he's a snotty nosed kid!
They finished their meal and all went outside to get some air together. Candy saw Neil from afar with his group of friends he looked at her with mean eyes. Eliza was with her group too and unhappy because of Candy's good fortune. Eliza still couldn't believe Candy knew Terrence Grandchester and that she travelled all that time on the plane with him…
Terry still couldn't believe he was in the same school as Candy! When he arrived the night before, he found an e-mail from Candy that he opened immediately. He couldn't stop thinking about her ever since they separated in the plane. They both said that they didn't know if they were going to see each other again, but they knew by exchanging their e-mail address, they wanted to see each other again. Even if at that moment they didn't want to acknowledge it. He had read her message and was a little puzzled. Didn't she have a boyfriend she was crying over, because she missed him? According to the e-mail, she seemed to say that she was ready to see where the universe will take them. She wasn't the kind of girl that would cheat on her boyfriend. There must be another explanation he said to himself. And now he had it, her boyfriend was no longer from this world… she was free.
After class, Candy went for some air alone, without her group. She had taken her uniform off and put on a pink training with pink sneakers. She went behind the school; there was a small hill and some trees. It wasn't very cold, even though it was January. She was wearing a white anorak with a hat, not to forget the scarf and the gloves. She climbed a tree with big solid branches. That's why she wore the training. She was on the tree for a while watching the horizon, when she smelled smoke. She looked down and saw Terrence Grandchester smoking! He smoked! Why wasn't she surprised? He must have held off on the plane for all those hours. She must've made some noise, because Terry raised his head and saw her.
- Freckles, you climb trees?
She came down the tree and jumped on the grounded snow.
- Romeo? Hi! She said smiling
- You didn't tell me your boyfriend was no more…
- You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend… I feel a little ridiculous after my last e-mail she said looking down…
- So you can imagine my surprise, I thought your boyfriend was alive…
- You thought I wanted to mix my paintbrushes…?
- No, you're not that kind of girl. I said to myself that there must be another explanation… maybe you broke up with your boyfriend…
- I didn't expect to find you here as the "king" of the school scaring every body… I'm sorry if I created a problem between you and Lizzie…
- She had no right to denigrate the death of your boyfriend…
- Anyway, thanks. You decided my fate a little unexpectedly…
- Unexpectedly or not, I wasn't going to ignore you, Freckles, not after all that time we spent together… he said with a soft voice
Candy felt all funny, Terry was so tender and so kind…but, he had a girlfriend!
- I didn't know you smoked… she said to break the tension, and all that terror you create…
- It's for fun, everybody is not afraid of me… but they respect me
- You girlfriend is a bigger terror … you, I heard you weren't that bad… she said smiling. Ok, I have to go. Let's forget about my last e-mail, consider it null and void. See you around…
She left there running without letting him the time to respond. She felt strange. What did she expect? He was handsome, likeable, and charming, all the criterion of the perfect boyfriend and no girl must resist him! But she was strangely happy to know him in the same school as her. She was wondering when her interest changed from friend to boyfriend? What about Anthony? He would've wanted her to move on with her life. Terry would have been perfect… in a perfect world. But still… When she arrived at the dorm, she saw Lizzie that was telling her to stay away from Terry.
- Hey Blondie, you leave my Terry alone! I saw you talking to him on the hill
- He's a friend…
- Yeah yeah, I know the plane story! I hope that didn't give you any hope, because, he's with me, you hear me, with me! He will never be interested in you
- Really? That's not the impression I got on the plane…
- Are you insinuating that he hit on you?
- No, he was a perfect gentleman. I'm just a little surprised by his taste in girls…
- You little no touch saint!
- I suppose you get touched everywhere? Said Candy ironically
- He will never be interested in you!
- So, you have nothing to worry about. Now, excuse-me I have to go
She joined her friends that had arrived and had assisted to the scene. They went to Candy's room to listen to some music.
- Candy, what was that? Asked Annie
- What?
- The scene with Lizzie…said Annie
- You sounded like you were jealous… said Patty
Candy became bright as red.
- Euh… I don't know…honestly, I don't know what's happening to me…
- I know you know Terry said Patty but try to stay away from Terry, otherwise, Lizzie is going to make your life a living hell
- I'm not going to look for him, but if I see him, I'm not going to avoid him…
- Try said Patty. I have to go, I have an article to finish for the paper for tomorrow morning. See you later
She left and Candy was alone with Annie.
- Candy, said Annie, tell me what's wrong…
Candy told her how she met Terry on the plane in details.
- The e-mail suggested that you were interested in exploring other horizons with him? Asked Annie
- I'm so ashamed. I don't know when my interest changed…
- When you wrote each other, you had a unique connection
- I must have felt too comfortable or I didn't think I would see him so soon…
- You're falling in love with him, if you're not already…
- Don't say that Annie, Anthony…
- I'm not saying you don't love Anthony, you'll always love him… but how do you explain your reaction to Lizzie?
- I got upset when she said that Terry would never be interested in me… Oh my God! Annie you're right! I have to be careful to what I say. Otherwise I will get into big trouble and not only romantic…Thanks Annie. How is it between Archie and you?
- Euh, I think he would rather have your attention…
- Me? Ridiculous!
- He's got a thing for you…
- Annie…
- Oh, I don't blame you. It's not your fault, after all…
- Annie listen to me, Anthony's death thought me that you shouldn't take anything for granted. There's only one life to live, and this is it. There's no rough copy…
- What do you mean?
- I mean, you do everything to get his attention, but if he's not interested…
- There are other fishes in the sea? You're going to do the same thing for Terry?
- Terry is already involved with someone, Archie is available… that's different…
- Yes, and he has a thing for you too
- Who?
- Terry
- How…
- The way he was looking at you at the cafeteria at lunch time, or should I say, the way you were looking at each other
- You think? But he's not free…
They started to talk about other thing, from school. Annie went to her bedroom to study leaving Candy alone for a few minutes. Then there was a knock on the door. Tanisha came in.
- Hey Tanisha said Candy
- Hey Candy, the scene at the cafeteria was super! And plus, you know Terry!
- Yes…
- You're the one we were waiting for, our saviour…
- What do you mean by that?
- Terry let you "live" if you want, and believe me, that doesn't happen often, if ever!
- So…
- If I judged the way he was looking at you, he likes you… you can steal him from Lizzie…
- What!
- Yes, so her reign of terror will end and I'm sure you're going to be an angel…
Candy couldn't believe her hears! What?
- Tanisha, I'm very flattered by the confidence you have in me, but there is no way I'm seducing Terry!
- Why, you don't want him? You don't like him?
- It's not that, but…
- You're a virgin?
Candy blushed and looked down.
- Even if I wasn't, there is no way that I'm going to use my body that way!
- Pity. Think about it ok? At least, that Lizzie won't dictate the law anymore… Ok, I'll let you study. Think about my suggestion, ok?
She got out of the room. Candy remained thinking. What was it with this school where everybody was only thinking of plotting? Seduce Terry to cease Lizzie's reign? No, she wasn't that vindictive! This school was absolutely crazy! She turned on her computer to check her e-mails, there was one from Terry.
_**Hey Freckles,**_
_**Talk about a surprise! We're in the same school! To answer your last e-mail, after what happened today, I also agree that the universe didn't put us in contact just so we could cheer each other up on the plane. The proof, we're in the same school! I don't know what the future has in store for us, but I know that I'm happy to be in the same school as you, Freckles.**_
_**See you later**_
**_Romeo_**
3. Chapter 3
**Tomorrow in your life **
**Chapter 3**
"**Be my Valentine, Romeo"**
Candy was a little puzzled by Terry's last e-mail. When they communicated through e-mail, it was like they had an invisible link that gave her a sense of comfort. She had felt it on the plane too, but she didn't want to admit it to herself, because Anthony was still so present. She thought she was dishonouring him, by feeling good with Terry…But Anthony was dead and Terry was alive…But he had a girlfriend… the girlfriend in real life, in school… but on the internet, they were "Romeo and Freckles"… two cyber beings that communicated by e-mail.
_**Dear Romeo,**_
The cafeteria scene gave hope to the students… let me explain myself; some students think that I have the power to steal you from Lizzie. Some even suggested that I seduce you! I suppose I didn't realise the importance of your gesture. Are you really the terror everybody is talking about? I have the memory of this nice and sweet boy that cheered me up… I don't know if she already told you, but I had a fight with your girlfriend. She saw us talking from a far…Let me give you my version; she told me that you would never be interested in me. I told her that was not the impression I got on the plane. Excuse-me in advance for the problem I created.
_**See you later**_
_**Freckles**_
Terry got Candy's e-mail just before Lizzie knocked on his window. He closed his inbox and shut down the computer. Candy… he wished it was her at the window.
- Lizzie, he said, how are you?
- Don't you "How are you me"! I want to know what you were doing with that Blondie!
- Lizzie you're ridiculous, she's a friend, we…
- I know, you met on the plane… But when I confronted her, she pretended that you were interested in her
- She said that?
- No. I have to say; I told her you would never be interested in her…
- Oh… you provoked her….
- You're taking her side?
- Lizzie, didn't I tell you to leave Candy alone?
- Yes, but, she was talking with you…
- And she will continue to talk to me. You leave her alone, Ok? And tell the same thing to your group. I don't want to have this conversation again, if you want us to get along, ok?
- But…
- Eh eh eh…
- Ok. I'll talk to my group and no one will touch a strand of hair of you little protégée…
Lizzie was on the bed, sulking.
- Elizabeth, said Terry nicely, you're going to continue sulking for long? Otherwise I can sleep, you know…
Lizzie ended up smiling and abandoning herself in Terry's arms. When Terry was alone, he quickly sent an e-mail to Candy.
_**Dear Freckles,**_
_**No I'm not the terror everyone is talking about. You saw the real me on the plane. The one here his only a façade. Maybe it's to hide the personnel problems I have…**_
_**They suggested you to seduce me? Wow they know what they want, don't they? But if you tried, I will not be indifferent…but I'm sure it's not in your character to seduce guys. Even if you don't need any seduction, all the boys are ready to fall into your arms…**_
_**On that note, I leave you here**_
_**Have a good night**_
_**Romeo**_
Lizzie went back to her room passing through the hallway. Candy heard the noise, Lizzie's laugh and her group all coming back from their boyfriends' rooms. They were praising their partner's talents.
"She coming from Terry's room… why is that bothering me?" thought Candy.
She heard the notifier telling her she had a new e-mail.
"Terry" she thought.
She went to read Romeo's response. She smiled blushing a little. All the guys were ready to fall in her arms? She didn't need all the guys she only needed… a few days ago she would've said "Anthony" and now… No! She didn't already forgot about Anthony! She felt sad all of a sudden. She called Annie on her cell phone.
- Annie? She said I'm not disturbing you?
- Never Candy. You can call me anytime. Are you ok?
- No
- Tell me what's wrong?
- I got an e-mail from Terry
- What did he say?
- A lot of things among others, that all the guy were ready to fall into my arms…
- Cool
- So I started to think that I didn't want all the guys I only wanted…
- Terry…
- Annie a few days ago I would've said, "Anthony", today Terry came into my head…
- You feel sad because you think you're betraying Anthony?
- Yes
- Candy honey Anthony is dead Terry is alive. Life goes on. You have to stop feeling guilty. Anthony wouldn't want you to stay sad all your life because of him. What did he used to tell you again?
- "You're much prettier when you laughing then when you're crying…" Terry wrote me that on his first e-mail. For me it was like…
- …a sign that you had Anthony's blessing… don't doubt it anymore. So don't feel guilty. You're falling in love with Terry if you're not already…
- Oh Annie, he has a girlfriend
- Judging by the way he looked at you at the cafeteria, I'd say Lizzie Barrington's days are numbered…
- She was coming back from Terry's room a few minutes ago…
- And that made you feel…?
- Weird
- Need I say more?
- Thanks Annie thanks for everything
- You're welcome, sweetie. Sweet dreams
- You too.
Candy had an agitated nigh. She dreamt about Anthony. He was standing near the Pony hill.
- Anthony! I love you! She cried coming next to him to kiss him.
But when she stopped kissing him she looked at him smiling it wasn't Anthony anymore but Terry answering her;
- I love you Freckles and he kissed her
Candy woke up in sweat. Terry… she went to the bathroom and turned on her computer, it was 5 am. She checked her e-mail. There was one from Georges, Uncle William's assistant.
_**Miss Candy**_
_**Hello! I hope you're adapting well to your new school. The airline company sent me the pictures from the New Year's party on the plane. I'm sending you the hard copy by regular mail but for now here they are in attachment. They are very pretty.**_
_**Have a good week.**_
Sincerely
_**Georges**_
She opened the attachment and looked at the pictures; they were indeed very pretty. There was one of Terry hugging her at midnight. Her heart jumped seeing it. She decided to send so them to Terry too then she went to take a shower.
Terry was in his bedroom; he was awake and just got out of the shower. He had turned on his computer and was surprised to see an e-mail so early in the morning. He saw that it was from Candy.
"Freckles, you're an early bird he said to himself"
He sent her an e-mail on the spot.
_**Freckles,**_
_**You're not asleep? You're an early bird…**_
Thanks for the pictures, they really are very beautiful. If you had forgotten about me, those pictures would've refreshed your memory…
_**See you later,**_
_**Romeo**_
Candy came out of the shower and saw Terry's e-mail.
"You're an early bird Romeo she thought"
She smiled.
_**Romeo,**_
_**Right back at you! You're one to talk…**_
_**George will send me the hard copies my ordinary mail. I will have some copies made for you, if you want.**_
_**See you later**_
_**Freckles**_
She didn't want to answer the sarcasm, because she couldn't stop thinking about him and didn't want to show her feelings inadvertently.
Lizzie Barrington went to see Eliza in her room, before class.
- Eliza?
- Lizzie? To what do I owe the honour of a visit from the queen of the school said Eliza ironically
- I need your help…
- My help? I'm not sure I want to help you; after all you denigrated Anthony's death…
- I'm sorry, but the Blondie…
- Candy?
- You hate her, as much as I do, don't you?
- She's my cousin… you can't ban her… can't you? Your guy is protecting her…
- It's a real nightmare! And he forbids me to bother her…
- And you don't dare disobeying or you're going to find yourself with no one to keep you warm at night…laughed Eliza
- Ok, no need to be vulgar!
- Vulgar? Don't you swear on vulgarity?
- Are you going to help me or not?
- I don't know… Candy is a lucky she-devil… and judging by the way your guy was looking at her
- Eliza!
- I mean, whatever trick you play on her, she's going to come out smelling like a rose, and your guy will even want to protect her more… are you sure it's what you want? It could backfire on you… I can help you if need be… but I won't take the blame in your place…
- Don't worry about that. If you agree, I'll take care of everything. Come on, I know you hate her…
- Yes, but…
- She's going to steal my boyfriend…
- If she can steal him so easily, you've lost him already. I know, it was the same thing with Anthony. As soon as he looked at her, it was over… it's a matter of days, Lizzie, you'll see you'll prove me right
- Not if I take care of her first, said Lizzie
- Ok. But it's only because I hate her
- Thanks. I'll tell you when everything is ready
Eliza shook her head; she knew from experience that Candy was "indestructible". She had tried for years to destroy her without any result. Candy always fell back on her feet.
Lizzie didn't stop there. She went to see her cousin who was a year older than her and was a womanizer… His name was Ethan Barrington.
- Ethan?
- Lizzie, you need something?
- Yes, a very big favour…
- Big? It's always big with you
- Please…
- What's the favour?
- Can you dishonour a girl for me?
- "Dishonour" you mean sleep with her? Why? Oh… let me guess; the blond your guy is protecting?
- Yes…
- Are you out of your mind?
- What?
- Your boyfriend is going to kill me… I heard him tell the other boys not to touch her, to leave her alone
- What!
- Yes, he wants to keep her for himself
- If you dishonour her before…
- Grandchester is going to kill me!
- You're afraid of him?
- Isn't that why you're here asking me to do your dirty work? Sorry cousin, but it's no…
- If you change your mind, you'll be well compensated
- How?
- How would you like to have my Jaguar?
- You'll give me your Jaguar?
- Yes…
- Oh Lizzie you're cruel! That's hard to resist…
- So say yes…
Ethan hesitated a little. Her Jaguar? Lizzie was ready to give him her Jaguar and all she had to do is dishonour Candy White Andrew… Grandchester's protégée? He's going to kill him… but he wanted the car more than anything.
- When?
Lizzie had a smug smile. She knew she could do it.
"Revenge is best served cold. I'll get you Candy White Andrew" she said to herself.
- I'll let you know. Thanks said Lizzie
At the end of school that day, Candy met Stear in the hallway.
- Hi Candy said Stear
- Stear, I'm going to see Patty in her general quarters
- The paper said Stear
- You want to walk with me?
- Ok, let's go
They walked talking joyfully. They saw Terry and his group and their girlfriends. Candy wanted to ignore Terry, but it she couldn't help herself. They looked at each other and he winked at her. Candy smiled and continued her way. Lizzie, who was looking at her boyfriend, saw the wink but couldn't say anything.
"Soon, she said to herself, soon"
Patty blushed when she saw Stear with Candy. They started to talk nicely. Candy left them alone quietly. They were made for each other.
Annie was at a meeting where they were discussing the end of year festivities. There was going to be a play, and a fashion show. Since Annie swore only by fashion, she was among the coordinators. Candy had promised her to be one of her models.
Everything was fine in class and at the dorm. It was routine. Then Valentine day came. There was suppose to have a small party supervised by the nuns and the teachers. No alcohol, no hard music, only soft music, soft drink and no close up dance. It was already a big deal to have the nuns agree to the party.
Annie, Patty and Candy were getting ready in Candy's room. They had received Valentine cards like everybody, small ones from their friends and bigger ones from interested boys in them.
Candy wasn't expecting anything from Terry, but she was hoping to get a card from Romeo.
When she opened her locker, she found a lot of cards put through the holes of the door. Only one interested her…Terry's. It was simple and pretty;
"**_Happy Valentine's day Candy._** **_Here is a good occasion to eat you"_**
She smiled. She had also given him a card in front of Lizzie, to provoke her a little. She was walking in the hallway during recess, with her two best friends. Terry was standing, talking. Lizzie at his arm.
- Hi Terry, said Candy, Lizzie. Thanks for the card, here is yours.
Terry knew that Candy was provoking Lizzie and he had a little smile.
- Thanks Candy and you're welcome. See you later
- See you!
She saw Lizzie's black look and she didn't care.
- Candy said Patty, you're playing with fire. Lizzie will get revenge…
- Let her come, I've survived Neil and Eliza…
- Be careful said Patty, this girl has no mercy
- Don't worry Patty, everything will be fine
Terry put the card in the inside pocket of his blazer, he didn't want to read Candy's card in front of Lizzie.
- Read it said Lizzie
- Later…
- I want to see what she wrote you…
- Exactly, what she wrote **me**…
Lizzie didn't insist. Every time when it was about Candy, she'll get the brush off…
"Damn you Candy!"
Terry read the card that said;
"Happy Valentine's day Terry. It would be a pleasure to be eaten by you…"
He had a little dreamy smile.
The preparation for the party continued; since it was the Valentine's dance, the theme was red, pink and white. The three girls had all pink dresses. Candy's was fuschia pink, without straps, with a shawl the same colour. Annie's dress was pale pink with thin straps; Patty's dress was dark pink with one strap. Annie did her friends hair; she managed to flatten Candy's long curly and thick hair. She did an up do on Patty's hair. They were ready; they met Tanisha and her group in the hallway.
- Hi girls said Tanisha who was wearing a red dress, very pretty pinkies…
- You too, very pretty, reds
- Pinkies, said Tanisha, let's go!
The gym was decorated with big red and pink hearts and red and pink balloons. The music was… let's just say, that the music let a lot to be desire. Did the nuns really think that the students were going to have fun with that kind of music? Fortunately, there were a few teachers who insisted to put some new pop music. They finally accepted against their will. The music changed a little, not much and the students started to dance. The girls were on one side and the boys on the other side. They went near the food table and were able to talk a little.
- The nuns might as well locked us up in our room, they would've have the same effect said Annie
- No Annie said Candy, in our dorm, we would've had good music
- We can hardly breathe said Patty
- Go near your dates, said Candy, the nuns are not going to kill you
- Go and dance, said the teachers
One of the teachers went in the middle of the gym and invited the young people to dance. There were a lot of couples that started to dance shyly. Neil Reagan had a flask with some gin inside and another with whisky that he poured into the punch and the fruit salad. A few moments later, the atmosphere started to loosen up. Everybody was laughing and having fun.
Candy was invited to dance by Stear and Archie and other boys. Terry was watching her every time she was on the dance floor. He wanted to dance with her, but every time he tried, Lizzie was stopping him or Candy was dancing with someone else.
Candy was watching Terry who seemed to be blocked by Lizzie. She was dancing with all the boys, when she only wanted to dance with Terry. She standing near the door, when she heard a voice.
- Freckles? Do you want to dance with me?
- I thought you'd never ask, she said smiling
He took her to the dance floor, there was a slow. Because of the nuns, he couldn't hold her to close to him. They were looking at each other in the eye with so much love. Everybody could feel the chemistry between them. Lizzie was jealous. She was feeling Terry slipping away from her…she decide to put her plan to dishonour Candy into motion. She wasn't prepared, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to get rid of Candy. She went to see her cousin and gave him some pills in his hands. Then she went to Eliza and gave her some pills. Then she went back to her place like nothing happened. Annie and Patty were dancing with their date, so their table was empty. Ethan went by there and put some pills into Candy's glass. Eliza went by the table, and put some more pills in Candy's half empty glass.
When the dance with Terry was over, Candy went back to her place with her friends. She took her glass, finished it, and had some more punch. The alcohol that Neil put in the punch, plus the pills… she felt her head spinning. Ethan took advantage to invite her to dance. She accepted thinking if she walked a little, she would feel better. She was hearing the music in echoes and slow motion. Terry saw that something wasn't right. Candy was laughing too much. He said to himself that he would go and see her after the dance to see how she was feeling. But he wanted to see her; he looked for her, but couldn't find her. He said to himself that maybe she went to powder her nose.
Ethan took Candy to his room, but he had trouble taking her there, she was a little delirious.
- Anthony? She said, Anthony don't take the car, Anthony come back…
Ethan knew what he was doing was wrong, but his greed took over.
- Where are you taking me? Anthony …no don't take the car…Anthony
He put her on the bed, and was trying to take her dress off… But Candy was not cooperating, she was fighting. She didn't let him do anything; there was still some drops of good sense in her or the worry about Anthony…
- What are you doing? No… I have to stop Anthony… Anthony don't take the car!
Ethan was trying in vain to take her dress off. Candy couldn't stop moving.
Meanwhile, Lizzie took Terry in the hallway of the boys' dorm, saying she wanted to be alone with him. He didn't really feel like it, leaving the party without finding Candy. She had been missing for a while. The last time he saw her, she was dancing with Ethan and was laughing a lot. So he went against his will with Lizzie in the boys' dorm.
Ethan was becoming impatient, because Candy was delirious and was refusing systematically to take her dress off. He tore the dress up and forced her on the bed brutally… Candy felt the whole room spinning, she felt dizzy like throwing up and Ethan's weight on her… she had to save Anthony, or he was going to die, She pushed Ethan off her with strength but fell back on the bed, because her head was still spinning and her dress was thorn up.
- Anthony… I have to warn him… she said
Ethan was mad because she made him fall on the floor.
- You little pious hypocrite! Wait, you'll see
He stood up and walked towards Candy who was going to the door lurching and screaming;
- ANTHONY, I'M COMING ANTHONY!
- Shut up you stupid idiot! Said Ethan catching her by the dress that he ripped up again, letting her underwear show
- NOOOOOOOO! ANTHONY!
Terry was passing by with Lizzie and they heard the screams.
- Candy?
- No Hon, said Lizzie, it's probably a girl with her boyfriend
- No, it sounded like Candy said Terry following the screams, CANDY, CANDY WHERE ARE YOU?
Candy heard Terry's voice in the middle of the turmoil she was in, in her brain like an incessant echo.
- Romeo? She said
- Shut up! Said Ethan, putting his hand on her mouth and taking her on the bed again
The door opened and Terry came in, saw what was happening and took Ethan off of Candy by throwing him to the wall. Ethan stood up and Terry punched him on the face. He ran to Candy who was disoriented.
- Romeo?
- Yes, Freckles he said taking his blazer off to cover her
- Anthony, we have to save Anthony… He's going to die, don't let him take the car…Romeo… don't leave me…
Terry picked up Candy's stuff and carried her to her bedroom. He opened the door and put her on the bed.
- Romeo she said delirious… I love you… don't leave me, please… my head is spinning… stop making all that noise!
- Terry said Lizzie who followed them, you can't stay here…
- Go get her friends, I can't leave her alone
Lizzie went to get Candy's friend. Terry sitting next to her on the bed. He saw Anthony's picture on her night table.
" She still thinks about him" he said to himself.
- Romeo?… you there? Where's Anthony?
- He's fine, he didn't take the car…
- Thanks… Romeo…sleep
She fell asleep for a little while.
'She's going to be sick in the morning " said Terry to himself
He went to the bathroom took a bucket of water, a small towel that he wetted to wipe her face. He wiped her face with the wet towel gently, her neck.
- Humm Romeo? You there? She said weakly
- I'm here Freckles…
- Don't go please… don't leave me…I love you…
She sit up and put her head on his chest. Lizzie arrived with Annie and Patty and that was the scene they saw. Candy curled up in Terry's arms. Lizzie and a twinge in her heart. She understood what Eliza meant by; "Candy is a lucky she-devil,… the situation is going to backfire on you…"
Terry saw Candy's friends and tried to get loose. But any move he made she was holding him tighter.
- Don't leave me please…
Terry managed to get loose, but Candy became hysterical all of a sudden.
- No, no! Don't go please! Don't go Romeo… don't leave me Romeo!
Terry took her back in his arms and she calmed herself.
- I think it's better if you stay said Annie
- What? Cried Lizzie, no way!
- You saw her reaction… what did they give her, where was she? Asked Annie
- I found her delirious in Ethan's room with her dress ripped off said Terry
- What? Said Patty, he must've drugged her, Candy will never go with Ethan to his room
- You never know… said Lizzie
- For Candy, I would swear to it, said Annie, Ethan must have drugged her and with the alcohol mixed in the punch…
- That's why she's delirious and holding on to Terry like a lifebuoy said Patty
Lizzie couldn't say much; she provoked everything by wanting to get rid of Candy…
- Terry, you can stay with her said Annie, we won't say anything, won't we Lizzie?
- I suppose you can stay, she said against her will, I'm going to stay too…
- No need said Terry, we all know that you don't like Candy
Lizzie turned red and was forces to leave with Annie and Patty.
Terry stayed with Candy. She was sick all night long. Terry used the bucket a lot of time during the night. He didn't know what drug they had given her, but it must have one to render her unconscious of what she was doing, to abuse her! Ethan Barrington… he was going to pay for that! How dared he touched his little protégée. He knew Terry have told all the boys that Candy was off limit. Why did he take that risk?… Lizzie! He remembered her insistence to go to the boys' dorm; she wanted him to see Candy and Ethan together in bed! My God! There was nothing worse than a young man taking advantage of a young girl's vulnerability, to do what he wants.
Terry arranged himself to the best he could and slept on the bed with her, without letting go of her… He had dreamt of spending the night with Candy… but not in those circumstances, where she's totally under the influence of drugs, delirious and she won't even remember anything in the morning.
4. Chapter 4
**Tomorrow in your life**
**Chapter 4**
"**A lugubrious awakening"**
Candy had the feeling of being thrown in a bottom less precipice spinning at the same time. Holding on to Romeo, seemed to calm her, so she didn't want to let him go…She was feeling better when she was holding him tight, he was her lifebuoy.
"Romeo, Romeo, how I love Romeo" she thought in her head.
Candy had trouble opening her eyes, her temples were hurting her; it was like they were hitting her with a hammer. She looked at the alarm clock on her night table. She had to concentrate, she couldn't read the time. It was 4:30 PM? No, there must be a mistake! She hadn't slept that long! She tried to stand up, but her head was so heavy and painful. She went to the bathroom to take a shower. She stayed a long time under the shower, the steam from the hot water made her feel good. She got dressed and went for a walk behind the school. The cold air was nice. She closed her eyes and was wondering what had happened the night before. She went to the Valentine's day dance, she danced with Terry – a dreamy moment – and then, nothing. She had a memory loss. And a very big headache, the hangover, in fact! She stayed against the tree for half an hour and went back to her room. She went back to bed and fell asleep again. She dreamed of Romeo… her Romeo; she was hang on to him with all her strength. She was waken up by a knock at the door. She stoop up against her will to open the door.
- Hi sleepy head! Said Annie
- Peek-a-boo Candy! Said Patty
- We brought you some food said Annie
- You slept all night and all day
- I don't feel like eating, thanks. What happened last night? Asked Candy
- You don't remember anything? Asked Annie
- I remember the party, the dance with Terry and then… nothing!
Candy remained silent when Annie and Patty told her what had happened the night before. She hung on to Terry like to a lifebuoy?
"Romeo don't leave me she heard in her head"
It was a weird feeling not no remember anything and to hear the story of what happened by other people, when she was the main character!
- You have nothing to say?
- What do you want me to say? I don't remember anything. I spent the night with the boy of my dreams and I don't even remember it!
- That's true, you spent the night with Terry and you don't even remember it! Said Annie, that's kind of funny
- I'm sure Terry is thinking the same thing, he spend the night with you and you won't recall it… that's not how he wanted to spend the first night with you, I'm sure of it…
- Patty, please, not now. Who could've done this to me? Said Candy
- Your rival said Patty, well we think it's her
- Lizzie?
- To make you sleep with Ethan
- What?
- So Terry wouldn't want you anymore…
Candy felt sad, very sad all of a sudden. Lizzie Barrington was so desperate that she turned to drugs? That's dangerous, very very dangerous! What did she do wrong? Meet Terry on the plane and find him likeable? Was it a crime to talk, write and dance with Terrence Grandchester? Patty was right, she had to be careful. Some drugs had terrible side effects and could even provoke cardiac arrest. She could have been taking some medicines that you couldn't mix with drugs… the result could have been fatal. All that for what? Because, she danced with Terry? Because Terry was looking at her tenderly? Was it worth risking her life that way? Terry… Romeo she loved him with all her heart. She never thought she would feel those feelings again after Anthony, but yes she had fallen in love with Terry. But if he continued to be with a monster like Lizzie, she won't be his friend anymore; she wouldn't want to risk her life. She had tears coming down her cheeks. Her two friends hugged her to console her.
Terry was with Lizzie and Ethan in his room, and he was unhappy. He wanted explanations. Lizzie continued denying and Ethan finally fess up and confessed everything. When he finished his story, Terry punched him on the face and ordered him to get out of his room. He stayed alone with Lizzie.
- Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie, why? Why risk the life of a poor young girl?
- Risk her life?
- Yes, risk her life! You may not know this, but mixing pills is dangerous! Drugs? That's shit! What did you give her? I want to know!
- But…
- What was it!
- I gave Rohypnol to Ethan and Ecstasy and vidocaine to Eliza to put in Candy's glass
- Rohypnol, the date rape drug? Ecstasy, vidocaine? Oh my God! Why?
- Because you were protecting her and I saw the way you looked at each other when you were dancing…
- The only crime Candy committed was to travel in the same plane as me. We became friends… Lizzie, your jealousy has gone too far… do you realise what you've done?
- I didn't want you to dump me; I wanted to make her less desirable to you…
- By asking Ethan to rape her?
Terry was outraged! Lizzie didn't seem to realise what she had done. She thought she was justified… incredible!
- Lizzie, I was with you. Did I give you the impression that I was going to dump you?
- No, but… the way you were looking at her…
- Did I give you the impression that I was getting tired of you?
- No…
- So, why were you so jealous, and not so sure of yourself? Because I was defending her?
- Yes, you didn't want to talk about her, you were protecting her…
- So she deserved to be raped by your cousin he said ironically. Lizzie, I'm sorry, I think it's better if…
- You don't want me anymore? She said horrified
- Lizzie, I can't be with a girl so mean…
- You want to be with her? Forgive me Terry, please. Forgive-me. I won't do it again, I swear to you. Don't dump me, I love you!
- I'm sorry. You deliberately wanted to hurt a girl because I looked at her… she could've died!
- But she's fine…
- I was with her all night, and I can tell you that she's far from being fine. And one more thing, where did you get the drugs?
- Euh…
- Where?
- In my purse…
- In your purse? I can assume that you were not keeping them for your cousin… Lizzie, you do know the mess drugs make?
- But everybody does it…
- Not "everybody"…
- You mean that you never tried?
- I limit myself to the cigarette… it's not because I play the rough guys that I do drugs… Pills are not good Lizzie. You have to stop. Now, can you leave? I need to me alone
- But Terry…
- It's over, Lizzie. Done.
- Go to hell! Go be with your dirty little blond you blo…
- LIZZIE, OUT!
Lizzie had to leave. She was angry against Candy. She was going to make her pay. But deep down inside, she knew her plan didn't work as she hoped… in fact it backfired, big time! That idiot of Eliza was right; Candy always falls back on her feet. She will have Terry now, that pious hypocrite! That stupid Ethan couldn't put her in his bed in time. Terry had arrived too soon… which had spoiled her improvised plan in the last minute. She now had to live with the consequences of her actions.
Candy was sick for a week. She had no appetite, he mouth was bitter and she had lost some weight. The nuns told Stear, her cousin and the eldest, to take her to the hospital. After a few tests, the doctors told Stear the she had traces of Rohypnol, ecstasy and vidocaine. They advised her to stay in bed and to drink a lot of water and to eat.
- I still can't believe that you were drugged said Stear, my God
- It could've been worse Stear said Candy
- Did you hear that he broke up with Elizabeth?
- Oh…, simply said Candy
He couldn't stay with her after her desperate gesture. She was happy inside, not because he broke up with Lizzie, but because he couldn't stay with her after what she had done.
" Thanks Terry she said in her head"
Terry knew he had give Candy some space, so she could heal emotionally, physically and morally. She paid hard for their friendship. She was so sweet and kind. He was feeling a little guilty too; after all, Lizzie attacked Candy because of him. But he wanted to see Candy's pretty little face. The night he spent with her- even if it wasn't like that he wanted to spend their first night together- was magnificent. Taking care of her while she was sick, was a pleasure. To see her so fragile and so strong at the same time, was a treat; she didn't want to let go of him, she wanted her Romeo…
- You're thinking about Romeo? Asked Annie to Candy
- Romeo?
- That's how you were calling Terry when you were delirious…
"Romeo… I love you" she heard in her head.
- Oh my God, I thought I was dreaming
- You remembered something?
- Yes, I was calling Romeo…
- Candy, if I had doubts before, I'm now convinced that you and Terry are made for each other…
- Annie, not now, I don't feel like doing anything…
- You want to see Terry?
- Yes, but…
- You don't have the strength to go to the computer? The side effects from the drugs. Get some rest. I'll bring you a glass of water.
- Thanks Annie. Why doesn't he come to see me?
- Terry? He probably wants to give you some space. After all, it's his fault…
- That's ridiculous said Candy, he's not responsible for Lizzie's actions
- Did you hear the news said Patty coming in, Eliza was the one who put the ecstasy and vidocaine pills in your glass…
- WHAT! Said Annie
- She was working with Lizzie…
- I'm not even surprised, said Candy; she hates me as much as Lizzie, if not more…
- Come on Candy, said Patty, we love you
- Yes, said Annie, We love you so much…
- I love you too said Candy smiling.
Days and weeks passed and Candy was still staying away from Terry. Even if he was not with Lizzie anymore, she needed an emotional rest. Terry understood and didn't bother her either. But he missed her. Especially her e-mails. Romeo needed his Freckles. But he had to let her time to heal after all the drugs they gave her could have been fatal. And she almost got raped…her friendship for him had cost her a lot. Ethan… Ethan had become the pet aversion of the school; no one was talking to him after they heard what had happened with Candy. The date rape drug? It was already a crime to force oneself on a girl, but to drug her on top of that? Lizzie didn't give him her car, since the plan didn't work. She and her group continued to talk to him.
Fortunately the teachers and the nuns didn't find out about it. Terry had spend the night taking care of Candy; she didn't want him to go he was her lifebuoy … and now, he was watching her from a far with her friends and her beautiful smile and her emerald eyes. He had to be patient.
Terry was in his bedroom looking at the pictures of Candy on the computer. He wanted to see her. He couldn't take it anymore; he decided to go see her in her room.
Candy had finally turned her computer on and she was answering all of her e-mails. She told Miss Pony and Sister Maria that she had been sick without getting into too much detail.
She was grateful to the Uncle William to have donated computers to the Pony house and installed the Internet. She could now, communicate with her two mothers regularly, not to mention all of her little friends. She had also received the hard copies of the pictures from the plane that Georges had sent her.
_**Miss Candy,**_
_**Here are the pictures from the plane in double, in case you meet your friend from the plane, you could give him a copy of each photograph. I hope you're feeling alright**_.
_**Sincerely,**_
_**George**_
She separated the pictures into two piles. She took an envelope and put the copies for Terry. She will give it to him when she goes to school the next day. She heard noise at the window and she saw Terry. She was surprised to see him, she opened the window and let him in.
- Good evening, Freckles
- Romeo she said softly
She jumped to his neck; Terry was surprised but glad.
- Thanks Romeo, thanks for being there for me
- You remember?
- No, she said letting go of him, they told me
- Oh… you're not mad at me?
- Why?
- To have provoked all this
- You're not responsible for Lizzie, Ethan of Eliza's actions
- I want to apologise for them
- No need, Terry. I'm happy to see you
- I stayed away to let you heal
- I know. I missed you.
- I miss you too. I broke up with Elizabeth…
- So I've heard
- And you were…
- Relieved to see that you couldn't stay with her after this fiasco…
- That's all?
- I was sorry for you. But it's good to know that you're against certain drugs…
- Certain…
- Yes, cigarette is a form of drug, the nicotine…
- Oh…
- It's not good for your health
- I get your message
Terry sat on the bed.
- You want something to drink? I don't have alcohol, sorry
- Fruit juice is fine. Thanks she said when she gave him the cold bottle.
She took the envelope with the picture and gave it to him.
- I got the pictures from the plane
- Thanks
Terry wanted to say more, but he said to himself that it was too soon. He wanted to let her breathe before making his big declaration. He looked around and saw Anthony's picture, still there on her night table. She called him when she was delirious, but she also told Romeo she loved him…
Candy had followed his eyes.
_" He's looking at Anthony's picture"_
- I have to go said Terry, thanks for the pictures
Before Candy could say anything, he was already gone. She let him go, she didn't call him back. She wasn't ready yet.
Candy was strong in science. The teachers had asked her to help a boy named Carl Hensley. She accepted with joy, she was always ready to help others. She helped him during her free time after class. Candy fascinated Carl; he was in the soccer team. He was big, brown hair, grey eyes and was very attractive. But he had heard the rumour that Grandchester had ordered all the boys to leave Candy alone. He had a girlfriend anyway.
Candy was wondering why Carl didn't even flirt with her. In fact ever since she arrived at St. Paul Academy, the attention of the opposite sex had practically vanished. Vanished? What was going on? She didn't think she was all that, but she knew she attracted the boys' attention… She helped a lot of boys and none of them even invited her somewhere. Some of them had girlfriends but those who didn't have any, weren't even trying. She didn't want to feel pretentious, so didn't talked about it to anybody. She even forgot about it.
Easter vacation arrived. Stear and Archie went to Saudi Arabia to see their parents. Annie went to see her mother in Paris; Patty went to see her Grandmother in Ireland. Neil and Eliza went to Chicago to see their parents. Candy stayed in school with a few students, whose parents were dead like Candy's or were too busy. George had wrote her that she could stay in school, because Uncle William was in a business trip, of to go where she wanted with her friends. He also told her to keep her cell phone open in case Uncle William and him came to London, they could contact her so they could see each other.
She went on he pretend Pony hill. It was spring, and the trees started to burgeon and the leaves were growing. She climbed on a tree. She was wearing a green training and white baskets. She had headphones and a CD player. She was listening to her favourite music, a series of slows, love songs. She started to sing the song she was listening to; "Through he years" by Kenny Rogers. Like any person signing with headphones, she was screaming...
_**I can't remember when you weren't there**_
_**When I didn't care for anyone but you**_
_**I swear we've been through everything there is**_
_**Can't imagine anything we've missed**_
_**Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do**_
_**Through the years**_ _**You've never let me down**_
_**You turned my life around**_
_**The sweetest days I've found**_ _**I've found with you**_
_**Through the years**_ _**I've never been afraid**_
_**I've loved the life we've made**_
_**And I'm so glad I've stayed**_ _**Right here with you**_
_**Through the years**_
_**I can't remember what I used to do**_
_**Who I trusted, whom I listened to before**_
_**I swear you've taught me everything I know**_
_**Can't imagine needing someone so**_
_**But through the years it seems to me**_
_**I need you more and more**_
_**Through the years**_
_**Through all the good and bad**_
_**I knew how much we had**_ _**I've always been so glad**_
_**To be with you**_ _**Through the years**_
**_It's_** **_better everyday_** _**You've kissed my tears away**_
_**As long as it's okay**_ _**I'll stay with you**_
_**Through the years**_
_**Through the years**_ _**When everything went wrong**_
_**Together we were strong**_
_**I know that I belonged**_ _**Right here with you**_
_**Through the years**_ _**I never had a doubt**_
_**We'd always work things out**_
_**I've learned what love's about**_ _**By loving you**_
_**Through the years**_
_**Through the years**_ _**You've never let me down**_
_**You've turned my life around**_
_**The sweetest days I've found**_ _**I've found with you**_
_**Through the years**_ **_It's_** **_better everyday_**
_**You've kissed my tears away**_
_**As long as it's okay**_ _**I'll stay with you**_
_**Through the years**_
When the song ended, before the next one started, she heard clapping.
- BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO! Miss Tarzan!
She looked down; it was Terry's voice. She took her headphones off and came down the tree, and went near him.
- Terry? I thought you were gone on vacation, you're not going to see your family?
- I'm going tomorrow morning. My family is leaving for Hawaii tonight
- And you're not going with them because…
- … I don't feel like it.
- Oh… Are they that terrible? She joked.
- Worse! He said laughing, what about you?
- Euh, well my Uncle William maybe, will come to see me…
- "Maybe"? Asked Terry, in the mean time you're going to be moping here alone…
- That was the plan…
- Borrinngg!
- You have a better solution? She joked
He remained silent for a while and he said:
- You want to come and spend the vacations with me?
- No, thanks, she joked, I'd rather die of boredom…!
- I'm not joking… I'm serious
- You're serious?
- As a heart attack…
- Oh … the cynical…
- So, what do you say?
- I'm not sure…
- Come on Freckles, my father's villa is big, there are employees and my family won't be there
Candy remained silent for a moment. On one hand she had total boredom in school, on the hand, the Grandchester villa, staff and freedom. What about Uncle William? What if he came? He could always call her on her cell phone. And there was Terry's company. Terry's proposition was certainly better than the almost empty school.
- Ok, Romeo, let's do it!
Terry had a happy smile.
- Perfect, I will wait for you in front of the school at 1o tomorrow morning
- I'll be ready Romeo
- See you tomorrow, Freckles
Terry was happy. The idea of inviting Candy came spontaneously. He didn't hope for anything, he just didn't want her to stay in college doing nothing. He would at least get the pleasure of her company.
Candy told the sisters that she was invited to spent her Easter vacation at the Grandchester and if her Uncle William calls, to give him the Grandchester's number. The sisters were a little surprised, but during the vacation the students were allowed to leave.
She arranged her stuff, took her laptop and a few CD. She went to bed without checking her e-mail. She was going to spend the next two weeks with Terry;
"Come what may!" She said to herself.
Terry was waiting for her in front of the school with a red Jaguar.
- You have this car here in school?
- Being the son of a duke has its advantages…
- Yes, apparently
He helped her with her luggage. He put them in the back trunk of his car. She was surprised to find it empty.
- You don't have any luggage?
- I'm going home?
- You don't even have dirty laundry?
- No
- Wow…
5. Chapter 5
**Tomorrow in your life **
**Chapter 5 **
"**The chateau of flowers"**
The trip to the Grandchester's villa or chateau (castle), as it was the case, was long and pleasant. They were talking of this and that and were listening to music and discussing about the song and the artist. They finally arrived at the villa. The gate was opened by a remote that Terry had in the glove compartment. He parked the car in front of the chateau and they walked toward the entrance. There were flowers everywhere, it was very beautiful. A butler opened the door.
- Hello, Master Terrence.
- Hello Miller, said Terry, this is Candice White Andrew. Miss Andrew is my guest. Is my family gone?
- Hello Miss Andrew, welcome to the chateau of flowers said Miller. About your family
- Can you ask the maid to get a guest room ready? You can take Miss Andrew's luggage… said Terry giving him the keys of the car.
- Yes but, Master Terrence… said Miller
- TERRY, TERRY! Shouted a voice
- But…who…? Asked Terry
- That's what I was trying to tell you, Sir. Your parents are gone, but your brother and your sisters…
- TERRY! Said two young girls running to him and hugging him on at the time
Terry hugged him kindly in his arms.
- Rose Anna, Anna Rose! What a nice surprise! I thought you were in Hawaii…
- Yes, we know! Said Rose Anna
- We changed our mind at the last minute said Anna Rose
The twin sisters; Rose Anna and Anna Rose, were identical. They both had black hair with streaks of blond highlights and blue eyes. They were very pretty. Candy was looking at them smiling.
- Girls, I have someone with me. This is Candice White Andrew… she's American. Candy this is Rose Anna and Anna Rose
- Pleased to meet you said the twins
- Pleased to meet you said Candy smiling
- From the Andrews of Chicago? Asked Rose Anna who was always interested in that kind of details
- Euh… yes said Candy
- Wow! Said Rose Anna
- Is….started Terry
- Hello said a young man's voice, Terrence… who is this delicious creature?
- Candice White Andrew said Anna Rose
- From the Andrews of Chicago?
- Yes said Rose Anna
- Richard Grandchester junior he said kissing Candy's hand, pleased to meet you Miss Andrew
- Pleased to meet you said Candy smiling and you can call me Candy
He kept Candy's hand a little longer in his. Terry seemed a little upset.
- Freckles, I'm going to take you to the guest room said Terry
- Ok…
They walked towards the stairs.
- I feel like making a u-turn said Terry
- Come on Romeo, it could be fun… Chateau of flowers? It's a pretty name, it suit it well
- Junior is going to be on you like a second skin…
- I can manage don't worry about me
- But I'm going to keep my eye on him
- Your sisters are charming
- I know, they don't feel threatened by me, like Junior…
They arrived in front of the door of the guest room. The room was big canopy bed. There was a desk with a chair with a computer.
- It's very nice said Candy
- Cook is making sandwiches and tea. I'll come and get you in 10 minutes.
- Yes, that's enough for me to freshen up she said
A few minutes later, they were all having tea in one of the Chateau's leaving rooms.
- Terrence said Junior, How is Elizabeth?
- We broke up, said Terry
- Oh… is Candy her replacement?
- She's a good friend said Terry, she didn't go see her family so I invited her…
- There's an N'sync concert said Anna Rose, it's tomorrow night, you want to come with us Candy? And you too Terry of course…
- Thanks, what do you say Candy, said Terry
- With pleasure said Candy
- We're going shopping in the centre of London, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus… you want to come with us? Asked Rose Anna to Candy, it could be fun
- Euh said Candy looking at Terry
- You can go, Freckles. But you have to be strong, they're unstoppable…
- You're not coming? Asked Candy
Terry looked at her, he saw her begging eyes. He didn't want to leave her alone with his sisters, but… shopping… he hated that! He will be with Candy, this time, it couldn't be that bad…
- Ok, said Terry, I'm coming with you. But we're taking the driver…
The twins and Junior were speechless. When they were going to get their stuff in their bedrooms, Anna Rose told Candy;
- Terry broke up with Elizabeth; you're his future girlfriend?
- Why are you asking that? Said Candy
- Because he agreed to come shopping with us… that's something he hates above all, said Rose Anna
- Oh… said Candy
- He must like you a lot, said Anna Rose
- We're just friends, said Candy
- That are falling in love…, said Rose Anna
- Junior likes you too, said Anna Rose
- That's all we need, another subject of trouble between these two! Said Anna Rose
Candy didn't really understand what the twins were saying. She took her purse and her cell phone.
They took the Rolls Royce with the driver. The backseat was big; the twins with Candy and Terry were sitting there. At the last minute, Junior joined them. He had to sit at the front with the driver. Terry at the back with the girls was telling them jokes and they were laughing. Junior only heard bits and pieces and was a little frustrated. He thought about Candy, her emerald green eyes. She was very beautiful, the freckles on her face… how did Terry called her? Oh yeah, Freckles, figures! He thought she was attractive, but he knew he was wasting his time; all you had to do is see the way they were looking at each other… Terrence…if she wasn't his girlfriend, she will be soon. But he could try just to get on his brother's nerves; at least he'll have his attention.
The shopping went well. The twins were surprised to see Terry so patient and happy while they were shopping. It's crazy what the presence of one person can do! They always did all the big department stores; Harods, Selfridges, Alders, BHS not to mention all the boutiques. Candy bought some souvenirs for Miss Pony, Sister Maria and her little friends. She also thought about Annie, Patty and Tanisha. She wanted to buy a present for Terry.
- Rose Anna, can you take Terry somewhere, I want to buy him something…
- Ok, no problem said Rose Anna
She took Terry away pretending she wanted his advice on something. Candy and Anna Rose went to get something for Terry. She asked for it to be gift rapped. She'll give it to him in good time.
Terry on his side, was with Rose Anna and he told her:
- I'm going to buy something for Candy….
He bought a present for Candy and asked for it to be gift-rapped.
"Those two are made for each other, they have the same idea at the same time! Thought Rose Anna"
Junior, to get on Terry's nerves, was behind Candy all day. They went at McDonald's to eat.
- This is for you Candy, said Anna Rose, we eat American food!
When they got out, they met Lizzie, Ethan and some of their friends.
- Hi Ethan, said Anna Rose with a smile
Lizzie looked at Candy and Terry with disdain. Candy and Terry didn't say anything and got out to go to the car, followed by Rose Anna. Junior and Anna Rose talked with Lizzie and Ethan for a little while.
- He's with her? Asked Lizzie to Junior
- No, they are just friends, but not for long
- Damn it! Said Lizzie
- What happened? I thought you had him in the palm of tour hand…
- Blondie arrived…
- I see, you tried to get rid of her and it backfired?
- You understand me so fast…
- I like Blondie…
- Not you too! Can you have her?
- And get killed by my brother? I've never seen him like that. He came shopping with us for her
- He hates shopping with a passion… he protected her at school too
- I can only get on his nerves by being interested in her…
- That's better than nothing, if she succumbs….
- Dream on Lizzie! Did you see the way they look at each other? Ok, I have to go…
Anna Rose was already in the car with the others. Junior arrived last. Terry was talking to Anna Rose.
- I hope the crush you have on Ethan is temporary
- Why?
- He's not a good guy said Terry
Anna Rose didn't answer. She liked Ethan. Candy was looking at her and looked at Terry. Should they tell her what had happened?
- You want to tell her, Freckles?
- Euh… to tell you the truth, you know the story better than me, I don't remember anything
- Ok…
Terry told them what had happened at the Valentine's Day party. The twins were horrified. Junior had an indifferent expression. But inside himself, he was saying;
"_My God Lizzie, what a fool you were! Terry is never going to let her out of his sight!"_
- That's why you broke up with Lizzie? Asked Rose Anna
- Yes, I couldn't stay with a girl that is so mean
- And dangerous said Rose Anna, poor Candy, I'm sorry.
- Thanks. I don't remember anything said Candy
Anna Rose was hurt by what Ethan did. Drugs?
- But I remember being really sad that a person could go this far to hurt me, just because I danced with Terry
She looked at Terry and he looked at her. You could feel the chemistry they had together. Junior looked at them and envied Terry.
" _Friendship? Those two are very much in love with each other! Said Junior to himself"_
When they arrived at the Chateau, another surprise was waiting for them. Terry's grandmother had arrived. She had received a phone call from her son, begging her to go look after the kids at the Chateau.
- Grandma! Said the twins kissing her
- They sent you to look after us, said Junior
- Well, hello to you too, Junior, said the Grandma
- Oh, I'm sorry Grandma, hello said Junior kissing her
- Grandma said Terry kissing her too
- Who is this charming young girl?
- Candice White Andrew said Terry, she's my guest. We go to the same school. She's American.
- Of the Andrews from Chicago? Asked the Grandma
- Yes, Ma'am. Pleased to meet you, said Candy
- Call me Grandma like everybody said the old lady
- Ok, Grandma, said Candy smiling
In Candy's bedroom, Terry was talking to her.
- I'm sorry, Freckles
- For what? She asked surprised
- Well, I thought I was going to find the Chateau empty
- Now we have company…
- And Grandma to play the police
- Two weeks…we're going to have fun, you'll see…
- It doesn't bother you?
- On the contrary, I like family atmosphere.
- Even with Junior?
- Try not to kill each other… is that why you're in boarding school?
- The tension between him and my step mom…
- But your sisters?
- They're great. I don't have a problem with them. Be careful with Junior
- Don't worry about me, and you're here to protect me, Romeo… by the way I have something for you…
- You take the words right out of my mouth! I have something for you…
They exchanged their gifts. Terry opened his; it was a personal organiser with a lot of games incorporated.
- If you feel like smoking, you can play this little game
- Thanks, Freckles he said smiling
She opened her present and discovered a emerald bracelet
- Oh my God, Terry! This is too expensive….
- It's the same colour as your eyes. When I saw it, I thought about you…
- Thanks! She said jumping to his neck, it's very beautiful
- It's funny that we bought each other presents…
- We're n'sync!
- Yeah…
Terry wanted to talk, but Junior who knocked on the door interrupted them.
- Can I come in? He said coming in
He knew he interrupted an intimate moment between them, he did it on purpose.
- You're already in said Terry dryly
- Candy said Junior, ignoring his brother; you want to play Monopoly with us? Grandma is asking it you want to join us
Candy hesitated a little. She didn't want to interrupt her conversation with Terry, but she couldn't disappoint the grandmother either. Terry understood what she was thinking and said;
- Of course, she's going to join us, let's go Freckles
Candy was sorry to have been interrupted… but she smiled and they went together in the leaving room to play Monopoly. Candy was used to the American Monopoly with dollars, she caught up quickly with the British version in pounds.
The next night, they went to the N'sync concert and they had a lot of fun. They met Lizzie and Ethan and their friends again. Anna Rose ignored Ethan who understood that Terry and Candy must have told her what had happened at the Valentine Day's dance. He cursed his cousin to have dragged him in her manipulations.
Candy was standing next to Terry when she heard a voice calling her.
- Candy, Candy? It is you!
She turned around and saw a young man looking and smiling at her.
- Tom? Said Candy running to jump at his neck.
He hugged her and turned with her in his arms. They were both laughing. Terry and the others were looking at them surprised. Terry had a twinge in his heart, he was jealous. Who was this young man? Why did Candy hug him? They seemed to know each other intimately.
- What are you doing here? Asked Candy
- I'm in Oxford for a year, what about you?
- I'm in boarding school, St.Paul Academy
- Boarding school? And you're at an N'sync concert? He joked
- It's the Easter vacations, silly! Said Candy smiling. I spending them at a friend's
- Friend or boyfriend?
- I said "friend"! Tom stop teasing me! Come here, I'm going to introduce you…
They went near Terry and the others
- Terry, everybody, this is Tom. Tom, this is Terry his brother and sisters and their friends…
- Pleased to meet you said Terry
- Hi, said the others
- Hi said Tom smiling
She walked away with Tom and continued talking.
- Wow! To find you here in London… said Tom, give me your cell phone number or should I say "mobile phone" like the British… we have to see each other before I go back to Oxford. I'm going to call you tomorrow, so we can arrange it, ok?
- Ok, here it is. I'll wait for your phone call tomorrow… she said giving him the phone number
- Thanks. Ok, I have to get back to my group. Bye Candy see you tomorrow…
- See you tomorrow…
While, Candy was talking to Tom, Lizzie saw Terry's jealous look.
- You know who it is? They look pretty close…
- Shut up Lizzie! Said Terry
- It's probably one her friends from Chicago said Anna Rose, then whispering in Terry's ear, it's you she wants, I'm sure of it…
Candy arrived and they went back home. They decided to watch a movie before going to bed. They watched, "While you were sleeping" with Sandra Bullock. Candy felt very sad. It was the last movie she had seen with Anthony. Tears started to come down her cheeks.
" _Anthony, I missed you so much! " She whispered_
The lights in the room were off, there was only the light from the big TV, but Terry heard Candy's whispering and turned around and saw the tears.
"_She still loves Anthony!" He said to himself_.
He didn't know that Candy was crazy in love with him. He decided not to make his big declaration of love. She was still thinking about Anthony, he was probably was going to get blown off…
In her bed, Candy continued to cry Anthony. Why was life so cruel? Why did Anthony had to die so young? Before he could finish school, work and marry the girl of his dreams? She took her laptop and started to write a e-mail to Annie, Patty and all her friends. She also wrote one to Romeo
_**Dear Romeo,**_
_**Long time no read! I've missed you! I'm sorry for my big silence, but I had to get over my emotions, physically and morally. Tonight, I felt sad because "While you were sleeping" was the last movie I watched with Anthony. I know that you heard me and saw my tears. I just wanted to clarify that it was the movie that brought me back to the cruel reality of Anthony's death. Life goes on.**_
_**Sincerely yours,**_
_**Freckles**_
But she didn't send the e-mail to Terry. She saved it in a file.
6. Chapter 6
**Tomorrow in your life **
**Chapter 6 **
**"Cooling…" **
The next day, Candy didn't see Terry in the morning. Anna Rose told her that he went for a horse ride, very early in the morning.
"Oh… I wanted to go with him… she said to herself with sadness"
Maybe she should've sent him the e-mail? Tom called her to ask her to come and meet her at Victoria station. She decided to get there alone with busses, trains and the underground. She asked the driver Mr. Holmes to tell her how to get to Victoria station.
- The trip is very long, Miss Andrew, I can drive you…
- No, thanks. I want to try and get there by myself
- Ok, but I'll give you my mobile phone number, if you ever get lost, or you're in trouble; give me a call, Ok?
- OK. And Thank you Mr. Holmes
Candy told the rest of Terry's family that she was going to spend the day with her friend Tom. She left the Chateau and went to the corner store to buy a "Travelcard" for zones 1 to 6. The city of London is so big that it's divided in 6 zones for the public transportation. The busses were from zone 1 to 4; the trains and the underground, from zone 1 to 6. The zone 1 was for the centre of London, so it was also the most expensive one. The Travelcard for zones 1 to 6 was the most expensive one. Candy bought it so she could travel anywhere in case she gets lost. She took the bus to an underground station and went to the centre of London, at Victoria station. She had a little trouble, she made a mistake of direction a few times, because the British drove on the left side, but she finally arrived.
- Tom! She said
- Candy! He said coming near her, hugging her briefly, finally! It took you long enough!
- I'm sorry she said, I got a little lost
- I'm joking! I happy to see you!
- Let's go eat, I'm starving!
They went to eat in a restaurant with unlimited buffet servings.
- So, said Tom, are you ok? I learned about Anthony's death… I'm sorry
- Thanks. It's hard, but life goes on
- And your friend who invited you at his place, there's something between you two?
- No. We're just friends
Candy told him how they met on the plane, then at boarding school. She also told him what happened with Ethan.
- He broke up with the girl? For me, it was a "good riddance"
- What do you mean?
- Well, I think he took advantage of the situation to be free… so he could be with you
- You think…? Oh…
- Would that bother you?
- Euh… said Candy blushing
- Come on, Candy, it's me! The one who told Miss Pony and Sister Maria that I heard you cry, Annie and you. You're my sister, don't be afraid!
- To tell you the truth, I feel good in his presence. I can't stop thinking about him…
- So, why don't you tell him?
- I don't know if I'm ready, I'm still thinking about Anthony…
- And you will still think about Anthony. You have to get use to live with his memory.
- I don't know if I can…
- You have to Candy, otherwise, you won't be able to move on with your life
Tom was right, but she had to do it gradually, slowly. She thought she had accepted Anthony's death, until she saw that movie last night
- Thanks Tommy.
- What are big brothers for? Let's go. I have a digital camera, we're going to take pictures and send them to the Pony House by e-mail. We are going to do the tour of London together, well, at least the centre of London…
- Yeah, London is way too big!
She spent a very good day in London with her big brother Tom. They took the tour on the bus tour; a double-decker with a roofless top. They saw Buckingham Palace, the house of parliament, Westminster abbey, the Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, the crown jewels, the post office tower etc. After that, they went to the museum of history, it was huge! It took them almost three hours to see everything and there were a lot of tourists. Then they went to Madame Tussaud's wax museum. There were a lot of people there too; the line was going very slowly. At the entrance of the museum, the visitors posed for a picture with the wax statue of Arnold Swarzenegger. They then gave them a coupon so they could buy the picture at the exit if they wanted to. Inside they took picture with all the statues of dead or alive celebrities, in diverse positions; holding them, sitting next to them, almost kissing them… They took pictures with other tourists too… Four hours later, they finally got out tired and breathless. They bought the picture with the Statue of Arnold Swarzenegger.
- Let me take you back, we're going to take a cab, said Tom
- But it would be too expensive
- Let me spoil you, little sister
They took a cab. Candy fell asleep in Tom's arms, until they arrive at the Chateau of flowers in front of the gate.
- Candy wake up! Said Tom, that's your Prince's palace? Impressive!
He got out of the cab to say goodbye
- I'm going to call you in front of my computer to send you the pictures
- Ok. Tommy, thanks for this beautiful day, I had a lot of fun
- You're very welcome, sis. It was a pleasure to spend the day with a familiar face and a familiar accent!
Candy started to laugh and Tom too. He leaned to kiss her on the cheek and she moved her head at the same time and Tom's lips landed very close to her lips…
Terry was looking at them from afar and from where he was, Candy was kissing Tom on the lips! His heart was broken into a thousand pieces.
Candy finished with her goodbyes to Tom, he left and she rang the gate and the door opened.
It was almost diner time. Candy went to her room, took a quick shower and changed for diner. Rose Anna came to see her in her room.
- Hey, long time no see! Did you have fun?
- Yes, thanks. Said Candy smiling. Do you know where Terry is?
- He must be somewhere
- I haven't seen him today
- You weren't here
- He wasn't here this morning
- You miss him
Candy blushed.
- Well, I'm his guest after all…
- Yes, of course said Rose Anna, You're ready? We have visitors…
They went to the leaving room join the others while waiting for the diner to be served. There was Terry, Junior, Anna Rose, the Grandmother, a young girl name Miranda, another one name Bianca, a young man name Winston and his brother Preston. Candy looked for Terry with her eyes, he was standing near Miranda and Bianca. He didn't even look at her. What was happening? Why was Terry ignoring her? She hadn't seen him all day, and now he was giving her the cold shoulder? Rose Anna introduced her to Winston and Preston who started to talk with her. Junior came and joined them. Candy was wondering when Terry was going to come and save her…
Anna Rose went to Terry while Rose Anna was talking to Miranda and Bianca.
- Terry are you mad at Candy?
- What makes you say that?
- You're ignoring her. Listen, I don't know what's going on between you two, but she's your guest. You brought her here and you have to take care of her… you're going to spend the next two weeks ignoring her?
Terry remained silent. His sister was right; he couldn't ignore her during all the vacations. But she was kissing another one boy, that Tom! Last night she was crying Anthony… he was jealous. But Candy was his guest and he had to swallow his pride and take care of her like he should. He walked towards Candy who was in the middle of Winston, Preston and Junior.
- Candy, good evening. Can I talk to you?
A smile illuminated Candy's face.
- Yes of course, Terry. Excuse-me gentlemen…
She left them and followed Terry aside.
- Finally! I thought you'd never come! What took you so long? Asked Candy
- You left without seeing me
- You too… I missed you
- You had fun with Tom?
- Yes the day was great, but exhausting…
- That, I'm sure of! Said Terry ironically
- What's with the sarcasm?
Candy didn't understand where the sarcasm was coming from. She wanted to ask him, but they announced that diner was served.
The diner went fine. They talked of all and nothing. After diner, they all took the tea in the leaving room. Terry stayed next to Candy, that way, stopping the other boys from coming near her. But Candy still felt the chill from Terry. He was very formal with her. When the guests left, everybody went to bed. Terry walked her to her bedroom door.
- Good night, he said and he wanted to go
Candy held him back by the arm.
- Terry? Do you want to come in for a moment?
- I don't think…
- Please, I have to talk to you
The others were looking at them. Terry was a little uncomfortable
- Ok, he finally said
He got into the room with her.
- Terry, what's going on?
- What?
- Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?
- I…
- It's because I spent the day with Tom? I wanted you to come with me, but you weren't there…
- I went horse riding…
- Without me? I wanted to come with you
There was a moment of silence. Terry knew he behaved badly with her, but… he was jealous.
- Terry she continued, you invited me to spend the Easter vacations with you. I'm here because of you. If I'm bothering you, I can go back to St. Paul or even go to Oxford and see Tom…
"Tom, that Tom again!" said Terry to himself
- If you go to Oxford, you're going to stay with him…? Asked Terry
Candy realised that Terry was very uncomfortable, every time she mentioned Tom's name. That was it! He was jealous! Candy felt all happy inside.
- Oh Terry, Tom is a brother. You do know that I'm adopted? We were in the same orphanage. In fact he's the one who heard Annie and I cry in front of the door the night we were abandoned and he alerted Miss Pony and Sister Maria.
"But she was kissing him on the lips…" he thought
- We know each other since childhood… continued Candy, he's my big brother
- Ok. Said Terry. I apologise Candy. You're my guest and I promise you I wont behave that badly again
- And I promise you not to go anywhere without seeing you or talk to you. I'm sorry Romeo
- I'm going to bed he said smiling
- Good night Romeo
- Good night, Freckles
Candy felt a lot better after Terry left. He was jealous of Tom! Super! She decided to send him the e-mail she wrote the night before.
Terry turned on his computer to check his e-mail. His heart jumped with joy. There was finally an e-mail from Candy. When he finished reading it, he felt a lot better. She knew he had seen her cry and she wanted to reassure him.
The rest of the vacations went very well starting from that night on. Candy and Terry became inseparable. They were doing everything together, horse riding, in the morning, they played Tennis, ball etc. The twins joined them when they were available. Junior was sulking the majority of the time. Candy preferred Terry's company and he couldn't get her attention. Every time they all went out for shopping or for fun, they would meet Lizzie, Ethan and her group. Junior was calling Lizzie to tell them where they would be. She always came just to see Terry.
Candy finally received the phone call from Georges, two days before the end of vacations. He told her that Uncle William would meet her in nice restaurant in London.
- Come with me please, she begged Terry
- You don't want to be alone with him?
- I want you to come with me she said
- Ok he said, I'll come with you
Candy got dressed for the occasion, a nice restaurant… they were both very elegant; Candy had a nice black dress, short with no sleeves and thin strap. Terry was wearing a nice black suit, a black shirt with a white tie.
- Wow, you two make a beautiful coupe said Rose Anna
- Thanks Rose Anna said Terry. Let's go Freckles
They took Terry's Jaguar because Junior had other plans with the driver. They had to find a parking spot, that's one of the reasons Terry like to be with the driver, so he won't have to look for parking spaces. They arrived at the restaurant and asked for William Andrew's table. They were taken to a table near the window. Uncle William wasn't there yet.
- I feel like we're on our first date said Terry
- Me too said Candy smiling, I wonder where Uncle William is…?
The waiter brought some bread and butter. They order their dinner and started to talk. Candy saw a man from a far. He was tall and blond she smiled at him and he came near their table.
- Mr. Albert said Candy standing up to kiss him
She hugged her, Albert smiled.
- Terry said Albert
- Albert what are you doing here? Asked Terry
- Terry, you know Mr. Albert?
- We've met already said Albert
- When I sneak out at night… said Terry
- Sneak out at night? Said Candy, you mean you get out of boarding school at night to go drink in bar? Never mind, I don't want to know
- Have a sit Albert, said Terry
- I have a business meeting said Albert with a man, but I think he stood me up
- Stay with us said Candy, we're waiting for my Uncle William, but I think he stood me up too… He must be very busy
- Ok, said Albert calling the waiter with the hand so he could place his order
He ordered his dinner and then he asked Candy;
- So Candy, how are you? The last time I saw you…
- …I was crying Anthony said Candy softly. I'm better, a lot better she said looking at Terry, I'm spending my Easter vacations in Terry's family. His parents are not there.
- Oh… said Albert
- My brother and sisters are there, so is my Grandmother to keep an eye on us said Terry
- You see, Mr. Albert, we're not alone, in fact I think we had more freedom in boarding school, said Candy
- You reassured me, said Albert
They had dinner together and they talked of this and that. Albert told them he was working a the London zoo but he was thinking of going to Africa, in Congo more precisely, in a few months to go defend the mountain gorillas who was a species in extinction.
- Do you realise that those poor gorillas are killed just for their hands… they are sold very expensive as ashtray! Said Albert
- And also for their heads said Terry
- My God, said Candy, that's awful!
- I read that they are less than 200 left said Terry and the numbers are going down by the day
- And that sometimes they killed females that are pregnant, which means that they are killing gorillas that aren't even born yet said Candy
- I hope I can make a difference for those remaining said Albert
- Good luck, Mr. Albert said Candy
- Yes, good luck said Terry
- Thank you, I will need it said Albert
Candy and Terry told him how they met on the plane and at school.
- Terry is the "King" of the school, he created terror said Candy and the girl with whom I had words with, was his girlfriend
- My girlfriend at the time, had told me that this girl humiliated her, I had to make a decision…
- …between leaving me alone our ban me…
- Boy, wasn't I surprised to see that the girl in question…
- …was me!
Albert was looking at them smiling while they were telling their story the both of them, finishing each other's sentences.
" Those two are in love, he said to himself, their chemistry is incredible. They look at each other with so much love… Candy, I hope you give him a chance…"
Once the dinner was over, they had tea and Albert had to leave.
- Thanks for keeping us company Mr. Albert said Candy, Uncle William must have been detained somewhere on business… at least he paid for the dinner
- The pleasure was all mine Candy, said Albert, good night
- Good night said Candy and Terry at the same time
Albert left. Later in the car, Terry asked;
- Candy, you want to go somewhere before we go back home? It's still early…
- Where?
- In a club… I promise you, I won't drink…
- Ok, she said
They went in a club in vogue. Terry took his tie off. There were a lot of people, smoke and not a single clear light. They danced a little and had a lot of fun. About an hour later, they met Junior and Lizzie. They seemed…stoned.
- Terry? Said Lizzie smiling, good evening! Candy! Hi! You're very beautiful as usual…
- Terrence! Said Junior jumping to his neck, my brother dearest!
Candy and Terry looked at each other. What was going on?
- They're stoned said Candy, Ecstasy… I did some research after my bad experience, they have all the symptoms…
- Oh, Junior, Lizzie! Said Terry exhausted, we better get out of here.
- Ok, said Candy
Terry took Junior and Candy took Lizzie. They went outside, the driver, Mr. Holmes was waiting for them in front of the door. He got out of the car to help them; he opened the door to let them in the car.
- Mr. Holmes said Terry, can you drive Lizzie to her home? I'll follow you with my car. Come on, Candy
They went to get the Jaguar and followed Mr. Holmes to the Barrington's then to the Chateau. Junior was still on his ecstatic cloud.
- Candy said Junior softly, you're very beautiful, Terrence you are very lucky… what are you waiting for, to j…
- Shut up Junior! Said Terry
- Why are you mad? You have to be happy… like me… you want some ecstasy? You're going to feel happy… I promise you…
- No, thanks Junior
They took him to his room and laid him on the bed. They then went to their bedrooms. The nice evening had now a bitter taste. Junior and Lizzie drugged, made them think about Candy's experience. Lizzie had drugged her so her cousin could abuse her… that was painful!
- Good night Candy
- Good night Terry
Candy in her bed saw feeling sad. All the sadness and the horrible sensation she felt the next morning of her experience, came back running. She spent a very bad night.
Terry also felt bad. Him and his brother didn't get along, but he couldn't leave him on that path to perdition. It would be like watching a friend drowning and doing nothing. They didn't report Candy's incident because they didn't want to answer too many questions and Candy would have been in trouble for having drugs in her system, voluntarily or not. He had to talk to his grandmother, so she could call his parents. Junior and Lizzie needed help.
The drug ecstasy, even though it had a temporally incredible effect, it was like all the drugs, bad for your health. In the beginning, it was a legal drug; used to help manic-depressive people. All those events reminded Terry of Candy's case. The memory was enough to bring a dark cloud to their vacations.
The next day, Terry told his grandmother about the incident. She was horrified and called Terry's parents who decided to come back sooner to take care of the problem; unfortunately, they couldn't find any flight that same day. But they were going to come in the next day. Junior was in the state you get after taking drugs; he wasn't hungry, no, he was hungry but didn't feel like eating. The twins were very sad to see their brother in that state.
The grandmother also called Lizzie's parents to talk to them. They took it very bad. Their daughter? Doing drugs? No! They refuse to believe it. By doing that, they were not doing their daughter a favour; she was going to continue doing drugs.
Candy had lost her usual happy mood. Terry saw the change in her. He decided to take her back to St.Paul earlier than they planned, and before his parent's return.
- Freckles! Are you ok?
- Not really…
- You want to go back to St.Paul?
- That wouldn't bother you?
- No, on the contrary! I have to get out of this house…. Go get ready; I'm going to tell the others.
The grandmother and the twins were sorry to see them leave.
- You're running away from Mom and Dad, aren't you Terry? Said Rose Anna
- Maybe, but Candy is a little shaken up by Junior's actions. She may not remember anything from her own experience, but she remembered the horrible sensation the following days.
- Oh… we understand said Anna Rose, have good ride. I keep you in touch…
Miller took Candy's luggage in Terry's car. Candy came down to say goodbye to the twins and the grandmother
- Bye girls said Candy, it was a pleasure spending time with you. Bye Grandma, see you next time, maybe
She hugged them one by one.
- Good bye, little one said the grandmother, I'm sorry to see you leave so soon
- Good bye Candy said the twins, see you next time
- Goodbye said Terry kissing them
The trip back was gloomy, they barely talked. The drug incident had put a black cloud into their almost perfect vacations. Once in school, he took her to her room with her luggage.
- Thanks said Candy
- Ok, Good night
- Good night, Romeo
7. Chapter 7
**Tomorrow in you life…**
**Chapter 7 **
"**A burning fever"**
Candy and Terry came back a little earlier; most of the students were coming back on Sunday night, so the school was almost empty.
Candy got a phone call from Tom, which cheered her up.
- Candy! I'm in front of my computer, the pictures are ready…
- Tommy, good evening… you're right on cue!
- What's wrong?
Tom felt the sadness in his little sister's voice. Candy told him about what had happened with Junior and the memories it brought back. Tom consoled her and encouraged her to feel better. He sent her the pictures by e-mail. She opened them right away and they comment on them together, on the beautiful day they spent together. She felt a lot better.
The following day, Terry went back home for his brother's intervention. Even though they didn't get along, they were still brothers, they had the same blood.
On Sunday night, the students started to come back to school. Patty, and Tanisha arrived. The friends hugged each other.
- So, said Annie, how did you spend you vacations?
- You must've been bored all alone said Patty
- Poor Candy said Tanisha hugging her
- Thanks but I wasn't alone… said Candy
- Really? Asked Annie
- Who were you with? Asked Patty
- With Terry, said Candy
- WHAT! Yelled the three friends at the same time
They looked at Candy like she had three heads.
- He invited me at his parents' house… or should I say the Chateau of flowers…
- The Chateau of flowers? You were at the Grandchester's Chateau of flowers? Said Patty
- Yes, said Candy and I spent the vacations with …
- Terry, said Annie.
- And his brother, his sisters and his grandmother…
- Oh said Tanisha, Wow! He invited you to spend the Easter vacation with him? How was it?
- Super, we went to see N'sync concert where I met Tom, Annie
- Really? Said Annie, Tom is our brother from the orphanage she explained to Patty and Tanisha
- We met the next day, we did the London tour with the bus and we went to the museum of history and Madame Tussaud's, he sent me the pictures by e-mail
Candy showed them the pictures from Madame Tussaud's.
- They are very pretty, Terry wasn't there Asked Annie
- No, he was out early in the morning, when I went to meet Tom
- Tom is cute…So asked Tanisha where is your relationship with Terry?
- We are good friends…
- "Good friends"? Said Annie, you spend the vacations at his house and you're only "good friends"
- Sorry to disappoint you said Candy
- You're killing us! Said Tanisha, Candy, you are impossible!
Candy burst out laughing. She told them about the rest of the vacations, without the "Junior drug incident". It was a private problem and it wasn't her place to talk about it.
School was back and Candy continued helping football players. Lizzie came back to school and acted like nothing happened. She continued doing ecstasy and was always in a very bad mood in the next day, nothing out of the ordinary there. Eliza became friends with Lizzie after Terry broke up with her. But Eliza had a thing for Terry, and she hoped secretly to seduce him… in her dreams. Lizzie was still hoping to get Terry back, because after being with Terry and being so mean with everybody, the boys were kind of afraid of her. Some though were trying…
Candy and Terry continued being friends; it's like they were afraid of taking the next step… they continued e-mailing each other, regularly.
Candy was still asking herself why no one was asking her out. Didn't Terry say that all the boys were ready to fall into her arms? She learned why by accident. She was in the library doing some research for a history paper. She wasn't feeling well since the morning. She was working with a boy a little shy with big glasses, name Kenny. He was part of the group they called the "nerds". They were always in their own corners but very brilliant in class. Candy as usual didn't care about any of that. They came out of the library.
Lizzie and her group were in the hallway waiting to see the math's teacher. Candy had a terrible headache, sore throat and she was cold.
- Hey nerdy said Lizzie, you're not afraid of getting yourself killed? You're on private property…
Candy ignored them, but was wondering what Lizzie was talking about. Kenny blushed, but said nothing. They continued walking and they heard other comments.
- The nerd! You're courageous! Said one voice
- You've got more guts than we thought! Said another voice
And so on. Candy finally asked Kenny what was that all about.
- What's happening? Why is everybody teasing you?
- It's nothing, they're being ridiculous…
- Tell me what's happening….
- You mean you don't know?
- I don't know what?
- Terry gave the order to all the boys to leave you alone…
- Leave me alone? How? Why?
- Not to ask you out…
- WHAT!
- Yes, he wants you for himself…
- Since when?
- Since the first day in the cafeteria….
Candy felt her head hurting even more. She wanted to go to sleep under the blankets in her bed. But she had to talk to Terry first. How dared he? How arrogant! He wanted her for himself? So he made sure no one asks her out? So why wasn't he doing anything? That's why no boy was even looking at her! How dared he! She wanted to talk to him. She did an ultimate effort and went where he was with his friends. He saw her from a far and saw her pale face.
- Candy, he said, you look sick, are you ok?
- No, I'm not! She said with anger
- But what…?
- I just heard that you gave the order to all the boys not to ask me out?
- WHAT! But…
- You didn't tell the boys to leave me alone?
- Yes, but, they understood me wrong…
- Why Terry? She asked with a weak voice
- Candy let me explain it to you…
- You had a girlfriend! And you were keeping me as a spare?
- No, it's not that…
- You had no ri…
Candy saw the world spinning around her, and she fell into a black hole, just in time to hear Terry's voice call her…she was fainting
- Candy!
Terry caught her. She was burning with fever. Terry carried her, one of his friend picked up Candy's stuff. Terry took her to the infirmary. The nurse told them it was probably a bad case of the flu, but since she fainted, they had to take her to the hospital so a doctor could look at her.
- Mr. Grandchester, the school's vehicle is busy with other errands, said Reverend Mother, can you take her to the hospital? Her cousin Mr. Cornwell is busy in the science lab. To call an ambulance is going to take too much time. (Ambulances in London take a very long time to come) We will follow you as soon as the car gets here.
- Consider it done! Said Terry running to get his car
He came back a few minutes later and took Candy in his car. Tanisha who was there and who had heard the news went with them to the hospital. Once in the hospital, nurses who took her to the emergency room greeted them. A lot time passed before the doctors were able to tell them something. The Reverend Mother arrived with Sister Margaret and other teachers. Stear, Archie, Annie and Patty arrived a few minutes later.
- So? Asked the Reverend Mother
- They're doing some tests said Tanisha
- Why are you here? Asked Archie to Terry
- Not now, Cornwell! Said an irritated Terry getting away from him
- She fainted in front of him explained Tanisha, he's the one who brought her here with his car
- Oh… said Archie
The doctor finally came to talk to them after a time that seemed interminable.
- Well, are her parents here? Asked the doctor
- No, doctor, answered the Reverend Mother, she's in boarding school. She's under our responsibility
- Ok, she has influenza, a very bad case of it and we are trying to bring the fever down. I will come when I know more
Stear and Archie walked to the washrooms.
- That Grandchester is getting on my nerves… said Archie, he's always behind her
- And she likes it said Stear, she likes him. That's what's bothering you isn't it?
- I still can't believe she spent the Easter vacation at his place!
- I think it was nice of him to offer…
- But telling the boy not to ask her out…
- It was taken out of context. He was talking about what Lizzie provoked on her first day…
- Well, said Archie ironically, are you his new spokesperson or what?
- I'm going to go wait with the others… said Stear leaving
He was in Terry's class and he found him likeable. He went to sit next to Patty and they started to talk.
Candy's condition didn't get better and the others had to go back to school. The teachers will come to get some news in the morning. Terry wanted to stay, but he was not authorized.
Candy's fever came down in the morning. She was allowed to go back to school, but had to say in bed for a week. She didn't go to class but she was able to give her work, a little late, the teachers understanding. Other students became also sick. The classes were almost empty. Her friends came to see her but the boys couldn't come. She spent most of her time sleeping. Her friends brought her the notes of the day.
- Annie, Patty this school doesn't love me; first I'm drugged; now I become very sick…
- Come on Candy said Annie; those are the facts of life….
- How's Terry? She asked
- Your saviour? Said Patty
- My saviour? Said Candy
- Yes, you fainted in front of him said Patty
- I vaguely remember, I thought it was a dream
- He brought you to the hospital, the school vehicle wasn't available, said Tanisha
- Oh… I think I was screaming at him when…said Candy
- You were screaming at him? Asked Annie
- Yes, I heard that he told all the boys not to ask me out…she explained
- Wow said Tanisha, super!
- Super! I was mad, how dare he? Said Candy
- He wants you for him! Said Tanisha
- He gave that order when he was still with Lizzie…said Candy
- Stear told me it was taken out of context said Patty, it was about what Lizzie had provoked the first day you were here
- Oh, said Candy, so I yelled at him for nothing? Superb!
They talked for a while.
- I have an article to finish said Patty, good night
- And we have papers due tomorrow, said Tanisha, see you later and good night if I don't see you…
- It's my last day of vacation said Candy, tomorrow; I'm coming to class. Don't forget to pick me up
- Ok said Annie, good night sweetie…
- Good night girls!
Candy rested a little and decided to do her work too. When she was done, she started to arrange her thing for school, her books, her uniform. She was listening to music. She was thinking about Terry. She hadn't seen him for a week. She missed him. She wanted to see him…. Should she go to his room? But she didn't know his window. She started to brush her hair.
"_Oh Terry, I want to see you so much…"she thought_.
She wanted to see him to thank him and to apologise for screaming at him. She was only angry to learn that "He was keeping as a spare". He had Lizzie…. She felt humiliated, almost like a consolation prize. But it was only a misunderstanding. She was attracted to him ever since she saw him on the plane. She was hoping secretly in her heart to be with him. She thought he felt the same way, that he wanted to be with her, but the circumstances of the moment didn't permit it. Then he broke up with Lizzie, he invited her to spend the Easter vacations with him at the Chateau of flowers. They thought the house was going to be empty, but his brother and sisters were there. She was hoping secretly that something would happen, but the occasion didn't present itself. Now after her illness, she felt the need to be with Terry, it was stronger than ever, stronger than the other times. She wanted to know why.
"Terry, do you want to see me as much as I want to see you? Come and see me, Terry, come and see me… I want to see you…" she repeated in her head.
She hoped that this telepathic message would work. They say everybody has a telepathic ability. You just have to know how to use it, with whom, and in what circumstances. And when you receive a telepathic message awake, you don't hear the voice of the person calling us, but you feel a sudden urge, a very strong urge, to see that person, to talk and to be with that person.
8. Chapter 8
_**Tomorrow in your life**_
_**Chapter 8
"Tell me you love me…"**_
Terry was in his bedroom had a very strong feeling to see Candy, but since she was mad at him before she fainted, he stayed away. But the need to see her had become stronger and stronger. He couldn't take it anymore; he went out the window. It was raining hard with lightening and thunder, but he didn't care.
Candy was in her room listening to slows, when she heard a noise at her window.
_
"Terry I miss you so much. I want to go to your room…"_
She heard another noise. She thought it was the branches of the tree on the glass of her window. She went to see and was surprised to see Terry, soaking wet. She opened the window.
- Terry, come in… you didn't see the rain?
- I wanted to see you… How are you?
- I'm better, thanks, she said going to get a towel in the bathroom, that she gave him
- Thanks, he said
He started to dry is hair with the towel. He was very attractive with his wet hair. Candy felt a little funny, she wanted to be next to Terry and put her fingers in his wet hair. The song that was playing at that moment, was "A whole new world" from the Disney's movie Aladdin, the cartoon. Terry started to sing; since the song was a duet between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, Candy sang Jasmine's part.
_**(Aladdin)I can show you the world**_
_**Shining, shimmering, splendid**_
_**Tell me, princess, now when did**_
_**You last let your heart decide?**_
_**I can open your eyes**_
_**Take you wonder by wonder**_
_**Over, sideways and under**_
_**On a magic carpet ride**_
_**A whole new world**_
_**A new fantastic point of view**_
_**No one to tell us no**_
_**Or where to go**_
_**Or say we're only dreaming**_
_**(Jasmine)A whole new world**_
_**A dazzling place I never knew**_
_**But when I'm way up here**_
_**It's crystal clear**_
_**that now I'm in a whole new world with you**_
_**(Aladdin)Now I'm in a whole new world with you**_
_**(Jasmine)Unbelievable sights**_
_**Indescribable feeling**_
_**Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling**_
_**Through an endless diamond sky**_
_**(Jasmine)A whole new world**_
_**(Aladdin)Don't you dare close your eyes**_
_**(Jasmine)A hundred thousand things to see**_
_**(Aladdin)Hold your breath - it gets better**_
_**(Jasmine)I'm like a shooting star**_
_**I've come so far**_
_**I can't go back to where I used to be**_
_**(Aladdin)A whole new world**_
_**(Jasmine)Every turn a surprise**_
_**(Aladdin)With new horizons to pursue**_
_**(Jasmine)Every moment gets better**_
_**(Both)I'll chase them anywhere**_
_**There's time to spare**_
_**Let me share this whole new world with you**_
_**(Aladdin)A whole new world**_
_**(Jasmine)A whole new world**_
_**(Aladdin)That's where we'll be**_
_**(Jasmine)That's where we'll be**_
_**(Aladdin)A thrilling chase**_
_**(Jasmine)A wondrous place**_
_**(Both)For you and me
**_
When they finished, they both started laughing.
- Terrence Grandchester, I didn't know that you watched cartoons, and let alone knew the songs!
- If you repeat that to anyone, I'm going to deny it…
- I won't say anything, it will be our little secret, Romeo… she said smiling
She was wearing a pink pyjama in silk; it was shorts, very short and the top was also short with thin straps. Her belly button was showing. Terry was looking at her and felt like caressing Candy's soft skin.
Candy felt observed and she went to put on a robe that went with the pyjama. But it was almost as short as the shorts and her beautiful legs were still showing.
- Thanks for catching me when I fainted…
- The pleasure was all mine, he joked
- That, I'm sure of it… she said on the same tone, I'm sorry for yelling at you
- I understand, don't worry. You felt like a spare tire
- Something like that
- It was taken out of context
The song that was playing at that moment was "The day I fell in love", a duet from James Ingram and Dolly Parton. Which only accentuated the intensity of the physical attraction already in the air.
_Key: (B) Boy
(G) Girl
(T) Together
(B) Just an ordinary day Started out the same old way Then I looked into your eyes and knew Today would be a first for me The day I fall in love
(G) On the day I fall in love Sky will be a perfect blue And I'll give my heart forever more To someone who is just like you The day I fall in love
(T) People all say love is wonderful That the bells will ring_
_The birds will sing The skies will open I wonder where's that great big symphony
(G) Roll over Beethoven Won't you play with me
(T) And I'll never promise to be true to anyone
(B) Unless it's you
(G) Unless it's you
(T) The day I fall in love
(T) People all say love is wonderful
(B) Love is wonderful
(T) That the bells will ring The birds will sing The skies will open I wonder where's that great big symphony
(B) I'll be a Beethoven
(G) Roll over Beethoven
(B) Come play with me
(T) Just an ordinary day Started out the same old way Then I looked into your eyes and knew Today would be
(G) A first for me
(B) A first for me
(T) The day I fall in love
(B) I know you'll be there
(G) Ooh...I know..._
_(T) The day I fall in love_
They looked at each other with so much love and Candy knew for sure at that moment, that she was in love with Terry. She never thought she would love another one so much and so strong after Anthony. She loved Terry with all her heart; she wanted to be with him… what about him? Judging by his eyes, it was reciprocated, but those things needed to be said out loud.
Terry was looking her in the eyes. Those green emerald eyes in which he drowned, the first time he saw them. But she was crying another boy, whom she missed and he was with Lizzie sure, but he wasn't in love with her. She was distraction while he was at school. But Candy…she made him feel feelings he didn't suspect existed. He looked on her night table, and saw Anthony's picture. But he decided to throw himself in the water, even if she didn't share his feelings… it's a risk he was willing to take, he was alive.
Candy followed Terry's look to Anthony's picture. She felt him a little less sure of himself. She was not going to let him leave this time around, without saying what she had in her heart.
- Terry, did you come just to see how I was doing?
- You were sick and…
- You saw Anthony's picture…
- You still think about him, you look at it before you sleep and when you wake up…
- Yes, I loved him and I miss him
- Oh… but, he won't come back, he's dead. I'm alive…
- You can give me a reason to take off Anthony's picture… why are you really here, Terry?
She went to sit next to him on the bed. She took Anthony's picture and put it in the drawer of her night table.
- There's only the two of us now, she said, you can talk, I'm listening
- Candy…. I came to see how you were, but I could've send you an e-mail or call you tomorrow. But the truth is, I can't stop thinking about you…I love you
Candy's face was full of joy, Terry shared her feelings! She suspected it, but it was a pleasure to hear it! He continued to talk
- Candy, I know that you love someone else…
- What do you mean?
- While you were delirious under the influence of the drugs Lizzie gave you, you called Anthony…
- Really? And what was I saying?
- You were telling him not to take the car…
- Oh… he died in a car accident…
- I'm sorry
- Thanks. That's all I said?
- Euh… you also told Romeo you loved him…
- What? Oh…
- The effects of the drugs, certainly
- The effects of the drugs? While I was delirious, I called Anthony, telling him not to take the car; you conclude that I loved him. I tell Romeo that I love him, and you conclude that I'm delirious?
- I'm not following you…
- I call Anthony, who is already dead, to prevent him from taking a car that had already killed him…. I tell Romeo that is alive, that I love him…in your opinion, where is the delirium?
- You mean….?
- That I love you, you big fool! She said smiling
- Oh… said Terry smiling at first, then his smile vanished
She was kissing Tom at the gate of his father's Chateau!
- Terry, is something wrong? She asked seeing his expression change
- What about Tom?
- Tom? Tommy? Why are you talking about him?
- I saw you kiss him at the Chateau…
- You what? There must be a mistake…
- But I saw you he insisted
- But…
Candy thought for a minute. What was Terry talking about? Tom and her at the Chateau? …Oh! She understood everything!
- Where were you looking at us from?
- The living room's window
- I see. Tom leaned to kiss me on the cheek and I turned my head at the same moment. His lips landed very close to mine. From a far, it could've looked like a kiss on the lips
- Oh… said Terry who felt ridiculous all of a sudden and relieved
- Tom is a big brother. That's why you gave me the cold shoulder that evening? Oh Terry, you should've talk to me about it, I had no idea… you're the only one in my heart, I love you Terry…
They approached their faces and their lips were finally welded together. Their first kiss. Terry wanted to kiss her since the first time he laid his eyes on her on the plane; he held her tight against him. All those weeks, he was craving her kisses. He didn't know how, but he knew that he would end up tasting, Candy's lips… and he wasn't disappointed by what he was feeling!
Candy closed her eyes, tied her arms around Terry's neck, was caressing his wet hair a savouring the kiss to the fullest. Terry loved her, Terry was kissing her, caressing her and she felt all her sense enflaming. She wanted to stay there, in his arms for good. Even in her most beautiful dreams, she never felt so good. They continued for a long moment. Terry didn't want to go too far the first day, since they hadn't talked about it yet. When they stopped, they were breathless.
- I'm so happy said Candy curling up against him, I was thinking of you, I wanted to see you… so I was repeating the phrase in my head, that you come to see me…
- I must've got it, because, I wanted to see you before, but tonight, the urge to see you suddenly became stronger…
- We're on the same page…
- You know that Lizzie is going to try to hurt you again, he said holding her tighter
- I still can't believe she gave me rohypnol, the date rape drug, so her cousin could abuse me
- I'm sorry
- I almost lost my virginity without knowing it…
Virginity… she was a virgin, like he hoped. She didn't do it with Anthony. They never really talked about the drug incident, before.
- Thanks for saving me Romeo… by the way, how did you find yourself there?
- Lizzie brought me probably so I can catch you and Ethan in bed together… but she didn't count on your resistance… drugs are so unpredictable; we don't know the effect they have on each person… so her plan didn't work
- Talk about backfire! Did you give her a reason to be threatened by me like that?
- The fact that I was protecting you, talking to you….
- That's all?
- For Lizzie, that was enough
- You mustn't have done it often for her to feel so insecure…
- You're not anybody, Freckles…he said with a tender voice
- So she was a little right, wasn't she? You love me…
- Yes, I love you Freckles, I loved you since the moment I laid my eyes on you. But I thought you weren't free, or at least still in love w…with someone else. Despite the e-mail we were exchanging
- I thought I made you understand that I wanted more in the future before I knew you had a girlfriend. I couldn't get you out of my head. Finding you with a girlfriend hurt me more than I thought
- And me to discover that you were free all that time…
- You wanted to kiss me at midnight, on the plane, didn't you?
- I didn't dare
- It was the new year, you should've taken advantage of the moment
- You wouldn't have been mad?
- If it would've been as good as the kiss we just shared…
- Damn it! But I'm happy I found you again
- Me too. I was expecting you to say something at the Chateau…
- Junior was always disturbing us, and there were also my sisters, my grandmother, Tom…
Candy smiled.
- You thought the house was going to be empty… by the way, how's your family?
- My family is fine. Junior is in rehab, apparently, he wasn't doing only ecstasy
- Oh… I'm sorry
- Thanks. My stepmother changed her attitude towards me; ever since the intervention for Junior. We are…polite now
- That's better than hostility
- Yes. When she realised that I wanted to help Junior, she probably said to herself that I didn't want to take his place…
- It's a pity that it took a tragedy for it to happen
- Well, that's life. Now, enough with my family… let me show you how much I love you…
They kissed and cuddled for a while.
- I have to go said Terry, see you tomorrow a school, honey
- Hum hum she said, dragging him to her to kiss him again…
Terry went back to his bedroom at dawn.
The next morning, Annie and Patty came to pick up Candy to go to school.
They found Candy singing. They looked at each other.
- Candy said Patty, you're a happy camper… you have something to tell us?
- It's Terry isn't it? Asked Annie, you're with him…
- Really? Said Patty
- Yes, I'm so happy said Candy with dreamy eyes
- When did it happen? Asked Patty
- Last night…
- After we left? You must've slept on a cloud… congratulations said Annie
- He loves me, Annie and I love him too
- You didn't…? Asked Patty
- The first day? Are you out of your mind? Said Candy smiling
- He'll have to get used to your rhythm… with Lizzie they did…continued Patty
- The horizontal mambo? Said Candy, I not saying that I'm never going to do it, but he loves me, he'll wait… I'm sure of it. Well, I think….we haven't talked about it yet…
- Patty, stop raining on her parade, don't be a party pooper said Annie, let her be happy, she deserves it
- Ok, said Patty, I'm sorry Candy
- No, Patty. It's nice of you to worry about me
- You know that Lizzie is going to react…? Asked Patty, you saw what she did when Terry just talked to you…
- She's the new queen said Annie, Lizzie can't do anything
- But she's still going to try said Patty
- We'll cross that bridge when we get there, said Candy, in the mean time, I can't wait to see Terry!
- Did I hear you right? Asked Tanisha entering her room, you're with Terry now?
- Yes said Candy, not too sure of herself; Tanisha was unpredictable
- SUPER! HEY GIRLS, she yelled, Candy HAS DETHROWNED LIZZIE!
That's how the news got spread like wildfire in the whole school. The cell phones started to ring in the whole dorm, so, by the time classes started everybody knew that Candy was with Terry.
Terry was coming out of his room to go to school, when one of the boys from Vietnam name John, came to him.
- Congratulations Grandchester, you finally got the blond!
- Well, good news travels fast said Terry without cracking a smile, but you're going to call her Candy and not "the blond", with a little more respect. She's not that kind of girl…
- Oh, abstinence! She's the "virgin queen"! You must love her a lot said John, to….
- Vuang, there's other things in life, aside sex… said Terry
- Maybe, but platonic love, it's not for me!
- Platonic, It's far from being platonic…
- You know what I mean said John, you're staying on first base…
- When you really fall in love, you'll know what I'm talking about
Stear and his brother were going to school, when his cell phone rang.
- Hi Patty he said… Did you have a good night?… If I heard the news? What news?… Oh, that's what everyone is talking about! Thanks for the info; I'll see you later.
- What? Asked Archie
- You're not going to like it, bro… said Stear
- Tell me anyway…
- Candy is with Grandchester…
- What! Since when? He asked hurt
- Since last night…
- You mean she made love with him?… Are you sure?
- I don't know, but she's with him now… Patty just told me
- Damn you Grandchester! He said between his teeth
- Never mine bro, he's the one she wants… come on, we're going to be late…
Candy met Terry in front of her locker. The school was catholic, so the marks and sign of affection were prohibited. But what the nuns didn't know, it's that to ban the signs and marks of affection only made the meeting after dark, in the boarders room more exciting…
- Hello my queen…he said smiling
- Hello my king… I'm sorry for the news… Tanisha is incorrigible!
- It's the news she was waiting for… it's normal she's excited. You don't need to apologise, Freckles, you're the new queen of the school…
- I know every body is hoping I will make you nice
- You can do with me whatever you want, Miss Tarzan
Lizzie was looking at Candy and Terry from a far and didn't say a word. Eliza had a mocking smile.
- I told you it was going to backfire on you… that girl is a lucky she-devil!
- Oh… put a sock in it! Said Lizzie getting into the classroom
Eliza burst out laughing. Candy and her friends also came into the classroom. She was radiant talking to her friends and other girls.
- I congratulate you cousin, said Eliza, to dethrone Lizzie? I'll give that to you… did you put Terry in your bed?
- Don't generalize you case, Eliza said Candy
The whole class started laughing. Eliza was furious. The teacher came in and everybody went to sit and stopped making noise.
During recess, Archie came near Candy who was coming out of his class.
- Candy? Is it true? You're with Grandchester? Tell me it's not true!
- Archie…
- What were you thinking? Didn't you know that…
- Archie, hi, interrupted Annie
- I have to see Terry, said Candy, excuse me Archie. I'll talk to you later, ok?
She left leaving him frustrated. Annie decided she was not going to wait any more. There are other fish in the sea… Archie wanted Candy? Let him try and get her! She had had enough!!!
The atmosphere in the school changed with Candy as a queen. Terry decided not to play though any more, he continued just with the ones that bullied the weaker ones. A part of the students continued treating him as the chief.
Candy spent all her spare time with Terry. After school, she went to talk to Archie. She knew he was in love with her. But she didn't want to put him on the spot. She walked with him to her pretend Pony hill.
- Archie, I know the news of Terry and I being together shocked you because of Anthony.
- It hasn't been that long, Candy, you already had the time to forget about him?
- Archie, I will never forget about Anthony, but life goes on. If I learned something with his death, it's that you have to live you life now, because, you never know what life or destiny as in store for us…I thought I was going to be with Anthony for the rest of my life and you know what happened…
- But Grandchester? He's a snotty nosed kid… all he wants it to put you in his bed…
- I love him Archie, and I never thought I would love someone else after Anthony, but it happened
- But…
- Can you try to be happy for me? I can take care of myself, you don't have to worry
- But, what he's ex-girlfriend did to you…
- He was there to protect me. Archie, look, I love you, I will always love you. I'm in love with Terry and I'm happy when I'm with him. Do you think Anthony would have want me to spend all my time crying? "Today is a gift, that's why we call it the present."
- Wow…
- It's not from me, it's from the Dalai Lama… she said smiling
- But why Grandchester…?
- Why not him? Destiny sometimes acts in a strange way. He put us on the same plane and in the same school… please, tell me you understand
Archie remained silent for a while. Candy's words were hurting him a lot. But he loved her so much… he was going to make an effort to tolerate Terry.
- Ok, Candy, he said with a sad voice, I'm going to try… but don't ask me too much…
- Ok, said Candy hugging him, Thanks, thank you with all my heart, Archie. I love you
- I love you Candy
She felt that the "I love you" from Archie was much more profound than hers. She was sorry not to share his feelings. She loved Terry with all her heart. Annie was in love with Archie, even if she loved him, she would never hurt Annie like that.
Terry was with John when Lizzie told him that Candy was hugging boy.
- She's cheating on you already?
- It's her cousin said John
- They have no blood relations said Lizzie
- Lizzie, that's enough! Said Terry, leave me alone
He left them and went to join her on her pretend Pony Hill. He met Archie on the way; they had a polite head sign. He arrived where Candy was.
- Freckles?
- Romeo she said with a smile
- Everything is all right?
- Archie…
- Yes…?
- He's in love with me…
- Oh…
- I had to tell him that it's you that I loved. I think he was waiting for time to pass to tell me he loved me…. But Annie is in love with him
- What about you?
- Me? If I wanted Archie, I wouldn't be with you
- Not even for Annie?
- I can sacrifice myself for Annie, but it's not the case, Romeo. From the first time I saw you, even though, I was crying another, you never got out of my head…
- I can't hug you, Freckles; you're going to drive me crazy!
Candy started to laugh.
- You'll have to be patient till tonight. By the way Terry about the two of us…
-There's a problem?
- No, well I don't know… it's about the…
- Horizontal mambo? Finished Terry
- Yes…
- Freckles don't worry. To contrary of everyone's belief, I don't leave only for that…
- I wasn't thinking that, but with Lizzie…
- I wasn't thinking about sex when I got involve with you…
- Really?
- Ok…. But not in the sense you think. I knew we had to talk… you're a virgin
- Romeo, I'm not saying that I will never do it, but…
-You're not ready? I can wait. I can wait forever if you want me to…
- It won't be forever, of course
- We can wait until our wedding night…
- Wedding night? You're thinking about our wedding night? You're thinking about marrying me already? Oh Terry…
- Candy, the first time I saw you, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you
- Terry, there's nothing guaranteed in life, we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow
- But we can't stop making plans either because a bad thing could happen… Candy, I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but I know that I want you in my life forever. One day, I'll marry you…
- Terry…
- I know you had plans with your boyfriend and that he died in a car crash. But Candy, you had plans, you lived… Tragedy happened, but life goes on…
- Now, you're going to drive me crazy! I can't hug you!
They burst out laughing.
- Next time, we'll have this kind of serious conversation in the privacy of our rooms said Terry
- So we don't have to worry about the school "police", that forbids marks of affections…
- In a way they're right, they wouldn't want the school to become a brothel…
- Well it's a brothel after the doors are closed…
- And how do you know that?
- I have ears…
- You heard Lizzie too?
- Yes…
- And, it didn't do anything to you…?
- It made me feel weird… I wanted to be in her place… she said with a sensual voice
- Ok, let's stop this line of conversation, or we're going to go stark raving mad! He said laughing
- Ok, she said laughing; I'll see you later? You want me to come this time?
- Ok. Do you know my window?
- No
- Come with me, I'll show you…
9. Chapter 9
**Tomorrow in your life **
**By Mallory Quinn **
**Chapter 9 **
"**It's your day!"**
Candy was in her room with Annie. This last one was a little sad.
- Annie, what's wrong? Asked Candy, it's Archie?
- Candy, I saw you and Archie together
- You saw us? Oh, Annie it's not what you think. We were talking about Anthony… he was sad to se me with another one so soon after Anthony…
- Yeah right! He was sad you didn't choose him… you mean!
- Annie… I love Terry and I'm with him, Archie is my cousin, yes we don't have any blood relation, but he's my cousin. I love him as a cousin. That's why I was hugging him, it's allowed among members of the same family.
- I know Candy, I'm not mad at you. It's not your fault. I'm sorry I lost my temper…
- Annie, I told you not to waste your time, there is only one life to live…
- I know. Thanks Candy
Tanisha and Patty came in at that time.
- So the new queen, have you decided what you were going to do?
- About…? Asked Candy
- The horizontal mambo, said Patty
- Is that all you think about? Said Candy
- We're curious, said Tanisha
- We are not having this conversation! Said Candy
- Oh, come on Candy, said Patty
- You're not going to make me change my mind said Candy
Candy didn't budge and her friends had to give up. Candy went to Terry's room that night and was feeling very very exciting… it was the forbidden part that was giving it a new spike.
- Freckles, good evening said Terry smiling, welcome to my kingdom!
- Romeo, said Candy hugging him, I missed you…
- It's good to have you in my arms… he said
They spent a very nice evening together.
Candy's birthday fell on a Saturday. Terry knew about it, because he saw it once by chance, when he looked at her student's id card. He had prepared a surprise for her.
Mrs. Brighton came from Chicago to see her daughter for her birthday. Uncle William had send a present for Candy but he couldn't get free to come and see her. Candy was sad, not to have a mother. It was on her birthday, the day she was abandoned with Annie, that she though about her mother the most. Why was she left at the doorstep of the Pony house? Instead of being happy on her birthday, she was sad. Annie came to see her, because she knew in what state she was. She was feeling the same sadness.
- Candy, are you ok? She asked entering the room
- Annie… she said wiping her tears
Annie approached her and hugged her. They were crying, the both of them for a while.
- Look at us said Candy, instead of being happy… we are a year older after all. A of people died without seeing their birthday…
- Yes, said Annie, but we can't help think that it's also the day we were abandoned… they didn't want us…
- Maybe they were forced to do it, maybe they were lied to… like in the movies
- The movies are base on real stories sometimes… but does it serve a purpose to hope?
- Hope makes you live, Annie… but at least you have a mother. When are you going to see her?
- She's coming to get me in half an hour. But I wanted to see you before I leave
- Thanks Annie. I'm fine, now. You can go get ready.
- You have plans with Terry?
- I didn't tell him that it was…
- Why?
- I don't really feel like celebrating the day I was abandoned
- Candy, you're usually "Little Mary Sunshine"… Why are you so sad all of a sudden?
- I don't know. Uncle William sent me a present and I still don't know what he looks like… I wish I could've hugged him to thank him for everything
- It's going to be ok, sweetie, said Annie, you want to come with us? I can convince my mother
- No, Annie. She came from Chicago to be with you, I don't want to create a problem between you
- Ok. But if you change your mind call me on my cell phone…
- Ok, but I will be with Terry, and I always feel better when I'm with him…
- Tell him it's your birthday, I'm sure he'll do something special
- Oh, it's too late Annie. I should've told him before so he would be prepared… have a nice day
- Ok. Happy birthday sis…
Annie's cell started to ring.
- Hello? Yes… said Annie
- Happy birthday sis, said Tom on the other line
- Thanks Tommy, with all my heart!
- I couldn't forget about you two; I'm your saviour. Is Candy with you?
- Our saviour! Yes she is… here
She gave Candy the phone
- Hello? The saviour?
- Happy birthday sis! Said Tom
- Thank you so much, said Candy laughing
- Do you have plans?
- Yes we're going to spend a really nice day… we have big plans
- Without me?
- I wish you were here with us
- Sorry I have exams
- Of course, exams
- I'm going to go back to my books, have fun!
- Ok, thanks again. Here's Annie…
She gave the phone to Annie.
- Tommy thanks again, said Annie, without you, we could've spent the whole night outside. Talk to you later. You owe us a present, the both of us!
- I'll come after my exams, said Tom
- After you exams? Ok, it's a date. Bye
She hung up the phone.
- I feel better said Candy,.. Tommy he likes you, Annie
- Tommy? He's like a brother to me.
- He's got a thing for you
- And for you…
- No, he liked you more… don't forget, there's other fish in the sea
- Candy, I'm going to see my mother. See you later, she said hugging her.
Patty and Tanisha and other students went to see their families. Stear and Archie arrived with a present for Candy.
- What are you doing in the girls' dorm? Said Candy
- We have the permission for a few minutes just to give you your present
- Oh, thank you she said hugging them one at the time, you're not gone yet?
- We're leaving now, said Stear. Have a nice day, Candy. We'll think about you.
- Happy birthday said Archie…
- Thanks guys, said Candy with tears in her eyes, have fun you're your parents
She hugged them again. When she stayed alone, she turned on her computer, to read her numerous e-mail from her little friends. Her "two mothers" had sent her e-cards. She thought about her real mother again. What happened to her, that she had to abandoned her daughter, a newborn baby? Her cell phone rang, it was Terry.
- Freckles? Said the voice at the end of the line, get dressed, I'm taking you out…
- Ok, Romeo, in 15 minutes in front of the school
She got dress nicely, because it was her birthday. She put on a light make up. She was wearing a pink dress, pink shoes and a pink handbag. She took her long hair put it on half ponytail with a clip on top of her head. She was also wearing the emerald bracelet, Terry had given her. She arrived in front of the school and found Terry with a blazer and no tie.
- Hi Romeo…
- Freckles, you're very beautiful
- Thanks, you're not so bad either… where are we going?
- The day is still young… you'll see
- Ok, I trust you she said smiling
Terry took her to the movies first. There was festival of old movies; they went to see "Gone with the wind". Candy knew the movie by heart and so did Terry. She knew that they were there to be alone in the dark. That's why Terry chose the longest movie in the theatre. He bought some popcorn and some soda pop. Then, they made out almost during the whole movie. Candy needed to be reassured that day. All those thoughts about her real mother, made her sad, and without her usual joy of life. To be in Terry's arms felt good. When the movie was finished, Candy went to freshen up, a little in the washrooms. Terry was waiting for her at the exit door.
- Are you ready? Let's go…
- Where?
- You'll see…
They saw a white Limousine with a driver. Candy started to walk to the parking lot, but Terry took her to the white Limo.
- Terry, the parking is that way…
- Yes, but we're not taking my car…
- What do you mean?
- We're taking the Limousine…
- The Limousine? It's for us? She asked surprised
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRECKLES!
Candy was so surprised, that she didn't know what to say. Terry knew it was her birthday? How?
- You're asking yourself how do I know; you never told me… I saw it on you student's id card one day and I didn't forget…
- Oh Terry she said with tears in her eyes… I don't know what to say… Thank you, thank you!
She hugged him for a long time. Then they got into the Limo. There was a television, a small fridge champagne glasses.
- No champagne for me, said Candy
- I know that's why have cider…
- You thought of everything she said smiling. Where are we going?
- We're going to get ready for the theatre tonight
- Get ready at school?
- No I thought of everything. You'll see
- You are full of surprises sad Candy curling up to him
- Nothing is too good for you, honey!
They arrived in front of the Ritz hotel. One of the biggest and luxurious hotels in the city.
- The Ritz? Terry the corner motel would've been fine, said Candy
- Not for your birthday. I have the bridal suite
- The bridal suite? Wow! Super!
They got into the hotel and went to the bridal suite that Terry had booked for them. Terry called room service and ordered lunch.
- What time does the play starts?
- At 5 pm…
- What play is it? No, let me guest… Romeo and Juliet?
- How…?
- You're my Romeo… we're on the same page! Ok I'm going to take advantage of my time and take a long hot bath…
- But I have other plans for you…
- What? She asked intrigued
- You have an appointment in an hour at the hotel's spa…
- WHAT? Oh my God you're not done surprising me! She said with a big smile
- It's your day Freckles. I'm taking care of you today
There was a knock on the door; it was the lunch he ordered. He ordered almost everything on the menu so she could choose what she wanted. Candy couldn't believe it. Terry was full of surprises. They sat at the table and started to eat.
- Terry did you order the whole menu or what? That's too much!
- My father is going to have a heart attack when he sees the bill
- Really? She asked worried
- I'm kidding! My grandfather left me some money… don't worry about that
- It's really good she said while eating
She was feeling good. Terry had managed to cheer her up as usual. He knew what to do to make her feel better.
- Wait, I'm going to feed you, he said coming near her with his chair
- But…
- Ah ah ah… it's your day, I'm spoiling you come on open your mouth…
Candy obeyed and Terry was feeding her like a little baby but she couldn't help laughing
- Stop laughing Freckles you're going to choked
- Yes daddy, she said smiling
He continued feeding her and she fed him too to thank him.
- Your turn Romeo, open your mouth, bravo you're a good boy!
- Thanks mummy, he said
They played like that until they finished eating
- What time is the spa? Asked Candy
- In twenty minutes said Terry
- You're coming with me?
- A good massage won't hurt anybody
- Great let's get ready…
- Get ready? All we have to do is to take our clothes off
- Oh… well we can practice for our wedding night…
- Candy, do you know what you're saying?
- I trust you Romeo. I'll go get the robes….
She came back from the bathroom with the white robes she put on the bed. Terry was sitting on the bed. She took him by the hands and made him stand up in front of her. He already took his blazer off, so she started to open the button of his shirt slowly revealing his muscled chest. Terry held his breath. Candy took his shirt off and put it on the bed. She couldn't help touching him lightly with her lips, which give Terry the shivers. She started to undo the button of his pants, undid the zipper and took them off slowly making them slide on his legs down to the heels. Terry lifted his feet one at the time to completely take the pants off. He was in his underpants. Candy took the robe and helped Terry putting it on. She tied the belt.
Terry put his arms behind Candy to look for zipper of her dress. He found it and opened it slowly down her back. Candy felt a shiver running through her. Terry continued taking the dress off, freeing her shoulders from the sleeves of the dress, revealing the straps from her bra, which showed the nice form of her breast. He took the dress completely off and put it on the bed next to his clothes. He then undid her bra; Candy held her breath. He took her bra off leaving her breast naked. He put his lips slightly in the middle of Candy's breast, who had a moaning of pleasure. Terry then helped her put on the robe and tied the belt.
- You see? Said Candy that was not so bad
- Not so bad? Oh my God, Candy!
They jumped in each other's arms and started kissing passionately for a long while. The find themselves on the big bed caressing each other and moaning. Candy, felt a fountain coming out of her. Her head was telling her to stop; she wasn't ready to have her first time like that. Terry was also thinking in his head to stop. He didn't want to take advantage of the situation. They had an appointment at the spa… but he couldn't let go of Candy. He never wanted her the way he wanted her at that moment…
The phone started to ring bringing them back to reality. They stopped kissing and Terry answered the phone without letting go of his beloved.
- Hello? Yes thank you we're coming. Thanks
- The spa? Asked Candy against her breast
- It's time to go…
- Ok, she said releasing herself from him let's go
They put on the slipper from the hotel, calm themselves for a little while and went to the spa. They were greeted by the employees who immediately took care of them. Terry had a massage that's all he wanted. Candy had a massage, a facial manicure pedicure and her hair done. She told the hairdressers that she was going to see a play so they suggested they do a nice up do. She returned to the suite and found. Terry was watching television.
- You didn't miss me much? Did you? She said entering the room
- I'm bored to death! He said smiling you're very beautiful Freckles…
- I'm not dressed yet
- Your dress is in the closet
Candy went to the closet and found a dress covered in back plastic protector. She took it to the bathroom. The dress was mauve; the top was tight which made her breast look bigger and her waist look thinner. The bottom was not tight but a little loose.
- Do you need any help? Asked Terry at the door
- Yes with the zipper please
He got dressed in the mean time too, he was wearing a tuxedo. He was very attractive. Candy got out of the bathroom to find a box with an emerald necklace and earrings. With the bracelet Terry had bought for her on Easter vacation everything was perfect
- Terry, this is too much
- They're only a rental, it goes well with the bracelet he said, one day I'll buy them to you…
He helped her put the necklace on and she put the earrings on.
- I feel like a princess
- You are a princess tonight. Ready?
- Wait, let me put my shoes on…
Terry had planned everything. He knew Candy's dress size and size of shoes. He had carefully made his research. And everything was perfect. Candy couldn't believe he went through all that trouble.
- When are we going back to school?
- I talked to the nun and I told them that I invited you to my father's Chateau for your birthday. We'll go back tomorrow night with the other students
- They didn't say anything?
- I suppose that they think my father's Chateau is a place where my parents could keep an eye on us. Let's go honey…
He took her arm and they went to the elevator together. The other clients from the hotel in the elevator and the bellboy were looking at them with admiration. The Limo was waiting in front of the hotel. They arrived at the theatre and went to Terry's family lodge. Terry showed he was really Romeo that night. Candy surprised him by reciting the role of Juliet! During the intermission, he told her about it.
- You didn't tell me that you knew the role of Juliet
- Well, since I was calling you Romeo, I said to myself; what if I become his Juliet? So I went to the library and took the book, Romeo and Juliet and I started learning the lines to surprise you one day…
- For a surprise, this is a big one, Juliet! He said smiling; you have no idea how happy you made me…
- Oh, yes, I do! She said laughing.
After the play, they went to a nice restaurant for diner. There was a band playing different songs, old and new, even classical. The customers were able to dance, if they wanted to. After ordering their diner, Candy was invited to dance by Terry.
- Can I have this dance?
- I'd be delighted, young man said Candy smiling
They danced happily for a while and the other clients were looking at them smiling. This couple seemed so in love. When they finished dancing, they went to eat their diner. Candy never felt so good. He sadness of the morning seemed so far away. They talked of all and nothing. They talked about Terry's passion for theatre and movies.
- You want to become an actor? Asked Candy
- Yes, since I might have inherited the genes…
- The genes?
- That's right, you don't know. When we met on the plane, I'd just came from seeing my mother. I wanted to stay with her, but she sent me back to my father…
- I'm sorry
- Thanks. What you don't know, is who my mother is…
- Who?
- Eleonor Baker
- What? Said Candy opening her eyes with surprise, you're Eleonor Baker's son? The Oscar winner? But she's on of my favourite actresses!
- I'm sure she'll be glad to hear that! He said dryly
Candy felt his hostility. He was angry with his mother.
- Terry, do you know why I didn't tell you that it was my birthday?
- No…
- It's because, for me, it's also the day my mother abandoned me
- Oh… I never thought about it on that angle
- You know who you're mother is. Your father is your guardian; it's probably an agreement between them. She couldn't keep you without causing problems
- Maybe…
- Terry, you don't know the chance you have to have a mother. I would give anything, and I say anything to know my mother and to see her. Life is too short to stay angry. You have to reconcile with your mother
- Ok, Candy. I'll do it. You're right, life is too short to stay angry
- You've inherited your mother's genes, I sure of it. If you really want to be an actor, you'll be the best.
Terry smiled. The evening was coming to an end, they danced one more time before leaving. The restaurant had a casino in the basement. While they were waiting for the Limo, they met Eliza, Neil, Lizzie, Ethan and some of their friends, coming out of the casino.
- Hey cousin, said Eliza, very elegant tonight
- Eliza, said Candy
- Terry, said Lizzie, you're going out without a chaperon with this young and innocent girl?
Terry didn't answer. Their Limo was ready and they left under the Lizzie's mean look. Neil looked at Candy and was surprise to find her very beautiful.
- He rented a Limo for her! Said Lizzie, damn you Candy!
- You're still jealous? Said Eliza, I suppose you'll always be jealous…
- I'll have my revenge… she's going to pay!
- Lizzie, said Ethan, you tried and look what it got you; you lost Terry and I'm the laughing stock of the school. Let it go. Terry will never take you back… Especially now that he has the girl he really loves…
- Shut up, Ethan! Said Lizzie with anger
Ethan had an annoyed sigh. Lizzie was incorrigible, and her drug problem was getting worse. Her parents refused to admit their daughter had a problem.
They all went to those warehouse or garage parties called rave where ecstasy was the drug taken.
In the Limo, Candy and Terry were in each other's arms watching television.
- Do you know that Limos are used by prostitutes and their client? No need for a hotel room, said Terry
- Really? The drivers don't see anything in their mirror?
Terry pressed a button and a black screen separated them from the driver. The driver couldn't see anything.
- Ok, said Candy, wow! What won't they think about? We have a brothel on wheels now!
- I've always dreamed of doing it in a Limo…
- Not with a prostitute…
- No, with the girl I love
- If you marry me some day, we could try… for now, all I can offer you is, a few French kisses, are you ok, with that?
- Absolutely! He said taking her face closer to him
- Thank you Terry, for this beautiful day and wonderful evening. I love you Romeo.
- The pleasure was all mine, he said very close to her lips, I love you Juliet
They French kissed until they arrived at the hotel.
10. Chapter 10
**Tomorrow in your life **
**By Mallory Quinn **
**Chapter 10 **
"**Painful memories"**
The young woman was looking at the window in her bedroom. It was raining hard like it was raining in her heart. She had her eyes filled with tears; she was looking at the drops of water falling on the city.
"_He would've been 16 today…" She said the heart thorn_.
She had the heart in ashes every year at the same date. She was trying to imagine how he would've been. Maybe he would've looked like his father and will go to military school or maybe he would've become a reporter like his mother. Why was life so cruel to her? It was certainly to punish her to have lied about her age and to have and given herself to a man without being married, like her mother used to say every time she spent time with her daughter; she reminder her that she was the disgrace of the family. She regretted that her father died when she was little, if her father had been there…
- Are you ok, honey? Asked a man's voice, dragging her out of her thoughts
- Yes my love, she said sadly
- You're thinking about him?
- I can't help myself… he would've been 16 today
- I know baby, he said holding her against him
Her husband let her cry one day every year. The day of the birth and the death of their little boy.
He took her to bed. She laid down on her side and he laid down behind her holding her against him. Without a word, they started to think in unison about the past, about what had happened 17 years earlier…
It was in July in Washington D.C.
- Come on Melissa, it's going to be fun, said Katie
- But, what if my mother learns about it? Said Melissa brushing her long blond and curly hair
- You're going to tell your mother? Asked Cindy
- No, but it's a college party, we're only 15, said Melissa
Melissandre Grant was terrorised by her mother the senator Verna Grant, who wanted nothing to tarnish her impeccable reputation. And her daughter in a college party, drinking alcohol, was going to drive her crazy if she knew about it. Strangely enough it was that last thought that convinced Melissa to go to the party.
- Ok, let's go, but I'm going to tell my mother that I'm going to spend the night at your house, ok, Cindy?
- Ok. We have to dress up and put make up on, so we can look older
That's how they went to the college party, passing themselves of as 19 year olds.
The party was pretty noisy. Alcohol was pouring, the music was deafening, the smoke from the cigarettes made the air non breathable. The girls felt a little lost. They sat on chairs; there were people on the dance floor. The girls didn't stay alone for long they were invited to dance by college boys. They had a lot of fun. Melissa felt like going outside and breathe some fresh air because of all the cigarettes smokes. She went outside on the terrace. There were other people talking.
- The smoke is bothering you? Asked a voice next to her
Melissa turned around and saw a young and handsome man with blond hair and laughing eyes. She smiled.
- I don't smoke, she answered
- Me neither, he said smiling
- British? She Asked
- My accent…
- I think it's charming
- The American accent is not so bad
- You think I'm charming too?
- That goes without saying. Let me introduce myself, Philip Crane
- Melissandre Grant, pleased to meet you
- Pleased to meet you
They started to talk of this and that. They went back inside to dance a few slows. They spent the rest of the evening together. She told him she was 19 and that she went to the local college. She didn't think she would see him again after the party is over. Philip's father was a military officer at the British Embassy. He thought she was charming with her green eyes and when the party was over, he asked her for her phone number. She couldn't give it to him because of her mother.
- Give me yours, she said, I'm going to call you
- Ok, he said, writing a number on a piece of paper, call me
- I will, she said, good night!
On their way back in the cab, her friends asked her if she was going to call him.
- His father works at the Embassy, said Melissa
- He gave you his number, you're lucky! Said Katie
- Lucky girl! Said Cindy
- You guys are crazy! I'm not going to call him. He thinks I'm 19 and that I'm in college. It was fun for one evening, but it's stops there!
- Melissa, you have the phone number of an attractive son of diplomat and you don't give a damn? Said Katie
- He's older, said Melissa
- He's handsome, and his accent…. Said Cindy
- No, my mother is going to kill me said Melissa
- Don't tell you mother, silly! Said Katie
- Keep the number, add Cindy
- Ok, we'll see tomorrow, said Melissa
A week went by before Melissa decided finally to call Philip one morning.
- Melissandre he said, hi! I thought you forgot about me!
- No… I wanted to know how you were…
- I'm fine, now that I heard your voice, what about you?
- I'm fine thanks
- Can we see each other?
- Ok. What did you have in mind?
- We could go eat something and then go to the cinema…
- Cinema?
- The movie theatre… that's how we British call it…
- Oh… that's sounds like a good idea, we could meet downtown
She didn't want him to come and pick her up, she was afraid her mother would see him. She was doing a crazy thing, going out with an older boy… but she couldn't get him out of her head. That's why she waited a week, to see if she was going to forget about him. But her need to see him, just got stronger.
They met downtown, they went to eat and then they went to the movies. In early evening, she asked him to drop her at her friend Katie's house. In the car, he leaned to kiss her on the lips. She felt like she was suddenly thrown into incontrollable whirlwind. She was feeling, for the fist time, emotions she didn't suspect existed, on the top of her 15 years. She did everything to hide it from her mother, and she had succeeded. She was calling Philip when her mother wasn't there. He was asking himself why she couldn't receive any phone calls; she'd told him that her mother was very strict. So he didn't insist. In the beginning of august, he invited her at his house. His parents were gone to New York for the weekend. She talked to her friends before she went.
- Melissa, you're going to be alone with him… said Cindy
- It could be tempting said Katie
- No, girls, nothing is going to happen. I'm going to spend some good time with him, that's all. I will tell you everything when I come back, ok? If my mother knew… well, I think I'm in love with him…
- Oh. Melissa, you're so lucky said Katie
- Lucky? He's going to dump me as soon as he learns how old I am…
- You're not going to tell him…? Asked Cindy
- I'm going to tell him at the end of the summer… said Melissa. For now, I feel so good in his company…
- Take advantage of the time you have. There's only one first time love, and it's most beautiful one, most of the time. Said Katie
Melissa went at Philip's house. It was a villa with a pool. Philip had told her and she bought her bathing suit. They swam, listened to music, and watched movies. At one point, she went to Philip's room to change. He went upstairs to get something and they found themselves in the bedroom, in bathing suit… and what had to happen, happened!
A few weeks later, she was late in her cycle. She didn't want to tell her mother, it would be a disaster. But her mother found out when she saw her vomiting one morning. Melissa would have preferred to confront an army of lions, than her mother's wrath.
- Who is it? She yelled
- I'm not going to tell you, said Melissa, leave him alone!
- No way! He's going to pay for what he's done
- No, mom, leave him alone, please….
She knew her mother is going to make a mess. She was going to cause problem for Philip and his family. She didn't say anything, but her mom with her connections, finally learned the identity of the father of her baby. All hell broke loose! Philip and his parents had diplomatic immunity, but she still threatened to sue him for statutory rape.
- Statutory rape? Asked Philip, but…
- She's 15, said Verna….
- 15? I had no idea… she told me she was 19…said Philip
- Mrs. Grant, said Mr. Crane, I can assure you, we are going to take care of this problem
- "This problem" is your son. I want him out of the United States or I'm going to create a diplomatic incident. I'm a senator; I have a lot of influence…
- Mrs. Grant…started Mr. Crane
- You wouldn't want your son's indiscretions to cost you your career…
- Mrs. Grant, you don't need to threaten me. My son will leave the United States in the next plane for Great Britain
- I'm glade we understand each other.
Once Verna was gone, Philip was talking with his father.
- You go pack your bags…
- But father, I have to see her…
- Don't you think you've done enough!
- But I love her, I want to say goodbye…
- Senator Grant was not kidding around; she could cause us a lot of trouble… I don't want her to create a diplomatic incident…
- But…
- Philip, said his mother, I think it's better to do as your father says
- But mum…
- Please Philip, said his mother
Philip could only obey. He left the Unites States for Great Britain the same night, without seeing Melissa again.
Mrs. Grant didn't stop there; she used her influence and a lot of favours so that Philip's father, will leave the United States for another country; he was sent to Greece.
Melissa was sent to a small town near lake Michigan. She was staying with her mother's friends. She carried her pregnancy to term. She was happy to have a boy or a girl to love, Philip's baby. She missed him so much. With his baby, she would at least have a part of him with her, a souvenir. Her mother came just before the birth of her baby. When the labour pain started, her mother took her to a private clinic. During the delivery, Melissa fainted. When she woke up she felt her belly, it was empty. She asked where her baby was.
- Melissandre, said her mother, God punished you for lying and fornicating…
- Where's my baby? She asked with tears in her eyes
- God took him, he's dead…, said Verna
- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MY BABYYYYYYY! I WANT MY BABY!
- Calm down, said her mother. Everything is going to be fine, this is a blessing in disguise… this baby would have ruined your life
- What did I have? She said sobbing
- A little boy said Verna
- I don't understand, everything was fine, I was feeling him kick, she sobbed, that's all I had left from Philip… No No No Why? Why? How could you call my baby's death a blessing in disguise? How could you be so cruel? You're a monster mom!
Verna slapped her daughter hard. This last one looked at her surprised, she didn't even felt the slap. She wanted her baby. They brought her a lifeless baby body and she held on to it like her life depended on it. She didn't want to let go of it. They had to force it off her hands; she was hysterical. They had so sedate her.
She went back to Washington with her mother. She became sad and murky. Her mother kept telling her, every chance she got, what a sinner she was for fornicating and how God had punished her by killing her baby. She didn't see her friends anymore. She changed school. Her mother sent her to boarding school. She finished her high school. She enrolled in the scholarship program for Europe. She asked her godfather to help her. He got her a scholarship for Oxford University. She left; she told her mother about it an hour before her plane left.
- How could you do this to me? You're leaving me?
- I'm going to study mom. I have to live; here your life is suffocating me. I can't take it anymore.
- You ungrateful little slut, after everything I've done for you…
- You're my mother; it's your moral and physical obligation… bye mom.
She left the United Stated without a look back. She didn't know if she was going to see her mother again. She never forgave her for calling her baby's death a "blessing in disguise". That woman was a monster! Once in Oxford, she looked for a job that she combined with her studies. She studied journalism and found work in a local London paper. She had the mundane page, so she was at every society gathering receptions, so she could write her articles.
On day at a reception at the Ministry of foreign affairs, she was talking to some diplomats. While she was resting and drinking a little, she heard someone talk.
- My God, Melissandre Grant!
No, it was not possible! A voice from the past! She turned around.
- Philip Crane, or should I say Lieutenant Crane, according to your costume.
- How long has it been? Asked Philip
- 10 years…
- You've became even more beautiful…
- You've got to be kidding me! You're flirting with me? I have to work….
She left him and she continued her interviews. She didn't have time to flirt, especially not with Philip Crane! Not after her disappeared without a following address. But that was counting without Philip's perseverance. He started to send her flowers everyday, for weeks. She didn't budge. He was then waiting for her after work, every night.
- Philip…don't you get that I don't want to see you?
- But I want to talk to you, I want to see you
- You see me…
- You still have your sense of humour
- Philip, I'm tired. I only want one thing, go home, eat and sleep
- I can come with you
- No…
- Melissandre, please
Melissandre looked at him. She was playing hard to get, but she really wanted to hug him and kiss him… but the past was still too present. Small steps, baby steps…
- Come and get me tomorrow at noon, if you're available
- I'll make myself available… he said with a smile
The next day, they were eating in a nice restaurant from downtown London.
- How are you? Asked Philip
- You know how I am…
- You've become a little… bitter
- Life does that to people sometimes…
They talked of all and nothing. Then she went back working. Despite her cynical talk and her sarcasm, Philip didn't discourage himself. He continued calling her and they often had diner together. A lot of months passed before she finally open up to Philip. Despite all the feelings she had for him, she didn't want to hurt him. But she started to realise that being with Philip, made her happy, even if she didn't want to admit it to herself. They spent a lot of time together, but they never talked about the past. He finally got her back after a lot of patience and a lot of effort…. They were in Melissa's bed.
- Honey, I missed you so much…he said
- Stop saying that, you disappeared…
- You don't know?
- I don't know what?
He told her what had happened with her mother and his parents. Melissa couldn't believe her ears. Her mother didn't say anything to Philip and his parents about the baby!
- She didn't tell you anything?
- About what? He asked
She told him her story in details, and she couldn't help shedding some tears. It was Philip's turn not to believe his ears.
- You had our baby?
- I lost our baby, he would have been 10 going on 11, she said crying… then I was in boarding school for the rest of my high school year. At every occasion my mother had, she repeated to me that I was a sinner and that God punished me by taking my baby! She called our baby's death " a blessing in disguise"! I will never forgive her for that! Never!
- I'm sorry, I didn't know. I would've taken my responsibilities, I would've taken care of you… you never gave me your phone number, I didn't know where to call you… and then my parents left America…
- Verna Grant, doesn't go halfway… I'm sorry I lied to you about my age. I wanted to tell you the truth… but I found myself pregnant and my mother found out… and all hell broke loose!
- It's over, we're adults now, both of us. I don't think I ever told you, but I love you, I loved you from the first time I saw you at that party, trying to get away from the smoke by breathing some fresh air…
- I love you Philip, I never stopped loving you, even when I thought you've abandoned me. My mother repeated to me for years that making love to you was the reason I lost my baby… So you can imagine how much that traumatised me…
- I don't want to lose you anymore. Melissandre Grant, will you marry me?
- Yes, Philip, I want to be your wife.
He gave her a diamond ring later. She has tears in her eyes. At last, a little happiness.
After that, they became inseparable! They got married a few months later and Melissandre followed her husband around the world, at Embassies, while continuing working for the paper abroad. She was able to continue her work everywhere she was with her husband. They had three children; a little girl who was 5, a little boy who was 4 and a little girl who was 1. She never returned to America to see her mother. She still couldn't forgive her for calling her baby's death "a blessing in disguise".
They both came back to reality. They stood up, took the blankets off the bed and laid down the bed. The children were asleep for a while and they fell asleep. Life was smiling at them, they found each other, years later and they had a family, good jobs that took them around the world. They were grateful to God.
In the bridal suite, Candy and Terry were getting ready to go to bed. Candy was in the bathroom taking her make up off. She was wearing a nightgown she'd found in one of the drawers in the room. She took her hair down, and started to brush it for a while.
Terry, who had also changed, was looking at her with love. He took a pillow from the bed and lay down on the couch. Candy lay down on the big bed. She was looking at Terry on the couch.
- Terry, there's lots of spaces on the bed
- You know what almost happen earlier…
- But the bed is big enough. You don't trust yourself?
- Not really, no…
- I trust you. You can come on the bed, it's very comfortable…
Terry looked at her for a while and finally took the pillow a and the blanket and joined her on the bed. Candy came closer and they spent the night curled up to each other, until morning. It was a little hard for Terry at first, but he finally fell asleep. He woke up early in the morning and he took a shower to calm his evident growing desire. To spend the night in Candy's arms, was for him a delight and a torture at the same time.
He came out of the bathroom and found Candy sitting on the bed.
- Good morning, she said smiling
- Good morning, Freckles
- What's today's program?
- We have to go back to school
- Not right away…
- No, in the evening. Unless you want to go earlier…
- What for? To be bored to death? No, let's take advantage of our free time to the fullest
That's what they did. They had fun in the suite eating and laughing. They went to the zoo and they met Albert who was working there. They spend a little time with him, not took much because he had to work. They went back to school in early evening.
Annie, Patty and Tanisha came to see her in the evening her room.
- You weren't bored here all alone? Asked Annie
- All alone? You're kidding right? What about Terry? Said Candy
- You said that he didn't know it was your birthday said Patty
- But he found out and he made me the biggest surprise ever!
She told her friends everything that happened in details; they were green with envy.
- My God said Tanisha, you really have the perfect boyfriend!
- He really loves you a lot, he treated you like a princess said Annie
- Wasn't it tempting to be in the bridal suite with him… asked Patty
- You have no idea! Said Candy thinking about the passionate kisses she shared with Terry
- Why didn't you just do it? Asked Tanisha, it would've been a nice "thank you" for him
- Because it was my birthday, not his! I just turned 16… I have my whole life to do it, the rest of my life in fact. Have you do it, Tanisha?
- No, but if I found a guy that loves me as much as Terry loves you, why not?
- Your boyfriend doesn't love you? Asked Patty
- There's "love" and there's "love" said Tanisha, we're playing, but Candy and Terry, that's the real McCoy…
11. Chapter 11
**Tomorrow in your life**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 11**
"**Romania, here we come!"**
School in England finished during the week of July 22. There was a vacation trip organized in Romania for the students that wanted to participate. They had to sign up early, because places were limited. Candy had signed up because she wanted to visit that country and it could be fun. She had also put Terry's name on the list. They hadn't talked about it yet, but they were on the same page.
Later that night, in Candy's bedroom, Terry was there to see her.
- By the way Freckles he said, I signed you up for the trip to Romania…
- You don't say…she smiled
- What… you did the same thing?
- Hun hun…
- Without asking me?
- Look who's talking!
- Romeo and Juliet on the same page…? What are the odds?
- It could've been worse; we could've not be on the list at all…
- But we would've still have been on the same page!
- Don't you just love us as a couple?
They bust out laughing and started to talk about the trip and what to bring.
- Thanks, Romeo for thinking about me…
- I love that you thought about me too, Juliet…
There was a county fair the last day, in the court of the school. All the students were there. There will be a party in the evening before the beginning of the holidays.
During the fair, Candy was talking to her friends about the school trip.
- Are you coming Annie? Asked Candy
- I'm tempted…
- Come on, when school is over, we will return to America. For the moment, we are in Europe; why not take advantage to visit other countries? Said Candy
- Ok, I'm going to see if I can still sign up said Annie, Tani, Patty?
- We're behind you! They said at the same time
Candy was looking for Terry, and she met her cousins.
- Stear, Archie! She said smiling, are you coming to Romania?
- Yes said Stear, I'm curious to see Dracula's country…
- Super!
- Grandchester is coming too? asked Archie
- What do you think? Asked Stear, that he's going to spend his vacations without her?
- Yeah! Said Archie
- Dream on! Said Stear
Candy just smiled. Terry arrived
- Freckles, how are you? Stear, Cornwell. You want to come help me win a teddy bear for you?
- Ok. I'll see you later, guys. Ok?
She left with Terry under the Archie's sad look. Terry won a big teddy bear for Candy. Every body was having fun; maybe it was also because it was the last day of school.
The party on the last day happened without the supervision of the teachers for once. It was a goodbye present from the teachers. So the students were free to hold themselves the way they wanted. The slows were happening in the dark, and the majority didn't dance…well actually they were trying to dance, while their mouths were busy welded to each other. Patty was dancing with Stear. Tani was with her boyfriend. Annie was with another boy, but she was not kissing him.
The students were having a lot of fun at the party. The nuns were kind of reticent at first to leave them alone.
- Come on sisters, said one of the teachers, you know that they always find a way to see each other alone, it's the last day of school, let them have fun...
The nuns agreed against their better judgment.
So the party happened without any supervision from the teachers, no "police". Those doing ecstasy took advantage to have more fun. The sensations of that drug made it irresistible to those who did it. Candy after he awful experience, didn't even want to see it.
- Every body is taking advantage to make out on the dace floor, said Candy
- I wondering how they can concentrate on the dance said Terry
- We can try it to see said Candy with a soft voice…
- I thought you'd never ask, Juliet
They went on the dance floor during the series of slows and they were able to dance and make out. It was dark, but Archie was watching them heartbroken. He didn't know if he would ever get over his grief for Candy.
The following days, the school had to get ready for the trip to Romania. The students and the teachers had to stay at the local diplomats' house. The students received the names of the families that were going to host them.
- What name did you get? Asked Annie to Candy
- The Cranes, what about you?
- The Parkers
- Mine are called the Macdonalds, said Tanisha, like the restaurant
- Mines are the O'Malley, said Patty
- How appropriate said Candy smiling, don't forget to bring your GSM and adapt them for Romania
- Ok, said Annie, let's go pack!
Melissa was feeding her baby, when Philippe arrived.
- Honey, good evening he said
- Good evening, honey
He came near her and kissed her on the cheek and kissed the baby on the forehead
- Our young boarder is arriving tonight, said Philippe
- I'm happy you signed us up for that program. It would be good for us to have a guest during the summer… What's her name again, it's a girl right?
- Yes, her name is Candice White Andrew…
- I wondering if she has any relation to William Andrew, a business man from Chicago…
- You can ask her in a while, when you see her. Is the guest room ready?
- Yes the maid took care of it. Diner is ready. All you have to do is to change and go get our boarder
- You seem really excited…
- I don't know why I'm so happy about this…
- Well she'll be welcome here, that's for sure. Ok, I'm going to change
The students and the teachers were at Heathrow airport, ready to go to Romania. There were a lot of students and among them, Candy's friends but also her enemies; Eliza, Neil, Lizzie, Ethan etc. Candy wished they weren't there, but life was not always that simple.
- Freckles, I'm going to see if I can get us on first class …
- But I think that the school is in business class or economic…
- There's no problem, without a solution
Terry went to make the arrangements at the counter and managed to put his and Candy's name on first class. The teachers realized only when they got on the plane. They couldn't do anything. Eliza and Lizzie were angry. Annie was happy for her friend. Archie was fuming in silence.
- You're not possible, said Candy when they were alone
- I wanted to be alone with you, away from the teachers' eyes; we won't be able to see each other every night…
- You're right. What's your family's name?
- Santarelli, it's the Ambassador of Italy
- Wow, you have an Ambassador! I think mine is in the military…
- You have your laptop? We can send each other e-mails like in the beginning…
- Yes, back to the source of our relationship…
He arranged the seat to have her near him. They were cuddling and kissing for the whole trip. The airhostesses were looking at them with a smile. They were talking among them;
- Did you see the young couple in first class? Said one
- They're so cute I could eat them! Said the other one
Lizzie that was walking toward the toilets heard them talk and knew instinctively that they were talking about Candy and Terry. She cursed herself for the thousandth time, she lost Terry by her own fault, now it was over, he loved Candy and didn't even look at her anymore. She went back to her plane next to Eliza.
- I have to find a way to get Terry back… she said
- Forget about that. What ever you try it won't work said Eliza, I personally give up trying to hurt her or I'm trying not to. But she gets on my nerves. I have to find myself a guy to keep me busy with more important things, you too for that matter. You have a new boyfriend, stop running after Terry, because he only has eyes for Candy
- Never! I want him back. You don't understand; Terry is the best boyfriend I've ever had. He treated me like a princess…and in bed… You heard what he did for Candy for her birthday? He's the one I want, Eliza
- But he wants Candy and he's the one she wants. You've ruined your chances. What you should've done, is become Candy's friend. She's so damn loyal to her friends, that she would've never gone out with Terry if her life depended on it, out of friendship for you. But now it's too late… you burned that bridge the second you laid your eyes on her…
- Too late, said Lizzie
Annie heard what Eliza and Lizzie were saying. That's true, if Lizzie had been Candy's friend, Candy would've never gone out with Terry. Like she will never be with Archie because by friendship for her.
" _You're too good Candy" said Annie in her head._
The flight to Bucharest lasted about 3 and a half hour. They arrived at Otopeni airport in Bucharest, the Romanian capital around 6h30 pm. There were a lot of people, because a lot of airplanes had arrived at the same time. The administrative procedures took a while, but the students were not in a hurry. They were talking among them. Candy was with her friends and her beloved.
- I can't wait to be in my family said Candy
- Why? Asked Annie
- I don't know why she said, I'm just so happy to be here
- Well I hope everybody will be as happy as you, said Terry
- There, the line is moving, finally said Patty, we're getting out!
Everybody was finally walking towards the exit of the airport. The people that were going to receive the students in their home were there with sign with the student's name on it. Candy saw a man with a sign that said, " Candice White Andrew" on it. Her heart jumped of joy in her chest. Why? She didn't know. But she approached the man with a big smile.
Philippe Crane was holding the sign and felt a little funny. Did Melissa's excitement rubbed off on him? He saw a young girl walking towards him with a smile, he smiled back at her. She was radiant with her green eyes and blond hair… like Melissa… He had the impression of seeing Melissa 17 years ago… No, that was his boarder for the summer; his mind and imagination were playing tricks on him…
- Good evening said Candy smiling putting her bag on the ground
- Good evening, Candice?
- Call me Candy, like everybody
Candy felt like hugging him. They say the firs impression is often the good one…so she did. Philippe was a little surprised, but hugged her back. This young girl was the joy of life.
- Thank you, she said, for agreeing to have me stay with you
- You're very welcome, said Philippe a little emotional
He felt good with this young girl and he was happy to have been chosen to stay with her. He went to see the teachers and the coordinator to tell them that he had found his boarder. Then they were ready to go.
- Wait, Mr. Crane, I have to say good bye to someone
- You can all me Philippe. Ok, go ahead
She went to see her friends to say goodbye and then she went to see Terry who was with the driver of the Italian Embassy.
- Romeo? I have to go
- Bye, Juliet he said, kissing her quickly since they already kissed on the plane a lot, good luck
- You too, you'll be able to practice your Italian… Ciao!
Meanwhile, Philippe called Melissa from his cell phone
- Honey?
- Yes, dear is everything all right?
- Yes. The boarder…
- Is she all right?
- You're going to love her! There's something about her…
- Oh honey, you intrigue me… come home quickly!
- See you later. Bye
Candy came back to Philippe in front of the door.
- Your Lover boy?
- Yes, she said blushing lightly
Philippe just smiled, During the ride in the car, they were at the back, they had a driver. They talked about all and nothing. They were feeling very comfortable together.
- I have a wife and three kids, two girls and one boy
- Oh super! I love being in a family…
- The whole family is going to love you, I sure of it
Candy just laughed. They finally arrived at the Crane's villa.
- Wow, it's big! Said Candy
- Yes, and there's a garden and playground for the kids said Philippe
They walked to the door to ring, but the door opened and Melissa appeared. Candy looked at Melissa and felt all sort of emotions submerging her. Melissa looked at Candy, and didn't know what to say. They continued staring at each other.
- Good evening, said Candy to break the silence, Mrs. Crane
- Melissa, call me Melissa
Candy hugged her. Melissa was waiting for the hug; she wanted to hug her too.
- Good evening Melissa, said Candy
- Good evening, Candice said Melissa
- Candy, please…
- Candy repeated Melissa, let me introduce you to the kids, this is Carissa, James and little Cassandra that we call Cassie
Candy went near the kids.
- Hello little ones! Said Candy happily, how are you?
- Fine said the kids
Little Carissa was looking at her. Candy crouched down. Carissa hugged her.
- You're like mummy said Carissa
- Oh… thank you said Candy hugging her back
James imitated his big sister and hugged her too. Candy took Cassie in her arms and kissed her on the cheek. Melissa and Philippe were looking at the scene, fascinated.
- I now get what you meant on the phone, honey she said whispering, there's something about this girl… she's the joy of life… but
- I told you… I don't know what it is…
- Well in any case, I'm happy that she came
The diner was fine; they were like one big happy family.
Terry arrived at the residence of the Italian Ambassador and was greeted by the Ambassador, his wife, their three daughters and his son.
- Good evening said Terry
- Terrence Grandchester? Asked the Ambassador, Beneto Santarelli
- Pleased to meet you, Your Excellency, Madam
- These are my kids, Ornella, Francesca, Alessandra and Enzo
- Hi, said the kids
- As you can see, we all speak English, my wife is American
- Oh, that's great! Call me Terry, please
Francesca who was 16, found Terry really handsome. She was blond with straight hair and grey eyes. She started to talk with Terry and didn't leave his side. Terry liked the attention, but he found it a little annoying. His heart was with Candy, if he had been free, he would've spend some good time with Francesca. But he didn't regret anything, he had Candy and he was happy.
After diner, Francesca took him to his room. She stayed with him while he was arranging his stuff. They were talking about everything in the beginning, then, she made him understand that she wanted more.
- I'm looking for my cell phone to call my girlfriend said Terry to show her that he wasn't available
- Oh… did she stay in London?
- No, she's here at the Cranes
- Oh…but she's not in this house
- Francesca, I'm the faithful kind
- Pity… just once would have been enough
Terry couldn't believe his ears. She had the nerve…!
- Do you have a boyfriend?
- Yes, but he's on vacation
- You think he's going to like that you're flirting with me?
- He doesn't need to know. I won't tell him. I'm not married yet, I'm young and pretty. I can have a little fun, can I? You will probably feel lonely without your girlfriend. I just wanted you to know that I'm available
- Thanks, but, no thanks
- If you change your mind…
- I won't…
Terry's cell phone started to ring, taking him out of this uncomfortable conversation.
- Candy? He said relieved
- Terry? You sound weird. A girl is hitting on you?
(Silence)
- "Ye who doesn't say word, consents"… be nice to her, she can help you with the Romanian language
- Freckles, you're incredible!
- Why? Because I trust my Romeo? By the way, my family here is great! The father, the mother, the kids are beautiful! I feel so good here!
- Good for you Juliet, I'm happy…
- … that there's no young man my age here? She joked
- What are you talking about? I trust you completely, my Juliet
- I sure hope so! OK, honey, I have to go. I have to read a story to the kids. Call me before you go to bed.
- Ok, talk to you later, I love you
- Bye, I love you
Terry put the cell phone on his night table. Francesca didn't miss a word of the conversation, at least on Terry's side.
- You must love her a lot… she said
- Yes…
- She's lucky… I'm going to leave you. You can come down when you're done
- I don't know if I can find myself in this big house. It's so big in here
- So, I'll wait for you
Terry finished to arrange his things and went down the stairs with Francesca to be with the rest of the family in one of the living rooms.
The rest of the band was fine in their host family. Most of them were happy about their boarder, except of course those of Lizzie and Eliza. Neil was in a family that had a 15-year-old named Tracy and started to flirt immediately with her. All the boys that found themselves in families with teen-age girls were in 7th heaven.
Annie found herself in the Parker family, they had a boy Warren who was 17, and he had two sisters; Libby who was 16 and Carrie who was 14. The mother was from Sweden and the father American. Warren was on Annie's heels and was giving her all of his attention. That was a big change for Annie compare to Archibald's indifference. She called Candy on her cell phone. This last one was in her bedroom installing her laptop.
- Hello, Candy?
- Annie, How are you?
- Fine… I think
- Hum… what's wrong?
- Well, there's a boy here, Warren, he's 17
- Oh…
- He's very likeable…
- He's flirting with you, you mean
- Yes. Candy I spent my time pursuing Archie… Warren's attention it's… Great!
- I'm happy for you, Annie, be careful
- I know, don't worry. Thanks. How are you in your family?
- Annie, like you said, "my family"… I'm feeling like I'm in my family, it's a strange feeling. There's no teen boy, the kids are small and adorable. I'm in seventh heaven!
- I'm very happy for you… I've never heard you so…happy!
- Thanks. See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Annie
She was just finished when the phone rang again
- Freckles?
- Romeo
- I calling to wish you a goodnight
- Goodnight Romeo, she said smiling
- Goodnight Juliet. See you tomorrow
- I miss you
- I miss you too…
Melissa was passing by and she knocked on her door.
- Come in!
Candy had just finished her conversation with Terry.
- Who was that? If I'm not too nosy
- Terry, my boyfriend
- Oh…how long have you been together?
- We've met on December 31, but we started going out in April
- And you love him…
- When we met, I had just lost my fist boyfriend in a car crash. I never thought I would love another one…
Melissa was looking at her; she had freckles, like her. She like being in her presence.
- You want me to brush your hair? She asked
- That would be nice, thank you. I was adopted, I never had a mother
- Oh… you're from the family of William Andrew?
- Yes…
- I met him a few times in some receptions
- Well at least you've seen him… I've never seen him
- But he adopted you
- It was to pleased Anthony, my first love… he's always on a business trip
- Oh…I can mother during your stay
- That would please me a lot, thank you
- You're welcome. It's a pleasure for me too.
Candy sat in front of the dresser, and Melissa was standing behind her and brushing her long blond and curly hair. They continued talking. Candy told her what had happened with Terry. They were laughing.
Philippe was passing by and looking by the half-opened door. For a split of a second, he thought " Mother and daughter"… but he stopped his line of thinking that he judge ridiculous. But, was it? He went to get his digital camera. He knocked on the door.
- Can I come in?
- Of course said Candy
- What are you doing with the camera, honey? Said Melissa
- I want to immortalize the moment…can I ? He asked Candy
- Of course
They said both "cheese" . he took a picture, then another one, and another one… He went on his computer and got the pictures out right away. The two young women were still talking. Candy was now brushing Melissa's hair. Philippe arrived with the pictures.
- Already? Said Melissa seeing her husband
- The magic of technology said Philippe
- They're beautiful said Candy
- You can keep these
- Thank you very much, Philippe
- We're going to let you sleep, said Melissa, goodnight
- Goodnight and thank you again
They left Candy and she sent an e-mail to Terry.
_**My Romeo darling,**_
_**I was used to seeing you every nights. I missed you. Philippe (Mr. Crane) took some pictures of Melissa (Mrs. Crane) and I. They are very beautiful. I'll show them to you tomorrow. **_
_**If your situation is a little weird (the Ambassador's daughter is hitting on you) I know you'll know what to do. I trust you. I'm going to bed. See you later, my love. I love you.**_
_**Juliet**_
She got almost an immediate answer from Terry.
_**My darling Juliet,**_
_**Those six weeks are going to be a torture for me, because I won't see you every night.**_
_**But tomorrow, I won't leave your side. I want to spend the maximum time with you during the day.**_
_**See you tomorrow. I love you.**_
Romeo
Melissa and Philippe were in their room.
- Honey, you're overjoyed! The last time I saw you this happy, was when Cassie was born
- Does that bother you?
- On the contrary, I'm as happy as you
- Hold me tight said Melissa closing her eyes.
12. Chapter 12
**Tomorrow in your life**
**Chapter 12**
**Romanian vacations, part 1:**
"**Visit and pleasure"**
The next morning, the children awakened Candy.
- Good morning little ones, she said smiling
- Good morning!
They climbed on the bed, Candy helped little Cassie to climb, she was very pretty with her freckles, like her. She talked with the children happily and was laughing. Little Carissa was teaching her how to count in Romanian. Candy went with her to their bedroom, and gave them a bath, one at the time and dressed them. The maid came to get them to feed them. Candy went to take a shower and got dressed. She went to the dining room and found the whole family at the table having breakfast.
- Good morning, every body! She said
- Good morning ,said everybody
- Thanks for getting the kids ready, said Melissa
- Oh no, the pleasure was all mine, they're adorable…
- Did you spend a good night? Asked Philippe
- Yes, thank you
Candy's cell phone started to ring. The maid was serving her tea, eggs and toasts.
- Excuse-me she said to the others, hello? Terry hi, sweetie! I had a good night, thanks. What about you? They didn't bother you too much?… I'll see you in a bit… Ciao!
- Terry? Where does he live? Asked Melissa
- At the Italian Ambassador's residence
- Ornella and Francesca… is he handsome, your guy?
- Very…
- They are going to try to have him
- I trust Terry
- That's good
- I have to go, said Philippe, see you tonight he said kissing his wife and his kids on the forehead, he also kissed Candy on the forehead.
They finished breakfast and Melissa took Candy to the American cultural centre, where they were suppose to meet with the others. There were other students already, so was Terry. Melissa got out of the car with Candy. Terry walked towards them. he gave Candy a quick hug.
- Melissa, let me introduce you to Terrence Grandchester… Terry this is Melissa
- You're the son of the Duke Richard Granchester?
- Yes, said Terry surprised
- I'm a reporter, the society page, it's my field and I was in London
- Oh… said Terry
- Candy, I'll come and get you around 5 pm… have a nice day
- Thanks, bye Melissa
- Bye, Candy
She went back to her car and left. Candy was watching her go.
- Isn't she great? She asked Terry
- Yes. She looks like you… maybe that's why you feel so good with her
- She looks like me?
- The same hair,… the freckles… the eyes…
- Really? I don't see it…
- You must be blind, Freckles, this woman could be your mother!
Candy wanted to answer, but her friends arrived at that moment.
- Hello, said Annie smiling
- Good morning, said Patty
- Hello! Said Tanisha
- Hello girls, said Candy smiling, where are the boys?
- Over there, talking to girls
- What's today's program again? Asked Tanisha
- We're going to Snagov to visit the city, that's where Dracula's grave is… explained Patty
- It's not in Transylvania? Asked Annie
- Apparently not, said Candy, we have to go, they're calling us, let's go get on the bus…
They all went to get on the bus. Terry and Candy went to sit at the back of the bus. Her friends were sitting on the seats right in front of them. Eliza, Lizzie and her group, were sitting at the front. The visit went on without an itch. Dracula's grave. Dracula in Romanian meant "the devil". The legend says he turned to black magic and was making his enemies disappear.
- You think that Bram Stoker came here to make his research to write his book? Asked Candy
- I don't know said Terry, but he made a mistake on the region; we're not in Transylvania… but maybe he was just buried here…
The people of the village were looking at them smiling, tourists; it was good to see other people beside the village people. They went to eat in a Romanian restaurant, altogether. The guide was a Romanian lady, named Lydia Grigore. She was translating and advised them to try "Cascaval pane", a Romanian specialty made with a local cheese. It was served with fries. That's what they ordered for everybody. And every body liked it. They spent the rest of the after noon visiting local orthodox churches.
- What's the difference between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church? Asked Patty to Lydia
- Orthodox priest can get married… started Lydia
- That's enough to convert me! Said Neil
Every body started laughing. They finished their visit and continued asking questions to Lydia. Then came the time to go back to Bucharest. They went back like they came, by bus. Candy was in Terry's arms.
- I'm going to miss you again, Romeo
- Our evenings are more of less free, aren't they? I can come and see you or you can come and see me
- What's the name of the girl that's hitting on you?
- Francesca…
- Francesca, is not going to send me away?
- If she does that, I will never talk to her again… you know your family's address?
- No, but I can ask Melissa and I'll call you
- Ok.
They fell asleep holding each other until they got to the American cultural centre. The host parents came to pick them up, they were already waiting for a while. Candy saw her family from afar. Terry saw the driver of the Italian Embassy with Francesca.
- That's her?
- Yes…
- She's beautiful…
- Really, I didn't notice
- Terry stop, I trust you.
- Thanks Juliet. See you later…
- See you later Romeo, she said smiling, ciao!
Candy went back with her family. But they had to put their plans to see each other on hold, because the Italian Ambassador had other plans. They had to go to the Italian church. The priest only came once in a while, so when he was there, there was a mass every night. Candy went with her family to the British cultural centre to see a movie with other members of the diplomatic corp. It really was a way to meet and socialise and talk. Candy met other children of diplomats, there were some from African countries, South America, Asia… it was really cultivating for her to compare countries and cultures. At one point, she was standing next to Melissa and Philippe.
- Melissandre, said the American Ambassadress, you didn't tell me that you had a teen-age daughter… she looks so much like you; she's your spitting image!
- No, said the Ambassadress of Great Britain, it's her boarder…
- Really? But I thought that… I'm sorry Melissa, I'm confused…
- Don't apologise, it's ok said Melissa
Philippe understood that his wife was thinking about the son they had lost. He would've been Candy's age. Melissa felt sad. Candy felt in her place, like the American Ambassadress' remark was right on cue. Philippe and Melissa had the same impression, but they all didn't say anything.
- You know Melissa, said Candy, Terry also said that we looked alike… he said that you could be my mother…
- Really? Well I'll take that as a compliment, she replied smiling
- Me too, said Candy laughing
They started to talk about other stuff. They watched the movie; it was an old classic "Casablanca".
In her bed, Melissa was thinking about the evening.
- You're thinking about him? Asked Philippe
- If I had had a girl, I would've sworn that Candy was my daughter…
- But you had a boy, and he died. You saw the body…
- I know, she said with tears in her eyes
She held him hard in her arms. Everything would've been so simple if Candy was her daughter. She had an immediate connection with her, but her baby died.
Candy was in her bedroom, on the phone.
- Annie? So how are you with Warren?
- Fine. He's absolutely charming. How long do I have to wait for him kiss me?
- I don't know. It depends on you if you feel ready…
- Ok. We'll see
- You're not thinking about Archie anymore?
- Yes, a little, but he doesn't even see me!
- I'm sorry Annie
- Thanks. But like you said, there are other fish in the ocean… I can have a little summer fling. Can I?
- Euh… I don't really know how to answer that…
- Ok. I have to go, see you tomorrow
- Tomorrow it's Saturday. We have the weekends free.. The families will probably take us to the diplomatic club
- I'll come with Warren, said Annie all excited
- Bye Annie, be careful!
Candy went and took a shower, then she got ready to go to bed. Her cell phone rang.
- Terry!
- Are you ok, Juliet? Not too disappointed?
- No. Tomorrow, we're free, aren't we?
- Francesca is taking me to the diplomatic club
- Francesca?
- I can come and get you, if your family is not going…
- Francesca?
- Sorry baby, the only boy here is 11 years old…
- You can become his friend…
- Don't you trust me?
- Yes, but that doesn't mean I want to see you with her all the time…
- I'll come in the morning after breakfast to spend time with you
- So you'll see the kids, how adorable they are!
- Ok. I'll call you in the morning for the address
- Good night Romeo, see you tomorrow
She wanted to go to bed, but she felt like seeing Melissa. She felt the sadness ever since they took her for her mother…. Why? She didn't like to see people sad. Melissa felt like seeing Candy too. She went and knocked on the door.
- Come in Melissa, said Candy, is everything ok?
- Yes, why?
- You didn't seem to like it when they took you for my mother…
- No. That's not it… I wish I was your mother; you're so happy and so full of life…
- Oh… thank you. This subject is making you sad. Let's talk about something else. What do you think about Terry?
- He's really very handsome
- Can he come and see me tomorrow morning? I will need the address here…
- No problem, I will give it to you in the morning. Did you and Terry…
- You want to know if we're going to use your house to satisfy our sexual appetite? Don't worry about that… I as pure as the day I was born.
Melissa smiled; she was relived, without knowing why. They talked for a while and then Melissa went back to her room. She felt better after talking to Candy. Philippe was happy to have Candy, but he was asking himself how Melissa is going to take Candy's departure. He didn't want her to get too attached to her. But he knew it was already too late. Melissa got attached to Candy for the moment she saw her and him too for that matter. The separation is going to be painful. But for now, they are going to take advantage of her presence.
The next day, a little after breakfast, Terry arrived with Francesca. Candy was a little disappointed that he was with his "guard dog", like she nicknamed her in her head. While Francesca was talking to Melissa, Candy went to take something in her bedroom; Terry was in the living room with Philippe.
- So, said Philippe, what are your intentions towards Candy, Terry?
- Euh… for now or for the future?
- For the future. I wouldn't want you to hurt her…
Terry felt like Candy's father was interrogating him, on their first date.
- Well, I will marry her one day… at least I hope… if she still wants me
- She's crazy about you… all you have to do is look into her eyes, when she talks about you
- I love her too…
- I sure hope so! Otherwise, you'll answer to me… if you're only playing her…!
Terry looked at him surprised and realised that Philippe was joking. He smiled too. Candy arrived with the children. Terry understood why Candy felt so good in that family. She was in her element, with children that adored her and that strangely looked like her. Melissa arrived with Francesca.
- Philippe, you're not bothering Terry are you? Asked Melissa
- No, Melissa, I'm fine said Terry, Miss Freckles, let's go outside…
- Ok, let's go little ones
They left the living room to go to the garden. Melissa and Philippe were watching them go. Francesca followed them.
- Miss Freckles? Said Philippe, that can also apply to you too, Mrs. Freckles
Melissa just laughed and went near her husband to kiss him.
Candy, Terry and the children were playing in the backyard. Francesca was sitting on a chair, and was looking at them.
"Terry and Candy… they're together she said to herself, he loves her a lot. I'm wasting my time. It's better to be his friend"
She stood up and went and joined them, to play with the kids.
Annie was at the Parkers talking with their daughters, Libby and Carrie.
- Do you have a boyfriend? Asked Libby to Annie
- No, I like this boy, but he doesn't even look at me
- Oh. For me it's the same thing. Il like this boy that goes to the French school, but he doesn't know
- Did you try to tell him?
- No. But there's also the language barrier. I don't really speak French to say the least…
- Your brother has a girlfriend? Asked Annie
- No, not at the moment. He was with that idiot Michelle Vignal, the daughter of the French Ambassador, but it's over
- What happened? Asked Annie
- He caught her with Britt Macdonald, the son of the American Ambassador. He's really cute, but he's a jerk…said Carrie
- Oh… you're having fun here, aren't you? Said Annie
- You haven't heard anything yet! Said Libby
Libby continued telling Annie about the love life of the children of the diplomatic corp.
Tanisha was leaving at the Macdonald's, the American Ambassador. Their son, Britt had long blond hair and blue eyes, he was very handsome and he knew it, so he flirted with all the girls, he was charming and smooth talker, and most to the girls couldn't resist him. But Tanisha had other things in mind. Her boyfriend couldn't make the trip with them. She said to herself that she was going to resist, the advances of this Casanova, but it was hard, really hard.
- Tanisha, said Britt, you want to come to the diplomatic club with me? I think that most of the families will be there
- Ok, said Tanisha with smile
She felt all funny after that. She was asking herself how long is she going to resist him.
Neil was in a host family of a Canadian diplomat. They had a daughter named Tracy that was very happy to have a boy in her house. She didn't loose any time, she was on him like a second skin… and Neil was glad and fully took advantage of the situation.
Stear and Archie were in the family of a Congolese diplomat who had young boys and young girls. The father was an Ambassador and they all had been in different countries, among them the USA, so they all spoke English. They were really well greeted and they were very comfortable. They were a little afraid of the food, but they had a special menu. Stear wanted to taste the African meal and thought it was really good.
Lizzie was in the family of the Colombian Ambassador. They had a daughter named Lisa, that tried to be as good as possible with the boarder, who was not likeable to her at all.
Eliza was in the Bangladesh Ambassador's family. They had a daughter named Seema. She was very likeable but she couldn't stand Eliza. Being the daughter of a diplomat, she was very polite and very diplomatic with her. Growing up in diplomacy maybe had its advantages.
Ethan was in a German family, the Bangert; they had two children, Christine and Andreas. Christine was very shy with boy. She was 16, and she'd never gone out with a boy. Ethan made a pleasure of charming her and make her taste the delights that a lot of teens already knew about.
The purpose of these vacations, was to educate the students, make them visit another country, an ex iron-curtain country, and to show them how the foreign community was leaving in a country where English was not the official language. But our youngsters had only one thing in mind with their raging hormones from their puberty desires… Have fun like crazy!
Everybody found themselves at the diplomatic club with the members of their host family. Every body was having fun. Candy was with Annie, Patty and Tanisha. They were talking and comparing their host families. Terry was also with his friends, among them John the Vietnamese who was leaving at the Brazilian Embassy.
At the diplomatic club there was a big swimming pool and a small one for kids, a few tennis courts, a football field, ping pong tables, a room with arcades games, an audio-video room, a pool room, a mini-golf field, a diplomatic shop in American dollars, a ballroom for parties of special events, and finally a restaurant with a terrace. The club dated from the communist era, when foreigners weren't "allowed" to talk to the local population. The club was were all the foreigners met. The youngsters liked to go to the club to have fun of course, but also for their dates. For those who had very strict parents like the young Africans or Asians or even Latino Americans, the club was the perfect place to meet their loved ones under their parents nose! Most of the time, the parents left them there and came back to get them in the evening.
Candy was the little Cranes. They went to change into their bathing suit to swim in the little pool. Annie and Patty were also in their bathing suit.
- Candy said Annie, those kids look like you!
- That's because we're all blonds…
- Well they could be your little brother and sisters said Patty
- That's how I see them, as my brother and sisters
Candy had fun with the kids and then she took them to the restaurant to eat. That's where Terry found her.
- Hi Miss Freckles… said Terry
- Which ones? Asked Carissa, I have freckles too…
- Yes, said Terry, you'll be the little Miss Freckles…
- And Mommy?
- Mommy will be Mrs. Freckles
They all couldn't help laughing. Britt Macdonald was sitting a few tables from them, with his friends and was looking at Candy. She had a boyfriend, which gave him more courage to try and seduce her. The fact that he did it a lot of times, gave him this arrogance that he could have whom ever he wanted, whenever he wanted. So he put Candy next on his hit list of conquests.
Candy and Terry haven't found each other alone ever since they have arrived in Romania. They wanted to be alone, but at the club, with all those people… there were hiding places of course, but… Terry finished his meal and had to join his friends for a football game.
- "Football" said Candy, you mean "soccer"…
- It's "football" said Terry, you Americans are crazy to call your sport "football" when it's kind of a version of rugby… especially since you barely hit it with the foot…we call it "American football"
- Well I don't know why they call it "football"… all I know it's that it's "football" and yours is "soccer"…
- Ok, Freckles, see you later, said Terry with a smile…
- Ciao, said Candy laughing
Terry knew that Candy was teasing him with "ciao" because of Francesca. He just smiled.
Candy went to join the Cranes with the little ones. She met Tanisha on the way, who had just finished talking to her boyfriend on her cell phone.
- Hi Tani, how's…
- Fine…
- And in your host family?
- Britt Macdonald's family
- That's the big blond guy I saw at the restaurant? He was looking at me in a weird way…
- He was probably planning on how to seduce you…
- He has time to waste…
- But Candy, I don't know what's happening to me. I know that he's playing, but I can't help being tempted…
- Tanisha…
- I know. I have a boyfriend, but he's not here with me…
- Tanisha, get a hold of yourself. Listen, if you want a 5 minutes fling with Britt, I can't stop you. But think of the consequences, would you be able to live with that…?
- I don't know… But thanks Candy; you're always so truthful with me and with every body… I'm going to see the football game, are you coming?
- I'm going to leave the little ones with their parents, and I'm coming
- Ok. See you later…
She went to leave the kids with their parents and went to the football field. They had two teams, the visitors and the youngsters from Bucharest. They had a lot of fun. Britt was resting; he approached Candy with a smile.
- Hi… he said
- Hi…she said
- You like the game?
- I like looking at my boyfriend, said Candy who can see him coming…
- Oh, I'm not interested in your boyfriend…
- I am. Excuse-me… she said going away from there
She went to sit next to Annie. Eliza and Lizzie saw what had happened and they decided to hatch a plan to take advantage of the situation. Candy was talking with Annie about Britt.
- He was hitting on you? Asked Annie
- What do you think?
- He's not possible. It's like he only wants the ones with boyfriends…
- Maybe that's what fires his perk, said Candy laughing, anyway, he's wasting his time. I only see Terry. What about your charmer?
- He's on the field there, you see him?
- In red? Yes… he's very cute… Archie is on the field too
- Where? Said Annie like she wasn't seeing him
Candy smiled. Annie was still a little hurt by Archie's rejection. When everybody went back home, Terry went to the Cranes before going back to his host family. Ornella, Francesca's sister was with him, she didn't let him space to breathe. Melissa saw what was happening and called Ornella on the side to talk about some stuff. Candy thanked Melissa in her heart, and went to her bedroom with Terry.
- Melissa is nice to have distracted Ornella, said Terry
- She knew that I needed to be with you…, she said coming near him taking his lips.
They needed to find themselves alone for a while, Melissa had helped them… Philippe took Melissa aside to talk to her
- Are you sure she's all right alone in her room with him?
- You're cute Philippe, it's like you're worried about your daughter… she told me that they were not intimate. So all she's doing, is kissing the boy she loves… they didn't get any occasion to be alone ever since they got here… it's nice of you to be worried about her. Do you remember with us?
- Is that suppose to reassure me? Said Philippe not very convinced
13. Chapter 13
**Tomorrow in your life**
**Chapter 13**
**Romanian vacations part 2:**
**"The casino at the French Embassy"**
The rest of the summer vacations went on fine. Our youngsters were invited at the French Embassy; they had organized a casino. Casino evening, party dresses for girls and nice suits for the boys. The French Embassy was big; they took the furniture out and replace it with tables, roulettes, machines etc.
Candy was with her friends and her cousins; Terry was not there yet.
- Are you coming to play, Candy? Asked Archie
- No, I'm going to eat at the French buffet, she said
- Ok, you know where to find us said Stair, let's go play…
Candy went to serve herself with some food while the others were playing while she was at the buffet, she heard a voice.
- Hi, Candy…
- Britt…
- Where's your knight and shinning armour?
- He's going to be here soon
- I hope Ornella and Francesca manage to seduce him… in the mean time, I'm going to take advantage of the situation and hit on you
- You're wasting your time… and the two Italian girls also…
- Nobody resists me
- There's a beginning for everything…
- You love your lousy British
- I sure he thinks you're a lousy American…she said leaving
She went to talk with some young girls, among them Michelle Vignal, the French Ambassador's daughter, who spoke English very well.
- I saw your boyfriend said Michelle, he's very handsome. He lives at the Italian residence?
- I know, there are two beautiful young girls there, but I trust him…
- We can see that you don't live here… everybody backstabs, everybody, without any thoughts for others…
- It's a pity to live that way said Candy
- I know, but that's how it is here… and it doesn't stop with the kids… if you see what I mean…
- Ok, that's too much information for me! Said Candy laughing, there's Terry finally!
Terry entered the room with Ornella and Francesca at his arms. Everybody looked at Candy. Another young girl would have been shocked by the scene, but not Candy. She smiled at Terry, who let go of the two girls and walked to her. They went to talk outside in the garden.
- Finally! Well you sure know how to make an entrance, she said
- You're not jealous, I hope?
- No, but try to avoid that kind of spectacle in the future… All the looks are suddenly aim at me, because everybody wants to se my reaction…
- I'm sorry honey. But I didn't know what to do to get rid of those two girls… they're stuck on me like a second skin
- I suppose that's the price to pay for having the most handsome boy in the world she joked
- Yeah! He said laughing. Freckles, you want to come and play?
- Ok…
They went to join the others that were already playing the roulette.
- I thought you didn't want to play, said Archie to Candy
- She was waiting for Terry, said Stear
- Oh…
They had fun all night. Neil lost a little money so did Eliza and Patty. Lizzie was winning a lot. Candy and Terry were winning and losing, every one was having fun.
Annie was with Warren who did leave her for a second. They went in the garden to talk under the moonlight. Warren leaned to kiss her on the lips. Annie let him, she'd never been kissed and she was tired of waiting for Archie to notice her. The kiss was more wonderful than she imagined. She felt the world spinning around her; she was transported in turmoil of interminable passion. She savoured the kiss to a maximum. It was fantastic.
Archie was passing by and saw them enlaced, kissing passionately, he felt a little funny. Annie Brighton had give him all her attention, and he had ignored her. Now, she was kissing someone else… Why did he suddenly wanted to be in Warren's place?
Terry was going to the washroom at one point; he was surprised by Lizzie that locked the door to be alone with him.
- Lizzie!
- Go ahead! Don't by shy; it's not like I haven't seen you naked…
- Lizzie, what do you want?
- I want you… Terry, I can't forget you. You were the best boyfriend and the best lover I've ever had…
Saying that, she came near him and tried to hug him to kiss him. Terry pulled away from her
- Lizzie…
- Candy is a virgin; I know you're not doing it. You must be frustrated. I'm here Terry… no one will know…
- But you and I will… Lizzie stop it! I love Candy and I'm with her; sexual relations or not! I love her and she loves me. That's enough for me. You had your chance, you blew it…
- You never loved me, didn't you? You only wanted my body! That's all I was for you?
- Lizzie… stop this! This conversation is going nowhere…
Lizzie opened the door and got out of the toilet, followed by Terry. Eliza saw them and she made a pleasure of running to Candy who was outside getting some fresh air…
- Hello cousin… where's your lover boy?
- I don't know, but I'm sure you're going to tell me. What do you want Eliza?
- I want to tell you that you better spread your legs… I saw your guy with Lizzie, locked in the toilet…
Candy trusted Terry a 100. But to hear that from Eliza, upset her a little. But she didn't want to show it.
- And you've got your own theory on what is going on behind the door…
- They were having a quickie…
- Oh, and you know that, because you took their clothes off?
- No… but what else could be happening?
- I don't know, maybe a last desperate attempt from Lizzie to get Terry back?
Eliza knew that Candy was right on the money, but she continue wanting to make her believe the contrary
- Continue saying that, maybe you'll end up convincing yourself
She left went to tell everybody about the news. Before the end of the evening, everybody had heard the rumour. Lizzie also wanted to plant a seed of doubt in Candy's mind, so that she'll have a fight with Terry. She found Candy in the garden on the swing.
- There's the virgin queen! Said Lizzie
- Check the history books of your country, according to them, Elizabeth the 1st was the "virgin queen" … but you and I know that you only share the same first name and not the same nickname…
- You have a ready tongue, you pious little hypocrite!
- And you're so desperate that you locked yourself up in the washroom with Terry and tried to seduce him…
- I don't need to seduce him, even if you stole him from me
- You're not going to make me doubt Terry, Lizzie, don't even try. I didn't steal him. You lost him when you tried to make me look bad… Why am I talking about this? You and I know what happened… you're lucky we didn't tell on you…
- Should I thank you for that?
- No, you're much too polite for that…
- You slut!
- You're one to talk! You're the one throwing yourself at my boyfriend and I'm the slut?
- He was mine…
- Yes, "was" being the operative word, he's not anymore. He's mine, now! And I have no intention to leave him to you! You had him; you lost him, too bad for you. Now, leave me alone before I really start to lose my temper…
Eliza, who watched the scene without a word, took Lizzie by the arm and away from there.
- No, go ahead, I'm ready! You want a piece of me? She started
- Lizzie, said Eliza, let's go, you're not going to fight here…
- Why not? She's so proud to be with Terry… I'm going to beat her up!
- Be careful you that it's not you that gets beat up… said Candy
- You little…
- Lizzie, let's go, said Eliza taking her away by force
- But, why are you defending her?
- I'm not defending her, I don't want everybody to get in trouble and be penalized because of a fight… we're having fun here. And if you two fight, you could ruin it for everybody said Eliza
- You're going to pay for this! She cried to Candy
Candy didn't answer. She didn't feel like fighting. She wanted to see Terry, but she didn't want to go back to the casino.
Terry heard about the rumour and started to look for Candy.
- Grandchester said Archie, you can't put Candy into your bed, so you go in the washroom with Lizzie?
- You don't know what your talking about, Cornwell…
- I heard the rumour
- You can't believe everything you hear. Do you know where Candy is?
- Far away from you, I hope… said Archie, how could you do this to her? She loves you so much…
- I don't have to give you any explanations, said Terry leaving
He continued looking for Candy everywhere.
Candy was still on the big swing when she heard Britt's voice.
- Candy… your Romeo is in the washroom having a quickie…
- Gee, Britt, thanks for the news…you're very subtle…
- He doesn't deserve you…
- And you deserve me?
- He's with his ex…
- So I've heard…
- And that doesn't bother you?
- No, I trust him…
- You're incredible…and so naïve…
- Why, because I trust my boyfriend?
- My God…
- You thought that I would be devastated enough to have a quickie with you? Sorry to disappoint you. Britt…
- Candy, I just wanted to be a friend…
Terry found Candy where Lizzie had left her, on the swing in the garden…with Britt
- Leave her alone, Macdonald! Said Terry's voice
- Look who's here, the quickie boy!
- Britt, said Candy, leave us alone, please
Britt looked at Terry he wanted to say something, but he left.
- Juliet?
- Yes, Romeo…
- Are you ok?
- Yes
- She surprised me in the washroom…
- You don't have to explain yourself, Terry, I trust you. She tried to seduce you… it must have been tempting, since our relationship is platonic…
- Candy, I love you, and I only want you… the rest is not important
- Are you sure? I don't want you to be frustrated…
- I love you Freckles… and I only want you…I'm sorry.
He was sitting next to her on the big swing she went near him and put her head on his shoulders. They stayed like that till the people were starting to leave.
Since it was an evening for youngsters, the parents weren't there. Most of them came to get their boarders; some were going back with the drivers. Philippe came to pick Candy up. Melissa was waiting for them at home.
- Candy, are you ok? She asked when she saw her sad expression
- Yes, but I've been better…
- What's wrong, honey?
She told him what happened with Terry and Lizzie
- You trust Terry?
- Yes
- So Lizzie is wasting her time. You're lucky, you have a faithful guy…
Candy's cell phone started to ring. It was Annie, Melissa let them talk…
- Candy where were you? I heard the rumour… are you ok?
- I'm fine Annie, what about you?
- He kissed me!
- Oh… how was it?
- Well, it was finally good to live it instead of hearing about it from your friends…
- Good for you…
- I have to go. Good night, see you tomorrow, sweetie
- You too.
As soon as she hung up, it rang again.
- Candy…
- Patty, how are you?
- I'm fine, Annie told you?
- For the kiss, yes! I wanted to tell Stear so he could repeat it to Archie
- Go ahead, maybe he's gong to be jealous…
- Ok. See you tomorrow, then. Good night
- Good night…
Her cousins called her to know how she was doing too, after the rumour about Terry and Lizzie
- Candy, just one word, and I beat him up, said Archie
- What if he beats you up? Asked Candy laughing, thanks Archie
- You're sure you're all right? asked Stear taking the phone
- I'm fine, cousin, I'm very well. Stop worrying about me…
- Well don't hold your breath! We'll always worry about you Candy, said Stear
- Good night to the both of you
- Good night Candy…
Melissa was back in the room when the phone rang again.
- You're popular today, said Melissa
- Everybody wants to comfort me… this time it's Terry she said looking at her phone, Romeo?
- Juliet, I wanted to wish you a good night
- Good night Romeo, I love you
- Not more than I love you… good night my love
Melissa was looking at her smiling.
- Romeo?
- That's my nickname for him; he knows the role by heart…
- Really?
- He wants to become an actor
- That's good. I wanted to wish you good night
- Thanks Melissa. Thanks for everything said Candy. Good night
In their room, Philippe was talking to his wife.
- These summer vacations are full of excitement said Philippe, all the kids are asleep?
- Yes. Poor Candy… but she's feeling better. She trusts her boyfriend a 100
- Good for her. She's so in love with him
- And him with her…
- Like we loved each other…
- And we still love each other…
He kissed his wife.
Patty called Stear, to tell him about Annie's kiss to make Archie jealous
- What, she kissed him?
- Yes, her first kiss, you should've seen her, she was on cloud nine…
- She got tired of waiting for my brother? Well, I'm happy for her
- Me too. Good night
- Good night, Patty
When he hung up, Archie was looking at him strangely.
- Who kissed whom?
- Annie kissed Warren…
- Oh… said Archie a little disappointed, I saw them…I was a little jealous
- What? She made herself available to you and you were only dreaming about Candy… she moved on…
- Already? Why so fast?
- Because he's a good looking guy who gave her, his attention and she thought it was wonderful, since you didn't even give her the time of the day…
- That bastard! If he hurts her…
- Archie, stop. You've ignored her all this time; you can't really start to be jealous now…
- Why not…? She's mine…
- You should've told her that…
Archie remained silent. Annie, with someone else? Why was that bothering him so much?
14. Chapter 14
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**By Mallory Quinn **
**Chapter 14 **
**Romanian vacations, part 3;**
"**The mountain, the sea and the wedding…"**
A part of the program was to go to a small town called Brasov, on the mountain. The weather was a little cooler there, compared to the heat in Bucharest. They spent two days there.
They spent the night in separate cabins. During the day, they had long walks on the mountains and they came back in the evening, very tired.
Lizzie and her boyfriend came back last. She had to calm him after the rumour Eliza spread on casino night, and he wanted to break up her. Lizzie was pleased, because the rumour associated her with Terry, but she had to convince her boyfriend that it wasn't true. He even had a confrontation with Terry in the boys cabin:
- Smith, said Terry, you've got to be kidding me! Lizzie and I? No, I don't go back to what I've thrown away…
- But Eliza, said that you were together in the washroom…
- Why didn't you ask Lizzie what really happened? I have the girl of my dreams, I don't need Lizzie
- Not even for a quickie? They say your queen is a virgin…
- Hey, watch your language! I would spend the rest of my life trying to convince Candy, before I turn to Lizzie…
Smith didn't answer. He knew Terry was telling the truth, Lizzie still a thing for him. Terry only had eyes for Candy. Lizzie managed to convinced him that he was the one she wanted and he gave her one last chance. Lizzie gave Candy the evil eye when she entered the cabin. She didn't understand why Terry was with a girl that was so… so… "pure"! She knew he had desires, he was refraining them for Candy? He must love her a lot! " Damn you Candice White Andrew!"
Candy's cell phone started to ring, it was Terry. All the girls knew about it.
- Romeo? Wait, let me go outside, there are too many people here
The other girls pretended to be disappointed with an "Awww". Lizzie felt her heart hurting. Candy went outside to talk to Terry.
Eliza envied Candy, Terry was not only handsome, but he was also rich. He was a good choice, literally! She wanted to separate them. Lizzie, that idiot, with her stupid drug plot, had brought them closer together for good.
In the morning, they heard noises outside, and cries. The girls woke up and saw a mama bear and her three cubs sniffling around the cabin. The young girls started to scream;
- BEARS! BEARS!
While they were screaming, Candy, looked for her camera and took some pictures, before the little bear family left terrified by the screaming of the girls.
- Candy said Annie, you took some pictures? What a great idea! We'll have some nice souvenirs
The boys heat the girls' screaming and looked by the window and they saw the bears running away. They also started to scream. Most of them ran to their cell phones to call their girls friends! Those last ones reassured them and they talked for a while before hanging up to take a shower in turn.
When they were all outside ready to go, they were still talking about the bear incident.
- I was a little scary said Patty, but the cries of the girls were more frightening than the bears themselves!
- Really? Said Stear
- But Candy, was not afraid, she took some pictures…
- Freckles said Terry, when every body was screaming with panic, you took pictures?
- I wanted to immortalize the moment, said Candy
- You keep surprising me, Miss Tarzan! Said Terry kissing her on the neck
Candy started to laugh and Lizzie was looking at them the heart hurting. Candy's friends continued to talk about the bear incident with the other students.
After the mountain, they went back to Bucharest for a few days. They took the train for Constantia, to spend some days on the beach. Constantia baptized that way for the Roman emperor Constantine who liked to come and spend some day near the black sea. The name Romania came from roman soldiers who, when they arrived in that country thought it was so beautiful that they called it "Romania", the little Rome. The local population told all those stories. Constantia was also the city of the therapeutic mud, which made miracles. It was discovered by accident by a man, whose horse had broken its leg, in the mud. He loved the horses so much he didn't have the heart to kill it. The horse stayed in the mud with it's broken leg for a few days. The man came back one morning and found his horse up and well, totally recovered from its fracture! He wondered what could've had healed the fracture, he understood it was the mud, that had done the miracle. Ever since, it became the therapeutic mud to heal rheumatism, muscular pain etc. People were coming from all over the world for this therapeutic mud.
The youngsters took advantage or the sun to tan and to bathed in the sea. In the evening there were dances, bonfires, they will talk and tell stories, listen to music, play ball etc. Some took advantage of the dark to be alone in some little corner of the beach, but not for long, otherwise the supervisors would go and look for them.
Eliza was looking for a way to be near Terry. Around the end of one to the days, there were not a lot of people on the beach; she was on a little rowboat with her brother, Stear and Archie. She fell in the water on purpose, all dressed up.
- Help me! Help! TERRY! Help me!
Terry, who was near the water, couldn't resist the cry for help.
- He fell in the trap, said Archie, pleased
- He doesn't know she's playing him, said Stear
- Eliza is wasting her time, said Neil, Terry only has eyes for Candy
Terry went into the water and took Eliza who was pretending to drown. She hung on to Terry with all her strengths. She was in Terry's arms and she fell so well. She knew it was temporary, but she savoured every second. Terry put her on the sand.
- Thanks, she said hanging on to his neck, you saved my life…
She didn't seem to want to let go of him.
- Eliza, said Neil arriving, that's enough…
- You can swim, said Candy, you can let go of Terry, now
- I was going to drown, she said
- You can swim? Said Terry pulling away form her
- I was going to drown, she repeated
- It was a trick to be in your arms… said Candy, my gosh Eliza, I didn't know you were so desperate to be in my Terry's arms
Saying that she went next to Terry who was still stunned by Eliza's trick. Stear and Archie were laughing. Lizzie had an indifferent expression on her face. The others were also laughing. Eliza was glad to have had those few moments in Terry's arms.
- You want Terry too? Asked Lizzie to Eliza
- I'm having fun, Lizzie; I just wanted to know what you were talking about. He's great… you've lost a fabulous guy…
They went to Bucharest for the last days of vacations before going back to London. They have to leave the following Monday. The Saturday, there was a wedding in the diplomatic world. When an Embassy finds itself without an Ambassador, there is a chargé d'affaires a.i.(ad interim). It was the case of the Austrian Embassy; Miss Ulrike Tilly was the charge d'affaires a.i.. The Spanish Ambassador, Rafaelo dos Santos was single and had fallen in love with her, and they were getting married, the Saturday before the students left for London.
- That's so romantic, said Candy to Melissa, but how are they going to do for their work? They would have to be sent to the same country all the time…
- They'll find a way. When I married Philippe, I was working in a paper in London, I had the society page…I'm still working every where I go and I send my articles by e-mail
- That's practical said Candy, technology makes everything so simple. Well we had a lot of fun here in Romania. Now we're attending a diplomatic wedding! I'm going to miss you all!
- We're going to miss you too. You promise to keep in touch with us?
- Of course, said Candy smiling, we're going to write each other and call each other. I'm going to give you my phone number. And if you come to London, one of these days…
- I will call you for sure, said Melissa. Ok, we still have two days. We're not going to start crying now….
- You're right, let's go get ready for the party…
The wedding ceremony took place at the Catholic Cathedral of Bucharest There were a lot of guests from to different embassies, but also curious Romanian that were passing by, just to see foreigners getting married. Philippe had his camcorder and had filmed a part of the ceremony. During the reception at the Spanish Embassy's residence, Candy was standing next to her host parents, before she joined Terry, her friends and her cousins. A Romanian colonel, who was working with Philippe, came and talked to them.
- Doamna Crane, ce fetita frumoasa aveti! Se insemna cu dumna voastra foarte multe! (Mrs. Crane, what a beautiful daughter you have there, she looks exactly like you!)
- Nu es fata mea said Melissa, e prietena… pensionara ( She's not my daughter, she's a friend, our boarder)
- I'm sorry, he continued in English, Philippe, I'm confused…
- No problem, said Philippe
- He also thought you were my daughter, said Melissa to Candy
- Oh… simply said Candy, she knew that the subject made Melissa uncomfortable, so she decide to join her friends and her cousins, I'm going to see my friends, see you later
Candy's friends were in the garden, they smiled when they saw her coming.
- Hello, said Annie
- Are you ok? Said Patty, you seem a little distracted
- I'm fine, have you seen Terry?
- He must be with his Italian girls, said Archie
- I trust him, said Candy looking for Terry with her eyes
She saw him near the patio with Ornella and Francesca, as usual… she walked towards them, he needed some rescuing, and it was a pleasure for her to save him.
- Romeo?
- Juliet! You're here, finally!
- Francesca, Ornella… can I take him, back?
- Yes, of course, said Francesca
Ornella didn't say anything until Candy and Terry left.
- Romeo? She said ironically, how stupid!
- I think it's romantic said Francesca, I wish I had a faithful guy like him…
Terry was happy to have been rescued by his beloved. Those two girls knew they were wasting their time, but they couldn't help trying.
- I can't wait to be back in London, said Terry
- Me too, by I'm going to miss my family
- You can keep contact
- I hope you won't keep contact with these two barracudas!
- Juliet…
- I'm sorry, she said
- No, it's good to see you a little jealous…
The dancing started in the beginning of the evening. Everybody was having fun. Britt Macdonald was there and still frustrated that he was unable to seduce Candy. They found themselves in front of the washroom by pure coincidence
- Candy, this my last chance… said Britt
- Last chance for what?
- To have you… he said coming near her
He was tall, 6,2" and he had muscles. He took Candy to one the empty rooms near there.
- What are you doing, are you crazy? Let go of me!
- No girl has ever resisted me, I even kissed you friend Tanisha… who do you think you are? You think you're the first one to have a girlfriend?
He took Candy and forced her on the couch in the room. Candy was fighting as much as she could, but he was stronger. She was screaming but the music from the party was too loud for anybody to hear her. He put his mouth on hers and she turned her face fighting as much as she could. Mean while he was trying to pull up her dress to get to her underwear. Candy understood what he wanted to do, and fought harder. He was surprised by her sudden strength and leaned back a little, but he came back forward forcing her down again.
- NO! HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPP! HELP!
Britt took his hand and put it on her mouth and she bit him. He screamed and slapped her hard. Candy had tear in her eyes.
- HELP! She cried, HELP ME! TERRY!
- SHUT UP, BITCH!
He was suddenly taken off Candy and a blow sent him on the wall.
- Philippe! Said Candy, thank God!
She ran to in his arms and he hugged her. Terry arrived and saw the spectacle and understood in a second what almost happened. He ran to Britt and punched him on the face…. Philippe had to separate them, because they were starting to fight
- You bloody bastard! said Terry, that's how you make your Casanova's reputation? By forcing yourself on girls?
- Who said she didn't want to? She's a little slut like all the girls! Said Britt
- That's why she was saying "NO"? Said Philippe, Britt, you're going to hear from me…
Terry came near Candy and took her in his arms. Philippe told them to go to the car and he went to get Melissa. Candy was crying, silently in the car.
Melissa was talking with some friends;
- Honey, said Philippe
- Hi! She said smiling, where were you?
- With Candy, something happened to her…
- What? Asked Melissa worried
- Britt Macdonald almost abused her…
- What! I'm going to kill him!
Philippe had to calm her so she wouldn't make a scene at the reception.
- Melissa, please, not now, Candy needs you…
- You're right. Where is she?
- In the car with Terry…let's go!
Melissa went to the car and held Candy in her arms. She felt like she needed to protect her, she felt so bad, so powerless… like someone wanted to hurt her flesh and blood, her baby…Melissa continued holding her in her arms. Terry was sitting in front of the car with the driver. Once they arrived home, Candy went to take a shower. Terry was waiting for her in the bedroom.
- Romeo, she said softly, you don't have to stay, I'm fine
- Candy, I just wanted to make sure that you were alright
- I'm fine, thanks. Nothing happed, because of Philip, thank God
All that, happened within the Spanish Embassy, which was considered like Spain, another country. That's how it is for all embassies. The police cannot do anything, because of the diplomatic immunity. Melissa decided to do something she swore she would never do. She went with Philippe to the residence of the American Embassy, to talk to Britt's parents about their son's behaviour; they didn't seem to believe it.
- You have to do something, said Melissa
- Our hands are tied because of the diplomatic immunity… said Philippe
- Melissa, you can't trust some girl's word over my son's, he said she was willing, said the Ambassador
- She was saying "NO"! Said Philippe
- But young girls today are weird, said the Ambassador, they say one thing, when they mean another…
- Which part of "NO" don't you understand? Said Philippe
Melissa couldn't take it anymore, she exploded.
- Mr. Macdonald, do you know who I am?
- Euh, you're Philippe's wife?
- Do you know who my mother is? She's Senator Verna Grant. With one phone call, I can compromise your career…
- Melissandre… said Philippe
- No, honey, I've heard enough! You're going to take you son and get him the help he needs. I've heard rumours and I didn't want to listen to them… but enough is enough. He almost abused an innocent young girl. She also comes from an influential family in the United States, the Andrews from Chicago… you know them? So, you're going to do what ever is necessary for your son to stop, otherwise, between my mother and Candy's uncle, you won't survive!
Mr. Macdonald remained speechless. He knew his son was guilty and that one day it could cost him his career.
- I'm going to make arrangements for him to leave Romania to get the help he needs.
- I'm happy we found a common ground. Good evening, said Melissa
Philippe and Melissa left. Tanisha had heard everything. She went to Britt's room.
- You tried to rape, Candy? What's wrong with you! You have all the girls you want… why did you want the one that had a boyfriend…?
- No girl resists me…
- I'm sorry I let you kiss me… You disgust me!
She got out of the room, and locked the door behind her. She had succumbed to temptation and let him kiss her. She bitterly regretted it now.
Melissa and Philippe didn't say a word during the ride home, until they got to their bedroom.
- I'm sorry honey, she finally said
- You don't need to apologise, I'm not mad at you
- But you didn't say anything during the ride…
- I know what it cost you to use your mother's name and I wanted to give you the time to recover
- Thanks, Philippe she said hugging him, I didn't have the choice, he didn't seem to want to listen. I hated every second of it…
- You did it for Candy. It was for a good cause
Terry was on the bed on top of the blankets with Candy in his arms. She had her eyes closed. Candy was a little shaken up, even if she didn't remember the first time, it was technically the second time she was almost raped. She thought she was done for, until Philippe arrived… She never wanted to feel that way again, that feeling of powerless, in front of a coward who didn't know that when a girl said "NO" it meant "NO". Terry stayed late with her and went back to the Italian residence. Melissa came to her room after Terry left and spend the whole night with her on Candy's bed. She went back to her room very early in the morning. Candy was leaving Monday night; she was going to miss her terribly.
The next day, Annie, Patty, Tanisha, Archie and Stear came to see her after they learned what had happened. They spent the day with her. Even Neil came to see how she was, after he learned the news. Terry was there since the morning, alone, this time. Candy decided not to play the party pooper.
- Come on everybody, enough with the long faces! It's our last day before we leave Bucharest, let's do something…
- Like what? Asked Annie
- Well, we never went out without our guides…
- A trip in town alone? Said Terry, we don't speak Romanian…
- That's what's fun about it said Candy, to be in town in a city where we don't speak the language…
- She's right said Stear, let's go! We have enough local money on us, don't we?
They went in town without any guides, no one to translate Romania for them. They walked, took the bus, the subway, trolleybuses, tramway and taxis. They had a lot of fun. Most of the time they had to explain themselves with gestures and Italian words, Spanish and French. That was amusing!
Lizzie called Britt to talk to him.
- Britt, you idiot, you tried to have her by force?
- Yes, I got impatient
- You didn't even try to drug her?
- Apparently, that didn't work for you, did it?
- But it could've worked for you…
- My parents are sending me to America for therapy sessions
- Pour little you! You ruined everything! Eliza is right, this girl only brings bad luck to those who want to hurt her… well we had a good time you and I you were great in bed…
Eliza entered the room at that moment. She'd heard the rest of the conversation.
- You slept with Britt too? Asked Eliza
- You too?
- Wasn't he great? I will remember these vacations said Eliza smiling
- He wasn't as good as Terry… but he was great said Lizzie I'm going to remember these vacations too…
- You make me want to try Terry…
- Don't even think about it! We can share any guy, but not Terry. You leave Terry alone, he's mine!
- No, he's Candy's. All right! No need to yell! Good luck trying to get him back from Candy…you're going to need it! But Britt was good repeated Eliza!
- Yeah…! Said Lizzie laughing
Those two little sluts were unbelievable!
15. Chapter 15
**Tomorrow in your life… **
**By Mallory Quinn **
**Chapter 15 **
" **The** **end of vacations"**
Philippe and Melissa invited Candy, Terry and their friends and their host families to the restaurant at the hotel Intercontinental. They spent a nice last evening, after a memorable and unforgettable stay. Philippe had his camcorder and taped each youngster asking them to say something in souvenir. Melissa took pictures with everybody. She was very happy and very sad at the same time.
She spent the night in Candy's room with little Carissa. This last one was asleep but Candy and Melissa talked until morning.
The departure for London was very painful for Candy and the Cranes. The children were crying, they didn't want her to go.
- You're going to come and see us again? Asked Carissa
- Yes, said Candy and you will come and see me if you come to London.
She also kissed James and Cassie too. She had tears in her eyes. She s got in the car with Philippe and Melissa. This last one couldn't help crying. Philippe was also very sad; he knew that Melissa is going to be said for a long time, after Candy was gone.
- You have all my numbers said Candy to Melissa, don't hesitate to call me, I'm going to send you an e-mail every day and tell you what I'm doing
- Me too, I'm going to miss you Candy
- I'm going to miss you too, and you too, Philippe, I'm going to miss you all! It was good to have a family… a mother, a father… little brothers and sisters
Melissa remained silent, so did Philippe. They were thinking about the child they had lost and that would have been 16, if he had survived. It was like Candy had filled that void…
At the airport, they found most of the students ready to get on the plane. Terry was already there. He had, yet again, changed the seats to first class.
- Hello, Melissa, Philippe. Juliet I managed to change the seats again…
- Really? We're going to be in first class again? Super!
- You changed the seats? Asked Philippe
Terry told them how they met in first class on New Year's Eve.
- How romantic said Melissa, they say the person you're with at the stroke of midnight, is the person you're destined to be with…
- Really? Said Candy, well the universe put us back together in the same school after that
Candy's cousins and friends came near them.
- Hello everybody, said Candy, ready to go back?
- Boarding school to Romania? Said Archie, I rather stay in Romania
Everybody was laughing.
- You can always come back said Stear, I sure Leopold would be glad to have you…
- Yes, he and his family were great! This trip was really cultivating we were able to see how people from different cultures live
Candy took Tanisha a little aside.
- How are you? She asked Tanisha
- Candy, I'm the one who should ask you, how are you?
- I'm fine; thanks to Philip, Terry, Melissa and all of you…
- I kissed Britt…
- I know, that loser told me, while he was trying to force himself on me…
- You're not angry with me?
- You succumbed to temptation; you're human. But fortunately you only kissed him…
- Yeah but Eliza and Lizzie they went all the way…
- Oh… I think Terry got a narrow escape with that one…
They burst out laughing. They went to join the others. It was time to get on board. Warren was there to say goodbye to Annie.
- You're going to write me? Asked Annie
- You'll get the first e-mail on the plane
- I liked spending all this time with you
- Me too…
He kissed her on the lips. Archie was looking at them irritated.
- Annie, you're going to be left behind! Let's go!
- I'm coming, she said between two kisses
But she continued kissing Warren. Archie left to go on board the plane.
Candy was hugging Melissa and Philippe, crying. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces and theirs too.
- I'm writing you as soon as I'm on the plane, she said to Melissa
- I'm writing you as soon as I get home, said Melissa
- Once I'm at school, we'll be able to see each other on the webcam
- The kids will be happy to see you
- I'm going to miss you…
- Juliet, said Terry's voice
- I have to go Melissa, Philippe
- Have a good trip Candy! Said the Cranes
She followed Terry who was waiting for her on the other side and she met Annie was also late, because she was kissing Warren goodbye.
- Annie, said Candy… you love him?
- I don't know. But it was really good
- Annie! Said Candy laughing
- I think that Cornwell is annoyed by your lover boy, said Terry
- You think, Terry? Asked Annie
- Yes. I saw the way he was looking at you two, I think he was jealous
- That's good, said Annie, I had a good time, and I made Archie jealous… I love Romania!
They burst out laughing and finally got on the plane. They were the last one to get on.
During the trip, Candy was really sad. She felt like she'd left her family in Romania. She opened her laptop and saw an e-mail from Melissa. She smiled.
_**Hi Candy,**_
_**I know you only just got on the plane, but as promised here's my first e-mail.**_
_**Life won't be the same without you, Candy. That's funny, I didn't know you two months ago, but now it's like you've always been in my life. Have a nice trip my darling, and good luck at school.**_
Love
_**Melissa**_
Candy smiled and she already felt better. Terry was looking at her
- It's an e-mail from your "mummy"
- Yes, I miss her already
She responded to the e-mail as follow.
_**My dear Melissa,**_
_**Thanks for your e-mail. It comforted me. I wanted to thank you for the happy stay I had in your house. I had the impression of being at my parents' house. I know it made you sad when they mistook me for your daughter. You must have your reasons and you'll tell me when your ready. But I was happy and proud they took me for your daughter. I hope it doesn't bother your.**_
_**Thanks again for this wonderful stay and also thank Philippe. Kiss the kids on my behalf. I'll see you later on the webcam.**_
_**Love**_
Candy
Melissa smiled when she read Candy's e-mail. Philippe was looking at her. Thanks to technology, Candy will always be present in their lives. Melissa needed Candy, to fill the void left by her deceased son.
Life started again at St. Paul Academy. The students came back from vacation with lots of stories to tell. The first assignment, on the first week was to tell about their summer vacations. The group that went to Romania had to do a group work, with pictures, films to have a presentation in front of the whole school. Not everyone liked each other. They were divided in two groups. There was a teacher keeping an eye on them, so he didn't care about their personal feelings; so Candy found herself in the same group as Lizzie. They worked together with the others, somehow. Lizzie was always talking about her past relationship with Terry and her supposed quickie in the washroom.
- Lizzie said Candy, I'm not interested by you foolishness
- Foolishness with your boyfriend you mean… you're unable to satisfy him… that's why he turned to me…
- Let me get this strait, said Candy who couldn't take it anymore, you're spreading your legs for Smith, Terry and Britt? How do you do it? You must have a lot of energy… or is it the drugs that are making you stronger? What about Eliza? Did you have a threesome with Britt?
Candy didn't like being like that, but Lizzie was getting on her nerves from the first day. Lizzie remained silent, surprised to see that Candy knew about her fling with Britt. Annie giggled and Patty burst out laughing.
The final result was magnificent. They presented it in the auditorium in front of the whole school. Those who hadn't gone to Romania were sorry they missed a trip so fun and interesting. Candy felt sad, thinking about the Crane family and when she saw them on screen.
That year, the dramatic art teacher decided not to have a play, but a movie with the students as the stars. The auditions started for the school movie. Terry went to the auditions; he got the principal role. Since the movie was "A Christmas Carol" from Charles Dickens, it had to be done before the holidays because it was a Christmas story. The students selected had to work practically every day after school. Candy didn't auditioned. She helped Terry learn his lines.
- Terry, I think you've inherited your mother's acting genes. I'm no professional, but you're great. I see you're passionate about it… you'd like to make it your profession?
- You're very clear-sighted, Juliet… It's my dream…
- To become an actor? Oh Terry, you've got the talent and you're mother could help you…wait a minute… you want to do it without her, do you?
- Yes, I don't want any help, I want to do it alone…
- But what will you father think?
- He will probably be very disappointed, he will probably cut me off…I've been seriously thinking about it for a while. I wanted to talk to you about it, but since you brought up the subject…
- It's your last year in school; you want to go to Hollywood?
- Yes… I know, it's going to be hard to be far away from you…
- I thought you were going to go to Oxford or Cambridge, and that we'll be able to see each other over the weekend…
- Me too, but I said to myself, that I want to do everything to make my dream come true
- So… we won't see each other….but I'm proud of you. You have a goal and you want to reach it
- It's not for today, he said hugging her, we have time to be together for the rest of the year… we'll talk about it later
Candy didn't answer; she won't see him anymore if he goes to Hollywood to try to become an actor. But Terry was right; they will talk about it later. For the moment, they were still at school together and she's going to take advantage of his presence to the maximum.
Ever since they came back from Romania, Archie was interested in Annie. Ever since he saw her kiss Warren Parker in Romania at the French Embassy, he couldn't get her out of his head. Annie was on cloud nine, she finally got Archie's long awaited attention! She made him sweat a little in the beginning, but she finally succumbed. He was after all, the boy she'd loved forever.
Terry got a message from his mother who was in London; she wanted to see him. He thought about Candy's words and decided to follow her advice. He went to see his mother and reconciled with her. This last one was happy to see her son so kind…
- Terry, tell me, are you in love?
- Why are you asking me that?
- You're answering me with a question, it's yes… What's her name?
- Mum… he said with a nervous laugh, Candy…
- She's the one who told you to give me another chance?
- Yes…
- Tell her thank you… God bless her
He spent the day with his mother. Candy showed him that he was lucky to have a mother that loved him. Candy wanted to be in his place… that's why she got attached to Melissa so much. She was like a mother to her unconsciously. Eleonor bought a nice pink nightgown in silk with a robe for Candy. She gave it Terry so he would give it to her. This last one was touched by Terry's mother gesture.
- Oh my God! Eleonor Baker bought me a nightgown? An expensive nightgown with a robe? Thank you! Tell her thank you Terry, tell her she's my favourite actress and I love all her work…
- Wooa, Freckles! You can tell her yourself
- Myself? How?
- By coming with me to see her, silly!
- Oh… you'd do that for me?
- I'd get the moon for you if you ask me too…
- Terry… You're so good with me…
- That's because your goodness incarnate and I love you
- I love you too. Promise me we'll always be honest with each other? No matter how bad the situation…No matter how awful… the truth above all…
- I promise you, we'll always tell each other the truth, no matter what. Now, let's go see my mother
- Will I be able to get some autographed pictures for my cousins? They adore her too…
- Of course, Freckles… she'll be glad to do it
She went with Terry to thank Eleonor in person. She was so excited to meet her favourite actress.
- Miss Baker, she said it's an honour for me to meet you. I'm one of your biggest fan. Thank you so much for your gesture. I love the nightgown…
- You're very welcome, Candy, said Eleonor, it's the least I could do to thank you. You've softened my son. I've never seen him so happy. I'm glad my son is with a girl that gives him good advice
- He can be a little stubborn…said Candy
- You're telling me? Replied Eleonor
- Hey! I'm in the room, thank you very much, said Terry
They burst out laughing and they spent a really nice evening together.
- Will I be able to get autographed pictures of you for my cousins, my friends and myself, please?
- Of course Candy, with pleasure said Eleonor smiling
- Thank you so much!
Eleonor signed pictures for everybody. Candy and Terry were ready to leave to go back to St.Paul.
- Bye Mum, said Terry
- Bye honey she said hugging him…
- Bye Miss Baker, said Candy
- Bye Candy, she said hugging her too, it was a pleasure meeting you. Terry don't let her get away…
- I won't, said Terry smiling
Candy returned to St. Paul with the pictures of Terry's mother. She couldn't tell them the truth. She gave the autographed pictures to her friends and her cousins in the TV room.
- Wow said Archie, where did you get theses?
- Terry and I bumped into her at the restaurant where we were eating, she said
- Thanks Candy, said Stear, I wish I was with you! How is she? Is she as beautiful in person?
- Oh yes, she looks more beautiful in real life than on screen. She's very nice.
- Thanks Candy for thinking about us, said Archie. You're the best.
- Yes, thank you, said her girlfriends at the same time
Candy looked at Terry who winked at her; she smiled. Terry was always touched by her generosity; she didn't want to keep the joy of meeting his mother for herself; she wanted to share it with her cousins and her friends.
Lizzie was dumped by her boyfriend. He had learned about her fling with Britt Macdonald in Romania. He didn't like being cuckold! Eliza continued with her mean girl's reputation. The boys from school who were interested in her, was only to put her in their beds. She didn't care, she liked it. Lizzie after losing Terry and Smith; didn't care about anything. Eliza was taking advantage of her young years, like she said.
Neil, who had changed his attitude towards Candy during the summer, was nicer to her. Ever since he learned that Britt almost took advantage of her. He felt the desire to protect her, to break Britt's jaw. He was surprised by his feelings… he had followed his cousins' footsteps; he had fallen in love with Candy! He tried to tell his sister to stop sleeping with everybody. She listened to her brother and limited herself to one boy, in school. But when she went out during the weekend with Lizzie, she didn't mind having one-night stands.
- Eliza, said her brother, are you protecting yourself?
- Sometimes…
- Sometimes? This is the incurable diseases era, herpes, aids… you have to protect yourself! I don't want to lose you!
- You're not going to lose me, don't worry…
- Eliza, please, your life depends on it. "Sometimes" is not acceptable; you always have to protect yourself, always! Or stay with only one partner…
- You're kidding right? When I get married, I'll have the same man for the rest of my life. I having my time now…
- At this rate, you're not going to get married if you get sick… Promise me, to always protect yourself, promise me. No sex without a condom…
- Ok, bro, I promise. You're happy?
- Yes. I wanted to talk to you about something
- What?
- You're not going to believe it, but I think I got a thing for Candy…
- What? The stable girl? No, not you too!
- I'm the first one surprised
- But what does she have that you all want her? Terry is even practicing abstinence with her. Lizzie tried to seduce him, but he didn't budge…
- So it was true, he didn't do anything?
- Nothing!… it was really embarrassing for her…
- Grandchester, really does love her… I have no chance
- You can say that again! After everything we've done to her, even without Terry, she will never be with you!
Neil didn't say anything. He knew Eliza was right. With or without Terry, Candy would never be interested in him. He decided to try to become her friend.
Candy found Neil's attitude strange. He was nice to her and didn't provoke her anymore. She didn't ask too much questions, she just hoped that it wasn't a trick for him and his sister. She gave him the benefit of the doubt.
16. Chapter 16
**Tomorrow in your life… **
**Chapter 16**
**" Season's greetings"**
Time passed and came Christmas time and the premiere of the school movie. The student viewed it on the eve of Christmas vacations. It was a triumph! Terry was superb as Ebenezer Scrooge, he was so believable, he was a born actor!
There was festival of student's films and the teacher decided to send their movie. If Terry was hesitating to become an actor before, hi decision was definitely made after he saw himself on the big screen. If the movie was a success, it could help his acting career. He wanted to make it on his own, not because of his mother's name.
Candy continued communicating with the Cranes. Thanks to the webcam, they saw each other every night. The holyday season was there. Candy was with Terry in her room.
- Terry, you're going to see your family? Asked Candy
- Yes, it's my last Christmas with them… You want to come with me?
- No, you need time with them before you drop them the bomb that you want to become an actor….
- You're right. I will come on Christmas day to be with you…I'll stay with them for Christmas eve. One day I hope that we'll spend our Christmas eves together…
Candy didn't answer, she just hugged him. There was no guarantee in life. She learned it the hard way with Anthony. Now Terry wanted to become an actor, their path will separate for a while… or forever? The universe had put them together, and the universe seemed to want to separate them.
Patty and Tanisha went to see their parents. Annie went to Chicago spend Christmas with her parents. She travelled with Stear and Archie whose parents this time, wanted to spend Christmas under the snow. Neil and Eliza also went to see their parents in Chicago. Candy, who didn't want to submit herself to the coldness of the Great Aunt Elroy, unless she was forced to, stay at boarding school with only a few students whose parents were too busy or were deceased. She also stayed because of Terry, since it was his last Christmas, before he goes to Hollywood. Terry will come on Christmas morning to spend it with her.
The reverend mother, and the other nuns organized a Christmas dinner for those who stayed at school, on December 24. Candy was in her room listening to music.
She was checking her e-mails. There was knock on her door.
- Candy, the reverend mother ask all the students to come down for Christmas eve said the voice of a student at the door
- Thanks, I'm coming
Candy got ready, before going downstairs; she was wearing a red skirt, a red and green pullover, the colours of Christmas, red pantyhose and green shoes. She took a while to go downstairs. When she arrived in the gym decorated for Christmas, with a big Christmas tree with hand made ornament by the students. The sisters didn't want those sparkling decoration or bought. Everything was hand made. The result was very beautiful. Candy entered and sat on a chair. Sister Margaret a little red envelope.
- Thank you said Candy
- Close your eyes Candy and make a wish, said Sister Margaret
- What?
- Close your eyes…
Candy closed her eyes. She said to herself that she had nothing to lose.
"_I want to be with Terry", she said in her head._
She opened her eyes, and Terry was in front of her.
- Terry!
- Happy Christmas Freckles!
He hugged her! For the holidays, marks of affection were allowed.
- I thought you were in your family…
- I was, I wanted to surprise you
- You succeeded
- That's not all. Close your eyes
- There's more? Ok., she said obeying.
- Perfect. Wait a little, said Terry, no peek… Now open your eyes…
Candy opened her eyes and she got the most beautiful surprise of the evening, after Terry.
- Melissa, Philippe and the kids! She yelled, oh my God!
She jumped to their neck, kissing them and laughing at the same time. Melissa held her for a long time. She had missed Candy so much.
- But how? Asked Candy
- I wanted to see you said Melissa, and Terry called and suggested that we make the trip here to surprise you…
- You came from Bucharest?
- Yes, said Philippe, to spend Christmas with my family and with you…
- Thank you, Thank you very much!
- You're coming with us? Said Melissa
- Yes of course. I'll go get my coat…
- I'm coming with you said Terry, … Can I sister?
- It's Christmas, said Sister Margaret, behave!
They burst out laughing and went to Candy's room to get her coat. Once inside, Candy hugged Terry hard.
- Thanks a million Terry, for this wonderful surprise!
- Nothing is too good for you, Freckles. I knew you wanted to see your "family"
They kissed passionately.
- Here is you present, said Terry giving her a little box
She opened it and found a pair of emerald hearings.
- Terry…
- Happy Christmas, Freckles
- They're very beautiful, thanks honey…
She went to get his present. He opened and it was gold cufflinks with the initials "TGG".
- Oh, thank you Freckles… it's very nice, he said kissing her.
- Merry Christmas, Romeo… We have to go, said Candy between two kisses… they're waiting for us…
- I know… he said continuing kissing her everywhere.
They went downstairs to join the others. They went to spend Christmas eve in Croydon, Surrey, in Philippe's family. Candy spent one of the most beautiful Christmases in her life; she was with Terry, Melissa, Philippe, the children… she didn't need anything else from life.
The following days, Candy took the children shopping, since she didn't expect them and she had already sent them presents in Romania. She bought them some toys and some clothes in London during the Boxing day sales. The children were ecstatic.
- Can I have a dollhouse? Said Carissa, and dolls?
- You can have anything you want said Candy
- Candy said Melissa, you're spoiling them!
- Come on Melissa, it's the holydays, let them have what they want…
- Ok, if you say so.
They bought a lot of stuff, even little bikes and little big cars. Candy couldn't be at the Pony house, with her two mothers and the kids; it felt good spoiling Melissa's kids. Annie took care of the kids at the Pony house.
On New Year's Eve, Terry invited Candy to a nice restaurant, to celebrate the anniversary of their meeting.
- One year ago, I met the girl of my dreams…
- One year ago, I met the boy I love…
- I didn't know you could love someone that much…
- I didn't know I could love someone after Anthony…
The restaurant was full. Everybody wanted to celebrate the New Year. But Candy and Terry felt like the only two beings in the world. They had a romantic dinner, they danced, talked till midnight and this time, Terry kissed her on the lips.
Philippe and Melissa were still in London. Candy and Terry went to see them on New Year's Day.
- So, how was the dinner? Asked Melissa when she was alone with Candy
- Great! I spent the best year of my life…
- Candy, I feel a little sadness in your voice…
- Terry is graduating this year. He wants to go to Hollywood…
- Oh…
- Yes, he wants to try to become an actor… we're going to be separated
- You love each other, love conquers all. Believe-me. And don't forget, you're destined to be together…. You were together at midnight again…
- Thanks, Melissa said Candy laughing
Candy went to play with the children for a while. She came back a little later with Carissa who wasn't feeling well. She had a fever.
- Melissa, said Candy, I think Carissa is a little warm…
- Oh…, she said coming near them to touch her daughter on the forehead, yes, she's burning. She's been a little tired these last days. Philippe…
- I'll get the car, we're taking her to the hospital said Philippe
Melissa was worried. She didn't want to give her any over the counter medicine. She wanted a doctor to examine her. They went to May Day hospital, with Candy and Terry leaving the other two children with Philippe's parents. A doctor, who wanted to do more tests, examined Carissa. That was not a good sign.
- More tests? Asked a curious Melissa, why?
- To make sure everything is all right… said the doctor
But Melissa didn't believe him. She had a bad feeling. Something was wrong. Candy stayed near her to support her and encourage her. After several hours that seemed endless, the doctor came back to announce them a sad news.
- I'm sorry said the doctor, Mr and Mrs Crane
- What! Asked Philippe
Melissa was white as a sheet. She couldn't take it if she loses her little girl.
- Your daughter has symptoms of leukemia, said the doctor
- Oh My God! Said Candy and Melissa at the same time
- Are you sure, doctor? Asked Philippe very worried
- I'm sorry. I wish I had better news, said the doctor
- You found out what was wrong, said Terry, now what are the treatments options?
- We're going to start with the normal treatment for leukemia to see how she reacts. But like you all know, a bone marrow transplant is what is going to save her if we find a compatible donor. Does she have brothers of sister?
- Yes, said Melissa, we can bring them tomorrow to get tested…
- Ok. But don't discourage yourself, there are a lot of options… if we don't find any matches in the family , there's the anonymous donors…
- Can we see her? Asked Melissa
- Yes, of course
Philippe and Melissa went to see their daughter in her room. She was a little frightened by the hospital.
- Mummy! Daddy! I want to go home!
- Of course, honey, said Melissa, but you're sick, you have to get well, so you need to stay in the hospital
- But I get so many shots here: it hurts! She said crying
- Oh come on, it's going to be ok. I'm going to stay here with you, I won't leave your side
- Don't be afraid, honey, said Philippe, we're going to be near you…
Candy and Terry were looking at them by the door. They were very sad for the little family. Candy had tears in her eyes. She felt so helpless. Terry held her to encourage her.
Carissa started to receive the treatment with pills and chemotherapy, which made her even sicker. Melissa spent all her time in the hospital with her daughter. The kids came to see her in the hospital. She was afraid of losing another baby. The other kids were not tested yet. The doctors were waiting to see how Carissa was going to react to the treatment.
School was back and Candy was always worried about Carissa. Her friends came back from vacation with lots of stories. Annie, in particular. She was alone with Candy in her room.
- How was the holydays? Did you take care of the Pony kids? Asked Candy
- Yes, don't worry. Everybody was happy but they missed you, said Annie
- I miss them too…I wish I was there, but since it's my last holydays with Terry… anyway. Tell me about your vacations…You look… different… what's going on?
- Candy… I have to tell you something…
- Annie, you're ready to explode… oh, don't tell me, you did it… didn't you?
- Yes….
- Oh my God! How was it? Come on start talking!
- It was the New Year's Day…
Annie told her how she succumbed to Archie's charms. She was so happy.
- It was improvised? Said Candy, did you use protection?
- He had an "umbrella" in his wallet…
- Oh….
- Apparently all the guys have one in their wallets…
- Really? Maybe I should check Terry's wallet…How are you feeling? Do you regret it?
- No, I love him so much, Candy. It's incredible…
- I'm happy for you, Annie…
Annie took the step; she took her relationship with Archie to the next level. She was so happy to finally be with Archie, that she did everything not lose him, even giving her body. Candy hoped that Archie's feelings were sincere and that he won't break her heart. Patty and Tani arrived and Annie told them her story.
Candy was on her pretend Pony hill talking to Archie.
- Are you ok? She asked
- Yes, said Archie, she told you?
- She's my sister, Archie, what do you think? Do you love her?
- Yes. To see her in Romania with that boy… Farren
- Warren…
- Whatever! He said ironically, I realised that I loved her
- Thank God. But, don't hurt her, she's my sister. She's crazy in love with you
- Ok, I promise
- Good. Now tell me about the lovely holydays at the Andrew mansion, with the adorable Great Aunt Elroy….
Archie laughed and started to tell her in details what happened during the holydays. They had a good laugh.
Time went by so fast, with Carissa's illness, Candy and her friends weren't really thinking about anything else. Candy spent every weekend at the hospital with the Cranes. She forgot about Terry's birthday. She didn't really forget, but she wasn't in the mood to celebrate. Terry understood and was not mad at her. But she gave him a little present, a ring with the initials "CT". She also had a little strawberry cake with candles.
- Thanks Freckles he said, I'm surprised that in the middle of Carissa's leukemia, you thought about me…
- Terry, I always think about you, I love you. Happy birthday honey… I'm sorry; I wish I could've done more… I'll make it up to you
- No, Juliet. It's the intention that counts…he said kissing her
- You're very welcome, honey. Now let's have a little cake…
- How's your "family"?
- They're hanging in there… it's hard
- I hope everything works out…
- Me too…
- Now about that cake…
17. Chapter 17
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**Chapter 17**
"**Labour of love"**
Days and weeks passed and Carissa was still in the hospital and Candy went to see them every weekend. Carissa seemed to be adapting to the treatment, but after a while, the doctors decided to find another method of treatment; the bone marrow transplant. Melissa, Philippe, James and Cassie were tested first. But none of them were compatible. James and Cassie were compatible to themselves. Melissa and Philippe were devastated. They tried all the family members, but no one was compatible, at 100. Because with the type of leukemia Carissa had, she needed a perfect donor in order to get better. Now they had to look for anonymous donors; they had to look in the general databank of donors. That will take some time.
- Doctor, said Melissa, what will happen if no one is compatible? Finding a perfect donor who's not a member of the family is extremely rare…
- Where are not there yet, said the doctor
- Yes, said Philippe, our friends will come and get tested too
- What if all that doesn't work? Said Melissa
- Well, there's another possibility…
- Which one? Asked Philippe
- You can try to have another baby and pray that he or she is compatible…
- Pray?
- There's a 50 chance, that the baby won't be compatible…
The doctor let them to go back to work. Melissa and Philippe remained silent. It was not a problem to have another baby, but…
- Honey, said Philippe, are you thinking what I'm thinking?
- It takes 9 months for a baby to be born…Said Melissa
- We have nothing to lose trying…
- We'll gain another baby…
They decided to make another baby, to be prepared in case all the other solutions don't pan out.
When Candy came to see them on Saturday with Terry, her friends and her cousins, they learned the sad news and they decided to get all tested.
- We never know, said Candy, the solution might be looking at us
- Thanks Candy, said Melissa, thanks to all of you, that's really nice of you
- It's a pleasure, said Stear, we hope one of us can help little Carissa
They all went to get tested. Candy thanked Terry and her friends.
- No need, Freckles, it's the least we could do…
- I'm going to see Carissa, while you get tested, said Candy
Candy went to Carissa's room, she was pale and was started to lose her hair, because of the chemo.
- Candy! She said with a weak voice
- Hi, honey, said Candy softly, how are you?
- I feel nauseous…
- That's normal after the chemo… my poor little darling
- Don't be sad Candy, God will find a solution; he's not going to let me die… he wouldn't want mummy to be sad again by losing another child…
- You're right, we have to be optimistic and have faith, said Candy hugging her
Candy didn't really understood what Carissa meant by "…losing another child" but she didn't want to grill the little sick girl with questions. She started to tell stories to Carissa and Melissa was looking at them smiling. Candy was absolutely charming. The whole family had fallen in love with her. Since it was a Saturday, the employees of the lab were not there, they had left early. They will have to wait the beginning of next week to get the results. Candy was talking to Melissa in Carissa's room. This last one was asleep.
- So how are you? Asked Candy
- I'm hanging in there…
- What are the doctors are saying?
- They trying to reassure us the best way they can
- You know, I did some research on the Internet; in case nothing works, you can make another baby and hope…
- Candy, I'm one step ahead of you…
- Oh…Oh! Said Candy blushing
- You're really cute when you blush said Melissa smiling
The following week was the last one before the Easter vacations. Melissa and Philippe had been in the hospital with Carissa for almost three months. On Monday morning, the doctor who was taking care of Carissa, came to see them with a nice smile in Carissa's room.
- Melissa, Philippe he said, can I talk to you?
- Of course, doctor, said Melissa, let's go in the hallway
- Carissa, we're coming said Philippe
- Ok, daddy! Said the little girl
They went in the hall way, they didn't want to talk in front of Carissa
- Ok, Melissa, Philippe, we found a donor, who's a match for Carissa
- WHAT! Said the parents at the same time
- Yes, I just came back from the lab. It's the perfect donor, which is extremely rare in a non-family member
- Doctor, who's the donor? Do we know him or her? Asked Philippe
- Yes in fact it's you little protégée…said the doctor
- Candy… said Melissa instinctively
- Candy is a match? Said Philippe, that's wonderful!
- Yes Candy White Andrew is a perfect match for your daughter, said the doctor
- I knew there was a reason this young girl came into our lives, it was to save Carissa… said Melissa with tears in her eyes
- We're going to call the boarding school and ask permission to the principal so that Miss Andrew could come to the hospital immediately…
Candy was called in the reverend mother's office during the firs hour of the English class.
- You wanted to see me, reverend mother? Asked Candy coming in
- Yes, have a seat, please Miss Andrew
- Thank you.
- May Day hospital just called us. Mr. And Mrs Crane are asking for you. You have to go to the hospital immediately…
- Oh, my God! Did something happen to Carissa?
- I don't have any other information, aside that it's about their daughter Carissa… You can go change before you go to the hospital. Father Cyprian is going to take you with the school's vehicle.
- Thank you reverend mother. Goodbye, reverend mother
- Good bye, Miss Andrew
Candy went to change quickly, very very worried. Why did they call her in the middle of the morning? She had to let Terry know what was happening. She sent him a text message on his cell phone, telling him where she was, since she had to leave quickly. She didn't have time to go see him in his classroom. She arrived at the hospital almost running, she was afraid of what she would find.
- Melissa, Philippe she said arriving breathless, did something happen?
- Candy! Said Melissa hugging her hard, very hard for a long time and crying
Candy started to cry too, thinking something bad had happen to Carissa.
- When did it happen? She asked crying
- This morning…
- I'm sorry, so sorry… she said crying
- Sorry? Said Philippe, Melissa, you and your tears!… you mislead her…
- You don't know? Asked Melissa letting her lose from the hug
- I don't know what? Asked Candy
- Oh my God, the school didn't tell you? Asked Melissa
- Tell me what?
- You're a match Candy, you can save Carissa!
- WHAT! Oh that's wonderful! She said hugging Melissa again with joy this time
- Thank you said Melissa crying, thank you very much for coming into our lives Candy
- No, I'm the one that should thank you for coming into my life.
- When you're done getting all warm and fuzzy, said Philippe, the doctor is waiting for us in the other room
The two ladies couldn't help laughing in the middle of their tears. The arrangements were made for the bone marrow transplant. Candy had to spend at least one night in the hospital. She went to see Carissa in her room. They had explained to her what was going to happen.
- Candy! She said smiling
- How are you Honey?
- I will be better because of you…. thank you so much Candy!
- Oh… I'm happy to be able to help you, honey
- I told you that God would not let me die…
- You were right, God is good…
- He's going to repay you for this Candy, you'll see. You're biggest wish will come true…
- My biggest wish?
- Don't say it out loud… and it will come true, said Carissa
"My biggest wish is to find my real parents said Candy in her head"
- Did you do it? Said Carissa
- Yes…
- It will come true. I will make sure of it. I will ask God to make it come true as a thank you for saving me
- Thank you honey… I'll see you later, Ok?
- Ok…
Candy hugged her and went to her room to get ready for the procedure.
The sample had to be taken in the end of the afternoon and Carissa's treatment started.
Terry got Candy's text message on his cell phone and he asked for the permission to go see her in the hospital. Stear and Archie, Annie, Patty and Tani were also authorized to go see Candy at the hospital. They found the Cranes who told them that Candy was resting in her room. Terry entered to the room first.
- Freckles?
- Romeo, she said softly, I'm Carissa's bone marrow donor…
- Oh… that's great! She's going to be cured! How was it?
- When you hear "bone marrow" you think, "bone", but it's really blood in a bag…
- Really? That's funny… said Terry, are you okay honey; you're not hurting too much?
- The pain is not important, if I can save Carissa…
The others came in the room, they were all very happy. The little girl was saved, thanks to Candy and her bone marrow.
- Candy, said Annie, my God, the Cranes are lucky to have met you! You're an angel for them!
- I'm glad I met them. Said Candy, and I'm glad I could help them…
- This was a miracle said Stear, do you know the odds of finding a perfect match in a stranger?
- Yes… and lucky for them, I was not a stranger…
Neil also came later, he was doing everything to be Candy's friend.
- Neil? Said Candy, come in…
- Candy, I wanted to know if you're alright, I heard you were in the hospital
- Since when? Said Archie, Neil, what are you up to?
- Nothing, said Neil, I just wanted to make sure she was alright
- Leave him alone, Archie, said Candy, Thank you Neil, that's nice of you. I'm fine, I'm not sick I was a bone marrow donor for the Cranes' little girl Carissa…
- Really? So this was a labour of love? Said Neil. That's a very good thing. I'm happy you were able to save her
Archie and Stear felt so weird seeing Neil so nice. He was always on Candy's case since the day they met. What was happening? They didn't ask too much questions, after all, he didn't do anything wrong. They stayed in Candy's room till visiting hours were over, then they went back to school. Terry called her from his room and they talked for hours before they went to sleep.
Little Carissa started to feel much better, after the bone marrow transplant from Candy. Her body accepted the bone marrow without any problem. Candy spent her Easter vacations with the Cranes during Carissa's recovery. Terry of course, came to see her every day.
- Candy, I don't know how to thank you again, I almost lost my baby girl
- No need, Melissa. It was a pleasure…
- You're a very sweet girl said Melissa
The Cranes went back to Romania around April. Candy went with them to the airport. Her "family" was leaving… she was sad
- I'm going to miss you, said Candy, I got used to seeing you all the time
- Me too, Candy, it's true that there's a silver lining for everything, Carissa's illness made it possible for us to be together more… we're going to miss you… but we'll see each other again, said Melissa
- Yes, said Philippe, we can arrange something
- Bye Candy said Carissa, and thank you for saving me again
- You're very welcome my darling, said Candy, I'm going to miss you so much
Life at school continued. Lizzie and Eliza couldn't bother Candy too much, because she wasn't really there with Carissa's illness. But they were still thinking about getting back at her.
The school's movie was sent to Cambridge at the Student's film festival. The students, who wanted to, were authorized to go, by the school. Candy went with Terry who was the lead actor in the movie. Lizzie and Eliza were there too. They hoped they could have guys from the university of Cambridge. Candy's cousins and friends also came to support the school. The students were staying in a hotel not to far from the university. The first two days, were really to watch everybody's movie. Most of the movies were very well done. But Terrence Grandchester had the best performance, without a doubt. St. Paul Academy received the Lumiere award for the best movie and one for the best actor. It was the general joy.
They celebrated by going to a party at the university's dorm. The teachers were looking after them as well as they could, because in the middle of all those university students, it was kind of hard to keep track. Lizzie and Eliza had the time of their lives as usual, with university boys. Annie and Patty stayed near their boyfriends, Stear and Archie. Candy was stuck to Terry like glue. She didn't want to drink anything that was not in a can that she opened herself. After what happened to her at the Valentine's dance a year ago, she wasn't taking any risks. Everybody was having a good time and was dancing. At one point, Terry wanted to get some fresh air with Candy. They decided to go outside, but since it was raining, the stayed inside and tried to find a calm place where they could be alone. That's how they fell on a room with a very busy couple… Candy saw that it was Lizzie and she took Terry far away from the room.
- Freckles?
- There was a busy couple
- Oh…
- It's not good to do it during a party; there might be drugs and alcohol involved…
- There are some careless people that don't care and that's too bad
They heard laughs and they turned around; Lizzie and her partner coming out of the room. Terry had an indifferent expression.
- That's what you wanted to hide from me?
- I'm sorry
- You're too nice, Freckles he said smiling, another girl would've had a pleasure to show me the disgrace of my ex-girlfriend… not my Juliet. You're an angel…
- Terry, I didn't want you to see that. Well… Let's talk about something else. You got the award for the best actor, I bet that gave you even more the will to follow your mother's steps…
- You have no idea! But my father is going to have a cow…
They met Candy's friends who were also trying to get away from the noise and the smoke.
- Hey Candy, said Annie, what are you doing?
- We wanted to get some fresh air, but it's raining…
- Yeah too bad…
They heard noise and saw Eliza coming out of a room with a university boy.
- Oh my God, said Archie, is that our cousin with an older boy?
- Isn't that statutory rape? Said Stear
- Do you think she cares? Said Patty
Eliza passed them and gave them the look.
- Nope, said Annie, she doesn't care at all!
They all started to laugh and went outside in the rain to get some fresh air.
Candy's birthday arrived, but Terry had exams, since it was his last year. He'd already bought her a present. He came to give it to her on the night of her birthday. It was an emerald necklace.
- Oh Terry…
- It's goes with the earrings and the bracelet
- Thank you Romeo, she said kissing him
They stayed in each other's arm for a while and then Candy said;
- You have to go study…
- Ok, see you tomorrow
- Thanks again for the present and good night. I love you
- I love you
He went back to his room to study.
In Bucharest, Melissa was feeling sad, but less sad than usual, that year. After almost losing Carissa, she realised that she was pretty lucky. Her daughter was saved. But she was still sad; it had been 17 years…
- Are you ok, honey? Asked Philippe
- Yes, my love. I'm pregnant…
He hugged her.
- That's wonderful…
- Are you sure? It was to save Carissa
- I'm sure. He or she is going to be welcome
- I love you Philippe
- I love you Melissa
18. Chapter 18
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 18**
"**The surprises of love…"**
The graduation ceremony happened very well during the month of July. Candy was proud of Terry. She was happy and sad at the same time. He was the one doing the valedictorian speech, since he had the best grades of his class. He was absolutely marvellous. Candy was in 7th heaven. After the ceremony, he was with Candy. His father had come to the ceremony with his brother and his twin sisters, even his stepmother came, the grandmother was there too. Terry hadn't told his father that he wanted to become an actor. Candy was talking to Rose Anna and Anna Rose, it had been a long time… They sometime talked on the phone. Junior was polite and was standing far. They all went to diner in a nice restaurant not too far from the school. Terry didn't want to announce his news during dinner. He would talk to his father later. When his family was gone, he went back to school with Candy. There were festivities of the end of the year; there was a fair, a fashion show, and a quadrille danced by the students in the evening. Annie was in charge of the fashion show, she had designed the models with Archie's help- he really was a fashion designer in a closet- and she wanted Candy to present the wedding dress at the end.
- Annie, you out did yourself this time, said Candy during rehearsals, the wedding dress is great!
- It's going to be perfect for the quadrille too…
- You want me to wear it? But… what about you?
- It suits you so well…I have another white dress…
- Ok, thanks Annie
Candy presented the white wedding dress created by Annie and Archie with the veil. It was a triumph. Before the evening started, the students danced the quadrille. After that, the party started, Candy danced with Terry of course. At the second quadrille, he found himself with Lizzie who was in seventh heaven and Neil was with Candy who also was in seventh heaven. Lizzie didn't miss an occasion to provoke Terry.
- You really want to beat the record of abstinence?
- Lizzie, don't start…
- Is she really worth it? You love her that much?
- We are not having this conversation…according to the rumours you don't need anymore
- That's since you dumped me… Terry I love you, you were the best…
- I'm not hearing you, Lizzie
Terry turned the deaf ear and was glad when the dance was over. He looked for Candy with his eyes and walked toward her.
- Not too hard to hear Lizzie's attempts of seduction? She joked
- It was a torture….!
Candy burst out laughing.
- Freckles, come with me…
- Where?
- You'll see, it's a surprise…
He took her to the church.
- Terry, why are you taking me to church?
- What? You don't want to pray?
- Yeah… right, that's why you make so much noise during mass?
- I'm having fun and it's just to get on the nuns' nerves… but tonight, it's to make a promise in front of God. Your wedding dress is really right on cue... We're getting married in our hearts…
Candy was intrigued, what did he mean? They entered the church, which was empty and Terry took her to the altar.
- Candy, my love. I stand here with you, to make the solemn promise before God that I will come to look for you one day to marry you. We're in front of God's altar. So I'm going to tell you my vows… I know there's no priest to marry us, but by saying our vows, we'll be married in our hearts.
Candy was speechless! To say their marriage vows in front of the altar? Terry wanted to marry her in his heart?
- The first time I saw you, I fell in love with you, I knew I would marry you some day. You are the sunshine in my life, and my love for you keeps growing. I promise to love you and to cherish you, till death do us part. I love you Candy.
Candy had tears in her eyes. It was her turn, she hadn't prepared anything but she spoke from the bottom of her heart and said;
- The first time I saw you, you rocked my heart, you were the missing piece in my life. Every time I see you I love more than the day before and less than tomorrow. I promise to love and to cherish you, till death do us part. I love you Terry
They sealed their union with a kiss, and got out of the church and went back to the party. Terry was called to the office; he had a message from his mother, to meet her somewhere. He called Candy and told her;
- I had to go see my mother at the Hilton hotel, Juliet. But I'm going to stop by father's to leave some of my stuff… I will come and see you later in the evening
- Ok Romeo. See you later.
He went at his father's and left his belongings. He told his father that he was going to see his mother at the hotel and that he would go back to school later. He went to the Hilton and asked for Eleonor Baker's room. They gave him a card to get into the room, which was the royal suite. He took the elevator and arrived in front of the room of the Royal suite. He opened the door and got in.
- Mum? He called
The curtains were closed, there were candles lighten everywhere. There were red rose petals from the door to the big royal canopy bed. There was also soft and romantic music playing. It was a love nest! Did his mother made a mistake on the time? Did she have to meet her lover? Eww! Or did he just had the wrong room?
The bathroom door opened and a young woman with long hair came out; she was wearing a light pink negligee. Terry didn't see her face very well, because he was far and there was only light was from the candles, which wasn't clear enough. He came closer … and wasn't he surprised to see…
- Candy!
She approached him smiling.
- Mr. Grandchester, I thought you would never get here… she said with a sensual voice
- Well, Miss Andrew, you're full of surprises… he said smiling, shall we dance?
- With pleasure, Mr. Grandchester
They started to dance holding each other very close to each other. They were looking each other in the eyes with so much love. The rest of the world didn't exist; they were the only two people on this earth. Terry finally took possession of her lips in a hungry and ardent kiss. She responded with the same passion and she took his blazer off and started to undo the buttons of his shirt, his pants… he took her negligé off. They found themselves in their birthday suit on the big bed. They continued kissing, caressing each other. Terry took her breast in his mouth one a the time and was caressing it with his tongue. She closed her eyes and was caressing his back, his chest and below the belt. He started to French kiss her; she was sucking his tongue like a lollipop. She felt Terry's desire and instinctively got ready for him. He entered her very very softly and he felt her twinge to the pain when he took her virginity. The hymen was gone for good with the pain to let place to a growing new pleasure, that was rising, rising like the regular movement of his coming and going was getting faster. The sensation of pleasure was getting stronger and was making her head spin. She was moving to his rhythm, which only increased the magnitude of their pleasure and they yelled it when they reached the climax.
They were in each other's arms, their eyes closed; still a little intoxicated by the pleasure they had just felt.
- Candy, I love you
- I love you Terry, I love you so much, I'm going to miss you, my love
- I know, honey. This was a really nice surprise. You've just made me really happy
- You too… I'm glad you were my first, she said standing up to blew out the candles
Terry stood up to help her blew out the candles.
- I'm happy I was you first. I didn't know you were thinking about it…
- That's why it was a surprise
- For a minute there, I thought I had walk in on my mother and her lover…
- Eww… sorry! I'm glad it didn't ruin the mood…Saying our vows earlier…we're married in our hearts
- Your surprise was a pure coincidence… another proof that we're on the same page…
- We already knew that, Romeo…
- It will be hard to leave you, my love
- Let's not think about that now. The room is paid for till tomorrow…
- So, let's take advantage of it he said taking her lips
They spent their first night of passion making each other feel good and happy till morning.
Annie was in her room talking to Patty and Tani after the party.
- Do you know where Candy is? Asked Patty
- I think she went to celebrate with Terry, said Annie
- Where? At Terry's? Is she coming back? Asked Tani
- Euh… I don't think so said Annie…
- What do you mean? Asked Patty
- That's she's finally going to spend the night with Terry! Yelled Tanisha
- Shut! Said Annie, they could hear you…
But it was already too late; Lizzie and Eliza were passing by and they heard. Lizzie became very angry with Candy. She wanted to do something to punish her; she didn't want to be in the same school as Candy. Terry won't be there next year, but candy would remind her that she'd lost the boy she loved because of her. It was ridiculous, but she thought she could get Terry back by using her body, since Candy was chaste. But now… damn her!
Candy woke up in Terry's arms. She went to take a shower before he woke up. The bathroom had a big bathtub and a separate shower. She brushed her teeth and got into the shower and started to wash her hair. She put soap on her body; she was trying to reach her back when she felt a hand take soapy sponge. The hand started to rub her back.
- Thanks Romeo, said Candy, let me help you too…
She started to rub is back and the rest of his body. They were under the shower rinsing the soap from their body, looking at each other. Their lips welded under the hot water of the shower. Terry carried her; she had her leg around his waist. He penetrated her softly and she hung on to the shower sliding doors. The movement continued under the hot shower water until they reached seventh heaven.
Later in the bedroom while they were getting dressed, Candy told him;
- Honey, you know you really had a message from your mother…
- A real one?
- Yes, you have to meet her today
- Oh… here?
- Yes. In another room of course. Let's go have breakfast
- Here in the room…
- Of course, I don't feel like having people around us…
Candy went back to school in the beginning of the afternoon. She was in her room checking her messages, when Annie knocked on her door.
- Come in Annie she said smiling
- Are you ok?
- Yes…
- So…?
- So what?
- Come on Candy you know what I'm talking about…
Candy became bright as red.
- Annie…
- You're ashamed to talk about it with me? I made the arrangements with you! I told you about my experience! I'm your sister!
- Ok, sis….
She told her about her night of passion with Terry.
- You're going to miss him, don't you?
- Yes. I don't know how I'm going to live without him… Annie, I love him so much! She said with tears in her eyes
- Where is he now?
- He went to see his mother. I don't want to be selfish and stop him from pursuing his dreams…
- You have to be optimistic, he's going to become a great actor and he will come to get you…
- And we're going to ride on a while horse into the sundown? She said smiling
- Yes. Let's pray he makes it, then you could be together…
- Thanks Annie.
Terry came back later that evening after visiting his mother. He knocked on Candy's window. She stood up to open the window.
- Good evening, Terry
- Good evening, Freckles
He hugged her. He had to go. He had already emptied his room, confront his father who had cut him off, like he expected. He hadn't told his mother about his plans, because he didn't want her to help. She had gone back to America without knowing about her son's plans. He took Candy on the bed; she had her head on his chest.
- Candy, I'm leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles…My father cut me off and that's everything, my bank account is frozen, my cell phone is disconnected, my computer, my e-mail… everything is gone. All I have is my passport and my plane ticket for Los Angeles and very little money. I don't want my mother to help me. I want to make it on my own, with my talent, not as Eleonor Baker's son. If I don't make it, I will go back to my father to take over the family business. I won't be able to contact you for a while. I will write you by airmail. You're going to Scotland with the school?
- Yes…
- The sisters will have your mail forwarded. Candy I loved you since the moment I first laid my eyes on you. I know that you love me too. I want to live my life with you. But you're still in school; I can't ask you to come with me. But I'm making you a promise, once I get my big break, and I become famous, I will come and get you to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you. This is a promise of marriage; I promise I'll come to get you to marry you. If I don't make it as an actor, you'll be the wife of a British businessman.
- Terry she said with tears in her eyes. I love you. I'm going to miss you. I will wait for you. I'm going to wait for you letter with impatience. I'll wait till you come and get me, whether you make it or you go back to your father… I love you. I trust you, you're very talented and you're going to make it. I'm sure of it.
- Thank you my darling.
He kissed her and she abandoned herself, in the arms of the man she loves, for one last time… she took him to the airport the next day and the separation was very painful. She cried and he was trying to hide his tears. He was leaving the girl he loves more than anything to follow his dreams. He will come back to get her as soon as he makes it. They will have to be patient, very patient. He kissed her one last time before he got on the plane.
- I love you, don't ever forget that
- I love you. Good luck my love
She looked at the plane leaving the heart broken into a million pieces. She went back to school and locked herself in her room to cry. Annie, Patty and Tanisha came to see her to consol her and cheer her up. Candy called Melissa in Romania who cheered her up.
- Don't worry honey, you're destined to be with Terry, he's your soul mate. I'm sure of it, said Melissa
- You really think so?
- I've seen you two together. You remind me of Philippe and I…you're still very young. You've got your whole life in front of you
- You're right. I'm going to finish school and wait for Terry said Candy. How are you and your belly?
- It's growing fine said Melissa laughing
- And Carissa and the others?
- They're okay thank you. Carissa tells me that she's asking God to make you biggest wish come true…
- She's very sweet. Tell her thank you. How's Philippe?
- He's fine. He's excited about the baby…
- That's good. Thank you Melissa for cheering me up. I really needed it.
- You're very welcome, Candy. Now have some rest, every thing will be fine
- I should be the one to tell you to rest, Melissa. Take care of the baby inside of you. I miss you
- I miss you too, Candy. Bye
- Bye Melissa.
Lizzie learned that Terry left he had spent his last night with Candy. She was still mad at Candy for stealing the best boyfriend she ever had. She was afraid of doing anything when Terry was there, he was still ruling the school and Candy was still the "Queen". Now the King was gone…let's get rid of the Queen. It didn't matter that her own jealousy made her lose Terry, not Candy. She decided with Eliza to go to Candy's room and plant some drugs and tell the sister. But Eliza couldn't hold her tongue in front of her brother. This last one ran to Candy's room, he knocked. Candy opened the door and was surprised to see him.
- Neil?
- I don't have time to explain… can I come in?
- But, what's happening?
- The sisters are coming for an inspection…
- So…?
- They're going to find drugs in your room
- WHAT!
- My sister and Lizzie…
- Oh my God! Come in, quickly! You know where they put the drug?
- No… I didn't have the time to ask he said looking everywhere
Candy was looking everywhere in her room too. The closets, the bathroom…. Neil finally found it under the sink. But it was too late, the sisters had entered the room and caught him red handed…
- Sister, said Neil smiling nervously, it's not what you think…
- Mr. Reagan, if that's drug in your hands and that you were trying to get rid of, then, it's what I think…
- But sister…
- Silence! You've been caught with drugs in your hands in Miss Andrew's room
- It's mine said Neil, Candy had nothing to do with it…
Candy couldn't believe her ears! Neil Reagan was taking the fall for her? Eliza couldn't believe her ears either!
- Neil, what are you doing? You're going to ruin everything! Shut up! Said Eliza
- Mr. Reagan, the drugs are yours?
- Yes, sister…
- Then I have no choice but to contact your parents. You're expelled as of now…
Neil, expelled because of her? No, she will not let that happen!
- Sister said Candy, he's protecting me, the drugs are mine
- Candy said Neil, shut up; I'm taking care of it…
- No, I'm not letting you take the fall in my place
- I don't need any explanation said the reverend mother, you're both expelled! You won't go to Scotland, obviously…There is a zero tolerance for drugs in this school
19. Chapter 19
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 19**
"**The Ice Princess"**
The Reagans learned that Neil was expelled because of Candy and they became very angry. The great Aunt Elroy gave the order to bring all the children back.
Candy was sad to leave her friends, but happy to go back to America. She could see the Pony house again, her two mothers and all the little ones. Annie arrived in Candy's room in tears; she couldn't believe what had just happened.
- Candy, you're leaving? For good? And Archie too? Said Annie
- You can go back with us if you want, you know…said Candy
- Yes, I think that's what I'm going to do… if you're not coming back, I'm going to tell my parents I want to stay in America too…I won't go to Scotland with the school
Tanisha and Patty arrived in the room all panicked. They heard Annie's last words.
- What! Said Patty, it's not enough that Stear is leaving, I have to lose my two best friends, too?
- It's not fair, Candy you're innocent said Tani
- I'm going to miss you, said Patty, you too, Annie
- You could come and visit us during the holidays said Annie
Candy and Annie were talking while packing Candy's luggage. They were taking just a few things, the rest will be sent to her by the sisters later. Then, they went to Annie's room to do her luggage. Annie called her parents and told them she was coming home. They didn't protest too much, they were glad to have their daughter coming home. Since the young Cornwell was also coming home…
That's how everybody went back to America, a few days only after Terry's departure. Candy left England without receiving Terry's letter. Her computer crashed before she left England; she won't be able to receive any emails either. She didn't have time to contact the Cranes with all the craziness.
Once in America, she went to the Pony House to spend her summer vacations with her first family. Annie came to see her from time to time. Miss Pony and Sister Maria were glad to have their little protégée. Candy told them what happened at St. Paul.
- But Candy, St. Paul Academy is a very good school, it's a pity said Sister Maria
- I'm sure that Georges will find me a very good private school her too, said Candy
- Did you have a boyfriend? That Terry you talked so much about in your e-mails…? Asked Miss Pony
- Yes, he graduated this year…
- That's why you're not sad for leaving England…
Candy blushed and smiled.
- Miss Pony, Sister Maria, I'm so happy to have come back among you…
- Boss! Said the kids, come and play with us!
She went to play with the kids. With her computer crashed, she decided to take a break from technology for a little while. But she thought about Melissa and Philippe, they were going to worry it they don't hear from her.
"I'll call her once I'm in Chicago she said to herself, and I should find Terry's letter with my stuff from St. Paul, with an address where to write to him. Oh Terry I miss you so much"
So she spent the rest of her vacation without checking her e-mails.
Georges Johnson enrolled the kids in a Private School of Chicago; Academy St. Dominic, for their senior year. They had to wear uniform again. Annie was also enrolled in the same school; with Archie there, there was no way her mom would put her in another school. She wanted her daughter to marry Archie Cornwell, who was from a rich family and related to William Andrew. Stear went to Chicago University and was studying engineering. Candy had to leave at the Andrew Manor with the rest of the family including the Great Aunt Elroy. Fortunately the manor was big enough for the two ladies; they barely saw each other, except some times at dinner. Candy signed up for all the extra-curricular activities she could, so would spend as much time as possible at school and less time at the manor. She also spent a lot of time at Annie's with or without Archie.
Since the school was private, it was full of spoiled, rich, snob and obnoxious kids from Chicago. In the school's hallway, the richest had their group, then the less rich and those who came from the other side of the track on a special scholarship because of their excellent grades, since their parents couldn't afford to pay for a private school.
Candy was in the hallway with Annie and Archie; they were talking.
- Did they really had to put us in this school? Asked Candy, I would've been happy in a public school…
- With your good grades, they probably would've transferred you here anyway said Archie
- I'm so glad you're here with me said Candy, thanks Annie, thanks Archie
Neil arrived and was also standing and talking with them. The others were looking at the new comers who had been expelled from St. Paul Academy in London, England. The news of course, had travelled its own way, with numerous versions… The group of the richest kids was looking at them; there was a girl name Mireille Robin with long brown hair who was looking at Candy with mean eyes; her boyfriend, Pascal Colin he had light brown hair and was looking at Candy with desire eyes.
- Look at her, said Mireille she looks so pure and innocent, she was busted with drugs in her room!
- Mireille said Pascal, you also do drugs… and that's not what's bothering you, what's bothering you it's that she's William Andrew's daughter…
- Adopted…
- Whatever… adopted means she's his daughter on the same page as any other biological children he'll have…. And for the moment, she's the only heir to his fortune, which means she's richer than you… and so nice and innocent
- Innocent? You think she's a virgin? She probably had a lot of boyfriends…said Mireille
- Like you? Said Pascal, I don't think so. According to her cousin Neil, she only had one boyfriend at St.Paul…
- You've done your homework on her, said Mireille, you want to go out with her? Don't you?
- Mireille, what are you talking about? You're the only one in my heart he said with an ironic tone
Mireille looked at Candy; she was richer than her? More pretty, she wanted to have her close to her, to keep an eye on her. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer". She had to become her friend. She approached Candy with her group.
- Hi, I'm Mireille Robin and he's Pascal Colin, Nathalie Sailor, Sherry Mann… welcome to St. Dominic… we're the group of the richest kids of the school and we would want you to join us, Candy…
- Just me? What about my friends? Said Candy
- They're not as rich as you…said Mireille
- Oh… it's our parents' bank account that counts?
- Of course, said Mireille
- So, tell me, what did you do to contribute to your parents' fortune? Asked Candy
- Well…
- That's what I thought, all you did was being born in a rich family… not with a silver spoon in your mouth
- You're adopted! Your real parents abandoned you…
- Yes, I know. I didn't contribute in anything to my adopted family's fortune. I'm going to make my own fortune by having a good career later…If you want me to be in your group just because my adoptive father is one of the richest man in America, don't hold your breath, because I'm not interested.
The other burst out laughing, and Pascal looked at her with fascination. Candy left with her friends and Mireille was furious.
- The bitch! She said
Pascal tried to hit on Candy in class. She was polite with him to a point, but when he star to go too far, she completely shot down. Pascal was surprised to see how she could be so nice one minute and turned to ice next minute as soon as you talk about relationship.
- I can come to your house after school… said Pascal
- What for? Said Candy
- To see you, we could work together on our science assignment, he said
- Mireille will be there?
- No, of course not…
- So, if you want to work on our assignment or anything else, it would have to be here in school. You see, my Great Aunt doesn't like be bringing boys from school, home…
- But she doesn't need to know…
- I don't think we need to be at my house to work together. You wouldn't want Mireille to suspect anything…
Pascal insisted, but Candy wouldn't budge. Other boys wanted to have her too; they talked to Pascal.
- She's so happy and smiling said one boy
- Yeah, until you start to hit on her, said Pascal, she turns to stone, ice… the Ice Princess…
- That's because you have a girlfriend said one, she must be the loyal kind, said another boys, I'll have her
- Good luck! Said Pascal ironically
The boy tried in vain, Candy was a stone, it was the same with every other boys who tried… It was no use. Some even wanted to drug her, but since she never went to parties, or dances… Candy was still nice and smiling, but she just blew off all the guys that wanted her; which won her the title of "The Ice Princess". Neil listened to comments other boys were making and he didn't say anything. He knew Candy was only thinking about Terry and that she was far from being the Ice Princess with the boy she loved. Terry was not contacting her. He wanted to let her time to grieve and next year he was going to try to be with her when they go to university.
Eliza wanted to be part of the richest kids group, but her parents weren't rich enough. Mireille refused to include her. Eliza was angry. That idiot Candy, the orphan, the stable girl was richer than her! Mireille had asked her to be in her group, which never happened and the stable girl refused!
Candy finally called the Cranes in Romania.
- Hello? Melissa?
- Candy! Oh my God! It's been so long! Your emails were coming back…
- I know, my computer caught a virus, so I took a break from technology for a few weeks. I'm back in America for good. I'm sending you an email to tell you what happened. I have a new email address my account was deactivated… I was resting at the Pony House where I was raised, near Lake Michigan. I was taking care of the children. How's Carissa?
- She's fine thank you. She has completely recovered, thanks to you
- Thank God. I'm emailing you as soon as I hang up. How's your belly?
- It's getting bigger said Melissa laughing
- That's good. Give Philippe and the kids a kiss from me. Talk to you later. I miss you all!
- Bye Candy. Thank you for calling. We miss you too!
Candy was Annie and Archie at school. They were avoiding the snobs. Annie had Archie and she was in seventh heaven. Archie was teasing her about her nickname.
- Candy he said, "The Ice Princess"? Come on, you're not going to stop living because Grandchester isn't here…
- Archie, honey said Candy, thanks for worrying about me, but I'm fine, really.
- But did he even write you? Asked Archie
- He thinks I'm still at St. Paul…
- But we got our stuff from St. Paul; there was nothing from him, right?
- Nothing…
- Forget about him! He probably already replaced you…
- Archie, said Annie, leave her alone. She wants to wait for him. They love each other
- I just hope that you're not deluding yourself, "Ice Princess"! Said Archie
- Don't call me that! Said Candy laughing
But she was wondering in her head, why she didn't have any news from Terry. Her computer was down during the summer, her account was deactivated…but the regular mail was working, she should've received his letter.
She was not the only one wondering about that. In Los Angeles, Terry was in an Internet-café, during his lunchtime and he was trying to send an email to Candy. She didn't answer his letter, and he had moved since the redaction of that letter.
"What's happening, Freckles? Where are you? Why aren't you answering me? I miss you so much…"
His lunchtime was over, and he went back to work, in the nice restaurant where he had found work. The luxurious restaurant, where all the big people of Hollywood came for lunch and dinner. He had let his pictures to numerous agencies. He tried to find an agent, but no one wanted and unknown actor. But he was not discouraging himself. He went to auditions, for the roles he wanted only. One day in the waiting room, he was talking to other young wannabe actors, who advised him to go to all auditions; you never know who could see them. That's how he started to go to all auditions, when he had a free time. When he was getting a little discouraged, he thought about his Freckles and he remembered the definition or the perseverance; never move back in front of difficulties to attain your goal…
Eliza was looking for her photo-album in her stuff, when she saw an envelope addressed to Candy; Terry's letter. She had a twinge in her heart. She, of course, opened the letter.
**Candy my love,**
**How are you? I miss you so much! I arrived in Los Angeles well. It's very hot here. I have a room in a small motel and I'm looking for a job while I'm doing auditions. It's hard but once I reach my goal, it's going to be worth it. That goal is you, I want to make my dreams come true so I could be with you, my darling. Of all the things I don't have anymore, money, my computer, my cell phone etc. it's the warmth of your body against mine I miss the most. Especially the beautiful gift you gave me before I left.**
**I love you Candy, don't forget it, don't ever forget it. I will come and get you. You're my wife in my heart. We've exchanged our vows in private in a church. I'm your husband in your heart.**
**Ok, I have to go, honey and I'm waiting for your letter.**
**Take care, Freckles**
**I love you**
**Your** **Romeo**
**Terry**
Eliza was green with jealousy. There was no way Candy would see that letter; she would be reassured by Terry love and she didn't want that! She wants Candy to think that Terry abandoned her. Candy will never see this letter, never! Damn that Candy! She though, if Terry doesn't make it in Hollywood, he's got his family business to fall back on. That stable girl was a winner either way!
Christmas time came. Candy was communicating with Melissa who was ready to have her baby. She was due in the beginning of January. She didn't want to know the sex of the baby, she wanted to be surprised.
Patty and Stear were emailing each other every night. Patty was also emailing her friends, Candy and Annie. So did Tanisha. They will both come to America in the summer.
Melissa gave birth to a little boy on January 1st, New Year's Day. She was so happy; she now had two boys and two girls.
" I would've had three boys she thought for a moment"
- Philippe, did you think of a name?
- Why not "Andrew" after Candy for saving Carissa…
- What a great idea, Philippe! She's going to be so happy!
Candy was speechless on the phone when Philippe told her the news.
- But Philippe, you don't have to. I was happy to help you
- That's why we're thanking you
- Thanks, she said with tears in her voice and congratulations. Happy New Year! Kiss the children especially little Andrew! Not to mention, Melissa…
- Thanks, you too. And I will…Bye Candy
- Bye Philip
- I'm sending you picture by email
- I can't wait to see him…
Candy was in her room later with Annie and told her what happened.
- You saved their daughter, it's nice of them
- I didn't want to be rewarded
- Candy come on, you have a baby called Andrew in your honour. He must be absolutely adorable… do you have any pictures?
- Philippe has to send them to me via email later or now for that matter Let me go see
She went to the computer to check her emails. She was right, there were a lot of pictures of little Andrew…
- Candy, said Annie, he's adorable! He's got freckles like you…
- He's a beautiful baby
- I don't know if it's the freckles, but I think he looks like you
- Annie, come on… Let's go see the others downstairs
Candy's experience with Carissa's leukemia, gave her the idea to become a doctor. She sent letter to all the great universities of the country. She also decided to take driving lessons, because Georges told her that Uncle William was offering her a car as a graduation gift.
Annie wanted to do, business management. Archie wanted to become a lawyer. Patty wanted to become a journalist; she was hoping to go tot school in Chicago so she would be near Stear.
At the end of the school year, the students started to receive letters of admissions to colleges and universities. Candy received a letter to go pass a test at the University of Chicago and she passed, brilliantly.
They all graduated from high school and they were ready to go to college and university. Everybody ended up going to the University of Chicago, even Neil and Eliza.
Patty and Tanisha came to Chicago for the summer. They arrived at the beginning of August, since school was finishing in July in England. The four friends were so happy to be together again. They had a group hug for a long time. They were laughing and crying of joy.
- So, How is St. Paul? Asked Candy
- Always the same, Lizzie was the terror, said Patty
- With her new boyfriend, said Tani
- Is she still doing drugs? Asked Annie
- Yes, said Tani
- She's going to end up bad… at her age, said Candy
- Her parents are in denial, they're refusing to admit that their daughter has a drug problem said Tani
- That a pity for her. She doesn't have people that love her enough to have an intervention, said Annie
- Maybe we should've done it, said Tani
- But she was so mean and she would've discourage any attempts we could've made said Patty, I just avoided her
- I hope her family help her one day, said Candy
- Enough with that mean girl, said Annie let's talk about something else…
They spent very good vacations together. Patty was very happy to see Stear again. They became inseparable for the whole summer. Patty decided to stay in Chicago and she told her parents.
Candy still had no news from Terry. She was very sad when she thought about it.
"Terry, I miss you so much, my love. I left St, Paul. I've changed email, my account was deactivated… Terry I love you".
Eliza didn't miss an occasion of rubbing it to Candy's face that Terry had forgot about her. Even if she knew it was not the case, because she hid Terry's letter.
- So stable girl, where's your lover boy? He probably forgot about you by now…
- How would you know Eliza, do you know something I don't? Asked Candy
- Euh… no she said a little puzzled…
- So you're just being mean to me as usual? Asked Candy
- Of course, said Archie, what else could it be?
Neil was looking at his sister and shook his head. But he couldn't stop thinking about Candy.
During the new academic year, Neil started to pursue Candy, whom, of course was not interested. She heart was with Terry. Eliza was making fun of her brother in his bedroom.
- She loves Terry, Neil, you're wasting your time…
- But he didn't even contact her, he didn't even write…
- That's where you're wrong
- What do you mean…?
- He wrote her…
- How do you know that?
- I got the letter by mistake with the stuff from St. Paul
- And you didn't give it to Candy? It's a federal offense to open someone's mail…
- What? The FBI is going to arrest me for stealing Candy's letter? Give me a break!
- What did the letter said?
- It was full of love, you would've been sick if you'd seen it, you'd want to puke…
- She didn't get the letter and she's still waiting for him? Said Neil sadly
- Apparently they exchange wedding vows in private in a church or something, so they think as themselves as "married in their hearts" can you believe that? She's faithful to her "husband in her heart"! Ridiculous!
- Oh… Candy, said Neil heartbroken, that's why she's in Ice Princess mode…
- The Ice Princess with you, but with Terry she was far from being of ice…
- Shut up Eliza!
- She was doing it with him, Neil. Get it through you thick skull!
- Enough! You don't need to put salt in my wounds! At least, she's not a slut like you!
- Neil!
- Sorry sis…
- You don't need to be mean because I'm telling you the truth...Sorry bro, your wasting your time. But I can understand you. If I knew where Terry was, I'll go see him and seduce him just to see what Lizzie was talking about... But for now, I'm having fun...
- Are you using protection?
- Yes, I promised you
- Good. But try to stay with the same partner
- Just one, what about all the others that want me? I'm going to stop once I'm married...
- At this rate, I'm wondering if you're ever going to get married...
Eliza burst out laughing. Neil knew that his advices were falling in deaf ears. He hoped she was protecting herself, at least, she said she was. But Eliza usually says one thing and does another thing.
20. Chapter 20
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 20**
"**An unbreakable bond"**
Terry was still working as a server. He was also taking some night courses in business management. He wanted to be ready in case he had to go back to England work with his father.
One Friday evening, Robert Hathaway a famous Hollywood producer, wanted to make a movie on "King Lear". He had found all the actors but he was looking for a fresh face to play the king of France. With a little luck, the movie will be a success and would launch that young actor's career and he would make a lot of money.
- Marge he said to his assistant, find me a new face quickly, we'll need to accelerate the auditions
- Mr. Hathaway, there's a way to accelerate the auditions. If you want, you could do it in the comfort of you armchair, tonight at your place
- How?
- Well, there's some movies made by students, there's hundreds of them, but I've selected those who where nominated for best actors and those who won for best actor, and also those who were nominated for best picture and those who won best pictures, I also include those whose performances by the actors I found good
- You're the best, Marge said Hathaway
So he went home that evening with boxes of amateur movies by students and watched every single one of them during the whole weekend. He had a lot of fun, and was appreciating the talent of those young actors in the rough…until he saw "Scrooge" from St. Paul Academy in London and noticed the talent of the lead actor….
Terry was working in the restaurant on Saturday evening. He was in charge to take care of one particular table, Esther Henderson's, a popular agent in Hollywood. They hit it off right from the start. She thought he was likeable and his accent was charming. Terry always received that compliment, but in general, it didn't go any further.
- Terrence, said Esther, you've got a pretty face. Have you ever tried to become a model?
- No, I like acting better, he said
- Well I'm telling you that it could be your way in…
- Model? I suppose it's better than nothing…he said not too happy
- Don't jump of joy or anything! Let's take baby steps; the big steps will come later. Do you have any pictures of yourself?
- Yes. Thank you Mrs. Henderson. I'll bring you my pictures later
That's how, more than a year after his arrival in Hollywood, Terry finally got an agent.
Robert Hathaway called Marge in his office on Monday morning.
- Marge, I think I found our new talent…
- Yes, sir?
- The movie "Scrooge" from St. Paul Academy of London, the one who got the award for the best actor, Terrence Grandchester… Find him for me!
- Yes, Sir!
Marge didn't really know where to start. The movie was two years old in Great Britain… she called all the local agencies to see if they had a young actor named Terrence Grandchester. She hoped he was ambitious and he wanted to be an actor. She called all the agencies all day long, even the crappy ones, but no one had Terrence Grandchester. In the beginning of the evening, she called Esther Henderson, just as a formality, so she would have contacted every agency. She was waiting for a negative response.
- Esther? She said, hi, it's me, Marge
- Marge? Hi. What can I do for you? You want an actor, an actress, a model?
- An actor, but not any actor. I called almost all the agencies…
- It's good to know that I was on your list…said Esther ironically
- Esther, please. I'm calling you, am I not?
- Ok. Who is it?
- A British…
- I just added one on my list Saturday evening...
- I hope it's the one I'm looking for…
- Well you have one chance out of a million… shoot!
- Terrence Grandchester…
- I'll be damned!
- You have him…
- Oh yes I sure do!
- Don't tell me it's the one from Saturday evening…
- The one and only…
- You lucky she-devil! Mr. Hathaway wants him for the role or the King of France in his new picture "King Lear". Do you know how many would like to be in your place?
- All those who rejected him…?
- They're going to regret it…
Terry was thinking about Candy, he didn't know where she was or what she was doing. The Andrew where not listed in the phone book. He didn't want to call his sister before he got at least a small part. They would want to send him money…
"Juliet, I miss you so much. We've lost contact. But I know you're going to wait for me…"
His phone rang. He hoped it was not the restaurant calling him to work an extra shift. It was almost against his will that he answered.
- Hello? He said
- Terrence? Esther Henderson, your agent
- Oh, good evening! Don't tell me you've got me a gig already…
- Oh, but yes….
- Oh… as a model? He said uncertain
- What? They're very well paid…
- I don't doubt it
- No, it's not as a model. Are you sitting down?
- Yes…
- Robert Hathaway wants you for the role of the King of France for his new picture "King Lear"…
There was a silence. Terry couldn't breathe a word…
- Terrence? Are you there? Terrence?
- Yes…. I just can't believe that it's finally happening… how did he hear about me?
- You'll know tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I'll pick you up and we'll go together to his office…
Terry finally got his first role. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel. Robert Hathaway hired him for his first role. It wasn't the lead, but it was remarkable. The shooting started in January after the holidays. It was going to last six months.
Eleonor Baker was in her villa having breakfast. Her assistant came early to have breakfast with her and keep in touch with the entertainment news. Her name was Helen.
- So Helen, what's new in tinsel town? Asked Eleonor
- Miss Baker… there's something I heard, started Helen
- What?
- It concerns you…
- Really how?
- Well, Robert Hathaway is doing a new movie King Lear
- Yes, I heard about that…what about it?
- He was looking for a fresh face to play the King of France…
- And...? Said Eleonor who was loosing patience
- He found one…
- What's that got to do with me…?
- Everything…
- How?
- It's Mr. Terrence…
- What?
- Your son…
- My son is playing the King of France in Hathaway's picture? Are you sure?
- Yes, Miss Baker.
- That's wonderful! Oh my God, he made it without me! I'm so proud of him…! Helen you know the rule, not a word on our relation. Let him decide when he wants to tell the world that we're mother and son.
- Ok, Miss Baker. Mum's the word.
Eleonor was so happy that she was ready to forgive her son for not telling her he wanted to follow her footsteps. His father called her to yell at her, she didn't know what was going on… her son was in Hollywood and too proud to come to her for help, he wanted to make it on his own, and he succeeded! She could now sleep in peace; she didn't have to worry about her son out there alone living in poverty. He was going to be fine.
In Chicago, life was continuing. Candy was still called the "Ice Princess", by the guys in medical school. She didn't care as usual. She was waiting for her Romeo.
At the end the academic year, Candy decided to move and take an apartment. The dorm was much too noisy and too small. She talked about it with her friends during one of their dinners in the evening.
- I want to rent an apartment said Candy
- Are you sure, you can come and live at the villa said Archie
- No, thanks. I'd rather have my own place, where no one will be rude to me…
- You don't like the dorm? Said Patty
- Yes, but, sometimes there's too much noise and I want more space… I'm going to talk to Georges about it
She talked to Georges who talked about it to Uncle William; who wanted Candy to be safe. So he gave her one of the family apartment in town not too far from the university. The Great Aunt couldn't say much; the order came from William to give the family apartment to Candy. Since Candy was going to med school, she had to study a lot; she didn't really have the time to work.. Georges didn't want her to rent a small and cheap apartment when there was the family luxurious one available. The apartment was indeed very big and very luxurious for her. It had a very big living room and a small one on the other side of the apartment near the kitchen. It had six bedrooms, each with it's own bathroom. It had two kitchens and a little room for the maid. Her name was Paloma. Candy wished she could stay there with her friends, but she didn't want to be too distracted with her friends, they have too much fun together and she won't be able to study properly. Maybe later when she finishes her studies… For now, she had to concentrate on her studies. She had a car, a black Porsche, the present from the high school graduation. She thought about Terry.
"Romeo, what are you doing now? When will I see you again? I miss you so much!"
She prayed every night to see Terry again. The "Ice Princess" was waiting for her "Prince of Fire". Terry had told her to wait for him, so she was waiting, until she hears from him. She'll know what to expect then.
In the building, there was a family, the Newman. They had a daughter Tammy who was 15 and a son Jeremy who was Candy's age. Jeremy had a thing for Candy and soon realised why they called her "The Ice Princess". Tammy spent a lot of time with Candy. They often organized slumber parties on Friday nights with Annie, Patty, Tani and Tammy's friends. They would watch movies and talked about boys, of course. Then they will all sleep on the carpet in the living room in sleeping bags.
- "The Ice Princess", said one of Tammy's friend's named Olivia, is it true you're really cold as ice?
- With guys, she had a boyfriend… it's him on the picture there said Tammy showing them a picture of Candy and Terry on the plane, the day they met, his name is Terry
- Oh, said Olivia, he's gorgeous! How did you meet?
- It was New Year's Eve, I was on a plane…. Started Candy
Candy told them the story with Annie, Patty and Tani. Tammy and her friends were captivated by the stories of St. Paul Academy's boarding school. Then each of them told the story of how they met their boyfriends, well, those who had one. The elders gave the younger ones advices; not to neglect their studies, to have a career, guys will always be there.
In Bucharest, around the month of July, Melissa was watching television. The show she was watching was talking about bone marrow transplant. They were talking about compatibility, that it was extremely rare to find a perfect match on an unknown donor.
"But Candy was… thought Melissa"
There was another show that was talking about blood matches, that some illnesses needed transfusion only from family member, and when the blood and the bone marrow was a perfect match, it was probably a long lost family member. Melissa had a flash, she remembered being on the bed at the clinic and her mother telling her she had had a boy. The flash stopped. Candy was a perfect match for Carissa. At that time, they were so happy to have found a donor, that they didn't pay attention to the details. It had been two and a half years, since all that happened, since Carissa received the bone marrow transplant from Candy. Melissa heard Candy's voice in her head;
"… **I was resting at the Pony house where I was brought up, near lake Michigan…"**
Lake Michigan… the house and the clinic where her mother sent her, when she was pregnant, were near lake Michigan.
"Oh my God! Could it be possible?" thought Melissa
She had felt a strong connection with Candy the second they met… Her head was spinning…Could her mother be so cruel? Telling her she had a stillborn son, when it was a healthy baby girl? Candy was adopted. She should have had suspicions, but since she thought she had a boy… She had to ask for Candy's birthday, it's funny they never talked about it. What time was it? 9 a.m. in Bucharest, 4pm in Chicago. She prayed Candy was outside the hospital, so her cell phone will be on. She dialled the number, it was ringing…
- Hello? Said Candy
- Candy…?
- Melissa? She said with a happy voice, how are you?
- I'm fine honey, what about you, how's med school?
- It's hard, but I like it. How are the kids?
- They're fine, everybody is fine. Candy it's silly, but I wanted to know your birthday to buy you a present… it's funny we never talked about it…
- Yes. But I'm always a little sad on my birthday because it reminds me the day I was abandoned…
- Oh… said Melissa moved
- I don't really know if it's my birthday, but it's the day I was found… it's May 7th…
Melissa felt like she was going to faint. She was speechless for a moment. Candy got worried.
- Melissa? Is everything all right? Are you still there?
- Yes, honey, I'm here. Thanks, I'm going to mark my calendar…
- Ok. Give Philippe and the kids a kiss for me. Thanks for calling
- Ok, she said with tears in her voice
- Are you sure everything is all right? Asked Candy when she heard her voice
- I'm fine Candy, I swear. Bye
- Bye
Melissa hung up the phone and burst into tears. Philippe came back a little later and found her still crying.
- Honey? He asked worried approaching her, is something wrong?
She saw her husband and jumped to his neck crying. Philippe didn't say anything and let her calm herself. When she finally stopped, they went in the bedroom to talk about what happened. The children were with the nanny.
- So you think you had a girl and you think that girl is Candy? Said Philippe when she finished talking
- Philippe, think about the immediate connection we had. You said it yourself the day she arrived, I was happy like the day I gave birth to Cassie
- When I first saw her, I thought I was seeing you at the age. I felt close to her from the second I saw her… the first night when you were brushing her hair and I came to take your picture, I thought in my head "mother and daughter"…for a fraction of a second…
- Really? You never told me…
- I didn't want to make you sad
- It's like we had a veil in front of our eyes… we were blinded. Candy looked like us, she looked like the kids…
- But we have to be sure. We're going to do our own little investigation. We're going to ask May Day hospital in London if they still have our samples to have a DNA test. If we have to, we'll go near lake Michigan to see that clinic.
- If this is all true, then my mother is worse than I imagined…
Philippe asked for a few days off to go with Melissa and the kids to London first, to ask for a DNA test, then near lake Michigan to see that little clinic. They left the children in Philippe's family in London.
In America they learned the clinic was bought and transferred to another hospital, but there was a fire and all the medical files were destroyed.
- This is too obvious, said Melissa, my mother wanted to cover her tracks… We have to go to Washington
- Are you sure? Asked Philippe
- Yes, we have to find out the truth
They flew to Washington D.C. to see Verna Grant. They went to the mansion without calling. The butler recognised her.
- Miss Melissandre? He said
- Yes, it's me. Is my mother there?
- Yes, but….
- Thank you. Come on honey, she said to Philippe entering without paying attention to what the butler had to say
Melissa hadn't come back to her mother's mansion since she left to go to Oxford. She found her mother with a few acquaintances.
- Good evening she said entering
- Melissandre, said he mother surprised, what a nice surprise!
- Mom, I came to ask you something…
- Can it wait? I have guests…said Verna
- No mom, it can't wait. This is my husband, you remember him? Philippe Crane?
- Good evening Mrs. Grant said Philippe
- Mr. Crane… said Verna, Melissa for God's sake…
- Mom, I wanted to ask you about the clinic near Lake Michigan…
- Ok, said Verna, let's go to the library
- I thought that would get your attention, said Melissa
Verna didn't want her guests to hear that subject of conversation. They went to the library, all three of them.
- I'll go straight to the point, said Melissa, Mom, where is my baby? What have you done to it?
- What are you saying? Your baby died… said Verna
- I want the truth, mom. What did I have, a boy or a girl?
- A stillborn boy, I told you…
- Enough! Tell me the truth for once in your life! You can't continue this cruel game! Please…
- I told you everything you needed to know
- You haven't changed a bit! You're still as cold as ice! I can't believe you're my mother!
- If you came here to call me names, you should've stayed home…
- It's no use! Let's go Philippe, we won't get any answers here
They left her mother's house. Melissa was in rage and she burst into tears once in the car, in her husband's arms. Why did they give her a mother so cruel?
- I knew we were wasting our time coming here said Melissa
- We had to try, honey. I had to restrain myself not to intervene…said Philippe
- Thanks honey. In your place, I would've exploded!
- Diplomacy has its advantages…
They laughed a little and left.
- The couple that took me in… Emmet and Polly Fisher… Polly was a nurse said Melissa
- If she was working for your mother, I don't think they will say anything said Philippe
- But we have to try. They can't be as cruel as my mother, that's impossible!
They went back near Lake Michigan to see the Fishers. Melissa remembered the address. They rang the door. The door opened and a woman in her sixties answered. She smiled.
- Polly?
- Yes…but… Melissandre?
- Yes…
- Oh my God! Come in she said hugging her
They got in the little house. It smelled good. Melissa remembered the nice smell of muffins she liked so much during her pregnancy.
- Polly, this is my husband, Philippe Crane
- Philippe? Asked Polly is he…?
- Yes, he's the baby's father said Melissa
- You got married? My God! Emmet, look who's here…
- Good grief, Melissandre! It's been almost 20 years! He said standing up to kiss her
- Yes, how are you Emmet?
- Fine, I'm getting old…
- Come on, you look kike a young man… this is my husband, Philippe Crane
- Philippe? He asked
- Yes, said Polly, it's the same
- Oh…
They looked at each other and seem very sad, all of a sudden.
- Polly, Emmet, I came to see you to ask you something
- Yes…
- What happened during my labour? And please, I want the truth
The couple looked at each other again.
- I just came from my mother, she didn't even budge… Please. I lived with you; we were like family during my pregnancy. In the name of the friendship we had… tell me the truth
- It's been almost 20 years, said Emmet, she has the right to know what happened.
- Ok, said Polly after a silence. Your mother contacted us to ask us to take you in during your pregnancy. I was in school with her, but we'd lost touch. She became a senator… well. When you were in labour, she asked the doctor to make you sleep to take your baby…
- It was alive? Asked Melissa with tears in her eyes
- Yes, she asked me to take it to the orphanage… I left it in front of the door of the Pony House. There was another baby there already. When you woke up, your mother told you that your baby was stillborn. She even arranged to bring you the body of another dead baby… I was so sad to see you suffer so much. I'm so sorry Melissandre
Melissa was crying, her husband was holding her in his arms.
- Thanks Polly. But one more thing… what did I have?
- I don't understand, what do you mean?
- Did I have a boy or a girl?
- Oh… what did your mother tell you?
- That it was a boy…said Melissa with a little voice
- Oh my God! Said Emmet, that woman is a monster!
- Emmet! Said Polly
- No! I'm sorry I went along with that horrible scheme, I'm sorry I didn't say anything to this poor child…
- You had a girl, Melissandre said Polly
Melissa burst into tears in Philippe's arms; she was crying all that lost time in ignorance. Her mother had told her that she had a boy…a boy! To cover her tracks…without a doubt…
- Thank you, said Philippe who had remained silent, thanks for everything.
- We're sorry, said Polly… Good luck Melissa
Melissa and Philippe were in their hotel room in Chicago, lying on the bed. Melissa couldn't stop crying. During all those years, she was crying a stillborn son, when she had a healthy little girl. There was knock on the door, Philippe went to open the door. It was a hotel employee with a fax for them. He tipped the employee who left.
- It's the result of the DNA test on Candy and us…said Philip
- So? Asked Melissa
21. Chapter 21
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 21**
"**A wonderful surprise"**
Candy had just arrived to her apartment on a Friday night. She was a little tired. The phone rang. It was Annie.
- Candy! I was waiting for your return with impatience!
- What's going on Annie?
- I have good news for you…
- Really? What news?
- Guess who I saw on TV?
- Euh… the Queen of England?
- Very funny Candy… come on…!
- I don't know Annie, I give up… said Candy who was tired…
- Your lover boy!
- My lover boy?
- Your Romeo…
- Terry?
- You're finally getting it… yes Terrence Grandchester, he just finish shooting a movie by Robert Hathaway... "King Lear"
- He made it! He became an actor! Oh Thank God!
- And that's not all…
- There's more?
- Yes. The premiere of the King Lear here in Chicago is in a week or so… you'll finally be able to see Terry!
- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! She screamed
- Candy you're killing my ears! Said Annie laughing
- Sorry Annie. I can't believe it! I miss him so much! Thank you Annie, thank you very much for the info…
- You're very welcome. Have a good evening, sweetie
- Good night, Annie
- Good night
Candy changed her clothes on a cloud. She put on a light blue training. Terry, she was going to see Terry in one week! She put some music on and started to dance, she was thinking about Terry. He'd made it! He'd become an actor, he was on TV!
" Terry I love you so much! She said"
The doorbell rang. She didn't hear it the first time because of the music. The doorbell rang again. This time she heard. She turned the music down and went to open the door. She was surprised to see, Melissa and Philippe in front of her. She jumped to their neck, one at the time, she was so happy.
- Philippe, Melissa! What a nice surprise! Where are the children?
- They're at my parents said Philippe
- Oh…It's nice of you to come and see me. Have a seat, please, said Candy
- Thank you, said Melissa looking at her with love
They sat in the living room on the white leather couch. Melissa was looking at the apartment. Candy had pictures of everybody; her cousins, her friends, there was also a picture with them, the Cranes.
- You're happy camper said Melissa
- Oh… I just learned some news that made me very happy…
- Which news? Asked Philippe
- Terry made it! He became an actor! He's coming to Chicago for the premiere of his movie, King Lear
- Oh… said Melissa, that's very good news! I would like to interview him
- I think I can arrange that, once I see him… it's been almost 3 years… oh I missed him so much!
- You have nobody else? Asked Philippe
- I only want Terry Philippe. At school and at the university, they nicknamed me "The Ice Princess"
- "The Ice Princess" repeated Melissa, that reminds me of something…
She thought about those years after she lost her baby and she was dark and murky for years.
- You were called the "Ice Princess" too? Asked Candy
- Yes… said Melissa, so I know I you feel
- You want something to drink? Asked Candy
- No, thanks I'm fine, said Melissa, Philippe?
- I'm fine, thanks, said Philippe
- I'm going to start. Candy we came to talk to you, said Melissa
- About what? You seem serious said Candy
- We are, said Melissa. I want to tell you my story, our story. We're both going to tell you our story
- Ok, said Candy
They told their story in details until they met Candy. Candy was crying listening to their story.
- When you came to spend the summer at our house, said Melissa, it's like you were the missing piece of our lives… there was that "Je ne sais quoi" in you that made us so happy.
- It was the same for me said Candy
- When you were a match for Carissa, said Philippe, we said to ourselves, may be that's why you came into our live…
- But we didn't know that the universe had a bigger plan in motion
Candy didn't understand what they were saying. What was going on?
- Philippe, Melissa, I'm not following you…
- We're getting there, honey, said Philippe
- Ok, said Candy
Melissa told her about the show she saw on TV that was talking about compatibility in the family, and the bone marrow transplant, and also that other show that was saying the same thing.
- You're in med school Candy, you know what I'm talking about
- Yes, she said uncertain
Melissa then told her how she started to ask herself questions, because Candy was the perfect match.
- Is that why you asked me for my date of birth? Asked Candy
- Yes, said Melissa
- So…? Asked Candy almost afraid of the answer
- It's the same day I had my baby…
Candy held her breath.
- Maybe it's a coincidence, she said softly
- Yes. So we went to see my mother and she didn't tell me anything, as expected. Then we went to see the couple that took me in during my pregnancy… they confirmed my suspicions…. I had a healthy baby girl…
Candy had all those emotions submerging her; she put her hand on her heart. She didn't dare imagined the rest, she was waiting.
- Before we came here, we went to May Day Hospital, where the Carissa's bone marrow transplant took place, to ask them to run a DNA test on the three of us…and here are the results said Philippe
He gave her a sheet of paper, the fax he'd received earlier. Candy took the sheet and read it. She remained speechless and tears started to come down her cheeks. She looked at them.
- You're…you're my parents… she said with tears in her voice, Oh my God!
She jumped in their arms crying, and laughing at the same time. She thought that Terry's new had made her day, but this was the apotheosis! Her parents! Melissa and Philippe were her parents! She was curled up between the both of them.
- I'm wondering why I didn't think about it sooner, said Melissa
- You thought you had a boy said Candy, it's not your fault. Terry always called you two my parents…
- He's very intuitive… That's why you were a perfect match for Carissa said Melissa
- I have 2 bothers and 2 sisters…said Candy
- I would've kept you, if I had known you were alive…
- And I would've take my responsibilities, if I'd known your mother was pregnant, said Philippe
- My mother is a monster, said Melissa, I'm sorry Candy
- Yes, said Philippe, forgive us for everything that's happened
- Oh, but you don't need to apologise. From the moment we met, you'd behave like parents with me. Your subconscious was working without you knowing it…
- That's true said Melissa, it's like unconsciously we knew we were your parents The day you arrived, Philippe said that the last time he's seen me so happy was when I had Cassie…I had my first born daughter, whom I thought was a boy that was dead… I understand now…
- It was the voice of the blood said Philippe
- Oh, I've never been so happy! I find out Terry made it, and now… I found my parents! Thank you God! Mom, dad!
Philippe called his parents, even though it was 2 am with the time change, to tell then the good news. They wanted to come to Chicago the next day to meet Candy.
- Mom, Dad said Candy, you're not going anywhere… you're staying here with me
- What about our hotel room? Said Melissa
- Dad can go take your stuff
- Ok, said Philippe, I'm going to go get our luggage. Stay with your mother, I'm sure the you have a lot to say to each other…
- Ok, Dad! Oh I like saying that! She laughed
Melissa was holding her daughter by the shoulders. She still couldn't believe what had just happened.
- Mom…
- Yes, honey…
- I'm so happy… my biggest wish was to have a family
- I thought it was to be with Terry…
- Yes, said Candy, I wanted to have a family with him, where our children would have parents that love each other, what he and I never had when we were little
- But I thought he had a family in London, the duke
- Yes, his father and his step mother…you're a reporter, so I'm going to ask you, not to reveal what I'm about to tell you, at least for the time being
- What, honey?
- Terry is Eleonor Baker's son
- What? Oh my God! But why did it took him so long to make it in Hollywood?
- Because he wanted to make it without his mother's help… once he gets a lead role…
- He will reveal his secret
- You can have the scoop if you want…
- You'll do that for me?
- Of course…
- Thank you. I wanted to ask you… Terry and you, haven't seen each other for a long time, so when you'll see each other…
- You want to know where we are? I love him with all my heart, mom…
- Oh…
- And there only Terry, if God is willing, there's only going to be Terry
- Let's go to the kitchen to cook something said Melissa
- Ok…
While they were making dinner, they continued talking. Melissa told her about her pregnancy, how she moved, what she craved. How she was calling her, Philippe or Philippa. She told her stories and talked to her about her father.
- I was so eager for you to be born, I wanted to have something just for me, that no could've had ripped from my arms. Not even my mother… but I underestimated my mother
- Annie and I always imagined different scenarios, which led to our abandonment; maybe our mothers, had no choice, maybe they were lied to… I'm happy that you didn't abandon me and that I'm not the product of a one night stand, or a rape …
- You're the fruit, the first fruit our love, Philippe's and I
- Thank you, it's good to know. You found each other again…
- Oh, I made him suffer before taking him back. My mother kept telling all day long, that I was a sinner and my baby died to punish me for having sexual relations without being married
- My God. No wonder you became the "Ice Princess"
- Candy I'm so happy I found you. You're the miracle I never thought I had.
Philippe came back with the luggage and they had dinner together. Candy gave them her room which was the biggest with a king bed
- But where are you going to sleep? Asked Melissa
- There are other rooms
- But this one is yours, we can have another one
- No way!
- Ok, said Philippe, she's as stubborn as you Melissa
- What? And you're not stubborn?
They burst out laughing. They got ready to go to bed. They couldn't sleep. Candy spent the night on the bed with her parents until morning. She told them about her childhood, the Pony house, the Reagans, Anthony. The following day, the children arrived from England with Philippe's parents who came to see their newfound granddaughter. Candy took a few days off, actually she switched with another girl, and she will work the following week. She didn't get tired of being with her family, she already loved them… her friends and her cousins spent the evenings with her.
She was tucking Carissa in, in one of the bedrooms.
- Candy, said Carissa, I'm happy to be your sister…
- Me too, honey, and I wanted to thank you
- For what? Asked Carissa
- For making my biggest wish come true…
- You mean…?
- My biggest wish was to find my real parents…thank you Carissa
- You're very welcome said Carissa smiling. Thank God, he made it possible
- I did, said Candy hugging her little sister
Ever since Terry was on TV, Candy was taping all his appearances. Terry he was still so handsome and his British accent… it was ridiculous, she already loved him, but it was like she was falling in love with him all over again….
Annie spent a lot of time with her. She'd never seen her sister so happy.
- Candy, said Annie, you're very lucky, that's why you loved them so much, the voice of the blood, I so happy for you!
- Thanks Annie
Melissa and Philippe and the rest of the family went back to Europe. Philippe said he was going to ask for a transfer to the United States to be near his daughter.
In Los Angeles, Terry had a new apartment, big and luxurious, a new car. He had to disguise himself to avoid the press. He decided it was time to go see his mother. He went to see her one evening, to avoid the press. He went to her villa. A maid opened the door.
- Yes?
- I came to see Miss Baker… said Terry
- Do you have an appointment? Asked the main
- It's okay, Pilar, said Eleonor's voice, you can let Mr. Grandchester in…
The maid let him in and he ran into his mother's arms. They hugged for a long time.
- I missed you so much said Terry
- I missed you too… Oh Terry I'm so proud of you! You did it yourself!
- Yes, mum…I struggled in the beginning, but it was worth it…
They went and sit in one of the living rooms to talk.
- When are you going to reveal our relationship?
- When I get my first lead role…
- Ok, but you know they're going to speculate, when they see us together…
- A May-December romance? Said Terry. Let them think, they will only feel ridiculous when the truth comes out…
- Ok, Honey…You can't imagine how happy I am that you followed my footsteps…
- Well you gave me the genes, after all said Terry smiling...
- Right! Your father must be pleased. Even without me raising you, you wanted to become an actor. Can you stay a few days?
- Of course, mum. I can't wait to see those sleazy tabloids speculate on our relationship…
He spent a few days with his mother and the tabloids of course started to speculate on their relationship. Eleonor Baker looked way too young to be taken for Terry's mother….
Candy read about the speculations on Terry's relationship with his mother and she had a good laugh.
- May-December romance? She said out loud, she's his mother!
Candy burst out laughing. But her friends who didn't know the truth were speculating too.
- Candy, said Archie one time they were having lunch one after noon, have you seen the papers?
- That's nonsense! said Candy
- Eleonor Baker? Didn't you meet her in London? Said Patty
- Yes said Candy, she's really nice
- Looks like she's got Terry, said Archie
- Come on Archie, they met in London, said Candy, it's normal that they talk if they met again in Hollywood…
- You're not worried? Said Patty
- No, Patty, not the least in the world! And I trust Terry said Candy
- Ok, said Annie, if you say so…
22. Chapter 22
**Tomorrow in your life… **
**Chapter 22 **
"**Together again"**
Life was going in. Thursday, the night of the premiere arrived. But Candy had to work the night shift that day. She couldn't get out of it. No, it was not possible! She had to see Terry, it had been too long! He was with his movie crew, she didn't know where to join him. No, if she didn't see Terry, she was going to die… Flammy Hamilton, her colleague.
- Flammy, I beg you, I can kneel if you want, said Candy, will you work my shift tonight?
- No, Candy it's your turn, said Flammy
- I know it's my turn, that's why I'm asking you to replace me…
- I have to work tonight too, said Flammy, unlike some of us; I don't have a rich family to support me. So it's no.
- Flammy it's not my fault if rich people adopted me… Please Flammy, I have to see the man I love, I haven't seen him in 3 years…
- That's not my problem, she said going away
- Sylvia, asked Candy to another intern, I have to see Terrence Grandchester…
- The premiere of King Lear? You mean you know him? Stop it!
- He's my boyfriend, since high school
- Yeah right! And I'm the queen of England…. How come you never said anything? She said walking away, the Ice Princess has a boy friend? That's a good one!
Candy didn't know what to do. Terry, and a reprimand? The choice was clear. She's going to see the movie and she'll come back to the hospital to finish her work.
She went to get her evening gown during lunchtime; she will change at the hospital. She took care of all the paper work and got ready for the premiere who was suppose to start at 7 pm.
- Candy you're late said Annie, quick!
- I had to finish the paper work
- The movie is going to start, said Archie
They walked to the balcony where the family was. Eliza looked at Candy with mean eyes. She thought about Terry's letter and became jealous.
- Candy can't sit here, said Eliza
- Eliza, said Neil, stuff it! Candy come in…
- Thank Neil, said Candy with a smile
Eliza was sulking and the others burst out laughing. The movie started and Candy was finally able to see Terry on the big screen… he was magnificent. She missed him so much. This movie is going to be is big break. When the movie was over, Candy walked to the exit with the others.
- I have to go, said Candy sadly
- Are you sure you can't come, sweetie? You have to see Terry, said Annie
- I know Annie, but I have to go. I left without permission already
- Ok, said Annie, that's a shame
- I just hope he remembers you, said Archie
- Be nice, Archie said Annie
- I have to go, said Candy sadly
- Don't worry Candy, I'll take good care of Terrence for you, said Eliza with a triumphant smile
- Bite me Eliza! Said Candy angry
Candy left to go back to the hospital. She was walking to her car, and passed by the exit where the stars came out. The actors were coming out, and she saw Terry with another actress, Susanna Marlowe. The fans where screaming and wanting autographs. The reporters were asking questions and photographers with their flashes and the TV cameramen… She was seeing Terry in the flesh for the first time since he'd left for Hollywood. He looked older, more mature and he was still so handsome.
"Romeo, you're so handsome she said to herself"
Like he heard her thought, Terry turned around and looked around him.
- Terry, said Susanna, is something wrong?
The reporters continued asking questions and the photographer continued taking pictures. Candy thought she should look for Terry's hotel to wait for him. The hell with the hospital, she had to see Terry! She could leave him a message with her cell number and her address. But which hotel was it?
"I'm going to look in all the 5 stars hotel of the city she said to herself"
She started her search.
Meanwhile at the reception, Annie, Patty, Archie and Stear were talking while eating and drinking.
- It's great to be at a première, look at all those celebrities! Said Annie
- Look at Grandchester said Archie, so proud and so full of himself!
- Archie, said Stear, would stop it, please
- We have to support him; we were in school with him… I'm going to write an article for the university paper, I could proudly say that I knew him when…. said Patty
- I'll take a picture for you, said Annie
They continued talking, when they heard a familiar voice;
- Stear, Annie, Patty, Cornwell…!
- Terry! Said Annie kissing him, it's been so long! How are you?
- I'm fine thank you, Annie and you?
- I'm fine, thanks
- Can I write an article on you for the paper at the university? Asked Patty
- Let me take a picture, for old times sakes, said Annie
- Patty you can write your article and you need an interview let me know…
- Thanks, Terry said Patty
Susanna had followed him and was following the conversation. Terry with his high school friends.
- Do you have any news from Candy?
- Finally, it took you three hours to remember her? You quickly forgot about her, didn't you?
- Shut up Cornwell! Said Terry
- Candy was here, said Stear
- What! Where? When? Asked Terry surprised
- She was at the premiere, said Annie but she couldn't come to the reception…
- Why?
- She had to go back to the hospital said Patty, she's in med school
- Med school…. The hospital? Which hospital?
- Why? Said Archie, leave her alone! You didn't keep in touch with her…
- Which hospital? Repeated Terry
- She's at St. Joan's hospital said Stear
- Thanks Stear he said running out of there
He passed Susanna and Eliza
- Terrence? Said Eliza, but where are you going?
But Terry was already gone!
- He's going to see Candy said Annie with a triumphant smile
- Candy! Damn Candy! What does he sees in that bleached blond?
- Actually she's a real blonde, said Annie
"Candy thought Susanna, who is Candy?"
She realised that Terry had a past and she couldn't measure up to. That made her really sad. He was so handsome, she wanted him…
Terry took a cab and went to St. Joan's hospital. When he got to the reception, he asked to see Candy.
- Excuse-me ,said Terry
- Yes, said Sylvia without looking
- My name is Terrence Grandchester and I'm looking for Candy White Andrew…
Sylvia couldn't believe her ears! Candy was telling the truth! She knew Terrence Grandchester!
- Oh my God! Terrence Grandchester! Wow! Shouldn't you be at the premiere of your movie?
- I had to see Candy. Do you know where she is?
- She stepped out for a moment. You… you can wait for her in the waiting room over there she said showing a corner with chairs and magazines.
- Thank you.
She of course, went to call, all the other nurses who ran to come and see the movie star. They were asking him questions and he was answering them the best way he could.
Candy, in the mean time, had left messages for Terry in all the luxury hotels of Chicago, because no one wanted to tell her or confirm whether Terry had a room there or not. She decided to go back to the hospital to finish her shift. She parked her car at the back of the hospital in the employee parking. She came in through the back, she went and change and went to the reception of the hospital. She saw a group of nurses from afar, talking and laughing. She felt a little funny. She approached them slowly, she was afraid it was only a dream. She heard a voice talking.
- Do you know when Candy's coming back? Asked Terry
- The Ice Princess? You really know her? Asked a nurse
- Yes, I was in high school with her in London, in boarding school… said Terry
- Really? Said Sylvia, was she called the Ice Princess over there too?
- The Ice Princess? Why are you calling her that? That's not very nice… said Terry
- It's not us, it's the guys… she doesn't even look at them! Said Sylvia
- Oh… you mean she's not interested in going out with them?
- Romeo? Said Candy's voice
Every body stopped talking and looked at Candy. She was still a little far.
- Juliet! Said Terry with a big smile
He stood up and ran to her; she started to run too, in the hallway towards him. When they arrived at proximity, they stopped and look at each other.
- Hi, said Terry
- Hi, said Candy, so, you're this big movie star now?
- Yes, well, not yet… I heard you've been crowned the Ice Princess…
- Without my Prince of fire, I became of ice… you see what missing you did to me?
- Oh Candy!
They jumped in each other's arms and started do kiss passionately for a while in front of everybody's stunned faces. The Ice Princess with a guy and not any guy, a young promising actor. They stopped kissing and hugged each other for a long time.
- Oh, Terry I missed you so much…
- You too, you can't imagine how much I missed you Freckles
- You've made it, you've become an actor…
- I wrote you a letter…
- I didn't receive the letter; we left St. Paul a few days after you…
- Really? Why?
- It's a long story
They stopped hugging.
- I have all night…said Terry
- But I have to work… said Candy
- I can take care of that…
Then turning to the other girls.
- Ladies, can I ask you for a favour? If I promise you free tickets for King Lear and autographed pictures… could you cover Candy's shift? It's been almost three years since we've seen each other… we have a lot of catching up to do and all we have is tonight…
- Of course Terrence, we'll cover Candy's shift, have fun! Said Sylvia
Candy couldn't believe it!
- You can't bribe the hospital staff…said Candy
- I just did… come on Freckles, time is running. I'm leaving tomorrow at noon…
- But…
- Candy, go! Said Sylvia. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. Go and have a good time with him. Now we know that you're not an Ice Princess, you were just waiting for your boyfriend. We'll rectify that with the guys. I'll take care of Flammy too…
- Thanks Sylvia
- You've got an apartment or you're leaving at the dorm? Asked Terry
- I have an apartment…
- Super! Let's go!
They left the hospital by the back door to go get Candy's car.
- You're driving! Wow!
- I'm in med school, Romeo…
Candy smile, she was with Terry, she was on a cloud, she was the man she loves. They went to Candy's apartment, she left the car and a valet went to park it. On the ground floor there were doormen and lift attendant.
- Miss Andrew, said the doorman
- Ruben…Said Candy
- You've got doormen? Said Terry with a mocking tone
- I bet you have some too!
- Of course!
They walked to the elevator. The lift attendant was waiting for them.
- Good evening, Miss Andrew
- Angelo, said Candy smiling
There were other people that got in the elevator too. It was the Newmans with Tammy and Jeremy. Terry was behind Candy holding her by the waist and talking to her in the ear and tickling her. She was laughing quietly.
- Terry, Stop! She said softly, Good evening Mr. And Mrs. Newman
- Candy said Tammy, hi we're just coming back from the premiere of King Lear
- I saw the movie said Candy, but I had to go back to the hospital
- You missed out! Terrence Grandchester is even more handsome in person, I saw him briefly at the reception, then he disappeared…
- I know, said Candy smiling
- You saw him… but…
She looked at them and realised that Terrence Grandchester was holding Candy by the waist.
- Terrence Grandchester? Oh my God Candy, you know him…. Well I can see that you know him…
- Tammy, this is Terry ,said Candy
- Terry? You're boyfriend? Terrence Grandchester is your boyfriend you talk about all the time?
- Since high school, said Terry
- I was wondering why he seemed so familiar…the pictures in your apartment! Oh Candy you little secretive! Can I have an autograph? She asked Terry giving him the program she had in her hands
- Yes of course said Terry taking a pen out of the inside pocket of his jacket to sign
- Thanks a lot! Said Tammy happy
- No, thank you, said Terry
The parents were looking at the scene smiling. Jeremy was sulking. He had a thing for Candy, he was jealous. They arrived on the 22nd floor, Candy's floor.
- Bye said Candy and Terry getting out
- Bye said Tammy and her family
Once in their apartment, Tammy looked at Jeremy and said;
- You can tell your friends that Candy is not an Ice Princess, she already has a boyfriend
- I was there, said Jeremy frustrated
- He's even more handsome in person…
- Enough! Said Jeremy going to his room
- Poor Jeremy said Mrs. Newman, he'll get over it!
Candy and Terry were in her apartment…
- It's classy…Said Terry
- Georges insisted, since I didn't want to stay at the manor with the adorable Great Aunt Elroy…
- He insisted in giving you the family apartment, at least one of the apartments
- I don't pay a cent
- It's very big…
- I know. I wanted to rent a small apartment, but the areas where I could afford it were not really recommended for single young girls. But once I finish school, and I start working, I'll look for my own apartment.
- Med school? You need a lot of concentration and I understand that you don't have the time to work with school…
- I thought about it, but the university is so expensive and the rent too, so I said to myself, why not take advantage of my adoptive father's generosity?
- Don't feel guilty Freckles. He's your adoptive father, it's his physical and moral obligation to take care of you
- Enough with the pep talk. Romeo… I miss you she said hugging him, I didn't have any news from you
- You didn't receive my letter, I've sent e-mails…
- My computer crashed because of a virus and when I got a new one, my email address had changed already…
- I didn't know where to contact you. You're family number is unlisted, your cell phone had probably changed since you weren't in Europe anymore… I wanted to reassure you…
- You've reassured me the day you left. I would've waited for you till the end of time my love… I'm you wife in your heart, remember?
- And I'm your husband in your heart. I love you I never stopped loving you
- Terry … I love you
They kissed passionately and found themselves in Candy's bedroom on the bed. They gave in to their passion… all those years… they couldn't get enough of each other. The Ice Princess had completely melted leaving the place to a woman passionate with love for her Romeo. The fire of passion consumed her. All that time… all that passion non-consummate… their bodies were hungry… The Ice Princess had fire in her veins that melted the ice forever.
Candy had her head on Terry's chest.
- I can't believe I'm really in your arms
- Me neither, Freckles. By the way, how are your "parents" Melissa and Philippe? You're still in contact with them?
- You don't know how right you are…
- What do you mean? That they're really your parents?
- Yes, like you always said…
- Well, I'll be damned!
- They came to see me a week ago….
She told him what happened in details.
- She thought, not only that I was a boy, but that I died…
- Wooa! That must have been a shock for you!
- That the least we can say…
- Philippe interrogated me in Romania; I had the impression of being grilled by your dad… I didn't know I was right on the money!
- But you were calling them my parents… every time they took me for Melissa's daughter, she was sad because she was thinking of her first baby whom she thought had died
- So every body was right, you were her daughter… Candy that's wonderful, you've found your parents!
- That evening, Annie had just called me to tell me that you'd saw you on TV and that you were coming to Chicago, I was so happy, Melissa and Philippe came a few minutes later…
- That must have been the most beautiful evening of your life
- Ever since I knew what parents were, I've always wondered why they abandoned me…
- And now you know they didn't abandoned you, they didn't know you existed
- It's an incredible sensation, enchanting, charming… and to see you again… oh Terry…
He interrupted her with a kiss.
The next morning, they woke up against their will.
- What time is your flight? Asked Candy
- Noon…said Terry
- You've got your stuff at the hotel?
- I'm going to ask the reception to get my luggage ready and sent it to the airport with the others.
He made a phone call to the hotel. He also called his assistant for the movie tickets and the pictures. He'll get them at the airport.
- Thanks Terry said Candy, perfect! Let's go take a bath?
- How could I resist such an invitation?
They played in the bath, which was actually a Jacuzzi, like children. They had breakfast together. The maid served them.
- You didn't tell me you had a maid…. Said Terry
- She came with the apartment, it was a package deal…said Candy smiling
- Cool!
After breakfast, they exchange their phone numbers and emails.
- Freckles, not a day will go by without me calling you…
- Likewise. We have three hours difference, but it shouldn't be a problem…
They left the apartment and arrived to the airport around 11 am, there were a lot of people and reporters and photographers taking pictures.
- Mr. Grandchester! Who's the young girl with you? Your girlfriend? When did you meet her?
Terry was holding Candy by the waist.
- Her name is Candy White Andrew and she was my high school sweetheart…
- Are you in love with her?
- Since the first time I laid my eyes on her he said looking at her with love
- Andrew? Is she William Andrew's daughter by any chance? Asked a woman
- Did you go to her place when you disappeared yesterday? Asked another one
- Ok, that's enough, said Hathaway, if you want any more info, call and make arrangements for a interview, come on move on!
Susanna was talking to Karen another actress.
- That's "her", the love of his life? Said Susanna, pretty common
- Come on, Susanna, she's a knock out! Said Karen, admit it…
- Never! Said Susanna, I'd rather die! He's going to be mine, you'll see…
Terry took the movies tickets and the autographed pictures from his assistant and gave them to Candy.
- Thanks Terry, they're going to be very happy said Candy
- Anything for the fans, said Terry, bye Freckles…I'll call you, I love you
- Bye Romeo, I love you
He kissed her and got into the plane with the rest of his movie crew.
23. Chapter 23
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**Chapter 23**
"**Hello, Mr. Albert"**
Candy and Terry were calling each other every day after that, in fact he started to call her from the plane! Since it was not safe to drive while talking on a cell phone in your ear, Candy had a speaker system in her car. The phone rang.
- Hello? She said
- Freckles?
- Romeo? Already? It's been only 10 minutes since we separated
- 10 minutes? It seems so long ago…
He was sitting next to Susanna Marlowe who wasn't missing a word of the conversation, the heart broken into a thousand pieces. She had a thing for Terry since she first laid her eyes on him. He was nice to her, but nothing more. She hoped he would change and ask her out, but…. Nothing. Now she knew why, he was in love with another woman. Terry continued talking.
- …the Ice Princess… if your colleagues had seen you last night they would've changed your nickname to Princess of fire!
- I think, after they saw our reunion last night, the Ice Princess has completely disappeared…
- I have to admit, I was proud of you my love…
- Why, honey?
- We'd lost contact, you could've thought that I forgotten about you…
- Never! We'd made a promise to each other. We got married in our hearts…
- You were called the Ice Princess because you didn't look at any guy…thank you honey.
- I was waiting for my husband, my Romeo
- My wife, my Juliet honey, I love you…
- I love you Romeo…
Susanna was dying! Terry continued to talk on the phone with Candy during the whole trip. During the time she was in the elevator, and they had to hang up, he sent her an email. Susanna was looking at him sadly, it was like ever since he found Candy, the rest of the world didn't exist; he was only thinking about her and only talking with her. Susanna stood up to stretch her legs. She met Karen her colleague.
- Susanna, are you ok? I surprised you left Terry for a second…
- Chicago ruined everything! He found his girlfriend!
- Candy, he introduced her to the press…he must love her a lot
- He introduced her to the press… repeated Susanna
- I've never seen him like that said Karen, she must be really important
- You have no idea! You think I stood up for nothing? I had enough of hearing him talking with so much love to his girlfriend!
- He's still on the phone?
- Ever since we left and when she was in the elevator, he sent her an email, than he called her back the second she got into her apartment!
- Never mind Susanna, he will never look at you the way you want to. He disappeared during the reception…
- After talking to a group of people, his high school friends. She wasn't there I would've remembered… she stole my Terry!
- Susanna, he was never yours to begin with… he knows Candy since high school, he's hers, not yours…
- Well, we'll see about that!
Candy was talking with Terry until he got to destination. They never got tired of each other. They talked whenever they had a free time. They sent each other email and were seeing each other on the webcam. Terry will call her every night, before they go to bed event though there was a time difference. If she was not there, he will leave a message on her voice mail and they he would call her at the hospital. The press started to harass Candy, they wanted an interview with the girlfriend of a rising star. They were taking pictures, hiding in the hospital parking in front of the building… her colleagues also asked her a lot of questions.
- Do you have our autographed pictures and the tickets? Yes, Great! said one, Thanks!
- You're a little sneak, how could you hide from us that your boyfriend is famous? That's why you weren't interested in other guys!
- I tried to tell you, you didn't believe me… and he was not famous when I met him in school, well at least not as an actor, he was the king of boarding school…said Candy
- Boarding school where?
- In London, St. Paul Academy…
- That's where you met?
- No, we met on the plane that was taking us to London, on New Year's Eve…
- They say the person you're with at midnight on New Year's Day, it's the person you're destined to be with said Sylvia
- I don't know said Candy, all I know is that I've been in love with him ever since I was fifteen years old…!
- So, said Annie, you don't answer your phone anymore! You've become more difficult to get on the phone than the queen of England! You don't take your call waiting anymore!
- Well hello to you too, Annie said Candy
- I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated!
- Annie, I hadn't seen Terry for 3 years…
- I know, you must be in seventh heaven!
- Higher! If that's possible
The doorbell rang. It was Patty and the others, Ali and Archie
- Candy said Archie, you must be happy, Grandchester didn't forget about you, like I thought. He really loves you
They spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing. They ate and watched movies. Candy's phone was ringing every hours, it was Terry. In the beginning her friends didn't say anything, but in the long run when the phone rang, they started to scream and make comments and fake indignation and laughs.
- He's gone mad, said Annie
- You're overdoing it, said Archie
- You're not the only lovers in the world, said Patty
- Yeah said Stear, that's enough!
- Shut up! Said Candy laughing, I can't hear a thing! Romeo? Yes… they're jealous she joked
- Awww cried the others
Candy went to talk in the bedroom….
During her shift one day, Candy heard the other student talking
- Did you see him? The guy with amnesia? He's so handsome! Said one
- I could tell him we're married… since he doesn't remember anything…said another one
- Me too, maybe he's rich like the Donald…
- Or as poor as a church mouse, said another student
- Who are you girls talking about? Asked Candy
- There's a new patient, he's got amnesia, but he's so handsome! And those blue eyes, those long blond hair…
- He's a patient, said Candy, you have to stay professional
- Easy for you to say, you have a rich and handsome boyfriend said Sylvia
- Who says he's rich? Said Candy
- A girl can hope, can she?
- Hope makes you live said Candy laughing
Candy entered the room where the famous guy with amnesia was and when she saw him, she stopped. No! It was not possible! But yes! It was him, without the beard, the moustache and the sun glasses…
- Mr. Albert! Said Candy
The patient didn't react. He was on his bed looking at the ceiling.
- Mr. Albert, she repeated, it's me Candy…
- I'm sorry, do I know you?
- Candy you know him? Said one of the nurses
- Yes, I've now him a long time, he saved my life…
- So he's not rich? Said a student name Suki
- Suki, please… said Candy, you've have amnesia, don't worry, we'll take good care of you…
Albert looked at the young med-student with her freckles and her green eyes…She was beautiful with her blond hair. He knew this pretty young woman? He cursed his memory for the thousandth time… but he was glad to have Candy's attention, she was taking really good care of him. The other patients in the room were teasing him about it.
- Hey, John Doe, you're lucky, you've got the attention of the most happy med student said one
- Maybe she's your wife and you don't remember her said another patient
Albert was laughing.
- If she was my wife, she would've told me so, and wouldn't be calling me Mr. Albert…
- Maybe she doesn't want to traumatise you joke another one, she's so beautiful, the shock could've given you a heart attack!
Everybody was laughing in the room.
Candy was talking to Terry on the phone during her lunchtime.
- I told you that Mr. Albert was a patient here?
- Yes, Freckles
- So, since he's lost his memory, I thought I could have him live with me, until he gets his memory back…what do you think?
- You mean, you're going to live with him?
- I know it sounds strange, but he saved my life, once a upon a time, and I can't abandon him…
- Ok, said Terry after a moment of silence, I just hope that you'll turn into Ice Princess mode if he tries anything …
- I don't know she joked, he's king of handsome…
- Candy!
- Come on Rome, I had 3 years of abstinence to cheat on you, and I didn't do it. I'm not going to start now that I found you again!
- I trust you Juliet, I love you
- I trust you too, Romeo and I love you
When she hung up, her colleagues were looking at her with stunned eyes.
- You're taking him with you?
- Yes, I'm the only one who knows him…
- Are you sure? Asked Sylvia
- Yes, now I'll have to convince him…
- No problem there, he's got a thing for you…
- Mr. Albert? No, said Candy laughing
She went to see Albert to talk to him about her idea.
- Live with you? What will you parents say?
- My parents will understand. I will explain the situation to them. And it's only until you get your memory back…
- And you trust me?
- You saved my life once, that's enough for me
Albert remained silent for a while. He had the choice between the void and the hospitality of this lovely young woman. He looked at her and felt his heart melting. Was it wise to go and live with her? I was better than the void, the unknown, the black hole… Why not wait for the light to come in his memory with her. She was warm and loving…
- Ok, Candy, I will come with you, until I get my memory back. Thank you, you're very generous. You've some space in your apartment?
- Oh, I've got some space all right! You'll see!
He was standing near the window. Candy approached him and hugged him. Albert was surprised to see Candy in his arms ; it made him a little tipsy.
- Thank you, Mr. Albert to trust me. I'm going to take good care of you, you'll get your memory back, you'll see
Albert was talking his head:
"My God, let go of me, quickly, you're going to drive me crazy! I want to kiss you so badly…"
Candy finally let go of him and Albert had a sigh of relief.
- I'll come and get you when I finish my shift.
She went outside during break and she called her parents in Romania on her cell phone. Melissa answered.
- Mom? Hi!
- Candy Honey, how are you?
- Yes and what about all of you?
- Yes, we're fine…
- Mom, I'm at the hospital, I'm calling you to tell you that Mr. Albert, you remember, I told you about him…?
- Yes
- He had an accident and lost his memory. Since I'm the only one who knows him, for now, I'm taking him to my apartment until he gets his memory back
- Oh… are you sure of what you're doing?
- Yes, he saved my life once, I can't abandon him…
- Ok, honey. I'm going to inform your father. Thank you for calling
- You're very welcome. I miss you mom, I miss you all
- We miss you too, bye
- Bye.
The problem with the parents was solved. But she knew Philippe was going to call her later. She took Albert to her apartment, and they spent a nice evening together. Philippe called her like she expected.
- Daddy, are you checking up on me?
- It's my right said Philippe laughing. I was deprived of it for too long.
- I know daddy. It may bother some people, but I love that you're checking up on me
Philippe was laughing.
- Is every thing ok? You trust him?
- Yes daddy
- So, ok, then. I'm proud of you. You're very compassionate. What does Terry think about all that?
- He was a little reticent at first, but he trusts me…
- He's nice. I'm not sure I would've had his reaction; the woman I love alone with a man…
- Daddy!
- But, it's good that he trusts you and likewise
- I know, Hollywood is a jungle…
- I'm going to let you sleep now, Good night
- By Daddy.
She barely hung up the phone when it rang again.
- Romeo?
- Are you ok, Freckles?
- Yes, everything is fine. He's fine
- You put him in the bedroom on the other side of the hallway, I hope…
- Romeo!
- I know; all the other rooms are far from yours anyway. I should thank the architect…
Candy burst out laughing. She finished talking to Terry and went to the living room where Albert was.
- Your parents let you this big apartment…
- Actually it's my adoptive father's. He didn't want me to take a small apartment in less than decent areas. And med school is expensive… in short, it's way easier for me to live here alone than at the mansion with the others
- Who can't stand you?
- Just the Great aunt, but that's enough to keep me far…
- You were adopted, and you found your parents…
- Just recently…
She told him how she met the Cranes and all the rest. She took Albert shopping , some stores closed late. He had nothing aside from the clothes from the hospital and a toothbrush.
- You need a whole wardrobe said Candy
- But that's too much said Albert
- No, I can afford it. I barely spend my allowance … Don't worry Mr. Albert, I'll take care of everything…
Candy bought him close, shoes, pyjamas, perfume, razorblades …etc. He had everything he needs. She even gave him money and one of her credit card, even though Albert was protesting.
- Come on, you will need to buy your own things if you go out. Don't hesitate to ask me if you need more, or anything else.
Albert said to himself that he was lucky to have a friend like Candy, even if he didn't remember her!
24. Chapter 24
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**Chapter 24**
"**Say it isn't so…"**
Life continued and time passed… The Cranes were sent to Chicago to the military base. Candy spent all her free time with her family and her friends.
Annie and Archie were engaged to be married, so were Patty and Stear. The two brothers wanted to get married on the same day; they always had the same ideas…Terry finally got his big break. He saw Candy at every occasion he had. One evening, Candy came back home with groceries.
- Mr. Albert? I need help… She said putting the groceries on the floor to turn on the light
- SURPRISE!
Candy was startled and she smiled. Terry wearing a tuxedo, was in the middle of the living room and there were candles lighten everywhere.
- Terry…good evening
- Good evening said Terry
Some servers appeared to help her with the grocery bags. Candy was looking at them surprised.
- Go in the bedroom, there's a surprise for you…
- Ok, she said smiling, I have to change anyway
She went to the bedroom to change and she found a dress on the bed. It was green and new. She put it on, and joined Terry in the dining room. The servers arrived with the diner and they started to eat. They were talking about all and nothing. For dessert, the servers brought them some covered plates.
- Terry, I can't eat anything else, said Candy
- Come on, Freckles, it's dessert… for me…
- Ok, she said smiling, just a little bit…
She took the cover out and she discovered a ring with an emerald… she opened her mouth; she was so surprised.
- Candice White Andrew, will you marry me?
Candy looked and saw Terry on one knee, he took the little box with the ring and was waiting for an answer.
- Terrence Graham Grandchester, she said with tears in her eyes, yes I will marry you…
He put the ring on her finger and they stood up and fell in each other's arms. He kissed her. Candy was happy, she was engaged to Terry she's going to be his wife officially, like she already was in her heart.
- I got the lead role in the new version of "Romeo and Juliet" my career is launched, Juliet…
- Congratulations, my love…
- I can now tell the world that I'm Eleonor Baker's son…do you want your mother to get the scoop?
- Romeo, you take the words right out of my mouth…Thank you very much
- You're very welcome, my love…I wish I could see the faces of all those tabloid reporters that thought that we were lovers… said Terry laughing
- Me too!
The press and the papers spent a lot of time on them. Candy told her friends before they heard it in the media. Annie and the others came to see them the next day, to have a drink in their honour and congratulate the new fiancés. Annie had ordered food from a caterer for the evening. Neil Reagan was there with his girl friend and Tanisha who came especially for the occasion with her boyfriend Jamal. Candy was happy to see her friend again.
- Tani! She said hugging her
- Candy, Terry! Congratulations! You've been patient! At your place I would've got married on the reunion day…I wouldn't take any chances…
- Everything will be fine, Tani, don't worry, said Candy
- To the fiancés! Said Annie rising her glass
They drank together and spent a nice evening. Albert was also there and he looked at the scene with sadness. Candy will never be his…
Melissa had the privilege to have the first television interview with the new rising star from the upcoming movie, "Romeo and Juliet". Eleonor Baker was also there. Everybody was watching the show because Eleonor Baker was going to tell the truth on her relationship with Terrence Grandchester who was now engaged to be married to Candice White Andrew, but was still hanging around with her.
- Terrence, said Melissa, everybody is speculating on your relationship with Miss Baker… that you're lovers…
Terrence Grandchester burst out laughing.
- That's ridiculous, he said still laughing, I'm engaged to be married to the woman of my dreams, Candy…
- Really? Can you then, tell us the truth on your special relationship? Asked Melissa
- Well, I'm going to let her talk, she will tell you exactly what it is…said Terrence
Eleonor Baker arrived and kissed Terrence on the cheek and sat next to him, taking his hand.
- Good evening Eleonor said Melissa
- Melissa…
- The world wants to know what the nature of your relationship is… Terrence is engaged to Candy, but doesn't seem to want to let go of you. People are saying that you're lovers and that you're helping him in his career.
- Let me tell you that Terrence doesn't need me at all for his career, his talent speaks for itself…said Eleonor, about being lovers, it's true we have a love relationship, but not in the sense people are thinking…
- How is it then…?
- Well I hope all the sleazy tabloid reporters are listening… Terrence Graham Grandchester …is my son!
- Your son? Wow!
- I had him very young as you can see and he was living with his father in England. He came to Hollywood without telling me and he made it on his own, without any help from me… he came to see me only when he got his first role…
The news spread like wildfire. Candy's friends called her on the phone.
- Candy, said Annie, you knew didn't you? That's why you didn't care about the rumours…
- I'm sorry Annie, I had to keep it a secret
- Since London, the autographed pictures…oh my God!
- I wanted to share my joy with you…
- Thanks Candy, it must have been hard not to be able to say anything…
- You have no idea! I wanted to shout to the world when I saw all those sleazy tabloids: SHE'S HIS MOTHER!
Susanna was very angry about Candy and Terry's engagement. She had to act fast if she wanted to have him before he gets married. She loved him so much, and it had become almost an obsession. She wanted to have Terry against all odds! She would sell her soul to the devil if she could. She put her plan to have Terry into motion…
Terry woke up with a terrible headache; he felt a weight on him.
- Candy?
But it was not Candy…
- Terry? You're awake, my love…
Terry couldn't believe his ears! No, it was not possible!
- SUSANNA! He screamed getting away from her like she had the plague, what are you doing here?
He was naked, he wanted to take the sheet on the bed, but it revealed Susanna's own nudity. He looked around he saw boxers on the floor that he put on quickly.
- I asked you a question…he yelled
- You don't remember?
- I don't remember what?
- Our night of passion….
- Our… no, impossible! I would've remember, you're lying!
- Terry, you were wonderful, honey…
- I don't know who was wonderful, but it wasn't me!
- Terry , you forgot, last night, we kissed…
Terry had a flash; he was kissing Susanna, but it certainly was an illusion! No! He would never cheat on Candy willingly! He remembered he was drinking with his colleague and he had a headache, he called Candy and went to lye down…then… he woke up naked next to Susanna!
- Susanna, I don't know what game you're playing, but I didn't make love to you…
- Terry, if you want to reject me go ahead, but don't pretend that last night didn't happen…
- Because it's not true! I love Candy, and I only want Candy. I never thought of you that way!
Susanna felt hurt inside. Terry was so cruel with his honesty…
- But Terry…
- Get out of here! I don't ever want to see you again! I have to go see Candy…
- You're not going to tell her what happened…
- We tell each other everything…
- Terry, think about it, she won't understand…
- Mind your own business, Susanna… you've done enough…
- But…
- I said, get out of here!
Susanna took her stuff, got dressed and left the apartment. Terry had some days off and was thinking of going to Chicago to see his beloved. He took a shower and got ready. He flew to Chicago and arrived at the end of the afternoon. He went to the apartment and found it empty. Albert was running errands. He turned on the TV, but wasn't watching it. My God, will Candy forgive him? He prayed she'd understand.
Candy arrived in early evening.
- Mr. Albert?
- Albert is not here…
- Terry! She said running to him
She hugged him and he held her longer than usual.
- I love you so much, he said
Candy felt that something was wrong.
- Terry? Is something wrong? She asked worried
- Yes, I had a little problem…
- With your agent?
- No, with Susanna…
- Susanna Marlowe?
- Yes…
- What happened?
He told her everything that had happened, well… what he remembered, in details. Candy was sitting next to him. She listened to every word that was piercing her heart. When he finished talking, there was a silence. Candy finally broke the silence.
- You don't remember anything? She asked with tears in her eyes…
- I remember having a headache, calling you and then I woke up naked next to her…
- ..also naked. Is she in love with you?
- She's always nice to me, taking care of me. She always defends me…
- Ok, honey. That's being in love with you! You didn't see anything?
- No…
- Oh Terry!
- I'm sorry… can you forgive me?
Candy remained silent for a while. It wasn't Terry's fault. He would never lie to her. Wasn't she saved by Terry the night of the Valentine dance? She still didn't remember what had happened to this day…why? Because she was drugged! Terry didn't remember anything either; it's possible he was also drugged! She prayed with all her heart she was right.
- Terry you said you started to have a headache after one glass of beer?
- Yes. Even to get drunk, I need more than one glass…
- Memory loses are often due to the drugs taken…
- I don't do drug…
- Yes, I know. But Terry, you remember back in St. Paul when you saved me from Ethan? I still don't remember, to this day, what happened…
- …because you were drugged! He said, you think Susanna drugged me?
- It's a possibility… I can take a sample of your blood and send it to the lab
- Ok…
- How are you feeling since you woke up?
- I don't feel like doing anything, I'm nauseous…but I thought it was the horror of the situation…Oh my God! That's how you felt, isn't it?
She went to get her medical bag, and some disposable syringes. She put a rubber band on his left arm and she took some blood.
- You're very gentle Juliet; I didn't feel a thing…
- That's a shame; I wished you felt some pain to punish you for your stupidity!
She called a courier who came to get the sample of Terry's blood and she ordered a tox-screen, a drug test. She called the hospital and asked the lab for a favour and they put a rush on it.
- Candy…said Terry softly
She looked at him. She loved him so much. If he did something with Susanna he didn't remember it. Like she wouldn't have remembered if Ethan had taken advantage of her that night. She walked to him and hugged him.
- You know I love you for better or worse…he said
- We're married in our hearts since St. Paul…
- Promise me nothing will separate us…
- Terry, we can't make promises we can't keep…that's counting without the outside world…
Albert arrived and they changed the conversation. They had diner talking about this and that. Albert felt the tension, but didn't make any comment. After diner, he went to his room and left the two lovebirds alone. The phone rang. It was the hospital lab.
- Hello, said Candy, Ernest?…Yes, you have the results? Can you fax them to me please? Here's the number…
Candy hung up the phone and went to the room to get the result of the blood test on her computer, she printed it out right away. She read the results and went to the living room and gave them to Terry. He took the fax and read it.
- Freckles, I don't understand all this medical mumble jumbo…
- You tested positive for Rohypnol…
- The date rape drug?
- Susanna raped you, said Candy with a nervous laugh
- Raped…
- If something happened…because now, her word is not gospel… you really didn't see that she had a thing for you?
- No…
- Blinded by your Freckles?
- Yes… it seems stupid, but that's the case… do you forgive me?
- There's nothing to forgive, Romeo… you were a little stupid, but it's because of me…
- Candy you know that I will never cheat on you willingly? In my heart, we're married. You're the only candy I see in the store, literally…pun intended…
- I know honey. But it hurt me to hear that you woke up next to a naked woman… you know that there will be consequences…she won't stop there…
- I know, she'll come with a pregnancy story…
- "Don't worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"
- Candy, she's an actress and her parents have a lot of influence in Hollywood, they can force me to…
Candy put her mouth on Terry's and started to kiss him. She didn't want to think about it now. She wanted to take advantage of his presence. Hollywood…Hollywood wanted to steal her happiness. Susanna Marlowe had a plan, that plan was to steal Terry away from her to have him all to herself….Her Terry, her husband in her heart. She remembered the night they exchange their vows in the empty church, alone without the priest…they were married in their hearts… then by a pure coincidence, because she had planned it long before that, they consummated their passion and had a magic night. She waited for him for three years, during their separation. She was nicknamed the "Ice Princess' by the guys…they had found each other again and he had asked her to marry him… they were engaged and now… she didn't want to think about it… Terry was trying to bring up the subject again.
- Freckles, we'll have to…
- Shuuut! My love… after, please… I need you Romeo…
- Ok, Juliet, we'll talk later…
He carried her in his arms and took her to the bedroom, kissing her. Albert was passing by and saw them and felt a twinge in his heart. He knew they were together, but to see them so passionate …hurt him.
Candy was in Terry's arms, her head on his chest. She was crying. She had realised the seriousness of the situation. If Terry really was with Susanna, even if he were drugged, there will be consequences. Susanna didn't go that far for nothing, she wanted Terry. For someone to go that far just to get Terry away from her was appalling! Terry felt she was crying. He took her near him and kissed her to reassure her.
- I love you Candy…
- Terry…
- We'll find a solution…
- We were suppose to get married, Susanna knew that…
- That's why she did everything to separate us. She was hoping I wouldn't say anything to you, so you would hear it somewhere else…
- She didn't expect you to be honest with me. If she comes with a baby story…
- She's an actress and her parents have influence in Hollywood, all they have to do is say the right words to the press
- But what about their daughter's career? And her reputation…
- We'll cross that bridge when we get there, said Terry
- So we continue with the wedding preparations?
- Of course, Candy, I want to officially marry you
The atmosphere of their optimism wanted to chase always the clouds of sadness that had just fell on their happiness, but it couldn't
25. Chapter 25
**Tomorrow in your life**
**Chapter 25**
"**The heart broken into a thousand pieces…"**
Terry was in Hollywood a few weeks later. Susanna like he expected, came to see him with some news.
- I'm pregnant Terry, she said
- Why, am I not surprised? Asked Terry
- Are you insinuating that I did it on purpose? Asked Susanna
- Oh yes, you did it on purpose! He cried angry
- So you sleep with me…
- You drugged me, Susanna
- What? But…
- I have the tests to prove it
Susanna remained silent. She didn't expect Terry to find out he was drugged…
"It could only his wanabe doctor and girlfriend, who's now his fiancée…Candy! Damn her!" She said to herself
- Now, I'm pregnant
- Susanna, were you that desperate?
- I love you Terry with all my heart
- I love Candy, since school…
- You're going to abandon us; the baby and me?
Terry had an exasperated sigh. What a dilemma! He wanted to marry Candy and an involuntary one night stand had bore undesirable fruits…
- Susanna, let me think about it…
- Think about what?
- Susanna…
- Ok, I'm leaving.
He called Candy. She was at her parents.
- Hello? She said with a worried voice
- Candy…
He was calling by her first name, which was not a good sign. The news wasn't good.
- Terry…she finally came…
- Yes…
- Pregnant…?
- Yes…
- You want me to come?
- I would like that…
- Ok, honey. I'm coming
Melissa heard her. Candy had told her about the incident.
- You're leaving?
- Mom, she said she's pregnant…
- Oh…you're lucky to have an honest man
- It doesn't bother you?
- Of course not, honey. It's your happiness, go and save it
- Thanks mom. I love you
- I love you Candy
She said goodbye to the little ones and to her father who had just came in.
- Candy, where are you going?
- To Los Angeles…
- Oh… they want to steal your happiness?
- Yes…
- Go ahead, honey. Good luck. I love you
- Thanks dad. I love you
She didn't even go home to get her stuff; she went directly to the airport to take the next flight for Los Angeles… She arrived a few hours later. She had called Terry from the plane. He was waiting for her at the airport. He was wearing a hat with sunglasses.
- Terry? Oh…incognito? Ok, Romeo.
- Let's get out of here! Where's your luggage?
- I came with nothing. I was at my parents…
- Perfect, let's get out of here, quick!
The people around them were looking at them. Terry took her hand and took her to the exit running. Once outside, they got into a taxi. Terry gave his address and the car left the airport. Once they were on the road, he took her near him to kiss her.
- How are you? She asked after a while
- Having you here is making me feel better
- There's no other place I would rather be, she said curling up against him
When they arrived in front of Terry's apartment door, they found Esther, his agent and Robert Hathaway waiting.
- Robert, Esther, said Terry
- Hi, said Candy
- Hi, they said
- Come in, please, said Terry
Terry was a little disappointed to have company; he wanted to be alone with Candy and show her the apartment. They sat down in the living room.
- Terry said Esther, we're here for the Susanna matter
- Yes, said Robert, what do you intend to do?
- I intend to marry Candy…
- But Terry… said Hathaway
- Robert, said Terry, I could've married Candy since school, but I wanted to be able to take care of her…
- But Susanna…said Esther
- You should've thought about that before you put her in your bed, said Hathaway
- She drugged me, Robert
- WHAT! Said Hathaway and Esther at the same time
- I can prove it
- Susanna is a spoiled brat who takes you for a toy…her parents have a lot of influence, they can destroy you Terry, said Esther, you have to do something, you have to take care of her
- Take care of her? How? I cut her a cheque every month?
- No. You have to be with her, temporally, until the baby comes…said Esther
- You don't seem to understand what I'm saying; I'm going to marry Candy! Said Terry louder
- We're asking you to wait a little, said Esther
- Wait for what? Asked Candy who couldn't remain silent anymore, and how?
- You could pretend to brake up, so that Terry could take care of Susanna for a while, she has the baby and then…said Esther
- Then I abandoned her to go back to Candy? Said Terry
- Yes…said Esther
- Abandoning her now, it's not good for publicity and her parents…said Hathaway
- But abandoning her later is better, you think? Said Terry ironically, pretending to brake up, I could continue seeing Candy?
- No, said Esther, Susanna and her parents have to believe that you're sincere, that you really broke up with Candy. They must not suspect anything…
- No! Said Terry you've got to be kidding me! There is no way!
- Unfortunately…said Hathaway
- So, that's not pretending, that's a real brake up! Said Terry
Candy had become white as a sheet. Terry went near her and took her in his arms. She had tears coming down her cheeks.
- You can't tell anybody anything, said Hathaway, Candy, you're Melissa Grant Crane's daughter, you can't say anything to your mother
- Yes, or to your friends and family, everybody have to believe that you broke up for good… said Esther
Esther and Robert were looking at them. Candy and Terry's love was so intense, they could almost finger it. It broke their heart to do what they were doing. But Susanna and her parents could do a lot of damages, not only to Terry but also to Esther's agency and Hathaway's production company. Terry took Candy to his bedroom, which was upstairs. She was crying her tears out. She had to break up with Terry!
- Candy, said Terry, I want your opinion; what should I do?
- Terry…she said sobbing, oh Terry, I love you…but I can't ask you to leave everything for me. You'll end up resenting me for it. I know you didn't willingly spend the night with her, but the result is the same. You have to take your responsibilities and take care of Susanna and the baby…
- Candy, I'm ready to leave everything for you…
- But she will still be pregnant…why leave everything you love? Susanna and her parents could destroy you; you can't let them do that. And you wouldn't be the one I love, if you didn't take responsibility for your actions…there's an innocent baby, that didn't ask to come into this world…
- But not to see you anymore…
- You're right "pretending" is just a way of talking, we have to break up for real…Terry, take care of the situation…
- You're asking me to stay with Susanna and the baby…?
- Yes…
- Candy I love you…You're the one I want. I came here for you…
- But you also came to make your dream come true. You're a wonderful actor. You were born to be an actor
- But…
- Terry you know that it's the right thing to do, think about the baby…it didn't ask for anything from anybody…the baby needs its two parents. You and I know what it is to live without loving parents…Would you want that for your child?
There was a heavy silence. Terry was completely devastated. He didn't want to break up with Candy. She was the woman he loved ever since the first time he laid his eyes on her. Hollywood, making his dream come true, it was to be with Candy and doing what he liked the most in the world. He cursed Susanna for her diabolical trap! What did she expect? That he would fall in love with her in the long run? Never! His heart belonged to Candy forever. But the baby…
- I'm doing it for the baby…Candy I love you. I'm going to tell Esther and Hathaway that we agree, he said with an uncertain voice full of sadness, but after, I'm going to leave her to come back to you…I'm asking you to wait for me, Candy. I know that I might not have the right to ask you that, but please, honey, wait for me…until I fix this sordid situation…I still want to marry you…
- What if they force you to marry Susanna?
- Candy, they can force me to take care of her because of the publicity, temporally, but never, and I say never, will they be able to force me to marry her…I want to marry you and only you…You'll probably have a lot of suitors, maybe you'll even like some a little…but Candy, I beg you, wait for me, my love. I will come back to you and we will get married right away so we won't get side tracked by circumstances anymore! We thought we had all the time in the world…So, my darling, are you going to wait for me?
Candy remained silent for a moment. Wait for Terry? He was going to tell the world officially that he's with Susanna and that they were going to have a baby…That hurt her so much, but Terry….What hurt her the most, was the thought of not being with Terry at all…The solution was simple, she will let Terry take care of Susanna and then, he will come back to her, like he promised…So…
- Ok Terry, I'll wait for you. As painful as it's going to be to be separated from you, the thought of not live with you at all, is worse… So yes, I will wait for you, my love. Take care of this situation and come back to me quickly…
- Thank you Candy, you're giving the courage to do something I had no intention of doing…but the thought that we will be together at the end, gives me courage. Thank you my love.
He got out of the room. Candy went to the bathroom to freshen up. Her heart was in ashes. She had to brake up with Terry to save his reputation and his Hollywood career…But at what cost? Oh, her heart was hurting, it was hurting so much! Terry came back in the bedroom and found Candy on the bed. She stood up.
- They're gone? She asked
- Yes… he whispered
- I'm going to leave too now, she said with a shaking voice
- I'm taking you to the airport
- No, the press could be there for our touching goodbyes…
- Candy!
She walked to the bedroom door, and started to go down the stairs. Terry caught up with her and held her by the waist from behind, he was against her back, he had her hair on his face and his lips on her neck. He couldn't stop the tears coming down his cheeks.
"Terry's crying, she said to herself"
- Candy, don't go…
- I have to go, Terry, don't make things more difficult than they're already are…
- Wait…let me love you one last time…
- Terry…
- Please, my love, let me love you…let me feel your body against mine, my love…please, don't say no…my love, I love you. Let me show it to you one last time…
- Oh Terry, I love you!
Candy turned around and their lips were welded. He carried her to his bedroom; they took their clothes off and found themselves on the bed. Terry made love to her slowly, tenderly, intensely, and ardently. She gave herself to him, one last time before their separation. They knew that their "temporary" separation might be an illusion. Susanna is going to want more, and she'll use her parents to get it. But Terry had promised her that he wouldn't be manipulated into marrying Susanna…The cloud of sadness that was hanging over their happiness, was still there, but it was behind the sun that had come out for the moment, while those two star crossed lovers consummated their passion one last time. All their problems were swept away, temporally. They were one, they were made for each other and the cruelty of life was separating them. The universe will never be the same, until those two star crossed lovers are back together.
They made love passionately all night long, without being able to stop. Finally at dawn, Candy woke up quietly and got dressed and got out of the apartment before Terry woke up.
She went back to Chicago, and went directly to the hospital. She took a shower and changed to start her shift. She had cried during the whole trip. She had to get a hold of herself in front of her colleagues. The news of her break up with Terry is going to make front page in the papers in a few days. But she didn't know whether she was going to tell her friends or if she was going to let them find out in the press.
Terry woke up and found the space next to him empty. He felt like a part of him had disappeared with Candy, his love, his soul-mate, his wife in his heart…He will need a lot of strength and a lot of courage to get through this sordid situation. He had to call upon all the strengths of the world, so he wouldn't take the first plane for Chicago and join her, sending the rest of the world to hell…But like Candy said, Susanna will still be pregnant…He had to take care of this situation, of the baby, an innocent being, that hadn't ask for anything to anybody…his baby! Oh he thought he was going to have his first baby with Candy… not with a woman with whom he had an involuntary one night stand he didn't even remember! A woman he never looked at, because he was blinded by his love for his Freckles. Oh did they make the right decision? To separate, fix the situation, and reunite? Should he have taken the risk of throwing everything away including his career? Candy wanted him to continue being an actor; if he had to sacrifice himself, at least he will be doing what he loves, even if he didn't have the woman he cherished. But he will have her later…it was still painful…to live without Candy; he had done it for three years and it was hell. He had just found her again, and he had to lose her all over again…? Temporally. So he couldn't lose sight of his goal…to be with Candy again. He was going to live the separation,with the company of a woman he despised, just to have Candy at the end. She sacrificed herself, so he could continue to live his dream, acting. He had just got his first leading role and she didn't want the Marlowe to ruin it for him…we can't make an omelette without breaking any eggs… but his heart was like Candy's, broken into a thousand pieces. It was Showtime.
He got out of bed, took a shower, got dressed and tried to eat something. His assistant arrived, his name was Hunter.
- Good morning, Terry
- Hunter
- Not in a good mood?
- Hunter, Susanna said she's pregnant…
- Oh…
- So, I had to break up with my fiancée last night…
- I'm sorry…Terry, I know how much you love her
- Thanks. Cancel all of my appointments and call Susanna, tell her, I want to see her…
- Ok, Terry
He couldn't tell anybody the truth, to avoid leaks to the press. He thought about his family, his mother, his sisters, they will be devastated to learn that he broke up with Candy…he had to talk to them, but he didn't have the force or the courage to tell them the news…The press will take care of it. One of the rare advantages of being famous, it was that you could announce the news to your loved ones and to the whole world too, of course, without having to tell them to their faces. The repercussions…he will be ready for them…he will have to act…he was going to show his acting talent for the rest of the world, but it was for Candy…
Susanna arrived at his place in early afternoon. Terry felt like strangling her, but he managed to keep his calm. The baby, think about the baby…
- Susanna… how are you?
- Aside from the morning sickness, I'm fine…
- When is your next appointment at the doctor's?
- This afternoon…
- I would like to come with you…
- With me, as the baby's father?
- You did say I was the father, did you not? I want to participate as much as I can… I want to go with you at the doctor's, make sure you eat properly
- You're going to make sure from afar…?
- No, you're going to come and live here with me…
- With you?
- Yes, in the guestroom…
- But…
- I like to have space in my bed, Susanna…
- You mean you don't want me to be me next to you, but your Candy!
- Susanna, I broke up with Candy. After the baby story, she doesn't want anything to do with me… and she's right, who would want a man who impregnated another woman?
- But why the guestroom? I want to sleep next to you… I want to spend my nights of passion like the first one…
- The first one I don't remember? Well you've got enough memories for the both of us and that will have to do for you…I'm going to take care of you, for the baby, that's all.
- But Terry, I love you so much…I'm carrying your baby in my belly
- And that's the only reason I'm even talking to you. The baby…
- But my parents…
- You're parents will see that I'm taking care of you…that's not enough? Take it or leave it, Susanna. Either you come and live here with me or you go back to your parents and come what may!
Terry knew he was bluffing, but Susanna was obsessed by him and he hoped they she will accept the situation without asking too many questions, that she would rather have him in the same apartment as her.
Susanna thought about it for a little while. He broke up with Candy, she had a clear field…So she might as well live with Terry under the same roof, she was going to do everything to seduce him. The man that would resist her, was not born yet, she said to herself. Terrence Grandchester, she will have him again, whether he was willing to or not.
- Ok, Terry, I will come and live with you. It will be easier for the rehearsals…
- The rehearsals? He asked surprised
- Yes… oh you don't know… I got the part of Juliet…so, my Romeo…we will be the perfect couple on the big screen and at home…with the baby!
Susanna is Juliet? He will not only have to suffer her presence at home, but at work too! No, fate couldn't be so cruel to him! But he had to get a hold of himself and fake joy.
- Super, you're a great actress, Susanna. You will be a perfect Juliet… are you going to go get your stuff?
- No, I'm going to call to have it delivered…I want to stay here with you, waiting for the doctor's appointment
- I'm going make a press release, announcing my break up with Candy. And in a week, we will announce the news of our baby and our…couple…
- If it were only up to me, I would tell them the news right now! But ok, let's do like you said. Oh Terry, thank you! You have just made me so happy!
She jumped to his neck and hugged him hard. She almost had everything she wanted… she didn't have Terry yet, but that will come. Terry smiled and hugged her thinking in his head that he wanted to strangle her. Hunter was passing by, and looked at them. His boss and Susanna, were a nice looking couple.
26. Chapter 26
**Tomorrow in your life**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 26**
"**I remember…"**
Candy got into her apartment in tears. Albert who was in the kitchen, cooking; he arrived smiling when he heard the door.
- Candy, hi, diner is almost…
But he stopped when he saw her tears.
- Candy? What's wrong? There's a problem?
- Terry…
- Yes…?
- It's over between us…Oh Mr. Albert, what am I going to do? I love him so much she said falling into his arms.
Albert couldn't believe it. Candy was free and she was crying in his arms! He was so happy. She continued to cry in his arms. He took her on the couch with letting go of her. She started to calm down. Albert caressed her hair softly for a while. He felt the desire rising in him. Candy turned around, raised her head and their lips were welded in a passionate kiss. Albert thought that he was going to be crazy with joy, she didn't pull back from him, she was letting him kiss her! He started caressing her everywhere, the breast, the body, they took their clothes off and were continuing caressing each other and their mouth were eating each other with appetite. When he finally penetrated her he thought he was going to die of pleasure. He started to come and go and they were moaning of pleasure, that took them little by little to pinnacle when he finally poured himself into her.
The phone was ringing and Albert suddenly woke up. He cursed the phone for dragging him out of his beautiful dream. He was in sweat and he had never been that upset to wake up from a dream! It seemed so real! The phone was still ringing. He answered it with regrets.
- Hello?
- Mr. Albert? It's me…hum, it's me.. it's Candy
- Candy…he said in a whisper
- Are you ok? You sound weird
- No, I'm fine…
- I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be a little late tonight. If they call me, tell them I'm at the hospital working late
- Ok, Candy. Thanks for calling
- See you later. Bye
Albert decided to go for a walk to clear his head. He changed first, because he had polluted his pants with his dream. He was walking thinking about his dream. Was his subconscious trying to tell him something? They say dream are our hidden thoughts that our subconscious is trying to reveal to us. So, that would mean that he desired Candy? Oh… but she was not available and she only swore by Terry and they spent their time on the phone. He had to leave the apartment. He was looking where he was going, he didn't see that the light was read for pedestrians and he crossed the street and he was hit by a car that had stopped abruptly, making the impact a little less violent, but enough to throw him on the ground. His head hit the asphalt, brutally. The pain. The confusion, the surprise, the stupefaction, everything was spinning around him. He had the impression he was falling from the sky. What was happening? Why was he on the ground? Everything was still spinning around him. The driver of the car came out. It was a beautiful young woman.
- Oh my God, I'm so sorry. But you came out of nowhere…are you ok?
- My head is spinning said Albert trying to get up…
- Wait, I'm going to help you… said the young woman
The young woman helped him get up, he was leaning on her.
- Come with me, I'm going to take you to the hospital…
- No, don't worry about it…said Albert, still a little stunned
- Come on, you'd just being hit by a car, you could have a concussion or intern damages and I wouldn't want that on my conscience. I feel guilty enough as it is
- Ok, said Albert, who's head was still spinning
In the car, the young woman continued talking.
- My name is Rachel Treverland, what's your name?
- William Albert Andrew, but they call me Albert…oh…I remember…
- What? You remember? It's your name… you'd forgotten about it?
- Yes…
- How?
- I had amnesia…the impact of my head on the asphalt must have triggered my memory…
- Really? So my accident was providential?
- Yes, I think so…
- Oh…a blessing in disguise…
- Thank you for running me over with your car…
- Euh, you're welcome…I think… the pleasure was all mine, she joked
They started to laugh. She took Albert to the Chicago Hope hospital so he could be examined. After a few tests. He was ready to leave the hospital.
- Well, Mr. Andrew said the doctor, this accident was providential, you memory is back. You should thank the young woman who ran you over…
- Done….
- Perfect. I'm prescribing you some pills for your headache, take them if need be…
- Thank you doctor
Rachel was waiting for him in the waiting room.
- So?
- I'm fine…no internal damage…
- Thank God…
- Thank you again
- Stop thanking me, it's like it's good to run people over with your car…
- It was, in my case…
- One case in a million… What are you going to do now? Did your memory give you back a wife? Children?
Albert thought about Candy. His adoptive daughter! How could he had had an erotic dream about her? My God, he can't live with her anymore. He had recovered his memory anyway, that's why he was living with her.
- I have an adoptive daughter said Albert
- Wife?
- No. You want to have dinner with me? You owe me that, the accident could've been fatal…
- Ok, said Rachel smiling, what did you have in mind?
- I have to go change… but I have something to take at my adoptive daughter's apartment first. That doesn't bother you?
- No. I had nothing to do anyway. Where does she live?
He went to Candy's apartment to take his stuff. He called George, his assistant.
- George?
- Mr. Andrew, it's been a long time. Your memory…
- Candy told you I was living with her?
- Yes, but since you had amnesia…
- It's ok George. She's a wonderful young woman. She didn't care about what people were going to say. She saw a friend in distress and she helped him. If only she knew that it was all mine… I'm very happy she uses it wisely. Go and wait for me at the hotel. I'm not going to the manor; I'm not ready to confront Aunt Elroy yet…
- Very well, sir.
- See you later
- Goodbye sir.
He left note for Candy.
**_My dear Candy,_**
**_Words can't express the gratitude I have towards you. You've helped when I didn't even know who you were. Your generosity is what of an angel. I had a small accident earlier. I was run down by a car. But don't worry; I'm fine, more than fine… My memory came back with the shock of the accident! I'm a little disoriented, but I now know who I am. Our arrangement was that I stay with you until I get my memory back… It's done. So, I'm leaving. Dinner is ready in the kitchen. Thank you so much for your generosity and your hospitality. I'm going to call you. Kisses._**
**_Take care of yourself,_**
**Albert**
He took his stuff and left the apartment. Rachel was waiting for him downstairs in the car. She took him to the Rosemary hotel, named after his late sister. George was waiting for him in the suite on the last floor.
- This hotel belongs to Andrew Enterprises said Rachel, Oh… wait a minute, you said your name was William Albert Andrew? William Andrew? That's you?
Albert nodded.
- Oh my God! I almost killed the head of Andrew Enterprises! Oh…
She was a little upset. She sat down on the couch…
- I work in real-estate said Rachel
- You know your buildings… I would be eternally grateful to you, you gave me my memory back
- I almost killed you…
- You have to say that I practically threw myself in front of your car…
Candy had just got home. She surprised to find the apartment empty. Where was Albert? She saw the note and read it. She was happy he got his memory back, but sad that he'd disappeared without saying goodbye. She was going to miss him. The phone rang.
- Hello?
- Candy?
- Mr. Albert! I'm so happy to hear from you!
- Me too. I just wanted to tell you that I was fine, and that you don't have to worry about me anymore
- You could've waited till I got home to tell me goodbye in person
- I know I'm sorry. But I was a little disoriented…
- I understand…
- I will come and see you. Thank you Candy for everything you've done for me
- You saved my life once upon a time, without you, I would be dead. So you don't have to thank me, I'm the one that's thanking you.
- You're very generous Candy. Good night.
- Good night and thanks for the dinner. Thank you for cooking for me every night, I'm an awful cook. But I'm learning with my mother and Paloma… who was on a forced vacation from cooking
- You're welcome Candy. Good night
- Good night.
Candy hung up the phone and she couldn't help wiping a tear of sadness. She'd gotten uses to having company. She needed company, after her brake up with Terry. She changed and ate the dinner that Albert had left for her, then, she went to her bedroom to cry.
"_Oh Mr. Albert, I wish you were still here, I need consolation she said to herself"_
She stood up and took a few things and went to her parents to spend the night; so she won't be alone.
Albert hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. Even if he was the only one who knew what he dreamt about, he felt a little ashamed to confront Candy. That's why he was getting close to Rachel…and also because she was very pretty with her strawberry-blond hair and her beautiful eyes.
- Rachel said Albert, do you have a boyfriend?
- Well you're pretty straight forward!
- The most efficient way to get information is to ask…
- I like you sincerity…No, I just broke up with my boyfriend, a month ago. What about you? Did your memory tell you that you had a girlfriend?
Albert thought about Candy for a brief moment. No, she was with Terry and they were crazy in love with each other. And, she was his adoptive daughter! He wasn't the hero of "Daddy Long Legs"!
- No, no wife or girlfriend. Just an adoptive daughter. For me, fate put me on your way….
- Let's learn to know each other…
Georges had ordered a dinner for two, which arrived with servants. They got the table ready and served the dinner.
Albert and Rachel spent the evening talking, laughing, they had an excellent evening. Albert still thought about Candy, but he said to himself that if was better to use the sentence : "When you don't have what you want, you content yourself with what you have…"
He hang on to Rachel, to forget about Candy, in the beginning, but in the long run, his feelings changed little by little and they became inseparable. He still loved Candy, but he had a place in his heart for Rachel.
Candy arrived in front of her parents' house and rang the bell. She hadn't called them and she hadn't listened to her messages. So she arrived in front of her parents' home, without warning… She rang the bell again. Melissa opened the door.
- Mom! Said Candy jumping to her neck
- Candy, baby, what's wrong?
Candy got into the house without letting go of her mother.
- Terry… she said between two sobbing
- Yes?
- We broke up! It's over!
- Oh Candy! My poor little darling…it's going to be ok
They went upstairs in her parent's bedroom where Philip was reading.
- Candy?
- Oh Daddy! Said Candy running to him
- Oh baby, said Philip, it's Terry isn't it? You broke up? I warned him not to hurt you…
- Philip…said Melissa, not now…
- He staying with her and the baby?
- I asked him to take his responsibilities…
- You sacrificed yourself, said Melissa, you're too good for your own good, honey…
- But the baby is innocent, he of she hadn't ask for anything…
- I know, said Philip, but a lot of people wouldn't have done what you did…do you follow me…?
- Yes daddy, said Candy smiling in the middle of tears
She slept in the middle of her parents, like a baby. She was so happy to have found her parents. She spent a few days with them and she was taking care of her brothers and sisters, so she won't think about Terry so much. But that was impossible, it was like asking her not to breather anymore…
A week later, the television and the press announced the break up of Candy and Terry's engagement. Candy hadn't said anything to her friends; she knew they were going to react. But at the hospital, her colleagues left her alone with her grief. The press started to follow her everywhere. She wasn't making any comments. Annie and Patty came to see her.
- Candy, said Annie, my poor darling. What happened?
- It's over, said Candy sadly
- I know it's over, but why ? Said Annie
- Susanna Marlowe…
- WHAT? Impossible said Annie, he didn't cheat on you!
- Hollywood changes people, said Patty
- Not Terry, said Annie, he's faithful, there must be more to the story…
- You'll learn about it sooner of later, said Candy, she's pregnant…
- Oh Candy, said Annie hugging her
The guys arrived, they were parking the car; Neil was there too.
- Candy, said Archie hugging her
They all hugged her and Neil was pleased to have Candy in his arms even for a brief moment.
- That bastard Grandchester! Said Neil
- I'm going to beat the crap out of him said Archie, what a fool!
- Stop! Cried Candy, stop calling him names…
- No, you've got to be kidding me! You're defending him? Asked Archie
- He's still the man I love. Don't talk bad about him in front of me…said Candy
- You're not possible! Said Stear
- Leave him alone, said Candy otherwise I'm going to get angry with you!
- Ok, as you wish said Archie
Annie and Patty didn't say anything. Annie was more convinced than ever that there was in fact, more to the story. She tried to talk to Candy again, but she didn't budge. The boys changed the subject so they wouldn't talk about Terry anymore.
- Annie you know what you want to do? Asked Candy
- Yes, I'm going to concentrate on fashion design, but I also wanted to have a modeling school so they could wear my designs
- Good idea, said Candy
- And I wanted to organise fashion shows and help them with their career… I'm going to use my students as models…
- And I'm going to buy a magazine or create one, so that Patty could make a modeling magazine and write all the articles she wants…said Stear
- That's good you all have plans, said Candy
She thought about her plans with Terry, how they went up in smoke after only one night… Tears came to her eyes and she stopped them. Why was fate against them? All they wanted was to live their lives together, without bothering anybody… Oh Terry!
There was a ring at the door, and Candy went to open. She was almost running so she could hide her tears. Tanisha was in front of her.
- Tani! Said Candy jumping to her neck!
- Oh Candy…said Tanisha hugging her, are you ok? How are you holding up?
- Yes, thank you for being here, thank you for coming…
- There's no other place I would rather be… You're my friend Candy, I came to cheer you up and I know how much you love Terry
- Thanks Tani, let's go see the others
- The others?
- Yes, everybody had the same idea as you, to come and cheer me up… it's wonderful to have friends like you!
- You're a good friend Candy; you're always the first to help out others. It's your turn…Hey guys! Said Tani to the other…
- Tani! Said Patty and Annie and running to kiss her
They spent the rest of the evening laughing, singing, watching movies, but especially cheering up their best friend.
27. Chapter 27
**Tomorrow in your life…**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 27**
"**The Academy Awards"**
In Los Angeles, Terry was now living with Susanna. They were not sleeping in the same room. But he took care of her; making sure she ate correctly, took her to the doctor's, she had everything she needed, she was pampered, but not in his bed. He didn't touch her and he made sure not to leave his plate or glass unattended; he was afraid she was going to drug him again and made him do thing against his will. Susanna was pleased to have Terry taking care of her. Terry was looking after her, it was way better than the regular indifference. She was happy, she wished she had him a little nicer to her, and in her bed, but she took what she had. As long as she had Terry's baby in her belly, he will look after her.
Terry's friends and family also learned the news of his break up with Candy in the press. His twin sisters decided to go see him in Los Angeles, they met Eleonor Baker when they entered the building where Terry's apartment was.
- Eleonor Baker, said Anna Rose, hello
- Hello, said Rose Anna smiling
- You're Terry's sisters, said Eleonor, he talks about you a lot….
- We're the biggest fans of your work, Terry in particular said Anna Rose
- Thank you. I'm happy he has sisters like you…said Eleonor
- So, let's ring the bell said Rose Anna, there, I'm ringing…
She rang the door. Terry opened the door and was surprised to see his mother and his sisters.
- Mum, Rose Anna, Anna Rose! Come in he said smiling and kissing them
- Terry said Eleonor, what? Now we're Mr. and Mrs. Everybody?
- Well hello to you too, mum said Terry
- You could've told us, said Rose Anna
- We learned it on the telly! Said Anna Rose
- Yes, Terrence, said his mother, why do we have to learn the break up of your engagement by the press?
Susanna arrived smiling.
- Terry, we have visitors?
- Mum, Rose Anna, Anna Rose, this is Susanna Marlowe…
- Miss Baker. Rose Anna, Anna Rose, said Susanna with a smile
The three women were speechless for a moment. What was going on? Terry was with another woman?
- Hello, said Eleonor
- Hi, said the twins
- I think I better tell you now, before you learn it in the press again; Susanna and I are having a baby…
- WHAT? Yelled the three women at the same time
Eleonor Baker had to sit down on the couch to get a hold of herself. The twins had to do the same.
- Did I just slipped into a parallel world without knowing? Is your name Quinn Mallory? What the hell are you talking about? What about Candy? You don't love her anymore? You cheated on her? No, you're crazy about her, and you would never cheat on her! What's going on? And I want the truth, not baloney! Said Eleonor
- Why, mum, said Terry, I didn't know you watched "Sliders"…
- Don't change the subject! Said Eleonor, answer me!
- But mum, I thought everything was clear; it's over between Candy and I, and I'm with Susanna. She's having a baby….
- Terry said, Anna Rose, I know you, you loved Candy like crazy, you would never have cheated on her…
- Yes, said Rose Anna, you completed each other, you had the same ideas at the same time, she's your soul mate…. You waited for each other during those three years you were trying to make it….
- And you had lost contact with each other said, Anna Rose…
Terry was an excellent actor. So, he had no trouble acting and he stayed calmed. He wanted to tell them the truth, but he couldn't. He couldn't take the risk that the press hears about the real story. Candy… he missed her so much. He prayed God every day to get back together with Candy, he didn't know how, but he knew the universe will put them back together one day.
- Listen, said Terry, I told you, that I was having a baby with Susanna… and it's not very nice of you to talk about Candy in front of her….
The three women still couldn't believe what was happening! They didn't insist. They knew Terry well enough to know that he was not going to budge. Susanna went to the kitchen to get some cold beverage. Eleonor looked at her son, she was sure he was acting. He must have had his reasons. She knew Susanna's parents had a lot of influence in Hollywood and they could break her son's career. The twins, gave up, in front of Terry's firmness and they changed the conversation.
Albert learned about Candy broken engagement by the press too and he went to see her one night at the apartment.
- Mr. Albert said Candy jumping to his neck, I missed you so much!
- Candy, I'm sorry about Terry
- That's life…
- But you loved him so much…how are you?
- I as fine as I can be with a broken heart…
- Oh…wait. I'm going to make you dinner….
- Thanks Mr. Albert, you don't need to…
- No, the pleasure is all mine….
Candy hugged him. She was happy to have Albert's friendship.
The day and months passed. Terrence Grandchester finished shooting his first movie in which he played the lead role; "Romeo and Juliet" Susanna played Juliet. The shooting had to be done rather quickly because of Susanna's condition. This last one had Terry's attention but not his love. He was friendly with her, his agent advised him to at least become her friend. He had gone to see her in her office.
- Esther, I can't take this anymore…
- Terry, come on…
- When I wanted to become an actor, it was in front of the cameras or on stage, not at my home, 24-7….
- You could at least talk to her…it will make the atmosphere a little better…
- Every time I see her, I remember that I'm not with Candy because of her…
- Think about the baby…
- Believe me, it's the only thing that gives me the courage to continue. The baby… I thought I was going to have my first baby with Candy…
- We all have to make sacrifices in life sometimes…
- Sacrifices? I lived in poverty for three years to make it as an actor! I could've gone to my mother, and ask her for a favour…. I left everything; money, cars, cell phones, computer… I was even separated from the one I loved for 3 years, because I didn't know where she was… she waited for me; they called her the "Ice Princess" for God sake! Susanna… she ruined everything! It's like the universe is holding a grudge against me!
It took him a lot of time, but he finally took Esther's advice and he started to talk to Susanna. This last one had a glimpse of hope at the horizon. But in the long run, she understood that Terry's friendship will never go to the next level. He took her to the doctor's every week towards the end of her pregnancy. They didn't want to know the sex of the baby, they wanted to be surprised. When the time came for her to deliver the baby, he was shooting a commercial, when his pager beeped. Every body at the studio started to call him.
- Terry, your pager, said one of the cameramen
- Susanna must be ready said the producer
- Thanks guys, I heard ….
He took his cell phone and called Susanna
- Terry, she said, I think it's time…
- Ok, can you get to the hospital?
- Yes… I called them
- I'll see you there. See you in a bit. And have courage, you can do it….
Terry assisted to the birth of his child and all the anger and resentment he felt towards Susanna disappeared when he saw his little bundle of joy.
- It's a girl! Said the doctor
Terry might have been wishing to have his first baby with Candy, but the experience of seeing a child coming into this world, was priceless. He had a paternity test done, that proved that he was the father.
Candy learned the news by the press; Susanna had had a little girl that she had called Serena. She saw Terry on TV saying that he was absolutely crazy with joy.
She cried all night. She should've had Terry's baby, not Susanna! Life was not fair! She had lost Anthony, too young and now…
Albert called her in the morning to see if she was alright. Annie and Patty came to see her the next morning.
- Are you ok, sweetie? Asked Annie hugging her
- It's not too hard? Asked Patty
- I'm fine said Candy, life goes on…
- You've got a good attitude, that's great said Annie
- Thank you for coming, you're really good friends, said Candy
- That's the least we could do, said Annie
- We wish were able to take the pain away from you, said Patty
- Well having you as friends, makes it less painful…
Every time Terry answered questions about Susanna, and the baby, he was asking for Candy to forgive him in his heart. Every time Candy saw him on TV talking and answering questions, she was saying to herself;
"I know that it's hard, honey, I understand, I forgive you…"
Terry's new movie was a new version of "Romeo and Juliet" He had given his best performance. The reporters were talking Oscar buzz. But before the Oscars, there's the Golden Globe. Reporters used to say that the Golden Globes were a blueprint for the Oscars. Terrence Grandchester was nominated for the Golden Globe for the best actor in drama. Terry was happy, but he wished he could've shared that joy with Candy.
"I know you're congratulating me, Freckles. Thank you. I wish you were here".
Candy learned about Terry's good fortune on TV. She was happy inside.
"Congratulations my love. You deserved it"
Terrence Grandchester went to the Golden Globe with his mother. Susanna was sick and she couldn't go with him. Candy didn't miss a moment of the show on TV. She had a television and a video cassette recorder in her bedroom, she was taping the show. She had on tape, all of Terry's appearances on TV that she could record. She then edited it on one tape and was watching it every time she felt like seeing him.
Candy was watching the Golden Globes with her young friend and neighbour Tammy. This last one, came to see her every day to make sure she was all right. Melissa was at the Golden Globe as a reporter. Candy was also taping all of her mother's appearances on TV.
- Your mother looks so young said Tammy
- That's because she had me young said Candy
- You want Terry to win?
- Of course, said Candy with a smile, he's the best
- You'll always surprise me, said Tammy laughing, you're not even mad at him?
- What's that going to bring me? Asked Candy, life is too short to waste it being angry…
- Candy, I hope I'm as good as you, when I'm older…
Candy burst out laughing. They spent a very amusing evening. Tammy talked to her about her adventures at school and with her boyfriend. Came the moment for the Golden Globes for the best actor in a drama. The two young ladies stopped talking and held their breath. Terrence Grandchester was announced as the winner. Candy and Tammy literally jumped of joy screaming and laughing for a while. Terry thanked his mother, his friends the producers etc…without any special words to Susanna, but one for little Serena. Candy felt a twinge in her heart. Terry was thinking now, about his little girl first. She didn't know that Terrence Grandchester almost had to bite his tongue, so he wouldn't thank his Freckles….
A few weeks later, on Valentine's Day, the Oscar nominations were announced at 8h30 A.M Eastern Time, which was 5h30 A.M in Los Angeles. Terrence Grandchester was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor. Candy woke up early but she also programmed her VCR to tape the nominations in case she was called to the hospital or she woke up late. She prayed for Terry. When she heard his name, she couldn't help but jump of joy and scream. The door bell rang. It was Tammy who had also heard the news.
- Candy! She said, jumping to her neck, I'm so happy!
- I'm crazed with joy!
- You'll always surprise me, I would've been indifferent, he had a baby with another woman
- That has nothing to do with his talent…. Before and foremost, he was my friend before he was my boyfriend
Annie, Patty, Archie and Stear, came to spend Oscar night with Candy, a few weeks later. Tammy arrived to watch the Academy Award with her best friend. Candy of course was taping the show in her bedroom.
- I pray for Terry to win, said Candy
- You're not possible! Said Archie
- He's an old friend, said Annie
- And if he wins, we could say that we went to school with an Oscar winner, said Patty
She was already preparing an article for the university paper and the paper for which she was working for, part-time, while she was finishing school. She already had the exclusivity on Terrence Grandchester being his friend since school. And Melissa will send her the pictures on the ceremony and the parties afterwards.
Since Melissa had the exclusivity to announce to the world that Eleonor Baker, the Academy Award winner, was the mother of the new rising start, Terrence Grandchester, she had become one of the top reporters in show business.
Eleonor Baker was with her son at the Academy Awards. Terrence had also brought his twin sisters, Rose Anna and Anna Rose who were thrilled to be near their darling brother for this big night. They posed for pictures and the cameras for different shows. On the red carpet, Eleonor was wearing a Vera Wand dress beige, tight on the waist and the breast, it was strapless and the skirt was a little tight-fitting with a little train in the back. The twins were wearing identical dresses from Versace, but the colour was lightly different; Rose Anna's was fuchsia pink and Anna Rose's was light pink. The top had straps and the rest was really tight-fitting. Terry was wearing a smoking from Valentino.
- Mr. Grandchester you think you're going to win?
- I'm crossing my fingers, but it's an honour just to be nominated he said smiling
- Miss Baker, you think that your son his going to follow into your footsteps?
- He inherited my actor's genes, didn't he? If the Academy did their job well, he will follow my footsteps and he will get the Oscar. But of course, I'm biased, I'm his mother, she said laughing
The reporter burst out laughing. Susanna stayed home. She hadn't lost all the weight from the pregnancy. She didn't want the reporters to make fun of her and her dress. The Academy Awards was Hollywood's biggest night, broadcast in more than 70 countries. Terry was nominated; all the cameras were going to be on them. She didn't want to look fat in front of the cameras. Terry told her she was being ridiculous, that every body knew she had jus had a baby, but she wouldn't budge. So she stayed home, down in the damps. The baby was with her nanny.
The Academy Awards night lasted more than 3 hours, and the Oscar for the best actor was announced towards the end. When the time came, all those who knew Terry personally, held their breath. The actress who won the year before, started by naming the 5 actors, the movie they were on, and there was a little piece of their performance in the movie.
- And the Oscar goes to…
The actress opened the envelope and she said;
- Terrence Grandchester for "Romeo and Juliet"!
Terrence was so stunned that he was frozen for a while. His mother had to whisper in his ear under the applause and the music.
- Terry, honey, it's you! You've won! Said Eleonor
He stood up, kissed his mother and his sisters and went on the stage…He took the golden statue, kissed the actress on the cheek and started his speech.
- Whooooooaaa! I never thought I would be here on stage…ok, maybe a little… But it's such a big honour for me to have been put in the same category with those 4 talented actors. I thank God, without whom none of this would be possible. Thank you mum, for giving me your actor's genes…I would like to thank my agent Esther Henderson for hiring me when I was a nobody… Robert Hathaway for trusting me for this big role. The teachers at St. Paul Academy for giving me my first role ever…the producers…
He continued thanking his movie crew…and towards the end, he raised his Oscar and said;
- And finally and not the least… this is for you, my Juliet darling, I love you so much!
The applause was very loud and Terrence Grandchester left the stage.
At Candy, her friends were talking and making comments, when they heard Terry's last words.
- Oh Candy, I'm sorry said Patty
Candy had tears coming down her cheeks. When she heard Terry's last words, she whispered for herself;
" _I_ _love you took Romeo, thank you with all my heart"_
She understood that Terry talked to her; his Juliet darling, it was her, not Susanna, like the rest of the world thought.
- No, Patty, it's wonderful! Terry won! We have to celebrate!
- Candy, said Archie, he just declared his love for another woman in front of 70 millions people… what don't you throw a party for the birth of his baby, while you're at it!
- Archie, Terry has just won the Oscar for best actor. You know what this means? His value in Hollywood has just triple just with the nominations….his dream is accomplished. I'm very happy for him…Annie, come and help me in the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Annie who was observing her friend didn't buy it….
- Candy, Archie is right, Terry just declared his love to another woman in front of 70 millions people, and you're on cloud 9….
- I'm happy for him…
- He just told another woman he loved her… or did he… ?
- Annie, you're reading too much into this… I'm happy, that's all
- No, it's more than that. You're so happy it's like he was talking to you…
Candy didn't say anything.
- Wait a minute Juliet, his Juliet darling, it's you! Not Susanna! He was talking to you! He still loves you!
- Annie, the others are waiting in the living room said Candy, let's go!
Annie knew that it was no use insisting. They took the snacks and went to the living room to eat with the others.
In Hollywood, during one of the numerous post-Oscars parties, Terry met Melissa.
- Terry! She said hugging him, congratulations!
- Thanks Melissa! How are you, **all of you**? Asked Terry
- We're fine, **all of us, **said Melissa who understood he was asking about Candy. How's your daughter and you're your lady companion?
- My daughter is fine. She absolutely wonderful and Susanna is fine
- Why isn't she here for your big night?
- Euh… she was a little under the weather
- Hum… she was ashamed to come with all the weight she gained during her pregnancy, like for the Golden Globes?
- You're not very nice to her in your articles….
Melissa just laughed.
As a matter of fact, Melissa always portrayed Susanna on a bad day. Terry remembered the scene. Susanna was always asking herself why the reporter was always against her. Terry didn't want to say anything. She learned the truth by chance from her mother one afternoon.
- Your rival's mother is not throwing you any flowers…
- My rival's mother?
- Melissa Grand Crane, she's the mother of Terrence's ex-fiancée…
- Candy? Melissa Crane is Candy's mother? Terry didn't tell me anything!
- He probably felt ashamed said Mrs. Marlowe
When she got back home, she confronted Terry.
- You could've told me….
- I'm sorry said Terry
- I was wondering why she was always attacking me…
- Now, you know … What's change? You're still the same said Terry dryly
Susanna didn't respond. Terry didn't seem to want to change his attitude towards her. She sometimes wondered if all that was worth it. But her love for Terry will come right back… He came back to reality and he continued talking to Melissa.
- Melissa, I'm sorry about Candy
- She still hasn't moved on, do you know that? It's like she waiting for you or something…
Terry didn't answer. He couldn't tell her that it was indeed the case; Candy was really waiting for him…
- Say hello to everybody, said Terry, have a nice evening Melissa. It was good to see you. If you want an interview, don't hesitate to call me…
- Thanks Terry, bye…
Terry would've given anything to share his happiness with Candy…but things were what they were.
28. Chapter 28
**Tomorrow in your life**
**Chapter 28**
"**A taste of honey"**
After he won the Oscar, a theatrical troupe proposed the role of Romeo to Terry for a lot of money. Terry who also wanted to go on stage, jumped on the occasion, but it was also to be away from Susanna who stayed in Los Angeles to shoot a movie. He took Serena with him to New York. He liked being on stage and he was of course, excellent. His career was getting better and better. He had a guest star role in a sitcom on TV which made him win a prime-time Emmy award for television. He tried to tell Esther and Robert that he wanted to leave Susanna and go back to Candy, but every time, they advise him to stay a little longer, because his career was at its heights and they didn't want Susanna's parents to destroy it. Those who are on the top, fall the hardest. He won all sorts of awards for his role of Romeo, the British, his compatriots, gave him the BAFTA for best actor. He spent a lot of time with Serena. He took her every where. She was the only person with whom he was not acting.
Candy finished med-school and she was now a doctor. Neil had tried to conquer her without success. He gave up and tried with someone else. Melissa met Albert one day at Candy's.
- Albert? William Albert Andrew?
- Yes, Melissa….
- Candy doesn't know that you're the famous Uncle William? She's the protégée you were talking to me about?
- No…and yes
- Oh… and during all that time, I've never met you here ….you have to tell her…
- Tell me what? Asked Candy who had just arrived
- That I'm the great Uncle William said Albert
- WHAT!
- Yes, I didn't want to take the head of the family so I was traveling around the world. But sometimes, I'll go to receptions and I met Melissa….
- Why didn't you tell me the truth?
- I lost the memory and you took care of me…
- This is all yours! Oh my God!
- I'm happy you're using it wisely said Albert
Candy jumped to his neck.
- Thank you with all my heart for adopting me…so that evening in London, at the restaurant, you were there! Oh Albert, you should be an actor, because you're excellent!
They burst out laughing. Candy went to her bedroom with her little brothers.
- Does she know? Asked Melissa
- Does she know what?
- That you're in love with her….
- No, and she will never know….
- You're not even going to try? Asked Melissa, she's not with Terry anymore
- But she loves him like crazy and she will love only him. It's like she's waiting for him. I don't want to have my heart broken because she went back to Terry
- She loves you too…
- But she's in love with Terry. Thanks Melissa, but I think it's better this way
- Ok. I won't tell her anything. But it's a shame; I think you would've been good for her…
- Thanks, Melissa
Candy's friends had also finished school. Annie had a diploma in management, Archie had passed the bar exam. Stear was in engineer and Patty a reporter. School was over; it was time for the couples to get married. Albert married Rachel. The Cornwell Brothers married their beloved, on the same day. Neil married a young woman name Kimber Locke and Eliza had also find a guy who loved her enough to marry her. The only thing was that she couldn't stop with her extra-conjugal affairs….Candy was the only one not to have a man. The Ice Princess didn't seem to want to melt ever since she lost her Prince of fire.
Esther and Robert continued to tell Terry to wait before he left Susanna. Well he was kind of really busy, he didn't have much time for himself. With shooting movies, galas, theatre, television…Susanna was getting impatient. Terry didn't talk marriage. She thought he would've married her after she gave birth to Serena so they would be a family… she took matters into her own hands and bought herself a engagement ring and told the press about her "Engagement with Terry" Terry of course got really angry. Esther and Robert were trying to calm him.
- Terry you have to calm down said Esther
- Yes, said Hathaway, it's not so bad…
- Not so bad? You've got to be kidding me! I don't want to be engaged to Susanna, I want to marry Candy!
Esther and Hathaway had an exasperated sigh, they thought that in time, Terry would've forgotten about Candy and get attached to Susanna, so that there won't be a problem anymore. A marriage with Susanna would be a gold mine for them. But Terry's love for Candy was too strong. They also learned, thanks to their sources, that Candy was not seeing anybody romantically; the Ice Princess was patiently waiting for her Prince of fire. But why were they disappointed? Didn't they tell Candy and Terry that their "break up" was temporary? Now it's like they were trying to make it permanent.
- Terry, you can't contradict Susanna said Esther
- Without causing any problems…said Hathaway
- Candy is going to be hurt….I've had enough! I'm stuck between a hammer and a hard place! Ok, I won't tell the press anything. But the next time Susanna pulls a stunt like this, I'm out of here and I won't care about the consequences…
Terry was at his apartment talking to Susanna. Serena was asleep in the bedroom.
- Terry, I know you're angry….
- Really what would make you think that? He said ironically
- I want us to be a family, legally
- Usually you have to wait for the man to propose, before buying yourself a ring and telling the whole word, he continued on the same tone, why did you do that?
- I want you to make me an honest woman….
- Honest? You, honest? Our relationship started with a lie!
- But we produce Serena…You don't want her to have a mommy and a daddy married?
- I don't love you Susanna. It would be a lie….
- I love you enough for the both of us! Think about! She said getting out of the room.
Terry stayed alone in the living room.
"Forgive me Freckles. I know this news is going to hurt you."
He had contracts to honour and then…He will tell Esther that he wants to take a break for a while and put some order in his life.
Candy learned the news of Terry's engagement with Susanna and she felt like they stuck a knife in her heart. What was going on? They were not suppose to go that fan. It was probably a ruse for appearances. That thought reassured her, but it couldn't help her bleeding heart.
Candy went to New York with Melissa. This last one had to go to a reception with actors and producers for the premiere of a movie. Candy was going to New York to see Tanisha that had just opened an international restaurant. She went alone because she couldn't go with her other friends the week before; she had to work at the hospital. But she was happy to do the trip alone, seeing her friends all happily married, was kind of depressing, a little. She was in the limo with Melissa.
- You don't want to come with me? Asked Melissa
- No, mom. This is Terry's world. To see him would be much too painful
- He might not be there….
- That's a risk I'm not willing to take…
- Ok. Come and wait for me in the limo when you're done. Tell Tanisha that I will come and eat in her restaurant every time I come to New York and I will bring all the celebrities…
- Thanks mom. See you later!
- Call me if you have a problem
- Have a nice evening mom, among the celebrities
She got out of the Limo. She was wearing a two piece suit very elegant; it was pink with pink shoes. She got into the restaurant "Tanisha's touch". Tanisha saw her from afar.
- Candy! She said running to her
- Tani!
The two friends hugged and kissed they were laughing.
- Wow! Said Candy, it's really nice here
- At St. Paul, I didn't get the occasion to cook for you, so you don't know my cooking talents
- I can't wait to taste your cooking said Candy
The two friends ate together and they talked about all and nothing.
- How are you with the Terry matter? He's engaged….
- It hurts, but what else can I do?
- You can find yourself another guy! Come on! How long are you going to stay like that?
- Until the pain goes away
- What if it doesn't go away?
- Well, then I'll have to get use to live with it…
- I'm sorry. But Candy you have to live!
They continued talking until late at night. Tanisha's husband, Jamal, arrived.
- So how's the high school reunion?
- Jamal! Good evening said Candy smiling
- You're alone, Candy not boyfriend? You're still waiting for your actor?
- Jamal, leave her alone. She's not in a hurry….
- Yes. I have all the time in the world. I have to go, Tani, I'm going to wait for my mother in her Limo….
- You'd rather be with me than with celebrities? I'm flattered…
- I'd rather spend the evening with a dear friend than pretentious strangers. Bye Tani, bye Jamal and thank you. It was really good. My mother said that she's going to come here and recommend your restaurant to all the celebrities….
- Wow. God bless her and tell her thank you for me. By Candy said Tani laughing, and thank you again
- No, thanks to you. I had a wonderful evening.
Melissa was at the reception. She saw Susanna and as she expected a little, without Terry.
- Miss Marlowe…
- Mrs. Crane. You're Candy's mother. I understand now why you treat me the way you do…
- You overestimate yourself dear. I have better things to do.
- You're not angry with me?
- Why would I be angry with you? After all, all you did was steal my daughter's fiancé…
- All I wanted was to be with the one I love and form a family for my daughter. Terry loves me…
- Really? Where is he? Why isn't he with you? Tell that to others. I'm Candy's mother, remember? I wish you to be happy, if you're not already….
Melissa left her to go interview other celebrities. Susanna stayed there fuming, she was not happy. Terry didn't even look at her. She did everything to seduce him, even walking around half naked in the house to provoke him. He was acting like everything was normal. He'd promised her he would be there at this reception… where was he? Karen who had assisted to the scene with Melissa said to her:
- Susanna, how long are you going to continue like this?
- I love him so much Karen….
- Susanna, this can't be your dream; to have Terry indifferent….
- He's good with Serena…I envy her sometimes, at least she's got all his attention, all his love
Terry was exasperated in his hotel room. He didn't feel like joining Susanna at the reception. The reporters, the fans, the photographs, cameramen… He took the Limo and went to the reception. He wanted to walk a little before going in. He put on some sunglasses and a hat, and then he got out of the Limo.
Candy arrived in front of the Radio City Hall, where the reception was taking place and she saw her mother's white Limo. She got in, the door was unlocked, so she was waiting for her mother.
Terry was walking quietly, but unfortunately the fans that came to look for celebrities, saw him, recognized him and started to follow him. He started to run and he got into his Limo and screamed.
- Barry quickly, let's go!
The Limo left in a hurry rather abruptly. He was going to miss the reception. He didn't want to go anyway.
- What the hell…? Said a voice in the car
Terry looked who talked and he remained speechless!
- …is going on? Stop this car immediately and get out! This is my mother's Limo!
Terry took his sunglasses and hat off…
- Oh my God Terry!
- Candy!
They moved from where they were, and they hugged. Candy was crying of joy. All that time… it had been so long!
- I can't believe it said Terry, you're here in my arms
- If this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up! Said Candy
They stayed like that for a while, like they wanted to make sure that it was real.
- Where are we going sir? Asked Barry the driver
- Anywhere, don't stop this car under any circumstances! said Terry
- Very well, sir.
Terry pressed a button and a black screen appeared separating them from the driver.
- Terry, said Candy, what if the press sees us….?
- They're busy at the reception, said Terry
- But…
- Candy of all the Limos, you chose mine and I had just arrived! The universe is giving us a chance to see each other, to be together…
- Terry, my mother is going to look for me…
- Call her; you've got her number, don't you?
Candy was still in Terry's arms, she didn't want to let go of him, neither did he! She took her purse and got her cell phone out; she dialed her mother's number.
- Mom, you're done?
- Yes. Where are you? I thought I'd found you in the Limo….said Melissa
- Yes I know. Don't wait for me. I'm going to go back to the hotel alone…
- You and Tanisha are going to party?
- Yes, she lied.
- Ok, baby. You do need a little distraction. Have fun.
- I intend to…Bye mom…
- Bye baby.
Terry hugged her again.
- Where does she think you are?
- Out partying with Tanisha…
- Oh…How is Tanisha?
- She just opened an international restaurant, Tanisha's touch…
- Really? I'll go and check it out…
- It was very good. I just came from there…
- Freckles, I missed you so much…
- Really? So why haven't you kissed me yet?
- Because I'm afraid you're going to disappear like in my dreams…
Candy pinched his arm.
- Ouch!
- You're not dreaming, Romeo, I'm here…
Their lips were welded finally in a hungry kiss, fiery, passionate that bought back sensations they had almost forgotten, during their separation. The kiss lasted forever…the two lovebirds that had respected Esther and Robert's plan and they hadn't seen each other, talked to each other, or e-mailed each other. This meeting by pure chance, was a gift from heaven for them. They were longing each other. Terry started to caress her, his hands found themselves under Candy's blouse, and he was caressing her breast. Candy had a moan of pleasure. Oh…it had been so long… her body almost couldn't believe that it was feeling those sensations it thought it forgotten forever. Terry, who lived with Susanna, but didn't desire her, couldn't believe that it was Candy he had in his arms, the only woman he ever loved and he'd love forever. When they stopped, they were out of breath.
- If we don't stop… said Terry kissing her on the neck
- What? I thought your dream was to do it in the back of a Limo… said Candy closing her eyes
- …with the woman I love. I missed you so much….
- Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I am the woman you love, am I not? Oh Romeo, I love you so much.
They will talk later, their lips were welded again and they started to take their clothes off…The back of a Limo might not have been the ideal place, but our two lovebirds didn't care. They were deprived of the pleasure for way too long… For them the Limousine, at that moment, was the most romantic place in the world! They gave in to their passion. The Limousine was the most comfortable car to drink in, to watch TV, video cassettes, DVDs, listen to music etc…Teenagers used it to go to their prom, celebrities to go to their galas, receptions, premieres, award shows etc…some companies used them for business meeting in a rush, in between two receptions or on their way to the airport, some will used them for "couch promotion" and others will simply use them for the oldest job in the world. Maybe that's what the driver of Terry's Limo was thinking. Discretion in the driver's job was a given. Terrence Grandchester was likeable, Barry, the driver liked him, he was always nice and very generous and what he was doing in the back of the black screen, was none of his business. The two lovebirds were resting without letting go of each other.
- Romeo…
- Hum…
- Thanks for the Oscars…
- I couldn't not mention you, even if the whole world thought I was talking to Susanna…
- Not Annie. I was so happy that she guessed that it was to me, not to Susanna you were talking to…
- What about the others?
- No one was the wiser. But I didn't deny, nor confirm Annie's suspicions. Congratulations, my love for all your awards, the Golden Globe, the Oscar, the Emmy, the Tony the BAFTA and there are more!
- Thank you, honey. I wished I lived all those moments with you by my side, my wife in my heart
- I was with you in your heart, my dear husband
- I'm sorry for the engagements…she announced it without telling me…she bought the ring herself…
- …like a big girl
- And for Serena
- No, my love. Don't apologize for that. She's an angel. She's innocent, she must be adorable…
- She's the only person who gives me the force to continue this charade…
- I can't wait to see her
- I can't wait till we're all together, the three of us. But Freckles to learn about the birth of Serena must have done something to you…
- I wished I was the one that had given you your first child… I cried all night…
- That's why I was apologizing
- Thanks honey. Oh… I don't want to leave you…
- Me neither…
- I love you Terry
- I love you Candy
And that's how it was all night long, they were making each other feel good, and cuddling all night. The Ice Princess had disappeared for a few hours with the arrival of the Prince of fire…
Candy got into the hotel room she was sharing with her mother at dawn. She was happy her mother was asleep, other wise she would've seen her messy hair and no more make up due to a night of passion with Terry. She went to the bathroom and she took a shower. She started to think all of a sudden; she wasn't prepared to see Terry. She didn't use any protection. Oh…well, she'll cross that bridge when she gets there. She got out of the shower and she went to bed and she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow… she woke up around 3 PM.
- Mom? She said smiling
- Hey sleepy head! What did you do with Tanisha? Did you dance all night long?
"Yes, with Terry in his Limo, without Tani…she said in her heard"
- I had a lot of fun, mom
- That's good. Let me order room service for you
- Ok. I'm going to get ready, she said going to the bathroom
She took a shower again and stayed under the water for a while. She finished and got out to eat the food her mother had ordered. She was bursting with joy. Melissa was wondering what could've made her daughter so happy.
"She's like a bride the morning after her wedding night" she said to herself in her head.
She didn't know how right she was, not about the bride, but her daughter had just had one magic night.
In Los Angeles, Terrence Grandchester was in a very good mood. He was playing with his daughter and he has apologized to Susanna for missing the reception, very nicely. Susanna was surprise to see him so nice. They had taken the plane for L.A. in the morning. She continued staring at him.
"He's too happy. He doesn't do drugs…but the last time I saw him so cheerful, was when he came back from Chicago, after seeing Candy! That's it, he saw Candy!"
She knew that if she asked him, he was going to deny it or he would avoid the question. But if Terry had really seen Candy and that she had made him so happy, her days with him were numbered.
Annie was still not buying it. She saw the change in Candy. Ever since she and Patty had married Archie and Stear, Candy was a little sad; she was probably remembering her plans with Terry.
- Candy, said Annie, who went to see her one night at her place, that's enough!
- Well hello to you too, Annie! I'm fine, thank you. How are you?
- Ever since you broke up with Terry, you're an enigma! You defend him; you tape him, every time he's on TV. I put the tape by mistake; she said explaining herself in front of Candy's stunned face. He tells you he loves you and thanks you at the Oscars…Now you're happier than a bride the morning after her wedding night…! Come on out with it!
Candy looked at her best friend, her sister; she couldn't hide anything from her, literally! She said to herself that she needed someone to talk to, and to share all that happiness with, Annie wouldn't betray her.
- Ok, Annie, you've won. You've always read me like a book… but you have to promise me, on the head of your future child, that you won't say anything, not even to your husband.
Annie touched her belly instinctively. Candy saw her gesture.
- Junior is on his way already…
- Yes, said Annie smiling, that's what I wanted to tell you…
- Oh honey, said Candy jumping to her neck, that's wonderful! When are you due?
- In 7 months…Thanks. But go ahead, I'm listening. And I promise you, I won't tell a soul…
Candy looked at her for a moment. She knew that she could trust Annie.
- Ok, Annie…
She told her everything in details from the beginning to the night in the Limo…
- In the back of the Limo? Wow! Said Annie, how was it?
- Well since we haven't seen each other for a while…it was …Wonderful!
- No kidding! You've been so cheerful …so you were acting with us?
- No, my tears were sincere, because we severed all contacts, and we don't see each other, we don't call each other, we don't e-mail each other… and you know that we called each other practically every hour… I wish I was with him during all his moments of glory…
- It won't be for long anymore, I hope….
- For your mouth to God's ears!
29. Chapter 29
**Tomorrow in your life**
**Chapter 29**
"**The earthquake"**
Terrence Grandchester had never felt so happy. His career was at its peek, he had won all sort of award, he'd seen Candy…She was the missing piece in his life. Ever since he'd seen her, he was on cloud nine and the sensations were delicious. A week after his return from New York, he joined Susanna in the living room one morning. She was avoiding him, because she could feel he wanted to end it.
- Susanna, we have to talk…
- Terry I'm tired, can it wait?
- No…
- You want to end it?
- Yes….
- I was expecting it…that's why I was avoiding you
- Really?
- Yes, ever since we came back from New York, you've been in a very good mood….
- Oh…and for you it means that I want to break up?
- The last time I've seen you so happy it was when you came back from Chicago…after seeing Candy
- You can't be thinking that this was arrangement was going well…
- But you had to marry me…
- I've never ask you to marry me, Susanna
- But…I love you, I had our baby; the fruit of our love….
- Susanna, stop it! You know under what circumstances she was conceived. But I love her so much, despite of everything…
Susanna felt desperate. No, she couldn't loose Terry! She needed him!
- My father is going to ruin your career if you leave me….
- I've accomplish everything I wanted. Do whatever you want, I don't care! But I'm taking Serena with me…
- What? No way! That's out of the question! She's my daughter!
- She's also mine. You barely spend time with her…I take her to work with me…
- She's not yours….
- What?
- You heard me. She's not your daughter…
Terry remained calm for a moment. All this was a lie? He loved Serena so much. If that was the truth, it meant that he wasted all that time away from Candy for nothing? The paternity test…
- The paternity test…said Terry
- I changed it, said Susanna, I knew you were going to have one, so I paid an employee of the lab, so he'd say that you were the father….
- That's not important said Terry hurt, if that's the case, then I want to get her away from you more than ever! You used her like a pawn! I'm going to make a deal with you; you leave me Serena and the press will never learn the truth on the way you trapped me…
- If I threatened to take her away from you, you'll tell everything to the press?
- I have nothing to lose. With my acting career I'm going to take over my father's business. And I'm very confident that your parents can't do anything to me…it's over, Susanna!
- But that's blackmail!
- Well I took a page from your book….
- This is all because of Candy! Admit it! You saw her in New York…that's why you came back in the morning!
- I'm going to tell the press in a week. That gives you the time to tell your parents…
- Terry, Terry wait, I love you! She said with tears in her eyes
Terry left the room and went to his room, feeling like a weight was taken off of him. He got Serena ready for daycare so she could play with other children. Then he will go to the studio to finish his movie. He will call Esther and Robert later that night.
Candy was doing her rounds at the hospital, when she heard the news on TV in the patients' room.
"The earthquake that rocked Los Angeles was of a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. A lot of houses and buildings were destroyed. Roads were sliced in two and there are a lot of dead, wounded and missing…"
Candy felt like her whole world came crashing down! Terry! She had a bad feeling.
Help was on its way for Los Angeles, coming from all over the country for those in need in Los Angeles. Candy was selected among the doctors sent to go help the population. She was going to take advantage to make sure that Terry was all right. He had to be all right! They were so close to their goal. She called Albert to ask him a very big favour.
- Candy? Hi…
- Mr. Albert, I need your help
- Anything you need, Candy….you can count on me
- I need help to get to Los Angeles to save and to look for people
- Ok. I'm coming with you, I want to help too and I'll take care of everything
- Thanks, Mr. Albert
She called her parents.
- Candy, hi baby, how are you? Asked Melissa
- I'm going to Los Angeles…
- I was about to call you, your father and I are going too…
- Oh…great! We're going to make the trip together… what about the children?
- I have a babysitter that's going to take care of them for a few days…
- That's perfect; I'll see you later, mom…
Candy went to Los Angeles with the other volunteers, her parents and Albert. Flammy was among the volunteers and she saw Candy with a new eye.
"_She's taking her parents with her to help those in need… she must not be so bad… maybe I misjudged her because she was rich and she had it easy, and I didn't "_
They found the city transformed into a construction site. Since they didn't know if there were going to be another shake or aftershock, the hospital kept only the seriously wounded but they were still almost full. Some tents were outside to assist the lightly wounded. It was kind of a mess. The earthquake happened at 9: 11 am; the children were at school, the parents at work. They all went to school to look for their children. The husbands and wife were trying to join each other on the phone, without any success. Everybody wanted to be reassured on the health of their love ones.
Candy went with her team to help those in need. They found people trapped in elevators, between two floors, others under the ruins, lightly wounded or seriously wounded. They passed near an elementary school, they saw parents looking for their children, all panicked. Candy saw a little girl about 2 or 3 years old; she had brown hair and bleu eyes, she was adorable. She was crying and in the general panic, no one was paying attention to her. Candy approached her.
- Hi, why are you crying? Are you hurting some where?
- I want my daddy! She said screaming and crying at the same time, I want my daddy!
Candy was a little surprised. In general, children would cry for their mommy…but maybe it was a single father.
- Ooooh, it's going to be ok, said Candy, carrying her, I'm going to help you find your daddy. What's your name?
- Ena….
- Ok, Ena. Stop crying, come with me. My name is Candy
- Hi, Andy
The other members of the team made sure everybody was all right and that no one was stuck under the ruins. Candy took the little girl with her. There was a tent outside with all the children. Parents could go and see if their children were there. Candy left little Ena there in the children's tent. This last one didn't want to let go of Candy; she was traumatised after seeing everything move so violently and all the adult usually so calm, screaming of fear.
- No, don't leave Ena, Andy…
- Look Ena, you can play, there some toys and other children… I will come and see you later ok. Do this for me, ok?
- Kay' said the little one
Candy kissed her and hugged her, then she left to look for other people in need.
"_Terry, she said in her head, tell me where you are. My God, please take me to him, I beg you."_
She repeated that little prayer ever since she had arrived in Los Angeles.
After saving a lot of people, she was resting a little and went to see Ena. No one had come for her yet. She was practically alone. There was another shake and everybody started to scream again. Little Ena jumped into Candy's arms shaking with fear. Candy hugged her and reassured her. Everything started to fall around them. A few building crumbled a little more.
Candy had to go look for other people in danger, but she didn't want to leave Ena, afraid like she was. She took her with her. Albert who was going with her this time, told her it was dangerous to take a little girl.
- Mr. Albert, the whole city of Los Angeles is a danger zone. I rather have her with me.
- Ok. You're right. Let's go!
They left with the pick up truck and they found people in need of help. The pick up where Candy was had a flat tire. The other pick ups stopped to help them change their tire. Candy was walking around with Ena to stretch her legs a little. She still didn't have any news from Terry. She tried to call his apartment but it was out of service, like she expected and there was no answer on his cell phone. While she was walking, she saw a car stuck inside a sliced road. She went to see if anybody was there.
- Hello, hello, anybody there?
There was no answer, but she could see a form inside. She went to get help and Albert went there with some robes and another pickup to help pull the car out. They got the person out of the car.
Candy was waiting near the pick ups and the other doctors to help if necessary. Albert arrived first, with a grave expression.
- Mr. Albert? The person's dead?
- No, Candy but…
- What?
The other arrived with the wounded on a stretcher. He was unconscious. He had blood on his head. Candy's heart skipped a beat.
- Terry! Said Candy, thank you God!
- Daddy! Said Ena
The other doctors rushed to give him the first care. Candy was much too upset to do anything. Ena was still in her arms. Candy didn't hear her the first time.
- Andy, Andy, daddy daddy, she repeated showing Terry
- Daddy? Said Candy, Serena?
- Yes!
- Oh my God!
Terry and Susanna's daughter. She hugged her. Another woman would have been hostile after learning the news the she was taking care of the cause of her separation from Terry, but not Candy. Serena was an innocent little angel, who hadn't ask for anything to anybody, she was adorable. They got into the pick up to go back to the tents. Terry was still unconscious. Serena was lying on him.
- Daddy, stand up, wake up! She said
Terry was transferred to the hospital for an emergency surgery. He was bleeding internally. He was operated on to stop the bleeding; they repair his spleen fortunately, because in the beginning, the doctors feared that they might have to remove it completely. But it was not the case. But he had lost a lot of blood and during the operation, and after the earthquake; there was a shortage of blood.
- I can give blood said Candy, I'm a group O, the universal donor
- So is he, but we're going to try the auto-transfusion
That's what they did. Terry got a transfusion from his own blood. It was a little less convenient, but it was more safe in that case where a lot of mistakes could happen.
He was in room with other seriously wounded…Candy stayed next to him wit Serena. They left him to go get something to eat. The humanitarian help was party made of a lot of food donations. They ate quickly and went back to Terry's bedside and continued reading and telling stories to him. Serena fell asleep on the bed next to Terry. Candy started to talk to Terry in his ear.
- I feel better now that I know you're ok, Romeo. I'm going to go back to Chicago and wait for you. I love you Romeo, I love you so much. I've met Serena; she's adorable We spent a good time together. Annie is having a baby, she's so happy about it. Mr. Albert came with me. He came to help the needy…wake up fast, Romeo.
She continued talking to him for a while then she fell asleep on a chair next to the bed and she put her head on the pillow next to him. Melissa who was passing by, saw the portrait and she shook her head. Candy woke up with a neck pain. She saw her mother looking at her.
- Mom…
- Are you ok, sweetie? Said Melissa approaching her
- Yes, what about you?
- I have a lot of stories for my article…what about you?
- Terry was seriously hurt, he had surgery
- I know…
- And Serena, I found her at her school, nobody was taking care of her…then when we found Terry, she called him "daddy"
- Oh… and that doesn't bother you?
- No. she's a little angel, she's adorable
Melissa smiles, Candy was really a good woman…but where was Susanna?
- I'm proud of you, honey. You know where her mother is?
- I don't know, she might be stuck somewhere…
- The reflex of every parent is to look for its offspring…
- Mom, be nice to her on your article…
- Be nice to whom…?
They burst out laughing. Philip arrived to see how they were doing.
- Daddy, said Candy hugging him, the rescue operations…
- It's going on fine. I'm resting a little. How's your lover boy?
- Fine, he hasn't regain consciousness yet
- You have his daughter…
- I found her by chance…
- Isn't she too good? Said Melissa
- She's goodness incarnate… We're going to let you so we won't wake up the little one. See you later
- See you later, Melissa
- See you later said Candy
She stayed with Terry, and she fell asleep again. She heard noise in the room and she opened her eyes and she saw Eleonor Baker looking at them. She had a bandage on the forehead
- Miss Baker…said Candy
- Candy…how is he?
- He still unconscious…but the surgery was a success
- That's good. How's Serena?
- I fond her by chance crying in a school…until I found Terry, I didn't know she was his daughter…
- Where's Susanna? Said Eleonor…she should be here to take care of her daughter and Terry
- It doesn't bother me…
- Thank you Candy. Another one wouldn't have done, what you've done…I have to go help in the kitchen with the children. Take good care of my son and his daughter
- Ok, said Candy smiling
She woke up the next day with a neck ache. Terry was still asleep. Serena woke up and Candy cleaned her up and they went to eat. They met her parents, and Eleonor. They all ate under the tent, happy to have seen another day.
- Granny said Serena when she saw Eleonor
- Serena! How are you, sweetie?
- Fine! Andy nice….
- Yes, she's really nice said Eleonor
- Daddy sleeping…
- He's going to wake up, honey
Candy, Serena and Eleonor went to Terry's bedside. Melissa went to help with the abandoned of orphaned children or those whose parents were hurt. Philippe went on another rescue mission.
At Terry's bedside, he was still unconscious. A doctor and a nurse were examining him.
- Daddy still sleeping said Serena
- Yes, daddy is sleeping, said Cady, but we can continue talking to him so he would wake up, ok?
- 'kay…
She took some little books with children's stories and she started to read and doing the screams and the gesture of the characters. They were having a lot of fun and they were laughing talking to Terry like he could hear them and answer them. The portrait was a beautiful sight; Candy, Serena and Eleonor…
Susanna finally arrive and that was the portrait she saw; Candy, Serena her daughter, Terry asleep and Terry's mother. She felt a twinge in her heart. That's the portrait she will now see when Terry leaves her. Terry was asleep and no one knew they were broken up, not even his mother, so…
- I'm sorry, she said entering the room, Candy, can you give me my family back, you thief!
Candy and Eleonor turned around surprised.
- Susanna, where were you? Asked Eleonor
- Not in front of the little one, said Candy
- Mommy! Said Serena
- Are you ok sweetie? Asked Susanna
- Yes! Andy, granny…nice
Candy took Susanna out of the room. Eleonor stayed with Serena
- What the hell is wrong with you? Terry needs to rest and Serena doesn't need all this hostility…said Candy
- How dare you talk to me about my family! You thief! It's my family!
- I found your daughter crying alone near the daycare, in the general panic; everybody came to get their children, no one was looking after her. It's only when we found Terry, that she told me he was her father. I took care of her, don't thank me or anything! And if I were you, I would be careful who I call a thief; I've never drugged another woman's fiancé to sleep with him and get pregnant. Look in the mirror and you find the thief. I have other patients to see…
She was going to leave when she heart;
- Andy, are you coming? Asked a voice
It was Serena calling her to come back in the room. She went in the room and she crouched in front of Serena and told her;
- Honey, I have to go and take care of other sick people, you stay with daddy. Continue telling him stories and he's going to wake up, ok? You stay with mommy…
Candy kissed her and hugged her. Susanna was looking at the scene the heart broken. She never got close to her daughter. Her nanny knew her better than her. And Terry always took her everywhere without worrying about the inconvenient. Candy, in one day, had become closer to her daughter, than she ever was. She entered the room.
- Granny has to go to help other little children ok? Said Eleonor to Serena
- 'kay. Bye
- Bye, said Eleonor.
Candy got out of the room, and Eleonor dragged Susanna out of the room too.
- Where were you? Asked Eleonor again
- With my parents…
- They're lucky to have all your attention…you didn't even worry about your daughter?
- Terry was there….
- Terry is kind of in a pretty bad shape, don't you think so? You should thank Candy for taking care of Serena…another woman would've ignored her… There, we're leaving you to your little family. I have to go do some volunteer work.
- I didn't mean you, Eleonor, but Candy…said Susanna
- I repeat, you should thank Candy for taking care of Serena, her rival's daughter…see you later!
She left too. Susanna went back in the room.
- Mommy…called Serena
- Yes, said Susanna, carrying her for the first time ever since she arrived
- Daddy sleeping…
- Yes, daddy is sleeping Serena
Terry started to move, he moved his head, he was feeling his head heavy…very heavy. He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. He heard Candy's voice.
"_Romeo, wake up…Romeo"_
He opened his eyes with difficulty. The sedatives…
- Candy… he said softly
Susanna felt a twinge in her heart. He never forgot about her.
- Daddy! Said Serena
- Serena…, he said smiling
Susanna put her on the bed and she jumped to her father's neck.
- Easy, said Susanna, you're going to hurt daddy
- No, I'm fine said Terry; I heard Candy's voice…
- She's not here, said Susanna quickly
- Andy gone, daddy. She'll come back, said Serena
Susanna couldn't stop her daughter from talking…
- Oh…said Terry, she was here?
- Yes, said Serena, she found me; Andy nice
Terry looked at Susanna who looked down.
- Candy found Serena? Where were you Susanna?
- At my parents. I didn't know what to do…
- The reflex of any parent would be to go see how its child is doing…Susanna
- I'm not a good mother, I know…
Terry started to talk to Serena. Susanna felt left off. She used her pregnancy to trap Terry, but she never managed to get attached to her daughter. She loved her, but the nanny and Terry took care of her. She and her mother had never been close, her nannies took care of her, she barely saw her mother. She didn't even realise that she was doing the same thing to Serena. Now it was too late, she was going to leave with Terry, because she didn't want, in any case for the press to find out what she'd done to trap Terry…
Candy continued helping the needy and the homeless with Albert. She went to see Terry only when he was sleeping at night. During daytime, Susanna and Serena were there and she was avoiding confrontations.
30. Chapter 30
**Tomorrow in your life**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 30**
"**Back for good"**
Candy went back to Chicago with Albert because she was feeling tired. All those nights spent on chair sleeping with one eye only. Flammy was also went back to Chicago at the same time.
- I'm so tired said Candy
- That's normal said Flammy, you haven't stopped working
- Yes, that's probably it…
Once in her apartment, she went to sleep. She woke up the next day. But she still felt tired. She listened to her messages; they were a lot of them. Her parents were also back and her friends left her messages. She returned her calls.
The earthquake and all the chaos that followed, had delayed the news of Terry and Susanna's break up.
During his recovery, Terry announced to Esther and Robert that had come to see him, the news.
- Esther, Robert, it's over…with Susanna, I can't do this anymore…and I'm taking Serena with me
- Oh…said Robert, is it the earthquake that did that? Usually that kind of event brings families together…
- I told her the news the morning of the earthquake….
- Susanna knows? Said Esther, and you're not afraid of the consequences…?
- …of Mr. and Mrs. Marlowe? Said Terry, listen, during the earthquake, while my car was sliding through the open street, I was thinking about one thing only, that I was going to die without marrying Candy…So the rest is not important. I've accomplished my dream; I'm an actor; I've got an Oscar, a BAFTA and then some ! My spokesperson is going to make a declaration to the press. I just want to tell you before…
- But Terry, what if they ruined your career? said Esther
- That's not important anymore, and Susanna is going to make sure that they leave Serena and me alone. But I think my career is not going to have any problems. I don't think the Marlowes expected that I was going to become so popular and win so many awards.
- Ok, said Robert a little disappointed, when are you going to Chicago?
- As soon as you're out of here….said Terry
- You're in a rush…said Esther
- I've lost enough time! Said Terry
Meanwhile, Candy was in drugstore buying prenatal vitamin. She had realized a few days ago that she was late and the unusual tiredness she was feeling ever since she came back from Los Angeles. She took a pregnancy test at the hospital and it was positive. The Limo night!
"Oh Terry, happy father's day! She said to herself"
She didn't want to buy vitamins at the hospital's pharmacy to avoid any rumours. She went back home, a little depressed. She called her confident, Annie.
- Candy? Are you ok? Asked Annie, you sound a little weird
- Annie, can you come over?
- Of course sweetie. You want me to call Patty?
- Not this time…
- Terry matter?
- Yes….
- I'm coming!
Patty didn't know about the charade. Annie arrived a few moments later.
- Candy, are you ok, sweetie?
- I don't know…
- Tell me what's going on…
Candy was a little ashamed. She looked down and said softly;
- The Limo night…
- …has bore its fruits! Said Annie smiling, Candy, that's wonderful!
She hugged her friend.
- You think so, Annie?
- Of course, Candy, a baby, is always wonderful
- I'm not married…
- Oh, this is not the dark ages, Candy. A lot of girls have babies alone…but you know that Terry is going to come running as soon as he hears the news…
- Yes. But I don't want him to come just for that….
- Come on Candy, it's not like you don't know that he loves you, he told you so in front of 70 million spectators…
- No. I'm talking about leaving every thing, his career, Hollywood…
- If he loves you, that's not important for him…
- I hope you're right. I don't want to force him to abandon his dream because of me. Thanks Annie. Otherwise, how's work?
- Fine. It's great to get paid doing what we like…I have to go. Don't worry ok. Terry will be happy, you'll see…
There was a ring at the door. Candy went to open, and her mother was on her doorstep.
- Mom, she said kissing her
- Candy, how are you?
- Fine, come in please…
Annie walked to the door.
- I was just leaving. Mrs. Crane, bye
- Hi Annie, said Melissa, bye Annie
- Bye, Annie and thanks said Candy
Melissa looked at her daughter; there was something different. A new boyfriend?
- I came to see you before I go back home
- I'm fine Mom. I'm just a little tired
- Tired? Are you ok?
- Yes…
- There's something about you…well! I wanted to tell you that they offered my own TV show…
- Mom, that's wonderful! But what if dad gets sent to another country?
- Well there's satellite, but we'll see. I would like to have your ex on my show…
- Terry? No problem, but I'm not the one you should ask…
- I know. I wanted to make sure it was ok with you…
- Of course mom. You'll have him with Susanna?
- You don't know?
- I don't know what?
- It's over with Susanna
- What? Since when?
- Apparently it's been a month. The earthquake delayed the news….
"A month, ever since he came back from New York, after our Limo night…" she said in her head
Candy put her hand instinctively on her belly. Melissa saw the gesture but she made no comment.
- Oh… said Candy, who face was illuminated
"Where is Terry? She asked herself"
- You're happy? Said Melissa
- Mom….
- I can see it on your face. If he comes through the door right now, you're going to fall into his arms?
Candy became bright as red.
- Mom, I can tell you now…but you can't use it for your work…
- What?
- Terry and I…
- Yes?
- We pretended to brake up….
- What do you mean by "pretend"?
She told her the whole story. Melissa was stunned. All that was only smoke and mirrors?
- But at the Oscars, he told Juliet he loved her…Susanna played Juliet….
- Mom, how was I calling him in Romania?
- Romeo…Oh…You're is Juliet! He thanked you!
Candy felt sick. She went to throw up in the nearest bathroom. Melissa followed her. When Candy was done, she saw her mother looking at her. Melissa had a flash; she remembered when her mother caught her throwing up. She had an impression of "déjà vu", only she was the mother, this time.
- Mom…
- Candy…You saw Terry. It couldn't be in L.A. because he was kind of out of it…
- In New York…
- You weren't partying with Tanisha?
- No. I came to wait for you; only I was in the wrong Limo…Terry came in and…
- What had to happen, happened…in the Limo? Wow!
- During the separation, we never tried to see each other or call or write each other, so when we found ourselves alone in the Limo…I'm sorry for lying to you
- Ok. Congratulation! I'm going to be a grand-mother! She said hugging her daughter
- You're not angry….?
- Candy, you're not 15. You're an adult and a doctor for crying out loud. Terry broke up with Susanna; in the next minute or one of these mornings he's going to be on your doorstep. Good luck. I have to go, baby. Have a good evening
- Bye Mom
Candy knew that her father was going to call her as soon as her mom gets home and tells him the news. She got hungry, she was craving Chinese food; lemon chicken, honey chicken, fried rice, marinated meat, egg rolls, chicken balls etc.
"Oh you, she said touching her belly, you're giving some weird cravings"
She smiled; she took the phone and ordered a big Chinese diner, all most the whole menu.
She turned on the television and Terry and Susanna's break up was all over the news. She was happy, very happy. The phone rang.
- Annie! Yes! Mom told me…
- You see, you have to think positive!
- You're right Annie, thanks
Melissa told Philippe about Candy's pregnancy when she got home.
- Honey, I just came from Candy's… you'll never guess what…
- Uh oh…what?
- She's having a baby….
- What? But she hasn't been seeing anyone….
- Anyone we know of…
- Oh…who's the proud daddy?
- You'll never believe it…
- Who? Not Albert….
- No…her one and only true love…
- Terry?
- Yes….
- What? How, when, where?
- A month ago in New York…and here's the kicker; inside a Limousine…
- A Limousine?
- She came to wait for me when she came back from Tanisha's; she got into the wrong Limo, it was Terry's…
- Oh my God! And they just did it there?
- Well apparently they were pretending to be separated for Susanna and her parents …
She told him everything Candy told her about the fake brake up.
- Pretending? That's why she wasn't dating anyone; she was waiting for Terry…and …inside the Limo?
- I guess they didn't want to waste any time….
- Inside the Limo? Wow!
- That's what I said…I wish I'd thought of that…..
- Really Honey?…We can still do it…
- Theirs was spontaneous…
- It must have been wonderful; especially after years of abstinence…I'll surprise you one day…you'll see. Let me call my little girl…I'm going to be a granddaddy!
Philip called his daughter.
- Candy…
- Daddy…
- I heard congratulations are in order….
- Daddy, I'm sorry. It was an accident…
- You collided with a Limo?
- Daddy! Said Candy blushing
- I just hope he's going to take his responsibilities with you too…
- I would swear to it…
- I'm going to be a granddaddy. It's a pretty good sensation. Ok, but tell your Romeo that I want to see him…
- Ok, daddy. Bye and thank you.
Candy wished she'd announce that kind of news as a married woman, but…she knew that she was careless, but it's not like she knew she was going to meet Terry.
There was ring at the door.
"The dinner, I'm so hungry! That was fast she said to herself"
She took her wallet, and went to open the door, but she was looking down in her wallet, looking for the money.
- It's 55.98$. Here is 60$, you can keep the rest, she said handing the money
- Thank you….
She looked up.
- Terry!
She jumped to his neck. Oh she missed him so much! And she needed him so much. But the smell of his cologne or perfume was making her sick! He was going to kiss her… she had to pull away from him… She let go of him a little suddenly. He was not alone; there was a young girl and a little girl.
- Serena! Said Candy
- Andy! Said the little girl
She took the little girl in her arms to kiss her.
- Come in, all of you
- That's nanny said Serena
- Pleased to meet you said Candy
- Good evening…
They got in with their luggage. Candy was on a cloud nine. They sat in the living room.
- I was waiting for Chinese food…said Candy
- Oh…that's why you were giving me money…said Terry
- I thought you were the delivery guy she said smiling, I'm so hungry!
She sat with Serena a little far from Terry. He didn't understand; it's like Candy was avoiding him and she didn't want him to kiss her in front of Serena. He wanted to ask her, but there was a ring at the door and this time it really was the delivery man. She took the food in the dinning room and invited the others too. She started to eat for two! Terry was looking at her.
"Why is she eating so much?" He thought
After dinner, they stayed a little in the living room and then it was bed time for Serena. The nanny wanted to take her, but Candy insisted in doing it. She gave Serena a bath and got her ready for bedtime and then, she read her a story. The nanny said to herself that Susanna never did that with her daughter. Candy showed the nanny her room, next to Serena's. She went back to the living room where Terry was. She went to sit on an armchair far from Terry. This last one couldn't take it anymore. What was going on?
- Freckles, do I stink or something? He finally asked
- Yes, she answered
Terry was so surprised by the answer the he remained speechless for a moment.
- What!
- Don't take it the wrong way…honey, but I can't stand your perfume…
- My perfume? But a month ago you didn't have any problems….
- I know….
- What's changed? Why don't you like my perfume anymore?
- I don't know Terry, she joked, what's changed?
Candy didn't know how to tell him the news, aside from simply saying it. But she was a little ashamed.
Terry was thinking in his head; she was eating for two, she couldn't stand his perfume…Oh!...
Candy wanted to open her mouth, when she heard;
- Juliet, are you pregnant?
- You take the words right out of my mouth…
- Oh, honey….
Terry was submerged by a indescribable joy. He wanted to hug her, kiss her, but…Candy looked at him and he stopped.
- I'm going to take a shower, he said…
Candy burst out laughing. They will go together to look for a new perfume. She had also changed all the shampoos, soaps, gels etc. which she didn't like the odours. She waited a few minutes and she joined Terry in the shower. She scrubbed his back, he turned around and she gave him the hello he deserved and he congratulated her like he should.
- Hi honey, she said, welcome back home….
They kissed for a long time.
- I missed you so much, she said
- I missed you too…
- The baby and I are very happy you're here…
- Baby? You're having our baby?
- Yes, the Limo night….
- Oh…I guess I got here just in time…
- Never too soon!
- I love you Candy. Congratulations for the baby
- Thank you my love…happy father's day
- Thanks honey…happy mother's day….
They kissed again and played in the shower for a while. Later on the bed;
- I didn't see you in L.A.
- You knew I was there?
- Not because of Susanna; Serena
- Oh…She calls me "Andy"
- Yes… I called out your name when I woke up, and I thought I heard your voice. She told me you were there but you left.
- Oh…Susanna arrived and we exchanged words…
- I told her the morning of the earthquake that it was over
- So she knew she had no more rights to be there…?
- I'm sorry for all the lost time, Freckles
- You don't have to apologise….
- Yes, I do. I wanted to end it a while ago but Esther and Robert always found a way to get me to stay… it's like they didn't want me to leave Susanna
- You were a gold mine for them, with the influence of the Marlowes…What made you finally decide to leave?
- To see you in New York in my Limo, our one magic night, which has bear its fruit, he said, touching her belly, I realised that what was missing in my life was you… I've accomplished my dream, I've become an actor, I've won an Oscar, and other awards, but you were the missing piece of my dream, because my dream was really to live with you forever…At the peek of my career, in all my glory, I've never been so happy than when I was with you in the Limo for those few hours…
- Oh, Terry!
- So, I left everything, Susanna's parents can do whatever they want. I don't care, as long as I'm with you forever.
- Thank you honey, said Candy, with tears of joy, Serena is adorable…
- You've become closer to her in one day, than Susanna has ever been…
- I found her by chance. I was surprised to see a little girl crying for her daddy instead of her mommy. It's only when we found you that she called you daddy….
- She probably told you her name was "Ena"…
- Yes…
- You're a good mother Candy. Another woman would've been hostile when she learned her identity
- She's innocent, she didn't ask to come in this world…she's a little angel
- Good. Because I have custody of her, she's going to live with us…
- Oh Terry that's wonderful!
- Candy, what you did; sacrificing yourself so that I could stay with Susanna….
- I didn't want you to regret or to ask yourself questions like; "what if I'd stayed with Susanna?" "What if I had an acting career?" Now, you've accomplished everything, we can be together… you can do whatever you want…
- Yes, I've accomplished everything, only to realise that you were the dream, not being an actor….
- Well I'm here honey, and I still love you so much…
- I love you Freckles…I have stuff for you…
- Oh… surprises?
- Yes… you'll see
He went to get a big shopping bag with a lot of gift-wrapped boxes. Presents.
- This is all for me? She asked with a big smile
- Yes, everything is for you….
- What's the occasion?
- Everything; Christmas, Valentine's Day, December 31st, our marriage in our hearts…
- I can't believe it! Said Candy with a nervous laugh…
- What? That I'm so thoughtful?
- No. That's not it…
- Then, what is it?
She stood up and went in the closet and she got a big shopping bag full of little gift-wrapped boxes, which she gave to a stunned Terry.
- You did the same thing?
- Yes…
- Oh my darling Juliet, even apart, we were on the same page?
- Apparently….
- We were made for each other
- If I had any doubts, now I don't doubt it anymore!
They opened their presents laughing and they thanked each other. Among the presents, there was the Oscar.
- But Terry, you don't have to. We're going to live together now….
- I told you it was for you, in front of 70 million spectators. I'm giving it to you
- Thank you Romeo
They spent the majority of the night talking, they barely slept. They looked at Terry's movies and Terry was making comments. Candy put the tape with all of Terry's appearance on TV, during shows, commercials….
- I can't believe, you taped all my appearances on TV…
- I was doing it before, ever since I learned you made… and when we were separated, it was my way of seeing you…
- I was asking you to forgive me in my heart, every time I was answering questions about Susanna and the baby
- And I was forgiving you in my heart every time I heard your answers
The next morning, Candy woke up nauseous…When she came back in the bedroom, she found Serena on the bed with Terry….
- Hello, Serena, said Candy, hello Romeo
- Hello Andy! Said Serena
- Hello Juliet… said Terry
She went to sit on the bed and kissed Serena
- What about me? Said Terry
- Kiss daddy said Serena
Candy burst out laughing, and she kissed Terry, she wanted to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned at the same time and he kissed her on the lips. Candy called her parents to tell them that she will come in the evening with Terry.
They spent the morning having fun with Serena. The nanny was resting in the kitchen with the maid. Candy had lots of tapes of cartoons; she liked them and her little brothers and sisters too, when they came over. Serena chose Disney's "Aladdin" to watch.
- You know this movie by heart! Said Terry
- I love it daddy, she said with a smile
- Me too, said Candy, and you too daddy! Let's watch it…
They watched Aladdin, and they sang all the songs together, laughing out loud. Terry did a really good impersonation of the "Genie song". Candy and Terry remembered the day they got together and sang "A whole new world" together in her room at St. Paul. It was a whole new world for her and Terry that started that night, now it's a whole new world that was starting for her, Terry, Serena and their future baby.
31. Chapter 31
**Tomorrow in your life**
**By Mallory Quinn**
**Chapter 31**
"**The wedding of the century"**
Terry was still in the bedroom with Candy and Serena. After the movie, Terry stood up, then he bend on one knee in front of the bed. He took a little box in a drawer on the night table.
- Candy White Andrew… Will you marry me?
She looked at him with so much love…
- Yes, Terry I want to be your wife…
He put the ring on her finger and hugged her.
- Terry, I still had the one from the first time….
- That one didn't bring us luck… that's why I want to do what I promised you the day we separated, I want to get married right away…
- Terry, everything is fine…
- Excuse-me if I don't want to take any chances… the last time…
- Ok, honey, you're right… when do you want to get married?
- In a few days…you choose the day…
- Ok, I'll tell Annie about it and we'll set a date
- Thanks honey. We're going to be a family
- With Serena said Candy tickling the little girl who was laughing out loud
Terry looked at Candy and Serena. Was Susanna telling the truth? Did he really lost all that time far away from Candy for nothing? Candy took Serena to her nanny , then she went back to her room. She saw Terry's worried expression.
- Honey, are you ok? She asked
- Candy, when I told Susanna that I was leaving her, and that I was taking Serena with me, she told me that she wasn't my daughter…
- WHAT! And you believed her?
- I don't know, Candy. To believe her would mean that we separated for nothing….
- Oh my God!
All that suffering was for nothing?
- But you took Serena anyway…
- Yes, if Susanna is capable of using her own daughter as a pawn to trap me, when I wasn't even the father… No, I didn't want to leave her with Susanna's coldness and indifference, whether she's my daughter or not, I'm keeping her….
- Terry, I proud of you… but I don't want to think about the fact that we separated and sacrificed ourselves maybe for nothing…
- Me neither…
- Let's not think about it anymore. Let's turn to the future… with Serena and her future little brother or little sister….
- Thank you again, Freckles for your sacrifice, for waiting for me…
- Terry, I would've waited for you till the end of times…
- Oh Candy! I'm so lucky to have a woman like you in my life! He said hugging her…
Eleonor Baker who was in Chicago for a TV show, called Terry on his cell phone.
- Terry? Where are you? You sound awake…
- I'm in Chicago, mum
- At Candy's?
- Yes…
- Thanks for telling me….
- Mum, you weren't there… can you join us for breakfast?
- Ok, give me the address
A few moments later, Eleonor Baker was eating breakfast with Candy, Terry, Serena and the nanny. Eleonor was shocked to hear about Susanna's story.
- How could you have made such a deal without telling me about it? That's preposterous! Ridiculous! You should've come to me, I would've fixed it!
- Mum, I didn't want to put you in the middle of this, said Terry
- You mean you didn't want to be called a "mama's boy"… Candy to sacrifice yourself that way… you guys are way too good!
- Now, everything is fine, we're getting married…said Terry
- When?
- In a few days…said Terry
- What's the rush?
- We can't wait anymore… we've lost enough time… said Terry
- Yeah right! And I'm the Queen of England! I haven't just fallen from the sky… Candy must have a bun in the oven, that's why you're rushing…
- Mum, you're as subtle as the iceberg that hit the Titanic… We can't hide anything from you!
They burst out laughing. They spent the day together. Candy had the day off. They were in the living room talking. Terry was playing with his daughter. Even with his busy schedule, he made sure he played with her everyday.
- Daddy, can you sing the genie song for me again? She Asked…
- Again? Said Terry faking indignation
- Please, pretty please, said Serena
- How could I resist my little princess? Said Terry
Terry started to sing the genie song; "A friend like me" from the movie Aladdin. He was making all the gestures he could. Serena was laughing out loud. Candy took her camcorder and started to film them… Terry was very funny with his daughter.
In the evening they all went to the Cranes for diner. Serena was happy to see little children like her. Melissa asked Eleonor to be on her new TV show and Terry talked to Philippe, man to man in the library.
- So Terry… you're going to make my daughter an honest woman, finally…
- Yes, sir, said Terry
- I heard about the little party in the Limo…
Terry blushed a little.
- Euh…
- I assumed you were too much in a hurry to go to a motel…and you got lucky…my daughter is way too nice; I would've made you sweat a little…
- Philippe, said Terry a little ashamed
- Well everything is fine, you're marrying her and I hope you won't hurt her anymore…
- I won't sir. I promise you.
- Good…
Candy came to see how the guys were doing. She saw Terry's expression.
- Is everything ok she asked?
- Yes, honey, said Philippe, we're done.
- Good… said Candy, Terry are you ok?
- I'm fine, Freckles said Terry
- Dad, said Candy, mom is looking for you…
- Ok, said Philippe, see you later…
Philippe left the room and Terry talked to Candy.
- Did you have to tell your parents about the Limo night? Asked Terry
- I'm sorry honey, it just came into the conversation… I was sick in the bathroom and my mother saw me…
- That's ok, but your father made me blush a little
- He teased you? He's just a little jealous for not thinking about it first… said Candy
- You think?
- Yes….
- Who else knows about this?
- Annie…and she's green with envy, believe me…
- Oh my God!
- I was so happy after our Limo night that she bugged me so much and I told her… I needed to confide in someone and share my happiness. I'm sorry, Terry, I didn't know it would make you so uncomfortable…
- Just a little…
- You're so cute, said Candy laughing
She kissed him on the lips.
Everything was settle, the wedding was fixed for the following Saturday and everything had to be prepared. Not a word to the press, otherwise, they were going to haunt them day and night. Candy called Annie to help her with the wedding planning.
- Oh honey, said Annie, you won't move the little, finger, this is my favorite hobby…
- Don't forget, the press must not know anything…
But the press always end up knowing. Terry and his mothers, both Oscar winners, always had a reporter following them. Every night, everybody was having fun listening to the speculations the reporters were making on TV about Candy and Terry's wedding and their relationship. Melissa, of course had the exclusivity for her daughter's wedding. The wedding of Candice and Terrence, happen in her parents' garden. The whole adoptive and biological family was there and a few friends… which total to 300 people at least!
Candy invited her grandmother, the senator Grant to attempt a reconciliation with her mother. Philippe knew, but Melissa didn't know anything. Ever since Melissa was living in the USA with her family, the reporters had Senator Grant on their list and they were sometimes asking her questions. She would say that she was very proud of her daughter and grand-daughter and very happy for them, like a good politician. She arrived while Candy was getting ready with Annie, Patty and Melissa. There was a knock on the door.
- If it's not Terry, come in! Said Melissa laughing
She turned around and her smile, faded right away.
- Mom!
- Melissandre…
Annie and Patty left the room quietly.
- What are you doing here?
- I invited her, mom, said Candy
- What? How could you do that after everything she did to us?
- But we have to forgive, mom said Candy, please, do it for me… it's been more than 20 years and you found me…
Melissa remained silent for a while. The pain, the suffering, le verbal abuse… but it was like being in labour, the pain disappears as soon as the baby is out… and she had found her baby whom she thought had died and the pain was gone… the bible says, that we have to forgive…
- Candy… ok… for you, I'm going to hear her out. Go ahead mom, I'm listening…
- Melissandre, said Verna, I've missed you so much… I know, I was a severe mother, but it was to protect you from the bad things in life… and I failed you… you got pregnant at 15… I should've been more compassionate with you, but my pride… and my career came first. I'm asking you to forgive me, for lying to you, forgive me for calling the so called death of your baby, a blessing in disguise, forgive me for telling you, you had a stillborn son, when you had a healthy little girl, forgive me for keeping you away from your baby…
Melissandre had tears in her eyes. This thing with her mother was the only black cloud in her life. Her baby wasn't dead… so why hold all that grudge?
- I kept my eye on you during all those years. I saw that you've made it in life, that you married the father of your baby…I should've told him the truth… and what you hear on TV is the truth, I'm very proud of you. Forgive me for not telling you the truth when you came to see me a few years ago, forgive for everything.
Verna Grand apologizing, she swallowed her pride; it must have been difficult for her. Melissandre looked at her mother; she loved her so much, but… Candy was right; she had to forgive, holding a grudge doesn't lead anywhere.
- Mom, said Melissandre after a big silence, I'm asking you to forgive me for lying to you, for yelling at you and saying all those things…
Verna approached her daughter and she hugged her.
- I love you Melissandre
- I love you mom…
Candy was crying of joy, so were her mother and grandmother. Melissandre approached Candy with her mother.
- Mom, this is your granddaughter Candice, we call her Candy… Candy this is your grandmother, Senator Verna Grant
- Pleased to meet you grandma, said Candy
- Pleased to meet you, Candy, said Verna hugging her and forgive me and thank you for everything…
- You're welcome, grandma. Let's live in peace from now on…
Philippe came in at that moment and said;
- Three generation of Grant women…
- Soon there will be four, said Candy laughing…
- What? I'm going to be a great grandmother? Oh….said Verna
- Easy mom, everything is going to be fine. Come and meet your other grandkids… and Philippe's parents…
- Looks like, I have more apologies to make…
- It's for a new start, mom. Let's go…
She got out of the room with her mother. Philippe stayed with Candy.
- Oh daddy, it's wonderful!
- It's because of you, you've reunite us all
Annie and Patty came back to finish getting Candy ready.
Terry was impeccable in his black tuxedo and his white shirt. His mother walked him to the altar. Candy walked to the altar with her two fathers, Albert and Philippe. She was wearing a chiffon dress with no strap with a big skirt with a flounce on one side with a shiny embroidering an original model by Annie Brighton Cornwell. The veil was long and Cassandra and Andrew were holding it behind Candy. Serena was the flower girl, despite her young age, she was able to walk in front of all those people and dropping the petals; it was a game for her. Carissa was helping her. James was the ring bearer. The maids of honour; Terry's twin sisters; Rose Anna and Anna Rose, Annie, Patty, Tammy and Tanisha and their husbands, Archie, Ali, Jamal, Junior Terry's brother, Jeremy Tammy's brother, and…Neil!
At the time of the vows, Terry said these words;
- My life didn't have any sense until I met you. I loved you from the second I laid my eyes on you. I'd lost you, and now I found you again, and I will never let you go again. All my life I was following my dream, and I realized that dream, only to find out that it was you from the beginning, you were my dream, you are my dream, without you I'm nothing, you're my other half and I'm wondering how I could've lived without your during all those years. I love you and I will spend the rest of my life showing it to you.
And Candy's vows;
- From the moment I saw you, you touched me. My life was a turmoil of sadness and you chased it away for good. You gave me the will to live, the will to live with you and with all the joy you brought into my life and I will be forever grateful to you for that. Yes, we got lost, but it was only to find out how much we needed each other and to better found each other and to never get separated again. You are my dream and today we are accomplishing it together by united ourselves for life. I love you and I'm going to spend the rest of my life saying it to you.
All the women in the assembly had tears in their eyes, starting with the bride. The bride and groom opened the dance floor with the song "All my life" by KC and Jojo.
During the reception, Eleonor was talking to Richard. They were sitting in the front as the groom's parents, but they hadn't spoken to each other.
- Eleonor, congratulations for your son
- Congratulations for your son too, she said softly, How are you? Are you happy?
- I wanted to be with you…
- Richard, that's in the past. You've got beautiful children; I've met your daughters
- Yes, I saw you on the telly at the Oscars… thanks for being so nice to them. They can't stop singing your praises
- Terry always talked about them with a lot of love…
Richard's wife arrived.
- This is my wife, said Richard, honey, this is…
- Eleonor Baker, the Oscar winner and Terry's mum. I'm pleased to meet you
- Pleased to meet you. Thanks for taking my son in
- I have to admit I was hostile with him in the beginning, but I ended up loving him too… I'm just so sorry that it took me so long. But you've been nice to my daughters right away, from the first minute. Thank you.
- It was a pleasure, they are very charming…Richard, are you going to forgive Terry is wanting to be an actor?
- I still can't believe that even without you raising him and living so far away, he wanted to become an actor like you. He definitely inherited your genes. But I can't continue holding a grudge against him for being an excellent actor, an Oscar, a BAFTA and then some! No, the business is always going to be there, Junior is taking care of it. I'm letting Terry do whatever he wants. I'm even going to invest in his next movie. Show business is a very profitable…
- You're telling me? Said Eleonor smiling
- Don't worry; I'm leaving our son alone…
- Thank God! Said Terry who had just arrived. Thanks dad he said hugging him
Candy was talking to her friends, when she saw a face from the past.
- Elizabeth Barrington?
- Candy, hi… she said nicely, congratulations
- Thanks…
- You're asking yourself, why I'm so nice?
- Kind of…
- I hit rock bottom with my drug problem, I almost died… I finally got the force and the will to do something about it and I checked myself into a rehab center… a lot of my friends became HIV positive… and I was lucky to have been spared. I cried of joy when I heard the results and I decided to change. I'm a counselor in youth centre in London and Junior was nice enough to invite me to your wedding. I now know that Terry really loves you and I'm sorry for all the mean things I've said and done to you….
- I forgive you Lizzie, and I' very happy for you, said Candy
- Lizzie, said Terry who had just arrived
- Terry, congratulations…said Lizzie
- Thanks you seem… different, said Terry
- That's because I am. Like I was telling Candy…
They continued talking for a while. Lizzie went to the washroom and she heard some noise in one of the bedroom. She opened the door and she saw Eliza who was getting dressed quickly with a well known actor.
- Eliza….
- Lizzie! Oh I'm so happy to see you! She said jumping to her neck
The actor got out quietly.
- Eww! Eliza, you've just threw out the window any fantasies I might have had about that actor…
- And how do you think I feel… it wasn't all that! Said Eliza
- Eliza, aren't you married?
- Yes, but….
- There is no "But". You have to stay faithful to your husband. Life is too short… you can get an incurable disease, with your one hour encounters!
- Hey, you were doing that too! You're one to talk!
- That's why I'm telling you. I know what it is… be careful Eliza, if you're not sick yet…
- Lizzie, you're scaring me, are you sick?
- No, but my other friends are! I've got another chance and I don't want to waste it
Eliza didn't say anything. No more good time? But, she looked at her friend and she could see the change in her. Maybe she should listen to her.
- Who died and made you Mother Teresa? Lizzie… ok, I'm going to listen to you she said with tired tone
- You should start by apologizing to Candy and Terry
- You've got to be kidding me!
- No. Apologize for all the mean things you've done and for hiding Terry's letter…
- Eliza, you're the one who hid Terry's letter? Said Candy's voice who was passing by and who'd heard Lizzie's last words to Eliza
- Candy…I…
- My God, you hate me that much? To prevent me from being reassured by the man I love… but I still waited for him…
- Candy, I'm sorry, it was childish and trivial, said Eliza…
- You can say that again! What are you doing in my parent's guests' room? Oh… Eliza…, said Candy
- Ok! Lizzie already lectured me, don't start! Said Eliza
- Well I hope you're going to listen to your friend, at least, said Candy getting out
Eliza listened to her best friend and Lizzie prayed that her words will have the desired effect on her friend.
The rest of the reception was fine; Candy's friends from the hospital were amazed to see so many celebrities in one day. The children from the Pony house were happy to be in such a big party with so much food and celebrities they used to see only on TV, starting with their boss' husband… Melissa and Philippe's family had made up.
The reporters tried in every shape and form to take pictures or to tape de ceremony, but in vain. They even had helicopters with cameras that were flying over them from time to time. But they on had far away pictures not very clear. Melissa will be able to sell clips of the weddings and the pictures to TV shows, TV channels and papers for a very good price. Candy and Terry decided that the money they will get from the pictures and the videos will go to the Pony house and others institutions of the same kind.
For the honeymoon they went to the Fiji Islands with the Andrew's personnel jet. Serena stayed with Melissa. It was the first time Terry was separated from Serene during a trip. He was a little worried.
- Honey, said Candy, are you ok? You're thinking about Serena?
- It's the first time I'm separated from her, said Terry
- You took her everywhere with you on movie sets?
- Yes, I had a nanny with me and I'll come and stay with her during breaks…
- You're a wonderful father…
- I can't wait to see Limo, said Terry touching her belly
- You're not embarrassed anymore?
- When there's only the two of us, it's fine, he said smiling
- Have you ever done it on a plane?
- Is that an invitation from you, my darling wife?
- After the Limo, the jet…
- We seem to like the most usual places… no, I've never done it in the air…he said kissing her
In the air…they had a lot of fun. The staff didn't bother them for hours, until they called them when they got hungry. The honeymoon was a perfect dream.
Albert bought a house in Chicago for Candy as a wedding present, with a big garden, it was better for the children. Terry took a sabbatical to spend some time with Candy and Serena. No movies, no work for at least a year and then he would only do one film per year to spend time with his family. Candy did the same thing, a year off plus her maternity leave to spend some times with her family. But she would sometime go to medical conference or volunteer at the local free clinic part time. Being a doctor, she can't stay out of work too long…Her pregnancy was going well. Her friends were pregnant at the same time, Annie, Patty, Tani, Rachel Albert's wife; it was a real baby boom! Annie had her baby first, it was a beautiful little girls she called Anyssa.
Candy and Terry went to the doctor's for Candy checkup. They wanted to know the sex of the baby. Candy was almost due to have the baby; they hadn't decided if they wanted to know the sex or not. This time, they had finally decided to know, two weeks before the due date. Candy was on the exam table for the ultrasound. Flammy was performing the ultrasound.
- So Candy, said Flammy, you want to know today or not?
- Yes, Flammy, this time we really want to know, said Candy
- Terry? Said Flammy
- Yes, I want to know, said Terry
- Ok, said Flammy putting the cold liquid on Candy's belly
Flammy started to look at the baby on the screen.
- So, Flammy, is it a boy or a girl?
- Candy your cervix is open; your baby is coming one of these mornings. You're sure you don't want to wait?
- Flammy! For once, we're sure; you want to talk us out of it? Said Candy
- But, you've waited this long…, said Flammy
- She's right, Juliet, said Terry, we can wait…
- Terry, don't start! Said Candy
- We can wait a few days, said Terry
- Or a few hours, said Candy
- Why a few hours? Asked Terry
- Because my water just broke… said Candy, Flammy…
- Don't move Candy, I'm coming said Flammy getting out of the room
- Terry…
- I'm here Freckles… Limo is full of surprises! I can't wait to see him…
- Him?
- I want a boy, Freckles…
Candy smiled. She was transferred to the maternity ward with Terry, she had her own room.
- Oh my God! Said Terry, I'm going to call your parents so they can bring the camera and the camcorder. I can't wait to see the little tike…
- It's not the first time for you, said Candy a little sad
- Candy, said Terry, it's my first time with you… it's the same thing…I love you Freckles…
- Oh Terry, I love you!
Candy gave birth to her little baby without any complications. Her parents had come with the camera and the camcorder that they gave to Terry. Philippe was in the waiting room, but Melissa wanted to be there for the birth of her first grandchild. Terry was with his Freckles, through the whole thing and he didn't leave her side. They gave the baby to Candy. Terry was sitting on the bed with her. Melissa had filmed the birth and she was also taking pictures.
- Candy, said Terry, it's a boy! I'm so happy! Thank you!
- You're very welcome, my love. Thanks to you. Did you think about a name?
- "Limo" for Limousine? He joked
- He's going to be embarrassed at school when they're going to ask him why he's name after a car…
- Because he was conceived in it?
- You're not going to tell him that…
- No… he said laughing, but joke aside, I thought of a name… and I hope you'll agree with me…
- Go ahead Romeo…
- Ok. To thank you for your sacrifice and for Serena, I said to myself if the baby was a boy, we could call him "Anthony"
- Anthony?
- Yes. You loved him a lot, Albert adopted you because of him and sent you to London and we met on the plane. It was the most beautiful day of my life…
Candy was crying of joy. She didn't know what to say…
- Terry… I love you so much…. She said crying
- I love you too, Freckles… he said kissing her
Melissa and Philippe got into the room.
- Mom, dad said Candy, let me introduce you to Anthony…
- Hey you! Said Melissa taking her grandson, you're so beautiful, I could eat you! Grandpa, look at your grandson, he's blond like you…
- Hello baby! Said Philippe smiling
Terry called his mother, Candy's friends and the rest of the family and a few hours later, Candy's room was full!
- Everybody, said Candy, this is Anthony…
- Anthony…, said Stear moved
- Thanks Candy, said Archibald, that's nice of you
- It was Terry's idea, said Candy
- Really? Said Archie moved, thank you Terry
- Yes, said Stear, thank you very much, I wanted to call my son Anthony too…
- Me too… said Archie
- Well we're going to give them numbers, mine is Anthony the 1st! Said Candy
Everybody burst out laughing. Patty and Tani were still pregnant. Candy and Terry's baby pictures were sold by Melissa and the money went to the Pony House and other institutions. Candy thought that maybe it was taking advantage of her baby, but the money went to help orphans.
Candy and Terry didn't let anything separate them again. Susanna came to see Serena from time to time and she didn't make any comment when she saw the harmony in which Candy and Terry were living. Terry really loved Candy; she knew it from the beginning. Because even when she drugged Terry to spend the night with him, he called her "Candy"… But she was happy that her daughter had a good loving family, she will grow up to be good, like Candy… Of course, she will never admit that out loud…. She thought the sacrifice she did to have Serena by trapping Terry was very big. To have another woman raising her daughter was a bonus for her, even if she'd lost Terry…
Candy and her friends stayed closed, and they raised their kids together in loved and harmony. Serena was calling her "mommy" and Candy was happy. Serena was very happy to have a little brother.
Candy thought about the suffering during her separation from Terry, and about all the happiness she had now. What goes around comes around. She had been rewarded for her kindness and generosity… she had the man she loved, her family and she was the happiest woman on the planet.
**THE END**
End file.
| fanfiction |
Electrode potential for saturated silver carbonate solution
An electrochemical cell is set up to measure the electrode potential $E(\ce{Ag^+}/\ce{Ag})$ using the saturated $\ce{Ag2CO3(aq)}$ solution $(K\_\mathrm{sp}(\ce{Ag2CO3(aq)},\pu{25 °C}) = \pu{6.3E-12})$ with a standard hydrogen electrode.
Equilibrium concentration of $\ce{Ag+}$ in the saturated solution is $\pu{2.33E-4 M}.$
Electrode potential can be calculated using Nernst equation:
$$E(\ce{Ag^+}/\ce{Ag}) = \pu{0.8 V} + \frac{\pu{0.059 V}}{1}\log\frac{[\ce{Ag+}]}{[\ce{Ag(s)}]}.$$
But we can't use the equilibrium concentration of $\ce{Ag+}$ we got above for the concentration of oxidised species to calculate E. Instead, we use the value half of that, or just the concentration of $\ce{Ag2CO3}$. Why is that?
Reference:
Original question, page 14, question 7(a)(iv): <https://papers.gceguide.com/A%20Levels/Chemistry%20(9701)/2020/9701_s20_qp_41.pdf>
Mark scheme: page 13, question 7(a)(iv)
<https://bestexamhelp.com/exam/cambridge-international-a-level/chemistry-9701/2020/9701-s20-ms-41.php>
Worked solution here, at 2:08:20, <https://youtube.com/watch?v=rDYnDi4k5pU>
But I don't understand the reason mentioned: Because concentration of silver ions is sparingly soluble, so we are using the concentration of $\ce{Ag2CO3(aq)}$.
Where is the problem?
Let's call $s$ the solubility of $\ce{Ag2CO3}$. As a consequence $[\ce{Ag+}] = 2s,$ and $[\ce{CO3^2-}] = s.$ So the solubility product is
$$K\_\mathrm{s} = [\ce{Ag+}]^2\,[\ce{CO3^2-}] = 4 s^3 = \pu{6.3E-12},$$
which gives
$$s^3 \approx \pu{1.6E-12 M^3} \quad\implies\quad s \approx \pu{1.2E-4 M}$$
$$[\ce{Ag+}] = 2s\approx\pu{2.4E-4 M}$$
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Scary stories
To Tell in the Dark
Written by
Kevin & Dan Hageman
Story by
Guillermo Del Toro
Based on
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
By Alvin Schwartz
Illustrations
By Stephen Gammell
11.2.17 Draft"Some towns have a curse.
Some towns have a witch.Mill Valley, has both.
But which one is which?"
Popular Rhymeii.EXT. MILL VALLEY - ESTABLISHING - DUSK
Settled on a fork of the Yamhill River in the Pacific
Northwest rests the small railway city of MILL VALLEY.
All is quiet, save for the clacking of a lone train.
SERIES OF OPENING SHOTS of a TOWN IN DECLINE:
ON MAIN STREET
Outside MILL VALLEY PAWN SHOP, an OLD TIMER lowers the
AMERICAN FLAG. A RECORD SHOP next door is already BOARDED UP.
Super: MILL VALLEY, OCT 31st, 1968.
A DISK JOCKEY who sounds like he is battling throat cancer,
cuts through the doleful monotony of Americana --
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
Dig yourself out of the grave, Mill
Valley, ‘cause this could be our last Halloween...
ON HOUSE
A MOTHER places a JACK-O-LANTERN on her porch -- then sees
her “VOTE NIXON ‘68” YARD SIGN has been vandalized. The ‘X’ has been turned into a swastika. Mortified, she removes it.
ON UNFINISHED OVERPASSCONSTRUCTION WORKERS laugh as they pack up for the day
beneath an unfinished SPRAWLING RAISED HIGHWAY.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
...When that giant monstrosity is
finally built, they may as well turn the knife, cause the rest of the world is gonna pass us by...
A SULLEN MAN with the name OREN embroidered on his coveralls, drifts away from the pack to load his tools in his pick-up.
ON GRAVEYARDSTELLA MICHAELS (15), meek with thick black specs that are
easy to hide behind, reads a book (TRUE GRIT, Portis) while taking a bite of a sandwich in front of a GRAVESTONE on the anniversary of her mother’s death. DINAH B. MICHAELS Apr 8
1921 - Oct 31 1958.DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
But you got me. To say what I wanna
say, and play what I wanna play...
The Sun sets--- Stella uses an early POLAROID camera to
photograph a STONE SKULL on a gravestone, then grabs her bike to leave.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
So you be careful out there tonight
- cause when the sun goes down...
It’s the Season of the Witch
.
A plucky GUITAR RIFF begins. It’s coupled with a BLUESY BASS LINE. The slow groove of Donovan’s “Season of the Witch” as we continue our OPENING SEQUENCE:
ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - HALLOWEEN NIGHTCowboys, princesses and pirates collect their annual haul of
sweets on a suburban street from a bygone era.
A CLOSED CINEMA: On its dilapidated marquee a crumbling sign
announces TH HEART IS A ONELY HUNT R.
The cinema may be closed, but the street is alive: Children
keep their candy bags close as -- a 68’ BLUE BONNEVILLE sulks down the street like a shark on the prowl.
KURT MILNER (18) drives with a sucker in his mouth. His car
filled with LETTERMANS chugging Schlitz, looking for trouble.
Donovan’s swagger-filled lyrics kick in --
DONOVAN
“When I look out my window... Many
sights to see....”
DEPUTY HOBBS (20s) looks out the window of his idle PATROL
CRUISER. As he pets his dog TRIGGER, he motions to Kurt to keep it moving. They do.
IN STEINBERG HOUSEHOLD - LIVING ROOM / LOWBORN BATHROOM
THE STEINBERGS (married, bored, him yawning, her, sewing a
costume) watch TV. ON it: Nixon.
NIXON (ON TV)
I'll take only a minute. I had a very good briefing by Secretary
Rusk this morning up at New York.
(MORE)2.And then I just went over and had a
half hour with the General and he’s-
it’s the longest visit he had. He
just looks great.
ALICE STEINBERG (17) cruises by in a slip and her bouffant
already done up, carrying swaths of fabric.
She heads upstairs and goes by --
The bathroom --Then does a double take, retraces her steps: There. Kneeling
before the toilet, is CHUCK STEINBERG (14), a scamp with a
large mouth that looks ill-placed on his unusually-small body
ALICE
What the hell are you doing?
The answer? He’s angling for a turd with a small aquarium fish net.
CHUCK
Little privacy please!
Chuck slams the bathroom door in his sister’s face.
DONOVAN
“And when I look in my window... So
many different people to be.”
IN HILDERBRANDT HOUSEHOLD - UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS LIVING ROOM
AUGGIE HILDERBRANDT (15), excessively tall with long hair and
a mopey face, dons a Pierrot costume with black button-balls
down a white, silk front.
AUGGIE
Mom. It’s fine.
MRS. HILDERBRANDT
It’s loose in the crotch.
He buries his mortification as she measures his inseam and sticks him with pins.
IN MICHAELS HOUSEHOLD - CLUTTERED LIVING ROOM OREN MICHAELS, the sullen man from the construction site,
pops open another beer and stares at a TV that isn’t on.
Stella mournfully glances from the threshold of the bathroom,
fresh out of the shower and wrapped in a towel. She shuts the door. Her father pays no attention.NIXON (ON TV) (CONT'D)3.IN MICHAELS BATHROOM
A drawer is opened. Stella’s hand digs through the clutter to
expose -- a STRAIGHT RAZOR gleans under a mishmash of MAKEUP.
Stella stares into the mirror. Her body is gaunt, almost
skeletal. A sadness in her eyes.
DONOVAN
“That it’s strange... So strange.”
She lifts her chin, then -- slits her throat, WITH A LINE OF BLACK FACE PAINT. The beginnings of a Halloween costume.
ON MORALES PAINT-CHIPPED HOME
A beat-up CORVAIR MONZA parks in front of a destitute home.
IN MORALES LIVING ROOM
MRS. MORALES watches TV (NEWS about the first Manned Moon
Orbit flight) in the dark with her HUSBAND, who is hidden by his recliner. A lit cigarette in a crowded ashtray.
RAMóN MORALES (18), a young man with hard-knock looks and a
disappointed demeanor, drops off vials of prescription pills.
His mother smiles, but something inside her died years ago.
His father never turns. The soft glow of the television illuminates DISFIGUREMENTS too disturbing to look at.
IN STEINBERG KITCHEN
MRS. STEINBERG shucks peas as Alice crafts her own dress on a
second-hand sewing machine.
CHUCK (O.C.)
I said Spiderman. Not a spider
man.
Chuck, embarrassed to be dressed in a silly FOUR-ARMED SPIDER
COSTUME, beelines to the fridge to see what he can scavenge --
it’s bare, save for some day-old bread and a carton of eggs.
MRS. STEINBERG
Spiders have eight legs-
CHUCK
He doesn’t- I gave you the comic
book!
He shows her a dynamic cover of Spiderman swinging between
buildings.4.CHUCK (CONT’D)
He’s a superhero, not a freak!
MRS. STEINBERG
Well, the superhero should be happy
the Lord provided.
ALICE
Aren’t you too old to be trick or
treating?
Chuck spots a clown tapping outside the kitchen window.
CHUCK
Aren’t you too ugly to be going on
a date?-- Auggie’s here, gotta run.
Alice lunges to throttle her little brother. Chuck swipes the carton of eggs and runs off. Mom continues to shuck, unfazed.
DONOVAN
“You’ve got to pick up every
stitch... You’ve got to pick up
every stitch... ”
ON STEINBERG BACKYARD
Chuck exits hauling a BACKPACK, to meet a waiting Auggie --
AUGGIE
I thought you were gonna be
Spiderman.
CHUCK
I am.
AUGGIE
(points at the arms)
But the-
CHUCK
Don’t worry about it. I got the goods. Let’s banana split.
AUGGIE
(leering through window)
Is Alice getting dressed?
CHUCK
Get your own sister, you giant
perv.
Off them hopping on their bikes and riding away --5.DONOVAN
“You’ve got to pick up every
stitch. Mmhmmm... ”
IN MICHAELS BATHROOM
Stella puts the finishing touches on her face paint and steps
back to inspect her work --
DONOVAN (CONT’D)
“Must be the Season of the Witch. ”
Stella is unrecognizable. A near photo-realistic skull covers
her face. Her exquisite paint job is a labor of love.
Confident -- she puts on her glasses and turns off the light.
Scary stories
To Tell in the Dark
As “Season of the Witch” fades out... darkness persists... An
uncomfortable long moment... Long enough to be unnerving...
And then SMASH TO --
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - HOURS LATER
A bespectacled Skeleton, a Pierrot, and a Spider Man drag
their pillowcases half-filled with candy and armaments.
Chuck eyes a slow passing car as Auggie smokes a joint.
AUGGIE
... I’m just saying, if anything, a
spider man should have eight arms,
not four.
CHUCK
At least I’m not a clown.
AUGGIE
I’m a Pierrot. A 17th century
character from La Commedia Dell’arte, idiot stick.
Stella sees porch lights beginning to turn off. 6.STELLA
He’s not gonna show.
AUGGIE
He’ll show. Dick Breath does it
every year and this time it’ll be his last.
CHUCK
Well if he doesn’t, maybe next year
you can carry the bag of shit.
Chuck empties the last of his Good N’ Plentys into his mouth.
AUGGIE
Do you even know what’s in those?
CHUCK
What are you now, The Man?
AUGGIE
The same toxic chemicals that’s
giving our troops Hodgkin’s
lymphoma and curdling the breast
milk of the South Vietnamese.
STELLA
You’re crazy.
AUGGIE
Not crazy. Conscious.
(passes joint to Stella)
You sure you don’t want any? Cause
you’re creeping us out with this
whole skeleton thing.
She waves it off.
CHUCK
Yeah, pretty tragic considering
it’s the anniversary your mom’s death.
AUGGIE
(annoyed at Chuck)
Dude.
Chuck realizes his poor choice of words and backpedals --
CHUCK
I’m... sorry. I didn’t --
Stella goes solemn, but shirks it off. 7.STELLA
It’s fine. Gimme that --
Stella grabs the joint. Before she takes a drag -- OS engine
of a ‘68 Bonneville.
CHUCK
Shit! It’s Kurt --
AUGGIE
(lowers clown mask)
Cover your face, stupid. And hold out the bait.
Chuck dons his disguise, acting as if this were some kind of heist.
INSIDE ‘68 BONNEVILLE
Kurt laughs with his kind, throwing beer cans out the window.IN THE BACKSEAT -- Alice is all done up for her date, wedged
between two Lettermans. She swats their unwanted advances.
ALICE
(to Kurt, annoyed)
You said we would have dinner.
Kurt’s eyes narrow as he spots the backs of some trick-or-treaters all alone.
KURT
How ‘bout dessert?
He hits the gas. His FLATTOP buddy cackles and leans out the passenger window, prepping to snare the candy bag --
As they blow past, he RIPS the bag from Chuck’s hand. They
all laugh. Flattop opens the pillowcase only to find --
FLATTOP
It’s full of old man undies!
Enraged, Kurt slams on the brakes.
ON STELLA AND FRIENDSThey unload a SLEW OF EGGS and TOILET PAPER, pelting the car.
CHUCK
Trick or treat, mother fuckers!
ON ‘68 BONNEVILLE8.As the Bonneville takes on a barrage of egg yolk and teepee,
Kurt angrily shifts the car into reverse, full speed.
ON STELLA AND FRIENDSThey hold their ground, not afraid to exhaust every bit of
their stash. Payback for years of being picked on.
Chuck proudly lights his BROWN PAPER BAG OF SHIT on fire.
CHUCK (CONT’D)
And now for the Poup D’etat...
As the Bonneville returns for a second pass, Chuck TOSSES it -
- throwing it right into their window.
INSIDE ‘68 BONNEVILLE
The bag EXPLODES on Kurt’s lap. Alice SHRIEKS. He frantically
swats the flames and manure, forgetting to hit the brakes.
The Bonneville surges backward, out of control --
FLATTOP
The brakes! The brakes!
ON STELLA AND FRIENDSThey beam in victory ---- Only to see the Bonneville CRASH into a tree. Their smiles
drop, suddenly concerned by the inevitable fallout.
AUGGIE
Ah shit!
CHUCK
Let’s cheese it!
As they are running away --
ON CRASHED ‘68 BONNEVILLEShit-stained Kurt and his cronies pile out of the car. Alice
sees her four-armed brother running away.
ALICE
Chucky? Is that you?!
KURT
That’s your brother?! I’m gonna
murder them!!9.Kurt and his friends grab baseball bats and chase after.
Alice stays with the car, her arms folded.
ON STELLA AND HER FRIENDS, RUNNING
AUGGIE
Your sister went out with that
dickhead?
CHUCK
So much for our cover. Let’s split
up. Better odds only one of us dying.
STELLA
Meet up at The Gorge.
AUGGIE
Catch ‘ya later.
STELLA
Not if you catch a disease first.
They splinter off, cutting through backyards.
Kurt and the Lettermans stay as a pack, targeting Chuck.
ON CHUCK
Chuck sees the heat is on him and silently curses, all four
arms pumping in stride. He heads for the woods.
ON KURT AND LETTERMANSRun into the woods, searching in all directions. Flattop finds -- The SPIDER MAN COSTUME. They fan out. OUTSKIRTS OF SUBURBSShivering, Chuck exits the woods in his tightey-whiteys. He
catches his breath, then spots off in the distance --
THE GORGE CINEMAA DRIVE-IN nestled in a natural basin on the waterfront. A
line of 60-era cars waiting to get inside.
AT LINE OF CARS
Chuck meets Stella and Auggie, ducking behind cars, trying to
stay undetected by the Lettermans scanning the area.10.They hide behind a CORVAIR MONZA, blaring “Little Green
Apples”
AUGGIE
You’re in your underwear.
CHUCK
I’m still not a clown.
Stella shushes them. Then is surprised to see the trunk of
the CORVAIR pop open. A voice from the driver --
RAMÓN (O.C.)
You’re acting like it’s your first
time.
She spots Ramón, vaguely recognizing him. Chuck and Auggie
act first, hopping inside. Stella follows in after.
Ramón pulls into the Drive-In, past a marquee that reads:
“BORIS KARLOFF’S BLACK SABBATH”. Pays his ticket for one.
Kurt and the Lettermans lose the scent and move on.
INT. THE GORGE DRIVE-IN -- LATER
THE STARING, GRINNING FACE of a dead woman!! In gory
technicolor.
A smattering of cars idly face a towering outdoor screen
showing the horror flick. Pipe organ swells through every hanging CAR WINDOW SPEAKER, as the small audience scarf
popcorn or take part in the usual immoral behavior.
IN THE CORVAIR MONZA
As Ramón watches the movie -- Chuck climbs out of the
retractable back seat, putting on an oversized military tee.
CHUCK
Mind if I borrow these fatigues I found in your trunk? I saw they were in a box marked for Goodwill.
RAMÓN
Have at it.
Stella and Auggie pull themselves out, adrenaline still pumping through their veins.
STELLA
That was amazing. 11.CHUCK
Did’ju see the look on their faces?
AUGGIE
All I saw were your sister’s tits.
Ramón looks at Auggie in his rear-view mirror, unsure of what
exactly he is looking at.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
... I’m a Pierrot.
Stella pulls herself into the passenger seat. Wiping her face
paint off.
STELLA
Thanks. We owe you.
(re: movie)
Black Sabbath ... a good one. Mario
Bava- he’s real good-
AUGGIE
Mario, what?
STELLA
Bava. Italian. He’s done great
movies- Black Sunday -
RAMÓN
Should’ve been here last week when
they played The Conqueror Worm .
STELLA
(Vincent Price impression)
“Men sometimes have strange motives
for the things they do. ”
Ramón smiles upon meeting a kindred spirit.
RAMÓN
Ramón.
Stella blushes, then turns her attention to the movie, pushing up her glasses to see better. Ramón feels dissed.
CHUCK
Her name is Stella. I’m Chuck, and this is Auggie.
Stella sees the name ‘Morales’ on Chuck’s military attire.
STELLA
Hey, isn’t your dad that war hero who just moved in?
(MORE)12.People say he jumped on a grenade
and lived.
(morbidly fascinated)
Does he like, still have his fingers and toes and stuff?
Ramón is taken aback by her bluntness.
RAMÓN
Not all of them...
AUGGIE
Forgive her. She’s strange.
Chuck sees something out the window and ducks -
CHUCK
Dick Breath alert. He’s coming in.
AT CONCESSION STAND
The banged-up Bonneville pulls into the drive-in. Kurt gets
out and talks to a few Lettermans, motioning to the vicinity.
Alice is offered a bucket of popcorn, but from her crossed
arms, she clearly doesn’t want anything to do with this.
They spread out to widen the search, peeking into cars.
IN CORVAIR MONZAAs Kurt and the Lettermans get closer --
RAMÓN
Back in the trunk.
Stella and Chuck are quick to take refuge but Auggie revolts.
AUGGIE
No way that’s a trunk, at best it’s
a large glove box.
RAMÓN
(handing over blanket)
It’s your hide.
Auggie hides under a blanket as the others go into the trunk.
STELLA (O.S.)
Get your hand off my butt.CHUCK (O.S.)
I can’t control them.
RAMÓN
Ssh. STELLA (CONT'D)13.They quiet down and Ramón plays it cool. As they wait for
Kurt to search the neighboring cars --
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
(discrete to Auggie)
What’s up with weirdo bird?
Auggie peeks out from under the blanket, keeping his voice low and his sentences short.
AUGGIE
Who, Stella?
(beat)
Her family moved here about ten years ago. Not long after, her mom was killed. She doesn’t like to talk about it, but everyone pretty
much knows it was her dad that did
it-
Ramón looks shocked. Auggie back peddles --
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
He didn’t kill her- Not on like purpose. He was drunk. And driving. He swears it was someone else but
no one really buys it. Not even
Stell.
This sits with Ramón. He looks at the trunk through the rear-view mirror, suddenly empathetic.
-- A RAP on the window startles them. Auggie hides. Ramón cranks down his window to see Kurt leering in.
RAMÓN
Soda and popcorn. Extra butter.
KURT
(sneers, then)
You wouldn’t happen to have seen a
spider, a clown, or a skinny bitch?
Auggie sees his clown shoes are peeking out. He tries to cover them but the blanket is too short.
RAMÓN
Now that you mention it... no. But you’ll be the first to know.
Kurt checks out Ramón’s car and laughs, knowing full well he’s being played. Behind him --14.Lettermans gather, ready at his beckon call. Kurt motions for
them to hold off - he can handle it.
KURT
You got a smart mouth, Amigo. I’ll let that slide. Besides --
(cutting to the bone)
I feel bad for any war hero who has a hood for a son.
Ramón grips the wheel, restraining his better instinct.
KURT (CONT’D)
(spots clown shoes)
I see you, shit stain! Get outta the car! I bet that drunk’s girl is in there too!
RAMÓN
Mind keeping it down? Everyone’s trying to watch a movie.
KURT
So you won’t get outta the car. See that, fellas? Mexicans aren’t brown, they’re yellow.
Ramón glances to see what he’s up against. It must be 5 to 1. He stays seated, knowing the smart play.
KURT (CONT’D)
I said - get out of the car. Spic.
Ramón bolts out of the car, angrily pressing his forehead
against Kurt’s, daring him to throw the first punch.
Just as the Lettermans are about to pounce --The flashing lights from a SHERIFF’S CRUISER.SHERIFF MILNER (50s), a once-strong lawman who’s grown weary
from the trade, steps out. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
SHERIFF MILNER
Leave it alone, Kurt.
Kurt backs away with his hands up, staring daggers at Ramón.
KURT
Sorry dad, we were just leaving.
RAMÓN
(returning to car)
We are too, Sheriff. 15.The slight admission doesn’t go unnoticed by Kurt.
KURT
You’re all dead.
SHERIFF MILNER
Enough.
Ramón drives off. Chuck pops up in the rear windshield,
flicking them off.
Kurt looks to his father, like a sniveling tattle-tale. His
father only returns a look of disappointment.
SHERIFF MILNER (CONT’D)
Go home. You smell like shit.
Off Kurt’s disdain --
INT. CORVAIR MONZA - LATER
Ramón pulls out of the Drive-In. Stella and her friends get
settled into their seats.
STELLA
Sorry you had to miss the movie.
RAMÓN
I’m sorry I missed whatever you did
to piss off that ape.
(beat)
You may wanna hold off going home.
I take it he knows where you live?
CHUCK
Maybe we can crash at your place?
RAMÓN
I helped enough.
AUGGIE
We can lay low in the motel just
outside of town?
CHUCK
And pay for it with what -- Abba Zaba and lollipops?
STELLA
You know...
(mischievous)
The Bellows House is empty.16.Auggie and Chuck share a cautious look --
CHUCK
Yeah. They’re tearing it down to
make way for the freeway later this week. No one’ll look for us there.
AUGGIE
No way. We all know what happens to
kids who go into the Bellows House.
RAMÓN
What happens to the kids?
CHUCK
(giddy)
He doesn’t know.
Ramón looks to Stella, hoping she will clear it up.
STELLA
Ever wanted to check out a haunted
house?... Hang a left.
Off Ramón’s growing curiosity, he takes the next turn.
EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - NIGHT - LATER
The Corvair Monza parks on a secluded dirt road. The grass
has grown long. Years of neglect, or perhaps avoidance.
RAMÓN
(gazes out window)
You really weren’t kidding...
They step out of the car to see --
An unbuilt portion of a RAISED FREEWAY. A fractured monolith
of jagged rebar and cement. The two sides nearly touching. Between the divide, on a hill...
An imposing PURITAN MANOR on a sprawling, timeworn estate.
Black rotted wood. A pair of prodigious MASONRY CHIMNEYS. The brittle facade is painted with shadows, consumed by rot, and strangled by overgrown foliage.
CHUCK
What better place to spend a Halloween Night. Muhahaha .
Chuck cackles as he passes through a wrought-iron gate and crosses a cobblestone bridge over a dry creek bed. 17.Stella and Auggie slowly make their way. Ramón lingers.
STELLA
You coming?
Intrigued, Ramón shuts his door and follows their lead.
RAMÓN
So who are the Bellows?
STELLA
Some railway magnate who put Mill
Valley on the map.
AUGGIE
It was just a settlement until they dammed the river, allowing this
place to flourish. My mom says they
were a pretty big deal back then.
They pass a FAMILY PLOT. Every single tombstone marks a death in 1921. Ramón double checks to see if he saw that right, then races to catch up with the others.
RAMÓN
Lemme guess - something horrible
happened to them in 1921?
Stella and Ramón join Auggie onto the front porch where CLAY
BRICKS and WIRE line the house.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
You sure we want to go in there?
The place is lined to explode.
AUGGIE
Those demo bricks? Don’t sweat it,
it’s not like they’re wired up.
(stepping over)
Better watch your step.
They gingerly walk past the explosives.
AT FRONT DOORAuggie slams his shoulder into the door a few times, when ---- It swings open with Chuck inside, giving them a scare!
CHUCK
I got you!
AUGGIE
You did not. How did’ju get inside?18.CHUCK
Through a window and I totally did.
AUGGIE
Now I’m gonna get you!
Auggie chases Chuck --
INT. FOYER - BELLOWS HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
-- Through the foyer and up the bannister stairs.
The front door creaks open, welcoming Stella and Ramón in
with the moonlight. They take in the surroundings with reserved wonderment and caution --
What once was a luxurious mansion has now been picked clean
of any valuables and defaced over time: Torn, water-stained wallpaper. Missing floorboards. Broken and strewn articles litter a floor already covered in layers of dust.
RAMÓN
So what happened to the Bellows?
Stella runs her fingers down the wallpaper as she passes down
the halls, transfixed. Ramón hangs on her every word.
STELLA
They had a young daughter they
never let out of the house. Sarah. As the story goes, they never allowed pictures of her either.
Ramón passes a PHOTOGRAPH of the BELLOWS FAMILY still hung on the wall: A gaunt patriarch and matriarch with a thick green ribbon around her neck, surrounded by sturdy young men.
STELLA (CONT’D)
People say she was... different .
RAMÓN
How so?
STELLA
Like, she didn’t look right. Had scoliosis and gigantism- or something. She was long and tall and sort of not right. But she had this gift, see? A milkman once said
he saw her bring a dead rabbit back
to life.
(MORE)19.She could touch a dead flower and
make it bloom- But that’s just the
town’s usual gossip.
RAMÓN
Nothing usual about that.
EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - SAME TIME
A car with LETTERMANS drive down the vacant road, passing the
Bellows front gates... and spot the parked CORVAIR MONZA.
They share a grin, then speed off.
INT. UPSTAIRS - BELLOWS ESTATE - SAME TIME
Auggie reluctantly walks the halls in search of Chuck.
AUGGIE
Chuck?... Chuck?
He finds a tear in the wallpaper, then takes pleasure in
PEELING it for as long as he can, exposing rotted paneling. An INTRUSION of COCKROACHES squeeze through an exposed crack.
Disgusted, he delicately tucks the wallpaper back.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
I know what you’re trying to do,
you’re not going to scare me.
Auggie cautiously moves ahead, swallowing his fear.
INT. LIBRARY - BELLOWS ESTATE - MOMENTS LATER
Stella peruses bare bookshelves. A few moth-eaten tomes, but
nothing worth salvaging. As Ramón takes in the dreary room, she continues the Bellows story --
STELLA
But Sarah was lonely. So she would write these scary stories. And kids would come from all around just to hear her read. To make them extra scary, she would write their names into them.
Ramón sees a broken rocking chair next to cleft toys strewn
on the ground, and with her words, they take on new meaning. STELLA (CONT'D)20.Stella finds an ornate MUSIC BOX on the shelf. She winds it
up and it tinkers a CHILD-LIKE LULLABY. Her gaze drifts as
she recollects the rest of the story.
STELLA (CONT’D)
But then the children started to go
missing. Everyone knew it was her.
(beat)
When they couldn’t find them, they
expected to find the bodies on this
estate, but none were found. And
when the police came to question Sarah - she disappeared. Never to
be seen again.
RAMÓN
What happened to her?
STELLA
No one knows. But a year later, in
1921, every member of her family died from bizarre and unexplained deaths.
(beat)
Some think it was the ghosts of the murdered children, others think it
was Sarah herself, come back to
punish her family for locking her up.
RAMÓN
What do you think?
Stella takes a moment to choose her words carefully...
STELLA
I think she just wanted to be like the other kids, but knew she could never be like them. As for the rest, I guess we’ll never know.
INT. UPSTAIRS MASTER BEDROOM - BELLOWS ESTATE - SAME TIME
Chuck tiptoes through the decrepit remains of what once was
an extravagant master bedroom.
AUGGIE (O.S.)
Chuck? If you jump out at me, I’m going to punch you in the face.
As Auggie’s footsteps are heard approaching, Chuck quickly climbs inside a large 18th century FRENCH ARMOIRE.21.INSIDE ARMOIRE
Chuck stifles a laugh and hides inside. Creak - he peeks out
the open door. Auggie walks past the bedroom, unsuspecting.
AUGGIE (O.S.) (CONT’D)
... Chuck?
Chuck seals himself into the darkness, trying not to laugh.
The sound of Auggie’s footsteps come back.
Creak - Chuck cracks open the door again, only to see --
The entire bedroom is now vivid in color and texture .
Exquisite antiquities adorn the walls and cover the room. As
if everything is suddenly restored to its 1921 condition.
In startled awe, Chuck opens the armoire further to witness --
A GAUNT MATRIARCH with a wide GREEN RIBBON around her neck,
lies sick in bed, ominously staring back.
Chuck GASPS and seals the armoire doors. Unable to catch his
breath. Heart pounding. Did he see what he thought he saw? He
goes to peek again, when--
Auggie THROWS open the doors and YELLS! Scaring Chuck white.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
I totally got you back!
Chuck holds his beating heart, regaining his wits as he sees
the master bedroom HAS RETURNED TO ITS DECREPIT STATE.
CHUCK
The room -- It was new -- And there was a woman -- on the bed. A green ribbon around her neck.
AUGGIE
I know what you’re trying to do. I
got you, and you can’t admit it.
CHUCK
No, for real...
RAMÓN (O.S.)
YOU GUYS?! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS...
Chuck and Auggie share a look.22.INT. LIBRARY - BELLOWS ESTATE - CONTINUOUS
Chuck and Auggie enter the expansive library to find Stella
and Ramón - with an ALCARAZ RUG pulled back, standing over --
A CELLAR HATCH hidden in the floor . The lines of where a rug
used to lay framed around it. A SLIDING BOLT locks it.
RAMÓN
It doesn’t look like it’s ever been
opened.
CHUCK
Maybe where they buried the bodies.
Stella stares at the hatch - only one way to find out.
CUT TO:
BLACK. The sound of the bolt unlocks, and the hatch door opens. Moonlight floods in, revealing AN OLD STAIRCASE and the four teens framed within the hatch opening in wonderment.
INT. BASEMENT ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Ramón is brave enough to lead them down. He finds an OIL
LAMP, lights a match to ignite it. A warm glow reveals --
A YOUNG GIRL’S BEDROOM kept preserved like a time capsule.
Fine, deco furnishings. A vanity sink and mirror. A quilted bed covered in worn dolls and dust.
STELLA
It’s Sarah’s bedroom...
RAMÓN
What kind of family would lock up their own daughter?
AUGGIE
This room’s for a little kid. I thought Sarah was our age?
STELLA
(catching on)
She was... But her body was the size of an adult -- larger even...
Auggie picks up an antique EFFANBEE DOLL.23.STELLA (CONT’D)
Her mind was simple -- maybe too
simple.
Stella sits behind the vanity, trying to imagine being in her
place. Personal items still perfectly placed.
She puts on Sarah’s slippers. A perfect fit. Disturbed, she
quickly removes her feet.
STELLA (CONT’D)
This is a real person. This isn’t fun anymore.
AUGGIE
Yeah. Let’s get outta here.
As soon as they head toward the stairs --
BOOM!!! THE HATCH SLAMS CLOSED
. THEY SCREAM!
Auggie and Ramón try to open it!
RAMÓN
Someone locked us in!
CHUCK
IT’S THE WITCH! WE’RE ALL GONNA
DIE!!!
AUGGIE
I can’t open it!
But then - familiar LAUGHTER can be heard, coming from --
IN THE LIBRARYIt’s Dick Breath, holding a baseball bat, drunk and savoring.
Behind him is Alice, her comely dress wasted on the occasion.
ALICE
Kurt, they’re scared. Let them out.
IN THE BASEMENT ROOM
CHUCK
Alice?! Is that you?!
AUGGIE
I nearly shit my clown pants.
RAMÓN
You mean, Pierrot . 24.TEENS
Let us out!/Not cool!/C’mon, Kurt!
IN THE LIBRARY
Alice shivers, not liking this place one bit.
ALICE
Joke’s over. If you don’t open it,
I’m going to tell your father.
Kurt’s sadistic laughter fades.
KURT
Now why would you do that?
Alice is caught in his uncomfortable gaze.
ALICE
It’s my little brother.
Kurt takes a pull from a flask.
KURT
Fine. Go ahead.
Seeing he won’t help, Alice heaves open the hatch. But --
Kurt KICKS her down onto the others, then LOCKS the hatch.
KURT (CONT’D)
If you’re not putting out, you’re
no better than the other trash!
IN THE BASEMENT ROOM
Alice falls into Auggie’s eager arms. IN THE LIBRARYKurt wipes whisky from his sweaty grin.
TEENS (O.S.)
You can’t leave us here!/They’re
gonna blow up the house!
KURT
Then I hope you find a way out.
TEENS
C’mon, jokes over!/Let us out!/
You’re subhuman, Kurt!
Suddenly, TINKERING NOTES come back to life --25.Kurt sees the MUSIC BOX sitting upon a derelict book shelf.
He stares at the box, a bit spooked. He downs his flask, then
SMASHES it into pieces with his baseball bat.
EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
Kurt coldly stumbles out from the house where a few of his
Lettermans have been guarding the exits.
KURT
Let’s bug outta here.
FLATTOP
Wha’ja do to them?
KURT
Gave them what they deserve.
Kurt and his cronies drive off.
INT. BASEMENT ROOM - BELLOWS ESTATE - SAME TIME
Ramón and Chuck pound on the locked hatch.
RAMÓN
Let us out!
CHUCK
Yeah Kurt, don’t be a turd!
Stella plops down on the bed - they could be there a while.
RAMÓN
(to Chuck)
Find something to bust this open.
Ever the gentleman, Auggie helps Alice to her feet. She
smooths out her skirt, only to find it’s ripped.
ALICE
I worked so hard on this.
AUGGIE
It’s a nice dress. I mean, it still looks really good on you.
Alice smiles --
ALICE
You’re a Pierrot, right? 26.Auggie has a permanent grin. Life won’t get better than this.
As the others search for a way out... Stella feels something
under the mattress and pulls out --
THE BELLOWS BOOK. Considerable and weighty. Her fingers touch
warped leather, edges frayed. Smudges of dirt, faded blood.
ALICE (CONT’D)
What’s that?
STELLA
I don’t know.
She opens the tome, some frail pages stick together. She scans a few hand-written stories, enraptured.
The others suspend their efforts to come see, intrigued.
STELLA (CONT’D)
It’s Sarah’s book of scary stories.
The one she’d read to the kids.
AUGGIE
That’s just town gossip--
CHUCK
Or maybe they’re stories about how she murdered those kids?
Stella flips through the pages, some covered with dark illustrations. She rests on a story called THE GREEN RIBBON. Before she can make sense of it --
A FAINT THUMPING is heard. Then an ominous GROANING. Growing
LOUDER. Stella closes the book and puts it aside.
ALICE
Kurt? Is that you?
Within the walls, more CREAKING. Everyone eyes the ceiling and walls. Dust wafts. It’s as if the house is possessed.
CHUCK
We disturbed the disturbed ! Now
we’re gonna die!
AUGGIE
(not buying it)
It’s an old house - just built up
water pressure -- 27.The vanity sink COUGHS UP gray water! Alice SCREAMS. Pipes
RATTLE behind the CRACKING plastered walls. A pipe BURSTS
from the wall, spraying Auggie!
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
AAHH! THE CURSE OF SARAH BELLOWS!
Auggie freaks out and charges up the stairs at full speed,
SLAMMING his giant frame into the hatch --
IN THE LIBRARYHe EXPLODES out of the hatch! They SCREAM, storming through
the fissuring mansion, trying to get out as fast as they can.
A PIPE EXPLODES out of the wall - pouring out grey water.
They run out SCREAMING!
IN THE BASEMENT
Stella’s the last one out. Feeling watched, she turns to see -IN THE MIRROR’S REFLECTION -- A pale, gaunt, eerily elongated
SARAH BELLOWS (16) sits on the bed wearing a soiled hazel
gown. She has spindly limbs, a curved spine, and a simple-sweet smile. Her bony fingers hold up her book.
SARAH BELLOWS
Youuu maaay beee theee neeext...
Grey water pours out of her mouth.
Stella clasps her mouth and turns, stifling a scream -- BUT
SARAH ISN’T THERE. Only the book remains, as if calling her.
IN LIBRARY
Stella surges out from the hatch with her pillowcase in hand. She fumbles to put on her glasses -- staring at the
IMPRESSIVE CALAMITY SURROUNDING HER. The GROAN of buckling wood sounds like a tortured soul.
... She follows her friends out.
EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - CONTINUOUS
They race out, only to be met by --
The flashing lights of Sheriff Milner and Deputy Hobbs’ squad
cars, screeching to a halt. Trigger barking.
The cops get out of their cars and give chase. 28.CHUCK
It’s the fuzz! Let’s cheese it!
Ramón hightails it to his Corvair Monza.
RAMÓN
(hops in car)
Get in --
They all pile into the vehicle already on the move. Once all
in, Ramón peels out.
Sheriff Milner recognizes Ramón’s car. Deputy Hobbs runs
after them on foot. It’s useless to follow.
DEPUTY HOBBS
Should we check out the house?
SHERIFF MILNER
Nah. I’ll be glad when they tear
this eyesore down.
He eyes the looming manor as Trigger whines, uneasy.
INT. THE MICHAELS HOUSE - LATER
Stella enters after the long night. Beer bottles decorate a
home where a mother’s absence is felt. She hear’s WHIMPERING.
She passes her father’s room on the way to her bedroom --
Oren WEEPS next to his wife’s dress laid out on his bed.
Stella feels little sympathy and quietly enters her room.
INT. STELLA’S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Stella is cocooned in a bedsheet tent, eating candy out her
bag as she reads the Bellows Book by flashlight.
CLOSE ON BOOK: Disturbing B/W illustrations from the stories,
“The Cat’s Paw”, “Wait Till Martin Comes”, “The Wendigo”...
She turns to the next chapter -- ‘HAROLD’. With it, a horrifying illustration of a scarecrow impaled on a pike.
STELLA
...‘Harold’?
Her hand smudges the ink. It’s still wet. Hmm. 29.EXT. MILNER FARMSTEAD - NIGHT - SAME TIME
Kurt’s Bonneville drives onto his family’s sprawling property
with a FARM HOUSE and BARN in the back. Distant CORNFIELDS.
Drunk, he staggers out of his car and chucks his beer can at
a SCARECROW made from old sacks and stuffed with straw.
KURT
Eat shit, Harold.
‘Harold’ is pelted in its burlap face, a crooked scowl permanently stitched on. A pile of spent beer cans below.
Kurt stumbles to his house -- he’s startled by MRS. MILNER,
barking from the front door in a robe and sour face.
MRS. MILNER
It’s late.
KURT
It’s Halloween.
MRS. MILNER
You were supposed to feed the chickens.
KURT
It’s Brett’s turn.
MRS. MILNER
Do it before your father gets home.
He flippantly saunters toward the barn, kicking a chicken. He
fails to notice - the pole where Harold was hung is now bare
.
INT. BARN - MILNER FARMSTEAD - MOMENTS LATER
Kurt sets down a tin bucket filled with water. CLOSE ON: The WATER BUCKET. As the surface of the water
stills... the faint REFLECTION OF SARAH BELLOWS.
A bag of CHICKEN FEED is RIPPED open. Kurt haphazardly spills
some on top of the hungry chickens gathering at his feet.
KURT
Eat up. Get nice and fat.
He gets disturbed at the carcass of a dead chicken, pecked to
death by its own. 30.The wind picks up outside, creating a faint HOWLING through
the slats in the barn walls. The CAWING of crows.
Kurt perks up. Thinking it was nothing, he returns to feeding
the chickens when he sees --
A FIGURE standing between the barn doors. Kurt squints to see
-- It’s the scarecrow standing upright .
HAROLD takes an unnatural step forward, jerky. Kurt nearly trips over the chickens.
KURT (CONT’D)
The hell?! --
The chickens peck at Kurt’s feet, but he doesn’t notice. He’s
fixed on the WALKING MAN OF HAY before him.
Harold LURCHES closer.
Kurt runs -- enters...
INT. STABLES - NIGHT
A MAZE of stables. He runs- desperate- scared-
He hides, panting. A creak is heard- he peeks-
Harold is coming.Kurt sprints. Scared, he falls onto his ass. Right next to a
PITCHFORK.
KURT
Whoever’s in there, you’re gonna pay for this!
Kurt WHACKS Harold with the pitchfork! The scarecrow FALLS LIMP to the ground with a GRUNT.
He stands over the scarecrow, trying to see who is hiding
behind the hay. But there is no one, only a sinking feeling.
Harold REACHES for Kurt, who CRIES OUT while violently
STABBING the scarecrow with the pitchfork. RIPPING out its straw intestines, BEATING the living hay out of it.
Harold is completely TORN TO PIECES.
Kurt stands over it, heaving, victorious -- but confused as
to what this thing is.31.KURT (CONT’D)
Mom?! MOM?!--
He CHOKES on something. Airway obstructed. He COUGHS up some
hay, struggling for air. He tries to call for help, but no words come out -- only hay.
EXT. BARN - MILNER FARMSTEAD - CONTINUOUS
Kurt charges out of the barn, turning blue with asphyxiation. He runs through the cornfield --
His eyes bulge as he witnesses hay coming out of his sleeves
and pants. Straw lengthens from his ears, nose and eyes. He trembles to find the skin on his hand drying, like burlap.
He falls as straw grows from every part of him. He reaches
out to his home and releases a final muffled scream...
Only for hay to silently explode from his mouth!
And he stops- frozen in place- standing in the cornfield.
A scarecrow.
SMASH TO BLACK
EXT. MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL - NEXT MORNING
All is quiet. A JANITOR rides a LAWN MOWER over the grass.
An UPBEAT song begins. A real sugar-pop earworm.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
It’s nasty November. The time when
both sides of the political aisle come together to bury each other in the mud.
SEQUENCE OF SHOTS of SCHOOL STARTING: The parking lot is full of students showing off their cars, the Principal stands guard by his Cadillac, a Recruiter flirts with two hippie chicks, black students play frisbee, etc.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
Don’t believe anything you hear, Mill Valley. To help separate truth
from fiction, here’s John Fred &
His Playboys with ‘ Judy in
Disguise ’. 32.A school bell rings as students loiter around the school.
Stella races to school, clutching the Bellows Book.
INT. LOCKERS - MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Stella slams Chuck and Auggie’s locker before it can open --
STELLA
You’ll never guess what I read.
AUGGIE
You took the book?
CHUCK
Why would you take the book?!
STELLA
Last night... I saw something in
the mirror.
CHUCK
What?
STELLA
I think it was... her.
AUGGIE
Halloween’s over. Can I please have 364 days of not dealing with your bullshit?
CHUCK
No, I saw something too. When I was
hiding. There was this woman, with
a green ribbon around her neck.
STELLA
And when I opened the book last night, there was this new chapter, and the ink was wet.
She opens the book to “Harold”.
STELLA (CONT’D)
Kurt’s name was in it .
AUGGIE
(feigning scared)
Oh my god. Kurt Dipplestine? Or
maybe Kurt Rogers? I hope she
wasn’t a fan of Kurt Douglas.
(dismissive)
(MORE)33.Even Dick Breath’s name is popular.
It’s probably just a coincidence.
Auggie opens the locker to grab his book, uninterested. Stella flips through the pages, hoping to make a case --
STELLA
But there are more chapters with no stories. Five of them. Each one
unwritten...
CHUCK
W-what do you mean, unwritten?
AUGGIE
Spooky. Sarah’s just as lazy as us.
Alice and Ramón approach with books in hand.
RAMÓN
Did anyone notice that asshole
didn’t have the balls to show?
Alice notices the SCARECROW ILLUSTRATION in the Bellows Book.
ALICE
Creepy drawing. Looks just like the scarecrow on Kurt’s farm.
Stella and her friends share a look.
CHUCK
You mean Kurt. As in Kurt Milner.
That scarecrow is on Kurt Milner’s
farm?
AUGGIE
(suddenly intrigued)
What exactly is in that story?
Off their troubled looks -
EXT. MILNER FARM HOUSE - FRONT DOOR - DAY
Ramón raps on the screen door as Alice, Stella, Chuck and
Auggie wait on the porch. After no answer, he knocks again.
Chuck turns and catches sight of something OFF SCREEN.
CHUCK
Guys?... Guys look.
They follow Chuck’s gaze to find -AUGGIE (CONT'D)34.The SCARECROW -- only now it’s dressed in Kurt’s clothes . A
crooked scowl permanently stitched to a burlap face.
ALICE
Isn’t that what he was wearing last
night?
The front door SWINGS OPEN, startling them.
MRS. MILNER
What do you want?
INT. MILNER FARM HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
Mrs. Milner reads ‘ Harold’, unsure of what to make of it. Her
six-year-old, BRETT, clings to her arm.
The teens anxiously sit on the sofa, sipping tea. Except for
Ramón, who stands -- put off by a nearby framed photo of Sheriff Milner.
Mrs. Milner closes the Bellows Book and takes a moment.
MRS. MILNER
And you wrote this?
Chuck is about to explain, but Auggie takes this one.
AUGGIE
We just haven’t seen him around
school, and were wondering if your husband or yourself had seen
anything... unusual?
Mrs. Milner gives a sour look, then --
MRS. MILNER
Let me call Roy. Stay here.
She leaves and her young son follows, attached at the hip. As
soon as they are gone, Ramón tips down the Sheriff’s photo.
RAMÓN
She doesn’t believe us.
AUGGIE
I don’t even know if I
believe us.
Chuck catches sight of Stella staring at the coffee table.
CHUCK
What?35.STELLA
(re: tea cups; dread)
There’s five of them...
ALICE
Yeah, five teacups. You can count --
STELLA
No... five cups. Five of us . Five
chapters left .
They share a look, pondering the implication.
STELLA (CONT’D)
What if there’s a story for each of
our names? What if what happened to Kurt, is going to happen to us?
Auggie motions for her to quiet down.
Ramón watches Mrs. Milner in the KITCHEN, quietly talking on
the phone. The mother gives a suspicious look back.
INT. KITCHEN - MILNER FARMSTEAD - CONTINUOUS
Mrs. Milner turns her back to them, discreetly talking:
MRS. MILNER
Yes, I know. And that young Mexican
that picked a fight with Kurt at the Drive-In is here too.
(beat)
Okay. I’ll keep them here.
She hangs up, then gives her youngest an encouraging smile. She grabs the tea pot and puts on a fake smile.
MRS. MILNER (CONT’D)
Refill anyone?
She enters into AN EMPTY ROOM. They’ve split.
EXT. MILNER FARMSTEAD - LATER
The Sheriff’s cruiser pulls up as he’s met by Mrs. Milner.
MRS. MILNER
They’re gone.
(hopeful)
Any word from Kurt? 36.SHERIFF MILNER
Still nothing.
He glances at Brett, chucking rocks at a murder of crows
gathering at the scarecrow, and thinks nothing of it.
MRS. MILNER
They were acting strange. And that odd Michael’s girl wrote a story.
SHERIFF MILNER
A story? --
He can hardly hear himself over the cawing of crows.
SHERIFF MILNER (CONT’D)
Stop minding the crows, Brett.
Brett stops throwing rocks.
CLOSE ON SCARECROW: The crows keep picking SINEWY BITS of
flesh from under the scarecrows burlap skin.
BACK ON the parents, none the wiser.
MRS. MILNER
This isn’t like him, Roy.
SHERIFF MILNER
Don’t worry. I’ll find our boy.
CUT TO:
A FIRE BURNS in a tilled area, fueled by dried corn husks.
EXT. CORN FIELDS - DAY
Ramón stands with the others circled around the fire, burning
hot. Stella stares into the flames, holding the Bellows Book.
AUGGIE
I don’t wanna say it - but maybe it’s good that he’s gone.
ALICE
What do we tell people if they ask?
RAMÓN
Doesn’t matter what you say. Look
at us - some freaks, some geeks,
and a Mexican. They’ll never
believe a word.
(pointed finger)
(MORE)37.No one says anything about last
night.
The group nods, except for Alice. Auggie looks to her, sympathetic. She finally agrees.
CHUCK
What if the fuzz came cause he ratted on us? They’ll know we were
with him...
ALICE
I was on a date. They’ll think I had something to do with it.
STELLA
It wasn’t us. It was the book. And
it’s all over.
Stella tossing the Book into the fire. They watch it burn.
CLOSE ON: The Book’s pages curl up in flames, its leather
bubbles and chars. Cursed or not, it’s destroyed.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. STELLA’S BEDROOM - FLASHBACK
CLOSE ON: YOUNG STELLA (6) reads a book in her mother’s lap. The bedroom is pink. The light is dreamy. A nostalgic memory.
YOUNG STELLA
(learning to read)
“The tiger din... dind...”
MOTHER
(helping)
“Didn’t”.
YOUNG STELLA
“Didn’t just eat one bun. He ate all of the buns... on the dish.”
MOTHER
(turning page)
Good, Stella.
Stella looks up, though we never see her mother’s face.
YOUNG STELLA
No more reading. RAMóN (CONT'D)38.MOTHER
Don’t you want to know how the
story ends?
She shakes her head with a mischievous grin.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
I’ll help you.
STELLA AND MOTHER
“And then he ate all the biscuits.”
INT. STELLA’S BEDROOM - MORNING - PRESENT
Stella wakes up in her own bed. Her eyes still tired.
She wipes the sleep from them, then spots a handwritten NOTE
from her father on the lamp shade that begins ‘ STELLA’.
Off her reading the note --
EXT. FREEWAY ON-RAMP - LATER
Stella rides to a construction site where they are building a
FREEWAY, her textbooks strapped to the back of her bike.
She ducks as she passes through steel and cement spires.
UNDER THE OVERPASS
Stella finds her father laying a network of rebar.
STELLA
Got your note --
Oren removes his work gloves and goggles. Over the noise, he
gestures to his FOREMAN he’s going to take five.
OREN
Good news - They found something for me over in Troutdale. They’re looking for a new supervisor --
STELLA
When?
OREN
C’mon, Stell. You know we’ve been looking for our break.
STELLA
We? You mean, you. 39.OREN
You’ll make new friends --
STELLA
Mom chose this place.
(tempers her words)
How am I supposed to visit her? Or
are you going to drive? God knows
putting you behind the wheel--
OREN
We need to leave this place. Leave
it behind. Start over.
Hurt and confused, Stella walks away with her bike.
STELLA
We can’t start over. You did that.
Her father is pained to see her leave.
Stella hops onto her bike, then notices something on the back
that stops her cold --
The BELLOWS BOOK atop her schoolbooks, in pristine condition .
EXT. DOWNTOWN PLAZA - LATERStella rides her bike- Fast.
She goes by the plaza, where the FAMILIES of grieving parents
witness the flag being lowered half-mast.
It’s a small ceremony for the fallen sons.
Folded flags are being hand-delivered to the parents by an
OFFICER IN UNIFORM and white gloves.
EXT. THE MORALES HOME - LATER
Stella urgently raps on Ramón’s front door. He opens it to
find her clutching the Bellows Book.
STELLA
...It’s back.
She allows herself in. 40.INT. THE HALLWAY - THE MORALES HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
The house is bare with moving boxes stacked about. Ramón
inspects the Book in disbelief.
RAMÓN
How is this possible?
Frightened, Stella shakes her head.
STELLA
There’s a new story. With Chuck’s
name in it.
RAMÓN
Do you want me to drive?
STELLA
There’s no time. I need your phone.
As Stella barges in, Ramón opens the Book to see for himself--
RAMÓN
Kitchen.
CLOSE ON BOOK: The next story is entitled “The Big Toe” .
Ramón lifts his thumb from the page to find INK PRINT.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
The ink’s still wet...
STELLA
(defensive)
I didn’t write it.
RAMÓN
I didn’t say you did.
Stella passes the FAMILY ROOM, she catches a glimpse of -
RAMÓN’S FATHER. His ear is burned off. His face disfigured.
He meets Stella’s glance as she has trouble looking away.
Then, she quickly moves on. KITCHENAs Stella rushes to dial Chuck’s number, Ramón quickly reads
the ‘The Big Toe’. 41.RAMÓN (CONT’D)
“One day, Mrs. Steinberg was
digging in her garden, when she saw
a big toe sticking out of the
ground. She tried to pick it up but it was stuck. So she pulled as hard as she could and it came off in her
hand...”
(confused)
What the hell is this? This story is gross.
Stella gets a busy signal ringing on the other end.
STELLA
Keep reading.
She hangs up and tries again.
STELLA (CONT’D)
Come on, pick up.
RAMÓN
(reading)
“’That looks like a nice piece of
meat’, she said. ‘I’ll put it in the loaf and we’ll have it for...
dinner’”?
INT. KITCHEN - THE STEINBERG HOME - SAME TIME
Chuck cradles the phone on his shoulder, talking to his
mother on the other end, while trying to find something to
eat in the kitchen. Shelves are bare.
CHUCK
(into phone)
What leftovers, ma? I don’t see
anything.
Chuck opens the fridge to discover -- a gleaming MEATLOAF.
CHUCK (CONT’D)
(into phone)
Mmm. My favorite. Thanks. I’ll see you when you get home.
Chuck hangs up, and moves the meatloaf to the counter.
CHUCK (CONT’D)
(licking lips)
Meat is back on the table. 42.He fetches a fork and plunges it into the moist loaf. To the
trained eye, we see what looks like a HUMAN TOE baked in.
Starving, Chuck mows down. Mashing sinewy meat in his mouth. The kitchen phone rings. He stuffs in another mouthful before
grabbing the receiver.
CHUCK (CONT’D)
(into phone)
What is it now. -- I’m eating, ma.
STELLA (PHONE)
CHUCK?!
CHUCK
Stella?
STELLA (PHONE)
DON’T EAT ANYTHING!
CHUCK
Why? I’m starving. My mom made a --
STELLA (PHONE)
You’re in the next story. Listen to
me. Don’t eat the meat.
CHUCK
What are you talking about? We got
rid of the book.
STELLA (PHONE)
DON’T EAT THE MEAT!
Chuck’s chewing slows as he eyes the loaf of minced meat. He bites on something hard, then pulls from his mouth...
A large, rotted human TOE NAIL.
STELLA (PHONE) (CONT’D)
Chuck?... CHUCK?!
Chuck gags, trying not to hurl. He flushes his mouth under
the faucet, then gets back on the phone.
CHUCK
...What happens in my story?
ON STELLA AND RAMÓN
STELLA
(to Ramón)
What happens next?43.RAMÓN
Uh... He eats the toe, and “That’s
when Charles heard a voice, saying
‘You may be the next.’”
STELLA
A voice says ‘You may be the next.’
BACK ON CHUCK, TENSE
He looks around the kitchen. Waiting. Listening. He peeks
around the corner - the house is empty. Silent.
CHUCK
It’s quiet... There’s no voice. I’m the only one here.
He pokes his fork to dig through the meatloaf and instantly recognizes a SEVERED EAR. He recoils, pushing it away.
ON STELLA AND RAMÓNRamón holds the book out to Stella to finish reading:
STELLA
We’re reading it right here. ‘Then
the voice grew louder...’
(louder)
“YOU MAY BE THE NEXT!”
BACK ON
Paranoid, Chuck rips open the blinds, half-expecting to see
someone... but nothing.
CHUCK
I’M ALL ALONE! THERE’S NO VOICE...
STELLA (PHONE)
THERE HAS TO BE --
CHUCK
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE SAYING IT
LOUDER!
ON STELLA AND RAMÓN
It dons on Stella. She looks to Ramón, horrified --
STELLA
... It’s me
.
(to Ramón; urgent)
How does it end? 44.RAMÓN
Nothing. That’s it.
ON CHUCK
Huddled in a dark corner, eyeing his empty house.
CHUCK
That’s it? That’s not an ending.
WHAT KIND OF ENDING IS THAT?!
From out of the shadows behind him --
SARAH BELLOWS lurches out at him ! Her elongated soured limbs
reaching from the shadows. He SCREAMS!!
ON STELLA AND RAMÓNThey hear Chuck’s SCREAM. Then silence, as -CHUCK’S PHONE Falls, dangling on its cord, knocking against the fridge. ON STELLA AND RAMÓN
STELLA
Chuck?!... CHUCK?!!
No response. Then -
SARAH BELLOWS (PHONE)
... Steeelllaaa...
Stella SLAMS the phone onto its wall unit, horror-struck.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE GORGE DRIVE-IN THEATER - DAWN
The parking lot of the drive-in theater is vast and empty,
except for a Corvair Monza and two bikes parked outside the Snack Shack. A beat up Chrysler crosses the abandoned lot.
AT SNACK SHACK
Stella sits on the counter, despondent. Auggie stares at the
ice melting in his coke. Ramón leans his head against a wall. They watch Alice coming with a vengeance --
ALICE
Where is that little shit? He was
supposed to be home for dinner.
(MORE)45.Next time he thinks about sleeping
over without telling our parents...
She notices under Stella’s glasses, eyes raw from crying.
ALICE (CONT’D)
...Where’s my brother?
AUGGIE
(afraid to ask)
What did you have for dinner?
ALICE
We all had Spamloaf, why?
RAMÓN
(gags)
Oh god.
The others recoil. Alice looks lost.
ALICE
Where is he?
RAMÓN
He wasn’t with us.
Reluctant, Auggie holds up the Bellows Book.
AUGGIE
The Book came back.
STELLA
It was my fault. We should’ve never
gone into that house.
Alice can’t believe it, shaking her head.
ALICE
No... we watched it burn.
STELLA
There was a new story.
ALICE
What story?!
Auggie isn’t sure if he should show her, but Alice rips it
from his grasp. Quickly finding the page and skimming.
STELLA
I tried to warn him... but every thing I said only made it worse.ALICE (CONT'D)46.RAMÓN
The ending never told us what
happened. We were hoping he was
with you.
Alice GAGS, repulsed at what she’s reading. She VOMITS in the
trash bin. Unable to truly comfort her, Auggie rubs her back.
STELLA
I heard her. She knows our names.
RAMÓN
Four stories left. Four of us.
ALICE
Jesus. My brother just died and now this is gonna happen to us?!
AUGGIE
First Kurt... now Chuck...
(angered)
We have to stop her. We have to do something.
RAMÓN
Do what?! We’ve already burned it!
AUGGIE
I don’t know but I sure as hell ain’t gonna sit around and wait for my story to be written! There’s gotta be someway to stop a witch.
STELLA
She’s not a witch. It’s a curse!
AUGGIE
Forgive me! A cursed witch --
ALICE
So what? We wait around to see which of our names come next?
AUGGIE
(mind races)
What about the titles. To our stories. Maybe they’re clues...
STELLA
The next story is ‘The Red Spot’ ...
Does that mean anything to anyone?
They share blank glances. A few shrug. 47.ALICE
Red Spot? That could be anything.
AUGGIE
What about the rest of them?
STELLA
The next ones are “ The Dream ”, “Me
Tie Dough-ty Walker ”...
RAMÓN
Me Tie what? What kinda title is
that?
STELLA
... And the last chapter, “ The
Haunted House ”.
They all share a knowing look.
RAMÓN
Well we all know where that is.
ALICE
No way am I going back.
Ramon smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. CORVAIR MONZA - SAME
Full speed. Ramon drives like a demon. The gang sits, tense.
AUGGIE
(to Alice)
If she wants to pick us off one by
one, we need to get ahead of it. Instead of waiting for the next story to happen...
STELLA
(finishing sentence)
... We see how everything ends.
AUGGIE
There’s gotta be answers...
Ramon barely avoids a collision.
ALICE
Hey, Bullit, watch it. 48.EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - LATER
The Corvair Monza parks in front of the gate leading to the
Bellow’s Estate. As soon as they get out --
KRA-KOOOOM!!! The explosives go off atop the hill, releasing
a shower of wood, plaster and bricks. It’s ear-shattering.
Surprised, they quickly race up the long driveway --
AUGGIE
No no no no noooo!
EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - MOMENTS LATER
Stella, Ramón, Auggie and Alice stand before what’s left of
the Bellows Mansion. A backhoe compresses down on a remaining
awning until it buckles. Wood splinters. Glass breaks. A gaping hole left in the dead carcass of a house.
RAMÓN
There goes the answers.
Bulldozers plow debris, while a FOREMAN wears a hard hat, directing a digger and crane raising a dug up COFFIN.
FOREMAN
Careful... careful...
He unshackles it. Then gives the hand signal for the crane operator to fetch the next one. He notices the teens --
FOREMAN (CONT’D)
You shouldn’t be here. This is no place for kids.
Stella is mesmerized by the crew raising another casket. As it pans over heads, the worm-eaten coffin crumbles, prying loose from its binds --
DEMOLITION CREW (O.C.)
WATCH OUT! SHE’S COMING APART --
The coffin falls. A Worker dives out of the way just as the casket shatters to pieces on the ground, releasing -
A CORPSE, dressed in a rotten white gown and a wide GREEN
RIBBON around her neck. The skull rolls off, detaching from the body. It was the ribbon holding it on. Alice screams.
AUGGIE
The green ribbon -- the woman Chuck saw. 49.ALICE
How? She’s been dead over 40 years.
FOREMAN
You gotta get outta here. This is
no place for kids.
The Foreman returns to his crew as they solemnly head back down the long driveway.
ALICE
Is there another Haunted House? Why would the last chapter say ‘Haunted
House’ if it’s gone?
RAMÓN
You said Sarah vanished. To where?
(mind racing)
Maybe if we find her remains, we
can lay them to rest... give her a proper burial.
AUGGIE
This isn’t a movie, dork.
HOLD ON
A glint of something OS catches Stella’s eye. Then the
TINKERING of a familiar childlike-melody.
RAMÓN (O.S.)
I didn’t say it was.
Stella lowers to some construction debris where sits the
MUSIC BOX that was destroyed, rebuilt in perfect order.
Stella picks it up, intrigued.
AUGGIE (O.S.)
Then let’s start digging. How ‘bout this? I’ll take these 100 acres. You got those 100 acres. I’m sure Alice is good with a shovel.
RAMÓN (O.S.)
You don’t need to be a dick about it. I’m just trying to help.
AUGGIE (O.S.)
Help? I’m trying to live.
She studies the Music Box. Stella turns it over and finds it
is engraved with the name -- “ELOISE W”.50.STELLA
You say they died 40 years ago?
AUGGIE
Yeah. Why?
STELLA
Maybe there was someone in that
house that’s still alive?
EXT. SUNNYHAVEN NURSING HOME - AFTERNOON
The Corvair Monza pulls into the Sunnyhaven Nursing Home
parking lot that looks neither sunny nor a haven.
AUGGIE (O.C.)
There’s two places dead people go to in this town. The cemetery, and Sunnyhaven.
ALICE (O.C.)
The caretaker told me they didn’t
have anyone named Eloise, but they
do have a LouLou Walker that fits the bill.
They exit the car, taking in the dreary nursing home.
INT. SUNNYHAVEN NURSING HOME - MOMENTS LATER
Three old bedridden elderly men share a room with only one
window. A CHEERFUL MAN rests closest to the window, while TWO
CANTANKEROUS BED MATES are not privileged to enjoy the view.
CANTANKEROUS BED MATE #1
How does it look out there today,
George?
CANTANKEROUS BED MATE #2
What do you see?
CHEERFUL MAN
The flowers have bloomed. Oh, and that voluptuous woman has returned.
A CARETAKER guides Stella and her friends past their room, but as their vantage point pivots, they see the view from the window IS MERELY A BRICK WALL.
George gives them a dead stare and a hollow smile, hoping
they will keep his secret. They move on into --51.THE SUN ROOM
Frail elderly are hunched over in wheelchairs parked along
the walls, holding onto what little life they have left.
The Caretaker points Stella and her friends toward an African
American woman in her late 70s, staring out a musty stained-
glass window.
CARETAKER
That’s LouLou. Don’t expect to get
much out of her.
They approach LOULOU and see her milky cataract eyes staring at nothing in particular.
STELLA
Eloise Walker?
She only trembles, crippled by late-stage Parkinson’s.
AUGGIE
LouLou Walker? Can you hear us?
RAMÓN
Why are we wasting time --
Stella winds the Music Box and lets it play. The child-like melody puts a sweet smile on LouLou --
LOULOU
... You May Be the Next.
Stella and Ramón share a look, recognizing those words.
STELLA
Why did you say that?
LOULOU
It’s a song, sweetheart.
(murmurs song)
‘The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout...’
STELLA
You knew Sarah, didn’t you?
LOULOU
I used to watch over that family.
How those kids loved to hear her
scary stories.
(fondly recollects)
She had a gift... to fix things.
(MORE)52.Even helped me see for a bit. They
told her she was a monster. But I
thought she was a sight.
They share a look, mystified. But Alice loses her patience --
ALICE
Then why is she torturing us? What
did we ever do to her--
Stella calms Alice, then takes a gentler approach.
STELLA
We have her book. And she’s still writing stories. Why?
LOULOU
Stories hurt. Stories heal. If all you know is hatred, it can make you go mad. Angry for so long.
(singing)
‘They’ll eat your ears, they’ll eat your nose, they’ll eat the jelly
between your toes...’
AUGGIE
Do you know what happened to the
kids? The kids that she murdered?
LOULOU
I can still hear them laughing...
(shakes head)
She could never do those things.
The Bellows never done right to
that sweet girl.
STELLA
She didn’t hurt the kids...
LOULOU
You sound just like your mother
asking those questions.
Stella grows cold -- what did she just say?
STELLA
My mother? She was here?
LOULOU
‘Don’t ever laugh as the hearse
goes by, for you may be the next
to... (die).’
The music box ends and LouLou drifts off, lost in thought. LOULOU (CONT'D)53.STELLA
Why was she here? How do you know
my mother? Is this your music box?
Stella desperately winds the music box again to let it play.
STELLA (CONT’D)
You talked to my mother. When? When
did you talk to her? LouLou?
Stella tries to shake her awake, but she doesn’t respond.
RAMÓN
Ease up.
STELLA
LouLou? Talk to me.
The caretaker intervenes.
CARETAKER
That’s enough. I need you to leave.
Off their concern --
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
More grim news...
EXT. FIELD OF GRASS - NIGHT
Residents of Mill Valley walk the fields, ten feet apart,
waving flashlights. It’s a search party.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
On the heels of the missing persons report out for the Sheriff’s son, we have another disappearance. Condolences to the Steinbergs... I pray we can find their son Charlie.
Alice is with her parents, biting her lip.
EXT. MILL VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY - EVENING
The Corvair Monza is parked outside the PUBLIC LIBRARY. An
acropolis built in a time when Mill Valley once had promise.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
If anyone has any information,
please contact local authorities. Look at that, my phone lines are already blowing up... 54.INT. MILL VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY - SEQUENCE OF SHOTS
The library is mostly empty. Orb lights softly illuminate a
labyrinth of books. SEQUENCE OF SHOTS as they research
anything and everything that can shed light on things:
MALE CALLER (V.O.)
Isn’t it obvious? It’s a prank. Just some kids, making trouble.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
We all have our opinions. But to change the mood, here’s The Dock of
the Bay!
The song starts- giving place to a montage--
--A STACK OF BOOKS HIT a table, “Oregon Territory Rights
1928” “Mill Valley Town and Vital Records Vol. 1,”
--“Registry of Historic Places,” etc. Auggie drops them off
for --
-- Stella, already scouring a stack of old periodicals. She
pulls out a front page that has photos of nine children, none older than ten. “Children continue to vanish. Parents demand
blood,” is the headline.
She starts scribbling each child’s name onto a note pad.
FEMALE CALLER (V.O.)
Our children are paying for our
sins. All of this free love. This
race mixing. We need an American
Independent, like George Wallace --
A venerable LIBRARIAN sorts books back onto shelves, keeping
a judgmental eye on Ramón, fervently reading in the aisle.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
This is still the real world, is it not? All I know is this is a time to come together, not apart.
Ramón studies a county map. He traces the Yamhill River with his finger, until it intersects with the Bellows Rail Yard. Further downstream is the heart of Mill Valley.
Ramón catches the Librarian’s stare, then stares back. She
moves on. Ramón continues to search for answers.
STUDY SEQUENCE OVER55.Stella cross references names as Ramón reads the Bellows
Book, while Auggie looks for more research material.
RAMÓN
The name in the Green Ribbon is... is... gimme a minute.
Stella looks up, knowing the answer already.
STELLA
Dolores.
RAMÓN
(seeing name, then)
How did you --
STELLA
Sarah’s mother. The woman with the green ribbon around her neck.
RAMÓN
Every member of her family, they are all in this book.
STELLA
Even weirder, anyone that spent
considerable time with them died of
either a strange accident or unnatural causes...
(holds up obituary)
The detective who searched inside their house? Died of a heart attack in his apartment three years ago...
found eaten by his cats, including
his beloved Martin.
RAMÓN
Nothing unnatural about that.
STELLA
And all the deaths are in like,
chronological order. Except the kids she murdered, who should be in the front of the book...
(looking through notes)
They aren’t in any of the chapters. Their names don’t appear anywhere .
RAMÓN
(struggling to track)
Wait. If everyone died who went in
that house, how did LouLou survive? 56.STELLA
I don’t know. You heard her, Sarah
loved her.
RAMÓN
Maybe the kids died before she
became a cursed witch --
STELLA
Or maybe she never murdered them in
the first place.
Ramón raises an eyebrow - that is quite the allegation.
Auggie unloads another stack of periodicals.
AUGGIE
If it’s my name, don’t tell me. I,
for one, don’t wanna know how I go.
(beat)
Look what I found.
Stella sees a rare photo of SARAH BELLOWS in a hazel hospital
gown, surrounded by a team of doctors, unsmiling. She is
simple with a wide smile and unnatural curved spine
STELLA
It’s her.
Ramón reads the lab coats insignia.
RAMÓN
‘R.P.H.’...
STELLA
I know those letters. Riverwell Psychiatric Hospital. Upstate.
AUGGIE
Get this- This photo was taken the year before her whole family died.
As Stella and Auggie extrapolate --
Ramón flips to an illustration in Sarah’s book that grabs his
attention. It’s entitled ‘HIGH BEAMS’ with an image of a scared woman behind the wheel and headlights following her.
STELLA (O.C.)
So she didn’t disappear, she was
locked away.57.AUGGIE (O.C.)
Can you imagine being committed
into a nut house at our age?
Ramón looks up from the Book.
RAMÓN
What was your mom’s name?
STELLA
Dinah, why?
Ramón shakes off his presumption and flips to the next page.
RAMÓN
No reason.
Stella can tell he knows something, but is afraid to ask.
AUGGIE
(concerned)
Where’s Alice? She should be here
by now.
Ramón turns to the next unwritten chapter - ‘The Red Spot’. The story still blank.
RAMÓN
As long as there isn’t a new story, she’s probably all right.
Alice shuffles into the library, nerves on high. Her head is down and half of her face is covered by her hair.
ALICE
Sorry I’m late. Do you know how terrible it was to keep my mouth shut?
AUGGIE
It’s okay. We weren’t worried.
ALICE
I uh, I’ll just be a minute. I need to freshen up.
AUGGIE
You look fresh to me...
Alice beelines out, ignoring him. Auggie studies her illusive
manner. Something is not right. 58.RAMÓN
Maybe you should hold off on
telling her how you feel. It’s not
like we’re under any unusual
stress, or curse or anything.
Stella cracks a rare smile. Auggie isn’t laughing.
AUGGIE
(to Ramón)
I hope you’re next.
As they return to their research --
CLOSE ON: A small BEAD OF BLOOD drops onto the blank chapter
page of ‘The Red Spot’, creating...
A RED SPOT.
STELLA
Ramón. Your nose.
Ramón wipes his bloody nose, confused.
He notices the RED SPOT on the blank page, then pushes
himself away from the Bellows Book, panicked.
RAMÓN
OH SHIT! The red spot. The red spot! I AM next!
The Librarian SHUSHES them.
CLOSE ON
The first sentence to ‘ THE RED SPOT ’ APPEARS before their
eyes, as if scrawled by an invisible author...
AUGGIE
Ohhhh god... ohgodohgodohgod.
BLACK INK seeps up through the page, bleeding into creepy
imagery. The story slowly appears, word by word, like spiderweb being spun ...
Stella, Auggie and Ramón surround the book, anxious to read what is scrawled next...
INT. HALLWAY - LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Alice is lost, looking for the bathroom. A passing LIBRARIAN
ASSISTANT approaches, friendly. 59.LIBRARIAN ASSISTANT
Afternoon, may I help you -
(recoils)
Oh honey, you need to get that
cherry checked out.
Alice looks up, her hair pulled back behind her ear revealing
-- a MASSIVE PIMPLE on her cheek. It’s a plumper.
ALICE
(mortified)
It’s stress. Where’s your nearest
washroom?
LIBRARIAN ASSISTANT
Here, let me show you.
The Librarian Assistant leads her off.
INT. LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Stella and Auggie watch the cursed story unfold before their
eyes as Ramón paces, stressed out.
RAMÓN
I don’t wanna know. Don’t tell me.
It’s gonna be twisted.
(on second thought)
Yeah I do. I wanna know --
Stella reads as fast as it is written --
STELLA
(reading)
“... it was there in the washroom where poor Alice would discover the red spot... ” It’s ALICE!
RAMÓN
It’s Alice? Thank god!
AUGGIE
The washroom!
Auggie bolts up from the table and races out. Stella throws a look to Ramón - how selfish of you .
RAMÓN
What?! I thought I was gonna die.
She grabs the book and runs after. Ramón chases. 60.INT. HALLWAY - LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS
The three skid on the linoleum, looking for the washroom!
AUGGIE
ALICE?!!
INT. WASHROOM - LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Alice enters the washroom alone. She goes to the mirror to
inspect the largest zit ever seen in the history of cinema. Red and raw. She touches the pimple, but it hurts so bad.
It must be popped.
She turns on the hot water, steaming. Then wets a paper towel
to gently compress it.
When she leans back down to soak her towel...SARAH BELLOWS is in the mirror’s reflection
. Wet and smiling,
with the crazed, simple face of a child.
INT. HALLWAY - LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Stella, Ramón and Auggie charge down the hallway toward a
door labeled WOMEN. Auggie hesitates for the briefest of moments -- then BUSTS in.
AUGGIE
Alice!
INT. WOMEN’S WASHROOM - LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS
They come to a stop....
It’s empty
. Panic on their faces.
STELLA
There must be another washroom...
INT. HALLWAY - LIBRARY - CONTINUOUSThe three charge back out, lost and confused. Stella finds a
simple MAP PLAQUE on the wall by some stairs.
STELLA
Upstairs!
They follow Auggie up the stairs, two steps at a time.61.INT. WASHROOM - LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Alice gets a closer look at the pimple when - it almost looks
like SOMETHING moved inside it.
Her heart stops. She wipes the mirror and inspects it closer.
Again, something moves just under the skin...
Suddenly, an ingrown BLACK HAIR pokes out... Ugh gross ...
INT. WOMEN’S WASHROOM - SECOND FLOOR - SAME TIME
Stella, Ramón and Auggie explode into the second floor
washroom. But Alice isn’t there. Only a CUSTODIAN.
STELLA
WHERE IS SHE?!!
Auggie eyes a STAFF NAME TAG on the custodian, then urgently:
AUGGIE
IS THERE A STAFF WASHROOM?!
Before he can answer --
INT. STAFF WASHROOM - LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Disgusted, Alice inspects the short black hair sticking out
of her boil. She delicately tugs on it - trying to remove the ingrown hair, only for -
The hair TWITCHES, as if alive. That’s no hair, it’s a leg
.
Alice SCREAMS and places her hand over the pimple, just as -A SWARM OF BABY SPIDERS escape through her fingers, spreading
across her face !!! SHE SCREAMS BLOODY MURDER!
Alice takes her hand off her face. An endless stream of tiny
spiders crawl out of her pimple. The more she claws away, the
faster they come out.
The Librarian enters to see Alice bristled with creepy
crawlies. Alice reaches out for help amidst her thrashing, but the scared librarian only runs away.
ALICE
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!!!62.INT. LIBRARY - FRONT DESK
Auggie, Stella and Ramón plow past the startled Librarian --
RAMÓN
OUTTA THE WAY! MOVE!
INT. STAFF WASHROOM - LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS
They enter to find --A LARGE BLACK MASS WRITHING and SCREAMING in the corner. A
vast majority of Alice is covered in spiders as they spread
across the floor like WRIGGLY OOZE!
Auggie and Stella instantly take off their jackets and swat
them away. But there’s too many.
Ramón RUNS OUT into the HALLWAY -- and sees a bucket of mop
water. Thinking quick, he picks it up and RACES BACK INTO THE BATHROOM --
He drenches Alice, washing the remaining spiders away.
Stella can only watch as Auggie drops to the floor to cradle
Alice, left catatonic. Her skin pock-marked with bites.
Stunned patrons crowd the door, staring. Alice twitches in
Auggie’s arms, unable to cope. She’s alive, but not well.
AUGGIE
HELP! SOMEONE GET HELP!
The crowd doesn’t move.
STELLA
CALL AN AMBULANCE!!!
A concerned patron runs off.
Auggie rocks Alice, stroking her hair, trying to calm her.
She mutters, unaware of her surroundings.
ALICE
... They’re all over me. Get them off. Get them off...
AUGGIE
It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.
Alice’s eyes flutter open. Lost and confused.63.ALICE
... My dress. It’s ripped. I can’t
go out like this...
AUGGIE
It’s a nice dress, Alice... Don’t
worry, you look just fine...
Auggie looks to Stella, his eyes filled with sorrow.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MILL VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY - LATER THAT NIGHT
Lights flash as paramedics roll Alice’s gurney into the waiting ambulance for ‘Riverwell Psychiatric Hospital’.
AT AMBULANCE
Sickly, Alice stutters. Unable to cope.
ALICE
I saw her in the mirror. I saw her
in the mirror.
The paramedics shake their heads. She’s a lost cause.
OUTSIDE AMBULANCE
Mrs. Steinberg stifles herself with tissue as her husband is
in a heated exchange with Deputy Hobbs.
MR. STEINBERG
Jesus Christ, Tom! You haven’t even found my son and now this? !
DEPUTY HOBBS
We’re doing everything we can.
MRS. STEINBERG
Where’s Roy? Why isn’t the Sheriff talking to us?
DEPUTY HOBBS
He just found his son’s corpse, Darlene. You might want to give him some space.
Mrs. Steinberg breaks down into hysterics. Mr. Steinberg stares at the Deputy -- how can you be so cruel? 64.DEPUTY HOBBS (CONT’D)
I’m sorry, we’re all on edge. All I
can say at this time is we have a
warrant out for all of their
arrests. We’ll figure this out.
Deputy Hobbs eyes the Corvair Monza, knowing Ramón has to
return for it eventually.
A FEW BLOCKS AWAY
Ramón nervously lights a cigarette as Auggie watches from
afar, keeping their distance. Stella’s on a bench, staring at
‘The Red Spot’. She looks up with tears in her eyes --
STELLA
Alice dies at the end of her story.
(desperate to others)
But she’s not dead . We saved her.
We saved her, right?
AUGGIE
There’s no coming back from that.
She doesn’t even know her name.
(despondent)
And now they think we’re all
responsible.
RAMÓN
No, they think I am.
Ramón flicks the butt of his cig then takes off his jacket.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
Fuck it. I’m turning myself in.
STELLA/AUGGIE
What? / Why?!
RAMÓN
To tell them you’ve got nothing to do with this.
STELLA
Neither do you. What good will that
do anyone?
RAMÓN
Look, I’m not that thick. I know they won’t believe me. But if they
give me enough time- if I can make
them see- maybe they can help us? 65.AUGGIE
And what happens when you’re locked
up and the next story comes for
you? What help can we be then?
Ramón can’t stomach conceding the point. Furious, he throws
his jacket, feeling helpless.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
It’s been a long day. We can’t
think. We need sleep.
STELLA
The next story is called ‘The
Dream’. You really feel like closing your eyes?
AUGGIE
Then we’ll take shifts. One of us always has eyes on the story.
(direct)
We get through the night, together.
Ramón and Stella share a look and nod, in agreement.
STELLA
Where? They’ll be looking for us.
RAMÓN
Where they won’t find us.
Ramón takes one last look at his Corvair Monza, then picks up his jacket and leaves. Auggie and Stella head out, exhausted.
INT. MILL VALLEY LIBRARY - SAME TIME
Sheriff Milner, his face weary over the loss of his son,
stands over the teen’s research left behind.
His fingers trace over the photo of Sarah Bellows. His mind
races, trying to make sense of it.
He taps on the doctor besides Sarah. It’s almost as if he
recognizes the man.
EXT. MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL - LATER THAT NIGHT
The school parking lot is empty in its off hours.AT FRONT DOORS 66.Auggie shivers while Ramón jostles the locked doors. Stella
keeps warm in his jacket.
AUGGIE
Any other bright ideas?
RAMÓN
Anyone got a pen?
Stella shakes her head. Auggie hands over a fountain pen.
AUGGIE
Careful, it’s my favorite --
Ramón twists and rips the pen’s clip off. Auggie deflates.
RAMÓN
Now it’s my favorite.
Ramón uses the clip to pick the lock. The door POPS open.
STELLA
(playful)
Wonder how a war hero feels having a hood for a son?
RAMÓN
Never said it was untrue.
After they enter --
SERIES OF SHOTS over “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan.
... Ramón breaks into the School Nurse’s office, snagging
some pain pills, bandages and pillows.
... Stella enters the Faculty Lounge, claiming a comfy couch.
She revisits the book - the newest chapter still blank.
... Auggie pillages the cafeteria kitchen. He piles chocolate
milk, snacks, and left over Peanut Butter Cake on a tray.
INT. FACULTY LOUNGE - MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL - LATER
Ramón enters with an arm load of pillows to see --Stella, cradling her knees on the floor while she reads ‘High
Beams’. Tears run down her cheeks as she stares at an illustration of a frightened woman driving at night.
He sits down beside her as she wipes her eyes.67.RAMÓN
Is it your mom? Did you read it?
Stella nods.
STELLA
She was the one who wanted to move
here. She told my dad - there was
something about Mill Valley.
She tries her best to smile through the painful memory.
STELLA (CONT’D)
Even when I see her picture, I
don’t recognize her face. I can only remember her voice...
RAMÓN
What happened?
STELLA
They were arguing that night. All I can remember is... she couldn’t
take it anymore and drove off.
(beat)
My dad had to borrow the neighbor’s
truck to follow her. He had too
much, but he wanted to apologize...
She smiles as she wipes a tear. Ramón listens.
FLASHBACK: DINAH MICHAELS (38) drives a GREEN SEDAN upset,
straining to see through the night’s low fog.
STELLA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
It was late. And dark. And this truck, that she didn’t recognize,
starts turning on their high beams.
In the rear view mirror, a brief FLASH of HIGH BEAMS. A moment would pass, and then another blinding flash of light.
BACK ONStella knows this story by heart. She doesn’t need to read.
STELLA (CONT’D)
She tried to let them pass, but
they kept flashing. The more she tried to get away, the more
agitated they got.
(catatonic)
The lights. On. Off. On. Off...68.FLASHBACK: Nervous and frightened, Dinah speeds up --
STELLA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
He saw it happen... but there was
no way to stop it.
RAMÓN (V.O.)
Stop what?
The pursuing truck keeps their high beams on, blinding her.
STELLA (V.O.)
Everyone thought it was his
fault... That he caused the
accident... Even me...
(then)
But the story says she wasn’t alone
in the car .
IN THE TRUCK, Oren witnesses a FIGURE rise up in the back
seat of the sedan . He lets out a HORSE SCREAM --
IN THE SEDAN, Dinah sees SARAH BELLOWS rise up in her
rearview mirror. She GASPS in fright, then --
THE GREEN SEDAN suddenly jerks off the road, causing the
automobile to TWIST and violently CRASH to a dusty stop.
The Truck hits the brakes. Oren runs out, wracked with grief. BACK ONStella. Lost in the story. Ramón hangs on her every word.
STELLA
Every time he turned on his high
beams, he was trying to warn her.
(breaks down to Ramón)
There was someone else- Just like he said- But I didn’t believe him- No one believed him- Because it was
her- It was Sarah--
He puts a consoling arm around her.
STELLA (CONT’D)
I hated him so much, I wanted to
kill myself.
He kisses her on the head. Hurting for her.
RAMÓN
Stories hurt. Stories heal.69.STELLA
Why didn’t I believe him?
He turns the page, helping to put that chapter behind her.
She stares at the next unwritten story. The title is --
STELLA (CONT’D)
‘The Dream ’...
(numb)
I wish this was all a dream.
Ramón holds her tight. The sentiment is mutual.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FACULTY LOUNGE - MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL - MORNINGThe morning Oregon rain patters and streaks down windows. First sun stirs Ramón awake on the couch. He looks for
Stella, a crinkled sheet beside him where she had slept.
He only sees Auggie snoring, with the Book open on his chest,
covered in hostess wrappers and chocolate milk boxes.
Stella enters, drying her hair from a morning shower. She
lowers the towel to reveal newly shorn hair. She touches her new pixie cut, unsure. Ramón smiles, showing his approval.
He approaches. She holds back, vulnerable. Their lips wanting
to touch...
But her eyes fall on Auggie, in fright --
STELLA
Auggie! Wake up!
Auggie jolts awake. Ramón sees it too.
RAMÓN
The Book --!
AUGGIE
Shit...
Auggie brushes food wrappers and debris way and finds -- The
story has already been written . He jumps up, startled.
They pace, losing their wits.
RAMÓN
When was it written --70.AUGGIE
I don’t know!
Stella marches over and grabs the book, reading:
STELLA
“Last night, Augustus Hilderbrandt
had a strange dream. He dreamed he
was in a red room-- ”
Auggie rips it out of her hand and SLAMS the book closed.
AUGGIE
No, man. That’s my name. IT’S MY NAME!
RAMÓN
Give us the Book.
AUGGIE
I don’t want to know how I die. I can’t know!
STELLA
We can’t stop it unless we know what happens.
RAMÓN
We have to read it.
AUGGIE
Why read it when I dreamt it!
Stella and Ramón back down. Auggie takes a seat, biting his
nails. His nerves rattled.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
I was in this hallway. With so many
doors. And I could hear these... voices. They were angry. Like they wanted to get out. I wanted to too.
STELLA
(quiet, to Ramón)
You think he was dreaming of Riverwell?
RAMÓN
Where they locked Sarah up? They might know what happened to her.
AUGGIE
I ran into this... red room. And I mean everything was red.
(MORE)71.Like it was blood. But it wasn’t
mine.
(horrified)
And then Sarah... she was reaching out to me. Smiling. I couldn’t move my legs. Or my arms. She told me --
STELLA
... You may be the next.
Auggie nods, it’s burned into his memory.
STELLA (CONT’D)
We have to go there.
AUGGIE
What?
STELLA
You said it yourself, the stories are clues. We need to read --
Auggie pulls the Book out of reach.
AUGGIE
No. I don’t wanna know how I die.
RAMÓN
You’re a smart kid, Auggie. We need to see what happens. At least let Stella have a look.
AUGGIE
(rationalizing)
Riverwell Psychiatric. I’m in. But I don’t wanna know. I just hafta... avoid red rooms. Yeah. That’ll work. If I’m not in one, I’ll live, right?
(delirious)
Please. Don’t think I’m crazy. I’m conscious... this will work.
Stella and Ramón share a look. Skeptical.
RAMÓN
I’ll drive.
Ramón runs out of the room.
Stella and Auggie share a confused look, then --
Ramón runs back, suddenly remembering he has no car. AUGGIE (CONT'D)72.RAMÓN (CONT’D)
I don’t ride bikes.
IN THE HALLWAY
They run into the hallway, only to hear --
OS FOOTSTEPS coming their way. They dart around the corner.
The PRINCIPAL whistles, flipping the keys to his Cadillac in
his hand. He sips his coffee and passes them, unnoticed.
Stella, Ramón and Auggie’s sneak out behind him.
EXT. PARKING LOT - MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER
Stella and Auggie pile into the Principals’ bronze boat of a
convertible. It’s nicer than anything they’ve been in.
Ramón fidgets with the wires, hot wiring it. The engine ROARS
to life. They share a relieved smile and the car takes off.
EXT. FREEWAY - EARLY MORNING
The Cadillac cruises down the newly built freeway, leaving
Mill Valley behind.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
How did we get turned upside down? Maybe it’s me, or maybe it’s the end of the world. Maybe it’s time
we ‘Reach Out of the Darkness’.
“Reach Out of the Darkness” by Friends and Lover plays.
... Stella closes her eyes and leans her head on the door,
letting the wind kiss her face.
... Auggie stretches out in the backseat. ... Ramón steals a glance at Stella. She looks back. For a
brief moment, there isn’t a care in the world.
... The Cadillac winds through Pacific Northwest wilderness.
EXT. MICHAELS’ HOME - MORNING
Oren packs moving boxes into his truck’s flatbed. Sheriff
Milner pulls up, blocking his driveway. Oren suspicious. 73.SHERIFF MILNER
Oren. Stella around?
He tenses, then returns packing. Alarmed.
OREN
What’d she do now?
SHERIFF MILNER
Your family’s always in some sort
of trouble.
Oren slams his truck-bed closed, restraining his temper.
OREN
She didn’t come home last night. I
don’t know where she is.
SHERIFF MILNER
Call us if she shows, you hear?
Oren looks down, giving no response.
Sheriff Milner returns to his squad car and leaves.
EXT. RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - DAY - LATER
The Cadillac passes a RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL sign.
They pull up towards a sprawling behemoth built with such
pristine symmetry it’s unsettling.
INT. FRONT DESK - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - MOMENTS LATER
Within an institutional corridor, a rigid RECEPTION NURSE
looks up to find Stella, Ramón and Auggie. A lit cigarette hangs from her pursed lips. Moans and shrieks are heard O.S.
STELLA
We need to see the records of a former patient named Sarah Bellows.
RECEPTION NURSE
We’re a mental health facility. Our records are private.
RAMÓN
(putting on the charm)
She’s probably been dead for forty
years, you really think she cares?74.RECEPTION NURSE
Our new file system doesn’t even go
back that far. Sorry.
Just as they are about to give up, Stella takes a flyer --
STELLA
They wouldn’t be in the... Red
Room?
The Nurse exhales smoke, suspiciously eyeing them. She leans back and calls out to a passing ORDERLY.
RECEPTION NURSE
Gene, where are we storing the lapsed files?
ORDERLY GENE
In the red room of the old building. But it’s all locked up.
The Nurse hands them a clipboard with paperwork.
RECEPTION NURSE
Fill out an authorization request and maybe we can get it to you in
seven to ten business days.
(amused by their anguish)
Need a pen?
RAMÓN
(takes clipboard)
Got one. Thanks.
They slowly make their way out. Ramón tosses the clipboard in the trash and they leave.
EXT. RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - MOMENTS LATER
They walk behind the renovated hospital to discover --A DECAYING, THREE STORY SANITARIUM behind it. All windows and
doors are boarded up. Thick chains on the door.
STELLA
To what extent is your criminal capabilities?
RAMÓN
There’s no way I can get in it...
(mind racing)
But maybe we could get on
it. 75.Ramón points up to the roof. There’s a SMALL DIVIDE between
the two buildings.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
If we can get up to the third story, we might be able to cross over and gain access onto its roof.
AUGGIE
That’s all you. I have no desire to
see this red room.
Stella eyes a COUPLE walking with a PATIENT IN A HAZEL GOWN.
RAMÓN
That’s the same gown Sarah wore.
STELLA
We’re close.
INT. FIRST FLOOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - LATER
A ‘LAUNDRY’ door opens -- Stella and Ramón exit, pushing a
wheelchair with Auggie dressed in a HAZEL PATIENT GOWN. They wheel him down an institutional corridor.
AUGGIE
(re: hazel gown)
Just till we get to the third floor.
RAMÓN
No further.
INT. FRONT DESK - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - MOMENTS LATER
A PASSING NURSE drops off a stack of papers in front of the
Reception Nurse. The top page catches her eye -- SCHOOL PICTURES of Ramón, Stella and Auggie.
RECEPTION NURSE
What are these?
PASSING NURSE
Apparently there’s a warrant out for their arrest.
Her cigarette hangs from her lip, recognizing the faces. She
instantly goes to her phone, dialing the police. 76.INT. ELEVATOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Stella and Ramón wheel Auggie onto an empty elevator. They
push the 3rd floor button. Just as the doors close -
A MEATY HAND JUTS IN, allowing an ORDERLY to enter.
ORDERLY
I think you want the fifth floor.
Brown gown, fifth floor .
He hits the 5th floor button for them. They smile.
The Orderly eyes Auggie, giving him a quizzical once over.
The elevator is unusually quiet on their way up. Then --
Ding.
INT. FIFTH FLOOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - MOMENTS LATERThe doors open to the sound of strange moaning and erratic
screams. The occasion banging.
The Orderly holds the door open so Stella and Ramón can push
Auggie out, though they are unsure where they’ve been taken.
ORDERLY
Be well, big fella.
He gives a warm smile, then the elevator seals behind them.
REVERSEMental patients guzzle pills and struggle to cope. All in
hazel scrubs.
STELLA
You’re conscious. Not crazy, right?
Auggie frantically looks around, ultra-sensitive to his surroundings. The walls and linoleum are all a stark white.
AUGGIE
At least there’s no red.
With the coast clear, they wheel Auggie further into the restricted portion of the hospital.
RAMÓN
Don’t worry. We’ll make this quick.
They duck down a hallway, keeping out of the orderlies sight.77.They pass windows, where -- a patient pulls clumps of hair
from his scalp... Another patient screams from behind glass:
MENTAL PATIENT #1
I don’t want the drum. I promise to be good. I want my mommy back.
MENTAL PATIENT #2
Wait till Martin comes!
They pass drugged patients sleeping in a room. They quickly wheel inside.
INT. PATIENT ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The patients are too doped up to notice as the three go to a
window and spot the rotting rooftop of the old sanitarium two
floors below. Auggie hops out of the wheelchair.
AUGGIE
I’ll keep watch.
Auggie guards the open doorway, on the lookout.
Stella and Ramón open the large window, judging the distance.
RAMÓN
A little high. If the book doesn’t
kill us, the jump might.
Quick thinking, Stella pulls a stained SPRING MATTRESS off an empty bed, dragging it to the window.
RAMÓN(CONT’D)
Good thinking.
They throw the mattress over the divide. It drops down until landing in a plume of dust on the roof, two stories below.
STELLA
You think we can make it?
Ramón judges the distance, then carefully throws the Book down in a test run... It misses the mattress, by a lot.
Stella throws Ramón a look - seriously ?
RAMÓN
Ladies first?
STELLA
We go together. 78.AUGGIE
Just make it quick, will ya?
A drugged patient wakes up. He points to Auggie, moaning.
AUGGIE POV: Down the corridor, the elevator opens with the
Orderlies, Reception Nurse, and Deputy Hobbs.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
Shit. The fuzz. Hurry. Hurry.
Ramón climbs out onto the ledge and helps Stella out. A five story fall onto a sidewalk if they don’t make the jump.
Stella looks back at Auggie.
STELLA
Catch ya later.
AUGGIE
Not if ya catch a disease.
Now all of the drugged patients have awoken, making an
incredible racket, sure to draw attention.
Ramón holds Stella’s hand tight.
RAMÓN
Together?
STELLA
Together.
AUGGIE
(whispers)
Go, go, go -- !
Outside, the Deputy and staff are about to pass the room --ON THE LEDGESLOW MOTION: Stella and Ramón JUMP together... Sneakers
kicking in the air... Over the expanse... Falling...
ON ROOFTOPStella and Ramón CRASH onto the mattress -- they made it!But the mattress CRASHES through the rotted roof! They scream
as the roof collapses below them. Leaving a gaping hole.
BACK IN THE ROOM79.Deputy Hobbs and the staff look into the bemoaning patients
room. Auggie disguised himself in an empty bed, wailing too.
They move on in their search.When the coast is clear, Auggie bolts to the window and spots
the hole in the roof below.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
Oof.
INT. OLD SANITARIUM - SAME TIME
Stella and Ramón writhe on their mattress on a hallway floor,
showered in wood and debris.
As the dust settles, they sit up. Hair askew. Amazed to find
they’re alive. Ramón pulls a splinter from her hair.
RAMÓN
We make a great team.
Stella rolls her eyes and rises. The two find themselves --
In a dark, decomposing corridor to a place long forgotten.
Sunlight from narrow, inescapable windows accentuate the
molting walls. Wire bed frames and discarded furniture left.
Spooked, the two gingerly move down the hallway.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
This wasn’t a hospital, it was a
prison...
STELLA
Let’s just find her file and get
outta here.
INT. BASEMENT RECORDS ROOM - OLD SANITARIUM - MOMENTS LATER
Ramón kicks open a door, allowing them into the basement
floor where a large ‘B’ is prominently displayed on a wall. More importantly, THE CEMENT FLOOR AND WALLS ARE PAINTED RED.
RAMÓN
Jesus...
STELLA
It’s just like he said. 80.Stella turns on the musty fixtures in the RED RECORDS ROOM.
Dank, in disarray. CLUTTERED file boxes scrawled with dates
as far back as the 1880’s. There must be hundreds of them.
Stella and Ramón begin looking through the disarray, floor to
ceiling red.
RAMÓN
Aren’t files supposed to be
‘filed’?
Off their desperate search --
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Auggie casually rolls himself down a white hallway in his
wheelchair.
AUGGIE
I love white. White Christmas,
white bread, white people...
As he rolls past the VENDING MACHINE --
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
White chocolate...
Auggie fishes some coins from his pocket, and selects a white ZERO CANDY BAR.
INT. RECORDS ROOM - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Stella and Ramón sit amongst piles of files, lost.
STELLA
There’s nothing on her. It’s like
she didn’t even exist.
Defeated, Stella grabs the next file box to inspect --Ramón sits up, stares at something OFF SCREEN. Stella follows his gaze to a TURNED FILE BOX spilling a dozen
or so LEATHER-BOUND LEDGERS - IDENTICAL TO THE BELLOWS BOOK
.
STELLA (CONT’D)
(mind races)
... Just like her Book.
The two sit close, pouring through the ledgers. An intimacy both are comfortable with; even yearn for. In the ledgers --81.Instead of scary stories, they are filled with dated patient
reviews, x-rays, photos --
Stella looks at the file in his hand: Autopsy reports for a
group of children - the ones Sarah allegedly had murdered.
STELLA (CONT’D)
These are medical charts... for the kids that disappeared.
(reviewing statistics)
They suffered from liver failure. They were sick from lead poisoning.
Ramón pauses, trying to recollect --
RAMÓN
Back at the library. On the map.
Their rail yard was built on the
Yamhill River. They dammed that creak the year they locked her up in here.
The truth hits Stella like a punch to the stomach.
STELLA
She didn’t murder them. Her family
did to bury their secret.
RAMÓN
(re: file)
Look who’s her supervising doctor --
Ramón shows her Sarah’s weekly reports, patient reports
“Milner, Alfred, Dr.” “Severe paranoia... imaginative
constructs... false stories, family lies...”
STELLA
(reading)
... Dr. Alfred Milner. Roy Milner’s
father?
RAMÓN
(reading)
“Electroshock, metrozol, radium and isolation therapy, lateral cerebral diathermia treatment... “
(beat)
Jesus, she was just sixteen and they tortured her...
STELLA
(mind racing)
They made her believe she did it...
(MORE)82.that’s why the stories keep
happening.
(resolute)
Is there a death certificate? Proof that they killed her? What they did with her remains?
Ramón gets a closer look at two faded forms.
RAMÓN
(reading)
“Sessions terminated at family request”. -- She didn’t die here,
she was discharged.
STELLA
That can’t be, that doesn’t make
any sense --
Stella compares the two forms: Under the line ‘#
administered’ a “1” is admitted, then a “2” on release.
STELLA (CONT’D)
It says here one patient was admitted, and two were released. Sarah left with a woman named
Beatrix Bellows.
RAMÓN
I thought her mom’s name was
Delores. Did she have a sister?
Stella shakes her head, consumed. They both share a look,
trying to make sense of things.
A PAIR OF HANDS jut out at them through a file shelf,
belonging to an oafish ORDERLY dressed in white.
ORDERLY (O.S.)
THERE YOU ARE!
Stella falls back. Ramón pushes the shelf atop of him -- giving them a chance to flee, leaving the evidence behind.
SANITARIUM HALLWAYS The two quickly scramble through dark hallways, racing past
large debris. The Orderly follows but they’re too quick.
They BURST open the door -- but it’s held by chains outside. Stella’s small frame squeezes through, but Ramón struggles.
He manages to escape mere moments from the Orderly’s capture. STELLA (CONT'D)83.They back up as his arm blindly grabs for them.
EXT. RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - CONTINUOUS
Stella and Ramón find parked police cars out front. They dart
into a side door into the renovated hospital.
INT. RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - CONTINUOUS
Stella and Ramón hurry, scanning for Auggie.
MOMENTS LATER
The Orderly loses sight of the teens in the hospital. He
activates an emergency alarm button. KLAXONS sound off--
IN FIRST FLOOR HALLWAY
Stella and Ramón witness RED WARNING LIGHTS, causing every
white wall to appear red !
RAMÓN
... The red room.
STELLA
Auggie!!
Ramón skims ‘The Dream’ in the Bellows Book, quickly skipping
to the end. He goes grim.
RAMÓN
We shouldn’t have gone to the fifth
floor.
They frantically search --
STELLA
Where’s the elevator?!
INT. FIFTH FLOOR HALLWAY - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Auggie tenses, bathed in a sea of red. He drops his candy and
wheels out as fast as he can.
AUGGIE
Red room. Red room. RED ROOM!!!
Auggie abandons his wheelchair, toppling it over as he
charges out into a full sprint. 84.Everywhere Auggie turns is red. There is no escape yet he
desperately runs. When he rounds a corner --
He comes upon an ENDLESS CORRIDOR THAT STRETCHES OUT TO
INFINITY. Almost like a dream.
Auggie pivots around, only to find he’s trapped inside some
kind of labyrinth of red corridors. The sounds of the real
world drown out, as if underwater.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
(sotto)
I’m not crazy, I’m conscious. I’m
not crazy, I’m conscious...
INT. FIRST FLOOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - LATER
The hospital is in chaos - patients huddled or screaming, and
orderlies trying to restrain their patients. Their voices are drowned out by the emergency klaxons.
Stella and Ramón find the elevator and frantically push the
call button.
STELLA
C’mon... c’mon...
INT. DREAM CORRIDORS - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Auggie charges down another endless red corridor and turns to
find a dead end. Unable to escape the nightmarish red maze,
Auggie stops, sobbing in fear. In his state of panic, he
fails to notice -
On the wall behind him, a TINY POINT OF PLASTER CRACKS,
leaking trails of water, red as blood. The fissures spread releasing a trickle of river water... and what looks to be a FINGER poking through.
Followed by a RED ARM punching through the wall! AUGGIETurns and finds a sinewy ARM protruding through the wall,
grasping. The limb unnaturally long for the human body.
Chips of plaster flake off as the hole gets bigger. Another
elongated limb breaks through. We know who this is.
AUGGIE
Nononononononono -- !85.The wall breaks as a besmeared RED SARAH BELLOWS is birthed
from out of the seeping wall.
Auggie trembles as the story comes true. He SCREAMS and RUNS! Sarah Bellows shuffles behind, her twisted, naked and coated
body leaving a trail of red footprints behind.
DREAM HALLWAYS
Auggie flees through winding, endless red corridors. He
struggles with a handle. He BANGS on a door.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
HELP!!! IT’S HER! IT’S THE WITCH!
After every turn, Auggie looks back and finds the slow-moving
Sarah surprising closer.
SARAH BELLOWS
Youuu Maaay Beee Theee Neeext...
Auggie darts down another hallway, only to find Sarah now
there too. Always a little closer.
MAZE OF HALLWAYS
Auggie turns and tries to escape. Panting. As he runs, he
passes a window with people, only it’s --
The BELLOWS FAMILY sitting around their lavish dinner table
in their house. They turn to stare with gaunt faces. Instead of a ham displayed in the middle of the feast, it’s a child’s
decapitated head on a platter. No older than ten.
Auggie moves past the dream-like window. Refusing to quit.
AUGGIE
I’m not crazy, I’m conscious. I’m
not crazy, I’m conscious...
He turns a corner, and there’s Sarah again, shuffling closer.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
STELLLAAAAA?!
EXT. FIRST FLOOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
The Receptionist Nurse spots Stella and Ramón waiting for the
elevator.
RECEPTION NURSE
You!86.She charges with two large Orderlies --
The elevator door opens. Stella and Ramón race inside and
push the fifth floor button. The doors seal just in time.
Inside, they share a hopeful glance, but the floor numbers
are slow to change. First level... ... second level...
RAMÓN
Come on...
INT. DREAM CORRIDORS - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
With Sarah just twenty feet behind him, Auggie turns another
corner and finds THE ELEVATOR! He rapidly hits the call button. Eyeing Sarah shuffling towards him.
AUGGIE
Come on...
He tries to pry the doors open to no avail.
INT. ELEVATOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC
Stella and Ramón tensely watch the floor numbers on the
elevator rise. Third level... fourth level...
They wait for the fifth level...
INT. DREAM CORRIDORS - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Ding! The elevator arrives before Auggie. His face awash with
hope, awaiting for the doors to open. Sarah nearing.
INT. ELEVATOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC
Their elevator chimes for Stella and Ramón. But when the
doors open --
They discover their elevator HAS BEEN CALLED TO THE 4TH
FLOOR, where Deputy Hobbs stands with his back turned.
Ramón tries to hit the button again, but Hobbs turns and is
quick to draw his gun on them.
DEPUTY HOBBS
Out of the elevator! Your hands up!87.INT. DREAM CORRIDORS - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Auggie’s elevator door opens, but it’s occupied by ORDERLIES.
The klaxons instantly shut off and the hallway returns white.
More importantly, SARAH HAS DISAPPEARED. Auggie trembles in fright, confused.
AUGGIE
The witch... she was just here!
The Orderlies suspiciously eye him in his red patient gown.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
She almost got me! T-the room was red, and...
(catches on)
... No, no, it’s not what you think.
They firmly grab hold of him.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
No wait! I don’t belong here! I snuck in. I’m not crazy!
ORDERLY
Sure. Sure you aren’t.
AUGGIE
NO! PLEASE! I’M NOT CRAZY!!! I’M CONSCIOUS!! THE RED ROOM! IT WAS THE WITCH!!! IT WAS SARAH BELLOWS!
The Orderlies drag Auggie away behind two doors that read: ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCK THERAPY.
INT. SHOCK THERAPY - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - MOMENTS LATER
The Orderlies strap Auggie into a STRAIGHT JACKET.
AUGGIE
Please. I-I’m not crazy --
They restrain Auggie down onto a gurney.
AUGGIE (CONT’D)
I don’t want this to be the way it
ends... I SHOULD’VE READ... I
SHOULD’VE READ... RED...
EVERYTHING’S RED...!88.They shut him up by a wooden handle between his teeth. Auggie
lets out a muffled SCREAM as they begin strapping electrodes
to his temples. He shakes his head, unable to stop it.
The electroshock machines charge up with electricity.
INT. FIRST FLOOR - RIVERWELL PSYCHIATRIC - SAME TIME
Stella and Ramón are distraught as their handcuffed when --
BZZZZZZZ - The lights FLICKER as a surge of power is felt
throughout the hospital. Along with Auggie’s distant SCREAM.
TIME SLOWS AS
Ramón withers, deeply devastated.
Stella releases a long, ANGUISHED SCREAM. She falls upon her
knees as the Deputy restrains her. Stella is laid to waste.
CUT TO:
INT. DETENTION CELLS - MILL VALLEY POLICE - LATER THAT NIGHT
CLANG! An old JAIL DOOR is slammed shut on Stella. Ramón is
in his own cell, sharing a wall of bars between them. The room is bare, save for a fireplace and a folding chair.
Deputy Hobbs locks up.
RAMÓN
You don’t understand. We’re
innocent! The Book is cursed, man!
DEPUTY HOBBS
Sure it is.
While Ramón fights for his life, Stella slumps in a corner.
RAMÓN
At least give us the book before
it’s too late! If we could save Alice, we can save ourselves!
DEPUTY HOBBS
You didn’t hear? Alice died on the
way to the hospital .
Ramón pales. Stella scoffs - despondent. 89.DEPUTY HOBBS (CONT’D)
Whatever you guys are into, I’d
start telling the truth. Cause
someone’s gotta pay.
RAMÓN
We ARE telling the truth!
Deputy Hobbs leaves as their pleas fall on deaf ears, taking the Book with him. Ramón falls to the ground. Defeated.
STELLA
(numb)
They don’t believe us... just like
they didn’t believe Sarah. Alice died... just like the story said. Whatever’s written, comes true.
RAMÓN
So the son of a war hero, dies a two-bit hood.
STELLA
I don’t think--
RAMÓN
It doesn’t matter what you think. It’s the stories you leave behind. What people believe... It’s all stories... They come up with the right lies and we go to war -- they say the freeway will bring progress and it kills the town.
He hits his head against the wall, remembering something he can’t get out of his head.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
When my father returned from war, when I was a kid, I remembered the ticker tape that would fall out of his clothes. They couldn’t look at him, but they loved him.
(beat)
I hated him. When I caught up enough courage, I finally asked him. ‘What kind of father would jump on a grenade, knowing he had a kid back at home.’ Y’know what he said?
(to Stella)
‘What sort of father would I be if I hadn’t?’ 90.Stella sees Ramón in a new light. He makes himself laugh,
perhaps to prevent his tears.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
I didn’t understand it at the time. But after all of this shit... If I get outta here, I’d do the same.
STELLA
My father will never know. If I
could to talk to him -- tell him I
believe him now.
(hopeless)
We’re gonna die. But I wanna live.
(resolute)
I want to live.
Ramón grabs her hand between the bars, trying to comfort her. But they both know their fate is all but sealed.
INT. MAIN OFFICE - POLICE STATION - SAME
Deputy Hobbs sits at his desk, awaiting Sheriff Milner. He
reads the Bellows Book, with TRIGGER laying at his feet.
DEPUTY HOBBS
(to Trigger)
Can you believe what the kids these days are reading?
He turns a page to a new chapter “Me Tie Dough-ty Walker”. We
notice it’s no longer blank, but covered in writing.
As he reads, his brows narrow. Eyes locked in. Could it be?
INT. DETENTION CELLS - CONTINUOUSStella and Ramón rise as Deputy Hobbs forcefully enters. A
palpable tension in the air. The man looks unhinged.
DEPUTY HOBBS
How’d you get my name in that book?
They share a look of distress, unsure how to answer.
Hobbs opens the cylinder to his revolver and inserts bullets.
RAMÓN
It writes itself. But your name
shouldn’t be in it. You never went
into the hou--91.He closes the cylinder and points his gun at Ramón. He fires -
BANG! The bullet SPARKS off a cell bar. Stella screams.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
JESUS! ARE YOU INSANE?!!
DEPUTY HOBBS
Shut your mouth, wetback.
(beat)
Now I have questions and one of you
will give me answers.
Hobbs keeps the gun pointed at Ramón as he talks to Stella.
DEPUTY HOBBS (CONT’D)
That’s one sick story you wrote,
but how did you know you’d be
locked up in here?
STELLA
Please. It’s like he said. It
wasn’t us, it was the--
BANG! Another fire RINGS out! This time making contact with
the brick wall over Ramón’s head! They SCREAM.
DEPUTY HOBBS
Did he bring you into this? Handsome, older boy, invites you into some trouble?
STELLA
We went into the Bellows house...
And found that Book... Kurt
followed us in...
Hobbs aims his anger and his gun at the cowering Ramón, he’s
sure not to miss this time. Stella talks twice as fast.
STELLA (CONT’D)
Sarah Bellows, she murdered our friends, and Kurt, and my mom. Please - you have to believe us- It’s the truth...
DEPUTY HOBBS
THAT AIN’T THE TRUTH!
Hobbs points the gun at Stella, a fed up man.
RAMÓN
Don’t -- !92.STELLA
(through sobs)
You have to tell my dad... I know
it wasn’t him... It was Sarah in
the car... Just tell my dad... We didn’t write the stories --
As Stella weeps, Hobbs keeps his gun trained on her. Then --
Trigger casually saunters in as the tension hits its climax.
All three eye the dog as it sits and curiously stares at the
fireplace, as if awaiting something.
The dog yelps and whines at the hearth, as if trying to speak
actual words - ‘ Wee rai rowly rawer’.
Hobbs lowers his revolver, even more perturbed.
DEPUTY HOBBS
That was in the story. How’d you make my dog do that?
Stella and Ramón share a startled look, realizing...
STELLA
Who else’s name is in the story?
Trigger wags his tail, staring off at something unseen. He whimpers. All three look at the chimney, alarmed.
DEPUTY HOBBS
You okay, boy?
He tries to comfort his dog, only it won’t break its stare from the fireplace. He yelps louder, ‘ WEE RAI ROWLY RAWER! ’
DEPUTY HOBBS (CONT’D)
What’s wrong with him?
They stare at the mutt, trying to decipher the strange dog-like moaning. Almost like words. It dawns on Stella first --
STELLA
‘Me Tie Dough-Ty Walker’.
Trigger, louder: ‘WEE RAI ROWLY RAWER! WEE RAI ROWLY RAWER!’
RAMÓN
Who’s name is in the story?!
They back away in their cells - hope fleeting.93.DEPUTY HOBBS
What’d you do to my dog?!
STELLA
PLEASE! You have to let us out of
here.
RAMÓN
One of us is gonna die next. Who’s
name is in the story?!
DEPUTY HOBBS
(fed up, to Ramón)
Yours, okay ? It’s you .
Stella looks to Ramón - his heart skips a beat. Trigger
skitters, barking at the fireplace.
Something HARD AND FLESHY bounces down the chimney, then - The BLOODY HEAD of SARAH BELLOWS rolls across the floor and
comes to a stop !
SARAH BELLOWS HEAD
...Youuu maaay beee theee neeext...
Deputy Hobbs’s eyes bulge.
DEPUTY HOBBS
What the f--
STELLA
Listen to me. If we don’t get out
of here, Ramón is going to die.
Deputy Hobbs snaps out of it and grabs his key ring but --
Trigger TURNS ON his master with a low and guttural growl.
DEPUTY HOBBS
Boy, it’s me...
The dog snaps and starts BARKING. Drool foams from his mouth.
RAMÓN
Don’t just stand there, GET ME
OUTTA HERE!
TWO ROTTED FEET tumble from out of the hearth next.
Deputy Hobbs isn’t sure what to do, but finally moves to
unlock the teens, when --94.Trigger CHOMPS onto his arm! He SCREAMS in pain as he drops
his keys just short of Stella’s cell.
Trigger thrashes as Deputy Hobbs HOWLS. Ramón can do nothing but watch the horror unfold.
Stella reaches for the keys, but they are just out of grasp.
TWO ROTTED LEGS topple from the fireplace and then attach
themselves to the feet.
FLESHY BODY PARTS spasm on the ground like suffocating fish.
A TORSO and CHEST CAVITY wriggle up to the legs, rising
before them. Then chunks of shoulder meat... a pair of
forearms, rotted hands... and finally a smiling head...
SARAH’S DISJOINTED AND ROTTED BODY rises. She lurches toward
the wailing Sheriff -- held down by Trigger, further sinking his teeth into his master’s arm.
Deputy Hobbs looks up in horror at the smiling face of Sarah.
She looks him deep in the eye -- then SNAPS his neck!
The Deputy’s body lands with a THUD! Stella and Ramón react --
all hope of their escape now dead on the ground.
Rotted Sarah rears her neck -- staring at Ramón. Sarah starts
to lurch toward his cell.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
Open it! Open it!
STELLA
I can’t reach the keys!
Ramón backs away as Sarah hobbles outside his cell, her arms reaching through the bars.
Sarah begins to SQUEEZE her rotten head through
the bars. Her
skull crunches and indents, allowing her head THROUGH.
RAMÓN
GET THE KEYS!
STELLA
My arm isn’t long enough!!
Sarah dislocates her shoulder, pushing one arm through, then
CRUNCHES her chest cavity through. She’s inside!
Rotted Sarah grasps for Ramón, when -
Stella REACHES through the bars and GRABS Sarah! 95.The mere touch of her causes Stella’s eyes to turn white as
she begins to CHOKE -- water pours out of Stella’s mouth --
RAMÓN
Stella!
--Stella’s deadening eyes look up -- The bright lamps above
BLINDING... ANGLE RACES INTO THE LIGHT, AND--
UNDERWATER - TIME UNKNOWN
Stella is suddenly SUBMERGED underwater. A hand tight around
her neck. But as she tries to make out what is on the other side of the water’s surface --
-- it isn’t Sarah. But Sarah’s Father, ARNOLD BELLOWS. Three
sons surround the patriarch, watching Stella drown. A cold matriarch holding an infant watches on without intervention.
She tries to scream, but can’t get any air out of her lungs.
She fixates on something over the faceless men -- A PAIR OF MASONRY CHIMNEYS that belong to THE BELLOWS MANSION
.
Just as Stella’s eyes drift closed and her body goes limp --
INT. DETENTION CELLS - RETURN TO PRESENT DAY
Ramón sees their struggle has kicked the keys closer to him.
He reaches out and stretches for the keys. He snares them!
After unlocking himself, he sees Stella holding Sarah back.
Drowning from the water pouring out of her mouth...
Ramón grabs the revolver off the floor and --BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Bullets STRIKE the corpse of Sarah,
TORQUING her body free from Stella! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!...
Stella falls to the floor in a heap, gagging and coughing.
Ramón opens her cell and helps Stella to her feet. She
struggles to catch her breath.
Still alive, Rotted Sarah LUNGES for Ramón again --
--only for him to SLAM the cell door closed on her!
RAMÓN
Come on!
Ramón grabs Stella’s hand --96.INT. MAIN OFFICE - POLICE STATION - SAME
Before they race out of the main office -- Stella breaks her
grip with Ramón... to retrieve the Bellows Book.
EXT. MILL VALLEY POLICE STATION - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Ramón opens the squad car, but it’s locked. Stella anxious.
TRIGGER jumps on the hood of the car, SNARLING. They YELL! The SARAH BELLOWS’ CORPSE stumbles her way towards them
!
Suddenly, a POLICE CRUISER barrels into Sarah! She EXPLODES
and rains down in body parts. A window lowers, revealing -
SHERIFF MILNER. Looking spooked.
SHERIFF MILNER
Get in!
Stella and Ramón dive into the car, closing the door just as
Trigger attacks, clawing at the window.
Milner can’t take his eyes off the body parts on the street
ahead, flopping on the pavement. Some begin to rejoin, slowly
rebuilding back into a rotted Sarah.
CLOSE ONHer head rolls to a stop, SCREECHING a deafening SCREAM! The
cruiser’s wheels kick up dirt and peel off.
INT. SHERIFF CRUISER - DRIVING - NIGHT
As Sheriff Milner drives, Stella and Ramón gasp in relief.
They know they were saved from an inch of their lives.
Ramón clings to the mesh screen dividing them.
RAMÓN
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
SHERIFF MILNER
What the hell was that?
RAMÓN
You saw it too? Thank GOD you saw
it! You finally believe us. 97.STELLA
That’s what killed your son. And
will kill us too unless we get as
far away from here as possible...
Stella starts to read the rest of ‘Me Tie Dough-ty Walker’.
STELLA (CONT’D)
The stories. There’s no way to stop them once they’ve been written.
SHERIFF MILNER
That was Sarah Bellows?
Ramón has never heard sweeter words.
RAMÓN
You even know her name?! I love
you, man. I love the law! Just drive, man. Open her up.
(to Stella)
How do I die in the end?
Stella finishes reading to herself, then mournfully looks up.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
It’s okay... I can handle it. I’d rather know.
She catches the Sheriff’s cold glance in the rearview mirror.
STELLA
He shoots you.
Milner drives coolly, never taking his eyes off the road.
RAMÓN
(incredulous)
What? You’ve got to be kidding me.
STELLA
His father... he was the doctor in charge at the hospital. He helped the Bellows cover it up.
The CB radio sparks up. An out of jurisdiction DISPATCHER.
DISPATCHER (O.S.)
Sheriff, we’re getting an unusual amount of calls. Are you picking up
the phone--
The Sheriff clicks off his CB. They drive in eerie silence. 98.SHERIFF MILNER
You just had to go into that damn
house.
They try to force their doors open, to no avail.
OUTSIDE CRUISER
As the cruiser drives down a deserted highway...
Stella and Ramón claw at the doors and window -- kicking and
screaming -- but their muffled cries for help go unnoticed.
EXT. BELLOWS ESTATE - NIGHT - LATER
The Sheriff’s cruiser passes through the property gates and
crosses a small bridge over a dry riverbed, winding up the
hill to where the Bellows mansion once stood.
The entire estate has been razed down to dirt and debris,
except for the brittle remains of the dual chimney stacks.
EXT. BELLOWS DAM - NIGHT - LATER
The cruiser has parked beside a dry riverbed and a small
MASONRY ARCH-WALL DAM. Beyond it, the remains of a river along with rusty iron frames, chloridized leeching tanks, and drain boxes make up the derelict rail yard.
Headlights illuminate the dam, where Sheriff Milner has a
shovel, pick axe and some bags of cement.
IN THE BACK OF THE CRUISERStella and Ramón struggle, both of their hands now cuffed
behind their back.
She spots the dual chimney stacks and wanes as she recognizes
it as the location from her vision.
STELLA
This is where they took her. This is where her family murdered her.
RAMÓN
Misery loves company.
STELLA
(struck)
They buried the bodies in the dam.
ON MILNER99.Stacks of cobblestone are piled aside as Milner digs a shovel
into fresh earth. A hole big enough for two graves.
He sweats with each burrow into the ground. His voice raised--
SHERIFF MILNER
I was told I only needed to keep
the secret -- But then your mother
had gone into that house -- Now
‘cause of you, my son is dead - And
once you’re dead and buried,
everything will settle down -- Just as it always does.
His shovel scrapes dirt aside, incidentally exposing the skeletal remains of an ABNORMALLY ENLARGED SKULL.
Milner keeps digging, paying no mind.
IN THE BACK OF THE CRUISERStella writhes as they try to escape. She presses her face
against Ramón’s in what appears to be a passionate gesture.
RAMÓN
(shared passion)
If this is it, may as well --
Ramón attempts to meet her lips, but it isn’t reciprocated.
Stella scrunches to get her arms under her rear, bringing the
cuffs in front of her. It finally dons on Ramón--
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
Oh good. You can do that.
(turning)
Now help me out.
Stella ignores Ramón in favor of grabbing the Bellows Book.
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
What are you doing?
With her hands cinched, she opens to the last chapter. The story of ‘The Haunted House’ is still unwritten.
STELLA
Whatever is written, comes true.
(searching)
Pen... pen... pen...
RAMÓN
What? 100.STELLA
We have to write her story. It’s
the only way for her to hear the
truth.
Ramón catches on. He turns his pelvis to her.
RAMÓN
Front pocket.
Stella grabs Auggie’s old broken pen.
Ramón keeps one eye on Milner as Stella begins writing. Her
words escape her lips as if in a fever dream.
STELLA
“Sarah Bellows was a sweet, young-
lonely girl whose parents never let
her out of the house...”
Ramón looks out the window and goes in awe at something OS.
ON SHERIFF MILNER
He finishes mixing some wet cement in a wheelbarrow. He rises
and wipes his brow. The wind howls and sweeps past him.
Feeling watched, he slowly turns, his frame moving aside -
Revealing THE BELLOW’S HOUSE fully rebuilt in the distance .
Milner can’t believe his eyes. He looks to the cruiser and
his eyes narrow on Stella writing in stride.
He stabs his shovel into the earth. IN THE BACK OF THE CRUISERStella now sees the house on the hill, gobsmacked.
RAMÓN
Write, Stella. Hurry!
She returns to scribbling out words, almost illegible, when --
Stella’s door rips open and she is YANKED out of the car. The
Book goes flying along with her glasses.
SHERIFF MILNER
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING!
Stella hits the dirt hard. She struggles to see, but spots
her glasses behind her, and the Book between her and Milner.
Fuck the glasses. She crawls toward the Book. 101.Milner approaches, taking his revolver out of the holster.
SHERIFF MILNER (CONT’D)
Don’t you see, darling? If they
found out the water was spoiled, there would be no Mill Valley...
Ramón sees this as his chance. He gathers his courage --
From out of the cruiser comes a warrior’s cry. Ramón LAUNCHES
himself out of the back and TACKLES Milner to the ground.
Stella grabs the Book but is vexed - she knows Ramón will
never win this fight with his hands cuffed behind his back.
STELLA
No, your story --
RAMÓN
RUN, STELLA, WRITE!
As Ramón and Milner wrestle, Stella takes the Book and darts
towards the Bellow’s House, tripping over the tall grass.
Milner tries to get to his gun, but Ramón does everything in
his power to stop him. He’s thrown back --
Ramón’s face hits the dirt, in plain view of --
Headlights illuminate an upright pick axe dissecting the
printed words on a box of “MEATIER SAND” and “DOUGHTY WALKER CEMENT” to reveal the words “ME TIE DOUGHTY WALKER
”.
Ramón smirks as it gravely dons on him --
RAMÓN (CONT’D)
So that’s why it’s called that.
ON STELLA - RUNNING
As she approaches the Bellow’s House, a deafening GUN SHOT
rings out into the night. She stutters, fearing Ramón’s fate.
But she continues on, never looking back.
BEHIND HER
Milner rises out of the tall grass.
SHERIFF MILNER
Come back here, Stella!
ON STELLA AT BELLOWS HOUSE102.Another gunshot rings out and the bullet whizzes by. Heart
racing, she enters the house.
INT. BELLOWS ESTATE - YESTERYEAR
Stella bursts through the front door, confused and alone...
only the place isn’t cold and crumbling, but warm and lavish.
The fixtures cast the elegant interiors in a ghostly light.
Confused, she returns to writing in the Book, reciting:
STELLA
“Sarah felt alone, so she wrote
scary stories for the children. And they would come visit from all around for they loved to hear her
read...”
The sounds of CHILDREN LAUGHING. Little feet PITTER-PATTER
across wood floors, gathering someplace.
Stella peers into the grand library, where it’s now lined
with books. A YOUNG SARAH sits in a rocking chair with a large GROUP OF CHILDREN seated around her. She smiles as she finishes reading a story she’s written in a child-like voice:
YOUNG SARAH
...”He’s not a hairless”, the Vet said, “He’s not even a dog.”
CHILD
What was it?
YOUNG SARAH
It was a sewer rat with rabies!
The kids squeal with laughter and scares, while Sarah giggles and enjoys telling the spooky tale. It’s as if the ghostly inhabitants of yesteryear are pre-recorded memories.
Stella has a bewildered look - Is this really happening?
Suddenly, the front door to the manor SLAMS OPEN, revealing -SHERIFF MILNER. He reloads, but his bullets slip out of his hand as he is
awestruck by the sudden transformation of the house.
He gathers himself, then returns to the hunt. 103.A CHILD who Young Sarah is reading to turns his head to look
straight at him, breaking the fourth wall. His skin is pale
and sickly. River water starts pouring from his mouth.
Milner fires at the apparition, to no effect. Realizing
they’re no threat, the Sheriff continues after Stella.
IN THE KITCHEN
Stella tries to find safe refuge to write. She hides between
an oven and wall, continuing to write --
STELLA
“One day, the children started to
get sick. And Sarah knew it was the water. The water was being poisoned by her family’s rail yard...”
The pipes in the walls rattle. Household items tremble. The kitchen faucet BURSTS dirty water. It bleeds through cracks in the wall, seeping out of ceilings and floors. All around, pools of river water gather. As if the house was weeping.
IN A DINING ROOM
Milner is startled by the water pressure building and moaning
in the walls. He eyes the stairway where massive amounts of
river water waterfalls down.
He spots movement in the kitchen and FIRES. IN THE KITCHEN
Stella SCREAMS as the bullet ricochets nearby. She breaks
from her writing and races to the next room, getting wet.
IN THE LIBRARYStella enters the giant library where river water drains down
from above. She looks for a place to hide, then spots -
The Alcaraz Rug covering the cellar hatch in the floor. She
moves the rug aside and hides down in Sarah’s hidden bedroom.
A MOMENT LATERMilner steps in. He uses his ears as much as his eyes. He
studies the library. Shelves filled with a myriad of books.
IN SARAH’S BEDROOMStella holds her breath below the hatch. Hoping it will work.IN LIBRARY104.Milner’s boots step onto the Alcaraz rug, left askew. His
boot takes another step. The hidden hatch creaks.
IN SARAH’S BEDROOM
Stella closes her eyes. Silently praying. All goes quiet.
IN LIBRARY
Milner’s foot casually pushes aside a corner of the rug to
reveal the cellar hatch. He knows this is where she’s hiding.
IN SARAH’S BEDROOM
Stella holds her breath in fear, unable to write a word.
Water seeps and drains into the basement room, pooling.
IN LIBRARY
Milner lowers down to lift the hatch door, when the wall of
books behind him MOVE. Some JUT OUT, others RETRACT -- creating the IMPRESSION OF SARAH’S FACE.
When he slowly turns to witness it, Sarah’s impression opens
its mouth, inhaling books into a DARK, WIND TUNNEL ABYSS.
Milner EMPTIES his gun, hitting nothing but books and
parchment. The impression SCREAMS as the wind flurries.
Milner’s hat is sucked off into the void. He digs his heels
in to try to reload, but the gust takes his gun too.
A look of fear washes over him as he is pulled toward the
bookshelf. Heels scraping. He covers his face and then --
He SCREAMS as he is SUCKED into the abyss. The tremendous
wind dies down as loose book pages flutter to the floor.
IN SARAH’S BEDROOMStella’s breath quickens. Unsure of what happened. She holds
onto the hatch, questioning whether it’s safe to come out.
IN THE LIBRARYA PAIR OF FEET step out from the void in the book shelf... ROTTED SARAH limps into the library in her hazel gown.
Crooked, elongated limbs. A damaged, child-like mind. Her mouth is agape with river water pouring out.
Sarah lurches her mangled body towards the cellar hatch.IN SARAH’S BEDROOM105.Stella decides it’s time to open the hatch, but --
SARAH’S MANGLED FACE IS RIGHT THERE!
Stella SCREAMS. The hatch door CRASHES DOWN as she falls
deeper into the cellar, splashing into the water now up to her waist.
A BANGING on the hatch door. She’s trying to get in.
Stella looks for a way out, but there is none. She reclaims
the Book... only now the pages are all wet.
Regardless, she writes. The ink bleeding on the page.
STELLA (CONT’D)
“When the children started dying,
Sarah confronted her family...”
The BANGING intensifies. Stella writes on --
STELLA (CONT’D)
“But her family wouldn’t listen to
Young Sarah. And to protect the
family name, they murdered the children and hid their bodies in
the dam. And then told everyone
that she
was the monster. ”
MORE VIOLENT BANGING. It’s deafening... Then silence.
EXT. MILL VALLEY STREETS - NIGHT
Driving his pickup, Oren overhears on the radio:
DISK JOCKEY (RADIO)
I really don’t know what to make of
it, but this is the third caller who’s called in to say something odd is going on over by the Bellows
property. Don’t ask me what --
Oren yanks the steering, accelerating towards the property.
INT. SARAH’S BASEMENT BEDROOM - SAME TIME
Stella shivers, the rising water up to her chest. Her
trembling hand struggles to write clearly.106.STELLA
“... Her family locked her away in
Riverwell, where they made her
forget the truth, so that she would
believe her family’s lies...”
Behind Stella, Rotted Sarah’s cockeyed face slowly rises up
from out of the water, inside the room.
STELLA (CONT’D)
“And when she tried to fix what was
broken, they murdered her -- with
their bare hands... Sarah hated her
family for their betrayal... So she
cursed them and everyone who went
into their house.”
Rotted Sarah releases a banshee-like SCREAM!
Stella drops the book into the dark water. She swims back and
pushes floating articles to create distance.
She chokes on a mouthful of water as she searches the room,
looking for the book. But now Rotted Sarah is gone too.
Stella’s head cranks, trying to cover every direction.
Something touches her back -- she spins to find -- the Book.
Stella’s feet find some footing standing on a dresser. She
puts her pen back to paper, only it’s not writing anymore. The parchment is completely waterlogged.
STELLA (CONT’D)
No, no, no. Come on. Please --
UNDERWATER POV: Stella’s vulnerable body. Her voice muffled.
Stella finds a quietness that comes over the room. The
ripples calm...
Without warning, Stella’s violently YANKED underwater.UNDERWATERStella thrashes and tries to kick free from Sarah’s grasp.
The Book floats away from Stella’s grasp, sinking.
Stella struggles for air, and to break free. The Book too far
from her grasp. She SCREAMS, releasing an explosion of bubbles, desperate to reach the surface.
She’s drowning and slowly losing consciousness. And then a
distant voice. Almost dreamy. 107.DINAH MICHAELS (V.O.)
Don’t you want to know how the
story ends?... I’ll help you.
Her mother’s voice stirs Stella awake from the sinking
slumber. She KICKS her leg free from Sarah’s grasp...
And explodes out of the water, filling her lungs with life.
She ignores the Book and clears her throat. Confident.
STELLA
We’re not all at fault. We didn’t do this to you, Sarah. My friends,
Me... my mother...
(infinite sadness)
... Her name was Dinah Beatrix
Michaels.
Rotted Sarah’s curdled face slowly rises just a breath from Stella’s. A newfound curiosity about what she is saying.
STELLA (CONT’D)
But she wasn’t always a Michaels...
At first, she was a Bellows
.
Trembling, Stella continues, with her deepest confession.
STELLA (CONT’D)
She was your daughter you carried
at Riverwell, wasn’t she? Do you remember? They ripped her out of your arms before they murdered you.
Rotted Sarah is lost in a flood of painful memories. Stella
holds strong, never taking her eyes off of Sarah.
STELLA (CONT’D)
You cursed your family and so you
cursed mine. But you aren’t the
monster, Sarah. They are. You don’t want to hurt anyone, because this
isn’t you. You forgot who you are.
Sarah’s eyes fix onto Stella’s. A fleeting moment of clarity.
The water level quickly continuing to rise.
STELLA (CONT’D)
You’re a sweet girl, Sarah. And
this is your story.
Stella takes her last gulp of air as the water rises over
their heads, submerging them both.
UNDERWATER108.Sarah no longer looks ‘rotted’ - Stella sees the real SARAH
BELLOWS for the first time.
Sarah sweetly smiles and gently moves back a floating wisp of
hair from Stella’s face. Just like LouLou described, she is a sight. A soul that has been set free from the lies that have
been holding her hostage.
The two women float in the center of the water-filled room,
furnishings drifting about. If Stella could hold her breath
forever, she would stay to look at her grandmother’s face...
CLOSE ON: The Bellows Book floats by to the last pages of “Me
Tie Dough-ty Walker” that describe Ramón’s death. The ink
from the freshly written letters drift off the page...
Stella is hypnotized by Sarah. She may never come up for air.
The last bit of breath escaping her lips. And then --
The hatch opens above the surface, letting in light. An ARM
PLUNGES into the water, pulling Stella up.
IN THE LIBRARY
Stella is yanked onto the library floor, GASPING for air,
coughing. She is shocked to see --
Ramón, clutches his bloody gut from a near fatal bullet
wound. Stella wraps her arms around him as he winces.
STELLA (CONT’D)
You’re alive!
RAMÓN
You changed the ending. You saved me.
STELLA
We saved her.
EXT. NEW BELLOWS ESTATE - CONTINUOUS
Oren pulls to a stop at the Bellows Estate where some
onlookers have gathered, sharing hushed whispers.
His jaw drops seeing the newly restored BELLOWS HOUSE. The
front door opens, with Stella and Ramón exiting.
Overcome with emotion, Oren pushes through the crowd to be
with his daughter.
OREN
STELL?!109.Stella turns to see her father. His presence is far more
spectacular than anything that has happened to her.
STELLA
DAD!
She runs to him. They meet in a long embrace. He holds her,
never wanting to let go. Through tears --
STELLA (CONT’D)
It wasn’t you... I know it wasn’t
you. I know the truth.
OREN
The truth doesn’t matter, Stella. Only you do. I was so worried.
(beat)
What happened to you?
STELLA
Stories hurt. Stories heal.
He breaks the embrace to look her in the eyes, as if to
convince himself she really is okay...
Stella beams, tears of joy in her eyes. A brightness exudes.
Oren embraces her again. Their relationship made whole. He
knows this isn’t his sad daughter anymore. Stella is reborn.
Stella closes her eyes, taking in the moment. Ramón is overjoyed at the sight, partly wishing his father
was there too. But then he sees something horrific --
The front door to the house kicks open to a wind-ravaged
SHERIFF MILNER ! He looks like he’s crawled out of the sludge
from hell. He raises his gun, when -
The ground beneath the Bellows House gives way, and a portion
of the estate collapses into a sinkhole.
The startled crowd gasps. Sheriff Milner looks up at the house, unsure if the rest of
it is going to fall on him. Then --
THE BASE OF THE LOOMING ON-RAMP sinks into the ground. The
soaked foundation of earth grows unstable, causing rebar to bend and groan, chunks of concrete to crumble from above...
Before the Sheriff can run away, the entire crowd watches the
on-ramp all come CRASHING DOWN. He SCREAMS as - 110.CRAAAAASH! - a mountain of concrete and iron PLUMMETS down,
DESTROYING the Bellows House and Sheriff Milner with it.
As the dust settles, all that remains is a MOUNTAIN OF
DEBRIS. Stella and Ramón eye the pile of rubble, unsure if it’s really over.
OREN
What just happened?
RAMÓN
I think she fixed things.
Oren looks confused, but Stella knows he’s right.
SLOWLY PAN UP on the three as the crowd behind them marvels
at the destruction of the Bellows House.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
Happy Thanksgiving, Mill Valley, or should I say the new era of Dick.
Richard Nixon can’t save us now.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - MILL VALLEY - WEEKS LATER
The last remaining Autumn leaves cling to frigid trees. A slight frost on people’s lawns. Winter at the doorstep.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
Let me tell ya, folks... As much as this crazy world is filled with lies and hypocrisy, I like to believe there are still some stories out there worth a damn. And I’ve never found it more evident than right here in our backyard.
A bundled Paper Boy slings NEWSPAPERS on his route. On the
front page, a picture of the Bellows Family, Sarah, and the
murdered young children.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
She didn’t do it. Plain and simple.
(beat)
Why did we believe then? Cause we are afraid of what we don’t know. We’re afraid of what’s in the dark.
But when we turn on the lights...
most of the time, it’s us.
AT THE DAM111.City Workers and Detectives continue their arduous work at
slowly breaking up the dam, removing skeletal remains.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
Wake up, people. Our forefathers... are cocksucking murderers.
They’ve laid the pieces of bone on a tarp like a puzzle. It’s the making of nine children, and one young adult.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
And because our city is built on their evil deeds... The state did
some soil tests, and wouldn’t you
know, our land is foundationally unsound to build a freeway on.
INT. MORALES’S HOME - NIGHT
Ramón spoon feeds food into his father’s mouth as they watch
TV in the family room. The distance that once divided them is now gone.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
Our town lives again... for now.
ON TV: Officials stand before a board, posting birthdates in ascending order. Seated corespondent ROGER MUDD informs:
ROGER MUDD
Tonight for the first time in 27 years the United States has again
started a draft lottery, and the
famous first pick tonight is...
Ramón hears something that gives him pause, the spoon lingers
in the air, frozen in time. It may as well be his birthday.
His mother’s hand comforts him. He looks to his father, fear
in his eyes. They meet in their fragility.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
Stella lays a bouquet of yellow flowers at Dinah’s grave.
Behind her stands Ramón, clean-shaven and in an army uniform.
They walk past a few other gravestones that have been left
similar yellow bouquets... Auggie Hilderbrandt, Charles and
Alice Steinberg, even Kurt Milner.112.DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
So let’s be nice to each other,
because eventually, we all have to
move on.
They meet at Oren’s pickup, its bed packed with moving boxes.
Before Stella goes, she gives Ramón a lasting embrace. As if
they both know there may never be one again.
For a moment, it looks like they may kiss, but they pull away
- knowing it’ll only make it harder to say goodbye.
DISK JOCKEY (V.O.)
And wouldn’t you like to leave this world a little better than how you left it? I knows what I want to be
played at my funeral. This is ‘Hey
Jude’...
The Beatles “Hey Jude” plays as Stella gets into her father’s truck and drives away.
EXT. BELLOWS PROPERTY - LATER
Oren waits in his idling truck, ready to leave town for good.
Stella walks up the long driveway that leads to what is left
of the Bellows Estate, holding one last bouquet for Sarah.
Wild flowers and tall grass have already started to grow in
the crevices of the ruined estate.
Stella climbs to the top of the rubble, where a small tree
has strangely already begun to sprout. She takes a moment for herself.
And gently lays the bouquet down. And then rests on the grass-
looking up to the clear, blue sky.
STELLA
Lies- stories and lies... Now everybody knows. That you were not evil. That you were in pain. There was no darkness in your heart --
She looks up -- a black cloud crosses the sun --
-- then the sound of a faint music box. The playful melody -- You May Be the Next. 113.Concerned, Stella turns to see -- Her pretty yellow flowers
brown and wilt before her eyes. They sour until they are
nothing but crippled stalks. Even the Beatles rendition slows
and warps... like a broken record player underwater.
Stella turns to her father, fearful of what may come next --
SARAH’S ROTTED ARMS erupt from the earth, CLUTCHING her !
Stella SCREAMS BLOODY MURDER, as the arms pulls her down,
into the earth --
Screaming.
THE END114. | screenplays |
using System;
class SortThreeNumbers
{
static void Main()
{
Console.Write("Enter first number = ");
double firstNum = double.Parse(Console.ReadLine());
Console.Write("Enter second number = ");
double secondNum = double.Parse(Console.ReadLine());
Console.Write("Enter third number = ");
double thirdNum = double.Parse(Console.ReadLine());
if (firstNum > secondNum)
{
if (firstNum > thirdNum)
{
if (secondNum > thirdNum)
{
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1} {2}", firstNum, secondNum, thirdNum);
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("{0} {2} {1}", firstNum, secondNum, thirdNum);
}
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("{2} {0} {1}", firstNum, secondNum, thirdNum);
}
}
else
{
if (secondNum > thirdNum)
{
if (firstNum > thirdNum)
{
Console.WriteLine("{1} {0} {2}", firstNum, secondNum, thirdNum);
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("{1} {2} {0}", firstNum, secondNum, thirdNum);
}
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("{2} {1} {0}", firstNum, secondNum, thirdNum);
}
}
}
} | slim_pajama |
under physiological conditions , proteins undergo everlasting motions , ranging from atomic thermal fluctuation , side - chain rotation , residue swiveling , to domain swirling .
protein motion strongly correlates with protein functions , including molecular docking @xcite , drug binding @xcite , allosteric signaling @xcite , self assembly @xcite and enzyme catalysis @xcite .
the range of protein motions in a cellular environment depends on the structure s local flexibility , an intrinsic property of a given protein structure .
protein flexibility is reflected by the debye - waller factor ( b - factor ) , i.e. , the atomic mean - square displacement , obtained in structure determination by x - ray crystallography , nmr , or single - molecule force experiments @xcite .
however , the b - factor can not absolutely quantify flexibility : it also depends the crystal environment , solvent type , data collection condition and structural refinement procedure @xcite .
the flexibility of a biomolecule can be assessed by molecular dynamics ( md ) @xcite , normal mode analysis ( nma ) @xcite , graph theory @xcite and elastic network models ( enms ) @xcite , including gaussian network model ( gnm ) @xcite and anisotropic network model ( anm ) @xcite .
nma can be regarded as time - independent molecular dynamics ( md ) @xcite and diagonalizes the md potential to obtain a set of eigenvalues and eigenvectors , where first few eigenvectors predict the collective and global motions , which are potentially relevant to biomolecular functionality .
nma with only the elasticity potential , which is a leading term in the md potential , was introduced by tirion @xcite , and was extended to the network setting in anm @xcite . here
network refers to the connectivity between particles regardless of their chemical bonds @xcite .
yang et al .
@xcite demonstrated that due to its network setting , gnm is about one order more efficient than most other flexibility approaches in computational complexity . in terms of b - factor prediction , gnm is typically more accurate than anm @xcite . therefore , gnm has been widely used in the study of biomolecular structure , dynamics and functions @xcite .
it has demonstrated its utilities in stability analysis @xcite , docking simulation @xcite , viral capsids @xcite and domain motions of hemoglobin @xcite , f1 atpase @xcite , chaperonin groel @xcite and the ribosome @xcite . in traditional elasticity network models ,
i.e. , enm , gnm and anm , the connectivity is determined by a fixed cutoff distance .
all atoms within the cutoff distance are treated equally with no consideration given to effects which scale with distance . in this manner ,
the behavior of these methods typically depends on the cutoff distance used .
many modified models are proposed to improve the hard cutoff distance practice by the incorporation of the distance information @xcite .
hinsen has changed the spring constant to a distance - dependent gaussian function @xcite .
riccardi et al .
have used an inverse 6th power function of distance as the spring coefficient in their elastic network model @xcite .
a parameter - free anm has been introduced by using the inverse 2nd power square distance for spring constant @xcite .
a common feature of all the aforementioned approaches is that , they all depend on the mode decomposition of the potential matrix , which typically has the computational complexity of @xmath0 , where @xmath1 is the order the potential matrix . to bypass the matrix diagonalization , researchers explore the flexibility properties using the local packing density . many elegant methods and algorithms have been proposed , including the local density model ( ldm ) by halle @xcite , the local contact model ( lcm ) by zhang et al @xcite , weighted contact number ( wcn ) by @xcite , and others @xcite .
recently , we have proposed a few mode - decomposition free methods for flexibility analysis , namely , molecular nonlinear dynamics @xcite , stochastic dynamics @xcite and flexibility - rigidity index ( fri ) @xcite . among them , the fri method is of @xmath2 in computational complexity and has been accelerated to @xmath3 by using the cell lists algorithm without loss of accuracy @xcite .
the essential idea of the fri method is to evaluate the rigidity index or the compactness of the biomolecular ( network ) packing by the total correlation , a function of inter - atomic distance .
then the flexibility index is defined as the inverse of the rigidity index .
although the original motivation for fri comes from the design of continuum elasticity with atomic rigidity ( cewar ) , fri shares a similarity with the ldm , lcm and wcn . to be more specific ,
all of these methods make use of local packing information and are free from matrix diagonalization .
however , significant distinction exists between our fri methods and other local density based methods and it can be summarized as the following .
firstly , other than the discrete flexibility index and discrete rigidity index , our fri methods delivers a continuous flexibility function and a continuous rigidity function @xcite .
the continuous rigidity function , which can be regarded as the density distribution function ( density estimator ) of a biomolecule , plays many important roles beyond the scope of flexibility study @xcite .
for instance , it can be used to generate biomolecular surface representations @xcite , which reduce to the gaussian surface if an appropriate kernel is used .
in fact , rigidity function can be applied to decipher the atomic information from the experimental electron density data @xcite . secondly
, protein multiscale collective motions can be captured by using multiple kernels in our fri method , called multiscale fri or multikernel fri ( mfri ) @xcite .
this approach significantly improve the accuracy of fri b - factor predictions .
thirdly , we proposed an anisotropic fri ( afri ) model for the evaluation of biomolecular global motions .
different from traditional normal mode analysis or anm , our afri allows adaptive representations , ranging from a completely global description to a completely local representation @xcite .
the objective of the present work is twofold .
first , we propose a unified framework to construct generalized gnms ( ggnms ) .
we reveal that the gnm kirchhoff matrix can be constructed from the ideal low - pass filter ( ilf ) , which is the limiting case of admissible fri correlation functions .
we demonstrate that fri and ggnm are asymptotically equivalent when the cutoff value in the kirchhoff matrix or the scale value in the correlation function is sufficiently large .
this finding paves the way for understanding the connection between the gnm and fri methods . to clarify this connection
, we introduce a generalized kirchhoff matrix to provide a unified starting point for the ggnm and fri methods , which elucidates on the similarity and difference between ggnm and fri . based on this new understanding of the ggnm working principle
, we propose infinitely many correlation function based ggnms .
we show that ggnm outperforms the original gnm for the b - factor prediction of a set of 364 proteins .
both ggnm and fri deliver almost identical results when the scale parameter is sufficiently large .
our approach sheds light on the construction of efficient ggnms .
additionally , we propose two new methods , multiscale gnm ( mgnm ) and multiscale anm ( manm ) , to account for the multiscale features of biomolecules .
most biomolecules , particularly large macromolecules and protein complexes , have multiple characteristic length scales ranging from covalent bond , residue , secondary structure and domain dimensions , to protein sizes . even for small molecules , due to the influence of crystal structure ,
multiscale effects play a significant role in atomic thermal fluctuations .
consequently , gnm and anm , which are typically parametrized at a single cutoff distance , often do not work well in characterizing the flexibility of molecules involving multiscale behaviors .
our essential idea is to generalize original gnm and anm into a multikernel setting so that each kernel can be parametrized at a given characteristic length .
this generalization is achieved through the use of an fri assessment , which predicts the involvement of different scales , followed by an appropriate constructions of multikernel gnm or multikernel anm .
this approach works because for a diagonally dominant matrix , the direct inverse of the diagonal element is essentially equivalent to the diagonal element of the inverse matrix .
we demonstrate that the proposed mgnm and manm are able to successfully capture the multiscale properties of the protein and significantly improve the accuracy in protein flexibility prediction .
the rest of this paper is organized as the follows .
section [ sec : method ] is devoted to methods and algorithms .
we first propose a concise formulation of ggnms using fri correlation functions in section [ sec : gnm ] .
we show that there are infinitely many new ggnms that reduce to the original gnm at appropriate limits of their parameters . to establish notation ,
we further present a brief review of our mfri formalism in section [ sec : mfri ] .
based on the connection between fri and gnm , we propose mgnm in section [ sec : mgnm ] .
specifically , parameters learned from mfri are used to construct the multiscale kirchhoff matrix in mgnm .
we discuss two types of realizations of mgnms . as an extension of our mgnm
, the manm method is introduced in section [ sec : manm ] .
we validate the proposed ggnm , mgnm and manm by extensive numerical experiments in section [ sec : result ] .
we illustrate that the intrinsic multiscale properties of biomolecules are successfully captured in our mgnm and manm
. finally , in section [ sec : application ] , we demonstrate the utility of mgnm and manm for protein flexibility analysis , protein domain separation and collective motion study . the present work offers a new strategy for the design and construction of accurate , efficient and robust methods for biomolecular flexibility analysis .
this paper ends with a conclusion .
to establish notation and facilitate new development , let us present a brief review of the gnm and fri methods .
consider an @xmath1-particle coarse - grained representation of a biomolecule .
we denote @xmath4 the coordinates of these particles and @xmath5 the euclidean space distance between @xmath6th and @xmath7th particles . in a nutshell
, the gnm prediction of the @xmath6th b - factor of the biomolecule can be expressed as @xcite @xmath8 where @xmath9 is a fitting parameter that can be related to the thermal energy and @xmath10 is the @xmath6th diagonal element of the matrix inverse of the kirchhoff matrix , @xmath11 where @xmath12 is a cutoff distance .
the gnm theory evaluates the matrix inverse by @xmath13_{ii}$ ] , where @xmath14 is the transpose and @xmath15 and @xmath16 are the @xmath17th eigenvalue and eigenvector of @xmath18 , respectively .
the summation omits the first eignmode whose eigenvalue is zero .
the fri prediction of the @xmath6th b - factor of the biomolecule can be given by @xcite @xmath19 where @xmath9 and @xmath20 are fitting parameters , @xmath21 is the @xmath6th flexibility index and @xmath22 is the @xmath6th rigidity index . here , @xmath23 is an atomic number depended weight function that can be set to @xmath24 for a c@xmath25 network , and @xmath26 is a real - valued monotonically decreasing correlation function satisfying the following admissibility conditions @xmath27 where @xmath28 is a scale parameter .
delta sequences of the positive type @xcite are good choices .
many radial basis functions are also admissible @xcite .
commonly used fri correlation functions include the generalized exponential functions @xmath29 and generalized lorentz functions @xmath30 a major advantage of the fri method is that it does not resort to mode decomposition and its computational complexity can be reduced to @xmath3 by means of the cell lists algorithm used in our fast fri ( ffri ) @xcite .
in contrast , the mode decomposition of nma and gnm has the computational complexity of @xmath0 . [ cols="^ " , ]
gnm is an isotropic model which quantifies the atomic scalar fluctuations in molecule .
in contrast , anm is designed to describe the anisotropic properties , such as collective motions of a molecule near the equilibrium .
typically , the first six modes , corresponding to six zero ( or near zero ) eigenvalues , represent the trivial translational and rotational modes of a complex biomolecule .
global modes that are unique to the biomolecular structure are described by eigenvectors associated with the nonzero ( next smallest ) eigenvalues .
due to its simplicity , anm is widely used to study the dynamics of biomolecules . in the present work ,
we have designed our manm to maintain the aforementioned properties . to validate our manm for anisotropic mode analysis , we use two test proteins , i.e. , 1gru ( chain a ) and 1urp ( chain a ) .
the protein 1gru is chaperonin groel , a benchmark test for anm @xcite .
we employ our manm with two gaussian kernels ( @xmath31 ) with @xmath32 and @xmath33 .
we compute eigenvectors associated with the first three nonzero eigenvalues .
as illustrated in figure [ fig : manm_1gru ] , our manm results are in an excellent agreement with those of anm for chaperoin groel @xcite . to further validate our manm
, we examine another test case , 1urp .
it is a ribose - binding protein and its anisotropic motions have been studied in the literature @xcite .
we utilize the same set of parameters described above .
figure [ fig : manm_1urp ] demonstrates manm results .
our results are in a close consistence with the traditional anm analysis @xcite .
gaussian network model ( gnm ) and anisotropic network model ( anm ) are popular methods for macromolecular flexibility analysis .
alternative methods , flexibility - rigidity index ( fri ) @xcite and anisotropic flexibility - rigidity index ( afri ) @xcite , have been introduced to achieve better accuracy and more adaptivity in our recent work .
most recently , we have further proposed multiscale flexibility - rigidity index ( mfri ) @xcite to capture the multiscale behavior in macromolecules .
our mfri utilizes multiple kernels which are parametrized at different scales to describe macromolecular multiscale connectivity .
we have shown that mfri is about 20% more accurate than gnm in the b - factor prediction of a set of 364 protein @xcite .
motivated by these achievements , we propose a few fri based generalizations of gnm and anm in this work .
first , we construct a series of generalized gaussian network models ( ggnms ) .
we show that the original kirchhoff matrix used in gnm can be constructed by using the ideal low - pass filter ( ilf ) , which is a special case of a family of admissible correlation kernels ( or functions ) used in fri . based on this connection
, we propose a unified framework to construct generalized kirchhoff matrices for both gnm and fri .
more specifically , the inverse of the generalized kirchhoff matrices leads to infinitely many ggnms and the direct inverse of the diagonal terms gives rise to fri .
we reveal the identical behavior between ggnm and fri at a large cutoff distance or characteristic scale for b - factor protein predictions .
additionally , we propose multiscale gaussian network models ( mgnms ) based on the relationship of gnm and fri .
essentially , we develop a two - step procedure to construct mgnms . in the first step ,
we utilize mfri to come up with an optimal combination of multiscale kernels . in our second
, we try to implement the same combination of multiscale kernels in the generalized kirchhoff matrices for mgnms
. however , this step is not unique because for a given kirchhoff matrix , gnm and fri are connected only through diagonal elements . two types schemes , type-1 mgnm and type-2 mgnm , are proposed in this work .
moreover , we propose multiscale anisotropic network models ( manms ) based on the similarity between anm and gnm and the connection between gnm and fri . since anm is typically less accurate than gnm in b - factor prediction @xcite , its main utility is for collective motion analysis .
we therefore have developed manms to maintain the physical connectivity of protein atoms in the kirchhoff matrix .
we have carried out intensive numerical experiments to validate the proposed ggnm , mgnm and manm methods for b - factor predictions .
the ggnm method is examined over a set of 364 proteins .
it is found that the proposed ggnm is about 10% more accurate than gnm in b - factor prediction . for mgnm
, we use only a set of 362 protein due to limited computer resource .
we show that mgnm can achieve about 13% improvement over gnm .
similarly , the proposed manm is about 11% more accurate than its counterpart , anm , in b - factor prediction over a set of 300 proteins .
further , we consider three types of applications of the proposed mgnm and manm methods .
one type of application is to analyze the flexibility of proteins that fail the original gnm method in various ways .
we employ four proteins to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed mgnm in flexibility analysis .
another application is the study of protein domain separations .
the first nontrivial eigenmode of the multiscale kirchhoff matrix is used .
we found from the analysis of two proteins that type-1 mgnm does a good job in domain analysis while type-2 mgnm does not work for this purpose .
the other application concerns the protein collective motions .
our manm is found to offer similar results as those of the original anm method . in the future
, we will further apply our manm to study the anisotropic b - factor @xcite and conformational change @xcite .
it is worth to pointing that our mgnm and manm methods are not unique .
how to design optimal new mgnm and manm methods is still an open problem .
essentially , we hope these new methods are efficient , accurate and robust . more specifically , high accuracy in b - factor prediction is a main criterion .
additionally , having the ability to provide correct protein domain analysis is a desirable property as well . for manm ,
the capability of offering correct motion analysis is a major requirement .
the quality of both domain and motion analyses depends on how to design non - diagonal matrix elements so as to properly reflect the physical connectivity among particles .
this work was supported in part by nsf grants iis-1302285 , and dms-1160352 , and nih grant r01gm-090208 .
the authors thank jianyu chen and michael feig for useful discussions .
h. y. li , z. x. cao , l. l. zhao , and j. h. wang .
analysis of conformational motions and residue fluctuations for escherichia coli ribose - binding protein revealed with elastic network models .
, 14(5):1055210569 , 2013 .
f. tama , m. valle , j. frank , and c. k. brooks iii .
dynamic reorganization of the functionally active ribosome explored by normal mode analysis and cryo - electron microscopy .
, 100(16):9319 9323 , 2003 .
e. eyal , c. chennubhotla , l. w. yang , and i. bahar .
anisotropic fluctuations of amino acids in protein structures : insights from x - ray crystallography and elastic network models . ,
23(13 ) , i175-i184 , 2007 . | arxiv |
Ranma, Sailor Moon 1. Happosai Strikes!
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor. It is rated M for the first chapter.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games.
* * *
**1943: **The U.S. Department of the Navy decides against funding the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) project.
**1945: **Budget issues and a management crisis at Bell Labs derail work into improved telecommunication switches. The transistor is never invented.
**1956-1964: **Humanity struggles to reach the stars, but both Soviet and American efforts to launch and sustain artificial satellites fail. No rocket design proves capable of carrying itself to orbit. The first primitive general-purpose computers appear to help solve rocketry problems, but they cannot fulfill the requirements of the space program.
**1995: **Final ratification of the full North American Free Trade Act, the first real step toward a continent-wide government.
**1998: **The "euro" becomes the official currency of the European Union, except in the U.K.
**2005: **Claiming economic and security concerns, the European Union annexes the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia, and Vojvodina, creating a protectorate. Russian protests are ineffectual.
**2009: **European Union annexes Balkan nations.
* * *
A young girl with her shoulder-length bright red hair braided into a pigtail and dressed in oversized black tied-off pants grumbled to herself as she wrung out her Chinese-style red shirt, ignoring the sometimes-scandalized-sometimes-appreciative looks her exposed and generous firm breasts drew from passersby. _I do not believe it! How does that old woman do it? I'm even late for school and she still gets me!_
Ranma shook out her shirt, then winced and glared around at a whistle of appreciation from a young man dressed in gang colors. The punk in question paled when he realized just who he'd whistled at and hurriedly ducked down the first convenient ally, and Ranma sighed to herself. _At least the tomboy ain't around to rag me 'bout my lack of 'feminine modesty'. Not that she would, now._ As she continued on toward school she thought back to a week ago, and the disastrous wedding. Akane just hadn't been the same since that fiasco, quiet and withdrawn — not even comments on her cooking could get a reaction out of her these days, and while the peace had been welcome at first Ranma was beginning to get worried. She enjoyed the peace but was missing her spirited friend more every day.
Ranma was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost missed the attack from the tree overreaching the wall around the school grounds, feeling Happosai's strike brush the hair at her temple and tug at her pigtail as she dropped her shirt and simultaneously ducked and rolled, coming back to her feet to face the diminutive Grand Master of her school of martial arts, now sitting with his back to the school grounds wall. Glaring at the gnome of a man in front of her, she snarled, "Back off, ya old freak, I really ain't in the mood. Then again," Ranma continued as her glare turned into a hard smile, "I _am_ really in the mood to pound on somebody, and after the way ya helped break up the wedding you'll do as well as anyone."
Happosai just twirled his pipe and smirked. "You really _are_ in a mood, m'boy, you haven't even noticed the new accessory to your wardrobe."
Ranma looked down in confusion and found a thin gold chain around her neck with a bright red ruby resting between her breasts. "What, ya giving up on panties and moving on ta jewelry now?" she asked as she reached up to remove the necklace.
"Na ah, none of that," the old man responded, "FREEZE!" then nodded in satisfaction when Ranma suddenly found herself unable to move a muscle. "Ah, good, it worked. It's very simple, m'boy," Happosai explained, "you aren't the only one that's run out of patience. I've decided it's time to truly teach my most promising student some humility and respect for his Master, and these control pendants —" motioning to an almost identical necklace around his own neck "— will finally let me do just that."
The gnome stood and stretched, then jumped to the top of the wall. Turning his head, he ordered, "Follow me!" and jumped down onto the school grounds. Ranma fought to ignore the command, but her body ignored her demands as if they didn't exist and smoothly jumped to the top of the wall, then down to land behind the old pervert. Happosai looked back, nodded with a leer at Ranma's quivering breasts, then led the way to the corner of the grounds furthest from the school building. "I think some privacy is in order for this lesson. But not _too_ much," he added with a smirk, looking back at the windows of the school classrooms clearly visible from where they stood. "Now, take off your clothes and lie down on your back."
Now Ranma was getting desperate, mentally hammering at the walls her mind had found itself locked in, but to no avail — her body quickly removed her pants and boxers, then lay down on the grass, completely exposing herself to to the diminutive pervert's gaze. His eyes traveled the length of her body appreciatively, lingering on her firm red-tipped mounds, and on the red bush at the fork of her legs that showed Ranma's hair color was natural. "Ah, Ranma, it's such a shame to hide such natural beauty. Perhaps after we're done here I'll have you parade around the district showing everyone what a marvelous body you have. But first things first."
Ranma found herself unable to move even her eyes. So when she felt Happosai's hands running over her breasts and tweaking her nipples, she was unable to even glance down, her gaze locked on the sky, her eyelids blinking regularly. She tried to shout, yell out the threats boiling in her mind, but her voice box was also locked and the only sounds that she made were her first soft moans at the pleasure radiating from Happosai's attention to her chest as she felt a tongue join the hands, licking and suckling at her tits, and from the warmth beginning to grow between her legs. _Okay, Ranma, don't panic,_ she thought, _this isn't the first time the old pervert's gotten ahold of your chest, just the most thorough. Just relax and wait it out, he can't keep this necklace on you forever. And once it's off, he dies. This time he's gone too far._
Happosai smirked as he felt Ranma's opposition ease off through the mental link the necklaces had forged. _Giving in already, boy? Or just playing possum? Either way, it's time to take it up a notch._ "Well, enough of the preliminaries. Ranma, spread your legs!" He chuckled as Ranma's mental resistance again sprang to life even as her legs spread themselves and he started to drool at the sight revealed. "Ranma, you have been shamefully remiss in taking advantage of the opportunities Jusenkyo and all those luscious fiancées have given you. It's time to show you what you, and they, have been missing." He reached down a hand and ran his fingers between Ranma's folds. "Already wet, you're a sensitive young girl." He moved down and slowly ran his tongue the length of Ranma's slit, luxuriating in the taste, then circled her clit and started sucking on it as he inserted a finger. "Hmm, no cherry. Have you actually practiced already, or just lost it in some fight?" he asked as he added another finger and started to pump. As Ranma's body adjusted to the pleasurable intrusion, relaxing and growing even wetter, Happosai added another finger, then inserted his small hand completely up inside Ranma and pistoned vigorously, reveling as he fed off the pleasure and lust now suffusing Ranma's chi as her body's moans grew louder and it began to reflexively pump its hips.
Inside Ranma's mind she was screaming, anger, hatred and helpless humiliation like she'd never known whirling and mixing together as she fought to no avail for so much as a hint of control of her own body. This just couldn't be happening! It just didn't work this way, a challenge would come along or Akane would get kidnapped, Ranma would find himself up against something he couldn't beat, he'd come up with a way to beat it after all, and everything would go back to the way it was. But this ... As Ranma continued hammering at the mental walls locking her in and the pleasure pulsing from her groin throughout her body grew stronger she found herself praying that Ryoga would wander by like he so often did or Akane would come looking for her — she didn't care what they would see, what they would say, what they would think, what they would tell others so long as it would STOP! _Please, anyone, anything, please stop this!_
And deep inside her mind, something snapped.
Happosai hummed merrily to himself as he drank in the lust- and pleasure-suffused chi that Ranma was radiating while gazing at, and pleasuring, Ranma's naked body. Yes, he should have done this months ago! Or something like it, anyway, seeing how he'd only found the necklaces through a fluke the other day. Perhaps during the moxibustion incident? _Yes, now that Ranma's learning what it's really like to be a woman, her marvelous body will be mine to play with! And if she still refuses, I'll still have the necklaces — she may be the best, but she's hardly the only young thing around worthy of my attentions. That fiery fiancée of his, perhaps —_
Then, through the linked necklaces Happosai felt Ranma's mental resistance collapse and started to cackle. _Yes, she's mine, all —_ He never finished his jubilant thought as a wave of energy like he'd never felt before flashed through his hand still buried inside Ranma and Happosai lit up as if a nova had gone off inside of him, and his charred, smoking body collapsed between Ranma's legs as the smell of roasting flesh filled the air.
Ranma's body relaxed and her head rolled to the side as the compulsion enforced by the necklace faded with Happosai's death. But Ranma didn't smell the charred lump that had been her tormentor only a moment ago, or see the grass her unfocused gaze was pointed toward. Her mind was elsewhere....
2. Memories of the Fall
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
A short cute blond six-year-old girl dressed in a luxurious, if currently more than a little grubby, blue and gold pantsuit pouted as she walked between the trees lining the curving park path toward the side entrance to the palace. Looking up at the tall, slim redheaded female that had been one of her personal bodyguards all her life, she whined, "Toshiko, it's not fair, all the other kids get to stay at the playground!"
Toshiko chuckled as she glanced fondly at her charge before resuming her intent scanning of the grounds they walked through, the glasses she wore outlining each source of magic with the color revealing the type. "I know it doesn't seem fair, Princess, and you don't get to see some of those kids very often, but the party tonight is at least partly to celebrate your birthday, it's already been going on for awhile, and the star of the party should at least show up!"
Princess Yasuko sighed and nodded. "I know, I know, 'the ruling family has a responsibility to be accessible to its people'. I'll be good. I was just having so much fun!"
"I know, Princess," Amaya, the bulky brunette bodyguarding Yasuko's left side responded, "but there will be other days. Besides, you might actually have some fun at the adults' party, too." She laughed as she sensed the disgusted look her young charge sent her way. "No, it isn't likely. But it won't happen at all if you go in determined _not_ to enjoy yourself. And your mother will be there."
Yasuko immediately brightened and started to rush ahead, then paused as the curve of the path finally revealed the palace in all its pure white ethereal beauty. She gazed at the multi-spired building she'd called home all her short life, then lifted her eyes higher to stare at the shining orb of Earth in all its chaotic glory. She thought of the snippets of conversation she'd overheard here and there as long as she could remember. _I don't care what everyone says about how the Earthers don't like us much, someday I'm going to go there! Big sis did and she got through it all right, and I will too._ Then with an inward chuckle,_ Maybe I'll even find a boyfriend like she did. All the mush looks silly but everyone says it's a lot of fun, and they can't_ all _be wrong, right?_
Suddenly, Toshiko and Amaya both stiffened in shock as an alert sounded through the earbuds each wore, then Yasuko whirled as a huge explosion went off behind them. "That was at the playground!" she yelled even as she started to run back down the path they'd just come up. She didn't get three steps before being swept off her feet by Toshiko, who took off running toward the palace entrance with her gun out and pointed toward the door even as Amaya somehow kept up with the two while practically running sideways watching behind them as other explosions went off farther away. Yasuko was pounding on Toshiko's chest, Toshiko's reflex armor softening the light blows to the point they felt like taps, and kicking her feet trying uselessly to get her bodyguard to drop her. "That was the playground, my friends are back there!"
"I know, but we are under attack and you have duties, _Princess_," Toshiko responded harshly, "and your first duty is to let us get you to safety so your mother and her people can concentrate on repelling those monsters killing your subjects! Others whose job it is to risk their lives will look after your friends." She didn't add that from the size of the explosion there wouldn't be much left to look after.
Yasuko stopped fighting, and after a few more seconds of a bumpy ride as Toshiko's passenger said dully, "All right, I'll be good. Put me down, you'll be able to protect me better if you aren't carrying me."
Toshiko risked a suspicious glance downward, but on finding only dull resignation in her charge's face nodded and paused long enough to set Yasuko on her feet by the side door. With Amaya continuing to cover their rear, Toshiko motioned Yasuko further to the side then stroked the control sensor and as the door slid open whirled so that only her head and the arm holding her pistol were in the corridor, tracking for targets that weren't there. Immediately, the three were inside, door closed, and headed down the corridor at a trot, Amaya again moving sideways so she could cover the empty corridor behind them, both bodyguards listening through their earbuds to the reports of explosions throughout the city. Then the first wave of invaders hit.
Toshiko shouted in shock as her glasses flashed pure light straight into her eyes. "Eyes front!" she shouted even as she threw herself to the floor, bringing her charge down with her. Amaya whirled and gasped in shock even as she brought her pistol on target and a pulse of energy blew a fist-sized hole through the chest of the green-scaled vaguely female-shaped humanoid with huge curved sword-like blades in the place of hands just beyond the two on the floor. The figure collapsed, and instantly started to degenerate into sludge.
"What was that thing!?" Amaya asked breathlessly, even as she scanned both directions of the corridor.
Toshiko rubbed at her eyes, then gazed at the rapidly deteriorating corpse through the sparkles obscuring her vision. "I don't know, I've never heard of anything like it. Oh, you're going to need to take front. When whatever it is teleported in, the flash blinded me."
"Uh, what flash?" Princess Yasuko asked.
As Toshiko stood and helped the princess to her feet, she asked, "You didn't see a flash?"
"No, just a weird blackish spiral kind of like our galaxy for a second, then that _thing_ was in front of us."
"Odd," Toshiko pondered. "Then the flash must have been from my glasses, probably a reaction of some sort to an unknown type of magic. Let the scientists work that out later, we need to get moving. Amaya, until my eyes finish clearing up you'll need to take front. And lose the glasses."
Amaya immediately took off her own glasses. "That's going to make it difficult to detect any magical threats."
"Can't be helped — it's going to take a few minutes for my eyes to finish clearing up, we can't risk you being blinded right now, too."
"Right," Amaya agreed, then moved ahead of the other two and the three set off again down the corridor at a trot, Toshiko now the one constantly glancing to their rear.
* * *
They made it through several rooms and corridors, bare minutes away from the bodyguard reinforcements moving as fast as possible to link up with them, when the next attack struck. Amaya was again at the back covering the rear, when another of the deformed green things charged out of a door the other two had just passed, thrusting a bladed "hand" toward Amaya's gut. Amaya instinctively swung her arm to knock the attack aside, but her arm simply rebounded from the blade and she gasped as it plunged through her reflex armor, into her stomach, and out the center of her back. She felt her legs go numb and collapsed even as the gun in her other hand blew three holes through the stomach, chest and head of the thing.
Even as it collapsed and started to degrade the same way as the first, Toshiko and Yasuko were beside Amaya, the princess kneeling beside her bodyguard and helping her sit up while her partner quickly checked the room her attacker had come out of and finding no others then taking over scanning both directions of the corridor. "How are you?" Toshiko asked her partner.
"I can't feel or move my legs, that thing must have gotten my spine. It's going to take awhile for that to regenerate," Amaya responded even as she killed another of the things that came around the last corner they'd come around themselves less than a minute earlier.
"Not a problem, partner," Toshiko said. "Our reinforcements will be here in a few minutes. We'll just wait here, safer for all of us that way."
Another minute passed, Yasuko sitting beside Amaya and Toshiko standing, the two bodyguards facing opposite ways down the corridor. Then both adults went white as they heard a firefight break out deeper into the palace. A few minutes later they listened grimly to word of the ambush of their reinforcements, the survivors pinned in place, unable to either advance or withdraw. Amaya sighed. "That takes care of that. You two can't stay here, you'll have to take a detour and make your own way in."
Toshiko nodded. "Good luck, Amaya. Come on, Yasuko, we have to move."
"What!?" the princess shouted. "We can't just leave her here, she'll be killed!"
"We don't have a choice, _Princess._ Amaya's been my partner as long as you've been alive, do you think I want to leave her? But she won't be able to move for at least another fifteen minutes and there's a huge number of those things just a few minutes down the corridor, at most. If we stay we all die — _you_ die. What will that do to your mother and sister?"
Yasuko's shoulders slumped, then she nodded and fiercely hugged her wounded lifelong bodyguard as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Goodbye, Amaya."
"Goodbye, Yasuko, it's been a pleasure guarding you. Take care of my partner for me?"
"Sure," Yasuko said tremulously, then stood. The two bodyguards clasped arms for a few moments, then Toshiko and Yasuko headed back down the way they had come. A few seconds after they turned the corner they heard renewed firing coming from behind them.
* * *
A half hour later, an exhausted Yasuko collapsed to her knees. Toshiko glanced at the child, then resumed scanning the latest corridor. "We're almost there, Yasuko, just catch your breath for a minute and one last push." Yasuko nodded even as she gasped for breath, then gave a hoarse scream as she saw the now too-familiar black swirls. Toshiko whirled and fired, blowing sludge out the back of the green-scaled thing that had just materialized. Suddenly, a blade-hand slammed into her upper back, through a lung, and out her chest. Reaching across her stomach, she fired her pistol behind her, then collapsed as the fall of the thing she'd just killed yanked the blade-hand out of her chest.
Yasuko was beside her in an instant, trying to staunch the blood pouring from the wound in Toshiko's chest, but Toshiko pushed her back and pulled out a tiny pistol and placed it in on of the princess's bloodstained hands. Coughing up blood, she managed to gasp out, "I'm done, Yasuko, go — now!"
"Toshiko, I can't just —"
"You have to, please!" Toshiko begged in a hoarse whisper, then coughed up more blood when she tried to continue.
Yasuko stared at her for a long moment as fresh tears poured down, then nodded. "All right, Toshiko. I love you." She kissed her lifelong bodyguard and friend on the forehead, then turned and began running down the corridor with all the energy she had left. Turning, the corner she ran toward the door ten yards away.
Suddenly, the world seemed to go crazy, spinning uncontrollably. She felt the back of her head bounce off something, and the spinning came to a stop. _Help, mommy!_ she screamed in her mind as she caught sight of another blade-handed monster stepping out of the room she'd just passed behind her collapsing, headless body as blood fountaining from her neck stump sprayed a broad line down the wall.
Everything went black.
* * * * *
Ranma jerked upright with a throat-ripping scream, her bare breasts bouncing with the abrupt motion, then sat gasping for breath as her desperate gaze recognized the Furinkan High School grounds. _What ... I was on the moon ... Toshiko and Amaya ... but Happosai ... Happosai!_ Ranma looked down at the smoking corpse between her spread legs, charred except for the wrist of the hand still in ... desperately, Ranma thrust herself backwards and the unmarked hand popped out of her. Immediately, she fell on her side and curled into a ball, wracked by body-shaking sobs. _Mommy ..._
3. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation, and an additional explanatory clause. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
A seventeen-year-old not so Chibi Usa sighed as she gazed around Hotaru's bedroom. Maybe the timing of her return had been a little off — sure, she'd gotten to sit up half the night with Hotaru when they should have been sleeping, catching up on the past few years; and sure, the meeting where Setsuna would announce the coming of the next big threat to the Senshi was tonight (and she was _really_ looking forward to seeing her younger mother again, not that she'd say so); and sure, she needed to sit down with Setsuna before the meeting to coordinate their stories, what they would and wouldn't say about the new enemy. Still, the meeting wasn't until that evening, the discussion with Setsuna wouldn't take all _that_ long, and she could have had the gab-fest with Hotaru afterwards. It was too bad Diana hadn't come along, but the upcoming fight was going to be straightforward enough and wouldn't start up for awhile anyway, and she'd decided to stay home with the kittens while her past parents were visiting her present parents.
_Ah, well, what's done is done_, Chibi Usa thought as she walked over to the bookshelf and looked over the titles. _Yup, lots of history books, no surprise there. Some physiology books, looks like she's beginning to try and enhance her healing talent, great! Still, I'll have to suggest she get some light reading, she's entirely too serious._ Shrugging to herself, Chibi Usa turned toward the door and headed for the kitchen. _Let's get the talk with Setsuna over, and then take a closer look at the histories. It may be old news, but there ought to be _something_ there to keep me occupied until Hotaru gets out of school._
She was just outside the kitchen when without warning the world blacked out as her head erupted with a massive spike of pain. As the pain faded away and she once again became aware of her surroundings, Chibi Usa found herself kneeling on the floor, her hands gripping the sides of her head, and a scream echoing in her ears. _A scream? But I didn't ... Setsuna!_
She staggered to her feet and into the kitchen to find the Senshi of Time under the table beside a knocked over chair, curled into a ball and clutching her head and moaning. _Wow,_ Chibi Usa thought, _Whatever that was, it hit Setsuna _hard_. I've never seen her like this before, not even the mornings after the few times Puu's gotten more than tipsy._ She pulled the emerald-haired woman out from under the table, then sat down on the floor and pulled her into her lap. "Setsuna, are you all right?" she asked, then winced. _Of course she's not all right! Try again._ "Setsuna, do you have anything here strong enough for the pain?"
Slowly, the moaning ceased and the tall woman uncurled. "No," she managed to croak out. "Nothing on earth can help this — it isn't a physical problem." She managed to pull herself into another chair, and Chibi Usa hurriedly poured a cup of water and placed it in front of her, then righted the chair Setsuna had knocked over and sat down and waited impatiently for Setsuna to sooth her throat.
"So if it wasn't physical, what was it?" she finally asked. "Because whatever it was hit me, too, if not as bad as it hit you."
Setsuna's head jerked up at that, making her wince and grab at her temples for a moment. When she'd recovered, she repeated, "You felt it, too?" When Chibi Usa nodded Setsuna groaned. "What you felt was a temporal realignment. Being the Senshi of Time I was bound to get hammered regardless, but if you felt it as well it must have affected this timeline's link to Crystal Tokyo." She sighed and slowly pulled herself to her feet, leaning on the table. "Pluto Crystal Power, Make up!" A moment later, now in the fuku uniform of a senshi, Sailor Pluto disappeared into thin air, then reappeared a split second later and fell back into her chair to stare at the wall with an expression of stunned wonderment on her face.
A deeply worried Chibi Usa sat patiently, waiting for Pluto to tell her what was going on, then impatiently, then when time continued to crawl by and Pluto showed no sign of even being aware of her presence finally spoke up. "Well, what did you learn?"
Pluto jerked, then looked over at her young friend. "Crystal Tokyo — it's gone!"
Chibi Usa's world tilted as her vision went hazy. Dimly, she heard an exclamation from Pluto, then felt herself steadied in her seat just as she was starting to slide toward the floor. As the world came back into focus for the second time that day she found herself looking into the apologetic face of the Senshi of Time, now holding her in her seat with a hug.
"I'm sorry, Small Lady, that was poorly phrased," Pluto said and smiled comfortingly down at her young friend. "Don't worry, your home's still there and I can still get you back, though it's going to take awhile."
"But ... but how is that possible? I-If Crystal Tokyo's gone ..." Chibi Usa stammered.
"Oh, it's not gone — it's just that this timeline doesn't go there anymore." Then Pluto sighed and, releasing Chibi Usa, stood up and picked up the Time Staff from where it leaned against the table. "But I'm afraid an explanation, and our discussion about what to reveal about the upcoming threat, is going to have to wait — the subject of tonight's meeting has had an abrupt change, and I need to visit an old friend immediately. Make yourself at home, there's makings for sandwiches in the refrigerator." And with that, Sailor Pluto once again vanished.
4. Old Friends
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation, and an additional explanatory sentence. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
Ku Lon sighed to herself as she bustled around the kitchen of the Cat Café, cleaning up from the morning rush and getting things ready for the lunch crowd. To think that an Amazon matriarch of her age and stature should be living in a foreign country running a restaurant, of all things! Of course, the country wasn't _that_ foreign (at least in principle), being inhabited by descendants of refugees from the Fall, but they had gotten a little ... strange ... over the millennia — not that the Amazons were ones to talk, if the oldest texts were any indication. Still, she did miss the village, with its quiet bustle, morning sounds, fresh air, old friends, and a crowd of young ones to teach.
The shrunken old Matriarch thought back wistfully to when the Amazons' four thousand years of waiting had ended in her greatest failure through sheer bad luck, the day she got back from visiting an old/young friend in a nearby village that had just given birth to her fourth child to find the tournament in an uproar, her favorite great-granddaughter gone on a hunt for a female outsider that had beaten her in combat (!), and the Crystal Pyramid that was the special charge of Ku Lon's family flickering. The next month, waiting for Xian Pu to return from wherever the chase had taken her with word that she'd killed the outsider that might be the Princess reborn, had been the worst in Ku Lon's three centuries of life. And then when Xian Pu did return with word that not only was the young outsider still alive, but a Jusenkyo-cursed male ... !
Suddenly, a purple-haired, beautiful teenage girl burst through the door, bursting with excitement. {Great-grandmother! Come quick!}
"Xian Pu, what have I told you about speaking our language while living here?" Ku Lon asked sternly.
{But Great-grandmother, the Crystal Pyramid, it's glowing!}
{What?!} Ku Lon exclaimed, grabbing her staff and pogoing out of the kitchen and down the corridor to the storeroom. Yes, the pyramid that usually just flickered whenever Ranma had been within a few miles recently was now glowing steadily, and brightly enough to light up the storeroom from its shrine in the back. Balanced on her staff for height, with shaking hands the ancient Matriarch reached out to pick up the pyramid. _Please, don't let this simply be some of the Senshi visiting Nerima in their full-powered forms like last time!_ Pressing her forehead to the pyramid, she concentrated while Xian Pu and a just arrived excited Mu Tse, his thick glasses perched on his forehead, impatiently watched.
After several minutes of rapt silence, Ku Lon lifted her head and reverently returned the Crystal Pyramid to its place of honor, then turned to her young helpers. {This is promising,} she said with reluctant eagerness. {Whatever burst of Silver Millennium magic activated the Pyramid occurred only a short time ago, and the distance and direction place it at the high school. The two of you must go there immediately and learn what caused the burst, if Ranma was involved, and if so what affect it had on him.}
{Does this mean that the Princess's memories have returned, and Xian Pu and I can drop this ridiculous act?} Mu Tse asked eagerly.
Ku Lon rapped her great-granddaughter's fiancé firmly on the top of his head. {Ranma! Not 'Princess', not ever until we know that she has awakened, not even in our own tongue. You never know who might be listening. And we won't know until you find out, so hurry!}
Then a voice came from outside the storeroom. {Yes, they need to hurry, but they can drop the act. The Princess has awakened.}
The trio rushed out of the storeroom to find a tall young woman with dark green hair in a Senshi fuku and bearing a staff topped with a large garnet framed by a heart-shaped setting standing in the corridor from the dining room. Ku Lon instantly hopped down from her staff and bowed low, motioning the other two to join her. {Lady Pluto, this is an honor indeed.}
{A necessary one, I'm afraid,} the young-seeming woman with a regal bearing replied, motioning the three to rise. {While she has awakened, it was a traumatic experience — more from her new memories than what actually happened to him, though that was bad enough.} She grimaced. {Pronouns are a bitch when dealing with Ranma.} Turning to the two chuckling teenagers, she reassumed her regal bearing and said, {Go, and convince — _convince — _Ranma's protectors to bring him — her — here. You can drop the act, but don't mention me or any of the other Senshi to Ranma. I'll be taking care of that later.}
The two teenagers glanced at Ku Lon, and at her nod of approval hurried off. Once they were out of sight, the two remaining women relaxed, then Ku Lon _squeaked_ as Sailor Pluto picked her up and gave her a solid hug. {Setsuna, my dignity!} she huffed.
Pluto just laughed somewhat tearfully and leaned down to set Ku Lon back on her feet. {I'm sorry, Ku Lon, it's just so good to see you again.}
Ku Lon quirked an eyebrow at her old family friend, then motioned her toward the kitchen and pogoed ahead. Once there, she set about heating water, then pulled a tin of green tea and a couple of tea cups and saucers from the cupboard. Pluto smiled. {You remembered!}
Ku Lon glanced over at the Senshi as she set her cup of tea in front of her, not spilling a single drop from her leap onto the table. {It's only been a few years since your last visit, I'm hardly going to forget your favorite tea in that time,} she said somewhat reproachfully.
Pluto glanced at the much older/younger woman, then sighed and slumped a bit. {Yes, it _has_ been a few years. But I did say that might be the case when we last spoke and I verified that Ranma is Princess Yasuko. The temptation to violate my rules restricting interference in order to act on Ranma's behalf would have just been too great. I stretched them more than a little as it was.}
Ku Lon stared thoughtfully into her own cup of tea, then nodded and grinned at her guest. {Yes, you did warn me. Still, I _have_ missed our twice-yearly gossip-fests, so that just means we'll have to make up for lost time! So what have you been up to these past two years? I know you were having problems adjusting to actually living with other people for a change, and that has to mean all sorts of juicy gossip!}
Pluto laughed gaily. {Oh, I've actually developed something resembling a life and a family these past few years living with the Outers. It's been ... wonderful — if more than a little difficult after so many years alone. But the details will have to wait a bit, we need to discuss how to handle Ranma and his ... new memories and future.}
Ku Lon straightened and nodded agreement. {Right, business first, gossip later. So what's happened to Ranma, and what are the most likely outcomes....}
5. Enter Akane
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
Akane sat at her desk in a haze, staring unseeing at the teacher at the front of the class and carefully ignoring the empty desk where Ranma should be sitting (or sleeping), while her mind replayed yet again the failed wedding a week earlier. For a brief moment she'd had a vision of a happy future stretching out in front of them, only to have it all collapse in the usual Nerima chaos, and she was so _tired_! Tired of the usual rivals (she refused to think of them as fiancées), tired of the other so-called suitors, both 'hers' and her 'rivals', tired of getting kidnapped, tired of other fiancées coming out of the woodwork, just ... tired. _Everything was so perfect just after the fight with Saffron, and then ... the wedding ... it was like nothing in China ever happened._
Akane was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the teacher ask her a question, then choose not to make a issue of it when she didn't respond, or notice the concerned looks Yuka and Sayuri were sending her way. She barely noticed the flash of light that lit up the room through the windows. But she did, vaguely, and sat and listened disinterestedly as students rushed to the windows to see what was happening.
"What was that!?"
"I don't know, but I don't see anything out there that could light up like that."
"With everything that's happened around here, who knows what might do that?"
"Hey, is that Ranma out there in the corner of the yard next to that smoking pile of ... something?"
"Certainly a redhead, but at that distance I'm not sure."
"Well, if it is, she isn't wearing any clothes."
"She isn't moving, either. What do you think happened?"
_Wait, Ranma, female, naked ... not moving?_ A trickle of concern penetrating the fog Akane had been moving through since the wedding, she got up and shoved through the crowd to the window and stared out at the distant figure for a long moment. _That _could_ be Ranma ... maybe. Who else could it be? And he could be in real trouble!_ Quickly, she opened the window and hopped to the windowsill, then dropped to the ground and ran toward the still, redheaded figure.
As Akane approached the now recognizable body, Ranma-chan suddenly sat up with a jerk and a throat-ripping scream like Akane had never heard from the aqua-transexual before. Ranma sat gasping for a few seconds, then suddenly thrust herself backward a few feet and, falling on her side, curled into a ball. Arriving to find her fiancé wracked by heart-rending sobs, Akane simply stared at the scene, trying to understand what was happening. _What ... what's happened to Ranma? Is that smoking pile an animal of some sort? No, the shape is wrong — and that hand ... that's Happosai! But why isn't the hand burned like the rest? It's wet ... and so's the back of Ranma's thighs ..._
Suddenly she _knew_, and the last of the fog blew away from her mind with a throat-ripping shriek of her own as the world went red and tunnel-visioned while her ever-trusty hammer formed in her hands.
*
"Akane. Akane! AKANE!"
Faintly, Akane heard the shouts and felt someone grab onto her arm, interrupting the rhythm of her swing. Slowly, as the red faded and the world broadened she found an older brown-haired girl with a page boy haircut hanging on her arm. "Nabiki?" she asked somewhat groggily, "what are you doing here?"
"Stupid question, little sis, I think half the school's out here," Nabiki replied, looking around at the crowd carefully keeping its distance, then down at the contents of the crater Akane's hammering had created. "I really hope whoever that was, was already dead when you started pounding."
Akane growled and lifted her hammer as her vision started going red again. "I don't care, if he was alive that perverted old man deserved every bit of what I gave him!"
Her older sister quirked an eyebrow. "Happosai, was it? Well, the police might care." Then, giving Akane a little shake, admonished, "Enough of that. Wherever that perverted dwarf is now, he's way beyond feeling anything you might do. Besides, you're scaring Ranma."
"What!?" Akane turned to find the naked, busty redhead backed away and plastered against the school grounds wall. Instantly, her hammer vanished and she started to walk toward her fiancé, only to freeze as Ranma flinched. "Ranma? I'm sorry I scared you. It's just ... what that bastard did to you ..."
"I'm not afraid a' nothin'," Ranma asserted reflexively, then quietly added, "You ... you aren't blamin' me for anything?"
"Of course not," Akane replied, and suddenly her arms were full with a shaking redhead, hard enough that she lost her balance and found herself sitting on the grass with Ranma in her lap clutching at her.
"They're dead, they're all dead!" Ranma wailed. "And they tried so _hard_ and I failed them ... and ... and my friends ..." She started to sob again.
_Okay, I have no idea what that's about, but sort it out later,_ Akane thought. "Shhhh, easy, Ranma, I'm sure it wasn't your fault," she murmured as she gently rocked the shaking bundle in her lap.
*
Nabiki watched as her younger sister got Ranma settled down and shivered — she'd never _imagined_ Ranma, of all people, in such a state, much less seen it. Then, she looked around. _No teachers taking charge, of course_, she thought with a growl, then called out, "Kana, over here, now!"
On hearing the summons, one of the group of girls standing nearby quickly ran over. "What's up, boss?"
"Since none of our oh-so-brave teachers has come out to see what's going on, I want you to get back to the school and call the police, let them know there's been a death at the school, then head over to the nurse's office and get a blanket."
As Kana nodded and took off for the school at a run, Nabiki motioned the rest of the group of her subordinates over and quickly instructed them to help make sure the curious mob of students stayed back, 'to preserve the scene for the police'.
Then, the teenaged fixer saw almost the last person she wanted to see, and moved to intercept a boyishly dressed girl with a large spatula strapped to her back stalking determinedly toward Akane and her fiancé. "Hold up there, Ukyo, you _really_ don't want to disturb them right now."
Ukyo glared at Nabiki and tried to move around her, only to be cut off again. "And why shouldn't I want to comfort my fiancé?" she demanded.
"Because right now, doing so could be very bad for your health," Nabiki retorted. "After the way you helped blow up the wedding last week, you aren't one of Ranma's favorite people, and I wouldn't bet on his self control at the moment."
For a second the young chef wavered, then her face hardened and she started to move around Nabiki again. "You're wrong, Ranma didn't want to marry that violent maniac anyway, he's happy I helped break it up!"
"Really? And that's why he hasn't been by to see you since, right?" Nabiki asked, then smirked as Ukyo paused. "Besides, there's also Akane. You aren't likely to end up like Happosai, since he was already dead," — _I hope_ — "but a brawl between you two right now is the last thing Ranma needs."
Ukyo looked over at the charred and cratered remains Nabiki motioned to and paled. "That's Happosai?"
"Yup, and good riddance." Then Nabiki grimaced as the crowd parted to let through a tall, handsome boy in traditional samurai garb and carrying a bokken. "Besides, I need your help to stop tall, handsome, and delusional, there."
Ukyo looked over and stiffened, glanced at Akane and Ranma, then nodded in determination and some relief. "Tatewaki Kuno," she growled and moved to intercept the upperclassman with Nabiki by her side. "Hold it right there, sugar!"
Kuno struck a noble pose (in his own mind) and gestured with his bokken at Akane and Ranma. "Do not seek to bar me from the side of my glorious loves in their hour of need!" he intoned.
Yeah, right," Ukyo scoffed, coming to a stop in front of him and unsheathing her battle spatula. "If their 'hour of need' included the need for a punching bag, you'd be just what the doctor ordered. But considering how Happosai ended up that might not be a good idea — I could care less about Akane, but I don't want Ranma ending up in jail."
"Unnatural creature ..." Nabiki heard Kuno start to respond as she moved past the pair and focused on her little sister and her redheaded bundle.
As she came up to the two, she heard Akane softly humming a lullaby as she rocked her smaller fiancé curled up in her lap. "I have a blanket coming. How is he doing?" Nabiki asked softly.
Akane looked up. "He's asleep. Nabiki, did you hear what he said about them all being dead, and how he failed them? Do you have any idea who 'they' are?"
"Not a clue," Nabiki said, then grimaced as the argument between Ukyo and Kuno turned into a shouting match. "I hope Kana gets here with that blanket in a hurry, we need to get Ranma out of here before the police arrive."
"We can't take him home, not like this," Akane stated. "Dad will start crying over how the schools will never be joined, and Uncle Saotome will start yelling about his 'unworthy son', and I don't know if Ranma will kill them or break down again."
"You're right," Nabiki agreed, thinking furiously. "But if you don't take him home, then where?"
"The Cat Café," the two sisters heard a familiar female voice say from the top of the wall above their heads, then Xian Pu and Mu Tse jumped down and landed beside them. Xian Pu nodded toward the quarreling chef and would-be samurai. "Mu Tse, help Ukyo keep that delusional idiot away." Mu Tse nodded and moved toward the pair.
Nabiki stared. "Shampoo, your Japanese has certainly improved in the last week." Then, glancing at Mu Tse, "And Mousse seems to be moving around very well, considering he isn't wearing his glasses."
Xian Pu nodded. "Yes, play time is over." She looked over the scene carefully, then froze as her eyes fell on the ruby pendant still hanging around Ranma's neck. She walked over to examine Happosai's no longer recognizable corpse and removed the twin of Ranma's pendant, then, ignoring Akane's glare, she walked over and knelt to remove the identical pendant from around Ranma's neck. Xian Pu sat back, shaking and gripping the pendants so tightly that blood started to drip from one of her hands.
Nabiki knelt down next to Xian Pu. "Okay, what are these?" she asked.
"Body control pendants stolen from the Amazons centuries ago," Xian Pu managed to choke out. "With these, the strength of an individual's will matters nothing, so long as the orders are based purely on physical actions and muscle memory."
"I assume one of them is the control pendant," Nabiki mused. "So if, say, the wearer of the control pendant orders the wearer of the other to remove his clothes, lie down and not move ..."
"The other will obey without hesitation," Xian Pu finished, slowly regaining control of herself.
"But somehow Ranma overrode the pendant, and it killed Happosai," Nabiki continued over Akane's growl.
"Yes," Xian Pu agreed, "but I don't know how, or what the effort might have done to Ranma. But if anyone would know, it's great-grandmother. She needs to see Ranma, to see what any possible backlash might have done to him."
By now, it was all Akane could do to keep her hold on the smaller readheaded girl from becoming a death grip, from disturbing Ranma by shouting her anger into Xian Pu's face. "Forget it, Shampoo," she managed to grind out in a low tone. "After how hard you've tried to lure Ranma away, there's no way I'm just delivering him to you and that scheming bitch!"
Xian Pu gazed at the pair for a few moments, then sighed. "Ranma is not my fiancé and never has been — that honor belongs to Mu Tse, and now we can finally stop pretending otherwise." She chuckled slightly at the stunned expressions on the two girls' faces, then knelt before Akane and the sleeping Ranma and pressed her forehead to the ground. "Akane, we Amazons have ever sought only Ranma's good. If in the process we have injured or offended you, for Ranma's sake please forgive and trust us just this once. Please bring Ranma to the Cat Café."
The two girls stared at the prostrate Amazon in front of them, then at each other. _I don't know how many more of these shocks I can take in one day,_ Nabiki thought to herself half-whimsically, then her head whipped around at the sound of wood slamming against metal, to find the expected fight finally starting between Kuno on one side and Ukyo and Mu Tse on the other. _Get with it, girl, you don't have time to daydream._ She closed her eyes and thought furiously, then nodded and looked back at her younger sister. "Do it, Akane, right now, forget the blanket, while I stay here and handle the police," Nabiki ordered. "We need answers, Ranma may need care a doctor can't give, and the best place to get both is Cologne. Who else knows as much about magic?" she continued when Akane began to protest. "And whatever else, she wants Ranma healthy and sane."
For a moment Akane seemed to swell and Nabiki braced herself for an explosive rant. But then, Akane suddenly deflated and nodded reluctant agreement. "You're right, Nabiki, as much as I hate it." Then, looking down at the sigh of relief from Xian Pu, added to the now rising purple-haired warrior, "But Ranma's been hurt enough, at the least hint you're hurting him more or trying to influence him ..."
Xian Pu carefully refrained from commenting on their comparative fighting skills, simply nodding in agreement, then glanced at the fight where Kuno was very much coming off the worse. "Understood, let's go while the fight's distracting people."
Akane nodded and stood, and the pair headed toward the school gates, while Nabiki motioned those of her subordinates not involved in crowd control to approach for their orders.
6. At the Cat Café
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
Ku Lon looked up from where she sat at the sound of someone coming through the front door of the Cat Café, and at the sight of Xian Pu entering felt something in her relax for the first time since her great-granddaughter had left for the school, then tighten up again when she was followed by Akane carrying an unconscious, female, and very naked Ranma — and no Mu Tse.
"Mu Tse?" Ku Lon asked her chosen heir.
"Helping Ukyo control Kuno," the purple-haired girl responded.
"Good," Ku Lon said with a tight smile, then sobered again as she looked over at Akane glaring at her while possessively clutching Ranma. _It looks like Akane is finally admitting how she actually feels, good — better late than never._ "Relax, child," Ku Lon soothed, "no one here is going to hurt Ranma." Akane's disbelief was plain, and Ku Lon sighed. "Child, if you distrust me so much, why are you here?"
Akane faltered, and looked down worriedly at her fiancé for a moment. "Because Nabiki thought it was a good idea, and I couldn't think of anything else to do," she admitted in a low, slightly shaky voice.
Ku Lon nodded. "That will do for now. So, what happened to Ranma?"
After Akane related what little she knew, Ku Lon sat staring into space for a time, getting control of her voice, then turned to Xian Pu. "The pendants?"
Xian Pu handed them over wordlessly, and Ku Lon stared at the long-lost artifacts for a long moment, then in a quiet voice said, "Of all the ways for these to be recovered ... still, they don't explain the flash of light, or the Crystal Pyramid activating. Xian Pu, fetch a couple of blankets and my special chest."
" 'Crystal pyramid'?" Akane queried as Xian Pu left on her errand.
"An ancient Amazon artifact that detects a special type of magic. I'll explain more after performing a few tests." _Move to Mousse's bedroom? No, Akane is too suspicious — let's keep at least the illusion of being in public. _"However," Ku Lon continued, "I think Ranma will be more comfortable if he were in his male form when he awakens. Please sit down."
As Akane skittishly sat on the edge of one of the seats at Ku Lon's table, still holding Ranma in her lap, the ancient matriarch lifted the lid of tea pot by her seat and nodded in approval at the steam that rose through the opening. _Still hot enough. Now please, let Setsuna be wrong — it does happen on occasion._ Hopping onto the table, she approached the pair and tipped out a splash of water onto Ranma's head ... nothing. Ku Lon closed her eyes as Akane gasped. _Setsuna was right, as usual. Oh, Ranma ..._
Moving for once like the old woman she actually was, Ku Lon returned to her seat and looked up to find Akane glaring at her, her grip on the naked redhead tightening. "You can stop glaring at me, young lady, I'm not to blame for Ranma's condition," she said firmly, and Akane looked down, shamefaced.
"Sorry," Akane muttered, "I'm just worried about Ranma. What's locked his curse this time?"
"I don't know ... yet. But I will," Ku Lon gently replied as Xian Pu came back into the dining room, blankets in hand and a small, heavily carved and ornamented chest under her arm.
*
An hour later, Ku Lon snuffed out the candles on the floor at each side of Ranma's head and sat back beside the girl's still-sleeping and now blanket-covered body, growling in frustration.
"Nothing?" Xian Pu asked quietly from the booth she was sharing with Akane, and Ku Lon shook her head.
"Nothing. It's as if there's nothing there to influence or detect ..."
Ku Lon's voice trailed off thoughtfully as Akane spoke up in a worried tone. "Why is Ranma still asleep? That can't be natural!"
"No need to worry, child," Ku Lon soothed. "Ranma suffered a serious shock, acting as a conduit for powerful magic —" She froze in place and her face paled as her earlier thought coalesced, then whirled to the chest Xian Pu had brought and pulled out a plain, clear crystal that took on a soft glow in her hand. She reached down and placed the crystal in Ranma's hand, then groaned as the glow radiating from the crystal vanished. Slowly, she started to pack up all the implements she had removed from the chest in the course of the last hour, only to find Akane in the way.
"What just happened!?" Akane demanded loudly, almost shouting. "What does it mean? What's wrong with Ranma!?"
With a sigh, Ku Lon motioned to Xian Pu to finish packing the chest, and sat next to Ranma. "Akane, sit down."
Akane hesitated, then sat when Ku Lon pointed sternly at the floor across Ranma from her, desperately trying to keep her fear in check.
Ku Lon was silent for a long moment, then sighed. "Child, physically Ranma is going to be fine. She will be weak for a time, for her at least, but should make a full recovery — physically. However, the power that used Ranma as a conduit to strike against Happosai did more than just fry a pervert — it also seems to have set up protections against the same thing, or anything like it, from ever happening again. I suspect that from here on out, no magic will ever be able to directly touch Ranma again, for good or ill."
"But — b-but that's g-good isn't it?" Akane stammered. "After all the crap magic has put Ranma through he's certainly going to think so. Why the gloom?"
"And what about the curse?" Ku Lon asked softly, brushing a hand across Ranma's blanket-covered breasts, and Akane looked down and paled. Ku Lon nodded. "The curse is gone, and with the protection in place it cannot be given again. This is the form that Ranma will have for the rest of her life."
Akane sat stunned for a long moment, as tears began flow. "This is going to break him," she finally whispered, only to see Ku Lon shake her head.
"No, child, if handled properly this could actually be Ranma's salvation," Ku Lon asserted. "His female form was already a temporary escape from the pressures his foolish parents have placed on him, along with the rest of the chaos that swirled around him, and now it can be an honorable way out of all the contradictory obligations his father has forced on him. The only real problem, possibly, is you."
"Me!?"
"Yes, you. For some reason, in spite of the way you've treated him, Ranma loves you — in the past two years you have become the most important person in her life. So how are you going to handle a permanently female Ranma? What kind of relationship are you willing to accept? What kind of support can Ranma expect from you?"
Akane stared at Ku Lon for a long moment, then turned her gaze back to the face of the diminutive redhead lying in front of her as the flow of tears slowed, then stopped.
7. Hello
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
The title comes from the song by Lionel Ritchie (yes, I'm sometimes a hopeless romantic).
* * *
"We're back!" Nabiki called out as she and Mu Tse walked through the front door of the Cat Café, Nabiki with a bag under her arm. "Well, Mousse is back, I guess I'm just here," she added, looking around. The dining room was empty except for Ku Lon and Xian Pu sitting at a central table.
"Welcome," Ku Lon said. "Where's Ukyo?"
"After she and Mousse finished their beatdown of Kuno," Nabiki said, giving Mu Tse an approving look, "and the police arrived, she decided that since school was called off for the day she'd open up Ucchan's early. Where's Ranma and Akane?" she asked as she and Mu Tse walked over and sat down while Ku Lon poured two more cups of tea. "I brought a fresh change of clothes for Ranma."
"They're upstairs in Mu Tse's bedroom," Xian Pu replied.
Nabiki quirked an eyebrow. "That was fast work," she mused. "I didn't think little sis had it in her."
Ku Lon laughed as Mu Tse choked on the tea he had just started drinking, Xian Pu pounding his back. "She doesn't," Ku Lon replied, then sobered. "Ranma hasn't woken up yet. I felt that was the best bed to put her in until she does — she'll fit the bed, and it won't be Xian Pu's bedroom she wakes up in."
Nabiki stiffened. " 'She'?" she asked with a worried frown.
Ku Lon nodded heavily. " 'She'," she repeated. "The magic that killed Happosai also removed all magical influences on Ranma and set up a protection against any further magical meddling."
Nabiki gave the ancient elder a hard stare. "And this wouldn't have anything to do with offering Ranma refuge at your village, would it?"
Xian Pu and Mu Tse bristled, but calmed down when Ku Lon glared at them. Turning back to Nabiki, Ku Lon responded, "No, child, it would not. Even if that were our goal, this would be a poor way to do it. Sooner or later Ranma would discover the truth, and what would the killer of Saffron do to the village whose elders had so mistreated her? But as it is, Ranma's destiny lies somewhere other than an obscure village in the backwaters of China, however prestigious its history."
Nabiki gazed thoughtfully at Ku Lon for a long moment, then nodded acquiescence and sighed. "Ranma is not going to take this well. And how did Akane take the news? You did tell her?"
"Oh, yes, she knows. And she took it surprisingly well. She's with Ranma right now, and I believe she's finally thinking about what kind of future she wants with Ranma, and what she'll need to do to get it."
Nabiki chuckled mirthlessly. "Unless she's had a change of orientation, that future isn't going to be much."
"Normally, child, you would be right," Ku Lon responded thoughtfully. "But we Amazons have more experience with sex changes than most, thanks to Jusenkyo. It doesn't always work out as you'd expect. But whatever they decide is out of our hands."
Nabiki shrugged. "You're right, there." Glancing over at Xian Pu, she continued, "Back at the school Shampoo said that Mousse is her fiancé, and on the walk here Mousse confirmed it. So if Ranma was never Shampoo's husband, and you weren't trying to gain a new warrior for your tribe, what was the point of your pursuit of 'son-in-law' for the past two years?"
"To keep Ranma alive while giving him training," Ku Lon said. "And yes, the next natural question is, 'why should we care?' I will answer that question, but only after Ranma has awakened — she more than anyone deserves some answers." Sitting up straight, she added, "So how did things go at the school?"
Nabiki nodded at the change of subject. "Officially, if the autopsy shows what it looks like it should, the police are probably going to classify Happosai's death as a freak lightning strike. Normally Akane would be up on charges for desecrating a corpse, but considering Happosai's known history they are going to let that slide as well — assuming Happosai was actually dead when she started hammering on him," she added with a slightly worried frown.
"However, Inspector Koruba, the officer in charge, wants to speak with Ranma to get the full story before he makes any final decisions. I told him what I think happened to Ranma, and he thinks forensics can verify at least part of it, unofficially of course. But Happosai's death violates the unofficial agreement between the martial arts community and the police, and Koruba wants to find out if it was at least unintentional...."
*
Akane heard Nabiki's called greeting, but didn't move from her place on Mu Tse's bed next to a sleeping Ranma. For the past hour she had sat there, gazing at her former fiancé and reviewing her past behavior in light of Ku Lon's implied judgment. She had tried to summon the anger she found so comforting, but found she couldn't. Ku Lon was right, and in the light of Happosai's assault on Ranma Akane was finally seeing her actions for what they were — the acts of a spoiled, angry brat that thought the world was supposed to revolve around her — and she cringed as she thought of how she had treated Ranma when he refused to toe the line.
Akane flinched and glanced over at Ranma when she felt her shift, half hoping that Ranma was simply moving in her sleep again. But no, Ranma's eyes slowly cracked open and looked up at the ceiling. _Moment of truth time_, Akane thought with a sigh, then winced when Ranma glanced over at the sound and flinched. _Why didn't I notice how jumpy Ranma was getting around me?_ Akane thought bitterly. _Please, please, please let Cologne be right, that I still have a chance._
Ranma sat up and glanced down at the shirt she was wearing, then around the room. "Where am I?" she asked somewhat groggily.
"The Cat Café," Akane replied, "this is Mousse's bedroom. The shirt's Shampoo's, though." Ranma looked around wildly, and Akane winced again. "Don't worry," she said soothingly (she hoped), "Shampoo isn't going to come bursting through the door and glomp onto you. She's engaged to Mousse."
"What!?" Ranma exclaimed. "When did that happen, how did you find out?"
"Apparently, she always has been," Akane said with a shrug. "And she told me and Nabiki when she and Mousse showed up right after —" She froze as Ranma paled and made an abortive start at curling up. Instantly, Akane had her arms around the redhead in a gentle hug. "I'm sorry, Ranma, I didn't mean to remind you ... of ..." Her voice trailed off, as Ranma clutched at her for a moment, then stiffened and pushed back.
"It's no big deal," she said with forced nonchalance. "H-H-Happosai?"
"Dead, and a good thing, too," Akane ground out.
"Good!" Ranma said forcefully, then forced herself to relax. "Well, let's get me some pants and hot water and get back to the dojo."
Akane felt her belly tighten. "Uh, Ranma, I'm ... I'm afraid the hot water won't do you any good, we already tried. Cologne said that whatever fried Happosai also destroyed all magics affecting you."
Ranma stared at her for a long moment, then shook her head. "No! Ya gotta be wrong! I ... I can't be stuck like this!"
Akane sighed and pointed over at a tea kettle sitting on a portable burner on a nearby table. "Cologne thought you might feel like that, so here, try it for yourself."
Ranma grabbed the kettle by its wooden handle, not caring about the heat, and started to pour ... and poured ... and kept pouring until the kettle was empty, then simply stood in the steaming puddle around her feet for a few minutes staring at the wall. Finally, she nodded. "Okay, so I'm stuck like this for awhile. Just means I need to make a trip to Jusenkyo and jump in the Spring of Drowned Boy — that'll actually work out better, so what if I'll be a girl when bathing, at least I won't be turning inta one with every splash a' cold water."
"Uh, Ranma, th-that won't work, either," Akane said in a quavery voice. "Cologne says th-that now magic doesn't affect you at all, one way o-or the other."
Ranma stared at Akane for a long moment, then slowly stated, "An' you believe her." Akane jerkily nodded, and Ranma stiffened and turned to face the wall. "Well, it looks like ya get yer wish."
"What wish?"
"The engagement's off, and as soon as Mom and Pop find out 'bout me bein' stuck she'll be pulling out the seppuku contract, Pop'll want me ta marry yer dad 'cause 'the schools must be joined', an' I'll be out on the street without a name when I tell 'em all ta go ta hell. So yer free."
Akane stiffened as in her core she felt the oh-so-familiar anger begin to uncoil, her hand curling in preparation for the hammer's appearance. _No! Not now! Not again, never again!_ Closing her eyes, she fought the anger back. Gasping with relief when she succeeded, she opened her eyes again to find Ranma walking toward the door and called out, "Ranma, wait!"
Ranma stopped. "Yeah?" she asked tonelessly without turning around.
"Ranma, there's a question you refused to answer last week, and I'd like an answer now. Do you love me?"
Ranma clenched her fists and stared at the floor. "What's it matter?"
"It matters to me. Please, Ranma, do you love me?"
Ranma struggled with herself for a few minutes that to Akane seemed to last an eternity, then finally nodded. "Yeah, I do, satisfied?"
Lightheaded with relief, Akane stepped up behind the smaller redhead and pulled her into a gentle hug. "Yes, I am — because that means we're sticking together. You didn't let Saffron tear us apart, and I'm not letting this succeed where Saffron failed!"
"But — but what about ... I'm a girl! I'm always gonna be a girl. What about ... you always call me a pervert, but ..."
" ... but I guess we'll have to be perverts together," Akane finished with an only slightly forced chuckle.
"But you never been inta girls," Ranma protested.
"No, but I am 'into' you," Akane responded, "lately even when you're a girl. I think that's been part of my problem," she mused. "Girls aren't supposed to be attracted to girls, but there I was, more and more attracted to your girl side and maybe lashing out at you because of it."
Ranma turned in Akane's arms and looked up at her. "Really? You aren't just tryin' ta make me feel better?"
Akane looked down at the redhead for a moment, then leaned down and pulled a stunned Ranma into a deep kiss. It wasn't an earth-shaking kiss, one to make Ranma's knees weaken or her toes curl — Akane lacked experience and Ranma had a similar lack with shock added — but it _was_ heartfelt, and after stiffening for a moment Ranma softened and returned the effort. Finally, they broke the kiss and Ranma laid her head against Akane's shoulder as tears started streaming down her face in spite of her best efforts to suppress them. Akane gently picked up the distraught girl, walked back over to the bed, and sat down with the smaller girl in her lap as she tried to comfort the grieving Ranma. "Just think," she whispered as she rocked in place, "no more fiancée wars, no more sepukku contract and 'manliness' nonsense, no more 'the schools must be joined'."
Finally the tears stopped, and after a time Ranma pulled away and moved off of Akane's lap while ashamedly wiping at her face. "So what about our parents?" she asked. "You know they're gonna throw me out."
"If your parents disown you, good riddance. Do you really need them, anyway? So you'll be a Tendo instead of a Saotome, who cares?" Akane retorted.
"But they're all I ..." Ranma began, when new memories resurfaced — a tall, regal (if ancient to Yasuko's child's eyes), but loving mother that had always tried to make time to be with her daughter every day, that would berate her when she was selfish or careless but loved her no matter what she did; a laughing, happy, gentle (if somewhat klutzy and clueless), blond, teenage ( and therefore only old) girl that was (almost always) happy to talk to and even (occasionally) play with her little sister. Beside those memories, Genma belittling Ranma over and over, bewailing his 'useless' and 'honorless' son even as he cheated and connived to add more and more to Ranma's honor debts; Nodoka holding a sepukku pledge inadvertently made by his father in Ranma's name over her son's head while constantly judging his every action by a standard bizarre enough to leave everyone else shaking their heads. "No," Ranma whispered, "you're right. They're not worth it."
Akane glanced over at Ranma in surprise, then grinned. Standing up and holding out her hand, she said, "Damn right. Listen, I heard Nabiki come in just before you woke up. She stayed behind to handle the police while I brought you here, we'd better find out what's happened."
Ranma reached out for Akane's hand, and together they headed for the door.
* * *
Yay, my first review! Thanks, Tribun, while I'm not posting this to stroke my own ego (or at least, not _only_ to stroke my own ego ^_^), and I've been enjoying watching the number of hits, visitors, story alerts, favorite stories, and author alerts climb, getting that review was great. I just hope you don't think things are moving a bit too fast in this chapter.
While I'm going to avoid giving future developments away (something I've found I have a problem with at Anime Addventure), a word on why the chapters are so short is probably a good idea. By its nature Anime Addventure, where I post my writings first, encourages shorter chapters so that at decision points you can give up to five possible ways for things to go for anyone else that wants to join in, plus a generic "whatever you come up with" option. As well, I've found that around 1500 words is about what I can do in two to three days. Sometimes a scene will carry me along to 2000, 3000 or more words, but 1500 to 2000 seems to be my usual (my earliest episodes were somewhat shorter). When I decided to post this story here, I considered combining episodes into longer chapters, but decided against it — while this first story arc is complete, its sequel, and other stories I'm writing, aren't and if I did combine the earlier episodes I'd have a choice of later chapters being significantly shorter, or waiting until I'd posted three or four episodes there before adding a new chapter here. So, in the end I decided to just go each episode a chapter. That means that at my current rate of adding chapters and taking a three day break for Christmas, this story arc will be complete two Sundays from now and the sequel will reach the end of what I've currently written ten days after that. From there, I don't know what story I'll start posting, none of the ones I'm adding to are complete and not all of them can be posted at Fanfiction without some rewriting.
One final comment on my treatment of Akane: while this version of Akane is the angry, almost-out-of-control version that shows up in so many fanfics, it isn't one I'm wedded to. I've seen some of the massive debates people can get into over whether Akane's a put-upon sweet girl with a bit of a temper or an out of control psycho bitch, and consider the whole thing a bit silly - there's enough flexibility in the canon to go either way, as your story conception requires. What's important is that her treatment in each story is internally consistent and tells an interesting story.
8. History Lesson
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine, though I borrowed some ideas from Ozzallos' excellent work.
For Queen Serenity's name, it's seemed odd to me that all the main characters from the Silver Millennium have Japanese names except the queen, so I looked up "serenity" in the online Japanese-English dictionary and "shizukeza" came up, so that's what I used for Serenity's name.
* * *
" ... and then Great-grandmother walked in to find two six-year-olds covered in syrup, flour, and most of her rarest herbs," Xian Pu finished as Nabiki howled with laughter while clutching her ribs.
"And as you can imagine she was not pleased with us," Mu Tse added. "The punishment Elder Ku Lon laid on Xian Pu set the standard for the rest of my life, and what mother gave me wasn't much better. Not exactly an auspicious beginning for our future romance, but that was how we came to be friends."
After a few minutes, Nabiki finally got her laughter under control and straightened as she released her aching sides. Still harried by fits of giggles, she leaned back in her seat and gasped for breath. "Okay, _that_ I did not expect."
"What _did_ you expect, child?" Ku Lon asked. "Something like the Spartans of ancient Greece, single sex barracks and men treated like breeding stock?"
"Something like that, from the way you ... acted ..." the brown-haired girl agreed slowly, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "But then. that's what you wanted us to think, wasn't it?"
"Very good, Nabiki," Ku Lon said, "that is correct. We needed to increase the pressure on Ranma while stalling his marriage to Akane, but we didn't want him getting attached to Xian Pu, either. So she played the part of the sexually aggressive bimbo, with Mu Tse acting the insanely jealous suitor."
"WHAT!?" At Ranma's shout, the four sitting at the central table in the Cat Café's dining room turned to find the pigtailed redhead standing in the doorway from the back, apparently her usual self except for the hand clutching the hand of the taller girl beside her. "You mean Akane was right!? But ... but ... why ..."
"Why would we put on such an act?" Ku Lon asked gently, a tone Ranma had never heard from the shriveled ancient before.
"Well ... yeah ..."
Ku Lon sighed. "A good question, and I will give you a good answer — but first, some questions. Come, sit," she commanded, motioning to the two empty chairs across the table from her. As the two took their seats, still holding hands, Ku Lon continued, "Did Akane tell you that your curse is gone, and cannot be restored?"
"Y-yeah," Ranma stuttered, and Akane suppressed a wince as the grip on her hand tightened.
"The reason for that is simple. The pendant the Pervert Thief used on you bypassed the upper functions of the mind, focusing on pure muscle control. As a result, your strength of will, _highly_ impressive for a child your age, meant nothing."
Ranma bristled. "Hey, I ain't no kid!"
Ku Lon chuckled. "Ranma, to me, almost _everyone_ is a child — the number of people that are not I can count on two hands, and only one that can look on _me_ in the same way. But still, usually even the most accomplished of practitioners of the Arts do not attain your level of sheer willpower without decades of effort. I suppose we can thank your father for that, though how you survived the decade of training he put you through I will never know.
"Still," she continued as Ranma relaxed, "you are unique only in your age. The village has been producing the occasional warrior of your caliber for centuries, and not all of them have turned out to be honorable and good people. And warriors such as you — chains cannot hold them, mind and personality alterations soon fail, outright mental control is temporary at best when it works at all. So the Amazons created the necklaces used against you for those occasions when we needed to imprison and judge such a one. Unfortunately, they were stolen from us centuries ago, and how the Pervert came to have them I suppose we will never know."
Ku Lon paused for a moment, taking a sip of tea as she waited for a stunned Ranma to grapple with what she'd just heard.
"But ... but if willpower is useless," Ranma finally asked, "then how did I break free?"
"Ah, and there we come to the center of things," Ku Lon responded. "I believe that when willpower proved useless, you instinctively turned to another source of strength, and when you did that power simply flooded through your link to destroy all other magical influences through sheer power, though I admit I can't explain the new protection against further influence. Still, you were able to tap this power only because of your ancestral heritage — but a heritage of the soul rather than the body."
Ranma, along with Akane and Nabiki, stared uncomprehendingly, and Ku Lon sighed. "Tell me, Ranma, does the name 'Yasuko' mean anything to you? How about the names "Amaya' and 'Toshiko'?"
Ranma shot to her feet and slammed her hands on the table and glared at Ku Lon. "How do you know those names, ya ole ghoul? Did you give me those — those images?"
"No, Ranma, I did not — _can_not," Ku Lon said gently. "And you don't really believe that, do you? Those aren't images, they are memories — memories of another life."
Ranma held the glare for a minute, but slowly relaxed and sat back down, nodding slowly. "Yeah, yer right. I don't know how I know, but yer right — they're memories. But from where?"
" 'From when' is a better question," Ku Lon said, "and the answer is four thousand years ago." At the disbelieving looks from Ranma and the Tendos she chuckled, then sighed. "I know we Amazons like to boast of three thousand years of Amazon traditions, but our memories go back even further, another thousand years and beyond.
"Over fifty-five hundred years ago humanity discovered magic—not like it knows of it now, as an art practiced by some of the few that can sense its flows, but as a science, to be harnessed and tethered by artifacts and put into the hands of the common people. In truth," Ku Lon admitted, grimacing, "I think I prefer our current view — the scientific mind gives greater results, but takes much of the awe and mystery out of it, not to mention being _very_ dangerous."
Ignoring Nabiki's quirked eyebrow, the Elder continued, "Still, however dangerous it may be, it _is_ useful, and through the magic power they harnessed humanity reached for the other planets around our sun, colonizing all those planets they could and the moons of those they couldn't. Then, several centuries after they'd colonized all our solar system, a queen rose to power in the Moon Queendom. Through diplomacy and, on occasion, force of arms she eventually united all the other planets under her authority, and then at last mother Earth. Then, having united our worlds, she reached for the stars — and achieved them, creating a stellar empire in the process. For a thousand years she ruled the Moon Queendom and our interstellar allies and protectorates wisely and well."
By now, Nabiki was shaking her head in disbelief. "No way, just no way! That would bring us up to two thousand B.C., and we _know_ what was going on then, in general at least. There's simply no room in history for a united Earth and an interstellar empire!"
"Right you are, child," Ku Lon agreed, "but you are getting ahead of the story. Earth had always been an uneasy part of the Moon Queendom, handled gently and even that gentle handling often resented. Four thousand years ago, a member of Earth's Senate used that resentment to propel herself to power, and used that position of power to set up a truly monstrous ritual, the most monstrous in all history. Then, when a special celebration was occurring at the Moon's capital, one that was attended by many of the movers and shakers of the Empire as well as all of the Queen's most powerful protectors and enforcers, Senator Beryl struck. She cast a massive summoning spell, powered by the mass sacrifice of almost the entire population of Earth — fueled by the deaths of billions, Beryl opened portals on all the other worlds of the Empire and demons flooded out for rampage and slaughter."
Ranma gasped, looking sick as fresh memories returned. "My birthday party ..."
"Yes, Ranma," Ku Lon agreed sympathetically while the others stared as the petite girl began to shake. Akane reached out and put an arm around Ranma as she glared at Ku Lon, but the Elder ignored her and continued. "You and your immediate bodyguards were among the first on the Moon to die that day, but hardly among the last. After hours of slaughter, Senator Beryl withdrew the demons from the Moon and led her own armies against the survivors. But to her surprise, those survivors were not as broken as she'd thought and we held ... and held ... and held, while the Queen and her surviving advisors sought an escape and future for the few surviving subjects she could help.
"You see, the demons had not rampaged randomly, but instead targeted the machinery and power sources that made civilization possible, and they had done their work well — most of the survivors on her worlds would not last for long as their supplies dwindled and could not be replaced. And in the end, with time running out, she found an answer. The two most powerful of the Queen's enforcers, Lady Pluto and Lady Saturn, joined their powers, Lady Pluto searching through all of history's myriad possibilities seeking an Earth where magic had not been discovered, and when she found it she fed the knowledge of that Earth to Lady Saturn. In turn, Lady Saturn took that knowledge and reached out and remade Earth in its image, reshaping its landscape as well as the memories of those few Earthers not slaughtered to power the summoning, so that they would fit into the new world and remember it alone. This reshaping proved as powerful as Beryl's own summoning, and more than the two could handle — Lady Saturn died from her efforts, and Lady Pluto almost died and was permanently crippled.
"But though it had cost Queen Shizukeza" — Ranma jerked at the name — "two of her most powerful defenders and almost her closest friend and advisor, it had broken the magic holding the demons in our worlds and given her surviving people on the moon a place to go, and while the army and her surviving defenders continued to hold Beryl's army back those survivors passed through portals opened to the new Earth. Among those refugees were the survivors of her daughters' bodyguard detachments, given the task of keeping a comatose Lady Pluto safe until she could recover. Then, her surviving people safe, she led the remnants of her army in an attack on Beryl's personal regiment. In the end, both Beryl and the Queen died, as did all of the queen's defenders and army to the last woman and man. Beryl's forces held the Moon alone, but were trapped there to die as the habitats failed one after another."
Ku Lon paused to take a sip of her tea, then looked around at all the stunned faces staring back at her. Nabiki was the first to recover, leaning back and also looking at the other stunned looks, including those on the faces of Xian Pu and Mu Tse. "I take it this is not common knowledge even among the Amazons," she commented dryly.
"True," Ku Lon agreed with a chuckle. "While a more general legend is taught to all of our people, the details are known only by the Elders — being told the deeper history is part of a new Elder's initiation."
Xian Pu laughed. "That would explain the bemused looks so common to a new Elder — and none of the speculation about that came close to the truth!" Mu Tse joined in the laughter, then Nabiki, until she looked over at Ranma to find tears pouring down the younger girl's cheeks as Akane pulled her onto her lap and cuddled her mourning love. Nabiki's laughter choked off at the sight, as did Xian Pu's and Mu Tse's as they followed Nabiki's gaze.
"Mommy ... Usagi ..." Ranma whispered, and Ku Lon sighed and in that gentle tone that was still such a surprise to the Tendo girls, said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but remember, Ranma, all of this was around four thousand years ago. Everything you remember is long gone."
Ranma nodded and wiped at her face, then gave a half-chuckle, half-sob. "Not everything. I remember looking up at Earth in the sky over my home and thinking how beautiful it was, and how much I wanted to go there ..."
" ... and now here you are," Ku Lon finished with a nod. "Which is a good lead in to the next part of the story ... the survivors."
Nabiki leaned forward at that. "Yes, the survivors ... the ones that knew all about magic even if everyone else on earth didn't. So why didn't they carve out their own magical empires here on Earth, and why don't we know about them?" she demanded.
"But they did, and we do," Ku Lon replied calmly. "But they had two problems — first, there weren't very many of them, even by comparison to Earth's much-reduced population, and second, while they knew how to _use_ magic, or better said the magical devices they brought with them, they didn't know how to _make_ them. So they carved out pocket kingdoms and queendoms in the West, but their power lasted only as long as their devices. When those failed, they faded into legend as the Sidhe and the Tuatha de Danaan, the Aesir and Vanir — possibly the Olympians as well.
"But before that happened, two groups broke off from the rest and migrated. The leaders of the surviving bodyguards of the princesses realized that eventually their power would fade. After Lady Pluto recovered and left to carry out the last requests her friend and sovereign had left her, they decided that they would not stay. Instead, they reached out to the Earther survivors around them and learned the skills they needed to survive and prosper without magic, and then they left on their own long migrations.
"In the end, the descendants of Princess Usagi's regiment settled in Japan, spreading out and conquering the entire island. The modern Japanese are directly descended from that regiment.
"However, the survivors of Princess Yasuko's regiment were much fewer in number because of the deaths we incurred in our attempt to reach her in the early hours of the attack, and because of how after our failure we were constantly in the forefront of the fighting seeking vengeance and atonement in death. It took the direct command of the Queen and some secret discussion with the regiment's surviving commanders to convince us to leave with the other survivors. In the end, we settled in the mountains of China, and there we have survived these three thousand years that we boast of.
"So for millennia we stayed in the background and trained, and waited for our princess to return. And eventually she did, or rather, _he_ did — when a boy cursed to turn into a girl and his stupid panda of a father visited our village and promptly left with Xian Pu chasing the boy she thought was a girl. I was gone that day, helping an old friend in another village, or things would have turned out very differently."
"Yeah, with Ranma locked as a girl and made into your pampered pet!" Akane snapped as her embrace around Ranma tightened.
'Wrong, on both counts!" Ku Lon returned sternly. "Tell me, Akane, did you ever wonder how, in a village of woman warriors, Mu Tse received the training he needed to become one of our best fighters?"
Akane froze, then closed her mouth with her hot retort left unsaid and shook her head.
"It is very simple, child. We knew that the chance that our princess would be reborn female in any given lifetime was a coin toss, and that, given the ways of the new world we found ourselves in, it would most likely be a male incarnation that would find us. And yes, that means that we _expected_ to most likely have a male ruler at some point, but we were willing to accept that for the sake of our duty! And so we have always trained our most promising males in the ways of war, to make sure that in such a case there would be those that would be able to accompany him into whatever place he visited and situation he found himself in.
"And as for the 'pampered' part of your accusation, how many of the most famous nobles of your own people's history were made famous through death in battle, leading their people against their enemies? A warrior people expects its leaders, those physically capable at least, to _lead_, and we Amazons are no different!"
Akane dropped her gaze, shamefaced, and muttered an apology, as Ku Lon took a deep breath and visibly calmed herself.
"I must offer my own apologies, child. Given how we Amazons have acted, your suspicions are perfectly understandable. You have no idea how happy I am that we can drop the act, now."
Ranma looked up from her cuddle in Akane's lap as she wiped again at her face, then accepted the napkin Nabiki passed her. "Yeah, about that act — why? Why put me through all that?"
"Because of who you are and the life you would be facing," Ku Lon replied, her expression turning gentle again as she turned her attention to her princess. "The Amazons have an ... ally ... known only to the Elders and a scattering of others as the need arose. This ally is able to see what the future might bring, and once Xian Pu returned to us after she learned of your curse we had some questions for our ally's next visit. She told us that the chances that you would survive the next several years were poor, and that if you did you would most likely be married to Akane, if unofficially thanks to Japan's bizarre laws, within a year and dead before three more had passed — either at Akane's hand, or rather hammer, in a fit of temper, or by your own hand after finally losing control and killing your wife."
Ranma and Akane immediately began heated denials, only to quiet at a stern look from the matriarch. "Be honest, children," she reproved sternly. "Considering today's events, can you truly say what might have been is impossible?"
Akane began another hot retort, only to stop at the memory of Nabiki grabbing her arm, interrupting her swing as she shouted in her ear to bring her out of her rage. "No," she whispered in a choked voice, "I can't. Oh, Ranma, I'm so sorry!"
"Fer what?" Ranma responded. "It didn't happen." Looking at Ku Lon, she added, "I guess we owe the ole ghoul a big favor for that," then yiped as the 'old ghoul' leaned over and rapped her on the head. "Hey, is that any way ta treat a princess!?"
"When a princess acts like one, I'll treat her like one," Ku Lon responded amidst the laughter from the other teenagers around the table, before adding her own chuckles to the chorus. "Now, I think that's enough of a history lesson for the day, we need to decide where we go from here."
* * *
Yay, more reviews! Thanks much, dglsprincess105, KillerWombat, and SFBKludge.
Three issues raised in the reviews, a kinder, gentler Nabiki, the timeline/retrotech, and pretty much all of the first chapter.
For Nabiki, I could argue that she's in an "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" situation — up till now, in spite of whatever's happened everyone's come home at the end of the day and nothing really changed. Now, Ranma's been raped and locked, Happosai's dead, Akane could be up on charges for murder, and the parents are unlikely to take it well. Suddenly, it's not just "fun and games" anymore. Now, all that's reasonable enough, but the truth is that when I wrote this it was the second story I'd contributed to and the first that was mine from the beginning (and is still all mine, so far), and my plot called for a gentler, more sympathetic Nabiki so that's how I wrote her without worrying about why she was acting that way. Oops.
For the timeline/retrotech, I have a massive meta-plot for this storyline in mind, telling the story of Earth moving back out into interplanetary space and I want that to have the feel of the '50s and '60s SF, as well as telling how Japan becomes the paramount nation on Earth without the massive die-off of the usual Sailor Senshi future. No promises, but if I keep writing long enough the change in history and technology will start playing a real role in the fourth story arc.
For the rape that makes up the first chapter, there's basically two questions, why have it, and why write it up. And they're honest questions, that chapter alone almost kept me from posting this story on Fanfiction (it's pushing the edge of the rating system), and I haven't been surprised at how it's probably put off plenty of readers — as of 12-19-09, there's an almost 50% drop-off of visitors between chapters one and two, and over a 50% drop-off in hits, even though I posted the first two chapters at the same time to give first-timers a hint at what was beyond it that first day.
For the first, the way I see it Ranma and Akane are trapped in a rut — him by his foot-in-mouth disease, Akane by her jaundiced view of boys and temper, both by pride and a cycle of insults — and simply locking the curse probably wouldn't be enough to change that. Also, Akane becoming in at least one way the dominant member of the relationship, the one Ranma sometimes turns to for strength and comforting, helps put her more on an equal footing as they rebuild their partnership. As well, it takes Happosai off the stage, and Ranma is going to need _some_ form of horrific experience clearly beyond his capability of dealing with out of his own resources to spark his unconscious turn to the Silver Millennium energy that saved her and awoke her memories of her earlier life as Usagi's younger sister while locking the curse (and that'll become important in story arc four, if I get to it).
As for why I felt the need to write it up, that wasn't an easy decision to make, or an easy or fun chapter to write. However, there were two reasons I did in this case. First, the changes that come out of Happosai's assault are abrupt and extreme, and I felt, and still feel, that leaving the assault to flashbacks and references by characters would lack the counterbalancing impact needed for suspension of disbelief — I could be wrong, but that's how I see it.
The second reason I wrote it up is because of Anime Addventure. While I planned on a Sailor Moon/Ranma ½ crossover from the beginning, at that site you are supposed to offer other options for people that want to play, and there's no way to do that without the actual episode. Nobody's used any of them yet, but the other options (besides the usual generic) are 1) Ranma going from being a boy that turns into a girl to a girl that turns into a boy, or alternatively Ranma's girl side getting its own female personality, with or without memories of Ranma's past life and/or remembering what happens while Ranma's male; 2) it turns out Ranma isn't related by blood to one or both parents, and his divine/mythological/supernatural heritage awakens; 3) Ranma's female form is permanently in the Neko-ken, sentience optional; and 4) Ranma splits into male and female forms, both with all of Ranma's memories. Any of the options could make interesting stories if someone ever picks them up, and they're impossible without an episode leading to them.
Wow, this author's note makes up almost 20% of the word count for the chapter, good thing this is one of the longer ones.
9. More Old Friends
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation, and a little foreshadowing. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi, Naoko Takeuchi, or Kosuke Fujishima, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
At a hilltop Shinto shrine, a seemingly old priest stood at the head of the stairs looking out contentedly at the long-known and loved view. After a time, a smile came to his face and without turning, he spoke to the empty air. "You can come out, Amaterasu."
A mild curse came from the trees behind him, and an emerald-haired woman in a business suit stepped out and walked over to stand beside him as he chuckled. "You are in a good mood," Yosho opined, "that curse was unusually mild."
Setsuna laughed. "I suppose it was, but I _did_ manage to get within fifteen feet before you noticed me this time, I think that's the best I've done." She gazed out across the valley before them, and a pensive look came across her face. Yosho glanced her way, and sighed at the look.
"I see this isn't simply a friendly visit," he said. "Would you care for some tea?"
"Always," the Senshi of Time responded, and the two turned toward the shrine.
*
The formalities completed, Setsuna took a sip of tea and happily sighed. "Only the best, as always," she said contentedly, and Yosho chuckled.
"Of course, he said offhandedly. "How else am I to tempt the world's busiest woman to relax and enjoy the moment every decade or so?" Then he tensed slightly as the smile ran away from his old friend's face to be replaced by ... he wasn't sure what — happiness, anger, sadness, resignation, he'd never seen such a mix of emotions on that oh-so-familiar young-old face before. Carefully, he set down his tea cup and leaned forward. "Something has happened, Setsuna; can you talk about it?"
The odd mix of emotions vanished as Setsuna wryly chuckled. "Some, at least," she said. "There's good news and bad news. The good news is that the little princess has awakened, and the impact on the future will be ... magnificent, enough that I won't be taking that decades-long break I wasn't looking forward to."
The happy smile on the old man's face at the news was genuine, but not unalloyed as he waited for her to continue. When she didn't, gazing thoughtfully into her tea cup, he prompted, "That is very good news, indeed, I know how much you've missed the little one. And the bad news?"
Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Setsuna sighed. "The bad news is that ... that ..." she fell silent, then visibly gathered her courage and finished in a rush, "I'm afraid the timetable for your own long vacation has been moved up considerably. And extended to centuries — possibly permanently, except for visits."
Yosho stiffened, then rose and slowly walked over to the doorway and out to gaze again across the valley. Setsuna set down her own tea cup, then walked out behind him and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Yosho."
He reached up and laid a hand across her own. "It's all right, Setsuna, I know you would not ask this of me if it wasn't necessary. How long do I have to get everything, and everyone, packed up?"
"A ... a few months," she answered hesitantly, and he sucked in a breath.
"That fast — things must have changed drastically, indeed." When the priest felt her hand on his shoulder tighten, he chuckled. "Don't worry, Amaterasu, I will maintain my blissful ignorance, and your people will be safe."
"From your people, at least — better said, your _other_ people, this is your home as well," she gently reminded him, and he nodded agreement.
"True, and thus the blissful ignorance. Funaho?"
"Another good thing about this change, _now_ I can guarantee your tree's safety; it will be waiting for you when you return," Setsuna assured him, and a broad smile blossomed on his face.
"Well, that _is_ good news." Then, sobering, "And will I see you again before we leave?"
"No, Yosho, you won't," Setsuna said, dropping her gaze, voice so low he was barely able to hear the words.
He pulled his long-time friend into a hug, then after a few minutes releasing her and turning her to face him, said in a determinedly upbeat tone, "In that case, your workout clothing is in its usual place, do you have time for one last match? We can get each other cleaned up afterward," he added with a lascivious leer so over-the top it startled a laugh from her.
"Of course," she said with a tremulous smile, "I wouldn't miss a chance at your training in either Art for anything."
* * * * *
Hours later, a freshly cleaned and pleasantly tired Setsuna knocked on the door of a Buddhist temple, and a brown-haired girl with blue diamond tattoos on her forehead and each cheek answered the door. "Nimue!" Belldandy shouted joyfully as she threw herself forward and embraced the taller woman, and Setsuna felt something in her relax as she returned the hug.
A few minutes later, the two were kneeling at the dining table, nibbling on refreshments and catching up on gossip, the Senshi of Time shaking her head in amazement and laughing at the recent events in her friend's life. "Well, it looks like you beat me to it, after all — or will, whenever that paragon of virtue you've fallen in love with gets around to settling on a date."
With an inscrutable smile that went oddly with her blushing cheeks, Belldandy said, "We shall see." Then, turning serious, she asked, "But as good as it is to see you again, I'm sure catching up on the last few centuries isn't why you've dropped by. What can I do for the Lady of the Lake?"
Setsuna threw her oldest friend a sharp look. _She knows I haven't used that title in fifteen hundred years, why is she using it? Maybe a warning about hubris? Or taking on too much? Or getting too involved?_ She chuckled inwardly to herself. _No point in asking, her restrictions make mine look like wide-open permission, and are a lot more rigidly enforced._ Aloud, she answered, "As wonderful as it is to see you again, you're right. I'm here on business. I know Yggdrasil is to the Time Gates what the Gates are to an abacus, and with a change this extreme the news is bound to have spread like wildfire. So you have heard about Princess Yasuko's awakening?"
A pensive look crossed Belldandy's face as she nodded. "Yes, you are right — news of what happened, and what it means, has spread _very_ quickly."
"So why the long face?" a suddenly worried Setsuna asked.
Belldandy hesitated, then responded, "Because of Happosai." At Setsuna's incredulous stare, the goddess continued, "I know there was little chance that he would change his ways, but now that chance is gone and he is Hild's to play with."
Setsuna shook her head, half-admiringly, half-reprovingly. "He's been Hild's for centuries, Belldandy, she just hadn't collected him yet. You can't save everyone, you know."
"I know," Belldandy said sorrowfully, "but if he had made just a few different decisions he could have been a powerful force for good — it's such a waste of potential, and he would have been a _much_ happier man."
"I suppose it reflects poorly on me that it feels like you're much too forgiving," the emerald-haired woman said, frowning ruefully. "Anyway, I know you can't tell me anything definitive about the future that's now likely to come, but one question you probably _can_ answer — how are the demons likely to feel about this turn of events, will they try to reverse it?"
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that, they'll be overjoyed," Belldandy responded instantly. Then, at Setsuna's slightly doubtful expression, explained, "Remember, Niflheim is as much about guiding human souls as Asgard is, and the new future gives both sides greatly expanded opportunities. If anything, they'll help you out. And how about you? How to you feel about this?"
"Well, it isn't an unalloyed good, Ranma's been through hell and both she and her friends as well as most of the Senshi will have to give up or postpone some dreams to do things they would rather not, but — but at least I w-won't have to stand aside and d-do nothing while o-o-over six billion people ... die, and ... and Hotaru ..." she managed to say before her throat closed up, and Belldandy moved around the table and pulled her sobbing friend into a hug, Setsuna's head on her shoulder, tears of relief and joy soaking into Belldandy's blouse.
* * *
Yay, more reviews! Thank you, ecchansma and Tarrin.
I'm normally going to avoid giving too much away about what's coming, but I think it's safe to reveal that the Oh My Goddess! and Tench Muyo! casts are _not_ going to play a major role in these stories, or even a minor one. The thought simply occurred to me that Setsuna is still human and so a social animal, and as an immortal she's going to want friends that don't die on her in a few decades just to stay sane. Besides, it gave me the chance to show a little (very little) of what she's been doing before the Senshi ever woke up and a touch of her character.
10. Police Attention
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation, and a little foreshadowing. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi, Naoko Takeuchi, or Kosuke Fujishima, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
Author's Note: The infomat is this reality's version of the internet as an information source — an office holding a central data-store and a number of interface booths (about the size of a phone booth) where users can input questions. The data-store has enough data stored to fill hundreds of volumes of encyclopedia, dictionaries, and other references, and can do a search through the entire database and compile an answer to most questions within minutes, though more complicated answers can take longer and, of course, poorly worded questions can give odd and/or misleading answers.
* * *
"_Today, as the joint European Union military moved into Bosnia, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. spoke out strongly against the European Union's continued annexation of Balkan nations and called for an economic boycott of non-agricultural goods from the E.U.'s member nations. The response in the General Assembly was tepid ..."_ Kasumi turned off the radio she had been listening to as distraction from her worries at the sound of someone entering the front door and relaxed somewhat as Akane called out her arrival, then tensed up again when no additional call came. She quickly moved the evening's dinner off the stove and hurried out to meet her youngest sister. "Akane!" she called, "is Ranma with you?"
"He ... she and Nabiki stopped at the infomat on the way home to do some research. Nabiki said it wouldn't take very long, they should be along in about a half-hour," the black-haired girl responded, taking off her shoes and putting on some house slippers.
Kasumi sighed with relief even as she felt a trickle of worry at Akane's change of pronoun. "Good, an Inspector Koruba stopped by looking for Ranma. He refused to discuss why he wanted to speak with him, and I was afraid something terrible had happened."
Akane winced, and Kasumi's worry spiked. "Uh, Kasumi, something did ... happen. Ranma's okay — sort of — I think, but he ..." She trailed off as her voice grew shaky, and Kasumi put an arm around her youngest sister's shoulders.
"Why don't I make up some tea and then you can tell me all about it."
*
" ... and Cologne offered Ranma a room and job at the Cat Café, but he said no, she'd done enough for him already, that he could take care of himself, the idiot," Akane finished, laughing shakily, kneeling at the dinner table in the family room.
Kasumi simply sat still for a moment, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Do you think that means he doesn't believe Elder Ku Lon?" she asked calmly.
Akane thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Nooo, I think he — she — believes her, believes the memories are real, h-she just doesn't _trust_ her. And I don't blame her at all, after all the crap she's pulled," she continued with another shaky laugh.
"Language, sister," Kasumi reproved gently even as she considered what she'd just heard, and added thoughtfully, "The parents aren't going to take this at all well."
"Right," Akane agreed, "at least one good thing will come out of this — when they throw Ranma out of the family and Dad throws them out of the house, we can adopt Ranma into the family and maybe life will get back to something more normal without that fat bastard around to keep Dad stirred up about 'joining the schools'!" she finished with a growl, tensing up at the thought and her hand curling, a little red light flickering in the gap between her fingers and thumb. With a visible effort she relaxed and stood up. "I'll be in my room," she said, heading for the door.
Kasumi also stood, watching her sister walk out. _I really hope you're right about how Father reacts, little sis, but I'm afraid you're probably wrong. I hope Ranma and Nabiki know better._ Sighing, she headed for the kitchen and her interrupted preparations for dinner.
*
Ranma and Nabiki walked down the street in silence. Nabiki glanced over at Ranma, noting the way her arms were crossed under her breasts, and sighed inwardly. Looking away, she noticed a car parked across the street from the dojo and grimaced at the familiar face in the driver's seat. "Head's up, Ranma, we've got company."
"Huh?" the redhead asked, jolted from her thoughts and looking around quickly as she tensed up.
"Not _that_ kind of company, sorry," Nabiki apologized, nodding toward the man in a business suit getting out of the car across the street. "That's Inspector Koruba, the one in charge of the investigation into what happened at the school."
_Hmm,_ Ranma thought, relaxing as the inspector approached. _In shape and trying to hide it, he moves pretty well, some training, he might actually last a few seconds if we fought._ Then what Nabiki had just said registered and she froze.
"Good afternoon, Ranma, I'm Inspector Koruba," the inspector said as he approached, pulling out and showing his identification, while nodding to Nabiki. "I've been placed in charge of investigating the death of Happosai and need to ask you some questions."
"Of course, Inspector," Nabiki responded after a moment, nudging Ranma when the pigtailed girl remained silent and frozen in place. "Please come in."
Leading the other two into the house, she called out, "We're home! And we have company, Inspector Koruba with some questions for Ranma."
Kasumi walked out of the kitchen with her usual placidly friendly smile firmly in place. "Oh my! Welcome, will you be staying for dinner?"
"No, thank you," Inspector Koruba said with a shallow bow. "I just need a few things cleared up with Ranma and I'll be on my way." Looking at her he asked, "Is there somewhere private we can talk?"
"Yeah, right," a voice growled from the head of the stairs, and everyone looked to find Akane glaring down. "You aren't asking a single question without me there!"
Kasumi looked mortified, but Nabiki nodded. "While I would have been more polite about it, Akane's right — we should be there."
Koruba met Nabiki's level gaze, then glanced at the now slightly shivering redhead and nodded. "I suppose you are right."
*
" ... then I woke up at the Cat Café, where they'd taken me to get me away from the crowd," a pale and shaking Ranma finished from where she sat in Akane's arms, Kasumi sitting next to them and holding Ranma's hand.
"So, does that take care of everything you need, Inspector?" Nabiki calmly asked from Ranma's other side, giving her a poorly-concealed concerned look, and Kuroba nodded thoughtfully from where he sat in front of the three.
"It does," he said, "and fits with what we've learned." Glancing at Akane, he continued, "In spite of the massive amount of blunt trauma, the cause of death was some sort of energy discharge — forensics is calling it a freak lightning strike. And while I'll never repeat this outside of this room," he added, looking sternly at the four girls before him, "even if the blunt trauma had been the cause of death we would have found some way to disregard it, after what we found on the hand that wasn't charred. I wouldn't have blamed any of you for killing Happosai, and it isn't like we would have been able to arrest him ourselves or hold him if we somehow succeeded. However," he continued, focusing on the sister in the middle and the girl in her lap, "this is still a serious escalation of the conflicts this district has suffered, and I don't want it to happen again if at all possible."
"You don't need to worry, Inspector," Nabiki spoke up. "While the details are personal, the situation has changed. I believe you will find things much calmer around here from now on."
Koruba stared sharply at Nabiki for a long moment, then nodded thoughtfully and stood. "I see. I hope you are right. In that case, I will be on my way."
Letting go of Ranma's hand, Kasumi stood and escorted the inspector to the door, Inspector Koruba once again refusing an offer to stay for dinner.
Nabiki gazed at the other two girls left behind for a moment as she listened to Kasumi say goodbye to the inspector then head for the kitchen, then sighed and stood up as well. "I have some calls to make and things to take care of in my room, I'll see you two at dinner," she said offhandedly as she headed for the doorway.
The last two left sat quietly for a time, Akane simply holding Ranma as her shaking eased off and disappeared. Finally, Akane said, "Ranma, I think we both need to clean up before dinner."
The smaller girl stirred and nodded. "Yer right, why don't ya go ahead and I'll clean up when yer done."
"No, there's no reason why we can't clean up at the same time," Akane disagreed, and felt Ranma stiffen in her arms.
"But ... but ... I'm ..." Ranma stuttered, only to be cut off by Akane's only slightly forced chuckle.
"Ranma, you've seen everything I've got a couple of times already, and the same goes for me."
"I-If yer sure ..." Ranma said, and Akane moved her off her lap and stood up, then offered a hand to help Ranma rise.
"I'm sure," she said with all the certainty she could muster, and after a moment Ranma accepted her hand up and the two headed for the furo.
Outside the window, a purple-haired cat slipped around the house toward the furo's window while a duck flew away in the direction of the Cat Café.
* * *
Cool, another review, thanks, Sopchoppy, glad you've been enjoying it. I'm unlikely to rewrite the first chapter, I have doubts about my ability to tone it down while preserving the impact, but I am hoping that the reviews and later stories help move people past it.
11. SHattered Dreams
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation (though I did shift a chunk from next chapter to this one, it made more sense that way). If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
{... and then I returned while Xian Pu continued the surveillance,} Mu Tse finished his report where he and the aged matriarch were seated in the Cat Café's empty dining room, in their native tongue to cut down on the possibility of eavesdroppers, and Ku Lon nodded thoughtfully.
{So the princess is clear of all suspicion with the law,} she mused thoughtfully. {I am uncertain whether that is a good or bad thing — suspicion from the law could help send her to the village, but that could interfere with Lady Pluto's plans, and _that_ is always ... chancy.}
The duck-cursed boy stared in confusion at his elder. {I don't understand. Isn't the princess the daughter of Lady Pluto's shield-friend as well as her liege? That's what you said to the princess.}
{And I did not lie,} Ku Lon agreed. {However, Lady Pluto has taken on the task of rebuilding civilization from the ashes of the Fall, and she is willing to allow horrible fates to come to those she loves if that is what the future calls for. As well, there are times that near-term pain leads to long-term happiness, and Lady Pluto is better than most at seeing what the long term will bring. Best to not get in her way if possible while fulfilling our duty.}
Mu Tse looked thoughtful and opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by the sound of someone hammering on the door and the voice of Tatewaki Kuno demanding to be let in, in his usual flowery speech. Ku Lon shooed Mu Tse toward the door. "Let him in, we may as well get this over with," she said with a sigh.
Mu Tse unlocked and opened the door, and Kuno strode in, the usual bokken strapped across his back, ignoring the one he considered a servant to focus on the Amazon matriarch sitting at the table in the middle of the room. "Agéd crone," he intoned in his most sonorous voice, unconsciously striking a pose that he would have considered of noble bearing if he had been aware of what he was doing, "where have you secreted my loves? Tell me, for they will have need of my presence to gladden their hearts and uplift their spirits in this, their time of need!"
Ku Lon shook her head ruefully. "I must say, your ability to say things like that with a straight face is very impressive," she allowed. "But I expected you some time ago, you've been delayed."
Kuno frowned with offended disgust. "I was held and questioned for some time by base-born peasants claiming the right to dictate my actions. I was strongly tempted to punish them as they deserved, but in the end decided to be magnanimous. But be warned, my magnanimity is at an end!"
Ku Lon shook her head again in reluctant admiration and motioned at the seat across from her. "Sit, there are things you need to know."
Kuno stared at her for a few moments, then nodded and sat, not noticing Mu Tse moving to stand directly behind him. "Very well, a few minutes will make no difference. But be warned, as much as it would grieve me to strike one of your ancient years, punishment will be swift if you seek to prevent me in my quest!"
Mu Tse twitched, but Ku Lon just chuckled, then straightened and put on a sober expression. "Tell me, noble warrior, your family is of the most ancient blood, is it not?"
Kuno nodded proudly. "Indeed it is — there are families that may better us in wealth and power, but few that can do so in tales of valor and none in lineage. The Kuno line stretches back to the first arrival of our people to these sacred isles and beyond!"
The white-haired elder nodded in approval. "And that means that your family knows of the ancient stories, passed from parents to children, of the history of your people long forgotten by the masses of humanity except in part in the most ancient legends?"
Now, Kuno was glaring at Ku Lon in ill-concealed suspicion. "Yes-s-s-s," he drew out slowly, "but such stories are not to be shared with the peasants that make up most of our society — not even with one of your years and skills."
Ku Lon nonchalantly waved off the statement, reflecting on moments repeating themselves. "There is no need to share them with me, for I already know them. Tell me, young warrior, does the name Princess Usagi mean anything to you? What of Princess Yasuko and Queen Shizukeza?"
Kuno stiffened, then lunged to his feet and reached for his bokken, only to find his arm pinned behind his back and the razor-sharp tip of one of Mu Tse's many daggers resting against his neck. Careful not to move, he glared down at Ku Lon. "Witch!" he spat out in impotent fury. "How have you learned those most sacred of names!?"
"Sit, child!" Ku Lon demanded, nodding at Mu Tse, who reluctantly released Kuno and stepped back, though keeping the dagger at the ready. A fuming Kuno retook his seat under Ku Lon's stern gaze, and she nodded. "Better. As for how I know those names, your ancestors weren't the only bodyguard regiment to fail in its duty four thousand years ago."
With a gasp, the shocked kendoist asked, "_You_ are the descendants of the Lost Ones?"
Ku Lon chuckled. "So, that is what you call us? Yes, we are — a few thousand of us left in the mountains of China."
For a time, Kuno simply sat and stared at the tiny elder in awe, then rose and bowed deeply. "I did not know! Please, forgive any offense I may have given in my ignorance."
"Sit, sit!" the now faintly embarrassed Ku Lon insisted, and the kendoist yet again took his seat, then frowned slightly at Ku Lon.
"While this is joyous news indeed," he said, "why did you need to hinder my quest to tell me now?"
"Because," Ku Lon replied with a sad smile, "I must tell you that your 'quest' is over — your loves are beyond you. When Happosai sought to violate the pigtailed girl, the one you have labeled 'the foul sorcerer' fought to prevent the assault. He failed, at the cost of his own life. But in his failure, he bought time for the pigtailed girl to awaken to her true destiny, and in her awakening kill her attacker." Kuno drew in a shocked breath, and Ku Lon nodded. "Yes, she is Princess Yasuko, the one we have awaited these many centuries, and so as far above you as you are above the common herd and beyond your reach. But her awakening has been traumatic, and she will be withdrawing from Nerima seeking peace — and her newest handmaiden, Akane, will most likely be leaving with her."
For a time Kuno simply sat, tears streaming down his face. Finally, he rose and bowed to the ancient matriarch. "My thanks for your words, however painful the knowledge they bring might be. But, if my loves are beyond my reach, I must at least offer my services as a guardian for these most precious of maidens on their travels."
Ku Lon shook her head regretfully. "It shames me to have to refuse such loyalty, but at this time men are the last thing she wants around her, and she already has bodyguards."
The tall kendoist frowned down at Ku Lon, crossing his arms across his chest. "To date, you have manifestly failed in that task. Why should I trust you with it now?"
Behind him, Mu Tse's dagger twitched again as his face twisted in anger at the accusation, but Ku Lon remained calm. "Because, child, circumstances have changed. Before, the princess was unaware of her destiny and so would have rejected the protection we would have liked to give her. Until her memories awoke, not even Lady Pluto could intervene. But now she _is_ awake, and will not escape our eye again."
Kuno stared down at the tiny woman, again awestruck. "Lady Pluto!" he finally gasped out. "_She_ is involved in this!?"
"Yes," Ku Lon replied, "and has been these past two years. But until the princess awoke, even her hands were tied. But now she is freed to take a more active role in Princess Yasuko's life. I do not think you need to worry overmuch for the princess's safety."
Kuno raised his eyes and stared at the wall behind Ku Lon for a time, then nodded. "You reasoning cannot be denied," he admitted in a defeated tone, turning toward the door to the café. At the door he paused, then without turning around asked, "You will be with my ... with the princess and her handmaiden?"
"Yes, we will," Ku Lon said softly, and Kuno nodded, straightening.
"Then let them know, that if ever they have need of my wealth, my blade, my life, they have but to ask — all that I have or am is theirs." Without waiting for a reply he strode through the door and was gone.
Mu Tse stared at the now empty doorway. "That was actually sad, in a weird, twisted sort of way," he mused, and Ku Lon nodded agreement.
"Yes, it was," she said, "but we have other concerns now, and it is time for you to be returning to your post — Part-Timer."
Mu Tse shook his head ruefully. I'm never going to get rid of that nickname, am I?" he complained as he disappeared into the back to the sound of Ku Lon's chuckles, and a few seconds later a duck flew across the room, out the door, and off toward the Tendo dojo.
* * * * *
As Ukyo busied herself about the kitchen handling the dinner rush, she heard the door from the street open, and again stared over the counter, only to slump once more as another familiar face entered — a valued repeat customer, but not the face she was looking for. Then the chef caught a whiff of the beginning of smoke and rushed back to the stove to grimace at the sight of yet another okonomiyaki blackening around the edges. Sighing, she scraped it off the stove and flipped it into the garbage, and poured out the batter for a replacement — again.
As she carefully added the toppings, she glanced at the clock on the wall and found her vision growing blurry. _He didn't come._ The thought echoed through her mind on an endless loop, try as she might to force it away. _He didn't come._
Angrily, she wiped at her eyes and slipped a finished order onto a plate and hit the ringer to alert Konatsu. It was Nabiki, she tried to convince herself, Ranma didn't know she'd been there that morning, hadn't known she'd fought to keep Kuno away from him, didn't know how much she was worrying about him! But all along, Nabiki's words sat in the back of her mind, laughing at her — _And that's why he hasn't been by to see you since, right?_
The gorgeous crossdresser she employed as a waitress (in appearance, at least) stepped up to the counter and took the order, and Ukyo gave him a bright smile at odds with the tears slowly trickling down her cheeks and Konatsu returned her smile, only to have the smile change into a worried frown as soon as he turned back into the dining room. He pasted the smile back on as he placed the plate in front of an eager customer, stopped by a booth to apologize to yet another customer for a late meal, hurried over to the newest customer. Placing the new order up for Ukyo, he paused for a moment to glance at the front door. _Where are you, Ranma?_ he thought with an indecipherable mix of pity, happiness, and shame.
* * *
Hey, my first repeat review, thanks, SFBKludge. And yes, Akane's pushing herself past her comfort zone — to settle things in her own mind, to avoid appearing to reject Ranma, or both.
12. Consequences
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
Akane glanced out of the corner of her eye at the almost full plate in the lap of the redheaded girl sitting next to her on her bed, and sighed as she watched Ranma push the food around without taking a bite. _Should I say something again? Sure, the last time he — she took a few bites, but I'm beginning to sound like a nag ..._
A knock sounded and Kasumi's voice came through the door. "Ranma? Akane? Dinner is almost over downstairs, I ... I think it's time." Akane sighed in relief and looked over at Ranma. The smaller girl set aside her plate and stared at the door with the oddest expression on her face, a mix of relief and apprehension and anger... After a moment, Akane called out, "Thanks, big sis, we'll be right down!" Reaching over, she took hold of one of Ranma's hands. "Come on, Ranma, let's get this over with. Everything will be all right, you'll see."
Ranma looked over at her, and smiled a strained caricature of her normal cocky grin. " 'Course it will, Ranma Saotome never loses, right?"
"Right!" Akane cheerfully agreed, carefully ignoring the way Ranma's voice had cracked slightly on the last word, and rose, pulling her love to her feet. Together they headed for the door, and Akane smiled to herself when Ranma didn't let go of her hand.
The two were still holding hands when they walked through the doorway into the family room, and Akane felt the demon sleeping at her core stir as she saw the fathers' eyes light up at the sight, and took a deep breath. _Wait,_ she silently told herself, _just wait. In a few minutes the pressure will be gone, and we can relax. Sure, Dad will be disappointed, but what's done is done, and he'll just have to live with it. And Mr. Saotome ..._ She gave Genma a vicious smile, and her demon relaxed somewhat at his slight flinch.
The two girls walked over to the low table and sat at their empty places, and Nodoka, sitting next to her husband, frowned slightly at the two. "It is not proper for you two to be holding hands like that while Ranma is female. What will people think? The rumors could be ... bad. And Ranma why are you currently a girl? It is not manly to keep this form any longer than you have to."
Ranma winced, and Akane felt her anger stirring again, and opened her mouth ... and Nabiki spoke before she had a chance to say ... whatever she'd been about to shout.
"I can answer your questions, Auntie," she said, unusually serious and without a hint of her habitual smirk. Then the smirk made its appearance in response to Nodoka's quelling frown. "I have good news and bad news, and I won't even offer my usual family discount — this time it's free!" Then Nabiki froze, and glanced at Ranma. "Uh, Ranma? I'm sorry ..."
Ranma just shook her head. "Don't worry about it, ya wouldn't be you if ya didn't talk money. And thanks fer offerin' ta break the news, but it's my problem." Looking at the three adults, Ranma said, "Okay, the good news is that Happosai attacked me this morning, and this time he didn't survive."
For a long moment the parents simply sat and stared, but finally Soun whispered, "It is true? The Master is finally dead?"
"Yes," Ranma responded, "and the police have investigated and done the ... the autopsy, and everything, and say he's dead of a freak lightning strike."
"Yes!" Genma shouted, slapping his old friend on the back. "Now _we_ are the Grandmasters, and when the schools are joined, the Anything Goes school will be the most versatile, powerful, and famous school in Japan!"
"Except you're going to have to come up with another way to join the schools," Akane ground out, gritting her teeth, and the two men stared at her.
"Another way to join the schools? Why?" asked her father, and Ranma sighed, slumping.
"Because whatever killed Happosai destroyed the curse, too, while I was a girl. I'm stuck like this now, will be fer the rest a' my life," she said, staring at the table, and all three adults stared at her, thunderstruck.
"How do you know?" Genma finally asked.
"Cologne said so," the redheaded girl replied, "and you know how long she's tried ta get me ta marry Shampoo. Now that's impossible, too."
Suddenly, Nodoka drew in a deep, shuddering breath as her eyes teared up. "Ranma, this ... you can no longer be manly, and the contract —"
"No longer applies," Nabiki finished firmly, and smiled wryly when Nodoka looked hopefully at her. "The contract specifies that if your _son_ isn't manly _he_ and your husband must commit seppuku. But you no longer have a son, and never will again. So, no son, no contract."
Nodoka frowned, obviously conflicted, but Genma laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "The girl is right," he said firmly. "The contract is voided with Ranma a girl." After a long moment, Nodoka nodded and gave her daughter a relieved smile.
"I'm glad," she softly said. "That contract was the most foolish thing two young romantics did, and it has been nothing but a burden ever since." Looking at Ranma with a hint of mischief, she added. "And since I no longer have a son to be a man among men, I will simply have to make my daughter a woman among women."
Everyone stared at her in shock and Ranma felt panic rising inside her, until Nodoka started to chuckle, then at the sight of her daughter's stupefied face the chuckles turned to laughter. Rising, she circled the table to kneel and embrace Ranma. "Forgive my little jest," she whispered. "And whatever help you need, simply ask."
"Thanks, mom, I will," Ranma said, and Akane snorted.
"No, you won't," she said. "You don't know how to ask for help." The still slightly stunned black-haired girl grinned at Nodoka and her love. "Don't worry, Auntie Nodoka, I'll keep you up to date on Ranma's needs."
"That will certainly be a great help to your stepmother," Genma said solemnly, and Akane stiffened as Ranma simply closed her eyes with a sigh.
"Stepmother?" Akane growled as everyone else stared, and Genma nodded.
"Of course. Since Ranma is now permanently a girl, the only way to fulfill the contract is for hi — er, _her_ to marry Soun."
"Sorry, but that contract is no longer valid, either," Nabiki said with a smirk. "It calls for a marriage between your child and Dad's — nothing in there about a marriage to Dad himself. And since that's now impossible ..."
Genma frowned, then glanced at Soun. "Well, old friend, we will simply have to make a new agreement." Then, as Soun (along with Nodoka and Kasumi) simply stared in stunned silence, he added, "It is the only way for the schools to be joined."
Soun gave the two girls sitting across from him a troubled look, glanced down at where the table hid their still-clasped hands, and nodded with a sigh. "You are right, old friend, it is the only way."
Akane stared at her father, stunned speechless. _He didn't ... he knows how me and Ranma feel about each other and he just ... why ..._ Then the demon at her core exploded to life, and she found herself rising, bringing the table up with her, dishes flying everywhere, Ranma pulling her mother out of the way, Nabiki rolling to the side while Kasumi sat frozen in place. Akane's vision narrowed on the two men in front of her even as her world went red, then the sight was blocked by the table slamming down on them and the Hammer sprang to life in her hands and Genma smashed through the window and her father was lying against the wall and she started toward him and ...
And someone was hanging on her arm and yelling at her to stop. Slowly, the tunnel vision widened and she turned to find herself looking at Ranma. "Enough, Akane, enough," the redheaded girl said in a more normal tone as the hammer disappeared and she pulled Akane into a hug. "They're out, and they aren't worth it." Finally, Akane drew a deep, gasping breath and nodded, and Ranma tightened the hug for a moment, then stepped back and looked over at where Nabiki was sitting up from her roll. "I'll get packed and be on my way," she said and Nabiki nodded.
"You have Tofu's new number?" the middle Tendo asked.
Ranma nodded. "Yup, I'll give him a call in a week, find out where your new apartment is." Looking over at Nodoka, she added, "Mom, when ya want ta pass a message to me, let Dr. Tofu know."
A now completely confused Akane, Kasumi and Nodoka looked back and forth between the two girls. "What is going on?" Nodoka asked.
Ranma looked at her feet for a long moment, then said, "I'm leaving."
"What?!" the women other than Nabiki shouted, and Ranma winced.
Nabiki spoke up, saying, "I and Ranma thought we knew how the fathers would react, and we were right — though you were a pleasant surprise, Auntie Nodoka — so we made plans. I was already planning on moving into my own apartment for college, this just speeds things up and means I have to find a two-bedroom apartment instead of one."
"But why didn't you tell me!?" Akane demanded. "And when did you ... the stop at the infomat. Did you even use it, or just figure this out?"
"Oh, I used it, to look for two-bedroom apartments for rent," Nabiki said. "As for why we didn't tell you, well ..."
" 'Cause you were so certain yer dad would finally turn against Pop," Ranma finished. "It wouldn't make a difference in the end either way, and ... and I really didn't wanna fight with you."
"And so you're just going to leave, just like that!?" Akane demanded, and Ranma nodded.
"Yeah, there's no way I'm stayin' around here where Pop can pester me," she said, then dropping her gaze to the floor, whispered, "Come with me?"
Akane's building anger blew out in a heartbeat, and she stared at Ranma, then looked around the room she'd known all her life. Finally, she walked over to the redheaded girl still studying her feet and embraced her. "Of course," she said softly. "Just give me time to pack and we can be on our way."
Ranma returned the embrace and for a long moment simply stood there, then drew a shuddering breath and looked up with misty eyes. But all she said was, "I'll help ya pack, most a' yer stuff you won't need until Nabiki has an apartment for us, anyway."
Then, breaking the embrace, Ranma walked over to hug her mother. "I'm sorry ta be running out on ya, Mom, I really didn't expect ya to ... to accept voiding the contract ..." Ranma choked up, and Nodoka simply returned the hug for a long moment, then reluctantly pushed the two apart.
"Go on, don't keep Akane waiting," she said in a husky voice. "Just ... just let Dr. Tofu know when we can meet."
"You got it, Mom," Ranma replied in an imitation of her normal cocky manner, then walked over to take Akane by the hand and the two headed for the stairs.
* * * * *
Soun groaned as the room slowly came into focus. What had happened? He'd been at dinner, then Ranma and Akane had come in, and ... he jerked to a sitting position, then grabbed at his head as his vision blurred out in a stab of pain. Moving slowly to avoid a repeat, he looked around at the mess of the family room, table still overturned, dishes scattered about — and only his eldest daughter present, looking up from a medical textbook.
"So you are finally awake, Father, Akane must have hit you harder than Ranma thought," the normally serene girl said in a brittle tone, and nodded toward the broken window. "Genma is still unconscious."
"Akane, Ranma!" Soun gasped. "Where are they?"
"Already gone, I don't know where," Kasumi replied. "But Akane gave me a message for you as they left." She paused for a long moment, then as Soun started fidgeting said, "She said to tell you that you will need to find a new heir, because you now only have two daughters."
Soun reeled in shock, tears beginning to flood from his eyes, and Kasumi smiled grimly as she rose to her feet, duty done. "Oh, and Father? You are going to need to hire a housekeeper — Dr. Tofu has offered me a job at his new clinic, and after tonight's events I have decided to accept. I will be moving out tomorrow. Good night." And she calmly walked out, leaving him alone in the wreckage.
* * * * *
Ranma sat back as she finished putting the last tent peg in place, and looked at the tent in the moonlight. "It's gonna be a little tight, especially with all the blankets the two of us are gonna need ta wrap ourselves up in — it's gonna get a bit chilly tonight," she said, but Akane shook her head.
"No," she said, "When we combine our blankets we'll be fine."
Ranma turned to stare at Akane. "Ya mean, share the blankets?"
Akane nodded. "Yes," she replied, then added, blushing, "and ... a lot more than just blankets."
Ranma stared at her for a long moment, then stuttered, "Y-Y-Ya d-don't mean ..." her voice trailed off and Akane reached over and pulled her into a hug.
"Making love?" she whispered in the pigtailed girl's ear with only a slight quaver. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean ... when I said the fact you're a girl now doesn't matter, I meant it."
"O-Okay," Ranma managed to get out as she returned the hug, "but it's gonna hafta wait. I've ... heard it can get kinda messy and we don't exactly have a furo handy anymore."
"Well, if we must," Akane sighed with a mixture of regret and relief, and the two sat and stared out across the night sky, such as they could see through Tokyo's light pollution.
Finally, Akane shivered, and the two broke apart to grab the blankets and move into the tent. After they'd settled down side by side with the blankets over and under them, Ranma said, "Akane? There is something you _can_ do for me. Promise me you'll give up the hammer."
"What!?" Akane almost shouted, anger flaring. "But that's my most effective technique, why do you want me to give it up?"
"Fer the same reason I'm gonna be givin' up my confidence-based attacks — 'cause if we keep usin' them we're gonna end up dead or worse."
"How? And what could be worse?" Akane demanded.
"Ending up like Happosai," Ranma responded, and Akane froze, her anger snuffed out.
"Ending up like Happosai?" she repeated, And Ranma nodded.
"I've been thinkin' about it fer awhile now, and today just cinched it. I've always been cocky, Dad insisted on it, but I've been gettin' worse. And yer temper has been getting' harder ta control, more violent — and today ya completely lost it, attackin' yer own dad. I think it's 'cause a' the emotion-based ki attacks. What if Happosai is how we'd end up if we keep usin' them, to the point where being cocky or angry is all we can be?"
Akane thought back over the past weeks and months. It couldn't really be true, could it? But if Ranma believed it, enough to give up techniques that had saved his — her — life, perhaps ...
"I'll think about it," she finally said, then added wistfully, "Besides, I don't have much to get angry about any more, now that we're out of the dojo. But now, it's been a long day, let's get some sleep," she finished with a yawn.
"Right," Ranma agreed, and the two cuddled up together and drifted off to sleep.
Outside, a purple-haired cat looked down from a nearby tree and sighed. _It's going to be a _long_ night,_ Xian Pu thought. _I hope the other warriors great-grandmother has called for get here soon._
* * *
Jerry Unipeg, good to hear from you and I'm glad you liked my effort, though OMG! is a simple cameo and if anyone from the Tenchi cast show up again it's going _way_ down the line.
13. Reunion
This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor.
This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling and punctuation and occasional word choice. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!
I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi or Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.
* * *
Usagi followed Rei into the now long-familiar family room at the shrine where the Inner Senshi had been meeting for six years, and looked around a little wistfully.
Come on, Usagi, it hasn't been _that_ long," Makoto said, following behind her along with Minako and Ami.
"Yes, I know," Usagi said, "but I miss our little weekly meetings."
"So do I," Ami responded as the five girls spread out to the seats around the coffee table, reaching for pastries next to the teapot. "But with everyone scattered — me in medical school, Makoto in chef school, Minako with her singing career, you and Mamoru getting married — weekly meetings just haven't been practical, especially since there haven't been major threats in the last couple of years, just an occasional leaker a couple of Inner or Outer Senshi can handle, or even just one."
"True," Minako said as she flopped into her seat. "So is there anything important to bring up, or do we go straight to the gossip-fest?"
"Actually, I _do_ have something to report, though I don't know how important it is," Usagi said. "This morning, the Moon Crystal flared for a second or so, I have no idea why. I called Ami and asked her to look in on it as soon as she finished her morning classes — Ami, did you find out anything?"
Ami shook her head. "Not much. The Mercury Computer recorded the power flare as well as a simultaneous flare of Silver Millennium energy centered on Furinkan High School in Nerima. From the timing they must be related in some way, but there's nothing to indicate what caused them."
"Nerima?" Rei said thoughtfully. "Not good, with the way Setsuna told us to stay out of that district. Have you tried to contact her about this?"
"Yes, I have, but nobody's picking up the phone at their home, and her secretary tells me she isn't in her office."
"That's because today has been a _very_ busy day," came a voice behind Usagi, and she shrieked and leaped out of her seat, pastry flying across the room.
"Setsuna, you promised to stop _doing_ that!" she shouted as she whirled to face the emerald-haired woman that had just appeared out of thin air behind her, now with a slight self-satisfied smile and ... carrying a briefcase?
"I know I did, Princess, but this is the first meeting I've been to in awhile and I just couldn't resist — tradition, you know," Setsuna responded as she walked around and placed her briefcase on the table and took an empty seat. "The rest of the Outers will be joining us in a little bit, as well. So, Princess, how's married life treating you?"
Usagi blushed but calmly said, "It's been a lot of — fun, though a bit lonely the last few days with Mamoru on assignment in Australia and Luna visiting Diana in the future."
"Oh, is that the reason for the two-hour phone call last night — nobody to share your bed, so you go looking for someone to share an ear?" Minako teased, and Usagi's blush deepened.
"Well, maybe a little," she mumbled, and Setsuna chuckled, then sobered and straightened, focusing the attention of the girls on her as she snapped open the latches on her briefcase.
"I was going to show up at tonight's meeting anyway, there's a new enemy coming and later we'll need to talk about that, but the power flare this morning Usagi and Ami were just talking about has overshadowed everything. It involved someone you may not have heard of, a young man named Ranma Saotome." Setsuna glanced around to blank expressions from all except Makoto, who had jerked upright. "You recognize the name, Makoto?" the Senshi of Time asked, and Makoto nodded.
"Yes, he's a legend in the martial arts community in Tokyo — I wouldn't believe a word of the stories they tell about him, if I weren't a Senshi. What we've experienced makes those stories barely believable."
"Well, those stories are probably true, or at least could be," Setsuna said, and looked over at the Senshi of Ice. "Tell me, Ami, in your studies of Silver Millennium history have you come across the Life Dancers?"
Ami nodded. "Yes, I have. But they were healers, not warriors."
"Yes, they were," Setsuna agreed, "but that was because we'd discovered magic for personal combat and never tried to develop the human life force, ki, as a weapon. Since the Fall, Oriental martial artists have, and the results have been — impressive." Reaching into the now open briefcase, she pulled out five folders and passed them out to the girls. "Here's an overview of Ranma's life I've made up."
The Inner Senshi opened the folders and started reading the pages within, but within a few minutes Rei jerked to her feet as her hands clenched, crushing the papers she was holding. She opened her mouth as she turned to Setsuna, but her question went unasked as Usagi turned white as a ghost, dropped the papers and bolted from the room. A few seconds later, the sound of retching echoed back to the room, followed by a flushing toilet and water running in a sink. A minute later a shaking long-haired blonde walked back and rejoined the others, wiping her mouth.
"The Cat Fist training?" came a voice from the other doorway, and everyone turned to find a young green-haired woman, an apparent bishonen with short blond hair, and two teenagers standing there.
"Chibi-Usa!" Usagi shouted, charging and sweeping the pink-haired teenager up in a hug while her frail-seeming dark-haired friend chuckled and shook her head.
"Aw, come on, let go!" Chibi-Usa demanded, grimacing and rolling her eyes. "I know it's been awhile, but still —"
"You've grown so much!" Usagi whispered, holding her neo-daughter at arm's length, eyes going misty, and Chibi-Usa shrugged, ignoring her only slightly watery eyes.
"Yeah, well, maybe I've missed you too, a little," she muttered, then more loudly repeated, "So I take it you just read about the Cat Fist training?"
As tears started rolling down Usagi's cheeks, Rei growled. "Yes, what kind of monster can do that to his own son!?" she demanded.
"A complete idiot," Setsuna replied. "And while that's the worst, the rest isn't much better." Motioning to the folders the two had dropped, she continued, "Finish up, so we can continue."
Rei and Usagi obeyed as the four newcomers took seats of their own, and for a time the room was silent except for the rustle of paper and the occasional gasp, growl and curse. Finally, a greenish-tinted Usagi put down the last page and everyone in the room turned to look expectantly at Setsuna.
"That made rather horrific reading," Ami said, "and I _really_ hope we can do something about Genma, if only to turn him over to Child Services, but why is this important to us? Why did the Moon Crystal do something to Ranma this morning?"
"Actually, it was more _for_ Ranma than _to_ him," Setsuna replied, and quickly told of the morning's attack by Happosai. By the end, Usagi was curled up with her neo-daughter hugging her tightly, Rei was again up and stalking back and forth, while the other three Inners and three Outers were simply staring at Setsuna in shock.
"That poor boy," Usagi whispered.
Finally, Ami shook her head. "Agreed, but _why_? Why did the Moon Crystal reach all the way across Tokyo to help out Ranma like that?"
Setsuna's usually serene mask cracked just a moment, then she sighed and looked over at Usagi. " 'Why' is actually simple. Princess, how much do you remember of your little sister? Anything at all?"
"Quite a bit actually," Usagi replied, looking up with a wistful but confused expression. "I just never mentioned little Yasuko because I thought that if there was anything we could do for her you'd have said so, given how fond you were of the little nuisance. But what does —" the blonde froze, then suddenly she was on her feet, fists clenched. "Ranma is Yasuko reincarnated, isn't he?" Usagi shouted.
Setsuna nodded, then flung herself out of her chair to avoid the normally good-natured young woman's attack. The rest stared open-mouthed for a long moment as Setsuna back-pedaled around the room blocking and dodging Usagi's wild swings and kicks, then as a red-faced Usagi's brooch materialized in her hand Haruka jumped to her feet and wrapped her arms around their leader, pinning Usagi's arms to her side.
"Usagi, stop, that's enough!" Haruka shouted, holding a desperately struggling Usagi until she went limp in her arms.
"You knew all along!" Usagi shouted at Setsuna, tears streaming down her face. "You knew, and you let it happen! How could you, she loved you!"
Setsuna's gaze dropped to the floor. "Yes, Princess, Ranma is Yasuko reborn. But no, I didn't know — not until a few years ago, and by then it was much too late to interfere. Ranma's sense of honor wouldn't let him just walk away from that _clusterfuck_," — everyone jerked at the obscenity Setsuna had snarled, she never swore! — "and the only way I could have made a real difference myself, beyond what a friend was already taking care of, would have involved killing a number of self-centered but not really evil clueless idiots."
"So what, they deserve it!" Usagi shouted, but Setsuna shook her head.
"No, Princess, long ago to avoid becoming a monster I came up with some rules governing how I use the foreknowledge the Time Gates give me to interfere with people's lives, and I learned a hard lesson fifteen hundred years ago on how important those rules were."
Instantly Usagi softened, asking gently, "What happened?"
Setsuna shook her head again. "I don't have time right now to tell the true story behind the legend of Camelot, but I saw a very unlikely but glorious possible future if a certain idealistic, brilliant and charismatic young British war leader's dreams came true and I did whatever it took to push those dreams forward, falling in love with him along the way, not that I ever told him — he was very much in love with his wife. I managed to push the odds of success up to eighty percent, and then a misstep at the Battle of Camlann and Artus and Medraut achieve a mutual kill instead of Artus slaughtering that traitor like a pig and it all falls apart. It took the direct intervention of a very good friend to keep me from slaughtering that traitor's army to a man."
Setsuna whispered, "Belldandy had warned me of the hole I was digging for myself, but I just wouldn't listen, and then she got herself in real trouble saving my soul."
Everyone stared in silence as the Senshi of Time gazed at a memory that no one else could see while tears rolled down her cheeks, then Usagi shook herself free of Haruka's now slackened grip and walked over to pull the older woman into a hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, and Setsuna returned the hug for a long moment before breaking away and wiping at her face.
"Not your fault, Princess, it was an honest misunderstanding," she said in her normal serene tone, and returned to her seat, motioning the rest back to theirs. "Anyway, the Moon Crystal intervened because Shizukeza had soul-linked both of her daughters to it, and so when Ranma found herself in a situation that all her skill and willpower couldn't fix she reached for a link she didn't even know she had."
"But Sestsuna, what about what happened to us this morning?" Chibi-Usa asked. "You said it was some kind of ... of temporal realignment, that the future doesn't go to Crystal Tokyo anymore! How could what happened to Ranma change the future that much?"
"No more Crystal Tokyo?" Usagi whispered as the rest stared at Chibi-Usa then whipped their heads around toward Setsuna, and she nodded.
"No, not for us," she said, "and a good thing, too." Looking around at all the incredulous stares, she sighed. "Girls, all along I've emphasized the glories of Crystal Tokyo, and I've never lied. But I've also never really spoken of the price paid to get there. There just wasn't any point — no real way to avoid it, and no point in ruining your present lives by telling you of the horrific war waiting for us a few decades down the line. But now, thanks to the Moon Crystal Ranma has been frozen in female form while remembering her short life as Princess Yasuko, and that makes all the difference — over six billion people don't have to die to give the human race any future at all."
"Six _billion_ people!" Ami gasped and Setsuna nodded, then Rei was on her feet.
"All right, time out!" she shouted. "That's one shock too many, let's take a break and catch our breath." Looking down at the teapot filled with by now lukewarm water, she picked it up and added as she headed for the door, "I'll get some more water for tea."
*
A little later, everyone had settled back with a pastry (or two, or three, or ...) and some tea, and Ami spoke up. "Okay, so we aren't going to have a horrific war in a few decades that kills off almost all of the people on earth, and it's all because Ranma has been stuck as a girl and remembered being Princess Yasuko — how?"
"I can't tell you, not yet, or it doesn't happen," Setsuna replied, and gave a small smile at the groans of frustration that rose on every side. "For now, you'll just have to take it on faith that things will work out better all around." _And you won't have to turn to each other for romantic relationships, after having a few husbands grow old and die on you,_ Setsuna added to herself.
"Okay," Chibi-Usa said, "so you can't talk about the future — we should all be used to that by now, I certainly get an earful from Puu-chan every time she sends me here. But this morning you said that my Crystal Tokyo is still out there, that you can get me home, but that this world's future doesn't go there anymore. What's up with that?"
Ami perked up at the question while the rest looked confused, and Setsuna hid another smile. "I suppose an explanation is in order, a bit on how time travel works. The first rule of time travel, one that you'd be amazed how many would-be future manipulators never figure out, is that you cannot travel back into your own past."
"What!?" Chibi-Usa shouted, "But what about all this time I've been coming here?"
Setsuna shrugged. "Your first trip was to a timeline that was exactly the same as the past of your own timeline up to the point you arrived." Looking over at Ami, she asked, "Ami, you've read the science fiction writers' speculation of a timeline branching as it travels into the future?" At Ami's nod, Setsuna continued, "They don't quite have it right — rather than one timeline that branches out, all the timelines that will ever exist already exist, with the ones with identical histories 'growing' next to each other, then breaking apart as different events separate them and coming back together as events realign their futures. So, when Chibi-Usa came back to us, she traveled back along the 'string' to the point her 'Puu-chan' " — giving the pink-haired girl a small fond smile — "sent her to, then landed in another 'string' identical to her own.
"Now, the important thing to remember about the future is that it isn't so much like a spread of branches reaching out from a common trunk, as a string coming up into the center of a spider web — the past is what it was, but the future has many possibilities, with multiple possible results coming from a particular event, and multiple possible events resulting in a particular result. So even with Chibi-Usa's presence changing things it was still possible, even likely, that we could end up with a future enough like hers that we could be in the same 'branch'. However, with Princess Yasuko's awakening the chance of a future anything like Chibi-Usa's is so poor that we are effectively in a separate 'branch'. The massive, instantaneous headaches that hit me and Chibi-Usa at the same time the Crystal intervened were because of that change — me because of the sudden, massive change hitting me through my link to the timestream, Chibi-Usa because of her connection to the 'branch' we separated from."
Ami had leaned forward and put down her teacup, face intent and bright with curiosity. "Okay, I think I understood all that," she mused. "Has this happened to you before?"
"Yes, twice," Setsuna agreed with a nod. "Once around 9 B.C., when a Roman general led several legions into an ambush in the woods of Germany that basically wiped them out. Before that, the Roman Empire, at least the _third_ one, had been destined to eventually conquer the world. The second time was when the Japanese military settled on an attack on Pearl Harbor and a southern strategy in the Second World War. Before that, the odds were on a northern strategy into Siberia, the United States didn't get involved in either Japan's war in China and Siberia or in Europe against the Nazis, and the rest of the century was a Cold War with Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire on one side and the United States and the British Empire on the other — not a happy future."
"So those were the only times really unlikely things have happened?" Ami inquired, frowning thoughtfully.
"Oh, no, unlikely things happen all the time," Setsuna corrected, "but the vast majority of unlikely events just don't _matter_, not in the long run — the 'inertia' of major trends pull things back into the 'path of least resistance'."
"Got it!" Ami said with a happy grin. "But what about —" She glanced around at the blank, uncomprehending expressions on all sides. "But maybe we should discuss this later?" she asked, and Setsuna followed her gaze.
"Perhaps you are right," she agreed. Clapping her hands to shake everyone out of their daze, she said, "The important thing is that Chibi-Usa's Crystal Tokyo is on a different timeline, I can get her home easily enough by taking us to a timeline that's still part of her branch, but we can't do that until after we take care of the latest menace she came back to help with, and a discussion of that menace will have to wait until things have settled down a bit. Meanwhile, we need to take care of Ranma."
Usagi perked up instantly, face twisting with anger. "We are _not_ leaving my little sister in that madhouse!" she insisted, and Setsuna nodded.
"Of course not," she said. "Nor do we need to worry about that. In fact, by now she should have left the dojo and be setting up camp in a nearby park. I'll be right back." Standing up, she stepped into nothingness and vanished, then reappeared a moment later. "I was right, she and Akane are getting tucked away for the night right now. Shall we go and offer them somewhat more comfortable accommodations until Nabiki finds an apartment?"
"What, that violent maniac is with her!?" Rei shouted, but Setsuna frowned repressively at the Senshi of Fire.
"There are reasons for that violent side to her, and they are going to be fading soon," the emerald-haired woman said. "And whatever other problems she may have, she loves Ranma dearly and is walking away from the only home she's ever known to stay with her. So get to know her before you judge her too severely." Then glancing at Haruka's inquiring look, Setsuna nodded. "Yes, you and Michiru will have some competition for 'oddball' couple of our little club," she said, "But let's not have the little quip you're about to come out with."
Haruka raised her teacup to her mouth to hide her little grin, and was just taking a long sip when Minako spoke up. "Well, a bird in the hand is worth a hand in the bush," she said brightly, then yelped as Haruka's mouthful of tea sprayed across her. "Hey, what was that for?" she demanded as Michiru pounded on her coughing lover's back while the rest of the Senshi just stared at the perky blonde. Looking around at all the stares, Minako asked, "Uh, what did I say?"
Finally, Makoto just shook her head and stood up, her henshin wand appearing in her hand. "Minako, sometimes I swear you do that on purpose. Come on, let's go collect the lovebirds. Will they be staying with Usagi until Nabiki finds the apartment you mentioned?"
Setsuna nodded as she rose. "Usagi _did_ mention that she's a little lonely, and she and her sister have some catching up to do."
"So let's go!" Usagi shouted joyfully, jumping to her feet and bounding toward the door, accompanied by chuckles from the rest as they quickly followed her.
* * * * *
Ranma awoke to a series of thumps outside the tent, instantly alert and cursing the blankets she was wrapped up in as she struggled to get free to face whoever or _what_ever was outside. Her struggles knocked Akane around, and the black-haired girl jerked awake.
"Whazzup?" she asked blearily, only to find Ranma's finger pressed to her lips.
"Shhhh!" Ranma hissed softly, finishing getting herself unwrapped, and a now wide-awake Akane nodded. The redhead stealthily gathered her feet under her, ready to spring out of the tent, when a voice froze her in her tracks.
"Yasuko? Are you in there?" came a voice that Ranma had heard only in very old/new memories and she simply sat in her crouch, her head whirling. "Ranma?" the same eerily familiar voice came, and she slowly crawled out of the tent and stood up and looked around at the ten fuku-clad figures in a half-circle around the tent's entrance, then focused on the long-haired blonde in the center. "Yasuko?" the blonde asked again, and Ranma nodded.
"Yeah, it's me," she said in a quavery voice. "Usagi?"
"Yeah," the blonde said and then Ranma was throwing herself into the arms of her no-longer-so-much-older sister with a shout to wake the dead.
Akane crawled out of the tent and stared at the embracing pair in confusion. "The Senshi? What's going on?" she asked, fighting to control the anger she felt rising at the sight of Ranma embracing another girl, hands twitching as they tried to curl to receive a hammer's haft.
Another of the Senshi with emerald-colored hair stepped forward beside her and turned to observe the embracing pair. "Relax, it's just a family reunion," she said, and Ranma's head twisted at the sound of her voice.
"Puu?" she whispered, and the Senshi nodded.
"Yes, Yasuko, it's Puu," she quavered, then when Ranma opened out an arm in invitation stepped into a three-way hug.
Akane's anger had vanished but now confusion reigned, and a brown-haired Senshi took "Puu's" place.
"Don't worry, it's just a sister and old friend that Ranma hasn't seen in four thousand years," the Senshi said. "Oh, I'm Sailor Jupiter."
"Akane Ten — Akane," Akane replied. "So you are all from the Moon Queendom?"
"Oh, you know about that, do you?" Jupiter asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Akane nodded. "Cologne told us all about it."
"Who's Cologne?" Jupiter asked, then smothered a huge yawn. "On second thought, you can tell us about it later, let's get you two packed up and settled somewhere more comfortable."
"Where?" asked Akane, and Jupiter nodded toward the three still locked together.
"With Ranma's very long-lost sister, where else?" she asked, then looked around at the rest of the Senshi watching: Mercury, Mars, Saturn and Chibi-Moon with fond smiles, Venus wistfully, Neptune and Uranus with their arms around each other's waist and happy smiles beaming. Sighing, Jupiter strode toward the three. "Come on," she said. "As much as everyone is enjoying the show, it's been a long day, let's get the new lovebirds settled and call it a night."
Reluctantly the three separated, though Ranma was blushing bright enough they could see it in the moonlight.
"Right, you two are staying with me!" Moon enthused, and Ranma smiled happily, then sobered and glanced at Akane with a worried look only to brighten with her love's bemused nod of acceptance.
"Great!" the petite redhead agreed, "I'll have everything broken down in a sec."
*
In the tree above the tent, Xian Pu watched as the blankets were folded up, the tent quickly broken down in spite of Moon's insistence on helping, and everything packed up. As the twelve girls disappeared into the shadows of the park's trees, the purple-haired cat stood and stretched, then jumped out of the tree and trotted off toward the Cat Café. _There'll be no keeping up with those ones_, she thought with a happy "oh well." _Besides, Lady Pluto's affairs are her own, and not for us to mess with. Great-grandmother will have to contact her and make her own arrangements._
Thinking back to the reunion she'd observed she started to purr, only to be interrupted by a huge yawn of her own. _A happy day for Ranma after all, but the brown-haired one was right — it's been a long day._ Thinking of a report to her Matriarch, a quick meal, and then to bed, the strangely-colored cat went from a trot to a run and also disappeared into the park's shadows.
* * *
dglsprincess105, good to see you're still reading the story. While I do feel a bit sorry for Soun, you're right, he brought it on himself, and deserved the result.
Author's Note: This is the last chapter of the first story arc. I'll be posting three chapters I have for a different story this weekend, then start posting what I've produced so far of the next story arc as a separate story, A New Future 2: First Blood. I have ten chapters so far, and will probably start writing for this story some time in January.
In the interests of full disclosure, I "borrowed" the idea of the Life Dancers from Ozzallos' excellent work, A Time Apart (one of the writers that kept me from writing my own for awhile).
Merry Christmas and a safe and wonderful New Year, everyone!
End file.
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the term language impairment ( li ) encompasses a wide range of disorders that can impair , or delay , both verbal and written language abilities . specific language impairment ( sli ) is one such disorder .
it occurs in 58 % of english - speaking school children and is an example of a verbal language impairment [ 1 , 2 ] .
a diagnosis is reliant on exclusion of disorders that might cause the language impairment , such as autism , cerebral palsy , hearing loss or intellectual disability .
the aetiology of sli , like that of many complex neurological disorders , is not well defined , but research over the last decade has provided us with strong evidence to support the likelihood of a polygenic genetic basis [ 513 , 14 ] .
although it might be expected that factors such as language input would impact a child s likelihood of developing sli , studies have shown that most children learn to talk competently even if they are taught by adults with language impairment .
this suggests that , in comparison with genes , language input has little influence on a child s risk of developing sli .
early genetic studies of sli have been dominated by quantitative trait loci ( qtl ) mapping and genome - wide linkage analysis ( gwla ) methodologies .
linkage studies rely on family data , aim to identify regions of the genome that are shared between related affected individuals and can be either parametric or non - parametric .
parametric studies require definition of an inheritance model ( e.g. dominant or recessive ) , penetrance and allele frequencies , while non - parametric methods are , for the most part , model free .
the specification of a model for sli is not always straightforward ; sli tends to run in families and is considered to be highly heritable , but it only rarely follows a monogenic inheritance pattern .
this sporadic form of inheritance suggests that a collection of genes are at least partly responsible for the manifestation and severity of sli in affected individuals .
linkage studies may be limited in their application to complex genetic disorders because of their low resolution and pedigree limitations .
nonetheless , they can be conducted using small sample sizes and can effectively reduce the number of candidate regions to consider in preparation for targeted association analyses . in contrast to linkage studies , association analyses have a high resolution and directly implicate specific genetic variants by comparing allele frequencies between cases and controls .
significantly associated variants would likely either be in linkage disequilibrium ( ld ) with the causal variant or be the causative variant themselves . unlike linkage studies , association analyses assume that the causal variant will be constant across cases and
this can be a limiting factor , as complex disorders such as sli are likely to involve a variable combination of variants ( genetic heterogeneity ) , even within the same gene .
in addition to case control methods , association methods can be applied within family - based cohorts by comparison of allele frequencies between probands and unaffected family members .
two initial gwla studies of sli identified novel candidate regions that are linked to performance on tests of language - related ability , in families affected by sli [ 57 ] .
the first study , conducted by the sli consortium ( slic ) , identified two novel susceptibility loci on chromosomes 16q2324 ( sli1 , omim 606711 ) and 19q13 ( sli2 , omim 606712 ) . a subsequent study by bartlett et al .
highlighted 13q21 ( sli3 , omim 607134 ) and 2p22 as additional loci predisposing to sli .
slic analysed 98 uk families ( 473 individuals ) , each with a proband whose language scores fell 1.5 standard deviation ( sd ) below the mean for their age and nonverbal iq scores that were within the specified normal range ( > 80 ) .
this study considered three quantitative language measures derived from the clinical evaluation of language fundamentals revised ( celf - r ) and non - word repetition ( nwr ) .
celf - r is a commonly used test battery designed to assess both receptive and expressive language ability in school - age children .
the nwr test measures the ability to retain novel phonological ( speech sound ) information for short periods of time ; this is commonly impaired in people with sli [ 5 , 11 ] . following the language tests ,
significant linkage was detected on chromosome 16 with the nwr trait ( lod score 3.55 ; p = 0.00003 ) and on chromosome 19 with the celf - r expressive language score [ els ] ( lod score 3.55 ; p = 0.0004 ) .
individuals were sorted into three categorical groups , labelled language - impaired , reading - impaired and clinically impaired on the basis of their performance across six quantitative language tests .
language - impaired individuals were defined by a spoken language quotient ( slq ) score ( from the test of language development ) of 85 , reading - impaired individuals had a non - word reading and iq discrepancy , and clinically impaired individuals had a history of speech and/or reading therapy [ 7 , 8 ] .
linkage to region 13q21 was detected under a recessive model in the reading - impaired group ( lod score 3.92 ; p < 0.01 ) , and linkage to 2p22 was detected under a recessive model of the language - impaired group ( lod score 2.86 ; p < 0.06 ) .
the lack of overlap between the sli susceptibility regions , implicated by these two independent linkage studies , not only supports the theory of locus heterogeneity but also demonstrates the statistical complexity of replicating genetic loci in different cohorts with variable phenotypes .
susceptibility regions 13q21 and 2p22 , highlighted by bartlett et al . , may not have been detected by slic , because of alternative allele frequencies within the uk sample set .
although the canadian families in the study by bartlett et al . were not considered population isolates , they were selected from a different ethnic background compared with that of the slic cohort , and thus the markers carried in these regions may have been elevated to a detectable linkage peak in this group .
furthermore , slic and bartlett utilised slightly different linkage methodologies and diagnostic criteria for determining sli affection status .
slic diagnosed probands on the basis of a clinical verbal - language battery [ 5 , 6 ] , whereas bartlett included a more varied set of phenotypes , including reading ability ( designed to reflect the proband s overall language ability ) , and then classified all individuals as being affected or unaffected under three alternative definitions [ 7 , 8 ] .
slic used non - parametric linkage methods , whereas bartlett used parametric linkage , assuming 7 % population penetrance , and used both dominant and recessive models of inheritance [ 58 ] . despite the inconsistency of loci linked to sli , both slic and bartlett
slic conducted a targeted linkage study in 2004 , with an additional 86 nuclear families selected and characterised as described for the slic samples above .
linkage was detected again on chromosomes 16 ( lod score 2.86 ; p < 0.02 ) and 19 ( lod score 2.31 ; p < 0.02 ) , both to the nwr trait .
the two slic cohorts were then pooled to total 184 families and 840 individuals . in this pooled dataset
, highly significant linkage was detected on chromosome 16 . in 2007 , slic applied a genome - wide multivariate linkage approach to their pooled cohort , which was able to analyse linkage to multiple quantitative traits simultaneously . in total , they investigated 11 measures of spoken and receptive language ability , reading ability and non - verbal iq .
this study supported the consortium s previous evidence linking loci on chromosomes 16q ( p = 0.008 ) and 19q ( p = 0.017 ) , and highlighted a novel region of linkage on chromosome 10q26 ( p = 0.019 ) .
the linkage on chromosome 16q was specific to nwr in the previous univariate slic studies , and in the multivariate study it was linked to nwr and literacy measures ( single - word reading and single - word spelling ) [ 5 , 6 , 9 ] , indicating that variation in this region will likely impact phonological memory .
an inability to store short - term verbal information is likely to impair the ability of an individual to acquire and retain language skills , and this has been a growing , aetiological theory surrounding sli [ 20 , 21 ] .
in contrast , linkage to chromosome 19q had previously been detected with multiple traits , firstly to els , then to nwr , and in the multivariate study it was found to be linked to a variety of expressive and language traits .
this suggests that the risk variants within this linkage region may impact upon a variety of language abilities .
one final study further expanded the slic cohort , analysing an additional 300 individuals from 93 families affected by sli , and again replicated linkage of chromosome 16q ( p = 0.002 ) with nwr , and linkage of chromosome 19q ( p = 0.007 ) with els .
bartlett et al . also expanded their cohort to include 22 us - based nuclear families with at least one individual per family affected by sli , in combination with the original families studied . in total , 365 dna samples were genotyped for microsatellites on chromosomes 2 and 13 , enabling replication of the chromosome region 13q21 linkage , using similar parametric modelling procedures .
further analysis revealed that only a small percentage of the families contributed to this linkage , suggesting that the risk factor is not sufficient or necessary for sli to manifest itself in all families . in this combined sample set , the linkage region on chromosome 2
could not be replicated , suggesting that if sli risk factors exist on chromosome 2 , they may have a small effect size with low penetrance , which would make them difficult to identify using a linkage study .
in addition to the slic and bartlett studies , a few other groups have also investigated the genetic basis of sli , using single families and isolated populations [ 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 ] .
these studies provided a unique opportunity to look at individuals with an increased level of shared environmental and genetic influences .
when certain phenotypes become more prevalent in isolated populations , it may suggest that a founding genetic influence has been shared amongst the group and may thus be more common and somewhat easier to identify . a classic linkage study , conducted prior to the two described above , linked language impairment to a region designated spch1 on chromosome 7q [ 26 , 27 ] .
this study analysed a single , large , three - generation pedigree known as the ke family , in which approximately half of the individuals were affected with a severe speech and language disorder .
gwla identified a region on chromosome 7q31 ( maximum lod score 6.62 ) that co - segregated with the language disorder in this particular family and has since been narrowed down to a causative mutation in the foxp2 ( forkhead box p2 ) gene ( omim 605317 ) .
it is important to note that not all members of the ke family would meet the selection criteria for studies of specific language impairment , because they had evidence of both intellectual disability and motor impairment . in addition
, the severe language impairment exhibited by members of the ke family surpasses the typical sli phenotype , in the sense that it involves a variety of associated neurological dysfunctions .
all of the foxp2 coding regions , or exons , have since been screened for association with sli , using 43 slic probands , but no associations or mutations were detected in this study .
it is likely , then , that the foxp2 gene remains functional in typical sli probands . despite this ,
the foxp2 gene is clearly vital for language acquisition , as demonstrated by the ke phenotype .
the ke phenotype has since been described as childhood apraxia of speech ( cas ) , which has been linked to disruptive variants within foxp2 , as demonstrated by similarly affected families [ 2932 ] .
subsequent studies of cas also identified 16 submicroscopic deletions and duplications ( copy number variants [ cnvs ] ) in half of the participants .
these fell across ten different chromosomes and have the potential to cause disruptions in speech and language development . of note
, overlapping deletions at chromosome 16p13.2 were found in two of the participants , though the region does not overlap with previously implicated loci on chromosome 16 , and the phenotypes associated with cnvs in this region have not been characterised .
although this study sequenced the entire exomes ( i.e. all known gene - coding regions ) of ten cas probands , it reported only mutations that affected known candidate genes .
the study reported potentially clinically relevant variants ( i.e. those variants that were predicted to have a deleterious effect upon protein function and had a reported population frequency of < 0.3 % ) in eight of the ten individuals investigated .
these were distributed across six candidate genes that had previously been associated with cas ( foxp1 [ forkhead box p1 ] , cntnap2 [ contactin associated protein - like 2 ] ) or overlapping phenotypes ( atp13a4 [ atpase type 13a4 ] , cntnap1 [ contactin associated protein 1 ] , kiaa0319 and setx [ senataxin ] ) but did not include any foxp2 mutations .
although preliminary , the findings of this study suggest that the application of high - throughput methodologies and comprehensive analyses of the arising data may prove fruitful in future studies of speech and language impairments . in 2010 , a linkage study was conducted on a three - generation german family , the ne family , with multiple members affected by variable language and literacy impairments .
the investigators hypothesised that this deficit disallowed the affected family members to discriminate between tone durations , putting them at an increased risk of language - related disorders .
linkage analysis suggested that a large 58.5 mb region , containing 600 genes , on chromosome 12p13.3112q14.3 may contain a contributory variant , but the specific variant has yet to be identified .
another independent linkage study investigated an isolated chilean population with an increased prevalence of sli .
a series of language tests indicated that ~35 % of the island s children met criteria for sli , and a further 27.5 % had impaired language skills accompanied by other neurological deficits .
parametric and non - parametric linkage analyses found consistent linkage to a 48 mb stretch of chromosome 7q31q36 ( lod score 6.73 ; p = 4.0 10 ) , which included the genes foxp2 and cntnap2 ( omim 604569 ) , the significance of which is discussed later in this article .
no single co - segregating chromosome regions were identified using parametric linkage analyses , which supports the likelihood of a polygenic aetiology of sli in this population .
a recent linkage study detected a heterozygous 4 kb deletion at chr2q36 ( sli5 ; omim 615432 ) in 15 southeast asian probands with language delay and white - matter hyper - intensities ( wmh ) , which are common markers of aging [ 25 ] .
the deletion , which eliminated exon 3 of the tm4sf20 [ transmembrane 4 l six family member 20 ] gene , co - segregated with language delay in the 15 families studied and appeared to represent an ancestral haplotype confined to southeast asian populations , notably vietnamese , thai and burmese , with an allele frequency of ~1 % [ 25 ] . the function of the tm4sf20 gene is unknown , and its function has yet to be assessed in other sli populations .
another study described a geographically isolated , russian - speaking population with an increased prevalence of sli .
the settlement involves ~871 people , 2040 % of whom have language impairment . at present
, no genetic studies have been conducted using this population , but it is likely that the increased prevalence of sli is caused by a founder mutation that is now widespread amongst the settlers , as seen in previous family and isolated - population studies of language impairment [ 12 , 23 , 25 ] .
populations with an increased prevalence of language impairment can assist with the identification of candidate genes .
it is assumed that the causative variant will be found more commonly within the affected population and will thus be easier to associate with the impairment .
future studies would benefit from investigating the role of the candidate genes that have been identified in these populations .
several studies have suggested shared genetic aetiology of speech disorders and reading disability ( rd)in particular , speech sound disorder ( ssd)which is distinct from sli but is rarely treated as such .
ssd is considered to be a problem associated with phonological awareness , which leads to a deficit in age - appropriate speech sound production .
these include chromosomes 6p22 , 15q21 ( dyx1 ; omim 127700 ) , 1p36 ( dyx8 ; omim 608995 ) and 3p12q13 ( ssd ; omim 608445 and dyx5 ; omim 606896 ) .
a more recent study carried out gwla in a large pedigree , exhibiting familial ssd and a motor sequencing deficit .
the study identified linkage peaks on chromosomes 6p21 , 7q32 , 7q36 ( overlapping with sli4 ) and 8q24 primarily with the motor sequencing phenotype , and on 7q31.q3234 with ssd .
a recent study also investigated whether autism and sli share genetic risk factors , by conducting linkage analysis in 79 families affected by sli and/or autism .
two linkage peaks were found on chromosomes 15q2326 , relating to oral language ability , and 16p12 , relating to written language ability , within the subset of families that included individuals with both autism and sli .
however , neither linkage peak was independently associated with one disorder , indicating that each locus influenced both sli and autism [ 39 ] .
although the numbers of studies in this field are relatively small and consider only targeted regions , the findings indicate a high level of heterogeneity and the involvement of many contributory factors in language disorders . following the discovery of sli linkage regions , the subsequent targeted studies in this field aimed to narrow down those broad regions to allow identification of specific risk variants .
targeted studies have the advantage of investigating smaller regions with greater marker density , and therefore resolution , making them more powerful in detecting linkage and association . a targeted association study , focusing on the chromosome 16q region [ 5 , 6 , 9 , 22 ] , pinpointed candidate genes for sli . the sli1 region was screened using 1906 single nucleotide polymorphisms ( snps ) across 58 genes .
two clusters of variants were significantly associated with nwr and fell within cmip ( c - maf - inducing protein ) at rs6564903 ( p = 5.5 10 ) and atp2c2 ( calcium - transporting atpase type 2c ) at rs11860694 ( p = 2.0 10 ) .
these findings suggest that cmip and atp2c2 are somehow involved in developing , or retaining , phonological short - term memories , which may be important for language acquisition .
note that since the function of the identified variants remains unknown , it is possible that their effects are exerted through transcripts other than atp2c2 and cmip .
in addition , a study by lonardo et al . presented a patient with postural , motor and speech delay , and severe learning and behavioural difficulties .
they established that the patient possessed an inverted de novo tandem duplication of 16q22q11.2 , although they could not establish a true correlation of genotype to phenotype , because of the size of the duplication .
the findings of this study support the implications that a region of chromosome 16 plays an important role in the development of speech and language .
although the duplication at 16q22q11.2 that was observed in this study does not include cmip ( 16q23.2 ) and atp2c2 ( 16q24.1 ) , it does suggest that chromosome 16 may include a number of genes that influence the development of language [ 5 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 22 , 40 ] .
an additional gene on chromosome 7q35q36 , known as cntnap2 ( which is down - regulated by foxp2 ) , has also been associated with sli .
a functional study identified a cntnap2 fragment that was bound by the foxp2 protein , regulating its expression .
a targeted association analysis in the slic cohort identified significant associations between nwr and nine intronic snps in cntnap2 . a subsequent association study supported the link between variants within the same region of cntnap2 and language ability in a general population sample . recently , a targeted association study considered the role of the hla region on chromosome 6p , which is important for the function of the immune system , in sli . among the genes implicated in the study , which included both quantitative and case control analyses , were hla - a ( major histocompatibility complex , class i , a ) , hla - b ( major histocompatibility complex , class i , b ) and hla - drb1 ( major histocompatibility complex , class ii , dr beta 1 ) , which were previously implicated in autism , attention - deficit / hyperactivity disorder ( adhd ) [ 44 , 45 ] and schizophrenia . in summary , five regions have consistently been associated with sli , using gwla , and targeted association studies have enabled identification of risk variants and candidate genes within three of these regions [ 13 , 47 ] ( see table 1).table 1a summary of specific language impairment ( sli ) linkage in omimregioncytogenetic lociassociated gene(s)omim no.methodreferencessli116q23.116q24
cmip ; atp2c2
606711gwla , targeted association[4 , 5 , 10]sli219q13.1319q13.41n / a606712gwla[4 , 5]sli313q14.313q31.1n / a607134gwla[6 , 7]sli47q317q36
cntnap2
612514gwla , targeted association[4 , 5 , 9]sli52q36
tm4sf20
615432la[25 ]
atp2c2 calcium - transporting atpase type 2c , cmip c - maf - inducing protein , cntnap2 contactin associated protein - like 2 , gwla genome - wide linkage analysis , la linkage analysis , n / a not applicable , tm4sf20 transmembrane 4 l six family member 20 a summary of specific language impairment ( sli ) linkage in omim
atp2c2 calcium - transporting atpase type 2c , cmip c - maf - inducing protein , cntnap2 contactin associated protein - like 2 , gwla genome - wide linkage analysis , la linkage analysis , n / a not applicable , tm4sf20 transmembrane 4 l six family member 20 more recent publications in the language impairment field have begun to incorporate high - throughput snp bead / chip assays to conduct genome - wide association studies ( gwas ) of sli and related traits [ 14 , 48 , 49 ] .
gwas offer a high - resolution scan of a growing number of consistently variable loci within the genome and have been empowered by the development of genetic variation databases , such as the hapmap project and the 1000 genomes project .
gwas are conducted using snp arrays and compare the frequencies of hundreds of thousands common di - allelic snps between affected and unaffected individuals . under the common - disorder , common - variant hypothesis , accumulatively
, these common snps may predispose individuals to various genetically complex diseases , including sli .
thus gwas methods are an ideal , and cost - effective , way of pinpointing possible risk variants . compared with other neurodevelopmental disorders ,
control association studies typically require thousands of cases and controls to gather adequate power , but at present no sli cohort reaches this size .
it may be possible to employ family - based association methods , which can use information from parents as well as probands and may provide increased power .
parents trios and obtained moderate power when testing for child genetic effects using 100 case parents trios and high power when testing for parent - of - origin effects ( with effect sizes ranging between 2 and 3 ) .
in addition , despite being underpowered , smaller cohorts may still detect true associations that contribute across disorder populations .
this study used family subsets ( e.g. case parents trios ) in a multinomial association method which compares the likelihoods of null and risk models .
this approach allows for greater power when using parents and offers flexibility in the type of analysis performed .
this particular study considered parent - of - origin effects , in addition to the more commonly considered child genotype model , and used quantitative language measures to assign sli affection status .
the authors found genome - wide significant paternal parent - of - origin effects with a snp in nop9 [ nucleolar protein 9 ] ( p = 3.74 10 ) on chromosome 14q12 and suggestive maternal parent - of - origin effects on chromosome 5p13 ( p = 1.16 10 ) in a linkage region previously implicated in autism and adhd .
the nop9 gene codes for an rna - binding protein , which was shown to be dysregulated in schizophrenia patients .
the avon longitudinal study of parents and their children ( alspac ) population cohort was used to replicate the maternal association on chromosome 5 ; paternal genotypes were unavailable ( p = 0.001 ) , albeit in the opposite direction ( i.e. the risk allele was different ) .
as discussed above , children with sli often have other language disorders , or learning disorders , such as rd , ssd , adhd or autism , which suggests that there may be an overlap of genetic risk factors [ 13 , 6062 ] .
it may therefore be beneficial to combine cohorts to investigate language disorders together and increase the sample sizes . in a study of educational attainment , rietveld et al .
demonstrated that the size of a cohort can outweigh a strict phenotype selection in defining the underlying genetic aetiology of a disorder . in a similar approach
, more recent language impairment studies have utilised gwas methods to investigate overlapping genetic risk factors between learning disorders .
the first examined reading and language - related traits across the entire range in two independent population cohorts ( the brisbane adolescent twin sample [ bats ] and alspac ) and then went on to perform a meta - analysis .
the most significant association was with a snp in abcc13 [ atp - binding cassette , sub - family c ( cftr / mrp ) member 13 ] ( p = 7.34 10 in the combined cohort ) on chromosome 21q11.2 .
abcc13 ( omim 608835 ) is thought to be a pseudogene that used to be involved with transporting molecules across intra- and extracellular membranes .
a second study also used the alspac cohort but selected individuals for low language and/or reading skills from this sample set and compared allele frequencies within these subsets with the rest of the alspac distribution .
the authors reported associations when considering individuals with concurrent rd and language impairment in znf385d [ zinc finger protein 385d ] ( p = 5.45 10 ) on chromosome 3p24.3 and col4a2 ( collagen , type iv , alpha 2 ) [ omim 120090 ] ( p = 7.59 10 ) on chromosome 13q34 . when examining individuals with only language impairment , the strongest association was reported for a snp on chromosome 4q26 , in ndst4 ( n - deacetylase / n - sulfotransferase ( heparan glucosaminyl ) 4 ) [ omim 615039 ] ( p = 1.4 10 ) .
very recently , gialluisi et al . conducted a gwas meta - analysis involving individuals with both reading and language impairments .
this study included 1,862 individuals from families affected by rd or sli in the uk reading disability ( uk - rd ) , slic and colorado learning disabilities research centre ( cldrc ) databases .
a family - based gwas was performed on sibling pairs from each of the three datasets before combining all of the samples and conducting a meta - analysis .
two snps , rs59197085 on chromosome 7q32.1 and rs5995177 on chromosome 22q12.3 , were found to be associated at a suggestive level ( p 10 ) with a range of reading and language traits .
rs59197085 falls within the ccdc136 ( coiled - coil domain containing 136 ) gene and falls within the sli4 region of linkage .
rs5995177 lies within the rbfox2 ( rna - binding protein , fox-1 homolog 2 ) gene , which is heavily expressed in the neurons of the developing foetal brain .
rbfox2 has been implicated in many neurological disorders , including rolandic epilepsy and autism .
in addition , rbfox2 is both a foxp2 target and part of a cascade of genes that interact with the dyx1c1 ( dyslexia susceptibility 1 candidate 1 ) gene [ 70 , 71 ] .
this is likely due to the inclusion of multiple affection phenotypes language , reading and learning disability .
the combination of all of those phenotypes would likely increase genetic heterogeneity and lead to weaker associations with specific components , although the authors sought to overcome this limitation by implementing a principal component approach .
linkage and association studies have highlighted a number of genetic regions that may predispose individuals to sli , as summarised in table 1 .
targeted association studies have been particularly successful in narrowing linkage regions into candidate genes , of which there are now four to consider ( table 1 ) .
more recently , gwas have been used to identify snps that might contribute to language ability or predispose individuals to language impairment , successfully highlighting additional genes for consideration .
however , there is currently very little overlap in the findings between these various studies ( fig . 1 ) .
future studies concerning sli would benefit from functional studies , determining the role of candidate genes and risk variants that have been identified to date .
these studies will allow us to identify exactly how the risk variants predispose individuals to language impairment and help elucidate the pathways underlying such complex disorders .
in addition , it is clear that future studies will benefit from larger sample sizes , clearer definitions of sli , more consistent selection criteria and investigation of related phenotypes .
neuroimaging studies , for example , have been very successful in identifying brain regions that are important for language and are noticeably altered in language - impaired individuals [ 7274 ] .
such biological markers may prove useful as endophenotypes , representing altered brain activation patterns and structural volumes that correlate with language impairment and rd candidate gene dysfunction [ 48 , 75 ] .
it is also likely that we will start to see data from whole - genome and exome sequencing studies that will complement existing linkage and association studies , as evidenced by preliminary studies in cas .
sequencing methods can offer greater power to detect rare and common variants , even if they have only small effect sizes , but still require large sample sizes and careful controls for reliable identification of candidate genes .
ultimately , in combination with the other methodologies and criteria described in this article , whole - genome and exome sequencing will assist with the identification of novel candidate genes and variants that may contribute to the risk of developing sli ; this may lead to earlier clinical intervention .
the combination of data and expertise across these diverse disciplines will enable better understanding of the biological basis of language impairment.fig .
1a diagrammatic representation of specific language impairment ( sli ) linkage regions and associations a diagrammatic representation of specific language impairment ( sli ) linkage regions and associations | pubmed |
pushdown systems and their related decision and algorithmic analysis problems ( reachability analysis , model checking , games solving and control synthesis , etc ) have been widely investigated in the last few years @xcite .
this recent intensive research effort is mainly motivated by the fact that pushdown systems are quite natural models for sequential programs with recursive procedure calls ( see e.g. , @xcite ) , and therefore they are particularly relevant for software verification and design . higher - order pushdown systems @xcite ( hpds ) are generalizations of these models in which the elements appearing in a pushdown stack are no longer single letters but stacks themselves .
we call this kind of nested stack structures _ higher - order stores_. stores of level @xmath3 are sequences of symbols in some finite alphabet ( those are standard pushdown stacks ) , and stores of level @xmath4 are sequences of stores of level @xmath5 , for any @xmath6
. the operations allowed on these structures are ( 1 ) the usual @xmath7 and @xmath8 operations on the top - most level 1 store , ( 2 ) higher - order @xmath7 and @xmath8 operations allowing to _ duplicate _ or _ erase _ the top - most level @xmath9 store of any given level @xmath10 .
this general model is quite powerful and has nice structural characterizations @xcite .
it has been in particular proved in @xcite that hpds are equivalent to ( safe ) higher - order recursive program schemes .
interestingly , it has also been proved that the monadic second - order theory of an infinite tree generated by a hpds is decidable @xcite , which generalizes the analogous result for pushdown systems proved by muller and schupp @xcite .
also , it has been proved that parity games can be solved for hpds @xcite , which generalizes the result of walukiewicz for pushdown systems @xcite .
these results actually show that model checking is decidable for hpds .
however , they only allow to check that a property holds in a _
single _ initial configuration and they do not provide a procedure for computing a representation of the set of configurations which satisfy some given property ( the satisfiability set of the property ) . the basic step toward defining an algorithm which effectively computes the satisfiability sets of properties is to provide a procedure for computing the set of backward reachable configurations from a given set of configurations , i.e. their set of predecessors .
in fact , the computation of forward- or backward - reachable sets is a fundamental problem in program analysis and in verification . since hpds are infinite - state systems , to solve this problem we need to consider _ symbolic representation structures _ which ( 1 ) provide finite representations of potentially infinite sets of configurations , and ( 2 ) enjoy closure properties and decidability properties which are necessary for their use in verification .
minimal requirements in this regard are closure under union and intersection , and decidability of the emptiness and inclusion problems .
a natural class of symbolic representations for infinite - state systems is the class of finite - state automata .
recently , many works ( including several papers on the so - called _ regular model - checking _ ) have shown that finite - state automata are suitably generic representation structures , which allow to uniformly handle a wide variety of systems including pushdown systems , fifo - channel systems , parameterized networks of processes , counter systems , etc . @xcite .
in particular , for the class of pushdown systems , automata - based symbolic reachability analysis techniques have been developed and successfully applied in the context of program analysis @xcite .
our aim in this paper is to extend this approach to a subclass of hpds called _ higher - order context - free processes _ ( hcfp for short ) .
this class corresponds to the higher order extension of the well - known context - free processes ( also called bpa processes ) .
hcfp can actually be seen as hpds with a single control state , similarly to level 1 cfp which are equivalent to level 1 pds with a single control state .
the contributions of our paper can be summarized as follows .
first , we observe that , due to the duplication operation , the set of immediate successors ( i.e. the @xmath11 image ) of a given regular set of configurations is in general _ not _ regular , but it is always a context - sensitive set . then , we prove that , and this is our main result , for every hcfp of any level , the set of all predecessors ( i.e. the @xmath12 image ) of any given regular set of configurations is a regular set and effectively constructible . as a corollary of this result , we obtain a symbolic model checking algorithm ( an algorithm which computes the set of all configurations satisfying a formula ) for the temporal logic @xmath13 with regular atomic predicates , i.e. , the fragment of ctl with the modalities @xmath14 ( there exist path where a property eventually holds ) and @xmath2 ( there exist an immediate successor satisfying some property ) .
furthermore , we extend our construction of the @xmath12 images by showing that the set of predecessors under a regular constraint ( i.e. , the set of all predecessors reachable by computations which stay in some given regular set of configurations ) is also regular and effectively constructible . for that
, we use representation structures which can be seen as alternating finite - state automata .
this result allows us to provide a symbolic model checking algorithm for the logic @xmath0 with regular atomic predicates , i.e. , the fragment of ctl with the operators @xmath1 ( exists until ) and @xmath2 ( exists next ) .
the structure of this paper is the following . in the next two sections ,
we introduce higher - order stores and the model of higher - order context - free processes .
we also provide a symbolic representation for ( infinite ) _ regular _ sets of stores using a certain type of finite automata .
then , for the sake of readability , we first present our algorithm for computing the unconstrained @xmath15 and @xmath12 sets of a regular set of stores ( section [ sect : sra ] ) , before extending it to the case of @xmath12 sets constrained by a regular set @xmath16 ( section [ sect : csra ] ) . due to lack of space , additional definitions and detailed proofs can be found in the full version of this paper . ] .
we introduce a class of models we call _ higher - order context - free processes _ , which generalize context - free processes ( cfp ) and are a subclass of higher - order pushdown systems ( hpds ) .
they manipulate data structures called _ higher - order stores_. the set @xmath17 of _ level @xmath3 stores _ ( or _ @xmath3-stores _ ) over store alphabet @xmath18 is the set of all sequences @xmath19 \in [ \gamma^*]$ ] . for @xmath20 ,
the set @xmath21 of _ level @xmath5 stores _ ( or _ @xmath5-stores _ ) over @xmath18 is the set of all sequences @xmath22 \in [ { { \mathcal{s}}_{n-1}}^+]$ ] .
the following operations are defined on @xmath3-stores : @xmath23 ) & = [ w a_2 \ldots a_l ] & \quad & \text { for all } w \in \gamma^ * , \\ { \mathit{top}}_1([a_1 \ldots a_l ] ) & = a_1 . \\
\intertext{we will sometimes abbreviate $ { \mathit{push}}_1^\varepsilon$ as $ { \mathit{pop}}_1$. the following operations are defined on $ n$-stores ( $ n > 1 $ ) : } { \mathit{push}}_1^w([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = [ { \mathit{push}}_1^w(s_1 ) \ldots s_l ] \\ { \mathit{push}}_k([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = [ { \mathit{push}}_k(s_1 ) \ldots s_l ] & & \text { if } k \in [ 2,n [ , \\ { \mathit{push}}_n([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = [ s_1 s_1 \ldots s_l ] \\ { \mathit{pop}}_k([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = [ { \mathit{pop}}_k(s_1 ) \ldots s_l ] & & \text { if } k \in [ 2,n [ , \\ { \mathit{pop}}_n([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = [ s_2 \ldots s_l ] & & \text { if } l > 1 , \text { else undefined } , \\ { \mathit{top}}_k([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = { \mathit{top}}_k(s_1 ) & & \text { if } k \in [ 1,n [ , \\ { \mathit{top}}_n([s_1 \ldots s_l ] ) & = s_1.\end{aligned}\ ] ] we denote by @xmath24 the set of operations consisting of : @xmath25 \,\ } \cup \{\,{\mathit{push}}_1^w\ |\
w \in \gamma^*\,\}.\ ] ] we say that operation @xmath26 is of level @xmath5 , written @xmath27 , if @xmath26 is either @xmath28 or @xmath29 , or @xmath30 if @xmath31 .
we can now define the model studied in this paper . a _ higher - order context - free process
_ of level @xmath5 ( or @xmath5-hcfp ) is a pair @xmath32 , where @xmath18 is a finite alphabet and @xmath33 is a finite set of transitions .
a configuration of @xmath34 is a @xmath5-store over @xmath18 .
@xmath34 defines a transition relation @xmath35 between @xmath5-stores ( or @xmath36 when @xmath34 is clear from the context ) , where @xmath37 the level @xmath38 of a transition @xmath39 is simply the level of @xmath26 .
let us give a few more notations concerning hcfp computations .
let @xmath40 be a @xmath5-hcfp .
a _ run _ of @xmath34 starting from some store @xmath41 is a sequence @xmath42 such that for all @xmath43 , @xmath44 .
the reflexive and transitive closure of @xmath36 is written @xmath45 and called the _ reachability _ relation . for a given set @xmath16 of @xmath5-stores , we also define the _ constrained transition _ relation @xmath46 , and its reflexive and transitive closure @xmath47 .
now for any set of @xmath5-stores @xmath48 , we consider the sets : @xmath49(s ) = \{\,s\ |\ \exists s ' \in s,\ s ' \hookrightarrow_c s \,\ } , \\ { \mathit{post}}^*_{\mathcal{h}}[c](s ) = \{\,s\ |\ \exists s ' \in s,\ s ' \overset{*}{\hookrightarrow}_c s \,\ } , \\ { \mathit{pre}}_{\mathcal{h}}[c](s ) = \{\,s\ |\ \exists s ' \in s,\ s \hookrightarrow_c s ' \,\ } , \\ { \mathit{pre}}^*_{\mathcal{h}}[c](s )
= \{\,s\ |\ \exists s ' \in s,\ s \overset{*}{\hookrightarrow}_c s ' \,\}.\end{aligned}\ ] ] when @xmath16 is the set @xmath21 of all @xmath5-stores , we omit it in notations and simply write for instance @xmath50 instead of @xmath51(s)$ ] .
we will also omit @xmath34 when it is clear from the context .
when @xmath34 consists of a single transition @xmath52 , we may write @xmath53 instead of @xmath50 .
to be able to design symbolic verification techniques over higher - order context - free processes , we need a way to finitely represent infinite sets ( or languages ) of configurations . in this section
we present the sets of configurations ( i.e. sets of stores ) we consider , as well as the family of automata which recognize them .
a @xmath5-store @xmath54 $ ] over @xmath18 is associated to a word @xmath55 $ ] , in which store letters in @xmath18 only appear at nesting depth @xmath5 .
a set of stores over @xmath18 is called _ regular _ if its set of associated words is accepted by a finite automaton over @xmath56\,\}$ ] , which in this case we call a _ store automaton_. we will often make no distinction between a store @xmath57 and its associated word @xmath58 . due to the nested structure of pushdown stores
, it will sometimes be more convenient to characterize sets of stores using _ nested store automata_. a level @xmath3 nested store automaton is a finite automaton whose transitions have labels in @xmath18 . a nested store automaton of level @xmath20 is a finite automaton whose transitions are labelled by level @xmath59 nested automata over @xmath18 .
the existence of a transition labelled by @xmath60 between two control states @xmath61 and @xmath62 in a finite automaton @xmath63 is written @xmath64 , or simply @xmath65 when @xmath63 is clear from the context .
let @xmath66 be a level @xmath5 nested automaton with @xmath20 .
the level @xmath9 language of @xmath63 for @xmath67 $ ] is defined recursively as : @xmath68\ |\ [ { \mathcal{a}}_1 \ldots { \mathcal{a}}_l ] \in l_n({\mathcal{a } } ) \,\ } & & \text { if } k < n , \\ l_k({\mathcal{a}})\ & = \ \{\ , [ { \mathcal{a}}_1 \ldots { \mathcal{a}}_l ] \ |\ q_0\ { \ { \overset{{\mathcal{a}}_1}{\underset{{\mathcal{a}}}\longrightarrow}}\ } \ldots { \ { \overset{{\mathcal{a}}_l}{\underset{{\mathcal{a}}}\longrightarrow}}\ } q_f\,\ } & & \text { if } k = n.\end{aligned}\ ] ] for simplicity , we often abbreviate @xmath69 as @xmath70 .
we say a nested automaton @xmath60 occurs in @xmath63 if @xmath60 labels a transition of @xmath63 , or occurs in the label of one .
level @xmath5 automata are well suited to representing sets of @xmath5-stores , but have the same expressive power as standard level @xmath3 store automata .
[ prop : rec ] the store languages accepted by nested store automata are the regular store languages .
moreover , regular @xmath5-store languages are closed under union , intersection and complement in @xmath21 .
we define for later use the set of automata @xmath71 such that for all @xmath72 and @xmath5 , @xmath73 .
we also write @xmath74 the product operation over automata such that @xmath75 .
our goal in this section is to investigate effective techniques to compute the sets @xmath76 , @xmath77 , @xmath78 and @xmath79 for a given @xmath5-hcfp @xmath34 , in the case where @xmath48 is a regular set of stores . for level @xmath3 pushdown systems ,
it is a well - known result that both @xmath80 and @xmath81 are regular .
we will see that this is still the case for @xmath76 and @xmath78 in the higher - order case , but not for @xmath77 ( hence not for @xmath79 either ) .
[ prop : post ] given a @xmath5-hcfp @xmath34 and a regular set of @xmath5-stores @xmath48 , the set @xmath77 is in general not regular .
this set is a context - sensitive language .
let @xmath82 denote the set @xmath83 .
suppose @xmath48 is a regular set of @xmath5-stores , then if @xmath84 or @xmath85 , it is not difficult to see that @xmath82 is regular . however , if @xmath86 with @xmath87 , then @xmath82 is the set @xmath88 .
it can be shown using the usual pumping arguments that this set is not regular , because of the duplication of @xmath89 .
however , one can straightforwardly build a linearly bounded turing machine recognizing this set .
we first propose a transformation on automata which corresponds to the @xmath15 operation on their language . in a second time , we extend this construction to deal with the more difficult computation of @xmath12 sets .
[ prop : pre ] given a @xmath5-hcfp @xmath34 and a regular set of @xmath5-stores @xmath48 , the set @xmath76 is regular and effectively computable .
we introduce a construction which , for a given hcfp transition @xmath52 and a given regular set of @xmath5-stores @xmath48 recognized by a level @xmath5 nested automaton @xmath63 , allows us to compute a nested automaton @xmath90 recognizing the set @xmath76 of direct predecessors of @xmath48 by @xmath52 .
this construction is a transformation over nested automata , which we call @xmath91 .
we define @xmath92 as follows .
+ if @xmath93 , we propagate the transformation to the first level @xmath59 automaton encountered along each path . we thus have @xmath94 , @xmath95 and @xmath96 if @xmath97 , we distinguish three cases according to the nature of @xmath52 : 1 . if @xmath84 , then @xmath98 and @xmath99 .
2 . if @xmath100 and @xmath6 , then @xmath98 and + @xmath101 where @xmath102 .
3 . if @xmath103 , then @xmath98 and @xmath104 .
it is not difficult to prove that @xmath105 .
hence , if @xmath106 is the set of transitions of @xmath34 , then we have @xmath107 .
this technique can be extended to compute the set @xmath78 of all predecessors of a regular set of stores @xmath48 .
[ thm : pre - star ] given a @xmath5-hcfp @xmath34 and a regular set of @xmath5-stores @xmath48 , the set @xmath78 is regular and effectively computable . to compute @xmath78
, we have to deal with the problem of termination .
a simple iteration of our previous construction will in general not terminate , as each step would add control states to the automaton . as a matter of fact , even the sequence @xmath108 , defined as @xmath109 and for all @xmath110 @xmath111 , does not reach a fix - point in general .
for instance , if @xmath112 , then for all @xmath5 , @xmath113 ) = \{\,[a^i]\ |\ i \leq
n\,\ } \neq { \mathit{pre}}^{n+1}([a])$ ] . to build @xmath78 for some regular @xmath48 , we modify the previous construction in order to keep constant the number of states in the nested automaton we manipulate .
the idea , instead of creating new control states , is to add edges to the automaton until saturation , eventually creating loops to represent at once multiple applications of a hcfp transition .
then , we prove that this new algorithm terminates and is correct .
let us first define operation @xmath91 for any @xmath5-hcfp transition @xmath52 ( see figure [ fig : td ] for an illustration ) .
let @xmath114 and @xmath115 be nested @xmath5-store automata over @xmath116\,\}$ ] , and @xmath52 a @xmath5-hcfp transition .
we define @xmath117 as follows .
+ if the level of @xmath52 is less than @xmath5 , then we simply propagate the transformation to the first level @xmath59 automaton encountered along each path : @xmath96 if @xmath97 then as previously we distinguish three cases according to @xmath52 : 1 . if @xmath118 and @xmath84 , then @xmath119 .
2 . if @xmath100 for some @xmath6 , then + @xmath120 where @xmath102 .
if @xmath103 , then @xmath121 suppose @xmath122 with @xmath123 .
given an automaton @xmath63 such that @xmath124 , consider the sequence @xmath125 defined as @xmath126 and for all @xmath127 and @xmath128 , @xmath129 . in order to obtain the result , we have to prove that this sequence always reaches a fix - point ( lemma [ lem : term ] ) and this fix - point is an automaton actually recognizing @xmath78 ( lemmas [ lem : snd ] and [ lem : cmpl ] ) .
[ lem : term ] for all nested @xmath5-store automaton @xmath63 and @xmath5-hcfp @xmath130 , the sequence @xmath125 defined with respect to @xmath63 eventually stabilizes : @xmath131 , which implies @xmath132 .
first , notice that for all @xmath52 , @xmath91 does not change the set of control states of any automaton occurring in @xmath63 , and only adds transitions .
this means @xmath125 is monotonous in the size of each @xmath133 . to establish the termination of the conctruction
, we prove that the number of transitions which can be added to @xmath134 is finite .
note that by definition of @xmath91 , the number of states of each @xmath133 is constant .
moreover , each new transition originates from the initial state of the automaton it is added to .
hence , the total number of transitions which can be added to a given automaton is equal to @xmath135 , where @xmath136 is the level @xmath5 vocabulary and @xmath137 its set of states . since @xmath138 does not change
, we only have to prove that @xmath136 is finite for all @xmath5 . if @xmath118 , @xmath139 , and the property holds .
now suppose @xmath6 and the property holds up to level @xmath59 .
by induction hypothesis , @xmath140 is finite . with this set of labels
, one can build a finite number @xmath141 of different level @xmath59 automata which is exponential in @xmath142 , where @xmath143 depends on the number of level @xmath59 automata in @xmath134 and of their sets of control states .
as each transition of a level @xmath5 automaton is labelled by a product of level @xmath59 automata , then @xmath144 is itself exponential in @xmath141 , and thus doubly exponential in @xmath145 .
remark that , as a consequence , the number of steps of the construction is non - elementary in @xmath5 .
[ lem : snd ] @xmath146 we prove by induction on @xmath147 the equivalent result that @xmath148 .
the base case is trivial since by definition @xmath126 and @xmath149 . for the inductive step ,
we consider a store @xmath57 accepted by a run in @xmath150 and reason by induction on the number @xmath151 of new level @xmath9 transitions used in this run , where @xmath9 is the level of the operation @xmath52 such that @xmath152 .
the idea is to decompose each run containing @xmath151 new transitions into a first part with less than @xmath151 new transitions , one new transition , and a second part also containing less than @xmath151 new transitions .
then , by induction hypothesis on @xmath151 and @xmath147 , one can re - compose a path in @xmath133 recognizing some store @xmath153 such that @xmath154 and @xmath155 .
[ lem : cmpl ] @xmath156 we prove the sufficient property that for all nested store automaton @xmath63 and hcfp transition @xmath52 , @xmath157 .
we consider automata @xmath63 and @xmath158 such that @xmath159 , and any pair of stores @xmath160 and @xmath161 .
it suffices to isolate a run in @xmath63 recognizing @xmath57 and enumerate the possible forms of @xmath153 with respect to @xmath57 and @xmath52 to be able to exhibit a possible run in @xmath158 accepting @xmath153 , by definition of @xmath91 .
this establishes the fact that @xmath91 adds to the language @xmath162 of its argument _ at least _ the set of direct predecessors of stores of @xmath162 by @xmath52 . as a direct consequence of proposition [ prop : pre ] and theorem [ thm : pre - star ]
, we obtain a symbolic model checking algorithm for the logic @xmath13 with regular store languages as atomic predicates , i.e. the fragment of the temporal logic ctl for the modal operators @xmath14 ( there exists a path where eventually a property holds ) and @xmath2 ( there exist an immediate successor satisfying a property ) .
[ thm : efx ] for every hcfp @xmath34 and formula @xmath163 of @xmath13 , the set of configurations ( stores ) satisfying @xmath163 is regular and effectively computable .
in this section we address the more general problem of computing a finite automaton recognizing @xmath164(s)$ ] for any hcfp @xmath165 and pair of regular store languages @xmath16 and @xmath48 .
we provide an extension of the construction of proposition [ thm : pre - star ] allowing us to ensure that we only consider runs of @xmath165 whose configurations all belong to @xmath16 . again , from a given automaton @xmath63 , we construct a sequence of automata whose limit recognizes exactly @xmath164(l({\mathcal{a}}))$ ] . the main ( and only ) difference with the previous case
is that we need to compute language intersections at each iteration without invalidating our termination arguments ( i.e. without adding any new states to the original automaton ) .
for this reason , we use a class of _ alternating _ automata , which we call _ constrained _ nested automata .
let @xmath60 be a non - nested @xmath151-store automaton finite state automaton . ]
( with @xmath166 ) . a level @xmath5 @xmath60-constrained nested automaton @xmath63 is a nested automaton @xmath167 with special transitions of the form @xmath168 where @xmath169 , @xmath170 is a control state of @xmath60 and @xmath171 is a level @xmath59 @xmath60-constrained nested automaton . for lack of space
, we are not able to provide here the complete semantics of these automata . however , the intuitive idea is quite simple .
suppose @xmath63 is a @xmath60-constrained nested @xmath5-store automaton , and @xmath60 also recognizes @xmath5-stores .
first , we require all the words accepted by @xmath63 to be also accepted by @xmath60 : @xmath172 .
then , in any run of @xmath63 where a transition of the form @xmath173 occurs , the remaining part of the input word should be accepted both by @xmath63 when resuming from state @xmath62 and by @xmath60 when starting from state @xmath170 . of course , when expanding @xmath174 into a word of its language , it may require additional checks in @xmath60 . as a matter of fact , constrained nested automata can be transformed into equivalent level @xmath3 alternating automata . as such , the languages they accept are all regular . constrained
nested automata accept regular languages .
the construction we want to provide needs to refer to whole sets of paths in a level @xmath3 store automaton recognizing the constraint language . to do this , we need to introduce a couple of additional definitions and notations .
let @xmath63 be a finite store automaton over @xmath175\,\}$ ] .
a state @xmath61 of @xmath63 is of level @xmath176 if it has no successor by @xmath177 and no predecessor by @xmath178 $ ] .
it is of level @xmath9 if all its successors by @xmath177 and predecessors by @xmath178 $ ] are of level @xmath179 .
the level of @xmath61 is written @xmath180 .
we can show that any automaton recognizing only @xmath5-stores is equivalent to an automaton whose control states all have a well - defined level .
a notion of level can also be defined for paths .
a _ level @xmath5 path _ in a store automaton is a path @xmath181 with @xmath182 and @xmath183,\ l(p_i ) < n$ ] .
all such paths are labelled by @xmath5-stores .
now , to concisely refer to the whole set of level @xmath5 paths between two level @xmath5 control states , we introduce the following notation .
let @xmath184 be the set of all states of @xmath63 occurring on a level @xmath5 path between @xmath185 and @xmath186 .
if @xmath137 is not empty , we write @xmath187 , where @xmath60 is defined as : @xmath188 thanks to these few notions , we can state our result : [ thm : pre - starc ] given a @xmath5-hcfp @xmath34 and regular sets of @xmath5-stores @xmath48 and @xmath16 , the set @xmath189(s)$ ] is regular and effectively computable . to address this problem , we propose a modified version of the construction of the previous section , which uses constrained nested automata .
let @xmath39 be a hcfp transition rule , @xmath190 and @xmath191 two nested @xmath9-store automata constrained by a level @xmath3 @xmath5-store automaton @xmath192 accepting @xmath16 ( with @xmath193 .
we define a transformation @xmath194 , which is very similar to @xmath195 , except that we need to add alternating transitions to ensure that no new store is accepted by @xmath158 unless it is the transformation of a store previously accepted by @xmath60 ( cf .
figure [ fig : tdb ] ) . if @xmath196 , we propagate the transformation to the first level @xmath179 automaton along each path : @xmath197 if @xmath97 , we distinguish three cases according to the nature of @xmath52 : 1 . if @xmath84 , then @xmath198 2 . if @xmath86 , then for @xmath199 and @xmath200 , @xmath201 3 . if @xmath85 , then for @xmath199 , @xmath202 suppose @xmath122 with @xmath123 . given an automaton @xmath63 such that @xmath124 ,
consider the sequence @xmath125 defined as @xmath203 ( the @xmath60-constrained automaton with the same set of states and transitions as @xmath63 , whose language is @xmath204 ) and for all @xmath43 and @xmath128 , @xmath205 . by definition of @xmath206 ,
the number of states in each @xmath133 does not vary , and since the number of control states of @xmath60 is finite the same termination arguments as in lemma [ lem : term ] still hold .
it is then quite straightforward to extend the proofs of lemma [ lem : snd ] and lemma [ lem : cmpl ] to the constrained case .
this more general construction also allows us to extend theorem [ thm : efx ] to the larger fragment @xmath0 of ctl , where formulas can now contain the modal operator @xmath1 ( there exists a path along which a first property continuously holds until a second property eventually holds ) instead of just @xmath14 .
given a hcfp @xmath34 and formula @xmath163 of @xmath0 , the set of configurations ( stores ) satisfying @xmath163 is regular and effectively computable .
we have provided an automata - based symbolic technique for backward reachability analysis of higher - order context - free processes .
this technique can be used to check temporal properties expressed in the logic @xmath0 . in this respect ,
our results provide a first step toward developing symbolic techniques for the model - checking of higher - order context - free or pushdown processes .
several important questions remain open and are left for future investigation . in particular , it would be interesting to extend our approach to the more general case of higher - order pushdown systems , i.e. by taking into account a set of control states . this does not seem to be technically trivial , and naive extensions of our construction lead to procedures which are not guaranteed to terminate . another interesting issue is to generalize our symbolic approach to more general properties than reachability and/or safety , including liveness properties .
finally , it would also be very interesting to extend our symbolic techniques in order to solve games ( such as safety and parity games ) and to compute representations of the sets of all winning configurations for these games .
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we will prove that given a nested store automaton @xmath207 , one can effectively compute a level @xmath3 store automaton @xmath208 such that @xmath209
. we reason by induction on the level @xmath5 of @xmath63 . for @xmath210 ,
the property trivially holds . for greater values of @xmath5 , consider the property as true for all levels less than @xmath5 and let @xmath211 be the level @xmath59 automata labelling the transitions of @xmath63 . by induction hypothesis , we can build level @xmath3 automata @xmath212 such that @xmath213 $ ] , @xmath214 .
let @xmath215 , with all @xmath216 supposed disjoint .
we now build the level @xmath3 automaton @xmath217 where for all @xmath218,\ r , s , t , u \in q_j$ ] and @xmath219 such that @xmath220 , @xmath221 , @xmath222 and @xmath223}{\underset{{{\mathcal{a}}_j\!\downarrow}}\longrightarrow}}\ } f_j$ ] , we have : @xmath224}{\underset{{{\mathcal{a}}\!\downarrow}}\longrightarrow}}\ } q & f & { \ { \overset{]}{\underset{{{\mathcal{a}}\!\downarrow}}\longrightarrow}}\ } f ' \end{aligned}\ ] ] according to this construction , a path of @xmath208 between two control states @xmath61 and @xmath62 in @xmath225 is labelled by a word @xmath57 if and only if @xmath57 represents a @xmath226-store accepted by some @xmath227 such that @xmath220 .
hence @xmath208 accepts all words of the form @xmath22 $ ] such that @xmath228 \in l_n({\mathcal{a}})$ ] and for all @xmath229 , @xmath230 , which is precisely the definition of @xmath70 . before stating the converse
, we need to introduce the notion of _ level _ of a level @xmath3 store automaton control state .
let @xmath63 be a finite store automaton over @xmath56\,\}$ ] .
a state @xmath61 of @xmath63 is of level @xmath176 if it has no successor by @xmath177 and no predecessor by @xmath178 $ ] .
it is of level @xmath9 if all its successors by @xmath177 and predecessors by @xmath178 $ ] are of level @xmath179 .
the level of @xmath61 is written @xmath180 .
we also define a notion of level for paths .
a _ level @xmath5 path _ in a store automaton is a path @xmath231 with @xmath182 and @xmath183,\ l(p_i ) < n$ ] .
all such paths are labelled by @xmath5-stores . finally , to concisely refer to the whole set of level @xmath5 paths between two level @xmath5 control states , we introduce the following notation .
let @xmath184 be the set of all states of @xmath63 occurring on a level @xmath5 path between @xmath185 and @xmath186 .
if @xmath137 is not empty , we write @xmath187 , where @xmath60 is defined as : @xmath188 using this notation , we can also very easily translate any level @xmath3 @xmath5-store automaton into a level @xmath5 nested automaton .
let @xmath232 be a level @xmath3 automaton recognizing @xmath5-stores .
we want to build a level @xmath5 nested automaton @xmath233 such that @xmath234 . as no path of @xmath63 labelled by a word which does not denote a correct store can be accepting , we may consider without loss of generality that the level of every state in @xmath137 is well - defined .
let @xmath235 be the set of level @xmath59 states of @xmath63 .
the only states of level @xmath5 are @xmath147 and @xmath236 .
if @xmath118 , we build @xmath158 with a set of states @xmath237 and the following set of transitions : @xmath238}{\underset{{\mathcal{a}}}\longrightarrow}}\ } f\,\}. \end{gathered}\ ] ] if @xmath6 , for each @xmath239 and @xmath60 such that @xmath240 , we first build inductively a nested automaton @xmath241 such that @xmath242 .
we then give @xmath158 the following set of transitions : @xmath243}{\underset{{\mathcal{a}}}\longrightarrow}}\ } f\,\}. \end{gathered}\ ] ] a store @xmath57 is accepted by @xmath158 if and only if there is a path in @xmath158 labelled by @xmath244 from @xmath245 to @xmath246 such that @xmath247 $ ] .
we thus also have @xmath248 $ ] , and hence @xmath160 . before proceeding , we have to present a few additional definitions and notations . to be able to easily express and manipulate sets of possible runs of nested automata ,
we first define the notion of _ store expression_. a store expression of level @xmath176 over alphabet @xmath18 is simply a letter in @xmath18 .
a store expression of level @xmath249 is either a @xmath5-store @xmath57 , the name @xmath63 of a ( nested or not ) @xmath5-store automaton , a concatenation of level @xmath5 store expressions , a level @xmath59 store expression between square brackets @xmath250 $ ] , or the repeated concatenation @xmath251 of a level @xmath5 expression @xmath252 .
let @xmath254 be a store expression where @xmath63 is a nested @xmath5-store automaton , we write @xmath255 v$ ] whenever @xmath256 . as usual , we write @xmath257 the reflexive and transitive closure of @xmath253 .
a sequence of store expressions @xmath258 such that @xmath259 , @xmath260 and @xmath261,\ e_i\ \longmapsto\ e_{i+1}$ ] is called a run of @xmath63 .
let @xmath262 $ ] , @xmath236 and @xmath263 be store expressions , we write @xmath264 if either @xmath265 and @xmath266 $ ] , or @xmath267 and @xmath268 $ ] . note that if @xmath252 is a letter in @xmath18 or an automaton , there are no @xmath236 and @xmath263 such that @xmath269 . for instance
, we could write @xmath270[a][bcd ] ] = a \cdot [ [ { \mathcal{b}}][a][bcd]]$ ] , or @xmath270[a][bcd ] ] = [ a{\mathcal{b}}][a ] \cdot [ [ bcd]]$ ] . before proving the soundness of the construction of proposition [ thm : pre - star ] , we need a technical lemma expressing the fact that all cycles on the initial state of a nested automaton during the computation of @xmath271 correspond to possible runs of the context - free process we consider .
the following elementary lemma expresses the simple fact that if some transition @xmath272 can be applied on a certain store , then it must also be applicable to any store with the same top - most level @xmath179 store .
[ lem : snd1 ] for all @xmath274 and nested @xmath9-store automaton @xmath275 occurring in @xmath133 , whenever there exist a state @xmath276 , path labels @xmath277 and @xmath278 , a transition label @xmath171 and a path @xmath279 in @xmath60 , then for all run @xmath280 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t \cdot s\ ] ] where @xmath170 is any store expression , @xmath281 and @xmath282 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s$ ] , we necessarily have @xmath283 and @xmath284 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s.\ ] ] let us reason by induction on @xmath147 .
assume for simplicity that no transition leads to the initial state in any automaton occurring in @xmath63 .
if @xmath285 , then @xmath286 and the property is trivial .
now suppose the property is true up to some rank @xmath287 .
call @xmath52 the level @xmath9 operation such that @xmath288 .
consider the following run @xmath289 of @xmath150 : @xmath290 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t \cdot s \text { with } w_1 { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t.\ ] ] as @xmath277 labels a loop on the initial state of @xmath60 , another possible run of @xmath150 is : @xmath291 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s.\ ] ] we only need to show that @xmath292 to conclude the proof . to do this
, we will reason by induction on the number @xmath151 of new level @xmath9 transitions of @xmath150 ( i.e. transitions of @xmath150 not in @xmath133 ) used in the @xmath277 cycle on @xmath293 .
as @xmath277 contains no new transition , it also labels a cycle in @xmath133 .
now , either transition @xmath171 belongs to @xmath133 or not .
in the positive case , @xmath289 is a path in @xmath133 , hence the property is true by induction on @xmath147 . in the case where @xmath171 is a new transition , by definition of @xmath150 , @xmath133 admits the following run : @xmath294 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t \cdot s ' \text { with } w_1 { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t \text { and } [ uw_2 ] \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s',\ ] ] where @xmath295 is equal to @xmath296 , @xmath297 or @xmath298 when @xmath52 is @xmath272 , @xmath299 or @xmath300 respectively . by induction on @xmath147 , this run verifies the property , hence we have @xmath301 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s ' \text { with } t \cdot s ' \overset{*}{\hookrightarrow } s'.\ ] ] by lemma [ lem : head - off ] , this implies that @xmath302 , and in particular @xmath303 .
suppose the @xmath277 cycle in @xmath60 contains @xmath304 new transitions .
let @xmath305 be one of these new transitions , we have @xmath306 . hence @xmath60 has a path @xmath307 which begins with a cycle on @xmath293 labelled by @xmath308 , containing @xmath151 or less new transitions of @xmath150 . suppose @xmath309 and @xmath310 , by induction hypothesis on @xmath151 we have : @xmath311 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t_2 \cdot s\ ] ] and @xmath312 .
we now have to examine the way transition @xmath174 is created in @xmath150 , which depends on the type of @xmath52 .
as previously , by definition of @xmath150 there must be a run of the form @xmath313 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } t_3 \cdot s,\ ] ] where @xmath295 is equal to @xmath296 , @xmath314 or @xmath298 when @xmath52 is @xmath272 , @xmath315 or @xmath300 respectively .
it is easy to show that @xmath316 can be chosen to be @xmath317 .
this run uses a path in @xmath60 starting with a cycle on @xmath293 labelled by @xmath318 which contains @xmath151 or less new level @xmath9 transitions : @xmath319 using the induction hypothesis on @xmath151 , we can now conclude that : @xmath320
\cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s \text { and } t_3 \cdot s \in { \mathit{pre}}^*_{\mathcal{h}}(s).\ ] ] we have @xmath321 , hence @xmath322 , which concludes the proof .
assume for simplicity that no transition of an automaton occurring in @xmath63 leads to its initial state .
we reason by induction on @xmath147 .
the base case is trivial since @xmath126 and @xmath324 . now consider a store @xmath57 in @xmath325 .
if @xmath57 is accepted by @xmath150 using no new transition , then it is accepted by @xmath133 . hence by induction hypothesis it belongs to @xmath80 .
otherwise , the accepting run must be of the form @xmath290 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s,\ ] ] where the path in @xmath60 which generates @xmath326 is of the form @xmath327 with @xmath276 . by lemma [ lem : snd1 ]
there exist @xmath328 such that @xmath329 , @xmath330 and @xmath291 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s_1.\ ] ] note that by definition of @xmath91 , all new transitions start from the initial states of automata in @xmath150 . hence
, if the transition labelled by @xmath171 in the previous run is not new , then the whole run exists in @xmath133 . by induction hypothesis on @xmath147
, there exists @xmath331 such that @xmath332 , hence by transitivity @xmath333 .
+ if the transition labelled by @xmath171 is new , then since @xmath276 and by definition of @xmath91 , @xmath52 must be of the form @xmath334 or @xmath335 . then by construction of @xmath150
there is a run @xmath336 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s_2,\ ] ] where @xmath295 is either @xmath297 if @xmath87 or @xmath298 is @xmath337 , and @xmath338 can be chosen as @xmath339 .
now by induction hypothesis on @xmath147 , there exists @xmath340 such that @xmath341 , hence by transitivity @xmath342 .
let @xmath117 .
consider a store @xmath160 , and let @xmath153 be any store such that @xmath344 .
there is a run @xmath289 of @xmath63 recognizing @xmath57 as follows : @xmath345 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s.\ ] ] depending on @xmath52 , we have to consider three cases : 1 . if @xmath346 , then @xmath347 where @xmath89 is any store of level @xmath179 such that @xmath348 , and by definition of @xmath91 the following run exists : @xmath349 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s'.\ ] ] 2 . if @xmath350 , then @xmath351 and @xmath352 where @xmath348 and @xmath89 is in both @xmath353 and @xmath354 .
hence @xmath89 is also accepted by the level @xmath179 automaton @xmath355 .
thus , by definition of @xmath91 the following run exists : @xmath356 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s'.\ ] ] 3 . if @xmath357 , then @xmath358 and @xmath359
. this means @xmath360 are level @xmath176 automata ( i.e. letters ) , and @xmath361 . by definition of @xmath91
the following run exists : @xmath362 \cdot r { \ { \overset{*}{\longmapsto}}\ } s'.\ ] ] the language of a constrained nested automaton is defined _ via _ a simple adaptation of the construction of prop . [ prop : flatten ] .
consider a nested automaton @xmath363 of level @xmath5 constrained with respect to a level @xmath3 @xmath5-store automaton @xmath364 .
and @xmath60 have to be the same for @xmath70 to be defined . ]
first , consider the ( unconstrained ) nested automaton @xmath365 , where @xmath366 .
second , build according to the construction of prop .
[ prop : flatten ] a level @xmath3 automaton @xmath367 with the same accepted language as @xmath158 . by adding to @xmath368 the control states of @xmath60 and integrating into it the set of constrained transitions of @xmath63 , one gets an alternating store automaton @xmath369 , where @xmath370 . by construction ,
control states in @xmath371 are of the form @xmath372 where @xmath373 $ ] and each @xmath374 is a control state of a level @xmath9 automaton occurring in @xmath158 .
we define @xmath375 as the union of @xmath376 and the set of all @xmath377 such that : 1 .
@xmath378 , @xmath379 , @xmath380 , @xmath381 $ ] and @xmath382 where @xmath171 occurs in @xmath63 and @xmath170 is a control state of @xmath174 , 2 .
@xmath383 , @xmath384 , @xmath380 , @xmath385 , and @xmath386 where @xmath171 is a level @xmath3 automaton occurring in @xmath63 , 3 .
@xmath387 in all other cases .
we now define the language accepted by @xmath63 as the language accepted by the alternating automaton @xmath208 we just defined , according to the usual notion of acceptance for alternating automata : @xmath388 ( please note that the initial state of @xmath208 is @xmath389 ) .
for all nested @xmath5-store automaton @xmath63 , level @xmath3 @xmath5-store automaton @xmath60 and @xmath5-hcfp @xmath390 , the sequence @xmath391 defined with respect to @xmath63 and @xmath60 eventually reaches @xmath392 : @xmath393 the algorithm for computing @xmath392 is similar to the one for computing @xmath394 , except that it labels some of the transitions of each @xmath395 by a state of @xmath60 . as the number of such states remains unchanged throughout the whole computation , this does not add any unboundedness in the computation and the maximal number of iterations before reaching a fix - point is still finite . by definition of @xmath397 , @xmath398 for all @xmath147 .
so , by lemma [ lem : snd ] , we already have @xmath399 .
let us reason by induction on @xmath147 . by definition of constrained nested automata , @xmath400 , hence @xmath401(s)$ ] .
now assume the property is true up to some rank @xmath147 , and consider the automaton @xmath402 .
note that everywhere transformation @xmath403 adds a transition in @xmath395 to get @xmath402 , the alternating transitions induced in @xmath404 ensure that each store labelling a new accepting path in the automaton is a transformation of a store labelling an accepting path in @xmath60 . this way , one makes sure that no element of @xmath16 in @xmath405(s)$ ] is added to the language of @xmath402 .
for instance , assume @xmath84 and some store @xmath57 is accepted by @xmath404 using a @xmath72-transition newly created by @xmath206 . according to the definition of @xmath206 ,
this transition is of the form @xmath406 , where @xmath170 is a control state reachable in @xmath60 through a path labelled by @xmath407 .
thus , if we let @xmath408 , for @xmath57 to be accepted by @xmath404 , then necessarily @xmath153 must be accepted by @xmath60 from state @xmath170 .
the same kind of reasoning holds for the other types of operations . by definition , @xmath410 .
now suppose the property is true up to some rank @xmath147 , and consider a store @xmath411 .
let @xmath52 be the operation such that @xmath412 . by definition
, there is a store @xmath413 such that @xmath414 , and by induction hypothesis @xmath153 is accepted by @xmath415 .
moreover , since both @xmath57 and @xmath153 are in @xmath16 , they are accepted by @xmath60 .
as seen in lemma [ lem : cmpl ] , transformation @xmath91 adds a new transition @xmath416 creating in particular a path labelled by @xmath57 .
the additional constraints @xmath206 puts on this transition , and all paths in @xmath402 in general , forbids any path labelled by some @xmath170 using this transition to be accepted unless both @xmath170 and @xmath417 also have an accepting run in @xmath60 .
this is the case for @xmath57 and @xmath153 , hence @xmath418 . | arxiv |
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Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Pleasant Dreams
**Pleasant Dreams **
**Disclaimer I do not own the characters in this story. I wish the people who did would use them and create new series. I have just borrowed the characters.**
A/N this picture challenge included three pics. The first Sully dressed as an Indian is gagging Mike. The second they are dancing together, the third is they are lying in bed together. There are three quotes as well one, _"Do you think a man can love two women at the same time?" _two _"Must you agree with me *all* of the time?" _number three _"I took an oath!"_
Sully could kick himself now. Why had he teased Michaela when she had said she was concerned by the obsession that Catherine had been showing him. She had said that Catherine had told her that he and she were the same and that Michaela needed to give him up as he belonged to the Sioux woman and knew how to please him. He had not seen the true meaning of accepting the necklace as a proposal of marriage. The Sioux shared different customs to the Cheyenne that he had lived with and Sully thought he was just being kind when he gave her one of his. _A gift for a gift that was what he had been taught._
Smiling he had teased Michaela by saying, _**"Do you think a man can love two women at the same time?"**_ He was laughing as she shuddered.
He had been trying to make her understand, "When are you going to understand my heart belongs to you now. You are my Heartsong. I love you and only you, Michaela." He knew she believed him but he had not counted on the determination of the half Indian woman.
But Catherine had made up her mind: she wanted to live with the Indians and she wanted her chosen mountain man Sully by her side. After all, she has said they were the same and he had agreed as well as giving her one of his necklaces.
Now here he was, dressed for war the black and white paint, disguising him from a white man. He was untying Michaela who had been kidnapped and brought to the Sioux village in an attempt for Catherine to seduce Sully into marrying her. Cloud Dancing was outside, keeping lookout near the tepee that Catherine had held the doctor captive. Michaela's eyes followed him as he spoke softly to her so she wouldn't scream out and alert the tribe to their presence. She was tied up and gagged as she always had been, the part Indian woman not trusting the doctor from trying to escape.
"Let's go," Sully hissed to his friend as he scooped Michaela into his arms when he mounted his horse and they hurriedly left the village far behind.
Cloud Dancing didn't accompany them though. He was seeking the Sioux Medicine Man out, explaining that Catherine needed to find another man to give her heart to as Sully and Michaela where ordained to love till the end of time by the Spirits. The other man understood and assured Cloud Dancing that they would have no more trouble from the young woman.
...
Sleeping uncomfortably on the hard floor of the tee pee Michaela's dreams became what she most wanted in life. She loved Sully so much she dreamt she and he had wed and they enjoyed a union neither had believed was at all possible years before after both their troubled past. Their wedding was a dream. In her dream Michaela had all her wishes granted with some of her family arriving unexpectedly. While Sully had Cloud Dancing stand beside him on this auspicious occasion, one the Medicine Man had guided Sully to for a number of years. When he had seen the white woman doctor Cloud Dancing saw they had been meant to be together. Their wedding night surpassed either of their wildest dreams. They had been so enthralled with each other when they had changed and danced well into the night. Michaela's going away dress was gold and gave her skin a glow that turned not only the groom's eyes to the doctor but every man in the room.
"You look beautiful, Mrs Sully," he breathed into her ear. She just giggled, and looking into the piercing blue eyes of her handsome husband she nodded.
"It's you that makes me feel beautiful." she said near his ear blowing her warm breath across his skin, knowing what it would do to him.
"Ya' are beautiful and you have no idea what ya' do me, ya' drive me crazy.
"Do you really mean that, I am beautiful?"
Laughing he teased her by adding, _**"Must you agree with me *all* of the time?" **_Knowing that she just did not think she was and he loved her shyness when he teased her.
She looked at him fully aware that he was joking with her and now she couldn't wait till she got him alone. Oh! how she loved this man.
...
Michaela was struggling through the day with Catherine telling her continually she did not know how to please Sully, that the Indian women knew how to please their men. That Michaela didn't let him touch or kiss her; she was like ice. With Catherine's taunts still ringing in her ears Michaela fell asleep again. quickly beginning to dream again only this was years later.
She was in her own bed in Boston Sully was laying there with her the loving couple snuggled up to each other, wondering where on earth the years had gone. They had successful grown children and were now prominent citizens in Colorado Springs, celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary.
Reclining well into the mid-orning they shared an intimacy that Michaela would never have dreamed possible when she married Sully. He had taught her that sharing their bed was still the most fabulous experience she had ever imagined. Their passion for each other had never dimmed nor were they about to let it.
How he kept the romance going all these years was amazing to her. Flowers, surprise picnics, small gifts and especially nights out in the forest near their own favourite spot, the water fall. Chuckling she remembered two major discussions about falling off logs and cleaning teeth early on.
Sully pulled back, asking what had tickled her fancy? She still blushed and he liked her innocence even after so many glorious years.
In her dream she had asked Dorothy for help. "Remember when I told you about Dorothy explaining that being with you would be like falling off a log?" she asked. "And then, after I learnt not to fall off the log?" Her eyes sparkling, she continued about Myra saying that being with him would be like cleaning ones teeth. A smile spread over her sleeping face.
Sully moved in and hovered over her, kissing her and letting her body feel his desire for her again.
She groaned as he knew exactly how to entice her even after all this time. But this time after a lovely kiss he only remained there.
Sniggering he asked, "Well, is this anythin' like brushing ya' teeth?"
"No," she answered with a sigh, pulling him down on herself.
"Is snuggling still ya' favourite sport?" he continued teasingly.
Becoming frustrated she looked directly into the laughing blue eyes and again answered, "Yes."
"Mine too," he grinned.
Michaela smiled asking, _**"Must you agree with me *all* of the time?"**_
Closing her mouth with another kiss he joined them. Later as they lay sated in each other's arms Sully sniggered again, moving so he could look into her eyes.
_**"Do you think a man can love two women at the same time?"**_ Seeing the question in her eyes he continued if she remembered when he had told her about what the Cheyenne said about enthusiasm. When she shook her head he continued in a husky voice, "I still so appreciate your enthusiasm."
Caressing her skin he drew small circles on her back, moving down slowly. "Only you, Michaela. You hold my heart and you make it beat. You're still my Heartsong."
Holding onto each other they reminisced about their fulfilling lives, about when Catherine kidnapped her, their wedding day, the birth of their children, their first kiss on her birthday and then their wedding.
Smiling Michaela confessed, "Mr Sully, I never knew I could be so happy, you make me happy."
He held her closer and softly whispered against her ear that stirred the sensations in her body along with the fine wisps of hair. _**"I took an oath!"**_ and thought to himself, "to always make you happy."
Michaela reiterated, "On our wedding day *_**I took an oath***_ to make you happy as well."
It was from this beautiful dream that she was awoken being called softly looking into Sully's eyes. He was painted like an Indian warrior he had come to free her from Catherine. After he released her she was safely in Sully's arms again.
The end
End file.
| fanfiction |
How can equilibrium lie to one side ? Surely it’s not at equilibrium anymore? [closed]
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Surely they’re not at equilibrium any more?
I understand that a favourable condition can make a reaction in one direction go faster, but then surely either the forward or backward reaction is faster and the rates are no longer the same so there is no longer an equilibrium? I do gcse chemistry, I’m a bit confused :/
**What is equal at equilibrium?**
The forward and reverse rates are equal at equilibrium.
**What is constant at equilibrium?**
The concentrations are constant, and the rates are constant.
**What is typically not equal at equilibrium?**
The concentrations of reactants and products are typically not equal at equilibrium. For a reaction with multiple species in solution or in the gas phase, there are multiple sets of conditions that are at equilibrium. With three or more species that can vary in concentration (i.e. not pure solid or pure liquid), concentrations don't have to be equal even if the equilibrium constant happens to equal one. So, equilibrium does not mean concentrations are equal.
>
> [..] surely either the forward or backward reaction is faster and the rates are no longer the same so there is no longer an equilibrium?
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>
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A reaction can be at equilibrium when concentrations of reactants are different from concentrations of products because rate constants can be different too. For a simple (single-step) reaction $\ce{A(aq)<=>B(aq)}$, if the rate constant of the forward reaction is larger than that of the reverse reaction, then the product concentration has to be higher than the reactant concentration at equilibrium to make up for that.
Reaction rate depends on concentration of reactants.
Consider a simple reaction
$$\ce{A -> B} $$
In this reaction, rate in forward direction is given by rate law
$r\_1 =k\_1 \ce{[A] }$
And in backward direction
$r\_2 =k\_2\ce{[B]} $
Then eventually a time will come when $r\_1=r\_2$, since concentration of both A and B are either decreasing or increasing, if concentration of A increases then that of B will decrease or vice versa, (it is **NOT** necessary that $\ce{ [A] =[B]}$ at equibrium) at this time (when forward and backward rates are equal) the reaction is in equilibrium and no further products are formed, since both forward and backward rates are equal.
If you add catalyst to decrease activation energy of, say, forward reaction then forward rate $r\_1$ will increase but concentration of $\ce{A}$ i.e., $\ce{[A]}$ is also decreasing and concentration of B is increasing so again equilibrium will be established when $r\_1=r\_2$ and we say that
I think your confusion is coming from the idea that the rate of the forward direction isn't permanently increased for example. As an example consider $$\ce{N2 + 3H2 <=>2NH3}$$ as this is a reaction you may be familiar with. If I had the reaction in a sealed container meaning an equilibrium will be established then the moles and thus concentration of each component will remain constant. If I then change a physical condition, say increase the pressure, the equilibrium position in the example will move towards the right - the rate of the forward reaction will increase. However just because the rate has increased the reaction will still reach a new equilibrium where the concentration of the species will remain constant. The equilibrium position will remain constant.
If you are interested maybe go ad read about equilibrium constants. for example the formation of ammonia will have an equilibrium constant $K\_c$ which will remain constant regardless of any physical change made to the system, expect temperature. $$\ce{K\_c}=\frac{[\ce{NH3}]^2}{\ce{[N2][H2]^3}}$$
| stackexchange/chemistry |
The Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad P&A was incorporated by an act of the Florida Legislature on March 4, 1881, to run from Pensacola to the Apalachicola River near Chattahoochee, a distance of about . No railroad had ever been built across the sparsely populated panhandle of Florida, which left Pensacola isolated from the rest of the state. William D. Chipley and Frederick R. De Funiak, both of whom are commemorated in the names of towns later built along the P&A line Chipley and DeFuniak Springs, were among the founding officers of the railroad company.
Chipley was general manager of the Pensacola Railroad, formerly the Pensacola and Louisville Railroad, originally the Alabama and Florida Railroad, completed in 1860. The Pensacola Railroad connected Pensacola with the large, prosperous Louisville and Nashville Railroad L&N at Pollard, Alabama, about northward. The Pensacola Railroad had become a subsidiary of the L&N on October 20, 1880. It was Chipley, a tireless promoter of his adopted city, who was responsible for initiating discussions with the L&N concerning its extension into the Florida Panhandle. De Funiak was general manager of the L&N.
Once the P&A was created, De Funiak was named president of the new road, and Chipley became its vice president and general superintendent. On May 9, 1881, the L&N obtained control of the P&A by purchasing the majority of its $3 million worth of capital stock and all of its bonds, also valued at $3 million. Construction was completed in 1883, and in 1891 the P&A was absorbed into the L&N, operating thereafter as the P&A Division of the latter. After various mergers, CSX Railroad operated the line from 1986 to 2019 as its P&A Subdivision a reference to the Pensacola and Atlantic.
The line remains in service today as part of the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad, which bought the line and took over operations on June 1, 2019. CSX retained ownership of the line from milepost 651.0 to milepost 645.0 Goulding Yard in Pensacola, and has trackage rights over the FG&A.
History
Construction
After the L&N took control, construction proceeded rapidly, beginning on June 1, 1881, and was completed in 22 months. By April 1882, 2,278 men were engaged in grading, cutting cross-ties, piling and bridging, and laying track.
In May a locomotive, rolling stock, and rails were shipped by barge across the Pensacola Bay and up the Blackwater River to Milton, about east of Pensacola, to enable construction to proceed eastward from there. Similar supplies and equipment were also landed by barge on the east bank of the Choctawhatchee River near present-day Caryville, and at Sampson's Landing on the west bank of the Apalachicola just below Chattahoochee.
Bids were submitted by local and out-of-state contractors who undertook the construction work in sections along the line, including H. S. Harris for the section from Milton to the Shoal River, near present-day Crestview; Sam Baker of Thomasville, Georgia for a section west of the Choctawhatchee; the McClendon Construction Company, also of Thomasville, for the from the Choctawhatchee to Marianna; and John T. Howard of Quincy, Florida for the from Marianna to the Apalachicola.
Both white and black laborers from the Panhandle as well as adjoining parts of Alabama and Georgia were recruited to build the track and bridges. After some disputes among competing groups of laborers, wages were set at $1.50 a day for all workers.
Delays were caused by outbreaks of swamp fever all along the line, causing many men to fall ill; no medical help was available in the very thinly settled section between Milton and Marianna. When a bridge contractor from Macon, Georgia, died from the fever, his body had to be carried by wagon on a journey of several days from the work camp at the Choctawhatchee River to Troy, Alabama, the nearest point served by a railroad connection to Macon, for shipment to his hometown for burial. Nevertheless, despite all the difficulties of working in such an isolated region, with no repair shops and a largely inexperienced work crew, construction proceeded at a rapid pace.
Wooden depots were built by the P&A at Milton and Marianna, the only towns of any size in the Panhandle at that time; in other localities along the route, boxcars parked on sidings served as temporary depots. After a trestle across Escambia Bay from Pensacola was completed, official groundbreaking ceremonies were held in Pensacola on August 22, 1882, at the new Pensacola and Atlantic depot at the corner of Tarragona and Wright streets. This two-story wooden structure was replaced in 1912 by a larger L&N passenger station of brick and stucco, at the corner of Wright and Alcaniz.
By February 1883, the line was completed to the Apalachicola River and a bridge was completed over the river in April. Until the bridge was completed, for several weeks passengers were ferried across the Apalachicola by boat.
Local reaction
The recollections of J. D. Smith of Thomasville, Georgia, who at age 19 hired out as a foreman on the crew building westward from Marianna, were published in a 1926 issue of the L&N Employees' Magazine:
I was surprised to find in Jackson County, fertile lands, and the country around Marianna inhabited with old-line Southern farmers, a people of the highest type of civilization, operating many large plantations, at that time snow-white for miles and miles along the public roads, with hundreds of negroes picking and ginning it for market. The banks of the Chattahoochee River were covered with hundreds of bales of cotton that could not be moved by the steamboats as the water was very low. . . . Much money was lost by the planters on account of long delays in shipping their cotton up the Chattahoochee River to Columbus, Ga., waiting on rains to raise the river.
The people [at Greenwood] and at Marianna came out to question us about the railroad. They had been fooled for so many years by promises made to give them a railroad that they seemed to have no confidence in the project being carried out. I assured them they would now have a railroad, that the Old Reliable L&N was behind the move and we would build the railroad very quickly. People were rejoicing everywhere at the thought of this wonderful improvement. . . .
After reaching a point where Cottondale is now situated, we passed the place where civilization existed. . . . From that point on westward the railroad did not go near a single house until it reached Milton. . . . It was amusing to see the people coming from distant shacks to see the construction going on. The majority of these people had no conception of what a train looked like. Some thought it had life. They even asked me if a train could get in the door of a man's house. However, these were settlements of uninformed people living away from the railroad. . . .
Track gauge
The line was built to gauge, as was common for Southern railroads of the time, including the L&N, and used 50-pound steel rail. Completed main-line trackage was , with sidings totaling . On May 30, 1886, the Louisville and Nashville changed the gauge of all its lines over of track to in a one-day system-wide effort requiring the labor of about 8,000 men from dawn to dusk. Ten years later, in a more gradual effort, the system changed to the .
Locomotives
The Pensacola and Atlantic owned at least 13 locomotives, numbered 1-13, which it bought from the L&N. Ten of these, which were returned to the L&N in 1891, were the 4-4-0 American or eight-wheeler type, including four built by Rogers in 1882. L&N records also show that six 4-4-0's four by Rogers, two by Rhode Island bought by the P&A in 1881-82 had originally belonged to the Mobile and Montgomery Railway, which was acquired by the L&N in 1881.
Running through a region of plentiful timber, the P&A used wood-burning locomotives until well after 1900, when the rest of the L&N system had long since converted to coal-burners.
Railroad connections
Through service from Pensacola to the state capital at Tallahassee [about ] and on to the Atlantic Ocean port and major rail junction of Jacksonville [] began during the first week in May 1883, via the connection at River Junction Chattahoochee with the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad, later the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad, a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad now CSX's Tallahassee Subdivision.
Another trade and transportation link for Northwest Florida was provided by a branch of the Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad a predecessor of the Atlantic Coast Line from Chattahoochee to Climax, Georgia and thence to Savannah [] from Pensacola, which, like Jacksonville, was an important ocean port and railroad junction for rail traffic on the eastern seaboard. Before the railroad was built, the only way for Pensacola rail traffic to reach Savannah or Jacksonville was by a long, circuitous route via Montgomery and Macon.
In the opposite direction, the P&A offered a through route for shipping and travel from southern Georgia and from central and southern Florida via the Louisville and Nashville to the ports and rail hubs of Mobile and New Orleans, and from there to Texas and points west.
The P&A acquired the Pensacola and Fort Barrancas Railroad in 1882.
In 1894, sawmill operator W. B. Wright opened the Yellow River Railroad between Crestview and Florala, Alabama via Auburn, Campton, and Laurel Hill. The L&N supplied the line with freight cars, and in 1906, purchased the operation.
In the first two decades of the 20th century, the P&A Division by then long since known to the public as simply the L&N was crossed or connected to by several small regional railroads, including the Atlanta and St. Andrew's Bay Railway now the Bay Line Railroad, the Apalachicola Northern Railroad now the AN Railway, and the Marianna and Blountstown Railroad. The Choctawhatchee and Northern Railroad was chartered in February 1927 to build a line from a point on the L&N east of Crestview south to Port Dixie now Shalimar on the Choctawhatchee Bay, but was never built. In the 1920s and 1930s, the short-lived Alabama and Western Florida Railway connected with the line at Chipley, Florida. The Marianna and Blountstown Railroad connected with the P&A at Marianna, Florida from 1909 to 1972.
An abandoned military railroad in Louisiana was moved to the Eglin Air Force Base reservation after World War II, connecting with the L&N at Mossy Head. This line, known as the Eglin Air Force Base Railroad, went into service on 1 February 1952 and was abandoned in the late 1970s.
In the later 20th century, the P&A route was used by L&N's Gulf Wind 19491971 and Amtrak's Sunset Limited 19932005. As a result of various railroad mergers and acquisitions between 1967 and 1986, CSX Transportation was the successor railroad that owned and operated the route for freight service as the P&A Subdivision of the Jacksonville Division of CSX from 1986 to 2019. CSX sold the P&A route to the Class III shortline Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad, which commenced operations on June 1, 2019.
U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 10 run generally parallel to the P&A route across Northwest Florida, usually to the south of the railroad and sometimes adjacent to it.
Effects on Northwest Florida
Although the interior of the Panhandle is still a largely rural area today, before the coming of the railroad it was practically a frontier wilderness, as J. D. Smith recollected:
In clearing the way for the railroad in this section, I became convinced that the railroad would never get expenses for the operation of its trains. I saw no encouragement here for development. The country was attractive only for its game and fish. In cutting the right-of-way through swamps we would cut timber down on deer sometimes. The principal industry was running logs down the rivers to go to Pensacola.
The building of a railroad through the cypress swamps and dense pine forests of the Panhandle was a boon to the economy of Pensacola, which had a fine deepwater harbor the largest in Florida for the development of port facilities and overseas shipping, but no direct railroad link to Atlantic ports and East Coast cities before 1883. According to Kincaid Herr, official historian of the Louisville and Nashville, Much of the credit for the subsequent development of this section of Florida is due to the L&N. . . . a number of sawmills were built and turpentine began to be shipped in large quantities. Once the railroad had connected the area to the eastern parts of the nation and made possible the large-scale shipping of crops such as cotton as well as lumber and naval stores, a number of lumber companies arose to exploit the region's timber, some of them building short-line railroads to connect with the P&A Division.
Land grants
The P&A was a land grant railroad, like a number of other American railroads in the 19th century, having been granted
of public land by its 1881 charter from the state of Florida as grantor for the United States Government. The grant was later reduced to . The land had originally been given to Florida by the federal government through internal improvement acts in the 1850s for the purpose of promoting the building of railroads. The general intention of these grants was that by selling tracts of land to the public, the railroads would recoup the cost of construction and at the same time bring settlers to the railroad's territory, increasing both the population of the state as well as the freight and passenger business of the railroads.
According to J. D. Smith,
The state of Florida offered 23,000 acres per mile for the railroad construction in Florida, and others were building in South Florida as fast as possible in order to get the land there, for the P&A Railroad Company got a move on to rush this work before the East Coast and Plant got all the land, and this road was certainly rushing through.
The P&A, and other railroads, received a checkerboard pattern of alternate sections of land, six miles 10 km on either side of the line, plus other lands making up the total, which included state lands extending into middle and south Florida, about one-fifteenth of the area of the state. After the P&A was absorbed by the L&N, William Chipley was named land commissioner by the latter, and oversaw the sale of the lands to the public. By 1897, the railroad had sold for a total of $860,343.65.
During its first fiscal year, ending in 1884, the Pensacola and Atlantic had revenues of $189,098 and received another $58,000 from land sales, which after deducting expenses left a net profit of $75,391; however, this was less than half the amount needed to cover the $180,000 it owed in bond interest to the Louisville and Nashville. Although the P&A line was not profitable for many years after its construction, the parent L&N covered the losses.
Towns and tourism
The line did, however, facilitate trade and travel into and out of the region, and directly spurred the establishment and growth of numerous towns along the route, including Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Bonifay, Chipley, and Cottondale. The L&N also invested heavily in the development of the port of Pensacola for many decades, and the property taxes it paid in each county along the P&A line added to the local economy too.
One indirect result of the building of the P&A was the development of the annual Chautauqua assemblies at Lake DeFuniak, in the town of a similar name, De Funiak Springs which attracted thousands of visitors at the height of the Chautauqua movement, providing educational and cultural programs to residents and tourists. William Chipley led the organization of the first festival there in 1885, which would have been inaccessible before the advent of the railroad.
Special excursion trains brought throngs of visitors to De Funiak Springs on the P&A each year from as far away as New York and Chicago; a round-trip excursion fare from Chicago to De Funiak Springs cost $15 at this period.
References
External links
West Florida Railroad Museum
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
Early Railroad Companies Collection MC 334 at Columbus State University Archives
Category:Defunct Florida railroads
Category:Predecessors of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Category:Railway companies established in 1881
Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1891
Category:5 ft gauge railways in the United States
Category:1881 establishments in Florida | wikipedia |
In nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics, Scalar or J-couplings also called indirect dipoledipole coupling are mediated through chemical bonds connecting two spins. It is an indirect interaction between two nuclear spins which arises from hyperfine interactions between the nuclei and local electrons. In NMR spectroscopy J-coupling contains information about relative bond distances and angles. Most importantly, J-coupling provides information on the connectivity of chemical bonds. It is responsible for the often complex splitting of resonance lines in the NMR spectra of fairly simple molecules.
Vector model and manifestations for chemical structure assignments
The origin of J-coupling can be visualized by a vector model for a simple molecule such as hydrogen fluoride HF. In HF, the two nuclei have spin . Four states are possible, depending on the relative alignment of the H and F nuclear spins with the external magnetic field. The selection rules of NMR spectroscopy dictate that ΔI = 1, which means that a given photon in the radio frequency range can affect flip only one of the two nuclear spins.
J-coupling provides three parameters: the multiplicity the number of lines, the magnitude of the coupling strong, medium, weak, and the sign of the coupling.
Multiplicity
The multiplicity provides information on the number of centers coupled to the signal of interest, and their nuclear spin. For simple systems, as in 1H-1H coupling in NMR spectroscopy, the multiplicity reflects the number of adjacent, magnetically nonequivalent protons. Nuclei with spins greater than , which are called quadrupolar, can give rise to greater splitting, although in many cases coupling to quadrupolar nuclei is not observed. Many elements consist of nuclei with nuclear spin and without. In these cases the observed spectrum is the sum of spectra for each isotopomer. One of the great conveniences of NMR spectroscopy for organic molecules is that several important lighter spin nuclei are either monoisotopic, e.g. 31P and 19F, or have very high natural abundance, e.g. 1H. An additional convenience is that 12C and 16O have no nuclear spin so these nuclei, which are common in organic molecules, do not cause splitting patterns in NMR.
Magnitude of J-coupling
For 1H1H coupling, the magnitude of J provides information on the proximity of the coupling partners. Generally speaking 2-bond coupling i.e. 1HC1H is stronger than three-bond coupling 1HCC1H. The magnitude of the coupling also provides information on the dihedral angles relating the coupling partners, as described by the Karplus relationship.
For heteronuclear coupling, the magnitude of J is related to the nuclear magnetic moments of the coupling partners. 19F, with a high nuclear magnetic moment, gives rise to large coupling to protons. 103Rh, with a very small nuclear magnetic moment, gives only small couplings to 1H. To correct for the effect of the nuclear magnetic moment or equivalently the gyromagnetic ratio γ, the reduced coupling constant K is often discussed, where
K = .
The value of J also has a sign, and couplings constants of comparable magnitude often have opposite signs.
J-coupling Hamiltonian
The Hamiltonian of a molecular system may be taken as:
H = D1 + D2 + D3,
D1 = electron orbitalorbital, spinorbital, spinspin and electron-spinexternal-field interactions
D2 = magnetic interactions between nuclear spin and electron spin
D3 = direct interaction of nuclei with each other
For a singlet molecular state and frequent molecular collisions, D1 and D3 are almost zero. The full form of the J-coupling interaction between spins 'Ij and Ik on the same molecule is:
H = 2π Ij · Jjk · Ik
where Jjk is the J-coupling tensor, a real 3 × 3 matrix. It depends on molecular orientation, but in an isotropic liquid it reduces to a number, the so-called scalar coupling. In 1D NMR, the scalar coupling leads to oscillations in the free induction decay as well as splittings of lines in the spectrum.
Decoupling
By selective radio frequency irradiation, NMR spectra can be fully or partially decoupled, eliminating or selectively reducing the coupling effect. Carbon-13 NMR spectra are often recorded with proton decoupling.
History
In September 1951, H. S. Gutowsky, D. W. McCall, and C. P. Slichter reported experiments on HPF_6, CH_3OPF_2, and POCl_2F, where they explained the presence of multiple resonance lines with an interaction of the form .
Independently, in October 1951, E. L. Hahn and D. E. Maxwell reported a spin echo experiment which indicates the existence of an interaction between two protons in dichloroacetaldehyde. In the echo experiment, two short, intense pulses of radiofrequency magnetic field are applied to the spin ensemble at the nuclear resonance condition and are separated by a time interval of τ. The echo appears with a given amplitude at time 2τ. For each setting of τ, the maximum value of the echo signal is measured and plotted as a function of τ. If the spin ensemble consists of a magnetic moment, a monotonic decay in the echo envelope is obtained. In the Hahn-Maxwell experiment, the decay was modulated by two frequencies: one frequency corresponded with the difference in chemical shift between the two non-equivalent spins and a second frequency, J, that was smaller and independent of magnetic field strength = 0.7 Hz.
Such interaction came as a great surprise. The direct interaction between two magnetic dipoles depends on the relative position of two nuclei in such a way that when averaged over all possible orientations of the molecule it equals to zero.
In November 1951, N. F. Ramsey and E. M. Purcell proposed a mechanism that explained the observation and gave rise to an interaction of the form I1·I2. The mechanism is the magnetic interaction between each nucleus and the electron spin of its own atom together with the exchange coupling of the electron spins with each other.
In the 1990s, direct evidence was found for the presence of J-couplings between magnetically active nuclei on both sides of the hydrogen bond. Initially, it was surprising to observe such couplings across hydrogen bonds since J-couplings are usually associated with the presence of purely covalent bonds. However, it is now well established that the H-bond J-couplings follow the same electron-mediated polarization mechanism as their covalent counterparts.
The spinspin coupling between nonbonded atoms in close proximity has sometimes been observed between fluorine, nitrogen, carbon, silicon and phosphorus atoms.
See also
Earth's field NMR
Exclusive correlation spectroscopy ECOSY
Magnetic dipoledipole interaction dipolar coupling
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of carbohydrates
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of nucleic acids
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of proteins
Proton NMR
Relaxation NMR
Residual dipolar coupling
References
Category:Nuclear magnetic resonance | wikipedia |
Gibbs Free Energy and Maximum Work
I am a high school student and my professor mentioned that the Gibbs free energy is the maximum amount of work (or useful work) that a system can do, whereas entropy is a measure of the non-available enthalpy.
I am not able to understand this and it would be helpful if you could explain this or link to some resources that could explain this at a high school level (I know some multivariable calculus, but not that comfortable with it) as I have difficulty finding them.
Also, we used the fact that Gibbs free energy is the maximum amount of work to derive the equation $∆G = -nFE$ and then proceeded to derive the Nernst equation.
In order for a process to happen, it has to increase the combined entropy of the system in which it happens and of the surrounding (2nd law of thermodynamics). As we will see in a bit, the more work the process does on the surroundings, the less the entropy of the surroundings increases, putting a limit on how much work the process can do.
**What happens to the energy leaving a system?**
When a process brings the system from a higher to a lower energy, the energy leaves the system in the form of work done on the surroundings or heat transferred to the surroundings (1st law of thermodynamics). For a given set of initial and final states, the amounts of work and heat can vary, but the sum has to be the same. For example, if our system is a charged battery, we can either run a motor with it, lifting up a rock (work done on the surrounding). Or we can short the battery, creating thermal energy that is transferred to the surrounding in the form of heat. We can even have a situation where heat and work have opposite signs (e.g. do more work and have heat transferred into the system to get the same energy balance).
**How is heat and work related to entropy changes?**
The change in entropy inside the system depends solely on the initial and final state. For the surrounding (with nothing else going on in the surrounding), the change in entropy depends on the heat transferred. The more heat is transferred to the surrounding, the more the entropy of the surrounding increases. To maximize the work, you want to minimize the heat transferred to the surroundings (or even transfer heat to the system), but only to the point the that total entropy still increases (otherwise the process could not run). So if you match the entropy change in the system with the opposite entropy change in the surrounding (via heat exchange), you get the maximum work out of your process.
**Can I see a picture?**
Sure. The picture shows that the sum of heat and work is equal to the enthalpy change of the system. Values shown with a downward arrow are negative and with an upward arrow positive. For heat and work, negative values mean energy is transferred out of the system. For example, work done by the system on the surrounding is a downward arrow, and exothermic reactions have a downward arrow for $\Delta H$.
The picture also indirectly shows the entropy (via the arrows labeled heat and $-T \Delta S$. If the arrow for $-T \Delta S$ is downwards, entropy in the system increases (scenarios labeled "more dispersed"). If the arrow for heat is downwards, entropy in the surrounding increases. To calculate the actual entropy, you would have to divide by the temperature, but the way it is shown everything can go into a single picture.[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/R3SPw.jpg)
I have three scenarios, depending on whether the process is exothermic or endothermic and whether the entropy in the system increases or decreases. One scenario (endothermic reaction with a decrease of the system's entropy) is not shown (you would have to do work on the system to drive such a process, and we are trying to make the process do work for us instead).
In scenario 1, the process is exothermic. Some of that available energy is transferred in the form of heat (to make sure that the overall entropy does not decrease) and some of it is transferred in the form of work done by the system.
In scenario 2, the process is also exothermic, but different from scenario 1 the entropy of the system increases in this scenario. The work done by the system is (surprisingly, perhaps) larger than the enthalpy change, and the extra energy comes from heat transfer from the surroundings.
In scenario 3, the process is endothermic. You might think that this process can't do any work because - where would the energy come from? It comes from the surrounding, partially to provide the energy for the endothermic process and partially to be transferred back into the surrounding in the form of work. This can happen because just as in scenario 2, the entropy of the system increases.
>
> [...]the Gibbs free energy is the maximum amount of work (or useful work) that a system can do, whereas entropy is a measure of the non-available enthalpy.
>
>
>
This sort of describes scenario 1, which I pasted again below with two boxes for emphasis.
The pink box represents the 1st law of thermodynamics. There is some enthalpy available from the process, and this will leave the system either as work or heat or some combination, as long as it adds up to the enthalpy change in the system. The blue box represents the 2nd law of thermodynamics. The entropy increase of the surrounding (through transfer of heat to it) has to be larger or equal to the entropy loss in the system. If you combine the two laws, you get the maximum work the system can do. In this scenario, the change in entropy of the system times the temperature represents that portion of the enthalpy not available for work (labeled $-T \Delta S$ in the diagram). You can't, however, use that label in the other scenarios where the entropy of the system increases. In those scenarios, the entropy change in the system results in more work available than the enthalpy change would suggest.
This is all rather complex and might make you dizzy. The Gibbs energy helps us to summarize all this in a single quantity. It combines entropy and enthalpy changes in the system in a neat way that tells us about the maximum work. In the absence of work, it also tells whether the process will happen in that direction or not.
**Disclaimer for those that have a physical chemistry background**
This is for a closed system at constant pressure and temperature (i.e. P-V work is done against a constant pressure, and initial and final state have the same temperature). Whenever it says work, it refers to non-P-V work only. Labels $\Delta H$, $\Delta G$, $\Delta S$ should read $\Delta H\_\text{sys}$, $\Delta G\_\text{sys}$, $\Delta S\_\text{sys}$.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
The Russo-Georgian War was a war between Georgia, Russia and the Russian-backed self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The war took place in August 2008 following a period of worsening relations between Russia and Georgia, both formerly constituent republics of the Soviet Union. The fighting took place in the strategically important Transcaucasia region. It was regarded as the first European war of the 21st century.
The Republic of Georgia declared its independence in early 1991 as the Soviet Union began to fall apart. Amidst this backdrop, a war between Georgia and separatists left parts of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast under the de facto control of Russian-backed but internationally unrecognised separatists. Following the war, a joint peacekeeping force of Georgian, Russian, and Ossetian troops was stationed in the territory. A similar stalemate developed in the region of Abkhazia, where Abkhaz separatists had waged war in 19921993. Following the election of Vladimir Putin in Russia in 2000 and a pro-Western change of power in Georgia in 2003, relations between Russia and Georgia began to deteriorate, reaching a full diplomatic crisis by April 2008. By 1 August 2008, South Ossetian separatists had begun shelling Georgian villages, with a sporadic response from Georgian peacekeepers in the area. Artillery attacks by pro-Russian separatists broke a 1992 ceasefire agreement. To put an end to these attacks and restore order, the Georgian Army was sent to the South Ossetian conflict zone on 7 August. Georgians took control of most of Tskhinvali, a separatist stronghold, in hours.
Russian troops had illicitly crossed the Russo-Georgian state border and advanced into the South Ossetian conflict zone by 7 August before the Georgian military response. Russia accused Georgia of aggression against South Ossetia, and launched a large-scale land, air and sea invasion of Georgia on 8 August with the stated goal of a peace enforcement operation. Russian and South Ossetian forces fought Georgian forces in and around South Ossetia for several days, until Georgian forces retreated. Russian and Abkhaz forces opened a second front by attacking the Kodori Gorge held by Georgia. Russian naval forces blockaded part of the Georgian coast. The Russian air force attacked targets beyond the conflict zone, in undisputed parts of Georgia. This was the first war in history in which cyber warfare coincided with military action. An information war was also waged during and after the conflict. Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, which had the presidency of the European Union, negotiated a ceasefire agreement on 12 August.
Russian forces temporarily occupied the Georgian cities of Zugdidi, Senaki, Poti and Gori, holding on to these areas beyond the ceasefire. The South Ossetians destroyed most ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia and were responsible for an ethnic cleansing of Georgians. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia on 26 August and the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Russia mostly completed its withdrawal of troops from undisputed parts of Georgia on 8 October. Russian international relations were largely unharmed. The war displaced 192,000 people and while many returned to their homes after the war, 20,272 people, mostly ethnic Georgians, remained displaced as of 2014. Since the war, Russia has occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of the ceasefire agreement of August 2008.
Background
History
In the 10th century AD, Georgia for the first time emerged as an ethnic concept in the territories where the Georgian language was used to perform Christian rituals. After the Mongol invasions of the region, the Kingdom of Georgia eventually was split into several states. In the 19th century, the Russian Empire gradually took over the Georgian lands. In the aftermath of the Russian revolution, Georgia declared independence on 26 May 1918.
The Ossetian people are autochthonous to North Ossetia located in the North Caucasus. Controversy surrounds the date of Ossetian arrival in Transcaucasia. According to one theory, they first migrated there during the 13th and 14th centuries AD, and resided alongside the Georgians peacefully for hundreds of years. In 1918, conflict began between the landless Ossetian peasants living in Shida Kartli, who were affected by Bolshevism and demanded ownership of the lands they worked, and the Menshevik government backed ethnic Georgian nobility, who were legal owners. Although the Ossetians were initially discontented with the economic stance of Tbilisi authorities, the tension shortly transformed into ethnic conflict. During uprisings in 1919 and 1920, the Ossetians were covertly supported by Soviet Russia, but even so, were defeated.
The independent Democratic Republic of Georgia was invaded by the Red Army in 1921 and a Soviet government was installed. The government of Soviet Georgia created an autonomous administrative unit for Transcaucasian Ossetians in April 1922, called the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast. Historians such as Stephen F. Jones, Emil Souleimanov and Arsène Saparov believe that the Bolsheviks awarded this autonomy to the Ossetians in exchange for their help against the Democratic Republic of Georgia, since this area had never been a separate entity prior to the Russian invasion.
Nationalism in Soviet Georgia gained momentum in 1989 with the weakening of the Soviet Union. The Kremlin endorsed South Ossetian nationalism as a counter against the Georgian independence movement. On 11 December 1990, the Supreme Soviet of Georgia, responding to South Ossetia's attempt at secession, annulled the region's autonomy. A military conflict broke out between Georgia and South Ossetian separatists in January 1991. Georgia declared its restoration of independence on 9 April 1991, thus becoming the first non-Baltic state of the Soviet Union to do so. The South Ossetian separatists were aided by the former Soviet military units now controlled by Russia. By June 1992, the possibility of a full-scale war between Russia and Georgia increased as bombing of Georgian capital Tbilisi in support of South Ossetian separatists was promised by Russian authorities. Georgia endorsed a ceasefire agreement on 24 June 1992 to prevent the escalation of the conflict with Russia. Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian peacekeepers were posted in South Ossetian conflict zone under the Joint Control Commission's JCC mandate. Some, mostly ethnically Georgian parts of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast remained under the Georgian control. The Tskhinvali-based separatist authorities of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia were in control of one third of the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast before the 2008 war.
This situation was mirrored in Abkhazia, an autonomous republic in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, where the Abkhaz separated from Georgia during the war in the early 1990s. The population of Abkhazia was reduced to 216,000 after an ethnic cleansing of Georgians, the single largest ethnic group in the region, a decrease from 525,000 before the war. The upper Kodori Gorge in northeast Abkhazia remained beyond the unrecognised Abkhaz separatist government's sway.
Russian interests and involvement
Transcaucasia lies between the Russian region of the North Caucasus and the Middle East, constituting a buffer zone between Russia and the Middle East. It borders Turkey and Iran. The strategic importance of the region has made it a security concern for Russia. Significant economic reasons, such as presence or transportation of oil, also affect interest in Transcaucasia. Rule over Transcaucasia, according to Swedish academic Svante Cornell, would allow Russia to manage Western involvement in Central Asia, the area of geopolitical importance.
Russia saw the Black Sea coast and being adjacent to Turkey as invaluable strategic attributes of Georgia. Russia had more vested interests in Abkhazia than in South Ossetia, since the Russian military deployment on the Black Sea coast was seen as vital to Russian influence in the Black Sea. Before the early 2000s, South Ossetia was originally intended as a tool to retain a grip on Georgia.
Vladimir Putin became president of the Russian Federation in 2000, which had a profound impact on Russo-Georgian relations. The conflict between Russia and Georgia began to escalate in December 2000, when Georgia became the first and sole member of the Commonwealth of Independent States CIS on which the Russian visa regime was enforced. Eduard Kokoity, an alleged member of the mob, became the de facto president of South Ossetia in December 2001; he was endorsed by Russia since he would subvert the peaceful reunification of South Ossetia with Georgia. The Russian government began massive allocation of Russian passports to the residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2002 without Georgia's permission; this passportization policy laid the foundation for Russia's future claim to these territories. In 2003, President Putin began to consider the possibility of a military solution to the conflict with Georgia.
After Georgia deported four suspected Russian spies in 2006, Russia began a full-scale diplomatic and economic war against Georgia, followed by the persecution of ethnic Georgians living in Russia.
By 2008, most residents of South Ossetia had obtained Russian passports. According to Reuters, Russia supplied two-thirds of South Ossetia's yearly budget before the war. South Ossetia's de facto government predominantly employed Russian citizens, who had occupied similar government posts in Russia, and Russian officers dominated in South Ossetia's security organisations.
Unresolved conflicts
The conflicts in Georgia remained at a stalemate until 2004, when Mikheil Saakashvili came to power after Georgia's Rose Revolution, which ousted president Eduard Shevardnadze. Restoring South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Georgian control was a first concern of Saakashvili.
The Georgian government launched an initiative to curb smuggling from South Ossetia in 2004 after its success in restoring control in Adjara. Tensions were further escalated by South Ossetian authorities. Intense fighting took place between Georgian forces and the South Ossetians between 8 and 19 August.
At the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in January 2005, Georgian president Saakashvili proposed a peace settlement for South Ossetia within a unified Georgian state. The proposal was rejected by South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity. In 2006, Georgia sent security forces to the Kodori Valley region of Abkhazia, when a local militia leader rebelled against Georgian authorities. In 2007, Georgia established what Russia called a puppet government in South Ossetia, led by Dmitry Sanakoyev former South Ossetian prime minister, calling it a provisional administration.
In early March 2008, Abkhazia and South Ossetia submitted formal requests for their recognition to Russia's parliament shortly after the West's recognition of Kosovo which Russia had been resisting. Dmitry Rogozin, Russian ambassador to NATO, hinted that Georgia's aspiration to become a NATO member would cause Russia to support the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian State Duma adopted a resolution on 21 March, in which it called on the President of Russia and the government to consider the recognition.
Georgia began proposing the placement of international peacekeepers in the separatist regions when Russia began to apply more force on Georgia after April 2008. The West launched new initiatives for peace settlement, with peace proposals being offered and discussions being organised by the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE and Germany. The separatists dismissed the German project for Abkhazia approved by Georgia. Russia and the separatists did not attend an EU-backed meeting regarding Abkhazia. They also dismissed an OSCE offer to renew talks regarding South Ossetia.
Relations between Georgia and the West
One of President Saakashvili's primary aims for Georgia was to become a member state of NATO, which has been one of the major stumbling blocks in Georgia-Russia relations.
Although Georgia has no notable gas or oil reserves, its territory hosts part of the BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline supplying Europe. Russia, Iran and the Persian Gulf countries opposed the construction of the pipeline. The pipeline circumvents both Russia and Iran. Because it has decreased Western dependence on Middle East's oil, the pipeline has been a major factor in the United States' backing for Georgia.
During the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008, American president George W. Bush campaigned for offering a Membership Action Plan MAP to Georgia and Ukraine. However, Germany and France said that offering MAP to Ukraine and Georgia would be an unnecessary offence for Russia. NATO stated that Ukraine and Georgia would be admitted in the alliance and pledged to review the requests for MAP in December 2008. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Bucharest during the summit. At the conclusion of the summit on 4 April, Putin said that NATO's enlargement towards Russia would be taken in Russia as a direct threat to the security of our country. Following the Bucharest summit, Russian hostility increased and Russia started to actively prepare for the invasion of Georgia. Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Yuri Baluyevsky said on 11 April that Russia would carry out steps of a different nature in addition to military action to block NATO membership of former Soviet republics. General Baluyevsky admitted in 2012 that after President Putin had decided to attack Georgia prior to the May 2008 inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev as president of Russia, a military action was planned and explicit orders were issued in advance before August 2008. Russia aimed to stop Georgia's accession to NATO and also to bring about a regime change.
But in September 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted as saying that if NATO accepts Georgian membership with the article on collective defense covering only Tbilisi-administered territory i.e., excluding the two Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which are currently unrecognized breakaway republics supported by Russia, we will not start a war, but such conduct will undermine our relations with NATO and with countries who are eager to enter the alliance.
Prelude
AprilJuly 2008
On 16 April 2008, official ties between the Russian authorities and the separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia were sanctioned by an order of Russian president Vladimir Putin. The separatist-authored legislative documents and the separatist-accredited bodies were also recognised. After a United Nations Security Council session on 23 April convened at Georgia's demand, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany stated in a declaration: We call on the Russian Federation to revoke or not to implement its decision. However, this was labelled a tall order by Vitaly Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the UN.
A Georgian reconnaissance drone flying over Abkhazia was shot down by a Russian warplane on 20 April. However, Russia denied responsibility for the incident and Abkhazia claimed that an L-39 aircraft of the Abkhaz Air Force shot down the UAV. An allegation of an attack by a NATO MiG-29 was made by the Russia' Ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer commented that he'd eat his tie if it turned out that a NATO MiG-29 had magically appeared in Abkhazia and shot down a Georgian drone. On 26 May, a United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia UNOMIG inquiry concluded that the Russian warplane, either a MiG-29 Fulcrum or a Su-27 Flanker, was responsible for the downing.
In late April, the Russian government said that Georgia was assembling 1,500 troops and policemen in the upper Kodori Gorge area and was planning to invade Abkhazia, and that Russia would retaliate against Georgian offensive and had deployed more military in the separatist regions. Any boost in the Kodori Gorge or near the Abkhaz border by either party was not confirmed by the UNOMIG.
The number of Russian peacekeepers deployed in Abkhazia was boosted to 2,542 in early May. But Russian troop levels remained under the cap of 3,000 troops imposed by a 1994 decision of CIS heads of state. Georgia demonstrated video footage captured by a drone to the BBC allegedly proving that Russian forces used heavy weaponry in Abkhazia and were combat troops, rather than peacekeepers; Russia rejected the accusations. On 15 May, the United Nations General Assembly passed a motion calling for the return of all exiled and uprooted people to Abkhazia. Russia opposed the Georgian-advocated motion. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the resolution was a counterproductive move.
Russia deployed railroad troops on 31 May to repair a rail line in Abkhazia. According to the Russian defence ministry, railroad troops were not armed. Georgia stated that the development was an aggressive act. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 5 June which condemned the deployment of Russian forces to Abkhazia. The resolution stated that the peacekeeping structure should be changed because Russia was no longer an unbiased player. Russian railroad troops started withdrawal from Abkhazia on 30 July after attending the inauguration of the railroad. The fixed railroad was used to transport military equipment by at least a part of the 9,000 Russian soldiers who entered Georgia from Abkhazia during the war.
In late June, Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer predicted that Vladimir Putin would start a war against Georgia in Abkhazia and South Ossetia supposedly in August. The Kavkaz Center reported in early July that Chechen separatists had intelligence data that Russia was preparing a military operation against Georgia in AugustSeptember 2008 which mainly aimed to expel Georgian forces from the Kodori Gorge; this would be followed by the expulsion of Georgian units and population from South Ossetia.
In early July, the conditions in South Ossetia aggravated, when a South Ossetian separatist militia official was killed by blasts on 3 July and several hours later an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Dmitry Sanakoyev, the leader of the Georgian-backed Ossetian government, wounded three police officers. On 7 July, four Georgian servicemen were captured by South Ossetian separatists. The next day, the Georgian law enforcement was ordered by the president to arrange the liberation of the soldiers. Four Russian Air Force jets flew over South Ossetia on 8 July. A scheduled visit of Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, to Georgia on the next day nearly coincided with the timing of the flight. Georgia summoned back its ambassador to Russia after Russia admitted its jets had flown in Georgia's airspace to let hot heads in Tbilisi cool down. This was the first time in ten years that Russia had confessed to an overflight of Georgia.
On 15 July, the United States and Russia began two parallel military trainings in the Caucasus, though Russia denied that the identical timing was intentional. The joint US-Georgian exercise was called Immediate Response 2008 and also included servicemen from Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia. A total of 1,630 servicemen, including 1,000 American troops, took part in the exercise, which concluded on 31 July. Counter-insurgency action was the focal point of the joint exercise. The Georgian brigade was trained to serve in Iraq. The Russian exercise was named Caucasus 2008 and units of the North Caucasus Military District, including the 58th Army, took part. The exercise included training to aid peacekeeping forces stationed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. During exercises, a pamphlet named Soldier! Know your probable enemy! was circulated among the Russian soldiers. The pamphlet described the Georgian Armed Forces. Russian troops stayed near the border with Georgia after the end of their exercise on 2 August, instead of going back to their barracks. Later, Dale Herspring, an expert on Russian military affairs at Kansas State University, described the Russian exercise as exactly what they executed in Georgia just a few weeks later [...] a complete dress rehearsal.
Early August
At 8:00 am on 1 August, an improvised explosive device detonated on the road near Tskhinvali and hit a Georgian police lorry, wounding five Georgian police officers. In response, Georgian snipers assaulted some of the South Ossetian positions, killing four Ossetians and wounding seven. According to majority of reports, the South Ossetians were responsible for instigating the bomb explosion which marked the opening of hostilities.
South Ossetian separatists began intensively shelling Georgian villages on 1 August. This caused Georgian peacekeepers and servicemen in the area to return fire. Grenades and mortar fire were exchanged during the night of 1/2 August. The total Ossetian fatalities became six and the total wounded were now fifteen, among them several civilians; the Georgian casualties were six wounded civilians and one wounded policeman. According to the OSCE mission, the incident was the worst outbreak of violence since 2004. On 23 and again on 34 August, firing recommenced during the night. A 1992 ceasefire agreement was breached by Ossetian artillery attacks.
Nikolay Pankov, the Russian deputy defence minister, had a confidential meeting with the separatist authorities in Tskhinvali on 3 August. An evacuation of Ossetian women and children to Russia began on the same day. According to researcher Andrey Illarionov, the South Ossetian separatists evacuated more than 20,000 civilians, which represented more than 90 percent of the civilian population of the future combat zone. On 4 August, South Ossetian president Eduard Kokoity said that about 300 volunteers had arrived from North Ossetia to help fight the Georgians and thousands more were expected from the North Caucasus. On 5 August, South Ossetian presidential envoy to Moscow, Dmitry Medoyev, declared that South Ossetia would start a rail war against Georgia. The razing of the village of Nuli was ordered by South Ossetian interior minister Mindzaev. Georgian authorities organised a tour for diplomats and journalists to demonstrate the damage supposedly caused by separatists. That day, Russian Ambassador-at-Large Yuri Popov declared that his country would be involved in the conflict on the side of South Ossetia. About 50 Russian journalists had come to Tskhnivali for something to happen. A pro-government Russian newspaper reported on 6 August: Don Cossacks prepare to fight in South Ossetia. Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported that Russian military was being deployed to the Georgian border on 6 August and that there is no doubt that Russia thus demonstrates determination to protect its citizens in South Ossetia. Up until the operation to enforce peace is carried out. On the evening of 6 August, an attempt by Saakashvili to contact the President of Russia about the conflict was curbed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which said: the time for presidential negotiations has not yet arrived.
Mortar and artillery exchange between the South Ossetian and Georgian forces erupted in the afternoon of 6 August across almost the entire front line, which lasted until the dawn of 7 August. Exchanges resumed following a brief gap in the morning. South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity announced that the South Ossetian armed forces were ready to go on the offensive in the next few hours. At 14:00 on 7 August, two Georgian peacekeepers in Avnevi became casualties of Ossetian shelling. At about 14:30, Georgian tanks, 122 mm howitzers and 203 mm self-propelled artillery began heading towards South Ossetia to dissuade separatists from additional attacks. During the afternoon, OSCE monitors noted Georgian military traffic, including artillery, on roads near Gori. In the afternoon, Georgian personnel left the Joint Peacekeeping Force headquarters in Tskhinvali.
At 16:00, Temur Iakobashvili the Georgian Minister for Reintegration arrived in Tskhinvali for a previously-arranged meeting with South Ossetians and Russian diplomat Yuri Popov; however, Russia's emissary, who blamed a flat tire, did not appear; and neither did the Ossetians. One day earlier the South Ossetians rejected direct negotiations with Georgian authorities, demanding a meeting of the Joint Control Commission for GeorgianOssetian Conflict Resolution. Tbilisi had left the Commission in March, demanding that a new mediation scheme included the European Union, the OSCE and the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia. Iakobashvili contacted General Marat Kulakhmetov the Russian commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Force who said that Ossetians could not be restrained by Russian peacekeepers and Georgia should implement a ceasefire. Nobody was in the streets no cars, no people, Iakobashvili later told journalists.
At around 19:00, Georgian President Saakashvili announced a unilateral ceasefire and no-response order. The ceasefire reportedly held for about three hours. The separatists bombarded Tamarasheni and Prisi. They razed Avnevi and a police building in Kurta, the centre of the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia. The escalated assaults forced Georgian civilians to flee their homes. A high-ranking officer of the Georgian Ministry of Defence said late on 7 August that his country was going to restore constitutional order in response to the shelling. Georgian Interior Ministry official later told Russian newspaper Kommersant on 8 August that after Ossetians had responded to the ceasefire by shelling, it became clear that South Ossetians wouldn't stop firing and that the Georgian casualties were 10 killed and 50 wounded. According to Pavel Felgenhauer, the Ossetians intentionally provoked the Georgians, so Russia would use the Georgian response as a pretext for premeditated military invasion. Russian military was participating in the attacks on Georgian villages.
According to Georgian intelligence, and several Russian media reports, parts of the regular non-peacekeeping Russian Army had already moved to South Ossetian territory through the Roki Tunnel before the Georgian military operation. Even the state-controlled Russian TV aired Abkhazia's de facto president Sergei Bagapsh on 7 August as saying: I have spoken to the president of South Ossetia. It has more or less stabilized now. A battalion from the North Caucasus District has entered the area. Georgian authorities did not announce Russian military incursion in public on 7 August since they relied on the Western guidance and did not want to aggravate tensions. The entrance of second batch of Russian military through the Roki Tunnel during the night of 7/8 August pressured Georgian president Saakashvili to respond militarily around 23:00 in order to check Russian all-out incursion near the Roki Tunnel before the Western response would be late.
Campaign
Bombing of Tskhinvali
Georgian artillery launched smoke bombs into South Ossetia at 23:35 on 7 August. This was followed by a 15-minute intermission, which purportedly enabled the civilians to escape, before the Georgian forces began bombarding hostile positions. Georgian military intentionally targeted South Ossetian military objects, not civilian ones. Although Georgian military had pledged safety to the Russian peacekeepers for their neutrality, the Russian peacekeepers had to follow the Russian command to attack the Georgian troops.
The Georgian 4th Brigade of Vaziani Military Base advanced on the left side of Tskhinvali early in the morning on 8 August; the 3rd Brigade advanced on the right side. The purpose of these actions was to advance to the north after capturing key positions. The Georgian troops would secure the Gupta bridge and the road to the Roki Tunnel, barring the Russian military from moving southward.
Georgian forces started moving in the direction of Tskhinvali following several hours of bombardment and engaged South Ossetian forces and militia near the town at 04:00 on 8 August, with Georgian tanks were remotely shelling South Ossetian positions. An attempt to take the village of Kvaysa from the west of South Ossetia by Georgian special police forces was thwarted by South Ossetian troops occupying reinforced posts, and several Georgians were wounded. By the morning, the South Ossetian authorities had reported that the Georgian shelling had killed at least 15 civilians.
Georgian forces, among them special troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, entered Tskhinvali after taking the high points near the town. The centre of the town was reached by 1,500 Georgian infantrymen by 10:00. The Russian air force began raiding targets inside South Ossetia and Georgia proper after 10:00 on 8 August. According to Russia, it suffered its first casualties at around 12:00 when two servicemen were killed and five injured following an attempt by the Georgian troops to storm the northern peacekeeping base in Tskhinvali. Georgia has stated that it only targeted Russian peacekeepers in self-defence, after coming under fire from them. Most of Tskhinvali and several villages had been secured by Georgian troops by the afternoon; however, they failed to blockade the Gupta bridge and the key roads linking Tshkinvali with the Roki Tunnel and the Russian military base in Java. One Georgian diplomat told Kommersant on the same day that by taking control of Tskhinvali, Tbilisi wanted to demonstrate that Georgia wouldn't tolerate the killing of Georgian citizens.
By 15:00 MSK, an urgent session of Security Council of Russia had been convened by Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Russia's options regarding the conflict had been discussed. Russia accused Georgia of aggression against South Ossetia. Russia stated it was defending both peacekeepers and South Ossetian civilians who were Russian citizens. While Russia claimed that it had to conduct peacekeeping operations according to the international mandates, in reality such accords had only arranged the ceasefire observer status; according to political scientist Roy Allison, Russia could evacuate its peacekeepers if attacked. At around 16:00 MSK, it became known that two heavy armoured columns of the 58th Army passed the Roki Tunnel and Java and were on the road to Tskhinvali. According to Kommersant, the column had begun moving towards South Ossetia at the same time as President Medvedev was giving a televised speech. At around 17:00 MSK, Russian tank columns surrounded Tskhinvali and began bombing the Georgian positions. The Russian Air Force mounted attacks on Georgian infantry and artillery on 8 August, but suspended sorties for two days after taking early losses from anti-aircraft fire. Georgian troops left the centre of the town in the evening. Military expert Ralph Peters later noted that anyone above the grade of private knew that such a large-scale Russian response was not spontaneous since it was impossible even to get one armored brigade over the Caucasus Mountains without lengthy planning.
In the afternoon of 9 August, a Georgian effort to push deeper into Tskhinvali was repulsed with Georgian losses and they withdrew. According to the Georgian Defence Minister, the Georgian military had tried to push into Tskhinvali three times by 9 August. During the last attempt they were met with a serious counterattack, which Georgian officers described as something like hell. On the same day a Russian advance column, led by Lieutenant-General Anatoly Khrulyov, was ambushed by Georgian special forces near Tskhinvali; Khrulyov was wounded in the leg. The number of Russian forces deployed in South Ossetia exceeded the number of Georgians already by 9 August.
A ceasefire was unilaterally announced on 10 August by Georgian authorities. An aim to pull out Georgian troops from South Ossetia was stated by the Georgians. However, Russia did not embrace this truce offer. After the ceasefire agreement was negotiated by French president Nicolas Sarkozy on 12 August, 15:00 on 12 August was set as a deadline for the cessation of military action; however, Russian forces didn't stop to push forward.
Bombing and occupation of Gori
Gori is an important city in the centre of Georgia, located about from Tskhinvali. On 9 August, a Russian air attack targeted military garrisons in Gori, damaging the garrison, several apartment buildings and a school. Russians did not admit that non-combatants were intentionally attacked. The Georgian government reported that the air raid had killed 60 civilians. No less than 5 Georgian cities had been bombed by 9 August.
After Georgian troops had left Tskhinvali on 10 August, the Russians indiscriminately bombed the civilian areas in Gori on 11 August. The Georgian forces withdrew from Gori on 11 August. A Georgian official said that the troops were ordered to secure Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. By late 11 August, majority of inhabitants and Georgian troops had abandoned Gori. Georgian president Saakashvili stated that Russians had split Georgia into two by occupying an important intersection near Gori.
Russian bombers attacked Gori on 12 August, killing a seven people and wounding over thirty. Dutch TV journalist Stan Storimans was among those killed and another foreign reporter was injured. According to Georgian authorities, the Russians aimed at the city's administrative offices. The air raids set the post office and the Gori University on fire. The Gori Military Hospital carrying a Red Cross flag was struck by a rocket. The attack killed one doctor.
Russian military was warning during the march towards Gori on 13 August that they would not spare ethnic Georgian civilians in villages if the latter did not demonstrate signs of surrender. Escaping Georgians blamed Russian president Medvedev for their suffering because they, trusting Medvedev's statement on ceasefire, had remained in their homes before the Russian advance. Russian military captured Gori on 13 August. The destruction of Georgian military bases began. On 14 August, Major General Vyacheslav Borisov the commander of the Russian occupying troops told Aleksandre Lomaia, secretary of Georgia's National Security Council, that the Russian company did not upset the locals of Gori. That day, Borisov stated that the Georgian police and Russian forces were in charge of Gori together. He also said that Russian troops would begin leaving Gori in two days. Combined guard efforts by the Russian Army and Georgian police in Gori soon broke down. The next day, Russian forces pushed to about from Tbilisi, the nearest during the war, and stopped in Igoeti at the same time as Condoleezza Rice was received by Saakashvili. In 2014, Anatoly Khrulyov, the commander of the 58th Army, said that Russian troops had to act in accordance with operational objective and plan issued before 8 August 2008. If Khrulyov had not contacted the General Staff during the war and received new order, the 58th Army would have taken Tbilisi.
The humanitarian conditions in Gori by 16 August was assessed as desperate by the United Nations. Human Rights Watch HRW reported that following Russian takeover of Georgian areas, Georgians from Gori and the adjacent villages reported South Ossetian militias pillaging and assaulting Georgian properties and abducting civilians. The Times reported from Gori on 18 August that Russian troops reportedly had told Georgian civilians fleeing South Ossetia: Putin has given us an order that everyone must be either shot or forced to leave.
The occupation lasted until 22 August, when Russian troops departed and Georgian police re-entered the city. Georgia's principal highway connecting east with west was now free for transit.
Abkhaz front
A naval confrontation occurred between Russian and Georgian vessels on 10 August. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Russian fleet sank one Georgian ship after four Georgian missile boats had attacked the Russian Navy ships near the coast of Abkhazia. The Russian patrol ship Mirazh was probably responsible for the sinking. The Georgian coast was blockaded by vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on 10 August. This was first activity since 1945 for the Black Sea Fleet, which had probably departed from Sevastopol before full-scale hostilities between Russia and Georgia began.
Abkhaz forces opened a second front by attacking the Kodori Gorge, held by Georgia. Abkhaz artillery and aircraft began a bombardment against Georgian troops in the upper Kodori Gorge on 9 August. Three days later, a military offensive against the Kodori Gorge was officially initiated by Abkhaz separatists. Abkhaz defence officer said that Georgian forces were driven out of the Kodori Gorge. Although he claimed that Russians did not participate in the battle, Russian military traffic headed for the gorge was witnessed by an Associated Press correspondent. Casualties were light on both sides; Abkhaz fighters accidentally killed one of their comrades, and two Georgian soldiers were also killed. About 2,000 people living in the Kodori Gorge fled.
Russian forces advanced into western Georgia from Abkhazia on 11 August. This marked the opening of another front. Russian troops captured the police buildings in Zugdidi in spite of earlier Russian official claims of not intending to expand assault to Georgia proper. Russian forces arrived in the town of Senaki that day and took a military base there.
Occupation of Poti
Poti is the crucial seaport of Georgia on the Black Sea and serves as an essential entrance for Transcaucasia and the landlocked Central Asia. Russian aircraft attacked the town of Poti on 8 August, causing a two-day shutdown of the seaport. Russia positioned ships in the vicinity of Poti and other Georgian ports on 10 August 2008. The next day, Georgian and Russian representatives said that Russian troops were in Poti. However, Russia claimed it had only sent a task force for surveying the area. On 13 August, six Georgian watercraft were submerged by Russian troops in Poti. Anatoliy Nogovitsyn, Russian deputy chief of the General staff, denied the Russian presence in Poti the following day. One day after Russia's declaration of the beginning of the withdrawal from Georgia, 70 Russian soldiers moved into the seaport on the morning of 19 August. Russian soldiers took twenty-one Georgian troops prisoner and grabbed five US Humvees in Poti, taking them to a Russian-occupied military base in Senaki. The Wall Street Journal said that Russian actions in Poti constituted an additional attack on the Georgian economy. Russian military was plundering and damaging properties during their presence in Poti, even ransacking toilets.
Bombing of Tbilisi and surroundings
During the fighting in South Ossetia, the Russian Air Force repeatedly attacked Tbilisi and its surrounding areas. On 8 August, the Georgian Interior Ministry reported that Vaziani Military Base near the city was hit by two bombs. Prior to the war, the bombed base near Tbilisi had housed the Russian military before the government of Georgia forced their withdrawal. The Daily Telegraph described this bombing as Russia's revenge. A Georgian military airstrip in Marneuli was attacked and three persons were killed. The Georgian government vacated their offices on 9 August. Georgian authorities reported on 9 August that Russian air attacks had targeted the BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline, but missed. Reporters for Reuters in Tbilisi reported hearing three explosions in the early-morning hours of 10 August and a Georgian Interior Ministry representative said that three bombs were dropped on Tbilisi International Airport by Russian warplanes. A military manufacturing plant near the airport was also attacked by Russia that day. A civilian radar station in Tbilisi was bombed the following day. Although an end to hostilities was declared on 12 August, Russian warplanes did not stop dropping bombs in Georgia throughout 12 August. The Wall Street Journal reported on 14 August that reporter had witnessed 45 craters near intersection of BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline and BakuSupsa Pipeline south of Tbilisi.
Media and cyber war
The war was accompanied by a media battle between Russia and Georgia. The Russian military took Russian journalists to the combat zone to report news discrediting Georgia and portraying Russia as the saviour of Russian citizens in the conflict zone. Russia also aired records on TV supporting its actions which had a strong effect on the local populations of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. For the first time, a Russian Armed Forces spokesman was provided by the Russian authorities to give TV interviews about the war. Despite these tactics and domestic success, the Russian information operation against Georgia was not successful internationally. In response to the information war, the Georgian government halted the broadcasting of Russian television channels in Georgia and blocked access to Russian websites. The information skirmishes between Georgia and Russia continued after armed hostilities had ended. According to political scientist Svante Cornell, the Kremlin spent millions in an international information campaign to blame Georgia for the war; however, there is evidence, including some in Russian media, that Russia actually started the war.
During the war, hackers attacked Georgian government and news websites and disabled host servers. Some Russian news websites were also attacked. Some experts noted this as the first time in history that a notable cyberattack and an actual military engagement happened at the same time.
Ceasefire agreement
On 12 August, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced the cessation of the peace enforcement operation in Georgia. The operation has achieved its goal, security for peacekeepers and civilians has been restored. The aggressor was punished, suffering huge losses. Later that day he met French President Nicolas Sarkozy the President-in-Office of the European Council and approved a six-point proposal. The proposal originally had four points, but Russia firmly requested to add two more. Georgia requested that the additions be parenthesised; Russia objected and Sarkozy prevailed upon Saakashvili to accept the agreement. According to Sarkozy and Saakashvili, a sixth point in the Sarkozy proposal was removed with Medvedev's consent. On 14 August, South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity and Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh also endorsed the plan. The following day Condoleezza Rice travelled to Tbilisi, where Saakashvili signed the document in her presence. On 16 August, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the agreement.
The plan embodied the following statutes dismissed additions are parenthesised:
After the ceasefire was signed, hostilities did not immediately end. Noting that civilians were fleeing before advancing Russian armour, troops and mercenaries, a reporter for The Guardian wrote on 13 August that the idea there is a ceasefire is ridiculous.
On 8 September, Sarkozy and Medvedev signed another agreement on a Russian pullback from Georgia. After meeting with the French president, Medvedev said the withdrawal depended on assurances that Georgia would not use force; Russian forces would withdraw from the zones adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia to the line preceding the start of hostilities. However, a military withdrawal from South Ossetia and Abkhazia was not proclaimed.
Aftermath
Russian withdrawal
On 17 August, Medvedev announced that Russian military would start to pull out of Georgia the following day. Prisoners of war were swapped by the two countries on 19 August. A Georgian official said that although his country swapped five Russian soldiers for fifteen Georgians, among them two non-combatants, Georgia suspected that Russia kept two more Georgians. On 22 August, Russian forces withdrew from Igoeti and the Georgian police proceeded in the direction of Gori. Russia claimed that withdrawal of Russian forces was finished; however, Russian checkpoints stayed near Gori and two Russian lookout stations stayed near Poti. On 13 September, Russian troops began withdrawing from western Georgia and by 11:00 Moscow Time, the posts near Poti were abandoned. Withdrawals from Senaki and Khobi also took place. Russian forces pulled back from the buffer areas bordering Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 8 October and the European Union monitoring mission in Georgia would now oversee the areas.
Russia continued to maintain a single station in the border village of Perevi. On 12 December, Russian forces withdrew; eight hours later they re-entered the village and Georgian police withdrew after the Russians warned they would fire. Russian forces then set up three stations in the village. On 18 October 2010, all Russian forces in Perevi withdrew to South Ossetia and Georgian soldiers entered.
On 9 September 2008, Russia announced that Russian forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia would remain under bilateral agreements with their respective de facto governments. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that a Russian deployment in Abkhazia and South Ossetia would prove decisive in preventing Georgia from recovering territories. Georgia considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia Russian-occupied territories. In November 2011, the European Parliament passed a resolution acknowledging Abkhazia and South Ossetia as occupied Georgian territories.
Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia
On 25 August 2008, the Russian parliament passed a motion, with no one voting against. The motion called for the diplomatic recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by President Medvedev. On 26 August, Medvedev issued orders recognising the two states, saying that recognising the independence of the two entities represents the only possibility to save human lives.
The recognition by Russia was condemned by the United States, France, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE chairman, NATO and the G7 on the grounds that it violated Georgia's territorial integrity, United Nations Security Council resolutions and the ceasefire agreement. In response to Russia's action, the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia.
Russia sought approval for its recognition from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. However, because of anxiety about secessionist areas in SCO states, especially in China, the organisation did not endorse recognition.
International monitors
The mandate of the OSCE mission in Georgia expired on 1 January 2009, after Russia refused to support its continuation. OSCE monitors had been denied access to South Ossetia since the war. The mandate of the UNOMIG ended on 16 June 2009; its extension was also blocked by Russia, which argued that the mandate did not properly reflect Russia's position on recognition of Abkhazia's independence. According to UN mission head Johan Verbeke, about 60,000 ethnic Georgians in Abkhazia became vulnerable after the mission's end.
As of 5 January 2015, 259 European Union Monitoring Mission EUMM monitors operate in Georgia and 2 in Brussels. EUMM observers are not admitted into Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia.
Geopolitical impact
The 2008 war was the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union that the Russian military had been used against an independent state, demonstrating Russia's willingness to wage an all-out military campaign to attain its political objectives. The failure of the Western security organisations to react swiftly to Russia's attempt to violently revise the borders of an OSCE country revealed its deficiencies. The division between Western European and Eastern European nations also became apparent over the relationship with Russia. Ukraine and other ex-Soviet countries received a clear message from the Russian leadership that the possible accession to NATO would cause a foreign incursion and the break-up of the country. Effective takeover of Abkhazia was also one of Russia's geopolitical goals. The construction of the EU-sponsored Nabucco pipeline linking Europe with Central Asian reserves through Transcaucasia was averted.
The war in Georgia showed Russia's assertiveness in revising international relations and undermining the hegemony of the United States. Shortly after the war, Russian president Medvedev unveiled a five-point Russian foreign policy. The Medvedev Doctrine stated that protecting the lives and dignity of our citizens, wherever they may be, is an unquestionable priority for our country. The presence of Russian citizens in foreign countries would form a doctrinal foundation for invasion. Medvedev's statement on the existence of territories with Russian privileged interests attached to them underlined Russia's particular stake in the Post-Soviet states and the fact that Russia would feel endangered by subversion of local Russia-friendly administrations.
The war eliminated Georgia's short-term prospects for joining NATO. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated in November 2011 that NATO would have accepted former Soviet republics if Russia had not attacked Georgia. If you ... had faltered back in 2008, the geopolitical situation would be different now, Medvedev told the officers of a Vladikavkaz military base.
Humanitarian impact and war crimes
Human Rights Watch HRW states that all parties to the war seriously breached international laws governing war and caused many fatalities among civilians. HRW reported that no proof of intentional attacks on non-combatants by Georgian troops had been discovered. The South Ossetian parliament and several schools and nurseries were used as military posts by South Ossetian troops and volunteer militias and targeted by Georgian artillery fire. Georgia stated that its strikes only intended to neutralize firing positions from where Georgian positions were being targeted. HRW documented witness accounts of the usage of civilian objects by South Ossetian fighters. Such usage made civilian objects permissible military aims, and HRW concluded that South Ossetian fighters put non-combatant population at risk by setting up military positions near or in civilian structures. Georgia was responsible for the indiscriminate use of force by using inaccurate weapons to target military targets in civilian areas.
Russia deliberately attacked fleeing civilians in South Ossetia and the Gori district of Georgia. Russian warplanes bombed civilian population centres in Georgia proper and villages of ethnic Georgians in South Ossetia. Armed militias engaged in plundering, burning and kidnappings. Attacks by militias compelled Georgian civilians to run away.
The use of M85S cluster bombs by the Georgians and RBK 250 cluster bombs by the Russians caused fatalities among civilians. Georgia reportedly used cluster munitions twice to hit non-combatants escaping via the important Dzara road and confessed attacking Russian forces and the vicinity of the Roki Tunnel by cluster bombs. Russia denied using cluster bombs.
HRW reported that during the war, ethnic-Georgian villages in South Ossetia were set on fire and pillaged by South Ossetian militias. This impeded the comeback of 20,000 uprooted people after the conflict. According to the Memorial society, the villages of Kekhvi, Kurta, Achabeti, Tamarasheni, Eredvi, Vanati and Avnevi were virtually fully burnt down. South Ossetian president Eduard Kokoity said in an interview that Georgian villages had been demolished and no Georgian refugees would be allowed to return. The Georgian civilians, who resided in the Akhalgori district and were willing to live in South Ossetia, were coerced into obtaining a Russian passport. The EU commission said it was likely that during the hostilities and in the aftermath of the war, an ethnic cleansing of Georgians was committed in South Ossetia.
Russia accused Georgia of committing genocide in South Ossetia. Russian authorities initially claimed that up to 2,000 ethnic Ossetian civilians of Tskhinvali were killed by Georgian forces; according to Russia, the reason for the Russian involvement in the conflict in Georgia was this large number of fatalities. Public opinion among Ossetians was impacted by claims of high casualties; according to HRW, some Ossetian civilians said in interviews that they approved of burning and pillaging of Georgian villages because of the thousands of civilian casualties in South Ossetia announced by Russian television. In December 2008, the figures were revised down to a total of 162 South Ossetian casualties by the Investigative Committee of the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation.
Georgia and South Ossetia have filed complaints about alleged war crimes committed by the other side with international courts, including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the European Court of Human Rights.
The war displaced a 192,000 people including both Ossetians and Georgians. Many were able to go back to their homes after the war, but a year later around 30,000 ethnic Georgians were still uprooted. As of May 2014, 20,272 persons were still displaced, with their return being blocked by de facto authorities.
Reactions
International reactions
Russian actions during the war were heavily criticised by several Western countries:
On 8 August 2008, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt said that the crisis was due to provocations from the South Ossetian side and that Georgian forces were trying to restore the constitutional order. On 9 August, Bildt compared Russia's reason for going to war with Georgia to Adolf Hitler's actions, No state has the right to intervene militarily in the territory of another state simply because there are individuals there with a passport issued by that state or who are nationals of the state. Attempts to apply such a doctrine have plunged Europe into war in the past... And we have reason to remember how Hitler used this very doctrine little more than half a century ago to undermine and attack substantial parts of central Europe.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on 9 August, Russia has extended the fighting today well beyond South Ossetia, attacking the Georgian port of Poti, and the town of Gori, while Abkhaz forces have been shelling Georgian positions in the Upper Kodori valley. I deplore this.
US president George W. Bush said on late 11 August, Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. Bush also said, Theres evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city. Bush urged Russia to sign the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement, otherwise Russia would jeopardise its standing with the West. Although the Bush administration contemplated a military reaction to defend Georgia, it decided against it so as to not provoke a conflict with Russia. Instead, the US sent humanitarian assistance to Georgia on military aircraft.
The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine and the prime minister of Latvia Lech Kaczyński, Valdas Adamkus, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Viktor Yushchenko and Ivars Godmanis, who met with Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili at Kaczyński's initiative, appeared at a 12 August 2008 Tbilisi rally held in front of the parliament which was attended by nearly 150,000 people. The crowd responded enthusiastically to the Polish president's speech, chanting Poland, Poland, Friendship, Friendship and Georgia, Georgia.
Hungarian opposition leader Viktor Orbán drew parallels between the Russian intervention and the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
President Yushchenko suggested that the contract between Ukraine and Russia regarding the Sevastopol naval base would not be extended in 2017. Ukrainians suspected that pro-Russian Crimea would become a cause for military incursion by Russia.
France and Germany took an intermediate position, abstaining from naming a guilty party:
On 8 August, France who held the rotating presidency of the European Union announced that the EU and the US would send a joint delegation to negotiate a ceasefire. On 30 September 2009, the EUsponsored Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia stated that, while preceded by months of mutual provocations, open hostilities began with a large-scale Georgian military operation against the town of Tskhinvali and the surrounding areas, launched in the night of 7 to 8 August 2008.
German chancellor Angela Merkel conveyed her concern about the humanitarian situation in Georgia and urged to cease war.
A few leaders supported Russia's position:
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini said, We cannot create an anti-Russia coalition in Europe, and on this point we are close to Putin's position. He emphasised that Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi were near partners.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said on 19 August, Russia acted calmly, wisely and beautifully.
Georgia proclaimed on 12 August 2008 that it would quit the Commonwealth of Independent States, which it held responsible for not avoiding the war. Its departure became effective in August 2009.
According to academic Martin Malek, western countries did not feel it was necessary to aggravate tensions with Russia over tiny and insignificant Georgia. He wrote in the Caucasian Review of International Affairs that western policy makers did not want to alienate Russia because its support was necessary to solve international problems. The May 2015 report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament stated that the reaction of the EU to Russias aggression towards, and violation of the territorial integrity of, Georgia in 2008 may have encouraged Russia to act in a similar way in Ukraine.
NATO reaction in the Black Sea
NATO increased its naval presence in the Black Sea significantly following the Russian invasion, with ships dropping anchors in Georgian ports, and according to the US Navy, bringing humanitarian assistance. NATO said that its presence in the Black Sea was not related to the Georgian crisis; its vessels were carrying out typical visits and preplanned naval trainings with Romania and Bulgaria. Russian General Anatoliy Nogovitsyn recalled the limit on the number of vessels admitted into the Black Sea under the 1936 Montreux convention. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev questioned the claim that ships going to Georgia were bringing only humanitarian assistance, alleging the delivery of military material. According to political analyst Vladimir Socor, in spite of the limits on vessel's weight and length of visits set by the Montreux Convention, the US kept a continual presence in the Black Sea by alternating vessels from time to time.
Combatants
Georgian order of battle
According to the Moscow Defence Brief, an English-language magazine published by the Russian non-governmental organisation the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, the Georgian troops included the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Infantry Brigades, the Artillery Brigade, part of the 1st Infantry Brigade and the standalone Gori Tank Battalion. Additionally, special forces and Ministry of Internal Affairs troops were deployed. The total number of troops was 16,000 according to the magazine. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, ten light infantry battalions of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th infantry brigades, special forces and an artillery brigade, totalling approximately 12,000 troops, had been concentrated by the start of the conflict. The primary task of securing Tskhinvali was accomplished by the 4th Brigade with support from the 2nd and 3rd Brigades. According to the EU fact-finding mission, 10,00011,000 soldiers took part in the war.
The 1st Infantry Brigade, the only one instructed to NATO standards, was serving in Iraq at the beginning of the war; on 11 August, the United States Air Force flew it to Georgia. The best Georgian troops were overdue from Iraq and could not participate in the fighting. The presence of prime 2,000 Georgian military and the bulk of Georgian high-level government officials abroad before the war meant that Georgia did not intend to begin hostilities.
Russo-South Ossetian-Abkhaz order of battle
A sizeable portion of the Russian 58th Army, one of the foremost military units in Russia, was included in the Russian order of battle. It exceeds the Georgian Army in the number of forces, heavy hardware and planes. The 58th Army fought in Second Chechen War.
Military analysis
Georgia
United States officials said that one of the few effective elements of the [Georgia]'s military was air defence, with the analysts crediting the SA-11 Buk-1M with shooting down a Tupolev-22M bomber and contributing to the loss of some Su-25s. This view was supported by independent Russian analysis. Colonel-General Anatoliy Nogovitsyn, Russian deputy chief of general staff, said the Soviet-made Tor and Buk anti-aircraft missile systems, bought by Georgia from Ukraine, were responsible for shooting down Russian aircraft during the war. A Russian assessment, reported by Roger McDermott, said that Russian losses would have been significantly higher if the Georgians had not left behind a portion of their Buk-M1 systems near Senaki in western Georgia and several Osa missile launchers in South Ossetia. According to some reports, Georgia also possessed a battery of the Israeli-made SPYDER-SR short-range self-propelled anti-aircraft system. The Georgian air-defence early-warning and command-control tactical system was linked via Turkey to a NATO Air Situation Data Exchange ASDE, which provided Georgia with intelligence during the conflict.
Georgia has said that its key deficiencies were ineffective communication during action and its lacking air strength. Konstantin Makienko of CAST saw substandard instruction of pilots as the primary reason for the paltry conduct of Georgian air sorties. According to Georgian first deputy defence minister Batu Kutelia, Georgia was required to have a complex, multi-layered air-defence system to protect its airspace. Western officers involved with Georgia's military indicated that Georgian military deficiencies were too great to be eliminated by new weapons. According to a 2 September 2008 New York Times article, Georgia's Army fled ahead of the Russian Army's advance, turning its back and leaving Georgian civilians in an enemy's path. Its planes did not fly after the first few hours of contact. Its navy was sunk in the harbor, and its patrol boats were hauled away by Russian trucks on trailers.
A sweeping Russian offensive caught Georgia by surprise, who had never got ready for confronting such invasion. Many managerial and procedural problems surfaced during the war. According to a Western officer, Georgian logistical readiness was mediocre; there was interference between subdivisions during the action. Training to simulate combat against a probable enemy, the 58th Army, had never been organised by the Georgian Army. During the war, communications broke down in the mountains and troops had to resort to mobile phones. There was insufficient planning; according to Giorgi Tavdgiridze, nobody thought about sealing the Roki Tunnel. There was a dismal organisation of the delivery of 10,000 Georgian reservists in Gori on 9 August; they had no specific targets and went back to Tbilisi the following day. The conflict was named by Georgian journalists as the war that was hidden from history because there was very little video recording of the fighting. According to their American trainers, Georgian soldiers were unprepared for fighting despite having warrior spirit. There was a small number of disciplined and knowledgeable officers in high ranking positions, and Saakashvili's government had no military background.
Russia
The Russian Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence C³I performed poorly during the conflict. The Russian communication systems were outdated, with a 58th Army commander allegedly making contact with his combat troops via a journalist-owned satellite phone. Without the modern GLONASS, precision-guided munitions could not be used and the US-controlled GPS was unavailable, since the war zone was blacked out. Due to the negligence of Russian defence minister, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles was not sanctioned; an RIA Novosti editorial said that Russian forces were without reliable aerial-reconnaissance systems, once using a Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber instead. However, Russian reconnaissance battalions and regiments were also deployed during the war. Deputy chief of the General staff of Russia, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said that in the conflict new weapons were not tried out.
The RIA Novosti editorial also said that Russian Su-25 ground-attack jets did not have radar vision and ground-target coordinate computing. They also did not have long-range surface-to-air missiles that could be fired beyond the air-defence zones of an adversary. Opposition-affiliated Russian analyst Konstantin Makienko observed the substandard conduct of the Russian Air Force: It is totally unbelievable that the Russian Air Force was unable to establish air superiority almost to the end of the five-day war, despite the fact that the enemy had no fighter aviation.
According to Russian expert Anton Lavrov, on 8 August, Russian and South Ossetian troops deployed in South Ossetia were unaware that Russian aviation was involved in the war. Russian troops and South Ossetians often assessed Russian aircraft as enemy and shot at them before precise identification took place. On 8 August, the air force performed 63 flights in support of Russian ground troops. A total of six Russian warplanes were lost during the war: one Su-25SM, two Su-25BMs, two Su-24Ms and one Tu-22M3; friendly fire was the cause of the loss of three aircraft. Lavrov denies that the shot-down Tu-22M was being used for reconnaissance.
Communication between the North Caucasus Military District commander and the air force was poor and their roles were unclear. Colonel-General Aleksandr Zelin, commander-in-chief of the Air Force, did not set foot in the command post, instead running Air-force operations on a mobile phone from his workroom without any help from his air-defence aides. The air force was blamed of rendering no assistance to land campaign.
Swedish analysts Carolina Vendil Pallin and Fredrik Westerlund said that although the Russian Black Sea Fleet did not meet significant resistance, it proved effective at implementing elaborate operations. Mechanised infantry opened a new front in Abkhazia, which contributed to the quickness of the Russian military success.
Heritage Foundation researchers said in their assessment of the preparation of Russian general-staff that the manoeuvres were planned and implemented effectively, with a crucial confusion being engineered by the Russians. A Reuters analyst described Russia's army as strong but flawed; the war demonstrated that Russia's armed forces have emerged from years of neglect as a formidable fighting force, but revealed important deficiencies. He stated that Russia fell short of its role of a first-rate military power due to these faults. Unlike the Second Chechen War, Russia's force in Georgia was composed primarily of professional soldiers instead of conscripts. Reuters journalists in Georgia stated that they found the Russian forces to be well-outfitted and orderly forces. CAST director Ruslan Pukhov said that the victory over the Georgian army ... should become for Russia not a cause for euphoria and excessive joy, but serve to speed up military transformations. Roger McDermott wrote that slight dissimilarity in criticism by civilian and official references after the conflict was an orchestrated effort by the government to 'sell' reform to the military and garner support among the populace.
The evolution of the Russian Army into a professional force was not deemed as fruitful. In September 2008, General Vladimir Boldyrev acknowledged that many of the professional soldiers did not have better training than the conscripts. Most of the land combat warfare was conducted by Russian Airborne Troops and special troops. Due to the failure of the Russian Air Force to penetrate Georgian air defence, airborne troops could not be airlifted behind Georgian lines. A surprise attack on a land-forces commander, in which only five of thirty vehicles in his convoy made it, demonstrated information-gathering negligence. Many Russian land units reportedly were short of ammo.
Equipment losses and cost
Georgia
After the ceasefire agreement Stratfor states that Russia has largely destroyed Georgia's war-fighting capability. After the ceasefire was signed on 12 August, in Georgia proper, Russian troops attempted to seize and destroy Georgian armament, a process termed by the Moscow Defence Brief as the demilitarization of the Georgian Armed Forces. Most losses of armaments were sustained after the ceasefire.
About 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including tanks, were destroyed in the fighting. Before the conflict, Georgia possessed 230240 tanks in total. At the time of the conflict, Georgia operated 191 T-72 tanks, of which 75 were deployed into South Ossetia. Georgia lost at least 10 T-72 tanks destroyed in and near Tskhinvali. After the end of hostilities, the Russian military seized a total of 65 Georgian tanks. About 20 of those were subsequently destroyed.
The Georgian army possessed 154 IFVs, 16 reconnaissance vehicles, 66 APCs and 86 multi-purpose tracked armoured vehicles before the conflict. Less than 10 armoured vehicles were destroyed in combat. Two BMP-2s were destroyed in combat and two were captured. At least 20 BMPs were captured after the hostilities, including several BMP-1s that were upgraded to BMP-1U. Georgia lost two Otokar Cobra armoured vehicles. Dozens of automobiles and lorries were also lost.
Two DANA self-propelled howitzers of the Georgian army were destroyed in combat and two DANAs were captured in and near Gori. Further 20 artillery pieces, including 120 mm mortars, were left behind. Six 2S7 Pions were captured after the hostilities. Two Buk-M1 launch vehicles and their transport loaders, as well as up to five OSA-AKM SAMs were also captured. The Russian military seized 1,728 firearms at the Senaki Second Infantry Brigade base.
The Georgian Navy lost one boat at sea according to Russia. In Poti, four boats were submerged. Nine rigid-hull inflatables were captured.
The Air Force sustained limited damage as only three transport planes and four helicopters were confirmed lost. The Georgian air force ceased all sorties after 8 August. Instead all fighter and training aircraft, including the Su-25s, were tucked away. Russian bombers impaired the airstrips in Georgia. A Russian air attack on Marneuli Air Force Base destroyed three AN-2 aircraft. Russian airborne forces set fire to two Mi-24 helicopters and one Mi-14 on 11 August.
Georgian Defence Minister Davit Kezerashvili said that Georgia lost materiel worth $250 million. According to Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, his country saved 95 percent of its armed forces.
In 2009, Russian Army Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov stated that Georgia was rearming, although the armament was not directly provided by the United States. According to Makarov, the Georgian Armed Forces had exceeded their pre-war strength by 2009.
Russia and South Ossetia
Russia admitted that three of its Su-25 strike aircraft and one Tu-22 long-range bomber were lost. Georgia at that time claimed it had downed no less than 21 Russian aircraft. Moscow Defence Brief provided a higher estimate for air force losses, saying that Russian Air Force total losses during the war were one Tu-22M3 long-range bomber, one Su-24M Fencer fighter-bomber, one Su-24MR Fencer E reconnaissance plane and four Su-25 attack planes. Anton Lavrov listed one Su-25SM, two Su-25BM, two Su-24M and one Tu-22M3 lost. Two helicopters, a Mi-8MTKO and a Mi-24, were wrecked in an accident after the hostilities.
While there are no official figures, Russian ground equipment losses in the war are estimated to be three tanks, at least 20 armoured and 32 non-armoured vehicles lost in combat. Several more vehicles were impaired in accidents. During one engagement, Georgian forces destroyed 25 out of 30 vehicles of a Russian military unit commanded by General Anatoly Khrulyov. The Russian military had no losses in the artillery, air defence and naval forces. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the five-day war cost Russia an estimated 12.5 billion rubles, a daily cost of 2.5 billion rubles.
South Ossetian forces lost two BMP-2s.
See also
Kosovo independence precedent
For Enforcing Peace
Olympus Inferno a 2009 Russian war drama film and the first feature film on the South Ossetian conflict
5 Days of War a 2011 film depicting the war
August Eighth a 2012 Russian war drama film depicting the war
Notes
References
Books and Reports
Further reading
Jones, Stephen F. The Making of Modern Georgia, 19182012: The First Georgian Republic and its Successors 2014.
Mankoff, Jeffrey. Russian Foreign Policy: The Return of Great Power Politics 2nd ed. 2011.
Niedermaier, Ana K. Countdown to War in Georgia, Russia's Foreign Policy and Media Coverage of the Conflict in South Ossetia and Abkhazia 2008; a Russian perspective.
Stent, Angela E. The Limits of Partnership: U.S.-Russian Relations in the Twenty-First Century 2015.
External links
Georgia
Chronology of Bombing Facts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Russia
On the situation around Abkhazia and South Ossetia @ President of Russia
International
EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia
OSCE Mission to Georgia closed
The EU Investigation Report on the August 2008 War and the Reactions from Georgia and Russia in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 10
Media
War in Georgia. International Crisis Group's multimedia presentation
BBC hub
Fighting in South Ossetia Photos
Boston.com Gallery
Russian air attacks in Georgia
Documentaries
Andre Nekrasov's Russian Lessons
Category:Conflicts in 2008
Category:2008 in Georgia country
Category:Invasions of Georgia country
Category:Post-Soviet conflicts
Category:Wars involving Georgia country
Category:Wars involving Russia
Category:2008 in Russia
Category:2008 in South Ossetia
Category:2008 in Abkhazia
Category:AbkhazGeorgian conflict
Category:GeorgianOssetian conflict
Category:Georgia countryRussia relations
Category:AbkhaziaRussia relations
Category:RussiaSouth Ossetia relations
Category:Invasions by Russia
Category:Military of South Ossetia | wikipedia |
Charmed, Supernatural 1. Chapter 1
**Soo.. here this is, yet another story. This one is a crossover between Charmed and Supernatural since I have wanted to do this for ages! It is set when Chris and Wyatt are grown up in the changed future and somewhere in season two for Dean and Sam. **
**Warnings: ****This will be a slash story but you will have to wait to see the pairings because I aint telling yet! Erm, warnings would be maybe spoilers for season 2 of supernatural if you haven't seen it. **
**Disclaimer: ****I do not own Charmed or Supernatural, no Chris, no Wyatt, no Sam and no Dean. All rights reserved to owners … blah, blah, blah. **
**Enjoy (maybe :S)**
**I feel obliged to point out that like with all my othet stories, chaptered stories are not my strong point when it comes to updates. I never fully abandon one but i can never gaurente the updates will be frequent, month delays are normal for me. **
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The wheels of a '97 Chevy Impala screeched loudly on the dry tarmac of the road as it was swung round yet another corner. The accelerator, being pushed down for all it was worth, was covered by the foot of one over excited driver.
"For Christ's sake Dean! Slow down!"
Dean Winchester glanced at the passenger in his car and smirked. Yes smirked, only Dean Winchester could smirk in that annoyingly smug way that still happened to be the most charming look imaginable. Not that his passenger cared at all for that.
"Chill little brother. Your go grey." Dean chuckled, reaching over and ruffling the man's unruly mop of brown hair.
"I don't really want to die quite yet Dean!"
"Jesus Sammy, your such a buzz kill." Dean mocked, rolling his eyes.
"It's Sam." He just got a grin in return. Sam loved his brother to bits, don't get him wrong, but sometimes he could be the most infuriating person on the planet. He had lost count of the amount of times he had tried to get him to stop calling him Sammy but he just wouldn't quit. As for his driving. He was sure there where planes going slower than they were!
"Just slow down, please." Sam almost pleaded, almost. Dean sighed but slowed the car to a more reasonable pace. "Thank you." Sam sighed. Dean snorted but said nothing. Sometimes he could barely get the car above forty and Sam would moan about his speed. Maybe he was afraid? Dean pushed that away straight away, Sam was just as much as a fast driver when he drove.
Sam sighed heavily and momentarily laid his head back against the seat. He was glad they were going slower, he actually felt like he could breath now. He didn't know why, but lately he hated it when Dean drove fast. He was fine if he was in the drivers seat but not when Dean was. His chest would feel tight, his heart would pound and he would lose all control of being able to breath. He had never been afraid of driving, so he wasn't sure what was wrong.
"Okay there Sammy?" Dean's voice broke through his thoughts. Sam jerked himself back up.
"Yeah, fine." He saw Dean cast him that worried look he always got when Sam acted odd.
"Headache?" Dean asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Sam could of snorted this time. Ever since Sam had first started getting his visions, or whatever the hell they were, Dean would associate any type of head pain with them. So when Dean asked of he had a headache he was really asking "any freaky vision things?".
"No Dean, I'm fine." He shrugged off his brothers concern. "So how far to this nest?" He asked, trying to changed the subject. Thankfully it worked.
"About five minutes away." Dean answered, checking his watch as he spoke. "This better not take long." He mumbled off towards the end.
"Got better plans?" Sam asked, not really interested in the slightest though.
"Yes actually."
"What? Doing what?"
"Doing who you mean." Dean winked.
Sam shuddered. "Ew, Dean, didn't need to hear that."
"You asked." Dean laughed.
"I didn't ask that!"
"Should know me better than that Sammy, don't ask if you don't wanna know."
"Yeah, got it." Sam grumbled, resisting the urge to give Dean a sharp slap up the side of the head. Like he said, infuriating.
The last leg of the ride went by in complete silence until in the distance, came view of an out of the way barn and a small cottage to the side. Switching off the ignition, Dean went into full hunter mode, pulling his gun from his side pocket.
"Okay, lets get to the boot and then do this." He said to Sam, opening the car door as quietly as possible.
"No arguments here." Sam whispered, eyes constantly scanning for their newest kill.
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"Chris."
"Chris?"
"Chris!"
"CHRIS!"
"What!" Said boy yelled, slamming his hands down on the book in front of him. His eyes glared across the room at the boy interrupting him. The boy stared at him almost sheepishly.
"I'm bored." He droned out, swinging on the edge of the table he was sat on.
"Your always bored Wyatt." Chris scoffed, going back to his work.
"All you ever do is read that silly book." Wyatt carried on whining. It was a mid afternoon, their parents and aunts were all out so that left him and his little brother alone. He was planning on a good old day in front of the telly or maybe some sports but all Chris seemed interested in was reading.
"The Book of Shadows is not silly Wyatt, it wouldn't hurt you to read up on things every now again, it might help." Chris answered, not looking up as he scribbled something down.
"Uh hello, Twice Blessed, I've got more powers than the sisters combined!"
"And an ego to match." Chris tutted.
"Hey!" Wyatt pouted.
"Powers aren't everything Wyatt, I'm getting pretty fed up of having to make every vanquish potion just because you can't tell the difference between anything."
"I can make them just fine." Wyatt huffed, crossing his arms. Chris looked up and gave him that I know better than you look. "Okay fine, maybe I could be better."
Chris chuckled. Truthfully he never minded making the potions, he always enjoyed that side of being a witch more as it was. It wasn't that he wasn't powerful like Wyatt, since they were pretty much matched, Chris was just the brains more, Wyatt the strength.
"Come on, lets go out." Wyatt insisted.
"I'm working."
"Just a couple hours, it won't kill you." Wyatt begged.
"Why don't you just call one of your mates from school?" Chris suggested.
"I'd rather hang out with you." Wyatt mumbled, slightly embarrassed. Chris smiled, properly smiled at his brother. Sometimes he could be a nice bloke, not always annoying. They spent a lot of time together but that was just because they were so close. They rarely ever argued, not properly.
"Well maybe just for-" Chris cut off suddenly, grabbing the edge of the book stand for support as his head erupted in white hot pain. He gasped and felt someone move beside him, gripping him by the arm.
"Chris? What's wrong?" Wyatt asked, concern filling his voice.
"My head." Chris choked out, eyes watering from the pain. There was a ringing, like a jack hammer in concrete, pounding through his ears.
"Premonition?" Wyatt asked, grabbing hold of Chris and lowering him to the floor, one arm around him the whole time. Chris shook his head.
"Ringing." He whimpered.
Wyatt frowned. Ringing? He vaguely remember his Aunt Paige saying something happening to her like this before, he couldn't put his finger on the reason though. He felt Chris's hand grab his and squeezed back, letting Chris know he was here. He just didn't know what he could do.
All of a sudden, Chris heard Wyatt cry in pain and the grip on his hand slack. He barely opened his eyes enough to see Wyatt grab the side of his skull, eyes scrunched up on obvious pain. At least it wasn't just him then.
"What is it?" Chris groaned through the ringing.
"I don't know." Wyatt gasped.
"Didn't Paige?" Chris stuttered, his thoughts going the same way as Wyatt. Suddenly it clicked. "Elders Wyatt."
Wyatt groaned as he struggled to move enough to grab Chris's arm. He could feel the, both shaking as he orbed them "up there".
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The nest was a lot bigger than they had anticipated. Try twice the size bigger. Sam cursed Dean in his head as he took a swing at his on coming attacker. Vampire nests were bad enough on a small scale, let alone when they were misinformed. The blade in his hand already glistened with the blood of three beheaded vampires, soon to be a forth. Sam ducked the attacked and swung connecting with a sickening crunch. His eyes scanned for his next target, briefly landing on Dean, watching his back.
Dean was in his element. Was it odd that he actually found this fun? Bringing his machete up he threw it forwards, taking out his fifth vampire in a row. By his counting, that left only three left. One stood before him, teeth bared and snarling. A woman, although he used that term loosely.
"Come and get it sweetheart." He teased, smirking at the vamp. It snarled and lunged forwards, landing full force on the end of the blade, pushing it out from its back. Blood gurgled up from its mouth but it was not dead. "Bad move." Dean mocked, forcing the blade back out and swinging it round at its neck on one slick movement. He grinned. Fun.
His eyes turned and scanned for Sam. He was fighting only a feet away from him. As his eyes fell on his brother his blood stopped. It wasn't the vampire he was fighting that worried him, it was the one sneaking up behind him.
"Sam!" He yelled, tying to warn him. His brother turned but god was that a bad idea. Taking advantage of Sam's lack of concentration he was pushed with inhuman strength off of his feet. Flying feet in the air, Sam felt the air leave his lungs and then a sharp pain at the back of his head. Something warm coated his hair as dots flashed before his eyes. His vision slipped away moments later.
"SAM!" Dean hollered, his feet pounding to catch up. The vampire had no time to react to his sudden presence, it lost its head viciously as Dean pushed it aside. The only threat left was making its way to Sam. It bent down over his brother body and Dean could of sworn he saw it smile as it lowered his head and smelt Sam. Dean panicked, he wasn't going to get to Sam in time. That hit had sent him hurtling over to the barn, where his body lay slumped against the wall. Pulling his dagger from his pocket he did the only thing he could do a threw it. He just hoped he didn't miss.
The vampire shrieked in pain as the dagger connected with its back. Dipped in dead mans blood, it burned like a bitch. It gave Dean time to get to him.
"Stay way from my brother!" Dean snarled, beheading the vamp before it could even turn to look at him.
Dean let out the breath be didn't know he had been holding and dropped to his knees beside Sam. Sam's whole body was slumped over. He was out cold.
"Sam, wake up. Come on Sammy, open your eyes for me." Dean all but whispered through his worry. Gently pulling Sam down he lay his head across his lap, biting back the panic that threaten to swell as blood all but poured onto his hands. His eyes cast a look to the wall and he saw the nail protruding from the barn, covered in Sam's blood.
"No, no, Sammy, no." His hands frantically felt at Sam's neck. He laughed as he felt a pulse, relief spreading that at least he was alive still. The pulse was weak though. He just needed to get him to a hospital and he would be fine. He mentally worked out the distance to the car and cursed. Why did they park so far away! He could carry Sam, but that would take more time than they had, Sam was huge after all. He could go get the car and drive it back to Sam, but no way was he leaving Sam alone. Ripping at the arm of his shirt with his teeth he pulled the fabric free, holding it against Sam's head, trying to stem the flow of blood a little at least. It was soaked in mere seconds.
"Please Sammy, wake up." He pleaded. If Sam was awake, he might at least be able to walk a little with Dean's help.
"Aww, isn't this just precious." A vice drawled with sarcasm. Dean started as his head swung round to face its owner. He instinctively moved so he covered Sam from danger. Standing in front of him was no less than six new vampires. Dean gulped, he didn't have time for this.
"I'll show you what happens when you mess with my pack." The clear leader spoke, eyeing both Dean and Sam with hungry eyes.
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Wyatt and Chris let out a collective sigh as they landed in the halls of "Elder land". The pain subsiding almost immediately and the ringing disappearing completely. Chris shook his head to clear it and took a deep breath. Well he wasn't in a hurry to repeat that anytime soon.
"You okay Chris?" Wyatt asked, pushing himself to his feet. He offered a hand to Chris and pulled him up after him. Chris nodded.
"Well that was fun." Wyatt said dryly, looking around them. "I wonder what they want."
"Didn't Aunt Paige say she got ringing in her ears once when she got her first charge." Chris suggested, following Wyatt as he walked down the hall. It was empty.
"That's so cool!" Wyatt beamed. Chris raised an eyebrow at him. "What? Don't you want a charge?"
"No, not really." Chris shrugged. Wyatt looked at him like he had suddenly grown an extra head.
"What not!"
Chris just shrugged again. Wyatt went to open his mouth again when another voice called out to them.
"Ahhh, Wyatt, Chris, finally!"
Both boys turned to see someone walking towards them, most obviously an Elder from the robes he was wearing. "My name is Alec." He introduced himself.
"Hey." They replied a little nervous. They had never spoke to an Elder on their own before. Their Father had always been around with them.
"We called you here today for a very important reason that needs to be handled immediately. " The Elder started, walking forwards, the boys automatically followed. "The ringing sensation that you experienced earlier is a sign that we have assigned you charges. These charges are very special people and we needed to very special white lighters to handle them. As sons of the Charmed Ones we felt you were the best suited."
They arrived at a small room with nothing but a table and chairs inside it, all white of course. They were motioned to sit down as the Elder continued. "Now, we feel that instead if giving you a person each, it would be better that you handle them as a pair, they tend to work that way themselves. Clear?"
Wyatt and Chris nodded.
"Good. Your charges are currently in the city, nor far fro the edges in the countryside area. They are brothers, roughly about your ages I believe. Now, these boys are, how can I say, unique."
"Unique how?" Wyatt asked. The Elder sighed.
"They are not witches, nor are they future Whitelighters."
"Then what are they?" Chris frowned.
"They are hunters."
"Hunters? Like live in the woods, hunting bear hunters?" Wyatt asked confused.
"No you idiot." Chris smacked him across the arm. "They're ordinary people who know of the supernatural. They hunt in different ways than us but no less effective. Most of them have no more training in just basic weapons but some cane perform full exorcisms and incantations." He explained.
"Very good Chris." The Elder chuckled. Wyatt shook his head and crossed his arms. How was he supposed to know the difference.
"So if their not magical, why do they need our help?" He asked.
"They are not normal hunters. They have been on the trail of a powerful demon for many years now, a demon that has recently started posing a threat on our end. These boys are very important in the upcoming battle with this demon. They know more about it than anyone, they are better trained to fight it than anyone. They are in huge danger though, every demon wants them dead or worse, on their side. Your job is to keep them alive so they can fulfil their part."
"I take it they don't know anything about what we are?" Wyatt sighed.
"No. they are completely separate from our world. They will not know you, nor the Charmed Ones. It will mean nothing to them."
Peachy, Chris thought. That was sure to be an interesting conversation.
"When do we get to meet them?" Wyatt questioned.
"You should think about approaching them in the next couple of-" The elder cut of the end of his sentence. Seeming to stare into a blank wall. His head turned sharply to look at them and they both knew immediately something was wrong.
"Something has happened, they are both in grave danger. You must go now!" The Elder all but demanded.
Wyatt and Chris didn't need to be told twice. Standing, they closed their eyes, sensing with their powers for their new charges. Two sets of orbs disappeared at the same moment, leaving behind one worried Elder.
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Panic. That would be a fitting word for Dean's state of mind right now. Not for his own well being, but for his brothers. Every second that went by Sam was losing more and more blood. He needed to get him out of here. He couldn't let him die.
"You stay away." He growled, standing up to full height.
"Ooo, one hunter against all of us. We're scared." The vampire taunted. The pack were already circling them, closing off any escape route that may have been possible. They surrounded in seconds. Dean moved closer to Sam.
"Dinner time boys." Six throats let off low growls and eyes flashed.
Everything that happened next was almost a blur. Dean flung himself over Sam, covering the younger man as best he could. The vampires launched their attack and Dean felt nails slice down his back. Then there was the lights, if that was what you could call it. Through the gaps in his arms Dean saw blue swirls float around beside the Vampires. When the lights cleared, all that could be seen where the shadowed forms of two people.
Dean screamed as more flesh was sliced from his back.
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**So what do you think? Worth carrying on with as a new story? Better style of writing? **
**Reviews would be very much appreciated this time round!**
**Thanks for reading. **
2. Chapter 2
****
**Warnings: This will be a slash story but you will have to wait to see the pairings because I aint telling yet! Erm, warnings would be maybe spoilers for season 2 of supernatural if you haven't seen it. **
**Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or Supernatural, no Chris, no Wyatt, no Sam and no Dean. All rights reserved to owners … blah, blah, blah.**
* * *
"Shit." That's the first word that pops into Wyatt's head as he orbs down to where he senses their charges. He can hear Chris suck in a sharp breath and knows he is thinking the same. He counts six vampires in all, not really big odds but add in the fact that he can clearly see their charges are injured and it makes it whole lot more worrying.
"You get to them and I'll draw the vampires away." Wyatt orders, older sibling mode taking over. Chris nods before orbing out. Sticking his fingers in his mouth Wyatt whistles at the attacking pack. They all turn sharply to see him, every set of teeth baring in his direction.
"Anyone feel like trying me?" He taunts, knowing how to get their goat up. Four vampires launch from the group. With a flick of his wrist Wyatt blasts one of them to pieces, followed by another. The third dodges and launches onto him, knocking him to the ground. Trained in hand to hand combat by his Aunt Phoebe, Wyatt easily chucks the creature, flinging its body a good few feet away from himself. Another flick of his wrist and its history.
As soon as Chris's orbs appear he acts fast, holding his hands up in front of him. The vampires' are frozen before they barely realize he is there. He's orbed right in next to his charges and can smell the tang of blood almost straight away, tingling his nose in a sickly way. His protective nature flares as he sends the two remaining vampires hurtling in the opposite direction. He knew Wyatt would deal with them.
Turning and looking down he resists the urge to flinch. One of the men, the oldest by the looks of it, has large chunks almost torn from his back, blood dripping down in pools. He can't clearly see the state of the other, but can sense it must be bad from the protective way the eldest his covering him, the despair and worry seeming to all but roll off of him.
"Hey," He says softly, so not to startle the man more than he needs to. He gently places a hand on his shoulder, trying to get his attention. The man flinches and somehow manages to turn round and face him, his face stained with blood and tears.
"You can't have him!" He yells, voice hoarse and wavering slightly. Chris crouches down to the mans level, trying to appear less threatening. He tries to cover the other body even more, leaving little for Chris to actually be able to see.
"I'm here to help you, not hurt you." He tries to convince him. "My names Chris." He can see the struggle in the mans eyes to stay focused, to stay awake. The amount of pain he must be in is clear, yet he doesn't seem to let it control him. Chris can't help but find it slightly impressive. There's determination in his eyes. Chris eyes the man being protected. This must be the younger brother.
"I can help your brother." He says. "I'm a healer, I can help both of you."
Dean's head pounds with the simple effort it takes to keep himself conscious. There's a man in front of him but he has already forgotten his name. He says he can help them but Dean is no fool. It's bound to be another trick to get to them. He can take care of Sammy himself, that is if he could get his eyes to stop swimming for more than a minute at a time. Glancing down at Sam he doesn't even realize he's turned his back on the stranger. God job Dean, let your guard down.
"Wake up Sammy." He whispers, running a hand over Sam's face softly.
Chris's heart drops a little in his chest. The bond these two have with each other is obvious, even with one out cold. Quickly looking around for Wyatt he catches him just as he finishes off the last threat. He is bleeding from one arm but nothing too serious as far as Chris can tell. Its then that he gets an idea.
"Wyatt, over here now!" He calls out, causing Wyatt to all but sprint over in surprise.
"Why haven't you healed them yet?" Wyatt asked, crouching next to Chris and the two new men.
"He won't let me." Chris says as if it is obvious. "I have an idea though."
"Well whatever it is, hurry up." Wyatt urges impatiently, not liking the look of their charges injuries. Reaching out a hand, Chris lightly touches the oldest mans shoulder, trying to get his attention. His eyes turn to fall back on him but they're heavy and laced with confusion.
"If I prove we are here to help will you let me heal you and your brother?"
Now Dean is not a slow person, nor is he unintelligent, but right now he didn't understand a word that was just said to him. Whether blood loss or just worry for Sam, he couldn't quite comprehend anything. What he did do was seemingly stare blankly at Chris. All this did was back up Wyatt's statement to hurry. Dean watched as Chris raised his hand over the bleeding wound on Wyatt's arm. He gasped in shock as it began to glow, the skin knitting itself back together and the blood fading from the area.
Wyatt and Chris both looked up at Dean, studying his reaction. He didn't run or yell so they supposed that was a good sign at least.
"Help Sammy." Dean said, barely loud enough for them to hear him. Wyatt sighed in relief.
"Okay, you gotta move over here with me while I fix you up and Chris will take care of your brother." Wyatt instructed, gripping Dean by the arm and helping him to his feet. Dean tried to resist the sharp pains that sprung up his back but couldn't help but sway on his feet. It was only because of Wyatt that he didn't fall flat back down. Only taking him a few steps away, Wyatt gently helped lower Dean back to the floor.
"I'm just going to hold my hand over your back and then it will heal." Wyatt said, wanting to make sure he didn't freak the guy out. He thought Dean nodded but then it could have been his head lolling. Either way, he knew he needed helping. Warm light flooded out of Wyatt's hand, the cuts faded and morphed, stitching the area back together. Dean's whole body relaxed against the sensation, thanking heaven for the release.
"All done, just take it easy for-" Wyatt started, but was cut off when Dean shot to his feet, already moving away. "For a while." Wyatt huffed out the last part.
Chris's hands actually shook as he lowered the man so he could reach his head. The other had called him Sam. The name suited him, even unconscious. He knew he needed to calm down otherwise he wouldn't be able to do this. Healing had never been on of his favourite powers. Powers were tied to their emotions and that was were Chris's problem lay. When it involved people being injured, sometimes, he just couldn't deal. He clearly remembered when he couldn't heal his own mother through his own fear, it had nearly cost her life.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Chris raised his hands, watching as the light showed clearly the wound on Sam's head. Slowly, the skin started to knit itself back together. Chris was vaguely aware that Dean was once again kneeling at Sam's side, he was thankful that he at least had the sense to not distract him.
"Whats taking so long?" Wyatt asked worriedly, joining the group.
"I don't know." Chris said, his voice quiet. It should of healed by now.
Wyatt looked at his little brother sadly. He wasn't unaware to the problems Chris had with this certain power. Reaching out, he laid one hand over Chris's, the other over the wound, adding his own power into the mix. The wound stitched itself back together almost immediately. The pair back away as Sam's eyes start to move under his lids.
Now Dean had seen some weird stuff in his life but that came beyond anything. He didn't know whether to trust them but for now, they had healed Sam and that was all that mattered.
"Sammy?" He said desperately, kneeling down beside his brother. "Open your eyes little brother."
He could hear a voice. It sounded like Dean, he was almost sure it was Dean. It was hard to tell anything through the fog in his head though. Sam's whole head felt like it had been stuck a blender and then run over for good measures. He desperately wanted to move but his limps felt unnaturally heavy.
"De?" His mouth managed to force out. He heard a faint laugh.
"Yeah Sammy, I'm here." Dean said relieved that at least Sam was awake.
"What happened?" Sam frowned, attempting in vain to try and push himself up. Dean's arms were around him in an instance, steadying as he allowed his little brother to sit leaning up against him.
"Damn things got the jump on us." Dean laughed weakly.
"Oh." Sam said plainly.
Wyatt and Chris can't help but smile to themselves at the bond that there boys obviously share. It was warming to see brothers who like themselves, actually got along. Wyatt felt Chris nudge his arm playfully and smiled at his younger brother. They had done good today it seemed.
Dean's head snapped up as he suddenly realised the two strangers standing there, one hand on Sam's shoulder keeping him close.
"Who are you?" Dean demanded. Chris and Wyatt were taken back by the sudden harshness and defensiveness of the tone. Had they not just saved his life?
"We're the ones that just saved your arse." Wyatt snapped back heatedly, folding his arms.
"Wyatt!" Chris ground out, glaring at his older brother. "We're here to protect you." He said, turning to his two charges.
"Protect us?" Dean snorted.
"You're in danger." Chris explained. "We were sent here to make sure that nothing happens to you."
"That didn't answer my original question." Dean said shortly, folding his own arms.
"Dean." Sam hissed, rolling his eyes at his brothers harshness. Maybe they should be a bit nicer to these people since they did just save them. Although how Sam was still trying to work out. They didn't look like any hunters that Sam had seen before. They had no weapons and add in that funny thing they had done with their hands, they definitely weren't civilians.
"My name's Chris, this is Wyatt." Chris answered without missing a beat.
"We're witches." Wyatt added in on the end, his tone guarded.
Sam's breath caught in his throat as his eyes darted to Dean, expecting the worst reaction. He wasn't disappointed. Dean's mouth turned into a thin line, his teeth ground together and his eyes hard as he glared at the pair.
"You're witches!" He barked, venom in his voice. Sam gulped and put a hand on Dean's arm in an attempt to reel him in.
"Dean, maybe we should listen first." Sam pleaded. He knew that witches were evil, he knew that they got their powers by demons, but there was something different about these guys, something he could not quite put his finger on. Whatever it was, he could not bring himself to believe that they were threats.
"Witches Sam! Did you hear them!" Dean snapped, not once taking his eyes off them. "They're evil, every damn last one."
"Hey!" Wyatt said insulted, taking a step up to Dean. "I think you should watch what you are saying, we just saved your asses here."
Dean glared, squaring his shoulders at Wyatt. "I will talk to a _witch _however I please." He spat.
"Wyatt!" "Dean!" Sam and Chris called at the same time in some vain attempt to get their respective brothers attention. They both sighed as it did not work.
"What exactly is your problem." Wyatt demanded heatedly, calmness wasn't his strong point.
"You witches are all the same, demon puppets." Dean said with disgust, wishing he had a gun on him so he could get rid of the pair once and for all.
"Demons are the scum of the earth." Wyatt near enough shouted, insulted beyond words of what he was being accused of. If this was what his charge was going to be like, he seriously needed to get hold of that Elder and wring his neck .
Dean snorted. "We're leaving." He said sharply, eyes flocking to Sam for the briefest of moments. It was only the lack of weapon that prompted his decision, plus, he wanted Sam as far away from them as possible. Who knows if they'd actually healed him or done some freaky mumbo-jumbo on him.
"Dean.." Sam tried reluctantly, his eyes looking over at Chris, seeing in the boys eyes that he really meant them no harm.
"Now Sam!" Dena barked, grabbing him by the arm and all but dragging him across the yard.
Chris's eyes darted after their charges nervously, knowing that if they just let them left they would be leaving them vulnerable, but knowing there was no way the eldest was going to let them follow. He bit his bottom lip before shouting out.
"If you need us, all you have to do is shout our names, we'll hear you." Even from here Chris could hear the snort Dean let off, but he smiled a little as the youngest turned back to give them one last glance. Maybe at least one of them had brains.
"Well that went peachy." Wyatt said sarcastically, folding his arms in annoyance. Chris rolled his eyes and huffed, orbing out before Wyatt had a chance to say anything else.
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"What the hell was that Dean!" Sam demanded angrily as he was all but pushed into the motel room.
"They were witches Sam." Dean said with just as much anger, shoving Sam down onto the nearest bed and reaching round to the back of his head.
"Dude I'm fine!" Sam said, pushing Dean's hands away.
"You're not fine until I say so." Dean muttered but didn't try and look again.
Sam sighed frustrated and watched as Dean shuffled around the room, seemingly checking in and under everything in the room.
"What are you doing?" He questioned with another sigh.
"Checking." Dena said, kneeling down to look under the bed frames.
"For?" Sam said annoyed, rubbing the bridge of his nose and he idly watched Dena wander about.
"Hex bags." Dean said with a hard edge to his voice, flicking through their bags.
"There won't be any." Sam said with a sigh, flopping back against the mattress, letting his eyes close.
"How the hell would you know that." Dean asked with clear annoyance lacing his voice. "they were witches, who knows what they did."
"They healed us." Sam pointed out. He didn't need to have his eyes open to see the look Dean was no doubt giving him, like he had suddenly grown an extra head or toe.
"Details." Dean huffed, sitting down heavily on the edge of the other bed, clearly sulking that he couldn't find anything to blame on the mysterious guys.
"I dunno Dean, they seem, different." Sam said with curiosity. There was something about the two guys that was intriguing. He didn't know how, but he knew there was no way they were in league with demons. The way Wyatt had spoke about them was clear evidence of that. He didn't know what else beside a witch could do what they did though. Without thought Sam's hand went to the back of his head, fingers feeling but not finding any traces of a wound. One thing was for sure, there was something definitely out of the ordinary going on here.
"They are all the same Sam." Dean cut through his thoughts, shoving up from the bed and stalking over to the bathroom. He paused just before going through the door. "stay away from them Sam, I mean it."
Sam groaned as the door slammed behind his brother. Well that was just peachy.
* * *
End file.
| fanfiction |
Where does the molar mass difference between N₂ and CO come from?
The molar masses of $\ce{N2}$ is 28.0134 g/mol, for $\ce{CO}$ it's 28.0101 g/mol ([WolframAlpha computation](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=compare%20N2%20and%20CO)).
Of course, they do have the same mass in atomic units (28). My question is, where does this small discrepancy come from? Different binding energies in the respective nuclei? I know that oxygen is a "double-magic" nucleus from an atomic physics POV, that is, it's binding energy per nucleon is higher than what would be expected. But since normally, you equate mass with energy, shouldn't $\ce{CO}$ be heavier then?
The differences in molecular mass stem from two sources:
>
> [Nuclear binding energy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_binding_energy)
>
>
>
The definition of the atomic mass unit and Avogadro's number (and thus the g/mol), is the mass of one atom of the carbon-12 isotope $\ce{^{12}\_6 C}$. 1 amu = $\frac{1}{12}$ the mass of one atom of $\ce{^{12}\_6 C}$ and the g/mol unit is based on the definition of [Avogadro's Number](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avogadro_constant), which is the number of $\ce{^{12}\_6 C}$ atoms in 12 grams of $\ce{^{12}\_6 C}$.
Because of the differences in binding energies in the various nuclei, the [monoisotopic mass](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoisotopic_mass) of individual isotopes are not integers. For example, the mass of $\ce{^{16}\_8 O}$ is [15.99491463 amu](http://www.webelements.com/oxygen/isotopes.html) (and not 16). The monoisotopic masses of the most common isotopes of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon is shown below:
```
mass number % absundance isotope mass
Carbon 12 98.930 12 (defined)
Nitrogen 14 99.632 14.003074
Oxygen 16 99.757 15.99491463
```
>
> Isotopes
>
>
>
Generally, molecular masses (unless otherwise specified) are average molecular masses composed of average molecular masses of the elements based on their isotopes. For example, even though the most common isotope of carbon has a mass defined as 12 amu, there is another naturally occurring isotope $\ce{^{13}\_6 C}$ with 1.07% natural abundance, leading to carbon having a non-integer average atomic mass of 12.01 (to 4 significant figures). There are two isotopes of nitrogen, and three isotopes of oxygen.
```
Average atomic mass
Carbon 12.011
Nitrogen 14.007
Oxygen 15.999
```
Thus, $\ce{CO}$ has a molecular mass of $12.011 + 15.999 = 28.010$ and $\ce{N2}$ has a molecular mass of $14.007+14.007=28.014$. Even their monoisotopic masses are different:
```
average molecular mass monoisotopic mass
dinitrogen 28.014 28.006148
carbon monoxide 28.010 27.99491463
```
There are three factors to consider:
1. The [natural abundance isotope composition](http://www.chem.ualberta.ca/~massspec/atomic_mass_abund.pdf) of each element.
Carbon isn't all carbon 12, there is 1.1% Carbon 13.
Oxygen isn't all oxygen 16, etc.
2. The neutron-proton ratio of each isotope. The mass of a neutron is greater than the mass of a proton plus electron. Isotopes having a higher neutron-proton ratio relative to carbon 12 (which is 1:1) will be relatively heavier per nucleon.
3. The binding energy of each isotope.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
when looking into the medical literature one gets the impression that parametric statistical methods such as student s t - test are common standard , although the underlying normal assumption is often not tenable , especially for small or moderate sample sizes . on the one hand , empirical work has shown that deviations from a normal distribution are frequent even for continuous data . according to nanna and sawilowsky ,
however , for large sample sizes one may rely on the central limit theorem and apply a test designed for normally distributed data . on the other hand ,
ordinal data are widespread in biomedical research . for such data non - parametric tests based on ranks are appropriate , but the statistical analysis is often not performed properly , as shown e.g. by jakobsson for the analysis of ordinal data in nursing research . sometimes a transformation is applied in order to normalize continuous , but non - normal data . however , in case of non - normal data it is preferable to perform a non - parametric test .
transformations can often not be applied since the transformation must be motivated from previous experimental or scientific evidence .
unless determined a priori , transforms can be misused to inflate or mitigate observed significance in a spurious fashion ( , p. 130 ) .
furthermore , the hypotheses before and after the transformation may differ . hence , the use of transformations for the sole purpose of complying with the assumptions of parametric tests is dangerous .
we investigated how frequent the t - test and its non - parametric competitor , the wilcoxon - mann - whitney ( wmw ) test , are used in medical studies .
it is enquired which factors and variables are important for the choice between the non - parametric wmw test and the parametric t - test for studies that compare two independent groups , published in medical journals with different scopes and impact .
it will be discussed whether the decision for one of the methods is appropriate or not .
all original work related to medical studies published in 2004 in five biomedical journals was surveyed .
the three journals american journal of physiology ( heart circ . physiol . ) , annals of surgery , and circulation research were considered because they were also included in a previous study .
in addition , the lancet and the new england journal of medicine were included in our study .
these journals were categorized into two groups with different topics and impact factors ( table 1 ( tab .
each paper was thoroughly checked by the first author , on whether it included original material on not yet published data , irrespective of medical subject , study design or size / format of the paper . for the analyses presented here all studies , which contain at least the unpaired t - test or the wmw test ,
in addition to the test statistic the following factors and variables were also inspected : type of journal , sample size , kind of test objects , scale of measurements , information about randomization , sponsoring by pharmaceutical companies , and the used statistical software .
when the software used for analysis can not perform both the t - test and the wmw test the respective study was excluded from the logistic regression analysis .
odds ratios ( or ) and their 95% confidence intervals ( 95%-ci ) were estimated by logistic regressions . a p - value 0.05 was considered as significant . because of the exploratory nature of our study no multiplicity adjustment was applied .
in total , 1879 publications were surveyed , and 630 studies could be included in the analyses ( table 1 ( tab .
the use of the unpaired t - test predominates in studies where two groups were compared . in 112 studies ( 18% ) only the wmw and in 444 studies ( 70% ) only the unpaired t - test is used ; 74 times ( 12% ) both tests are applied within one study .
please note that the two tests may be used to analyse different variables , however , it was also found that identical variables were analysed with both tests . in the logistic regressions presented below the studies without the wmw test
two of the 630 studies were excluded from the logistic regression analyses because the specified software can not perform the wmw test .
the univariate analyses show significant relationships between the use of the wmw test and the journal type .
the wmw test is more common in the diverse and high - impact journals the new england journal of medicine and the lancet ( p0.001 , or=5.21 , 95%-ci : 3.53 - 7.69 ) .
moreover , the wmw test is more common in studies in humans ( p0.001 , or=6.44 , 95%-ci : 4.42 - 9.38 ) , and , not surprisingly , in studies with non - continuous variables ( p0.001 , or=8.49 , 95%-ci : 4.73 - 15.27 ) .
in addition , the statistical software used is significantly related to the choice between the two statistical tests ( p0.001 ) . in particular
, the wmw test is more common when one of the two common software packages spss ( p=0.004 , or=4.64 , 95%-ci : 2.48 - 8.69 ) and sas ( p=0.030 , or=4.34 , 95%-ci : 1.96 - 9.61 ) is used .
another significant relationship was found regarding information about randomization ( p0.001 , or=2.44 , 95%-ci : 1.70 - 3.50 ) .
the wmw test seems to be more common when the study is sponsored by a pharmaceutical company ( p=0.028 , or=2.32 , 95%-ci : 1.10 - 4.90 ) .
in particular , the wmw test was applied more often in case of large samples ( i.e. n50 ) than in case of small samples ( i.e. n<15 ) ( p=0.001 , or=5.88 , 95%-ci : 3.68 - 9.39 ) .
therefore , a multivariable logistic regression was applied in order to confirm the univariate results .
the type of journal , the test object ( studies in humans or in other subjects ) , the scale of measurement ( continuous or not ) and the statistical software used remained significant ( table 2 ( tab .
the factors randomization , sponsoring and the categorized sample size are no longer significant . with regard to the software , sas is no longer significant , either .
the multivariate regression gives a significantly larger probability for performing the wmw test for spss , only .
sometimes , to be precise , in 57 studies , a reason is specified for using the wmw test .
the most common reasons are non - normal data and categorical data .
further correct reasons are requirements for t - test not fulfilled and small sample sizes . however , the latter reason is correct only when applying the exact ( permutation ) version of the wmw test .
there are also reasons that are problematic from a statistical point of view : in four studies the wmw test was applied before or after the t - test , at least partly because the t - test was not significant . in one further study the wmw test was used because an observed heterogeneity in variances .
however , the wmw test can not guarantee the significance level in case of unequal variances .
moreover , the specified reason in order to compare medians is correct only if a pure location shift between the two distributions can be assumed . as mentioned above
, one may rely on the central limit theorem when sample sizes are large and , consequently , one may apply a parametric test such as the t - test .
however , in 395 out of the considered 630 studies the ( total ) sample size is less than 50 . in 89%
( 353 ) of these studies with low sample size the t - test was applied , sometimes in addition to the wmw test ( 34 studies ) . in the remaining 319 studies with low sample size
however , in 317 out of these 319 studies ( 99% ) there are continuous variables . hence , given
the relatively high robustness of the t - test to skew continuous distributions , the basic assumptions seem to be fulfilled in the vast majority of studies when applying the t - test . in case of more than two groups
the kruskal - wallis test can be applied as a non - parametric test instead of the wmw test . when considering the 1879 surveyed publications the kruskal - wallis test was applied in 53 studies .
many of these studies have a low sample size smaller than 50 ( 23 studies ) and/or non - continuous data ( 18 studies ) .
the parametric analogue , an analysis of variance ( anova ) , was found in 658 studies .
however , these 658 studies can not be compared with the 53 studies with a kruskal - wallis test because an anova is much more flexible than the kruskal - wallis test and can also be applied in studies with more complex designs .
the assertions some authors made about their decisions for the wmw and the attributes of the published data indicate that the scale of measurement is the primary factor for a decision in favour of a non - parametric test . however , there are three further factors that remained significant in the multivariable logistic regression .
the wmw test is more often used in studies in humans . however , in these studies non - continuous variables are more common as well ( table 3 ( tab .
a possible explanation is that the high - impact journals have a more detailed statistical review and that they may reject a paper because of an inappropriate statistical analysis . in line with this
, studies published in journals with high impact factors often contain a more detailed methodical description compared to studies published in other journals .
please note in this context that the new england journal of medicine says in its instructions for authors that non - parametric methods should be used to compare groups when the distribution of the dependent variable is not normal
in addition to the lancet and the new england journal of medicine we included the three journals american journal of physiology ( heart circ . physiol . ) , annals of surgery , and circulation research in our study .
this sample of five journals is not necessarily representative for the multitude of biomedical journals .
however , we are able to compare our results towards the work of ludbrook and dudley .
this comparison indicates that the behaviour of medical scientists with parametric and non - parametric tests did not change considerably .
ludbrook and dudley s findings about the handling with statistical methods can be approved even ten years later . given the higher efficiency of non - parametric tests for non - normal data , non - parametric tests such as the wmw test should be applied more often , especially when the sample size is not very large . in other areas of life
the wmw test was applied in 21/33=64% of the papers that used the two - sample t - test and/or the wmw test . | pubmed |
__NOTOC__
Year 804 DCCCIV was a leap year starting on Monday link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
Battle of Krasos: Emperor Nikephoros I refuses to pay the tribute imposed by Caliph Harun al-Rashid of the Abbasid Caliphate. A Muslim-Arab expeditionary force invades Asia Minor. During a surprise attack, Nikephoros suffers a major defeat against the Saracens at Krasos in Phrygia. According to Arabian sources, the Byzantines lose 40,700 men and 4,000 pack animals, while Nikephoros himself is almost killed, but saved by the bravery of his officers.
Europe
Summer Emperor Charlemagne finishes the conquest of Saxony. The Carolingian administration in the north is restored and the diocese of Bremen is re-established. Venice, torn by infighting, switches allegiance from Constantinople to King Pepin of Italy, son of Charlemagne.
Obelerio degli Antenori becomes the ninth doge of Venice, after his predecessor Giovanni Galbaio flees to Mantua, where he is killed.
The Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück is founded by Charlemagne the oldest school in Germany.
Asia
Kūkai, Japanese Buddhist monk, travels in a government-sponsored expedition to China, in order to learn more about the Mahavairocana Sutra. He brings back texts of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.
Priest Saichō, patriarch of Tendai Buddhism, visits China and reportedly brings back tea seeds or 805.
The Inscription of Sukabumi from Eastern Java marks the beginning of the Javanese language.
By topic
Religion
Ludger, Frisian missionary, becomes the first bishop of Münster, and builds a monastery there.
Births
Bayazid Bastami, Persian Sufi d. 874
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, Japanese regent d. 872
Deaths
May 19 Alcuin, bishop and advisor to Charlemagne
October 1 Richbod, archbishop of Trier
Saint Abundantia, Christian saint
Giovanni Galbaio, doge of Venice approximate date
Ibrahim al-Mawsili, musician and singer b. 742
Lu Yu, Chinese author of The Classic of Tea b. 733
Ragnar Lothbrok Legendary Norse Viking hero and Scandinavian King.
References | wikipedia |
But in our 'post-truth'- era, the power and the primacy of factual information is looking increasingly dubious as a tool for persuasion.
How can we explain these blatant discrepancies?
We have to start by acknowledging the fact that the human brain is an imperfect computer that finds it very difficult to interpret factual information objectively. Instead we tend to filter information through the prism of our pre-established opinions and beliefs.
This tendency to see what we want to see is known as 'the confirmation bias'. http://bit.ly/2eBaupL And it probably has more traction now than at any other time in our history because it is possible to find support for just about any crackpot theory you care to mention on the internet, promulgated to believers via social media.
The other problem with the human brain is that it isn't anywhere near as logical as we like to think. Our instincts and emotions predate our intellects by a very long way and recent findings from the field of neuroscience suggest that emotions play a primary role in decision-making.
Although they seemed normal (apart from not feeling emotions, that is) they all exhibited the same inability to make even the simplest decisions.
Damasio concluded that even the most apparently logical decisions are probably based on emotion. Which probably explains why, after weighing up the pros and cons, we tend to go with what 'feels right'.
To return to my starting point, where does all this leave facts as a tool of persuasion?
In terms of the confirmation bias, it means you can't just throw a series of facts, however well-evidenced, at your audience and expect them to be accepted at face value. Rather you need to do some homework aimed at uncovering your audience's preconceptions and identify some shared ground before you can hope to influence them.
In terms of the primacy of emotions, it means you need to find ways to appeal to hearts as well as minds, to engage feeling as well as thought.
Aristotle arrived at this same conclusion centuries ago when he identified ethos (a speaker's credibility), logos (appeal to logic) and pathos (appeal to emotions) as the three key tools of persuasion. And that will be the subject of my next post.
Clearsay works with senior executives in all sectors to develop and improve their spoken communication skills for us in presentations, media interviews, negotiations and critical meetings. For more information return to the Home Page. | slim_pajama |
Pepiniere Rigaud, Nurseries, listed under "Nurseries" category, is located at 456 Ch De La Grande-Ligne Rigaud QC, J0P 1P0, Canada and can be reached by 4504510589 phone number. Pepiniere Rigaud has currently 0 reviews.
Browse all Nurseries in Rigaud QC. | slim_pajama |
Why does the Sun's emission spectrum have missing lines? [duplicate]
**This question already has answers here**:
[Why don't absorption and emission lines cancel out in our Sun?](/questions/327960/why-dont-absorption-and-emission-lines-cancel-out-in-our-sun)
(3 answers)
Closed 2 years ago.
I know it is because the electrons in hydrogen and helium absorb them however, they also drop back to ground state immediately and emit the previously absorbed photon. So there should be no net difference as absorbed photon gets emitted. Therefore the emission spectrum should not have missing lines. But they do. What am I missing?
The elements in the hot atmosphere surrounding the Sun absorb their preferred wavelengths of light being beamed out of the sun, but they then re-emit those absorbed photons *in random directions*- most of which are not aimed at us here on earth. So we see a solar spectrum with dark lines in it- representing those "missing" photons.
| stackexchange/physics |
Mass Effect 1. Odd turns and a rude awakening
**A/N: This is my first ever fanfic, so reviews would be very much welcome, please help this new writer along. Don't expect updates to occur too often, I am often quite busy with work, school, and playing games with friends when I have free time. I DON'T OWN MASS EFFECT, BIOWARE DOES! I AM JUST A FAN WHO LIKES TO WRITE!**
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**Protagonist POV**
My father once told me that life has a tendency to take some very crazy turns. At the time, I only half-believed him since for me, daily life had been fairly routine. I was a graduate of MIT with a masters' degree at my graduation party, celebrating the coming of a new part of my life.
That was then. Before a massive event took my life, turned it upside-down, shook it, and then kicked it to another universe. The last part was literal by the way.
I woke up in a holding cell about a week before the time I am writing this. Through the glass door of the cell, I could see a logo I had not seen since I was a teenager playing video games. The logo belonged to Cerberus, and the game in question was the Mass Effect series. On top of that, I noticed I was wearing a very familiar suit. The Nanosuit 2 from Crysis 2 and 3, another one of my favorite game series. Crazy story no? I remember going to sleep the night after my graduation party and waking up here. I am torn between deeming this a very visceral lucid dream, me going insane, what it actually seemed to be, or a combination of the first two. But, beyond questioning my own sanity, I decided to put the enhanced hearing the Nanosuit offered me to good use. I didn't get too much beyond the year and where I was. I was being held on the Lazarus Station, where Commander Shepard was being revived, given that I heard the crew making logs stating that it was the year 2185, and how long Shepard had been dead. I am using the Nanosuit to create this log on what I can tell is two days before Shepard is rudely awakened, after two years and 12 days spent dead, it has been currently two years and 10 days. This is based on my memory of playing through the Mass Effect series many times over, so I am not too sure if I am totally correct, but I am hoping I am right.
Next thing I am wondering is why am I being held on the Lazarus station, and not on some other medical facility with them trying to skin me of the suit. I have come up with a few theories, one being that they intend to send me along with Shepard on the Normandy SR2, that being the most likely, since I am sure they have taken some kind of scans to figure out what the Nanosuit can do, but from what my scans and hacking of their systems can tell me, they know very little, but they think I could be an asset, and they likely intend to somehow convince me that Cerberus is right and somehow get my consent to use the suit to make more for their purposes, and my intention is to not let them do so, knowing what happens with Cerberus after the events of Mass Effect 2. Still. If I am correct, I may be able to make my break with Shepard in two days time, and maybe put that degree in engineering to good use. Since I expect little to happen in between now and then, I may as well go back to sleep.$
**Two Days Later **
I woke up to explosions and gunfire, and the a voice I recognized to be that of one Miranda Lawson talking to Shepard over the intercom. Hearing Shepard approaching, I set the suit to maximum armour and busted the glass wall of my cell, diving out and finishing a roll. I stayed low and got into cover.
"Who are you?" Shepard yells.
"The name's Nick." I yell back over the gunfire.
"What are you doing here? You don't look like a scientist."
"I have no idea why I am here and how I got here. I will explain in more detail when we are in a place that doesn't have prying eyes and ears everywhere. Also when we aren't fighting for our lives."
"Works for me." She says.
"I could use a gun of some kind though." She quickly tosses me a pistol that was lying nearby and a few thermal clips. "Thanks."
"Anytime." She replies.
After a few more rooms full of mechs, we meet Jacob as he is taking cover from three mechs on the other side of a pit.
"Shepard? What the hell? What are you doing here? I thought you were still a work in progress."
"I just woke up. You probably know more than I do." Shepard replied
"Right. Sorry about that. I'm Jacob Taylor. I've been stationed here for-"
A mech spoke over them "Hostiles detected."
"Damn it!" Jacob yells after nearly getting hit. He quickly pops out of cover and blasts the offending mech's head off. "Things must be worse than I thought if Miranda's got you running around. I'll fill you in, but we better get you to the shuttle first."
Both Shepard and I nod our ascent, and after clearing the immediate area of mechs, Jacob and Shepard talk as Shepard asks questions of Jacob. In the meantime, I lean on a nearby wall and ponder the implications that my apparently exact knowledge of the timeline here could have, how easily I could affect the outcome of this whole damn thing. This pondering continues until Jacob calls me over and asks if I have any questions.
"Sure. I have a few. Mainly, why am I on the Lazarus station and not some other station getting this suit picked apart bit by bit?"
"The leader of the Lazarus project feels that you could likely be a big asset for the mission we are planning to do in the near future, and would like to have you along. On that topic, what skills do you have; and where the hell did you learn to shoot like that?"
"I am an engineer with a masters in theoretical propulsion systems from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As for where I learned to shoot, I am self taught. Took me years, but here I am. I am also adept at many forms of martial arts, as I prefer fight close up."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Jacob agrees.
Just then, Jacob receives a message from Wilson and they discuss a plan to get off the station. When they finish talking, my memories from the games that Wilson betrayed them come back to me. I almost mention it to Jacob, but I then remember that he barely believes it when Miranda tells him later. The three of us fight our way to the server room where Wilson is. We arrive to find that he is injured, just like what happened in the games. I am fully convinced now that the games are correct with the timeline here. I figure that it would be best to keep it to myself as long as possible due to the kind of danger my knowledge could pose. After getting some Medi-gel for Wilson, Jacob explains to Shepard that it was Cerberus who revived her. She then loudly declares that she will never work for Cerberus, knowing full well what they have done before. I decide to chime in there.
"Whatever Cerberus may have done before, at least give them time to explain themselves here. They did spend two full years bringing you back from the dead. At least give them a small chance. Besides that, they are the only ones who know how to get the hell off this station, so we best keep moving."
"Alright." Shepard begrudgingly agrees.
We progress through the halls of the Lazarus station until we arrive at what seems to be a dock. After killing a few more mechs, we open the door to a shuttle, and we see Miranda.
"Miranda? But you were-" Wilson never gets to finish his statement as he is shot dead by Miranda.
"Dead?" Miranda finishes for him.
"What the hell are you doing? Jacob exclaims while running up to Wilson's corpse.
"My job. Wilson betrayed us all." Miranda explained.
"Even if you're sure, did he deserve that welcome?!" I retorted while Shepard and I raised our pistols at Miranda.
"He sabotaged the security systems, killed my staff, and he would have killed us if I didn't right now." Miranda said.
"You sure about that Miranda? We've known Wilson for years. What if you're wrong?" Jacob chimed in.
"I'm never wrong. I thought you'd have learned that by now Jacob." I noted Miranda's cockiness for later. She is very sure of herself, just like the games. Almost to the point of arrogance.
"If you say so. What's our next step?" Shepard inquired.
"We get on the shuttle and go. My boss wants to speak to you and the suited man." Miranda explains.
"You mean the Illusive Man? I know you work for Cerberus." Shepard replies.
"Ah, Jacob. I should've known your conscience would get the better of you."
"Lying to the commander and the guy in the suit isn't the way to get them to join our cause."
"On that, I can agree with you Jacob." I say. "Lies don't exactly help you forge alliances in my experience. By the way, call me Nick."
"Well since we're getting everything out in the open, is there anything else you two want to ask before we go?"
"Yeah. I got a question. Why am I here and not at some other lab station getting this suit picked apart. Jacob says that you feel I could be an asset on your mission, but I can tell that there is more to it than just that. Just from talking to you like this I can tell you have a way with words."
"All will be revealed in due time Nick, and you have good instincts and perception. There is more to it than that you will likely make a good asset." Miranda is tactful in her avoiding giving me an answer. I give her a few points in my book.
"Lets go. I've had enough of this station to last a lifetime." Shepard says almost exasperatedly.
"Or two in your case. Come on."
As we are in the shuttle on our way to our destination, Miranda and Jacob ask Shepard to recount various events in her life to make sure her memories are intact. Her answers tell me that she would fit the paragon morality of the games. When we arrive at the station, we are given a few hours to rest and prepare for our chat with the Illusive man and our next mission.
* * *
**A/N: Well. That took less time to write than expected. My protagonist is rather quiet, only entering conversations he feels the need to, and the focus will move more towards him later since the first mission in ME2 kinda makes him stuck with Shepard and most of the conversations are her learning about Cerberus and stuff that my OC already knows about. Also, given the Nanosuit's nature, it is likely to create some form of pseudo-biotics for him since he works around biotics, and is likely to get hit with a few attacks from enemy vanguards and possibly some minor exposure to red sand from the mission when Shepard recruits Samara. Shepard will be a vanguard in this fic. Vanguard is my favourite class to play in ME2 and ME3. Shepard's name will also be revealed in due time, along with a more expanded version of Nick's story.**
**Review if you would be so kind, and please give this new writer pointers. I am open to suggestions here.**
**-Jötunn**
2. Reunions and progress
**A/N: Many thanks for the follows and the 2 reviews I got. This fic is doing a lot better than I thought it would. I will refer to the Illusive Man as "TIM" like a lot of other authors simply because "TIM" being quicker and easier to write than "the Illusive Man" over and over again. The exception will be when he is referred to in some conversations.**
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It has been about 13 hours since we arrived and were told to get some rest. I am awake and Shepard and I found ourselves in the mess hall to have a small meal before we meet the Illusive man, and then go to investigate Freedom's Progress if my memory serves. On our way to the place we were told to go, we pass by Jacob who gives us a friendly "Good morning" and Miranda who gives us a look that says "Took you long enough." We then enter the room we were told to go to, and an orange holo barrier goes up around us as the Illusive Man appears in front of us.
"Commander Shepard, and... I haven't been told of your name yet." The Illusive Man greets us as best he can.
"My name is privy to those I trust, and, no offence, but I don't trust you at all as of now." I say
"Understandable. I can see why you would be cautious."
"I thought we'd be meeting face to face" Shepard adds.
"A necessary precaution. Not unusual for people who know what you and I know." TIM explains.
"You might be the reason I'm still alive, but that doesn't mean I trust you." Shepard tells him. Wise choice of words in my opinion.
"You need to put your personal feelings aside." TIM says bluntly. "Humanity is up against the greatest threat of our brief existence."
"The Reapers." Shepard adds.
"Good to see your memory's still intact. How are you feeling?"
"Cut to the chase. What are the Reapers doing that made you decide to bring me back?"
"We're at war. No one wants to admit it, but humanity is under attack." TIM says standing up from his chair. "While you've been sleeping, entire colonies have been disappearing. Human colonies. We believe it's someone working for the Reapers. Just as Saren and the Geth aided Sovereign. You've seen it yourself. You bested all of them. That's just one reason we chose you."
"Sovereign was trying to harvest all life in the galaxy. Why would the Reapers target a few human colonies?" Shepard asked.
"Hundreds of thousands of colonists have vanished. I'd say that fits the definition of 'harvesting'. TIM replies. "Nobody's paying attention because it's random and the attacks happen in remote locations. I don't know why they've suddenly targeted humanity. Maybe you got their attention when you killed one of them."
"If what you're saying is true... if the Reapers are behind this... then I'd consider helping you."
"I concur with Shepard. Best someone try to do something about it before too long." I add.
"I'd be disappointed if either of you accepted any of this without seeing it for yourselves. I have a shuttle ready to take the two of you to Freedom's Progress, the latest colony to be abducted. Miranda and Jacob will brief you."
"Wait a sec here. Miranda killed Wilson in cold blood and Jacob is little more than a merc. You honestly expect Shepard and I to trust them?" I say.
"Wilson was one of my best agents, but he was a traitor. Miranda did exactly what I expected of her, and she has saved Shepard's life and your life in more ways than one. Jacob is a soldier, one of the best I have. He's never fully trusted me, but at least he has always been honest about it. The two of you will be fine with them for now." TIM replies.
"Is this a volunteer job or are we being volunteered?" Shepard asks for both of us.
"You two will always have a choice. If you don't find the evidence we are both looking for, we can part ways." I remember how TIM isn't too good with rejection, as proven by his actions during Mass Effect 3, but I will keep that to myself.
"But first, go to Freedom's Progress." TIM adds. "Find any clues you can. Who's abducting the colonies? Do they have any connection to the reapers?" He questions. "I brought you back, Shepard. It's up to you to do the rest."
After the holo barrier retracts, I stop Shepard for a quick word on our views of TIM.
"I don't trust him at all Shepard. I get that he is providing us with resources, but I and getting bad vibes from him."
"I saw what Cerberus did before; they lured investigating Alliance marines into a thresher maw, and then killed Admiral Kahoku. I trust them as little as you do, but you're right. We shouldn't look this gift horse in the mouth." She replies.
"I also have a theory. If they let slip you are doing this work for them, then anything we do to bring their reputation down would do the same to you, but at the moment, you working for them would possibly convince some people that because Commander Shepard is working for them, then Cerberus must be better than what the Council and Alliance have been saying. They could be using you to boost their reputation in a good way."
"I thought of that myself. Makes me like them even less now."
"On that, we can agree. Now, before we go, I'm going to pay the armoury a visit. Miranda left me a note about Cerberus having reverse engineered Geth shotguns and that there is a really nice pistol in stock there. You're welcome to come too."
"Sounds good."
As we finish gathering weapons and Shepard finishes customizing her armor, we make our way back to the staging area where Jacob and Miranda are. "You can go chat with Miranda. I already don't like her too much. I'll talk with Jacob" I say to Shepard quietly.
"Fine." She replies.
I go up to Jacob and tap his shoulder to get his attention. "Oh. Hey Nick. I'm glad the Illusive Man convinced you and Shepard to join us."
"Shepard and I both want to find out what happened to the missing people. Neither of us trusts Cerberus, especially the Commander, giver her knowledge and firsthand experience in some of the things Cerberus has done in the past."
"Noted. Do you trust me, Nick?"
"You're a good man Jacob, but both Shepard and I think that you may be working for the wrong people."
"Maybe, but that is the same thing I though when I was working for the Alliance. That's why I'm here now."
"I think that's good enough for now. We should probably hurry before the ladies drag us out by the ears." I say jokingly.
"Sounds like something Miranda would do if we annoyed her. I agree. We should get going."
With that, we boarded the shuttle and were on our way to Freedom's Progress. When we were within 2 minutes travel time from our destination, Miranda asked a question.
"We should be there shortly. The Illusive Man put Jacob and I under Shepard's and Nick's command. Do either of you have any orders?"
"Our first priority is to look for survivors" Shepard says.
"I agree. If there are any though, they may not be in the best state of mind, meaning that questioning would have to wait a while, but we should get any out alive that we can."
"Survivors are unlikely. No one was left at the other colonies. They were completely deserted." Miranda replied.
"Be nice to find someone though. Anything is better than another ghost town." Jacob added.
We touched down at a landing area, and exited the shuttle.
"Just had to be cold, snowy, dark, and with whistling winds. Perfect horror scene." I say as we start moving.
We enter a residential prefab building to see a set dining table, but nobody to eat the food.
"Looks like everyone just got up and left right in the middle of dinner." Jacob comments.
"Strange. No bodies. No structural damage. No signs of battle." Miranda notes as we progress towards a large door.
"Hold up!" I say. "Suit radar systems are picking up humanoid mechs across a gap on the other side of that door, along with some other mechs that seem vaguely like dogs. Get to cover and I will open it." I add drawing my plasma shotgun.
"LOKI mechs like the ones on the Lazarus station, and FENRIS mechs." Miranda comments. "Kill the FENRIS mechs before they get too close and drain your shields."
"Noted." I say as I open the door, activating a suit mode, Maximum Armor.
I send a few blasts from my shotgun into the LOKI mechs that unfold across the gap as Miranda and Jacob take care of the incoming FENRIS mechs. I then turn my attention to the next wave of LOKI mechs that come through a door across a bridge over the gap. I also notice something. Despite all the fire I am taking, the suit doesn't seem to be having noticeable energy decreases. I chalk it up to the suit getting some upgrades and move on.
"Those mechs shouldn't have been hostile. They should have recognized us as human." Jacob says.
"Someone reprogrammed them to attack on sight. We're not alone here." Miranda notes.
"Wait a sec!" I say. "Let me see if the suit can access one of their memory cores. See if I can't make a viable remote hack that disables them."
"Sounds like a good idea. See what you can do." Shepard agrees.
I stoop down over the corpse of a mech that didn't self destruct after dying, and open up the chest to see if the memory banks got too shot up. They were in good shape, and so I made to open them. They were poorly secured, but the reprogramming was solid, if a bit rushed. But, I would be able to make a disabling pulse to mechs that didn't have this reprogramming.
"Finished. The cores were poorly secured, but the hack was solid. I can't stop the mechs here, but I may be able to make a disabling pulse for use on other mechs in the future."
"That will be very helpful. Always good to have an engineer in the ground team I think." Jacob comments, with Miranda and Shepard nodding their agreement.
We progress through a building with multiple bunks, and what looked to be a Medi-gel dispenser on the wall that had some extra gel in it, so I picked that up for use later. As we were passing by a balcony on another building, a LOKI and FENRIS mech powered up. Taking them down quickly, we kept going up to the balcony and into an open door. When it opens, we see a team of Quarians huddled around a holo display. They stand up and aim their weapons at us, with our group doing the same.
"Stop right there!" A male quarian ordered.
"Prazza! You said you'd let me handle this! Wait... Shepard?" A female quarian I know to be Tali'Zorah says while jumping in between us and them.
"I'm not taking any chances with Cerberus operatives!" Prazza stated.
"Put those weapons down!" Tali yells back to Prazza. "Shepard? Is that... you're alive?"
"Remember when I gave you that Geth data, Tali? Did it help you complete your pilgrimage?" Shepard says in a calming, friendly voice.
"Yes, it did. Prazza, weapons down. This is definitely Commander Shepard."
"Why is your old Commander working for Cerberus?" Prazza asks.
"I don't know. Maybe we should ask." Tali replies.
"I nearly died Tali." Shepard says telling a small lie. "Cerberus spent about two years rebuilding me. They want me to investigate attacks on human colonies."
"Likely story. No organization would commit so many resources to bring back one soldier." Prazza says, not taking into account what Shepard has done.
"You haven't seen Shepard in action, Prazza. Trust me. It was money well spent. And, before we finish this conversation, who or what is the tall... thing in the back of your group?"
I remove my helmet to back up what I say next.
"I'm a human. The name's Nick, an engineer. I'm wearing a very advanced combat exo-suit. Can't go into details about it right now though."
"At least you're not a mech. I have seen enough mechs for one day, and there isn't a visible end to them right now." Tali adds.
"I agree with you on that one." Jacob adds.
"Perhaps we can work together. We're here looking for a young Quarian named Veetor. He was here on pilgrimage." Tali says.
"Isn't that a little strange? A Quarian visiting a remote Human colony?" Shepard asks.
"Quarians can choose where they go on pilgrimage. Veetor liked the idea of helping a small settlement. He was always... nervous in crowds." Tali responds.
"She means that he was unstable. Combine that with damage to his suit's CO2 scrubbers and an infection from an open-air exposure, and he's likely delirious." Prazza states bluntly.
"When he saw us landing, he hid in a warehouse on the far side of the colony. We suspect he also programmed the mechs to attack anything that moved." Tali adds.
"I accessed the memory cores of one of the mechs. His reprogramming is solid, if a bit rushed, the rushed part is explained by his probable mental state. But, the work he did in that state is good. He could make a very good programmer." I note.
"Veetor is the only one who can tell us what happened here. We should work together to find him." Shepard suggests.
"Good idea. You'll need two teams to get past the drones, anyway." Tali agrees.
"Now we're working with Cerberus?" Prazza asks.
"No Prazza, you working for me. If you can't follow orders, go wait on the ship." Tali says sternly. Turning back to us, she continues. "Head for the warehouse through the centre of the colony. We'll circle around the far side and draw off some of the drones to clear you a path."
"Make sure to keep in radio contact." Shepard comments.
"Will do. Good luck, Shepard. Whatever happens... it's good to have you back."
We continue forward and we notice some drones flying overhead, just as Tali radios over about them. After fighting our way through drones and more buildings, Tali radios us again.
"Shepard! Prazza and his squad rushed on ahead. I told them to wait, but they wouldn't listen. They want to find Veetor and take him away before you get here."
"How did I know they would do that?" I say, despite the fact that I did know what happens.
"Come on! We can still catch them." Jacob says.
After fighting our way through a few more drones, we come to a large loading bay door and are instructed to take cover by Tali before she opens it, given her mentioning of a heavy YMIR mech. The doors open and we see Prazza and his squad get annihilated by the YMIR mech. I cringe a little at the sight of a mech operated by a delirious Quarian kill some of it's operator's people. Veetor is as crazy as the games made him out to be. We whittle away at the YMIR until it finally dies in a large explosion. We then move on to the warehouse where Veetor is.
I decide to let the next conversation play out by Shepard's will and tune out to ponder my situation. I may be trained in shooting, and I am just fine with shooting robots, but soon, actual living beings will be in my crosshairs, and I will have to pull that trigger or possibly die. Everyone says that your first kill always takes it's toll, but there is just no way to really prepare for such as thing. I continue to muse on how things are playing out until I hear Tali come in and ask Shepard to give Veetor to the Quarians and they will send his omni tool data to Shepard. I also offer to send Tali a copy of Veetor's reprogramming work. Shepard agrees to both, and we then board the shuttle and head back to the station. When we arrive, Shepard and I are asked to meet with TIM again. I again choose to stay quiet until the end, where I say my farewells as we go with Joker to see the Normandy SR-2. After being told we have a few days before setting out in the Normandy, I come up with a request after seeing the ship schematics and layout that I need to have TIM authorize.
"I had a feeling that it might have been you calling." TIM says to me. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes actually. When I received the floor plans for the Normandy, I noticed something. On Deck 4, in the main engineering room, I notice that off to the right of where Engineer Daniels and Engineer Donnelly are stationed and the mirrored location on the opposite side of the room, the space behind the bulkheads is unused. My request was that in these empty spaces, engineers' cabins be built. Keeping the engineers on the engineering deck would be useful in situations that require them to be close to their work, as well as when they need to be at their stations on short notice. Can you see my logic?"
"I see your logic and admire your creativity. I agree with your reasoning, and I will have the workers put in those cabins. How many cabins were you planning for there to be on each side?"
"From what I can see, each side could hold two single person cabins, accessed through one main door that leads to a small alcove with smaller sliding doors to access each individual cabin." I reply.
"Forward the plans to the workers, and I will authorize it. The construction shouldn't take more time than the currently planned wait. Thank you for your improvement to the ship." TIM says.
"If it makes my job easier to get to on short notice, I am happy."
With that business concluded, I decide that it would be a good time to catch some shut eye, and for tomorrow, hopefully find something to occupy myself with for the next few days while the Normandy finished the construction and launch preparations.
* * *
**A/N: Well. That was a longer chapter. Just over 3400 words.**
**The engineers' cabins stem from a personal belief that someone who has a job that is crucial to the smooth operation of a ship should be able to sleep near his or her workspace, just in case of emergencies. It will also serve to make the planned pairing of Nick and Tali work better, because to me, relationships that may involve the two involved parties sleeping together wouldn't work too good in the Normandy's crew bunks. I personally believe privacy is rather important for the more intimate side, unless you are the kind of person who is very open with your relationship. It works with Shepard since Shepard has a private cabin, so I had to come up with a creative way to make that work for two people who don't have personal areas in canon. Also I can make it a way for Ken and Gabby to shut up and get a room, because I wonder why BioWare never did just have them get together towards the end of ME3. (if they survived and were pardoned) Ken may be a pervert with a big mouth, but Gabby can shut him up and keep him in line just fine.**
**The Virmire survivor will be Ashley in this fic.**
**And before you go and write a review, can you include in the review if I should make the story move along a bit faster? It is moving along fairly slowly right now, and I wanted to know if I should change that.**
**As for upcoming missions from the game, I will try to keep Mordin's recruitment mission and Garrus' recruitment mission concise enough to fit both into chapter 3. I will also reveal Shepard's first name sometime soon as well. Nick will also find more use of the Nanosuit cloak later, in battles where flanking is possible, because on freedom's progress, most of the battles are on very small, linear battlefields, except for the fight with the YMIR at the end, but cloaking and walking up to a YMIR and attempting to kill it with martial arts just doesn't work in my head. I can see a lot of potential for the cloak's use in a few other missions though.**
**Also, can you tell that I don't like Miranda too much?**
**Thanks to Konner N7 for beta work. Go read his fics. They are quite good.**
**Review, favourite, follow, take your pick. Also tell me if you think I could make the story better in any way. I am still open for suggestions. That was a long ass A/N.**
**-Jötunn**
3. Hyperactive Salarian and Turian Marksman
**A/N: It is once again a weekend, which means I have time to write. But, this coming week is a school vacation for me, so expect at least 2-3 chapters over the course of the week. I am going to try and fit 2 recruitment missions per chapter, because like I said, my pacing seems to be based on how long the mission seems to take when I play the game, and after the first two, I tend to speed through the game. Many of the smaller, less important conversations or ones that Nick chooses to not take part in that occur in game will be paraphrased to keep the chapter from getting too long, but the most important ones will be written out as they occurred in game, with the additions of what Nick says. Also, I will include the quotes of Mordin rambling before Shepard starts the conversation with Mordin because Mordin is one of my favorite characters. Now, on to chapter 3!**
To sum up the Normandy SR2 in a word, I would say "beautiful." She looked amazing in the games, but I am pretty sure an old saying about being able to appreciate something better in person applies here. Shepard, Jacob, Miranda, and I are still in the decontamination chamber and I am already impressed and amazed. We finish in the decon room and head into the bridge area, where Joker takes a left to go to his chair. We continue to the main section of the CIC, and just before heading down the short set of stairs, Shepard stops to look at the new CIC.
"Welcome aboard the new Normandy, Commander." Jacob says to Shepard.
Shepard continues and stops just in front of the central ship monitor hologram and the surrounding table as Miranda offers her suggestion of where to start our mission.
"I've been looking over the dossiers. I'd strongly recommend starting with acquiring Mordin Solus, the Salarian professoron Omega. We know the Collectors use some type of advanced technology to immobilize their victims. We'll need him to develop a countermeasure to protect us."
"Without that countermeasure, we'll be helpless if we ever run into the Collectors." Shepard acknowledges.
"I have some ideas on how to stop it that he might like. When we were on Freedom's Progress, I managed to pick up some tiny traces of a residue of some kind. Not enough to tell Mordin exactly how to make the countermeasure, but enough to help him along." I add.
"Acquiring Professor Solus seems the most logical place to start." A new voice chimes in.
"Who are you?" Shepard asks of the new voice.
"I am the Normandy's artificial intelligence. The crew like to refer to me as EDI." The now named EDI answers.
"Helmsmen aren't happy when someone takes control of a ship away from them, especially Joker." Shepard informs EDI.
"Nor do we engineers like it when the ship takes our jobs and does them for us. We like to do things for ourselves for the most part." I say adding on to what Shepard had said.
"I do not helm the ship or run engineering jobs. Your talents and Mr. Moreau's talents will not go to waste. During combat, I operate the electronic warfare and cyber warfare suites. Beyond that, I cannot interface with the ship's systems. I observe and offer analysis and advice, nothing more." EDI explained.
"I'm guessing it takes more than just the four of us and Joker to fly this ship." Shepard observes.
"The Normandy has a full crew. They're at their stations and awaiting your orders." Miranda explains.
"Final preparations for takeoff are complete commander. When you're ready to go, just pick a destination from the galaxy map in the CIC and I'll plot a course." Joker pipes up over the comm.
"Jacob and I should return to our posts. Come find us if you have any questions." Miranda says.
"Yeah. I'll be in engineering Shepard. Come see us down there if you want. Being at the bottom of the ship can get lonely sometimes." I add while following Miranda into the elevator.
We stop at deck 3, and I decide to get off the elevator here to go check in with Dr. Chakwas, figuring that I was due for a check-up anyway. I enter the medical bay and walk up to Chakwas.
"Ah. You must be the new ground team member I was told about. I'm Dr. Chakwas, and your name is?"
"I'm Nick. I figured that I could do with a check up. It has been a while and I believe it is customary for a new crew member to see the CMO as soon as they can."
"Well, at least you willingly came in for this. Not everyone on this ship is as willing as you." Chakwas says while running her omni-tool over me. "Well, as far as I can see, you are in perfect shape. However, I noticed that your suit is seemingly linked to you. Do you mind explaining this?"
"I do mind, and it's not you. It's that they have eyes and ears everywhere, and the inner workings of this suit is something I'd rather Cerberus not know about." I explained.
"I can understand that. It seems very advanced. I have to ask, can you remove it at all?"
That was a question I didn't have an answer for. I knew of how the Nanosuit was symbiotic in the Crysis games, and that the wearer would eventually become the suit in a way, but would that apply here? Only one real way to find that out.
"I don't know doctor. But, I should be able to find that out. But first..." Immediately after I say that, I send out an EMP pulse that would deactivate all monitoring bugs in the med bay, and ask Chakwas to cover the windows to the mess area.
I open the suit control menus how I remembered it being done in the games, by engaging a projected interface over the hands. I manage to navigate the menus until I found the option for the suit to detach itself. From what it said of the procedure, the suit had apparently gotten a further upgrade. The nano-muscle could self replicate, meaning that it could repair damage on its own, but it could also do the inverse. Beyond the solid metal pieces, it could recede into a small form almost invisible unless you take a good long look at the person. I instructed it to recede.
"Wow. I have never seen such advanced technology before. That is absolutely amazing." Chakwas comments watching the suit seemingly melt into itself, revealing a bodysuit underneath.
"Well at least I won't be stuck in it 24/7. Do you have any spare uniforms on hand doctor? I feel I would look a bit out of place wearing this."
"Yes, I do. Now if only I was a few years younger..." Chakwas said teasingly.
"Maybe then doc. Anyway, I should get to engineering. Good to have met you doctor." I say while I finish doing up the uniform.
"And thank you for willingly coming in to have a check up, Nick. I won't keep you any longer."
I leave the medical bay and head down to engineering to see Gabby and Ken bickering over something. Well, at least they aren't any different than they were in the games.
"Chief? I was wondering when you would get down here. It was getting very lonely." Ken joked.
"Kenneth, you're speaking to the chief engineer!" Gabby chastised him.
"At ease you two. I was just getting looked over by Dr. Chakwas. I'm Nick by the way." I reply.
"I'm Engineer Ken Donnelly, handling the power control systems. This is Gabby."
"That's Engineer Gabriella Daniels, actually." Gabby says while glaring at Ken. "I'm responsible for the propulsion systems."
"Can we do anything for you Chief?: Ken asks me.
"You two need anything down here? I ask in return.
"I can't really complain. I just wish it didn't take so long to calibrate the FBA arrays -" Ken says and is interrupted by Gabby.
"Kenneth. You're complaining."
"Let me guess. Cerberus gave us bad FBA couplings or the wrong ones." I say.
"The second one. If we could get some T6-FBA couplings, it would be a lot smoother and easier." Gabby said.
"But, Nashan Stellar Dynamics discontinued the T6 series. You could probably find some T6 couplings at a salvage shop on Omega." Ken adds.
"I will keep my eyes peeled then." I respond.
"We also heard that having these cabins installed on this deck was your idea Chief. Thanks for that. Now we can get here quickly if we need to." Gabby says.
"That was my intention Gabby. Now, let's see about how we could fine tune the core output and power systems until we get those T6 couplings."
"Agreed." Ken adds.
We spend a few hours working on the drive core and power system efficiency, interrupted once by a visit from Shepard. Our work was interrupted again later when Shepard called me to the airlock. We had docked at Omega, and she wanted me on the ground team. I then also learned that the suit could form itself over any clothing I may be wearing at the time. It finished setting itself up just as I arrived at the airlock.
"While we are here, do you mind if I look for a salvage shop in the markets? I am looking to see if any of them have some T6-FBA couplings for the drive core systems." I ask Shepard.
"Fine by me. Anything that helps the ship perform better is worth it to me." She agrees.
We step out into a hall and are stopped by an almost frantic Salarian. He babbles at us trying to welcome us to Omega before he is stopped by a Batarian. The Batarian, apparently named Moklan, instructs us to go to the Afterlife club to see Aria. He didn't say why, but I knew. Down the hall, we saw a human that I recognized to be Zaeed beating up a Batarian. After a short chat with Shepard, he proceeds down the hall to clean up the Batarian that he had just shot. We continue through a door to a plaza of sorts.
"I'm receiving quarantine warnings about the slums where Dr. Mordin Solus runs the clinic. Expect resistance at the transport station." EDI informs us.
"Thanks for the info EDI." I respond.
We continue through the large door that leads into the entry hall for Afterlife, where he are stopped by a trio of Batarians. After a few words, Shepard is able to persuade them to leave us alone. We continue into Afterlife. Shepard sees a particular bottle out on the bar, and I recognize it to be the Serrice Ice Brandy that Chakwas asks for in the games. We continue up to Aria's throne, and are stopped before the last set of stairs that lead up to where Aria is sitting. While Shepard talks with Aria, one of Aria's guards, a Turian taps my shoulder and has me follow him a short distance away.
"May I help you?" I ask the Turian.
"Yes, and by doing so, you would be helping Aria. You up for the job?"
"Sure. I'll bite. What is it?"
"Aria's gotten word that some Blood Pack mercs plan to kill an old acquaintance of hers. A Krogan named Patriarch. She'd like you to keep that from happening."
"I do know the story behind how she gained control of Omega, so I can understand why she wants him to stay alive, and why she wants outside help for this. I'm not blind. But, I'll do it if Shepard lets me."
"Sounds good to me. You can find Patriarch in lower Afterlife entertaining his 'fans.' Come back to me when you finish."
I wave Shepard down to ask her if we have the time to do this bit of work for Aria. She agrees, and we continue on our way. We head down to lower afterlife and find the Patriarch. After he gives his story to Shepard, I make my offer, using the words Grunt would if he were on this mission in the games.
"Declare us your krantt. We will kill these assassins in your name." I offer to the Patriarch.
"My krantt... it's been so long since anyone wished to fight for my honor. At least you understand Krogan culture unlike most Humans. If you would do this for me, I would be grateful. I may even be a Krogan again."
"If they are coming for him, then the assassins are likely going to use the nearest entrance to this room." I say making for the nearby door.
We open it to see two armoured Krogan.
"You here for Patriarch?" I ask them.
"What if we are? You gonna do something about it?" The leader responds.
"Patriarch sent us. Told us that we could do whatever we needed to do." I say back.
"You're Patriarch's krantt? I wasn't aware the old man had one!"
"Then you should have done better research." I say while reaching for my pistol.
The leader whips out a flamethrower, which Shepard and I duck underneath while Jacob and Miranda shoot the two Krogan down. With that done, we continue back to the Patriarch to inform him of the news. He seems almost elated to hear of how his krantt had given him his honor back. Returning to Aria, she says the same thing the assassins did, which was that she was unaware the Patriarch had a krantt. As a reward, we were given coordinates to a cache on an uncharted world. With that done, we headed down to the market level through lower Afterlife again, when I notice a salvage shop run by a young Quarian. He welcomes us to his shop, saying that every credit he gets is towards a ticket off Omega. I buy out all of his available stock, including a set of T6 couplings, and giving him extra so that he could get off Omega. We head up to the rest of the markets, where Shepard stops to buy some things that she deemed useful.
After we finished in the markets, we head over to the door leading to the slums where Mordin was. Shepard convinced the Turian guard stationed there to let us in, and he informed us about the plague that is killing everything alive except for Humans and Vorcha. We enter the district and come to a barrier with two other Turians behind it, and one tells the other to hold fire since we were cleared to come in. We continue around the barrier and pick up some data and salvage. We take a right into a door that lead down a staircase into the first area apparently deemed hostile, with two blue suns on the other side of the area. Shepard draws her shotgun and biotically charges at one while I kill the other with a shot from my sniper rifle. We spot a wounded Batarian on the ground, seemingly in great pain, and possibly almost dead. I go over to open a locked door while Shepard tries to talk to the Batarian. She eventually gives him a dose of medi-gel to ease his pain and to gain a little trust so that he would answer her questions. Shepard also managed to convince him to head to Mordin's clinic behind us as we cleared out hostiles. I motioned the group over into the doors I had opened, where we found some refined research metals, and in the next chamber, two dead Turians. After listening to the audio logs made by one of them, we continued forward. We entered a large plaza full of blue suns mercs. I decided to try out the cloak on the suit.
"I'm going to test out the cloak on my suit. Set this code into your omni tools, and you should be able to see where I am while cloaked." I say while cloaking and heading forward. I got to a point where I could see quite a few blue suns that were behind the barrier besides the two guarding it. I move in for a multi-assassination. I snap the neck of a Turian, grab his pistol, then proceed to headshot three more mercs before the rest realize what is happening. I then duck under the fire of one of the remaining mercs and signal the rest of the team to attack as I de-cloak and switch to armor mode. Shepard charges in like usual with Jacob and Miranda using their biotics to single out other targets with warps and pulls. I begin to feel a bit sick. I had just murdered some 7 or more people. Living people. Killing living things, and in cold blood too, was never on my list of things I wanted to do. Sure, I was a marksman, but I used my skills for hunting game most of the time. I thought about our situation for a moment, and realized that we had to keep moving, so I stomached the feeling, knowing that it would come back to bite me in the ass later.
With the battle over, we enter an apartment owned by a human couple, who give us further information about the situation in the district. Shepard convinces them to take refuge in the clinic when we clear a path to it. We leave the apartment and head down the hallway the blue suns came from, grabbing data on a modded vindicator for use later. We head through a door that leads to another empty hallway, and we find ourselves at a large atrium with some Vorcha on the other side shooting at a few blue suns troopers. I cloaked again to try what I had before. I found a lot of Vorcha and Krogan than what could be seen in the atrium. I proceed to kill as many as I can, along with their attack varren as well, before Shepard and the rest of the squad move up, and I once again switched to armor. After killing a few more Krogan, Vorcha, and Varren, we find ourselves at the first door leading to the Clinic.
We enter the clinic after being told to holster our weapons by a guard. We ask a receptionist about where Mordin is. As we continue down the hall, we hear Mordin talking with another receptionist.
"Professor- we're running low on cipoxidin." The receptionist says.
"Use malanarin. Plenty on hand. Almost as good. Causes cramping in Batarians. Supplement with butemerol." Mordin instructs in his usual motor-mouth fashion.
"Malanarin and butemerol. Got it." The receptionist ackowledges.
"Cenozine is the catalyst. Bonds to genetic markers. Hard to find. Expensive to mass produce. Why not heplacore? Too unstable. Inconsistent results. Demozane better option. No. Demozane toxic to Humans. Not an option. Not an option." Mordin rambles to himself.
"Professor Mordin Solus?" Shepard asks.
Mordin approaches us and scans us with his omni tool, likely a check for the plague.
"Hmm. Don't recognize you from area. Too well-armed to be refugees. No merc uniform. Quarantine still in effect. Here for something else. Vorcha? Crew to clean them out? Unlikely. Vorcha a symptom, not a cause. The plague? Investigating possible use as bio-weapon? No. Too many guns. Not enough data equipment. Soldiers, not scientists. Yes. Yes."
"Relax Mordin. I'm Commander Shepard, and I came here to find you. I'm on a critical mission, and I need your help."
"Mission? What mission? No. Too busy. Clinic understaffed. Plague spreading too fast. Who sent you?"
"Ever heard of an organization called Cerberus?" Shepard answered with a question.
"Crossed paths on occasion. Thought they only worked with humans. Why request Salarian aid?"
"I'm on a mission to shut down the Collectors, and I need your help."
"Collectors? Interesting. Plague hitting these slums is engineered. Collectors one of few groups with technology to design it. Our goals may be similar. But, bust stop plague first. Already have a cure, need to distribute it at environmental control center. Vorcha guarding it. Need to kill them."
"We'll get in and deal with the Vorcha." Shepard says. Just then, a loud sound came through the vents, and the lights turned red.
"What in the hell was that just then?" I ask.
"Vorvha have shut down environmental systems. Trying to kill everyone. Need to get power back on before district suffocates. Here, take plague cure. Also, bonus weapon in good faith. Weapon from dead blue suns mercs. May come in handy against Vorcha. One more thing. One of my assistants. Went into Vorcha territory. Looking for victims. Hasn't come back."
"If we see him, we'll do what we can to help." Shepard says.
"Thank you. Told him not to go. But he's smart. Bright future. I hope."
"We also met a sick Batarian at the entrance to the district. Can you send someone to help him?"
"Risky. Blue suns, Vorcha still battling. District not secure. See what I can do."
"Lets head for the environmental plant" Shepard instructed us.
We head out another entrance to the clinic and into a hall. We came to a large, open atrium. Using the tactics that had worked before, I cloaked and went to take out as many as I could while Shepard, Jacob, and Miranda attacked with a frontal assault. After clearing the atrium, we killed a lot more Vorcha and Krogan through a chokepoint before heading up some stairs. We took a left at the top of the stairs and kept moving. The halls we were in were clear of hostiles, so we proceeded quickly. We heard yelling through one of the doors. We entered and saw a young Human being shaken down by a group of Batarians. When they realized we were there, they held a gun to his head, threatening to kill him if we came closer. Shepard used her usual way with words to convince them to release the kid. He then told us that he was Mordin's assistant, Daniel. We told him to head back to the clinic and see Mordin. Afterwards, we headed through another door to see a few pairs of Vorcha across a gap. After killing them, we head down some stairs into a massive, open room. Across another gap on a balcony, Vorcha began firing rockets at us. Ducking in and out of cover, we managed to kill the rocket troops and the Vorcha on the ground of the atrium. We moved forward, entering the front section of the environmental controls. After a few more hallways of Vorcha, we made it to the main control room. We were informed by a Vorcha that they had shut down the systems, and broken the fans, how everyone would choke and die and then the collectors would make them strong. After a long fight, I went to activate the systems. Then, we needed to activate the fans from two control rooms. After multiple fights and a lot of dead Vorcha, we were done. We headed back to the clinic to inform Mordin. He left the clinic to Daniel and we told him to head to the Normandy. Shepard instructed Jacob and Miranda to brief him and get him settled in, and she took Zaeed and I to recruit Archangel.
We signed up for the mission to kill Archangel, and before we left, Shepard convinced a kid to not sign up for the job. The mission was fairly simple. We went around, talking to merc bosses, and picked up a small piece of info for Aria. Along the way, we also sabotaged some mechs and other parts of the mercs' plans, along with killing Sergeant Cathka to ensure the gunship wouldn't be at 100% when it would be used. We followed a few mercs over the bridge, and killed them along with the infiltration team. We finally made it to the deck were Archangel was sniping from. He holds up his hand in a 'wait a minute' signal as he proceeded to kill another merc that was on the bridge. He then takes a step towards us and removes his helmet while sitting down.
"Shepard. I thought you were dead." The newly revealed Garrus says.
"Garrus! What are you doing here?" Shepard asks in a friendly tone.
"Just keeping my skills sharp. A little target practice." Garrus answers.
"You okay?"
"Been better, but it sure is good to see a friendly face. Killing mercs is hard work. Especially on my own."
"Well, we got here, but I don't think getting out will be as easy." Shepard says.
"No, it won't. That bridge has saved my life... funnelling all those witless idiots into scope. But it works both ways. They'll slaughter us if we try to get out that way."
"So we're just supposed to sit here until they come in and rip us apart at the limbs?" I ask.
"It's not all that bad. This place has held them off so far. And with the three of you... I suggest we hold this location, wait for a crack in their defenses, and take our chances. It's not a perfect plan, but it's a plan."
"If we fight as a team, we'll hold them off. And Nick here..." Shepard says motioning to me, "could be your best competition as a marksman."
"Really? Well Nick, you are the first human I have ever seen that can match a Turian in height" Garrus says, referring to my abnormal height of about seven feet. (About 2.1 meters for you metric people, and the height of the characters is based on that Jack's mug shot places her at 6 feet even, and with some estimation, Garrus is maybe 6 foot 8, grunt is about 6 foot 9, and he is slightly taller than Wrex. Disagree with me if you like, but the plot point is that Nick is a bit outside the physical norm for Humans in terms of height, and is taller than most Turians.)
"We will see if you can match me at other games I am good at. Like marksmanship." Garrus continues. "Now, let's see what they're up to."
We go over to where Garrus was perched before to survey the bridge.
Looking through his scope, Garrus makes an observation.
"Hmm. Looks like they know their infiltration team failed. Take a look, scouts, Eclipse, I think." Garrus says hading Shepard his rifle.
Shepard looks at the mechs across the bridge and informs Garrus of her observation.
"That looks like a lot more than scouts."
"Indeed. We better get ready. I'll stay up here. I can do a lot of damage from this vantage point. You... you can do what you do best. Just like old times, Shepard."
"Mind if I join you up here Garrus?" I ask while Shepard and Zaeed head to the lower floor.
"Not at all. Just don't complain when there aren't any of them left for you to shoot. Also, that seems like quite the suit." Garrus agrees.
Garrus and I set to work taking out the high priority targets before they can do serious damage to Shepard and Zaeed, mainly taking out rocket troopers and other specialty troops. After a while, I saw Jaroth, the Eclipse boss. He called in the YMIR mech that Shepard had asked me to sabotage earlier.
"Damn it. They're sending out the heavy mechs." Garrus says.
"That big problem should become their big problem very shortly Garrus." I say to him. "I sabotaged its systems to fire on them." I add.
"You an engineer too?" Garrus inquires.
"Nailed it." I affirm. "But, they could likely hack it when they realize something is wrong, so be ready to take it down hard."
"Got it." Garrus responds.
While the mech lets Shepard and Zaeed take a break and find some more ammo from the various piles around the building, Garrus and I keep picking off mercs who could destroy the mech. Suddenly, the mech freezes for a second, and turns to face us, and opens fire. Behind it, comes Jaroth with a group of mercs.
"Shepard! Zaeed! Get to cover!" I yell over the radio.
After destroying the mech and the last of that wave of mercs, along with Jaroth, Shepard and Zaeed head back up to us to form the next step of the plan. As we are talking, we feel an explosion.
"Damn it. They've breached the lower level. Well they had to use their brains eventually. You better get down there Shepard. I'll keep the bridge clear."
"Don't worry Shepard. I'll stay with Garrus to make sure he doesn't miss." I say to Shepard.
"Thanks Nick. You better get going Shepard." Garrus says.
While Shepard and Zaeed run and gun their way through blood pack mercs to close the shutters, Garrus and I stay on the balcony, picking off the mercs in the next wave of Eclipse. A while later, Shepard calls up to say that she and Zaeed have finished with the shutters and are on their way back up. As they arrive, we notice one of the doors is being cut open. We all take aim as Garm and the blood pack burst through. Garrm was a battlemaster, and like many Krogan battlemasters, was a biotic. Krogan biotics are fearsome opponents, as I had just found out. Garm had charged me after I jumped down and killed his mooks. Only the suit's boosted strength saved me, as I was able to deliver a punch that made him stumble. Using a trick I remember Zaeed explaining in the games, I got within his barriers, took my knife and cut his head plate off, then killed him. I was right about the sick feeling you get when you make your first kills. It was coming back again. Seeing the bits of brain spattered everywhere almost made me retch. Once again, I pushed the feelings back down, with the intention of letting them out later.
"So. You're a marksman who is capable of matching me, an engineer, and you know how to beat a Krogan battlemaster in a one on one melee fight. You get more impressive by the minute Nick." Garrus comments.
"Only the Blue suns are left. I say we take our chances and fight our way out." Shepard suggests.
"I think you're right. Tarak's got the toughest group, but nothing we haven't faced before. Besides, he won't be expecting us to meet him head-on-" Just then, the gunship comes into view.
"Damn it! I though I took that thing out already!" Garrus says. "They're offloading troops! Watch your backs!
Blue suns mercs are dropped in through the window on the end of the room we are in. After dealing with them, more mercs drop in through the windows on the lower floor. We take vantage points and whittle down their numbers. We finish them off, and then I realize something. Garrus is about to get the rocket to the face. I hear the gunship come up and Tarak screaming.
"Archangel!" Tarak yells as the gunship opens fire on Garrus. "You think you can screw with the Blue Suns!"
Garrus takes cover and I act quickly. Tarak fires the rocket, and just as it is about to hit Garrus, There I am. I jump in and take the rocket while activating armor mode. Even in the Crysis games, taking a rocket with armor on will still hurt. A lot. I found that out as well. I was sent flying into the wall behind us. Despite the pain, I had to move. Tarak had many more rockets to spare, so I had to move. I ran at the gunship, and leaped out the window, landing on the gunship. Activating the suit for maximum strength, I punch into the cockpit, and kill Tarak. I jump back into the window as the gunship falls and crashes. I then black out from the injuries.
When I came to, I was in the med bay, with Chakwas standing over me.
"Ah. You're finally up. First off, do you realize how stupid that was? Even with that suit, you still almost died. Then you stood up and killed Tarak immediately after? What the hell were you thinking" Chakwas asks exasperatedly.
"If I hadn't taken that rocket, you would be reconstructing the left side of Garrus' face right now doctor. How long have I been out?"
"Only 45 minutes since Shepard and Garrus carried you in here, so maybe an hour or so. That suit is beyond amazing. It kept you alive, and managed to set your broken bones, and more. I also noticed something. You seemed sick. Why?"
"I... I made my first kills today. I trained myself as a marksman, but killing living things was never on my list of things to do. I always heard that making your first kill can really make you feel sick, but I guess it's something you are never really prepared for."
"It was bound to happen at some point. But, you handled it well. I am obligated to say that killing is wrong, and it is. It can be justified, but never let it become habit. Always try peace first.
"I know doc. Am I free to go now?"
"Yes. You are good to go. Garrus said 'thanks' by the way."
"Thanks doctor."
I make my way to engineering to catch some sleep. We have a few hours until we get to the Citadel so that Shepard can meet with Councillor Anderson. Before I go to sleep, I read one of my favourite poems, and my grandfather's favourite poem, Evangeline by Longfellow, out loud to myself.
_This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_
_Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,_
_Stand like Druids of old, with voices sad and prophetic,_
_Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms._
_Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean_
_Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest._
_This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it_
_Leaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman?_
_Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers,_
_Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands,_
_Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven?_
_Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed!_
_Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts of October_
_Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the ocean._
_Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand-Pré._
_Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is patient,_
_Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman's devotion,_
_List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the forest;_
_List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy._
With that, I lay down on the bed in my cabin on deck 4 and fall asleep.
**A/N:** **Longest chapter yet. Over 6000 words. I managed to fit two recruitment missions in like I said I would. My intention is that Garrus and Nick will develop an almost brotherly relationship, as both are snipers, can fix and maintain ships, love guns, and jokes. He also has a love of poetry that could match Ashley's enthusiasm and can recite numerous poems from memory, ****such as the poem just above this that he recites before going to sleep.**** I still have big things planned for Nick in future chapters though.**
**Thanks to Konner N7 for beta reading.
You're welcome –KN7**
**I wrote this chapter with my cat on my head by the way.**
**Review, Favorite, or Follow. Your choice.**
**-Jötunn**
4. Revelations, meetings, and twists
**A/N: Well, here goes chapter 4. Thanks to everyone for the support and advice. I have been told that I should add to the action scenes, and my response to that is that this story will focus mainly on the characters. The Mass Effect games have a lot of action in them, and I notice that a lot of people these days focus more on the action, and less on what happens in between. Hell, even I forget to stop doing missions at an insanely rapid pace and stop to talk with the rest of the Normandy crew when I play the games. For those reasons, this story will focus mainly on the events, the conversations that I will expand on, and will get better as I improve. Plus, we are only at the beginning portion of ME2. I have the rest of ME2 and all of ME3 to do action scenes. Now, onward to chapter 4. This chapter contains Nick getting some more backstory, Nick chewing out the Council like I always wanted to do in the games, Nick and Garrus sharing a shot of liquor, and the adventure to recruit Jack, with some other stuff in there too.**
* * *
**Dreamscape**
Fire. A gasoline explosion. Specifically, one caused by a car crash.
"Kara! Where are you?" I yell as I run around the flaming wreck to the passenger side of the car. (American layout, driver on left side)
I get to the other side to see half of her body sticking out from under the wreck.
"Kara! Are you alright? Can you hear me?" I say, frantically.
"I can hear you. I don't think I can make it though." Kara says breathlessly.
"Don't say that. I'll get you out of there. You'll be alright. Please stay with me!"
"I'm sorry Nick. I'm so sorry. I won't be going with you." Kara says, gasping for air. "Remember that I always have loved you and always will love you. We were going to have such a great life together."
"Please don't go Kara!" I say, in tears.
"I love you, Nick, but this seems like it is where I... say... good- bye." Kara says, drawing her last breath.
I freeze. Shock runs over me, and I collapse.
Exit Dreamscape
*Gasp*
I shoot up out of bed, panting and in a cold sweat. I'm back onboard the Normandy after reliving the worst few minutes of my entire life. Something I never wanted to ever remember again. Kara, the girl I had grown up across the street from and had been best friends with my entire childhood, and had been my lover in college, died on that night. The girl, no, woman who would have likely been my wife and the mother of my children died because of two drunk students from our university driving on the wrong side of the road. (Again, Nick is American, and so he was on the right side of the road, the drunks were on the left, going towards oncoming traffic.)
"Nick, I detect that your breathing and heart rate are highly elevated. Is something wrong?" EDI pipes up.
"Nightmare, EDI. I'll be fine. How long until we reach the Ciadel?"
"An hour and a half at most. Is there anything else you would like to inquire?"
"No. I'm fine for now EDI."
"Logging you out, Nick."
"An hour and a half. Long enough to have some kind of meal, and maybe try to clear my head of my nightmare." I say to myself.
I get dressed in my uniform and head to the elevator after greeting Gabby and Ken. The elevator arrives on deck 3, and it seems unusually empty, except for Rupert being up and preparing something.
"Morning Rupert." I greet while heading towards the fridge.
"Morning Nick. How are things down in engineering? We aren't all going to die in a big fireball are we?" He asked jokingly.
"Not as far as I can see. Unless Joker decides to be crazier than usual and take us into Geth space with the stealth system turned off, we should be fine." I reply while fixing myself a small meal.
"Hey, Nick, you mind doing me a favor while you're on the Citadel?"
"Sure Rupert. What do you need?" I agree
"I could use some proper cooking provisions. You ever tried to prepare a decent meal on military rations?"
"No, but I have heard the comments of the other crewmembers about the food. They aren't all that good you know."
"Yeah, and with those supplies, the opposite could be true."
"I would be happy to help everyone be able to have a few good meals before we dive into hell."
"Thanks Nick."
"Anytime Rupert. Say, where is everyone? Usually there are more people here."
"Seems like everyone, Shepard included, are sleeping in. The only exceptions being you, Gabriella, Kenneth, and Joker. I got up at my usual time."
"That would explain the lack of faces in here. Well, I may as well enjoy the peace. I got a long day ahead, one that includes listening to the Council's bullshit."
"I don't envy you on that one. There are advantages to only having on-ship duties.
I proceed to eat my breakfast in silence. By the time I am done, a fair number of the crew has filed in and gotten food. On my way out, I was stopped by Kelly and brought away from the mess hall. I figured that EDI told her about that fact that I had a nightmare, Kelly being the ship's shrink ("Shrink" is a term for a psychologist) and all.
"Morning Kelly. I take it EDI told you about my nightmare?"
"Correct. I wanted to ask if there was anything I could do to help."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I doubt it will happen again. I will notify you if the nightmares persist to where they could affect my performance."
"Alright Nick. Take care."
The bad part was that I had almost cleared my head of the nightmare, but Kelly had reminded me about it, so I had to find something else to occupy my mind with. I figured a chat with Garrus wouldn't hurt. I headed back to the mess hall and found him eating some dextro food paste.
"Hey Garrus." I say as I sit down on the small catwalk by the sleeper pods.
"Hey Nick. First, thanks again for taking that rocket on Omega. I don't want to imagine how badly I would be holding my body together if you hadn't."
"Better me in my hyper advanced suit than you. Plus. Didn't want that arm to get hurt and you to go soft sitting in a hospital bed."
"Always the thoughtful one."
"Why thank you. Also, I was going to grab some proper cooking supplies for Rupert on the Citadel, and I was wondering if you wanted me to grab any dextro supplies as well. Nutrient paste can't taste too good."
"You don't have to, but you can if you want. Grab some levo and dextro alcohol while you're there. The bar in port observation is rather under stocked in my opinion."
"Will do Garrus."
After a few more minutes of conversation and banter, Garrus headed back into the main battery and I headed back down to my quarters, with about 15 minutes to kill before we docked at the Citadel, which I spent reading on the terminal I asked to be installed in my quarters. I stood back up as I felt the ship dock at the Citadel and headed back to the elevator go to deck 2. I had a small request to ask of Jacob before Shepard, Garrus, and I left.
"Hey Jacob." I greet him as I enter the armory.
"Hey Nick. Here for your weapons I assume?"
"Sharp as ever, but I have a request. Instead of carrying a heavy pistol and an SMG, I would like to change out the SMG for a second phalanx, if we have enough of the phalanxes."
"We should have plenty of the phalanx pistols, so sure." Jacob says.
I remove the M-4 Shuriken SMG from my hip and place my second M-5e Phalanx on my right hip and pick up my Mattock and Geth plasma shotgun and head out of the armory and to the airlock.
Citadel: Zakera Ward
We step out of the docking tube and into the main dock floor. We see a C-Sec customs desk to our left, an Alliance drill sergeant ranting to his subordinates about how you do not eyeball a shot with a 20 kilo ferrous slug. To our far right, we see a keeper at its station, and two Hanar discussing something unintelligible.
"Commander Shepard. Enter the password and receive a free gift!" An advertisement said.
Shepard approached the advertisement holo display.
"Please tell me your password, Commander Shepard."
"Silence is golden." Shepard says.
"Good to finally meet you, Commander Shepard. Kasumi Goto. I'm a fan."
"Has Cerberus filled you in on the mission?" Shepard asked the display, now revealed to be a person.
"Honestly, I'm shocked they didn't come to me sooner. My fault for being hard to find, I guess." Kasumi stated.
"What brought you to Cerberus?" Shepard asked.
"That's a bit of a story. Short version, they were looking for me, so I trailed them to find out why. Turns out they were looking for someone to join you on an important mission... and were offering a serious signing bonus. I had a thing I needed help with, so I made them a deal. And here we are."
"I assume this deal is something I should know about."
"Yeah, I guess it slipped their minds. I'm looking for my old partner's greybox. A man named Donovan Hock took it, and I'm planning to get it back."
"If that's what Cerberus promised you, we'll get it done."
"It'll be fun. And if we're lucky, you won't even have to draw your gun. See you on the ship, Shepard."
"I should ask her for some stealth tips. I could use some help with my cloak tactics." I say
"I would be happy to help you with that, but you will have to find me on the Normandy first." Kasumi says from a ways away.
"I may surprise you Kasumi." I say while activating nanovision and pointing at her.
"We'll see, Nick."
"Well. She learned my name without me even saying it. I'm not even going to try and figure out how. We should get going."
We proceed into a hallway with a scan operator at the far end. An alarm sounds and the operator contacts a superior to ask about what the problem is. Finishing his conversation, he turns back to us.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, ma'am. Our scanners are picking up false readings. They seem to think you're, ah, dead. As for the tall, masked one, we have no records of you in the systems here, or apparently anywhere else."
"I was listed as missing in action a couple of years ago, and he is here for the first time, and hasn't really been somewhere where he would be put into a system like this before." Shepard says covering for both of us.
"Would you two mind checking in with my captain? He can put you two into the system. He's just past the scanners, on your right."
We proceed through the door and we hear Bailey talking to another officer.
"You'll have to make him scream a little. He's not going to tell you everything just 'cause you ask."
"I- I know sir." The second officer replies
"If you don't have the stomach, or you're worried about being reported, I can take care of it." Bailey says.
"No, Sir! I can handle it."
We approach him and Shepard taps his desk a few times.
"Yes? I see the problem already, Commander Shepard. My console says you're dead, and by the records, you don't exist." Bailey says while pointing to me.
"I'm fine with not existing, but if I must be put in the system, I brought a file with my data that you can use Captain." I say to Bailey.
"And aren't you worried that I may be some impostor, Bailey? I could be some undesirable trying to sneak past security." Shepard says.
"We have the best screening equipment in the galaxy. Those scanners can sample DNA from skin flakes. Hell, if you have unregistered gene mods, they can even figure those out. And thanks for having your data prepared. Saves us both a lot of time."
"Figured I should be prepared." I say.
"Your sergeant says that you could reinstate me in the system." Shepard said to Bailey.
"Usually, you'd have to go through the Station Security Administration to reactivate your IDs. Then to Customs and Immigration to regain access to the Citadel itself. And probably a stop by the treasury. 'Spending a year dead' is a popular tax dodge. But, I can see you're a busy woman. So how about I press this button right here, and we call it done?"
"Couldn't one of us – or both of us – get into trouble for that?"
"There's no way to fool the DNA scanners in the tunnel. You're you. Why wait in long lines and fill out a mass of useless hardcopy paperwork to get to the same place? The Council does everything by the book. They've had thousands of years to write it. Sometimes things need to get done without a committee vote."
"Not too big on formalities I see." I say to Bailey.
"I'm with them right up until they keep people from doing their jobs. There. I just saved you two about nine days of running around." Bailey says after tapping a few buttons on his panel. "That said, you should head up to the Presidium to tell them you're alive. The council probably ants to talk to the one that saved their scaly asses."
"I will. Having access to the Council and the Spectres' resources would be useful."
"Yeah. The Council can ge anything. Best thing about working C-Sec is that any equipment, information, or money you need, you get. Anyway. Something else you need, or can I get back to work?"
"We'll let you work. We certainly have a lot of work to do. Let's go." Shepard says to us.
We board a cab to the human embassy on the Presidium to meet Anderson and the Council, and arrive at the lobby to the embassy.
Citadel: Presidium-Human Embassy
"...Shepard will be here any- oh, Commander. We were just talking about you." Anderson finishes.
"It's been a long time, Anderson. I hope the last couple of years have treated you right." Shepard says, greeting the Councillor.
"There've been some rough spots. It's good to have you back."
"We've heard many rumors surrounding your unexpected return. Some of them are... unsettling." The Salarian Councillor said.
"We called this meeting so you could explain your actions, Shepard. We owe you that much. After all, you saved our lives in the battle against Saren and his Geth." The Asari Councillor added.
"The Collectors are abducting human colonists in the Terminus Systems. Worse yet, we think they're working for the Reapers."
"The Terminus Systems are beyond our jurisdiction! Your colonists knew this when the left Council space." The Turian Councillor said.
"You're missing the point, Councillor. The Reapers are involved." Anderson said.
"Ah, yes. Reapers. The immortal race of sentient machines allegedly waiting in dark space. We have dismissed that claim." The Turian Councillor said, almost condescendingly.
"Shepard, no one else encountered the hologram on Ilos that told you the truth about the Reapers. Only you and your crew ever spoke with Sovereign. I believe you, but without evidence from another source, the others think Saren was behind the Geth attacks." Anderson told Shepard.
"Go back to Ilos and talk to Vigil. Or just look at what's left of Sovereign – it's obvious the technology is more advanced than ours, or even the Geth!"
"The hologram on Ilos is no longer functional, and we have found no evidence to suggest that Sovereign was not a geth creation."
"With respect, Councillors, did you find any evidence to suggest that Sovereign was a Geth creation? The Geth are advanced, yes, but I am pretty sure that the Geth don't have the ability to open the arms of the Citadel remotely like Sovereign did, or have the weapons technology to create the weapons Sovereign had."
"And who might you be?"
"My name is inconsequential at the moment, since anything I say or Shepard says will likely be discounted as the ravings of someone not in their right state of mind, Councillors. Just know that I am an engineer and have had time to pick apart Geth corpses and tech, and can say for sure that even the Geth couldn't have come up with Sovereign."
"To me, this Reaper theory proves just how fragile your mental state is, Commander. You've been manipulated first by Saren, and now Cerberus." The Turian Councillor said in a direct attack towards Shepard, and likely myself.
"You know, would you be saying that Shepard is mentally unstable if this was when she was deciding whether or not to save you? Back in the chambers on the tower, when she was debating over whether or not to save you, would you be calling her mentally unstable? I sure wouldn't. She is the reason the three of you are alive and the Citadel is in your hands. Her Reaper theories are what saved all of you and the whole galaxy. Shepard is not mentally unstable; you are just denying what scares you. I am not blaming you for being scared, but your method of showing it is wrong."
"And who are you to come in here and tell us what we should do?" Sparatus accused.
"I am a member of Shepard's crew who has seen what the Collectors are willing to do. They are the creators of that big plague on Omega. Their plan was to kill all non-humans, then collect the humans just like they have done with the colonies. I am appalled and am quite set on doing what I can to get help to fix this. Beyond that, I am an engineer with a highly advanced suit who hates politicians and their bullshit. You want my advice? The Reapers are coming, and nothing but a galaxy of soldiers is going to stop them." I point to Tevos (Asari Councillor) "Art, philosophy, and politics won't cut it. The galaxy will not survive if more than half of your maiden population is shaking their asses in bars. We all have a better chance of surviving if you start your young women working and training early." I turn to Valern (Salarian Councillor) "Your STG scientists should be working on new methods of defence if they aren't, and if they are, then step it up. This war will not be won before it begins, but after a long and bloody series of battles." I finally turn to Sparatus (Turian Councillor) "And the Turians are the greatest military in the galaxy, but you need to entertain the idea of working together; even with humans, despite the animosity."
The Councillors look at me and Shepard, Sparatus clicks his mandibles and the speaks.
"Do you have any proof that this is what we need to do? Because those things will not come easy or quickly."
"Are you really going to gamble on this, Councillor? It took everything we had to destroy Sovereign, and that was just one Reaper. We don't know how many there are, and that is not something to gamble on. Better safe than sorry. Speak to your governments, and if they choose not to prepare, then we will all face dire consequences."
"In light of all of this, we have lost some focus on the now. As a compromise, the Council will reinstate you as a Spectre, Shepard." Tevos begins.
"But only if you keep your operations with Cerberus in the Terminus." Sparatus finishes.
"Cerberus is an avowed enemy of the Council, and working for them is treason. If it becomes known that you are working for them with our support, there would be massive political problems that will arise."
"I accept your offer." Shepard says.
"Good luck with your investigation, Shepard. We hope for a quick resolution... and a quick end to your relationship with Cerberus."
"Don't worry. I intend to leave them when I finish the mission. But, they are providing me with resources and people, so I will stick to it for the time being."
"We understand your reasoning, and see why you are staying. Please do be quick though. We will also think over what you have told us. We still don't know your name, though."
"My name is privy to those I choose to tell it to, mainly because I know things that nobody else does, and there could be mass panic if my knowledge is released. But, I will tell you as long as you keep it a closed secret."
"We understand those terms."
"My name is Nick. Be careful to whom you say it to, and where. A certain broker has bugs here too." I say, having discreetly cleared the room and the immediate area of such bugs.
"We will search for the bugs. Thanks."
The council disconnects, and Anderson approaches me.
"So. Nick. Not a common name these days. Can you tell me anything about yourself that I don't already know?"
"No, Councillor. Not here or now. Another time though. I believe Shepard wants to have a chat with you." I say motioning to Shepard.
I leave the area to give Shepard and Anderson space to talk, and Garrus decides to initiate a conversation.
"Great job with the council. You did what I have wanted to do for years and gave them a dose of reality." Garrus congratulates me.
"Thanks. They sounded like they actually listened and will do as I suggested, or they could just be very good at feigning interest, so I'm not holding my breath."
"Hah. True enough I still wonder if they actually-" Garrus begins but is cut off as Udina storms in yelling.
"Anderson! We need to talk about- Shepard! What are you doing here?"
"Stopped by to see how Anderson was doing."
"You don't have to cover for me." Anderson interjects "I invited Shepard here to speak with the Council. We just finished our meeting."
"You what? Councillor, do the words political shit-storm mean anything to you? Or you?" Udina finished pointing to me. "You just come in here and chew out the council about what they need to do or something?"
"At least I didn't hijack a broadcast system and make a station wide announcement. My method at least didn't induce panic like you seem to think it will."
"Noted. And what about you Shepard?"
"The council reinstated my Spectre status. They're just happy I'm staying out in the Terminus Systems."
"Yes... I could see how that arrangement works best for both sides. But you really shouldn't have taken a step like this without consulting me first, Councillor."
"I don't answer to you, Udina. Why don't you go to your office and think about that for a while?"
"Of course, Councillor. Good day to both of you." Udina said indignantly.
"He doesn't seem to be happy that you got the be Humanity's Councillor, Anderson." I say.
"No, he isn't happy."
With that, Anderson returns to his chat with Shepard. I decide to take a seat and do some work on the suit, figuring out just how it was upgraded from what I remember in Crysis 3. After a minute or two, I learned that what was considered the heavy armor setup in Crysis 3, which had better protection but slower movement and higher energy drain was the standard armor, the same with the improved cloak. I also didn't have to choose between say, being able to remove aim bobbing or having silenced footsteps while cloaked, all those upgrades were standard. I decided to dub the whole package "Nanosuit 2.1" due to the sheer power it represented versus the ones in the games. Not long after I learned these things, Shepard made to leave, and so we headed back out to the cabs to go back to Zakera ward. But, not all was well on the Citadel.
**BOOM!**
A massive explosion rocked the station.
"_Maximum Armor_"
I engaged armor mode and took off towards the source of the blast, on the Presidium. The suit worked to keep me running at an unprecedented pace, I had ran around a fifth of the Presidium in about a minute, and barely felt any fatigue or breathlessness. I arrived at the scene, fields had gone up to preserve containment as the blast had breached the hull of the Citadel, and that is when I noticed something. I was where Shalta Ward connected to the Presidium. Whoever this terrorist was, they intended to blow off the arms of the Citadel. Whoever it was, was going to pay. The breach has spaced about 15 people and a few keepers. I set to work checking the major systems and locking mechanisms that secured Shalta to the ring. The bomber underestimated the raw strength of the linkage, or had intended to target other things, like control systems. I put in a call to C-Sec.
"Presidium C-Sec division, I am at ground zero for the blast. It was intended to damage the linkage holding Shalta Ward onto the Presidium ring."
"Copy, any deaths?"
"About 15 got spaced along with about 3 keepers, and no other keepers have arrived. Containment fields are up though, we have atmosphere. I need a core schematic of the linkage. I may be able to fix it."
"Sorry sir, but civilians do not have clearance for such things."
"This is Commander Shepard, and I authorize you to give Nick those schematics and send your engineers to help him get the basic work done." Shepard decided to interject and send help.
"Thanks Shepard. How far away are you?"
"About 2 minutes in a car."
"Sending the schematics to your omni-tool sir." The C-Sec dispatcher said. "Our engineers can be there in about 30 seconds."
"Good. I don't think I can hold this together myself. The bomber failed to destroy the main linkage systems and mechanisms, but took out a number of control cables. Ah. I see your engineers now. "
"Our Executor is usually angry about vigilante work, but this isn't a time to be picky."
"Tell the Executor I said 'Good day, sir' and that I am happy to try and keep this place together."
"Will do."
The C-Sec engineers and I worked feverishly to reconnect all the control linkages and systems, spending some hours in the service tunnels, usually with me keeping the place from falling on our heads for the first part of work, then, after we fixed the structures, we set to work finishing up and making sure everything was in place, and we then left it open for the keepers to come in and patch our work up to their standards.
All in all, a very odd day on the job. I returned to the C-Sec HQ to andwer questions and leave data on the debris and what traces of the explosive used. The material was often used by batarians, but C-Sec didn't know who could have carried out the attack. They did station extra guards at the bases of each ward to prevent another bombing. I was called back to the Human Embassy by Anderson. He wanted to speak with me.
"Well. Didn't think I would be seeing you again so soon Councilor. Nor did I think I would go from a simple member of Shepard's crew to someone who, by the news casts I am hearing, is called a hero to those on Shalta Ward."
"Neither did I, but the members of Shepard's crew often have some plart that they played to save a ton of people, and if they didn't when she meets them, they will eventually. And you're one of Shepard's crew, so it's just Anderson to you, and you have made another good mark on Humanity's reputation, and I thank you for that."
"I am told the rest of the council wanted to speak with me."
"You heard right. Shepard and Garrus are already in the chambers, along with the rest of the council."
"Then what are we waiting for? I figure we should get moving."
We board the elevator leading up to the council chambers. I step back and lean on the back of the elevator, getting comfy, remembering from Mass Effect 1 that this ride in particular is a long one. About 2 minutes later, I feel the elevator slow down to a stop. Anderson turns off to one side of the chambers, likely to head to his position on the Council's podium.
"Spectre Shepard, Nick, please step forward." Tevos said.
"We are here to acknowledge the work that Nick did today to help keep Shalta Ward connected to the Presidium, and make an offer to Nick." Valern said.
"Our offer is that he be put on the list of candidates for the second Human Spectre, under the observation of Spectre Shepard and her crew." Tevos finished.
"And, to Shepard and Nick, I apologize. I have been too quick to judge humanity, and I will work towards working better with your kind." Sparatus added.
"I am honored that you would consider me a candidate, but I have only done one things that is small in comparison to what Shepard has done. Yes, I worked to save a Ward, but Shepard has saved the whole galaxy. How am I to compare to that? I don't deserve this. I am not even a registered soldier in any group. I am but an engineer who works on a ship."
"Even with being a Spectre on offer you remain humble. Yes, you may have done little in comparison to Shepard and yes, you are not military, but you acted in the face of multiple C-Sec regulations, possibly life threatening danger, and more to do what you did." Sparatus said.
"Nor did I do it alone. I did it with the assistance of some 15 C-Sec engineers. They should be getting a commendation as well."
"They are getting commendations from the Executor right now. But we all see potential in you. Potential to be the next paragon of Humanity." Tevos said.
"And your work in keeping the linkages to Shalta ward impressed some of our best Salarian techs. Our best respect your ability to do such work on your feet." Valern added.
"We see everything we saw in Shepard in you, Nick. Shepard may have set the bar pretty high, but you saved over a fifth of the population of the Citadel. The entire population calls you a hero for you quick work to initially keep Shalta attached, and them alive. That is over 2.7 million people that call you a hero. If that doesn't count in your books, then its anyone's guess as to what does." Tevos said with finality.
"By the way you put it, I guess I have little choice but to accept. I am honored, Councilors."
"Now, how about we get going. Garrus mentioned that you and him had a few things you wanted to grab back on Zakera ward." Shepard said.
**Citadel: Zakera Ward**
When we arrived back on Zakera Level 27, Shepard, Garrus and I split up to make our various purchases. I went to the food shop, Garrus found a liquor store with both dextro and levo drinks, and Shepard went off to buy some things from a hunting store. The whole way, I saw people craning their necks to see the new hero of Shalta Ward as he passed by, carrying groceries. Must feel weird to see a hero doing such mundane things to them. People who are seen like Shepard and I are often larger than life to most, and seeing someone like us out grocery shopping makes us seem more normal. It would explain the odd looks on their faces.
**Normandy**
We finish our shopping runs and make our way back to the Normandy. I dropped the food off with Rupert and went to help Garrus stock up the bar, noticing that Kasumi had made herself comfy on the opposite side of the lounge. We finish stocking up and decide to crack open a bottle and have a shot of our favorites, that being some Scotch Whiskey for me and some Turian brandy for Garrus. Afterward, I go to Kasumi to ask her if she has any poetry in those old printed books and about those stealth tips I mentioned when we first met her. I figured that it was going to be a rather gruelling afternoon learning stealth and hiding from a master. In the meantime, I was notified of our next destination: The Purgatory, where we would recruit Jack.
* * *
**A/N: Whew. I made the 2 chapter mark for this week. Not as long as chapter 3 though. Before you call me out on the power of Nick's suit, there are still weaknesses. Namely, EMP blasts since they disable it. Biotics could stop him where he stands, and the suit can only take so much prolonged fire. The Nanosuit allows one man to make hit-and-run attacks against large groups of enemies in the Crysis games, and all I have done here with the cloak and armor capabilities is allowed for a bit more staying power. Nick is still vulnerable in a firefight. As for the insane ability to run, Nick is already quite athletic without the suit, and the suit merely enhances that along with the oxygenation of the air it filters through the helmet. Just wanted to clear that stuff up. The other thing is that there was nobody really trying to stop him on the citadel. If he charges 4+ enemies headfirst, that will get you killed in both Crysis games and Mass Effect games, so he will have to actually plan in the future. Don't worry about that. I will tone it down in the future. I just wanted to write a piece where my character had a big shining moment, and be done with it.
**
**And I had though about putting in the little twist with the bombing for a while, and toyed with the idea over the course of the week. I noticed that the members of Shepard's crew had all played a large part in saving the galaxy, and I wanted Nick to have an unexpected start on that one by saving a ward. It also stems from my questioning of how the gigantic wards attach by such small connetions to the comparatively miniscule Presidium ring, and how potentially easy it would be to bomb one of those linkages to detach a ward. Disagree with me if you want, but I'm the author here. **
**As for Nick eventually becoming a full Spectre and not just a recruit, that will be a while. He won't catch any big breaks. He will have to really work for them. The plan is for him to become a full Spectre either by the end of ME2 or the beginning of ME3. Either way, it will be a while.
**
**And the part where Nick loses his first girlfriend is there to add another layer to how his relationship with Tali will develop, his loss, pain, and guilt will play their parts.
**
**Thanks to Konner N7 for the beta reading.
-No Problem Mate**
**Read, Review, Favorite, Follow, take your pick.**
**-Jötunn**
5. Poker, Quarians, and too much sun
**A/N: Well, another chapter. This chapter will see Nick developing his combat style a bit further, the recruitment of Jack, Kasumi's loyalty, Okee- *ahem* Grunt's recruitment, a bit of a twist, and some in between mission downtime with some more development. Onward to chapter 5!**
**DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! BIOWARE/EA OWNS MASS EFFECT! I JUST OWN MY OC!**
* * *
Kasumi and I emerge from the elevator after a few hours of stealth lessons in the cargo hold, with about 30 minutes to spare until we reach the Hourglass Nebula, and Purgatory. In that spare time, my intention was to eat lunch and make a few mods to my omni-tool, namely the omni-blade. I had decided to put the improved cloak and general stealth systems in the suit to use as an infiltrator and assassin. Use the cloak to move ahead, behind enemy lines if possible, and use the suit visor to mark targets not just for myself, but for the entire ground team. Then, I move to take out the people who would cause the most trouble for the ground team, usually anyone who has explosive weaponry, then retreat back to the shadows. If caught, the armor would allow me to take a few down and then get out. I got to the counter in the kitchen area as I finished my basic battle plan.
"Hey Rupert! Anything for lunch today?" I say.
"Oh boy is there. Those provisions you got on the Citadel were perfect. I have everything I need to keep people happy now." Rupert replied.
"I just hope your reputation can heal quickly, because whatever you got going smells amazing. What is it?"
"Well, today I decided on soups of various kinds, and right now, I got my own butternut squash soup recipe going. Want some?"
"I will take a bowl then. Also, you notice the dextro supplies and recipes I slipped in there?"
"Sure did, and thanks. Garrus will really appreciate being able to eat something other than nutrient paste."
"That he will." I say as I sit down and start eating.
A few minutes later, I had finished and had gotten to work on my omni-blade. About then, Garrus decided to emerge from the main battery. He strode over and sat across the table from me.
"Hi Garrus." I say while fussing with my omni-tool.
"Hey Nick. You ready for the mission?"
"Almost. Decided to refine my style to infiltration and assassination, and I thought of a small addition to my arsenal."
"Let me guess... omni-blade?"
"Yep. Except what I am doing here is doubling the length, and altering the construction of the blade a bit by encasing the blade in a phasic envelope, similar to how Geth assault rifles work. Should make it a lot more effective. And... done. You may want to stand back a bit." I say as I move my right arm into more open space, and activated it. The blade snapped to life, the phasic envelope making a low hum, akin to the sound of a lightsaber in my mind.
"Wow. Can I have one? Because that looks and sounds awesome Nick."
"Maybe later Garrus. We are going to be docking in a few minutes. Which reminds me, I wanted to ask Shepard something." I say remembering part of my stealth training plan.
"Alright, but you have to set my omni-blade up to do that later."
"We'll see Garrus." I say heading towards the elevator, knowing Kasumi is right next to me. "You can come out Kasumi."
"Aww. Your visor's nanovision or whatever you called it is unfair." Kasumi mock whined.
"It's a tool that gives me an advantage, and I intend to put it to full use. Even ruining your fun sometimes."
"Did anyone ever teach you to respect your teachers?"
"Yes, but I respect those that respect me, and I do not consider spying on me respectful."
"Fine. You win that one." Kasumi conceded.
The elevator finally arrived at the CIC, where I could ask Shepard about my plan.
"Hey Nick, hey Kasumi. Do you need anything?" Shepard asked noticing us,
"Yes actually. I wanted to ask if for the next few missions we do, that you let Kasumi and I go along with your usual ground team. We would move ahead and paint targets as we go, and other scouting work."
"Maybe. And what brought this on?"
"I have been teaching him stealth techniques and methods, and we both agree that field experience is the best teacher here, and I would be along to keep him on the right track." Kasumi added.
"Sounds like it could work. Keep in mind that if you get caught, you could cause a lot of problems for the rest of the ground team."
"That's why I am going with him. I can teach him escape techniques as well. He is already a great close range fighter, and his martial arts could give certified masters on Earth a run for their money. If we are caught, we have the simple choice of fight or flight. He can fight great, but the flight needs some work." Kasumi explained.
"Alright. You can start with our mission to Purgatory. Something about the place doesn't add up to me, and you two will scout ahead, and do what you said you would. Paint targets, and notify the rest of us about any upcoming hazards."
"Thanks Shepard. I will be waiting for the mission to start in the bridge with Joker." I say as I command the suit to assemble itself. As I walk by, I notice many sets of eyes on my as the suit unfurls to cover everything but my head, my usually quiet footsteps becoming a series of loud *thuds* as I walk up to the bridge.
"Hey Joker." I say.
"Hey Nick. You know, people are going to mistake you for some hyper-advanced Cerberus mech if you keep wearing that thing."
"Tali already did on Freedom's Progress. Bit late."
"Damn. I was hoping to use the punchline about the Geth mistaking you for one of them."
"That would have worked except for my lack of flashlight head."
"Gah! Why do you have to be such a realist?"
"It comes with being an engineer for me, and I have always had a practical view of the world."
"Well, Garrus seems to be the only person you don't ruin the fun of."
"Is that jealousy in your voice there Joker?"
"Uhhhhhh... No! Why would I- I mean, what reason would I- Fine! You win this one."
"Take notes EDI. Someone needs to be able to out-joke him, and its hard doing that alone."
"Noted." EDI said quickly.
I heard footsteps coming up behind us, and I stood up and set my helmet, mask, and visor to assemble, and entered the airlock with the rest of the team. While we waited, Kasumi and I laid out our plan.
"Alright. Based on what we know about the layout here, Kasumi and I will move ahead of the rest of you, and hopefully someone comes through the door back here," I say while pointing to door leading to the catwalks. "And we can slip through while it closes."
"From there, we will continue with our scouting work. We won't kill anybody, too close quarters for anyone not to notice a corpse."
"I have linked my suit to my omni-tool, allowing me to paint targets with my visor, and the markers will show up on everyone's HUDs. The markers will also have information about the unit they are associated with, such as the weapons they are carrying, tech and/or biotic powers, et cetera. These markers will show up even on targets behind walls" I explain.
"Docking procedures complete." EDI's voice chimes over the comm.
"Alright. Move out." Shepard says.
Kasumi and I cloak and separate from the group, and split up to either side of the room beyond the docking tube doors, passing by a few Blue Suns guards. We get into position around the door in the back of the chamber and wait. I know that Warden Kuril will be coming through shortly, so I already know how long we will be waiting.
Shepard, Garrus, and Zaeed approach the guards, when they are stopped.
"Welcome to the Purgatory, Shepard. Your package is being prepped, and you can claim it shortly. As this is a high-security vessel, you'll need to relinquish your weapons before we proceed."
"I can't do that." Shepard says curtly. At that moment, the door opens, and Kuril steps through. Kasumi and I head through before it closes.
I opened my visor and proceeded to mark every blue sun in sight, while keeping to the sides of the hall. Shepard kept a comm line open so we could hear Kuril explain where Jack was supposed to be.
"Everyone stand down. Commander, I'm Warden Kuril, and this is my ship. Your weapons will be returned on the way out. You must realize this is just a standard procedure."
"It's my standard procedure to keep my gun." Shepard retorts. A few seconds of silence follow until Kuril speaks up again.
"Let them proceed. Our facility is more than secure enough to handle three armed guests. We're bringing Jack out of cryo. As soon as the funds clear, you can be on your way. If you'll follow me to Out-processing for the pickup, Commander."
"Let's go." I hear Shepard say.
"You get that Kasumi?" I say.
"Loud and clear. Out-processing it is."
We move quickly to Out-processing, allowing a passing technician to open the door for us. We follow him in, and I mark more Blue Suns as we go. I know that there is an empty cell at the far end of the room, waiting for Shepard, but I have to make it seem like I have no idea for now.
"Kasumi. I can't hear anybody or anything on the other side of this door. Something isn't adding up here. I am going to see if I can hack the network here. Tell Shepard to stall a bit."
"Gotcha." She says to me. "Shepard, something isn't right. Stall as best you can while Nick checks the ship network."
"Copy that." Shepard says over the comm.
"Aha! The door here leads to an open cell. I was able to get into Kuril's messages. He made a deal with the Collectors to get your body, Shepard. Sending the message along and leaving scrambles in the network to make lockdown a lot slower than the techs think it will be."
"I knew something was off here. Thanks for the heads up. What should we do now?" Shepard says to Kasumi and I.
"Well, no matter how we do this, it will end in a fight. May as well fight together, so I say get to Out-processing, spring the trap, while Kasumi and I get a head start by taking down their more powerful units."
"Sounds like a solid plan to me." Garrus says.
"Alright. We will get going."
"I think you may be fine on your own next time Nick. You are really getting this down fast." Kasumi says.
"Thanks."
Shepard, Garrus, and Zaeed approach the door leading to an open cell, and Kasumi and I get moving. Shepard opens the door.
"My apologies, Shepard. You're more valuable as a prisoner than a customer. Drop your weapons and proceed into this open cell. You will not be harmed."
"You talked up your noble intentions with this prison. But it turns out you're a criminal like the rest." Shepard says accusingly.
"Activate systems!" Kuril said.
Taking that as the signal, I am able to kill a couple centurions and normal troopers, Kasumi is able to kill a few others as well. I move to cover, draw my two pistols, and switch to armor mode.
"Your lockdown may be delayed, Warden." I say, referring to the 'presents' I left in the ship's systems, and activating them, causing every terminal in a sizable part of the ship to send a massive electrical jolt to their users, enough to knock out an unarmored person, namely the technicians.
"Who are you and were did you- ah, Shepard. It appears I underestimated you and your team." Kuril says shakily after recovering from his shock.
I grin under my mask, and am able to hold off another wave of Blue Suns in the hallway leading to the supermax wing until the rest of the team made it to us.
"Alright. Kasumi and I will work with shadow strikes. We cloak, get behind them, and kill priority targets, hopefully making things easier for you three."
"Works for me. Just leave some for us though." Garrus says.
"Don't worry. I'm not so cruel as to deny you some fun, Garrus." I say.
We arrive in the supermax wing, and see the cryo chamber. I move up to the terminal.
"Hmm. I should be able to make freeing Jack not open every cell in the block. Even if I did free the prisoners to fight the Suns, the suns would win anyway, so it wouldn't matter. Ready?" I say.
"Release Jack." Shepard affirms.
I press a few buttons, and we see a claw pull a restraining unit out of a cryo chamber. On it, rests a bald, tattooed woman who I know to be Jack, As she thaws and wakes up, she begins to strain against her bindings, and using biotics, is able to break them. She then charges at the three YMIR mechs standing near her cryo chamber, destroying them with ease.
"We should get moving before she rips a hole in the hull of this ship." I say.
"Agreed. Let's move!" Shepard orders.
The rest of the mission was uneventful, if you get used to calling prolonged combat uneventful, which most of the squad seemed to do. After the first run of shadow strikes, the mercs figured out what Kasumi and I were doing, forcing us to hang back and fight with the rest of the team. A few YMIR mechs were in there, spicing the fights up, but nothing a good hacking couldn't handle. It was on this mission that I discovered my affinity for wielding dual pistols in a fight, coupled with the power of the phalanx, made killing groups easy, as long as I made my headshots. I also discovered that I was quite the quick draw, after a merc hid from us and survived the main fight, and went to sneak up on us; I was able to draw my pistol and blow his head off in under half a second. I knew I had good reflexes, but not that good, so I attributed it to the suit and its ever evolving symbiosis with me.
The mission became interesting when we got to Kuril's command centre. He had holed up at his station behind a powerful barrier. Seeing an opportunity, I rerouted the power stores of the nanosuit into a massive chain overload, targeting the three shield pylons and any enemy troops who were unlucky enough to be near the pylons when I sent the overload through them.
"Shepard, I can reroute my suit power into a massive chain overload, which can take out the shield pylons."
"Do it, quickly so we can get out of here."
"On it."
I send the overload out, causing the pylons to short out badly, and managing to stun Kuril somehow. Garrus managed to compromise his armor and shield system with an armor piercing shot, allowing for a quick kill by two simultaneous phalanx shots to the head, creating a massive blast of blue blood and brain bits that coated the wall behind where Kuril stood.
We managed to catch up with Jack as she ran through the catwalks to where the Normandy was docked, and witnessed her crush the two guards that Shepard first saw on her way in. She turned to look at the Normandy and noticed the Cerberus diamond on the side. She began to pace back and forth, screaming. She turned to us as Shepard shot a merc down behind her. Jack stepped away from us and into a defensive stance.
"What the hell do you want?" She asked with a yell while pacing back and forth.
"You're in a tight spot, and we're here to get you out." Shepard replied.
"Shit, you sound like a pussy. I'm not going anywhere with you. You're Cerberus."
"Why does it matter if I'm with Cerberus?" Shepard asked.
"They've been on my ass for years. Every time I get free, they put a huge bounty on me. That's why Warden Kuril thought he'd struck big gold when he caught me. It isn't working out too well for him."
"We're here to ask for your help." Shepard said calmly.
"You show up in a Cerberus frigate to take me away somewhere? You think I'm stupid?"
"You know, we could just let you die with this ship. Either you die here, or go with us, and we are even asking for you're help." I say.
"We could knock her out and take her." Garrus suggested.
"I'd like to see you try." Jack retorted.
"We're not going to attack her." Shepard said with authority.
"Good move." Jack said. "Look, you want me to come with you, make it worth my while."
"Join my team and I'll do what I can for you."
"Don't make promises you can't keep. I bet your ship's got lots of Cerberus databases. I want to look at those files, see what Cerberus has on me. You want me on your team; let me go through those databases."
"I'll give you full access." Shepard agreed.
"You better be straight up with me." Shepard nods. "So why the hell are we standing here?" Jack asks.
"Move out." Shepard says.
After the Normandy left dock, Kasumi and I headed back down to the crew deck.
"You did well. I think all that's left for you is some more field experience."
"Thanks for the help Kasumi. I owe you a few. I gotta head back down to engineering." I say stepping back into the elevator. I arrive in engineering and greet Ken and Gabby.
"Anything happen that I should know about down here?" I ask them.
"Nothing, Board is green."
"Alright. I will be in my cabin then."
I decided to sleep a few hours until we arrived at Bekenstein, where we would be for a while while Shepard and Kasumi pulled their heist. Before I get to my bed, I hear the elevator come back down followed by loud stomping. More than likely Jack coming by on her way to the sub deck. I decide to let her be for now.
One hour later
I wake up after a nightmare-free nap, grateful about the nightmare-free part. I remember that the next mission will just be Shepard and Kasumi, so I have a good deal of free time. The problem is, I had nothing planned, no tweaks I wanted to make to any of my stuff, nothing. I checked my console in engineering, and everything was nominal. I decided to see if Garrus had any ideas on what to do with time off, so I got into the elevator and went up. When I arrived, I noticed Garrus was looking bored himself.
"Hey Garrus. You look a bit bored."
"I am. Guns are as calibrated as they are going to get right now, and the next mission will just be Shepard and Kasumi."
"How about some Skyllian Five to pass the time?"
"Sounds fun. Haven't played in a little while."
"Oh, and no visor. I know the kind of readouts it gives you."
"Damn. I was hoping you didn't know."
"I'm an engineer Garrus, and the advertisements for the advantages of the Kuwashii visor are damn near everywhere."
"True enough. Alright. Visors off." Garrus conceded.
Garrus and I played poker for a long while. We had barely finished when Kasumi and Shepard had arrived back from Bekenstein. Shepard made her usual rounds and saw us right at the end of the last hand. I was confident in my chances of winning, my hand being the first royal flush I had ever gotten in the many games of poker that I have played.
"Having fun boys?" Shepard asked while leaning on the back of Garrus' chair.
"Just about to lay our cards down now for the final hand." Garrus said.
"Well, lets see them then." Shepard said.
"You first, Garrus." I said. Garrus laid down his cards to reveal a straight flush.
"Beat that. Best hand I have gotten in a long time." Garrus said, both he and Shepard looking at me expectantly.
I laid down my royal flush. Shepard's eyes seem to pop out of her head, and Garrus' mandibles looked like they were going to fall off.
"What- how- but-" Garrus continued to stutter as he looked at my cards, at his cards, my face, which was adorned with a shit-eating grin, and back to my cards, in a seemingly random order.
"Beat that. First royal flush I have ever gotten."
"Well, good to know that there is still someone who can beat me. Now I have reason to face you more."
"What was the starting bet for the match?" Shepard asked.
"5000 credits each. Pay up Garrus."
"Yeah, yeah. You win. Was a great game though. Closest match I have had in a long time."
Garrus headed back into the main battery to resume his work, while I went up to ask Shepard a question.
"Where are we heading next, Shepard?"
"Korlus, to recruit Okeer."
"You decided the ground team?"
"Yes, and I am letting you take another break. I'm taking Zaeed and Mordin on this one. You and Garrus will figure out something to do, I'm sure."
"Alright. I'm sure we will come up with something."
Garrus and I spent the next few hours telling jokes, stories, and going over plans to install a set of N-88 Thanix cannons to the Normandy. All in all, a few hours well spent. Shepard arrived back from Korlus with Grunt in his tank. The sound of Shepard impacting against a crate in the hold could be heard in engineering, but I wasn't too worried. Then, I remembered that TIM would be calling soon, telling Shepard to go to Horizon, but I could feel something was off. Somewhere and somehow, something felt off. While Shepard spoke with TIM, I asked to see the long range comms console in the CIC and found what was wrong.
A team of Quarians were putting out a distress signal, the origin: Haestrom. I made my way to the comms room to inform Shepard. Apparently Tali had started her mission to Haestrom earlier than in the games for some reason.
"Shepard, Illusive Man." I say as I enter the comms area.
"Ah. To what do we owe your presence?" TIM said.
"I intercepted a distress call from a Quarian team on Haestrom. It mentioned one Tali'Zorah as being part of the team."
"Of all the times for that to happen. We are supposed to go to Horizon." Shepard said.
"I do have an idea though. You can take a team to Horizon, and I could take one to Haestrom. The Far Rim is Geth space though. We would need the Normandy to get there. But, it is only about two relays out from Horizon. Would this work?"
"It could. Problem is, both are very time sensitive, Horizon more so though. Could a shuttle make it from Horizon to Haestrom?"
"A Kodiak should do for that, aside from the lack of IES to get by the Geth. The only way I see this working is if we drop your team on Horizon, then Joker makes a beeline for Haestrom, or the other way around."
"How much time do we have to get to Horizon?"
"As soon as possible would mean the most colonists would be saved, and that you may catch the Collectors. You are in quite a bind. I will let the two of you plan, but please be quick." TIM said before disconnecting.
"Alright. Nick, you will be leading the team to Haestrom. Tali has met you and knows that you are with me. Take Jacob and Zaeed. When Tali is safe, contact us and we will come by for a pickup ASAP." Shepard ordered.
"Yes ma'am." I said.
The next few minutes were quite a blur. A mix of getting everyone ready and in the shuttle. Our flight was uneventful, but tension began to build when we exited the relay in the Dholen system. Sensors showed no Geth in our immediate area, and fortunately, Haestrom was fairly close to the Mass Relay at this point in its orbit around Dholen. We managed to avoid any real confrontation with the Geth and landed safely. As we disembarked, we got comms from EDI.
"Nick, scans from the shuttle show that Tali is somewhere in these ruins, as well as large amounts of Geth activity, and an environmental hazard. Solar radiation has overwhelmed Haestrom's protective magnetosphere. Exposure to direct sunlight will damage your shields, and if shade is not found quickly, major radiation damage is likely."
"Thanks for the heads up EDI. Alright, team. Move out, stick to shade, and if you have to leave shade, run at top speed until you get to some. Between the Geth shooting us, and the sun frying us, we are not likely to come out of this one without some damage."
"Copy that. Even in the shade I feel like my lungs are being burned." Jacob commented.
Moving forward from our landing zone, we sprinted across a long stretch of unshaded ramp.
"Warning: Solar Radiation overloading barrier systems." The suit voice piped up.
At the bottom of the ramp was a control room. I went up to the panel and the journal of a Quarian soldier played.
"Emergency Log Entry: The Geth are here. I've stayed to buy the others time. Anyone who gets this, find Tali'Zorah. She and that data are all that matters. Keelah se'lai."
"Poor bastard died for everyone else. Hopefully we were fast enough to make good on his wish." Jacob said.
"Agreed, but we may be in time. He has only been dead for a short while, under 4 hours." Zaeed commented.
"Good. We may actually save some people." I said.
I entered the command to open the doors to allow us to move ahead. Not far in, a Geth dropship flew in overhead.
"Dropship, incoming!" Zaeed called out.
"Keep to cover, kill them before they put up shields."
Knowing that the Geth could likely see me even if I was cloaked, I activated armor mode and made for cover. The waves of Geth seemed endless. The entire fight became a blur as I began to fight almost on autopilot, calling out orders to Jacob and Zaeed to use their abilities to help take down the hordes faster. It became a game of bouncing between cover, finding where we could shoot best, and taking down as many Geth as we could. After some 15 minutes of careful combat and many dead Geth, we were able to push forward. We moved into a closer quarters alley of sorts, encountering another two Geth. After a short fight and managing to blast their heads to pieces, we heard screaming, Quarian screams. Easy to distinguish the sound of the suit voice outputs. The screams stopped as a pair of Geth stopped firing. The pair was no issue, us having the element of surprise. We moved ahead, coming upon a Quarian communicator.
"Break-Break-Break. OP-1, this is Squad Leader Kal'Reegar, do you copy? The Geth sent a dropship to OP-2. Tali'Zorah's secure, but we need backup. We're bunkered up here. Can you send support?"
I picked up the communicator.
"OP-1, this is Squad Leader Kal'Reegar, report!"
"Squad Leader, this is Engineer Nick of the Normandy, here on the orders of Commander Shepard. Can we provide assistance?"
"How can I be sure that you are with Shepard?"
"Ask Tali about me. I was with Shepard on Freedom's Progress."
A few seconds of silence followed before Reegar responded.
"Tali confirmed you as a friendly. Patch your radio into channel 617 Theta. We were on a high-risk stealth mission. We have what we came for, but the Geth found us. They have us pinned. We can't get to our ship, and we can't transmit data through the solar radiation."
"How are you holding up? We can get to you in a few minutes."
"Take it slow and careful. Sun fries shields to all hell. We're bunkered down at base camp across the valley. I left Tali at a secured shelter, and doubled back to hold a chokepoint. Getting Tali out safely is the top priority. If you can get her out, we will keep them off you."
"You can confirm that Tali is safe?" I say.
"Yes. I left my best men with her. When you get here, you can talk to her over the comm. Every marine on this fried rock is here to protect Tali'Zorah, and we will do that to the last man."
"Hold your position, we are coming the through their back ranks."
"Wait! Watch your ass! Dropship inbound!" Kal'Reegar said as a dropship dropped munitions on what I assumed to be OP-2, but it also toppled a tower that fell and blocked access to our intended route.
"Dammit! Pillar blocked the door. There should be some demolition charges in the buildings close by. Use them to bust open a path."
"Acknowledged. We'll see you in a bit." I say, closing the comms.
"Nick, you will need at least two charges to be able to blast through the pillar." EDI chimed in.
"Not exactly. I should be able to make one work better if I direct its explosion to a small cone, and direct the blast so that instead of simply blasting a hole, it will break the pillar along a weak point, or an existing crack."
"You're the engineer here. You get to work on that charge, we will keep the Geth off you." Jacob said.
"Thanks Jacob, Zaeed."
The charge was of a relatively simple design, easy to modify. Barely took me a minute to do as I needed to do.
"Wait, Nick. You said you intend to break the pillar into pieces. How will we move them?"
"My suit should help there. I just need to climb over the pillar and behind it, and give it a good kick. The suit lets me kick things that weigh a few tons like footballs."
"Damn. Where can I get one of those?" Zaeed asked.
"I don't know where it came from, sorry." I replied. "Setting the charge! Stand back!"
I set the charge, and when we were a safe distance, I hit the detonator. I had managed to do what I wanted. The pillar was broken up into pieces that I could move with the suit, so I followed the plan I had laid out before. The suit taking on a brilliant blue flashing glow as power mode activated, I kicked the large debris out of the way, which took no small amount of effort, even with the suit, allowing Jacob and Zaeed to come through.
We enter a room, laden with old computer panels, and noticed a near dead Geth crawling to us. A quick shot from my phalanx, and it was dead. I went around the room, and found another one of Tali's Journals.
"Our ancestors walked these halls with uncovered heads. The sun must have been normal back then. So much space. Walls of stone. It's amazing. I wish my friends could see it. I wish Shepard were here."
I continued to the next door when a terminal sprang to life with a hologram of Tali.
"Tali'Zorah to base camp, come in base camp. Hello? Is anyone there?" Tali says. I activate the comm system.
"Tali, it's me, Nick. I'm sorry, but everyone here is dead. Any survivors have probably fallen back."
"We knew this mission was high-risk. Damn it. And what are you doing here, Nick? Last I saw you was on Freedom's progress, and Shepard was there."
"Shepard is on another mission. I noticed your distress call on the incoming comms panel on the Normandy. I will explain about the Normandy later as well. We took a shuttle and managed to get here unharmed. The Normandy is about two relays away, but Shepard should be finishing up soon."
"Thanks for coming. It means a lot to hear another friendly voice. Kal'Reegar and what's left of the marines got me into the observatory. From where you are, its through the door and across the field. Be careful though. There may be a lot of Geth drones in the field, and we may have heard a couple of Geth Primes as well."
"Damn. That means that it may take us a while to get to you."
"I have the data I needed, and I should be safe for a while. The observatory is reinforced, and even the Geth will need time to break through it."
"Alright. The door to get out of here is locked, and the panel is busted. Can you open it from where you are?"
"Let me see... yes! OK, should be open now. And, please try to keep Reegar alive if you can."
"We will move as fast as we can, Tali, and I will try to keep him alive." I say as I close the comm.
The field was, as Tali said, full of Geth drones, and there were two Primes. Our trip across the field was a somewhat monotonous one, consisting of shooting down a drone or two, take a shot at the Prime, avoid the fire from the Prime, rinse, repeat. Battles becoming a blur. I am beginning to think that isn't too good. Either way, we made it, not too much worse for the wear. We entered an alcove of sorts, and the exit door was locked. I disabled it at a security console, but that opened the shutters.
"Holy shit! Colossus! Get down!" I yelled as the Colossus fired a massive blast our way.
"Way too goddamn close for my taste." Zaeed called as we moved out of the room.
Heading down some stairs, we got into cover near Kal'Reegar.
"Squad Leader Kal'Reegar, Migrant Fleet Marines. We talked over the comm before the dropship arrived. I can guess that you got our distress call, and this isn't a time to be picky. Tali's inside over there. Geth got the rest of my squad, and they're trying to get to her. Best I've been able to do is distract them."
"She still alive in there?"
"Observatory is reinforced. Even the Geth need time to get in."
"She mentioned that."
"Plus, it's hard to hack a door with someone firing rockets at you. The Geth are near platoon strength, but the Colossus is the worst part. Has a repair protocol. Huddles up and fixes itself, so whatever we do has to scrap that big bastard fast. I tried to move in for a better shot, but I got shot clean through my suit."
"I take it your suit is prepared for any rupture?"
"Yeah. Combat seals clamped down and I'm swimming in antibiotics."
"Any ideas for the Colossus?"
"Just one. I'm not moving so well, but I got a functioning rocket launcher. The standard protocol is to sabotage the shields and whittle down at it. Kill it with bug bites. But the repair protocol blows that to hell, fixes its shields right up. Killing it will likely require getting up close, past the cover. I'll keep it busy, maybe even drop it's shields, while you go in and get Tali."
"Reegar, you've done plenty. Don't throw your life away."
"Wasn't asking your permission. My job is to keep Tali safe."
I pull Reegar back into cover, mimicking what Shepard does in the games.
"There aren't enough of us for you to take one for the team. Stand down, and if you want to honor your squad, watch our backs. We need you here in case reinforcements come in."
"Alright, Nick. We'll do it your way. Hit it hard for me. Keelah se'lai."
"Zaeed, get your sniper. Jacob, watch Zaeed's flank. I got a plan."
I opened the suit visor to get a read on the Colossus. What few weak points it had were small, hard to reach. To test the effectiveness, I charged a massive overload with the suit, and let it go. It was able to take down quite a few standard Geth platforms, and put a fairly good dent in the Colossus' shields, but it would still take a while to kill. But, as long as I kept the supercharged overloads coming, the Colossus would have no shields in under a minute. After another few overloads, I called out to concentrate fire on the base of the head. Just as it began to huddle up, Reegar hit the target with one last rocket, leaving the "head" dangling by a few remaining cables, which I promptly shot apart.
"Didn't think that would work. It likely has backup sensors, but has lost its weapons, and may be confused. Keep shooting it with everything we got!" I ordered. It didn't take long. Without the worry of us getting hit with a blast from it, we could attack it continuously. With the giant finally down for the count, We moved ahead and noticed the door was locked.
"Just a second. I locked the door to keep any more Geth from getting inside. There. That should do it."
The door opened, and we entered the observatory.
"Just let me finish this download." Tali said as I picked up a Geth Pulse Rifle from the ground, intending to bring it back to the Normandy.
"Thank you Nick. If not for you, I would never be able to leave here alive. This whole mission has been a disaster. I wish I could have joined you and Shepard back on Freedom's Progress, but I couldn't let anyone take my place on a mission this risky."
"No small number of Quarians lost their lives here, Tali. Was it worth it?"
"I don't know, Nick. It wasn't my call. The Admiralty Board believed the information here was worth sacrificing all our lives for. I have to believe that they know what's best."
"I never asked what the Admirals thought. I asked what you thought."
"A lot of people died here, some of them were my friends. All of them were good at their jobs. That damn data better be worth it. The price was too high."
"What is the data about, anyway?" I asked.
"Haestrom's star is decaying too quickly. It was a normal star when this was a Quarian colony."
"Any ideas about what's causing this?"
"If I had to guess, I would say dark energy is affecting the interior of the sun."
"Whatever the reason, glad I could help. We could use you on the Normandy once you deliver the data. I could use another engineer on deck 4."
"I promised to see the mission through, and I have. I can leave with you and send the data to the fleet. And if the Admirals have a problem with it, they can go to hell. I just watched the rest of my team die."
"Maybe not the whole rest of your team, ma'am." Kal'Reegar said coming up behind us.
"Reegar! You made it." Tali said.
"Your old captain sure knows how to pick 'em. I don't know how, but Nick here managed to overload the shields of the Colossus in a minute, and was able to find a weak point. Damn thing never stood a chance."
"You need transport Reegar? The Normandy should be by in a while."
"The Geth didn't damage our ship, as long as we get out before reinforcements arrive, we should be fine."
"Actually, I will be going with Nick to the Normandy."
"I'll pass the word along with the data to the Admiralty Board and let them know what happened. She's all yours now, Nick. Keep her safe."
"Don't worry about that Reegar. Also, since offworld comms don't work unless sent through a shuttle, can you bring your ship over so I can contact the Normandy?"
"Sure thing. Will only be a few minutes."
Reegar came by with the Quarian ship, and I tried to hail the Normandy.
"Normandy, this is ground team leader Nick, do you copy?"
"Barely. We are done on Horizon. Status?"
"Ready for pickup, with Tali in tow as well. She's joining us on the mission."
"Roger that, Normandy out. ETA, 20 minutes."
"Well, you heard Joker. Hope you brought something to occupy the time." I said to Jacob and Zaeed as I sat down and began tinkering with one of my pistols. A Geth trooper had managed to land a hit on the pistol, so I began to repair it.
"Reegar said you managed to take down the Colossus' shields in a minute. How?"
"Well, I'd have to explain a bit about this suit first. It has an internal energy supply that recharges through various means. The outer layer can reshape itself into hardened armor scales, or function as a powerful cloak. I redirect the energy pool into an overload, supercharging it."
"How much energy is that?"
"Enough that when in armor mode, the suit can take around eight hits from a Widow anti-material rifle before I am in trouble."
"Wow. I understand how you were able to take down the shields then. Also, how do you get that armor off? I see no clasps or anything of the sort. And how do you command it to change modes without your Omni-tool?"
"It is linked to me mentally. It can only be used by me, and through it, I can speak directly to computers, and it can replay my memories like vids. As for removing it, you'll see when we get back to the Normandy." I say as I return to my tinkering.
"I can't even find words to describe how advanced that must be." Tali said in awe as she looked the suit over.
"Hell. I don't even know where it came from. I can tell you the full story on the Normandy. The shuttle should be here in a few minutes, so grab what you want to bring."
The shuttle arrived, and we had a normal trip back to the Normandy. With a good deal of missions done in a short timespan, Shepard decided to have us take a bit of a break. The plan was some shore leave on Illium before we did more missions. After getting Tali acquainted with the ship and engineering deck, and letting her see how the nanosuit is removed at her insistence, I had returned to my cabin to rest. Killing all those Geth is harder work than it seems. I was woken up from my sleep by EDI.
"What is it EDI?"
"We have docked at Nos Astra on Illium, and Shepard has ordered the ground crew to the CIC."
"Thanks EDI."
I arrived on the CIC to hear a basic briefing from Shepard about what to do and what not to do on Illium.
"Remember, Illium is Omega with fancy clothing. It's no safer here. While wearing our armor may look out of place, better safe than sorry." Was the gist of the briefing. We stepped into the airlock to begin our shore leave.
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**A/N: WOW! 32 pages of story in this one. I will also be uploading chapter 6 soon since this one is coming late.**
**Thanks to Konner N7 for beta-ing.**
**-Jötunn**
6. Mercs, Matriarchs, and Markets
**A/N: This chapter will be Nick and Tali's adventures in trying to find spare parts and the standard dose of chaos for anyone who is in the crew of the Normandy.**
**DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! BIOWARE/EA OWNS MASS EFFECT! I JUST OWN MY OC!**
* * *
**Illium**
Shepard ordered us to go on shore leave, leaving behind a basic crew to defend the ship as a precaution, and Joker was adamant that he stay with his ship, which left the group of those leaving the ship at Shepard, who went off shopping; Garrus and Jacob headed over to the Eternity lounge; Grunt, who made a beeline for the nearest weapons shop; Jack, who wandered off somewhere; Mordin stayed to monitor his work in the lab; Miranda stayed on the Normandy as well, her reason was beyond me. This left Tali and I. We decided to search the stores for some spare parts and some of the other materials we would need to get some upgrades for the Normandy, namely the parts for an upgrade to Silaris armor, the extra bits for the Thanix cannons, and what we would need for Tali to upgrade our barriers.
"I've never been to Illium. Quarian ships are banned from even coming into orbit here."
"I can guess why." I said while browsing to see what a shop had on offer. "The irony of the view of Quarians being thieves is that if the council had given them support of some kind, they wouldn't have been forced to steal anything. Come on. Nothing we need at this one either."
We had been to over 10 stores in our search for parts, and had been only mildly successful. I had taken note of some of the glares Tali had been receiving. We passed by a few people out on the shopping floor who did no more than a simple look or glare, but with the auditory upgrades the nanosuit provided, I could hear whispers being passed between friends, about why "The human would ever associate with one of those vagrants." Tali noticed my fist clenching, my usual reaction to racism."
"Nick, it's nothing to get upset over." Tali tried to calm me down.
"I know, but I absolutely despise racism. I find it stupid that people
At that moment, a Volus ambled by, and bumped into Tali accidentally on purpose.
"sss-Watch where you are going clanless suit-rat!-sss"
My fists clenched to where you could hear the suit strain slightly.
"Nick, please. I can see that you don't like people being this way, but it's nothing I haven't been called before."
"That still doesn't make it right, Tali."
"I know, but what can we do about it?"
"Fine. You got me there." I say as I approach a kiosk. I notice something.
"Aha! How many of these are in stock?" I ask showing the part in question to the shopkeeper.
"We have eight of them. How many are you buying?"
"I'll take four."
"Um... you may want to cover your pockets. There is a thief behind you." The keeper said under her breath. I knew who she meant, but I decided to play along.
"Thief? I see no thief. All I see is a nice Quarian woman behind me. I fail to see how she is a thief."
"Quarians are all theives. There is a reason their ships aren't allowed on Illium." I had had enough of this shopkeeper.
"Well, since you are so dead-set that all Quarians are thieves, which is untrue, I will gladly make an analogy for you. Calling all Quarians thieves without knowing the one you are insulting is like saying that all pureblood Asari are Ardat-Yakshi, when that is quite untrue. You understand that?"
The Asari stared at me, slack-jawed as I engaged power mode, feeling the suit activate the systems in my muscles, and carried the four parts, two in each arm.
"You didn't need to speak like that on my behalf, Nick."
"I wanted to put what they are doing into words they can understand, and I know it hit home with her. The suit can apparently tell if an Asari is pureblood. How, I have no clue, but it certainly made that more fun, and maybe she will think next time."
"I guess. Where are we going next?"
"Well, we have the parts we need for the upgrades and the spares. I'm going to ask where the rest of the shore party is." I open my comms. "Nick to shore party. Where is everyone?"
"We met back at the Eternity lounge. Where are you?" Garrus responded.
"I'm carrying the last of the parts we went to buy. We will head over to you guys in a bit."
"Copy that. See you soon."
**Illium: Nos Astra: Eternity lounge**
After dropping our purchases off on the Normandy, we headed over to the Eternity lounge, and found the rest of the team in a small room off to the side, having a rather animated conversation.
"I was wondering when you two were going to be done. Did you get stuck in line behind a stingy Volus or something?" Garrus said to Tali and I.
"Not a stingy one, but a racist one did pass us by." I said frankly. "Take a guess at which of us he didn't like."
"To be expected. Still makes you want to kick one to see how far it rolls though." Garrus replied.
"Yeah."
"It's nothing I haven't been called before. It's no problem." Tali said.
"And as I said before, the fact that you are used to it still doesn't make it right, nor does it stop me from getting pissed off about it." I said to Tali.
"I know that." Tali conceded.
"Well, we came here to take time off, not be all gloomy. Get yourselves some drinks and enjoy the time off." Shepard said with a slight slur.
"Sounds like a good plan. Want anything while I'm there, Tali?"
"Some Turian brandy would be fine, thanks."
"No problem. Be back shortly." I say as I walk towards the bar.
"Welcome to Eternity, I'm Aethyta, matriarch and bartender. Can I get you anything?"
"Scotch whiskey for me and some Turian brandy for my friend."
"Alright then. Just a second... here you go."
"Thanks for the drinks."
"That's what I'm here for babe. Get you anything else?"
"This will be fine for now."
"Right. Don't eat the nuts in the red bowls. They're for Turians and Quarians. You'll get cramps."
"Thanks for the warning." I say as I walked back to the room where everyone was with the two drinks and a few glasses.
"Here's your brandy." I said handing the bottle to Tali. "And some scotch for me." I finished as I sat down.
"So. How was everyone's day here?" I ask the group to break the ice.
"It was pretty good. I managed to find a few bits and pieces to upgrade some of our guns with, along with some new parts for my hardsuit." Shepard responded.
"I got some new guns too." Grunt added. "Now if this place just had some ryncol..." He trailed off.
"You make a list of the guns you bought, Grunt?" Jacob asked.
"No, but I think it should be easy enough to make one later." Grunt said back.
"Well, Tali and I did manage to find the spare parts we needed as well as the extra parts to make the upgrades to the Normandy." I said.
"What upgrades did you manage to get parts for?" Shepard asked.
"We got parts to install Silaris armor to the hull, parts for the Thanix cannons, and my cyclonic barriers." Tali explained.
"Were there any other upgrades you wanted to install, or are Tali and I done hunting for parts?"
"None yet, but I will tell you when there is an upgrade I want to install." Shepard finished.
"Good. I have had enough of the shopkeepers' here-" I cut myself off as I notice a red ping on my suit radar.
"What is it? Why did you stop?" Garrus asked.
"Shhh. My suit radar is picking up a potential hostile, approaching us." I say quietly as my helmet closes over my head. Just then, a shot rang out. I activated armor mode and blocked the shot. It was directed at Shepard.
"Scatter! We got hostiles!" Shepard says.
"Already on it. Just a second..." I say as I de-cloak and deliver a powerful punch to the would-be assailant, knocking them down. By then, most of the patrons had fled and Aethyta had come over and was holding the merc with biotics.
"Eclipse sisters. Why am I not surprised." Aethyta says.
"You can have him, Aethyta. There are still more here." I say.
"Not a problem. You six have your fun, just try not to completely destroy Nos Astra while you're at it."
"Can't promise anything there." Garrus replied.
"Grunt, Jacob, you're with me! Garrus, Tali, with Nick. Spread out and find them." Shepard ordered.
"Aye Aye ma'am" I replied.
"We can't even go on shore leave without getting into trouble. I was hoping for a calm day too." Garrus complained.
"Galaxy seems determined to keep us on our toes, doesn't it?" Tali commented.
"That it does. Garrus, what do you know about the Eclipse Sisters?" I say.
"Band of Eclipse composed of Asari. They earn their armor when they make their first kill."
"So expect biotics and the usual Eclipse methods." Tali comments.
"Sounds about right." Garrus affirmed.
"Move out then. We got a job to do." I order.
We spread apart and move ahead to do our own thing. Tali laid down area denial with her drones and related tech. Garrus found a perch with a great view of the battlefield. I cloaked and scouted ahead, painting targets like usual, killing rocket troopers as well.
"Garrus, can you see anything that would tell us where they may be coming in from?" I say over the comm.
"I see trucks coming in at a lower level. I can confirm that Eclipse sisters are being transported in this way."
"What's down at that level?" I ask.
"Don't know. Recommend we move down there." Garrus suggests.
"Affirmative. Tali, send a drone ahead, and report what it finds."
"On it." She said before pausing as she sent 'Chatika vas Paus' down.
"Let's move as the drone scans. Time is wasting."
"Roger that. Give me a second." Garrus said coming down from his perch.
**Illium: Nos Astra: Warehouse**
We moved at a careful pace towards the lower level, and I had begun to worry, since Shepard and her team hadn't checked in at all.
"Lower level is a large warehouse; Eclipse Sisters are all over it."
"Perfect. A chance to really put my stealth to the test."
"What should we do then, Nick?"
"Tali, use your drone and tech to make the Sisters spread apart. Garrus, Force them into cover once they have been split up. When one pokes out, kill them. Keep them scared. I will move in and kill them from there. In the meantime, Shepard hasn't checked in. Try to contact her, Tali."
"Tali to Shepard, come in Shepard. Shepard, do you read?"
"I read you Tali. What is your status?"
"We are moving into a warehouse a few levels down from where we are docked. The Eclipse seem to have a mobile base here."
"Keep in contact, check in regularly." Shepard said to us.
"Will do, Commander." I say.
We arrive in the warehouse, and we all move into position; Garrus having found the perfect spot, and Tali found solid cover. I moved around behind the mercs.
"Tali, use your drone and scatter them on my mark, Garrus, be on standby." I order
"Tech is ready, Nick." Tali said back.
"Now!"
The plan worked well enough. The mercs had dispersed and found cover for themselves. Garrus did as I had said and picked off those who poked out of cover, while I moved in to kill them, starting with the stragglers. I had to move fast, else they would get word to the rest of the mercs. Two were dead in a few seconds, having been stabbed with my omni-blade. The rest were not too much of a challenge, until I slipped up and one managed to get word out that there was an assassin.
"Shit. I slipped up. They know I'm here now, and reinforcements are likely on the way."
"Well, at least you got the better part of them. Now we just have to be more careful." Tali said.
"Just stay on your toes. No telling where they could come from." Garrus added.
"Wait, Tali! Behind you!" I say as I snap my aim and fire at a merc behind Tali. She fell to the ground with a large hole in her head.
"Thank you, Nick. That was too close." Tali said, relieved.
"I'll say. Nice shot though." Garrus complimented.
"Shepard, we may need some support here. They have reinforcement's incoming. How close are you?"
"We can get to you in under a minute. And you will need support. We see multiple trucks with Eclipse on them heading to your location." Shepard replied.
"Please hurry then." I say.
Just then, Eclipse stormed in. I was forced to take cover and switch to armor. Stealth wouldn't work when there are no routes to get behind them without getting shot down. Not too long after, Shepard, Jacob, and Grunt show up. Grunt immediately charges a pocket of Eclipse, sending them flying into a wall. Shepard charges her biotics and charged, ramming into another group of mercs. Those that didn't get hit, were quickly gunned down by Shepard's shotgun. Jacob laid down multiple pulls across the battlefield. All in all, it was becoming quite a bloodbath. After a few minutes of combat, we had finally exhausted the Eclipse reinforcements.
"That is what I call combat. Six of us versus 30 of them, and we still win." Grunt said while bashing his fists together.
"I still would have liked a normal shore leave though." Garrus said.
"Nick, can you search the mobile base for any info on who may have hired them?" Shepard asked.
"Sure. Give me a minute." I respond as I begin searching for the data. Wasn't too hard. "Found a datapad. Let me see..." I begin to scroll through the information. After processing the data, I found no record of who hired the mercs to kill Shepard. "Nothing here on who hired them. Shame."
"Well, with this over, is there anything else that we were going to do here today?" Garrus asked Shepard.
"Not today, but tomorrow, we have two new recruits to pick up here on Illium, and Miranda apparently needs help with something."
Garrus then starts to walk towards the way we came in.
"Alright. Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I'm up for some more drinks. Also, Nick, when this all started, you said that you saw a hostile in your suit's radar, right?" Garrus asked.
"Yes, I did."
"How did you see the radar if you didn't have your visor on?"
"The suit HUD is projected right into my optic nerve. The visor acts as eye protection and an advanced visual scanner."
"Wait, so you could have used that during our poker game?"
"The visor is what could have given me those scans, and it is needed to do anything like tell me if you are bluffing. The HUD just gives me the data from the scans, but if there is no visor to take such readings, then the point is moot. I could ask the suit to replay my memory of the game if you want proof. Plus, I have yet to install the body language and reading software that your visor uses." I say back in defence.
"Fine, fine. I wish you had said so sooner though."
"And ruin the fun of everyone seeing the look on your face? Naw. Too good an opportunity to pass up." I say in jest.
"He's got you there, Garrus." Tali said with a slight giggle.
"Damn. I really need to step up my game with you, don't I." Garrus said in mock exasperation.
"Seems like you do. Now, I am with Garrus on getting more drinks. Anyone else?" I ask the group.
Everyone began to follow us, so I took that as a yes.
The rest of day was spent enjoying time off, and eventually, more of the crew came by, namely Mordin, who began to pester me with endless questions about the suit; Zaeed, who came in and proceeded to drink all of my remaining whiskey, much to my chagrin. Miranda also made an appearance, and Kasumi was close by, at least I thought she was.
Somewhere in there, Miranda mentioned that when I was found with the suit, a case of clothing had been found with me. It was what I had worn the day before I was sent here. A plain, grey t-shirt, cargo shorts, which still had my stuff in the pockets, and a pair of workboots. Cerberus hadn't any idea of what to do with them, and so they had been in storage, and were moved to the Normandy. I realized that my old iPod was still in the pockets of the shorts, meaning that with a bit of work, I may just be able to get all my old music downloaded into either my suit or my omni-tool.
My usual post in engineering was going to get a lot less boring very soon.
* * *
**A/N: This chapter was really just a short, filler sort of thing. I wanted to have a day off for the crew, and explain where the hell they got the parts for all those Normandy upgrades besides the minerals, and spare parts are a necessary thing. I also sort of projected my abhorrence of discrimination onto Nick, because racism is stupid. Like Nick said, calling all Quarians thieves is like saying all pureblood Asari are Ardat-Yakshi. It is a bad move to make such broad generalizations without actually knowing the subject(s) of that generalization, and in this case, is racist or generally discriminatory.**
**Zaeed will also get his just desserts for stealing Nick's scotch. It will be gloriously hilarious.
**
**Read, review, follow, favorite, take your pick.**
**-Jötunn**
7. Swords, Assassins, and Towers
**A/N:**** Hey there people. I took a while off from writing to deal with life and its shit. School and the like. I also have decided to take my time when writing a chapter. Instead of writing down ideas and writing them out into a chapter in a day or two, I am writing these as I go, a bit every day. It will mean that my release intervals will be considerably longer, but I get more time to work out kinks and write a better chapter. This chapter will see a subplot thickening, and may be a bit shorter than other chapters. I am planning to draw out the next few segments, with more instances of Nick going on missions, and with a few new toys too. What? You thought that I would make his constant tinkering have no impact? HA! Just read to find out.**
******DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! BIOWARE/EA OWNS MASS EFFECT! I JUST OWN MY OC!**
"Speech"
"_Thought_"
"_Computer/VI Speech_"
_**"****Nanosuit voice"**_
* * *
**Normandy: Deck 4: Engineering**
I was right in thinking that my post in Engineering would be less boring with my music. In just a few hours, I had managed to extract all the music and load it into my suit. Working on autopilot with my customized engineering panel interface and my music blasting through the suit helmet's earpieces, I was quite thankful that Miranda had decided to save the case with my clothes in it. I was doing fine with my work, re-balancing systems with Ken after we got the new armor, main cannons, and shields. Just after we had an eureka moment in tweaking the drive core's efficiency enough to support the cannons, I had returned to my console, and un-paused _Psycho Killer,_ I got a message from Jacob and Grunt.
"Hey Nick. We were sorting through the guns Grunt got on Illium, and we found one and have no idea what it is or how it works. Mind coming up and doing whatever it is you engineers do?" Jacob requests.
"Sure. But if I fix it, I get to keep it." I say back, slightly frustrated at one of my favorite songs being interrupted.
"What was that about you keeping what you fix?" Tali asks me.
"Grunt got a weapon on Illium, and neither he nor Jacob have any clue what it is or how it works. I said that if I fix it, I get to keep it."
"I see." Tali says in understanding.
"You're welcome to come up and see it. Just in case we need any of your ideas to get it running."
"I guess I could take a break from work here. We have gotten things in balance again. And, why were you shaking your head up and down before?"
"Human thing. We move our heads in response to the beat of music. I was listening to one of my favorites." I answer.
"What song?"
"You probably wouldn't know it. It's about 208 years old and from Earth."
"Wow. You have old tastes."
"I appreciate modern music, but the classics just have a nice sound to them. I have always had a high appreciation for music, and I actually know how to play 2 human instruments. Come on. I would rather not keep Jacob waiting." I say as I move to the door to go to the elevator.
"Sounds fine. You have any of those instruments with you?" Tali asked.
"No, but that may be something to look into buying on the Citadel next time we visit."
"What instruments are they?"
"They are called a Baritone Saxophone, and the other is a Contrabass Trombone. Both are loud, low pitched, large, and sound amazing."
"You will have to get those and play a few songs for the crew. It would provide some form of entertainment besides Joker."
"That it would." I finished as the elevator stopped on the CIC.
**Normandy: Deck 2: CIC**
"Hi Shepard." I say as we pass by.
"What are you two doing up here?" Shepard asks us.
"Jacob and Grunt have a weapon that is completely foreign to them, and asked us to take a look. My condition was that whoever makes it work first gets to keep it."
"And what if it is useless?" Shepard asked.
"Then I will take it apart and rebuild it so that it isn't. You haven't noticed my workbench in my cabin when you make your rounds about the ship, Shepard?"
"Oh yeah. Forgot about that." Shepard said.
"Exactly. But, I know that Grunt has a good eye for a good weapon, so I am trusting his instincts. Now, to see what they got for us." I say walking into the armory.
**Armory**
"Hey. Was wondering if you were going to get here within the hour." Jacob joked.
"Maybe. I could have stopped for lunch. So, what do you have for me?"
"This right here." Jacob said to me handing me an object that looked like the hilt of a sword.
It was then that I realized that it _was_ a sword hilt, and not just any sword. A Sanghelli energy sword from the _Halo_ games. How and why it came here is a mystery, but it did make me think. It was possible that people and objects were being mysteriously transported to this universe for some reason. I grabbed it and held it like it was held in the games. I came up with a cover story on the spot to keep this and my past a secret a bit longer.
"This shouldn't exist. I thought that all of these were destroyed."
"What do you mean?" Shepard asked with mild urgency. "Is this dangerous?"
"It is a weapon, one that I set out to destroy a while back. Apparently I wasn't as thorough as I thought."
"Mind showing us how it works?"
"Sure thing. Stand back, as in two meters back at least." I say just before activating it.
I don't know how I knew how to turn it on, but I did. Bringing it to bear, I heard the familiar sound I have grown fond of from many hours of playing the _Halo_ series. A bright, four foot long blade of ionized gas extended from the hilt.
"Holy shit. What is that?" Jacob asks
"An energy sword." I reply simply.
"How does it work?" Tali asked with an interested tone in her voice.
"Two words to explain why I can't tell you: Surveillance bugs. This weapon is too dangerous for any more of them to be made. It could cut through the armor of a YMIR mech or, given enough energy, possibly the hull of the _Normandy_."
"Wow. Where does it get power from?"
"Internal cells that once depleted, are gone. The thing becomes non functional. My new plan for it is to try and hook it into my suit, possibly create a secondary energy pool in the suit for this. In short, it's like an omni-blade, only much better. Also looks awesome, don't you think?"
"Can't argue there. It does look cool." Shepard added.
"Well, that was fun, but the core won't be checking itself anytime soon, so I will be heading to deck 3 for lunch, then down to deck 4. Tali, can you run my post while I am eating?" I say as I turn to head towards the door.
"No problem Nick."
"Should I grab you some nutrient paste while I'm there?" I ask.
"That would be nice, thank you." Tali agrees.
"Alright. Time for lunch. I wonder what Rupert has been cooking up today..." I trail off as I head for the elevator.
"Well, if there is one thing that nobody can stop Nick from getting, it's food. And boy does he eat a lot" Shepard said.
"On that, we can agree. At least he pays for our food supplies when we dock." Jacob adds.
Lunch was very good in my opinion. Rupert had a pot of turkey soup for lunch today, turkey soup is coincidentally one of my favorites. I lost track of how many bowls I had after about three. My ability to eat two or three servings of food most people would only have one serving of was often dubbed "having a hollow leg to fill" by my family. God I miss them. It has been almost a month of scurrying around the galaxy, doing small, mundane things and retrieval missions, and others; and I am really missing them. My parents, my little sister, my six cousins, numerous aunts, all my friends, everyone. I had nobody of my old life here. _"No!"_ I thought to myself. _"Don't dwell on that. The more you do, the more you will miss them and the more depressed you will be!"_
Deciding to agree with my conscience, I returned to engineering to resume my shift. I handed Tali the tube of nutrient paste and un-paused _Psycho Killer _and got back to work.
About 3 hours later, I had managed to finish my work on the sword and the suit, with the sword drawing power from a second energy pool in the suit. I was just getting back up to go to my post in engineering to resume my shift when my comm pinged. It was Shepard.
"Yes, Shepard?" I say.
"We are heading back out to Nos Astra in an hour. I'm taking a larger than normal team this time."
"How large are we talking?" I ask.
"It will consist of most everybody we have recruited. We are going to recruit Samara, the Justicar. The area she is in now is heavily populated by Eclipse sisters, and she is hunting them as well. On top of that, I am sending you with the team of your choice to recruit Thane."
"That's a lot of people. I assume the plan is to do what we do best?"
"Sums it up nicely." Shepard replies.
"Well, then just as a heads up, I found that the sword can be hidden by my suit cloak, so expect to see enemies get stabbed from seemingly nowhere. I am going to have a bit of fun with this new toy and the shadow strike maneuver."
"And this is a worry why?"
"Just make sure you don't biotically charge into anyone I am about to kill. I would rather avoid impaling both you and my target as you impact form the charge."
"Oh. Well thanks for the heads up then." Shepard says.
"Not a problem." I finish, while turning to Tali.
"Tali, Shepard wants us ready to head over to Illium. We are going to split up and run two missions at once. I am leading a team to recruit Thane. Enemies will mostly be Eclipse, so I want you there to hack their mechs. I am also going to take Garrus."
"Same team we had when we were ambushed." Tali said.
"We got the job done, and very well I might add. You keep the mechs down or shooting the Eclipse, Garrus keeps them pinned, and I now have a chance to test out my new sword in combination with my cloak."
"If you say so. So, who is this Thane?"
"A Drell assassin. From the intel Shepard got from Liara, Thane is going to kill Nassana Dantius in her towers. We have to catch up to him to ask if he will join us. While the three of us are doing that, Shepard will be leading a team to recruit Samara. Once both teams are done, Shepard will be off to help Miranda with something."
"Big day for us it seems." Tali said.
"Indeed it is." I say before calling Garrus. "Garrus, I'm taking you along to recruit Thane. Meet Tali and I up on the CIC."
"Got it. Will be there shortly." Garrus affirms.
Tali and I get into the elevator and press the button for the CIC. We stop on deck 3 and Garrus steps in. We arrive at the CIC and see Shepard, Zaeed, and Miranda waiting for us. We exit the elevator and head to the airlock. I order the suit to form up as we walk, the sound of my footsteps going from quiet taps to loud _thuds_ as the boots finish assembly, my HUD popping up with new panels as the visor closes over my eyes.
"Ready when you are, Shepard. We go to Seryna at the docks, correct?" I ask to make sure I know where we are going.
"Correct. She shouldn't be too hard to convince." Shepard replied.
"Alright. Gear check, team." I say to Tali and Garrus, and they begin to go through their weapons and supplies to make sure they have everything.
"All set here." Garrus said.
"Me too." Tali added.
"We're ready here Shepard." I say.
With that the six of us step into the decontamination chamber. After the decontamination cycle finished, we headed through the docking tube and back into Nos Astra.
Our walk to see Seryna and the skycar ride to the Dantius towers were nothing to remember in any detail, with the only points of interest being the information Seryna gave us. The plan was the same as what it was in the games, start at the highest accessible level of the second tower, and head up the service ramps until we get to a bridge over to the first tower. The difference here was that Shepard wasn't in charge, meaning that I may not have as easy of a time convincing Thane to come with us, and the method in which I would fight, being a sneaking and stabbing sort rather than a sneaking and sniping sort. The other issue is that if my memory serves me correctly, a fair amount of the spaces in the tower didn't leave much flanking room, even if I was cloaked; reducing the chances of getting to test out my new sword in combat. I was broken out of my train of thought as I felt the skycar land at the second tower.
"Good luck, Sir." Seryna said as she took off and left.
Looking through the massive window, we saw two Salarian workers getting shot down by LOKI mechs, with FENRIS mechs as backup.
"Tali, help me keep the dogs back. Garrus, send an impact round into the group of LOKI mechs. Knock them down."
I received two affirmative calls in return. Garrus' impact round sending the LOKI to the ground, giving us breathing room to shoot the dogs before they came too close and disabled our shields, or in my case, a good deal of the suit. I had yet to devise a way to shield the suit against EMP attacks, meaning I had to be especially wary of the FENRIS mechs. The LOKI mechs never made it back to a standing position before explosive rounds from my pistols rendered them torso-less, piles of limbs and heads. I wasn't expecting my stomach to be pleased with the sight of what these rounds would do to a living target, which was likely to happen soon. After moving up, we found a Salarian who had survived being shot.
"Help!" He said with all the volume he could muster.
"He survived. Will he live?" Tali asked, almost anxiously.
"I can't feel my legs, and my chest is killing me!" The Salarian explained.
"He won't live too much longer without help." I say as I prepare a packet of medi-gel. "Here. This should ease the pain and stop the bleeding, but you will need to see a doctor soon." I tell him as I apply the medi-gel.
"Thank you. I.. I can move again." He said, relieved.
"Who did this to you? You don't look like someone who should be killed." I say.
"We're just night workers. Nassana sent the mechs to round us up, but we didn't hear anything. They just started shooting us." The Salarian said in an upset tone.
"Not even a fair warning? They just arrive and start a bloodbath?"
"Yes. We were too slow. It was horrible. Everyone screaming. The mercs said there was no time; Nassana wanted us out of the way immediately. Then... the dogs. You must find the other workers, help them get out alive."
"We're looking to get up to the penthouse. Do you know how we can get there?" Tali asks in a polite, calm voice.
"Take the service elevator to the upper levels. From there, take the bridge to the other tower. The bridge is not finished, but you can make it if you are careful. The mercs are everywhere. Hordes of them. The further up you go, the more you will find." The Salarian replies, answering two questions.
"Why would Nassana kill her own workers?" Garrus asks.
"To her, we are expendable, but I never realized she was _that_ ruthless. My friends, coworkers, slaughtered! They were jumping off ledges to escape the dogs!"
"Get to safety, my suggestion would be to get out of Nos Astra entirely. Off-planet if you want to. We will save any other workers we come across." I say to the Salarian.
"Thank you. I will never forget this kindness" He said as he limped away.
"Come on. My urge to see Nassana dead just got a lot bigger." I say, spitting Nassana's name. I say as we start moving.
"Can't say I don't agree with you, Nick. Takes a special kind of heartless to do something like this." Garrus comments.
"I wonder if she will either run, try to bribe us, or a combination of both. If she runs, I don't think she could outrun Chatika. If she tries to bribe us, I may just be tempted to introduce her to my shotgun."
"Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only engineer who knows how to kick ass." I say jokingly.
"Maybe you two can change the reputation of engineers everywhere from being weak 'eggheads' as you humans say to being ass-kicking eggheads." Garrus jabbed.
"It's better than just being eggheads." I say back.
"What does 'egghead' mean?" Tali asked, confused with human marine slang.
"Egghead is human marine slang for engineers and scientists, usually used in a joking manner."
"Oh, good. If it was a serious insult, I would have had to introduce Garrus to my shotgun."
We all had to try very hard to restrain our laughter, lest any mercs hear us. As we approached the next area, we took cover; I began relaying a plan.
"Garrus, Tali, stay down here. I am going dark. Your HUDs will pop up with markers for every target my visor paints. Also, for good measure, I am sending a code to your omni tools that will allow you to see my location when I am cloaked. Targets that show up with a crosshair icon are for you Garrus. Mechs will be marked with a gear, hack as many as you can, Tali. Targets with a simple dot icon are of lower priority. I will mark targets I intend to take down quietly with a special icon." I say as I send Garrus and Tali the program code for my visor target reads and my locater. "The signal to attack will be a small green flash on your HUDs. Stay in cover until you see it."
"Understood. Crosshair targets first." Garrus said while nodding.
"And gear marked mechs first here." Tali said.
"Alright, team. Going dark." I say as I activate my cloak and bring the sword to the ready, but not activating it.
Moving quickly, I managed to get to a point behind their rear ranks, tagging them as I went. I began to appreciate the suit working through orders from my brain. I could look at a target and the suit would check the criteria for each type of target marker based on my memories and knowledge, meaning that I didn't have to place the tag, then change what type was displayed. I also made a mental note to thank Kasumi for her tips again. Once I had every merc tagged, I sent the signal. Almost immediately after, I saw a merc's head explode, and the mechs turned and began shooting the Eclipse. Getting out of cover, I activated the sword. First field test began as soon as I ran it through an Eclipse vanguard, and it left almost no blood, cauterizing the wound almost instantly. The mercs never got a chance to even contemplate figuring out what hit them before they were dead, and Tali had sent the self destruct command to the mechs.
"Great work. Check the bodies for anything of use. While I don't like stealing, especially from the dead, Cerberus isn't exactly paying us much, so we will have to make do. Take any spare clips too." I say.
Our search was simple. They came prepared with numerous containers of thermal clips, and they had a few credit chits with what was likely their pay for today. Moving ahead, we went through a door, which opened on to a ramp, leading to yet another door. On the other side of the door, we heard voices from the inside of a vent.
"Hey! I think he went in here." A male voice said.
"Well, go get him." An impatient female voice replied.
"You go." The man said again.
"Get your ass in there. Nassana is not paying you to stand around."
"Fine, but I-" The male voice was cut off as we heard the sounds of bones being broken, and flesh ripping. Not a second later, a mangled Eclipse merc fell out of the tube and landed in front of us.
"Looks like we have caught up to the assassin." Garrus noted.
"Seems like it. Let's keep moving." Tali suggested.
We then heard a voice ahead of us, calling out an intruder alert.
"Not enough room for me to flank them. Looks like I'm with you two." I say as I notice the lack of flooring that would provide me room to flank. Taking cover, I drew my pistols, as mercs poured in. The fight was long after that. Mercs seemed to flow endlessly from the long, narrow halls of this floor. While the choke points made picking them off easier, it made advancing much harder. After close to 10 minutes of near-nonstop combat, we had finally cleared the floor out. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice an orange door panel. I walk up and bypass the lock, to reveal a few more Salarian workers.
"Please! Don't kill us! We'll go! We'll go!" One said in fear.
"Hey, look! They're not Eclipse." A second said. Turning to me, he continued. "You're here to help us, right?"
"That's one of the reasons we are here. You can come out. The coast is clear." I say while signaling for Tali and Garrus to lower their weapons.
"Thank you. We are in your debt." The first Salarian said.
"What is your main reason for being here anyway?" The third Salarian asked.
"We're looking for someone. He's an assassin who is here to kill Nassana."
"Well, whoever sealed us in here. When we saw him, we thought we were dead, but he just shoved us in here and locked the door."
"Locked you three in here? Sounds like the assassin was trying to keep you safe." Tali noted.
"Well, best of luck to him. Nassana has it coming. You treat people like this, it always comes back to bite you in the ass." The second Salarian said.
"I take it Nassana isn't your favorite person?" Garrus asks.
"She's a... hard woman to work for." The first Salarian says.
"That's an understatement. She works us long hours, no overtime, and this is what you get in payment." The third Salarian says.
"She's unpleasant; to say the least."
"Why haven't you quit then?" I ask.
"We would if we could."
"What's the holdup then?" I ask in return.
"Our contract. We're stuck until the job's done. Quitting for any reason can be hazardous to your health." The second Salarian says.
"We hear that anyone who leaves early tends to disappear. Probably just a rumor." The third Salarian says.
"But who wants to find out for sure?" The second asks.
"Well, I wouldn't stay too long. It should be safer on the lower floors. You can get out that way."
"Thank you again. Let's go everybody!" The first says.
"And tell your assassin to aim for her head. 'Cause she doesn't have a heart!" The third says as he leaves.
"From what I have seen, that is not an untrue assessment." I note.
"Agreed." Tali said.
"Well, we can't do much in the way of stopping her while standing here. We should call that elevator, and take cover. They probably have people waiting to come down and ambush us in it." Garrus says while moving to the door.
"Most likely. Tali, Garrus, take cover. I will see which of them I can get with my sword first up here." I say as I walk to the door.
If my memory serves me right, there will be two Eclipse engineers and a Krogan with shields and armor. He takes priority, so I will make sure to get him first. If I fail, I am in for one nasty hit.
"_Mezzanine. Have a pleasant stay._" The door VI says as the elevator arrives.
I hear a gruff, Krogan voice call out orders as the door opens. The two engineers go past me, and that is when I move in. I know that cloak would be fairly pointless at this range given that Krogan have strong senses of smell. De-cloaking, I switch to the boosted armor setting and engage power mode, taking a somewhat noticeable dip into my suit energy supply. My sword already active, I move at almost blinding speed to the Krogan. As I was moving, I remembered reading Thane's dossier from the Shadow Broker DLC, and his methods for killing Krogan in hand-to-hand combat. I thank the suit for being able to call up any memory in my brain, as I brought up Thane's method. Deactivating my sword, I entered a fighting state reminiscent of the fight scene in the _Sherlock Holmes_ movie, I move while repeating the steps in my head.
"_Top approach, double-strike to eye ridge, slide down between blinded target's rising arms, precision nerve strike to throat, secondary nerve strike to counter blood rage, quad-kick to bend target, grip each side of skull, running leaping spinning neck-snap._" It was over before I realized, the Krogan lay dead on the floor.
Tali and Garrus, having finished up with the engineers a while ago_, _stare at me in a mixture of awe, shock, and a tiny bit of confusion.
"How... how did you do that?" Garrus asks.
"I'll tell you the story later. All that matters is that I can say I have fought two Krogan hand-to-hand and won both times, and you haven't." I say, teasing Garrus.
"Wait, you did that once before now?" Tali asked.
"Yes, he did. Although with less finesse last time. He jumped down from a balcony and caved in Garm's head." Garrus confirmed.
"Garm?" Tali asked again.
"Former leader of Omega's Blood Pack, and a battlemaster too." I say.
"Wrex would love to hear that, a human with the gall to face down a Krogan with his fists." Garrus added.
"Wrex?" I say to keep up my charade.
"One of the ground team on the original _Normandy_, and a battlemaster as well. Biotics and all." Tali explains.
"Oh yeah. I was wondering where I had heard his name before." I reply. "While I enjoy chatting, we should keep moving, and I may ask more about Wrex back on the _Normandy_."
We entered the elevator and hit the button for the highest level. It was as fast trip, something I was thankful for, given the multitude of elevators that were described as painfully slow that Garrus and Tali sometimes mentioned in passing. We arrived at the top of the elevator to see a merc captain talking over his radio. We approach him from behind.
"Turn around very slowly." I say in a cold, menacing tone. He turns around and jumps back a bit when he sees me.
"Damn it." He says simply.
"Have you seen an assassin anywhere?"
"Why are you lookin' for him. You're not one of Nassana's mercs. Who are you?"
"Who we are is of no importance. Answer my questions and you get to leave." I say in the same tone.
"Look pal. Even if I did know, why would I ever tell you?" I draw my sword here and hold it to his neck.
"Not anything close to the answer I was looking for _pal_."
"You think that glowing kids toy is supposed to scare me? You kill me and my team will swarm you." To make a point, I cut a hole in the glass behind him with the sword.
"Is a little information worth getting impaled over? Is Nassana worth it?" I say darkly.
"... No. I suppose not. Okay look, last I heard, the assassin was down on the mezzanine, but the teams on the bridge think they might have spotted him. Nobody knows for sure."
"Get out of here and find a better job while you're at it." I say.
"I'm going; I'm going!" He says as he leaves quickly.
"He definitely owes you one. Anyone else would have run him through as soon as they drew the sword." Garrus says.
"Well, I am not anyone else, and I do hope he reconsiders his choice in job. Merc life isn't exactly safe, especially since everyone we are after seems to be hiring these merc bands in large numbers." I reply.
"Sounds like it could make a great poster on why to _not_ join the terminus merc groups." Garrus says. We share a short laugh at that as we move ahead. I remember to pick up the Kirosa generational archive for the Salarian at the dock. The next area was perfect for me. Wide open with plenty of flanking room. Cloaking and drawing my sword in one hand and my heavily modified phalanx in the other, I moved ahead, Garrus and Tali had seemingly memorized the drill. As the mercs came in, I waited for the perfect moment. Finding it, I impaled one that was armed with a Viper sniper, deactivated my sword, and used my free arm to hold up the dead merc's body as an extra layer of shielding. One shot later, a merc vanguard fell down with a large hole where her chest should have been, the others falling quickly to our combined fire. I picked up the Viper and tossed it to Garrus.
"Hey Nick, I have never seen that kind of impact round before. Where did you get it?" Garrus asked confusing my high explosive rounds for impact shots.
"Not concussive blasts. High Explosive. You see the attachment on the barrel of the pistol? As the bullet leaves the main barrel, the attachment coats the bullet in a nanometer thick layer of a very volatile substance, the exact chemical make up of which I am net sure of, even though I put it together myself."
"You think you could make a version for my rifle? That could turn a M-98 Widow from an anti-matériel rifle into a long range anti-matériel grenade launcher."
"Sure thing. I can do it once we return to the _Normandy_." I say as I move over to another sealed door. Opening it, I see three more Salarian workers. One of them draws a Shuriken SMG and points it at me.
"Get back! Get back! I'll shoot!" He says, terrified.
"Hey. Calm down. We won't hurt you." Tali says while motioning for us to lower our weapons. We oblige.
"I don't want to shoot anybody, but I will! I said get back!" The Salarian says, still terrified, but focusing on me. I was sure my large size and rather imposing figure would be a problem at some point, and I was right. "Please. Don't make me do it." He said, with defeat tinging his voice. I decide to seem a bit less intimidating by retracting my visor and face mask.
"She wasn't lying. We want to help you get out of here. We're not the bad guys here. What's your name?" I ask, calmly and in a kind tone.
"I- I'm Telon. Don't... don't come any closer." He says, less scared now.
"Telon, we are part of Commander Shepard's crew. We don't work with the mercs, and we don't want to hurt you. We're here to help." Garrus says.
"I... alright. Here." Telon says, handing me the weapon. "I don't feel so-" Telon starts but falls down. I move quickly and catch him, and let him down gently.
"Telon!" Another Salarian says, running up. "He's my brother. I just want to see if he's alright." He says, crouching down to check on Telon. "Are you the ones who.. shot that merc?" He asked us.
"I don't think it was any of us. Telon didn't do it?" I say back.
"No. Telon was standing here with me." He answered.
"Can you tell us what happened?" Tali asked.
"The merc found us, and shouted at us to move. We panicked, and he shouted more. I was sure he was going to kill us, then, his head just exploded. Telon picked up the merc's gun, but we were too afraid to leave. Then you showed up."
"A perfect headshot. No collateral damage too. Very impressive." Garrus noted quietly.
"I have a question to ask; how safe is the bridge out there?" I say.
"The bridge is stable, your real problem is the wind. If it doesn't throw you off, the mercs will certainly try. There's a lot of them out there." He replied.
"Thanks for the information. We will be on our way. There are still mercs on the upper levels. Going down is your best bet." I say.
"No need to convince me. Telon, come on, get up." He says to Telon, who stands up again.
"Can we go home now?" Telon asks.
"Yeah, we're getting out of here." He says as Telon and the other Salarian leave. Turning to us and bowing, he says "Thank you."
We leave the alcove and move ahead, and I stop to use a panel.
"It's about time. What's going on down there?" Nassana yelled through the terminal.
"I am deeply sorry, but your men are quite indisposed right now, Nassana." I say with no small amount of venom.
"Damn it!" She says before closing the connection.
The next few areas are ones that I remember quite well from the games. Long and narrow, little breathing room, so I stuck with Tali and Garrus behind cover, popping out to blast a few people after overloading their shields. The balcony on the outer edge of the building was tricky, having little cover and quite a lot of mercs lined it, one of them a commando, having a barrier and armor. Cleaning out the other mercs there was fairly simple, until we got to her. Deciding to move quickly before she deployed warps, I cloaked and moved as close as I could, before changing to armor, and leaping over the truck she was using as cover, sword drawn. She was only surprised for a second before the sword tore through her. I could feel a slight retch in my stomach looking at her mangled remains, it still not being fully used to seeing such things. We pressed forward in the interest of time, this mission had really begun to draw out to me. The bridge was much like the balcony except the part about the wind and it being narrower than the balcony. Mercs flowed in and out of cover, some even having rocket launchers, making for some interesting moves to dodge and manage to stay on the bridge. It was a longer fight than I anticipated, the ending being the worst as around 3 vanguards attacked us at once. Dodging warps on a narrow bridge is harder than it sounds.
We had finally made it to the penthouse, and Nassana.
"I don't recognize you..." Nassana said while pointing at me. "...but I do recognize you two. You are of Shepard's crew. I thought she died." She said pointing to Garrus and Tali.
"She got better." I say.
"And now she sent you here to kill me." Nassana said as her bodyguards took aim and reloaded.
"So paranoid. Paranoid to kill all your workers with no warnings." Garrus says coldly.
"Don't patronize me." Nassana said with equal venom.
"Charming attitude." Tali says. "May be why there are people out to kill you, but that is not our purpose for being here."
"I'm sure Shepard found this very ironic. First she took care of my sister, and now she sends attack dogs to kill me. Well, now I know why that ambush team didn't respond. You made it this far, now what?" She says, revealing that she had sent the team to ambush us at the Eternity lounge.
"Do you honestly still think Shepard sent us here to kill you?" I say with a slightly sarcastic tone.
"Do you have another reason for destroying my tower, decimating my security?"
"We're just looking for someone." I say calmly.
"You expect me to believe that? Is it credits? Is that what she wants? Just tell me your price, and we can make this problem go away." Nassana says, believing that a bribe would send us away.
"All the money in the galaxy won't stop this problem, Nassana." I say in the same calm tone, hearing Thane approach in the vents.
"And just who the hell gave you the right to play god? I may not be perfect, but look at you. We both kill people for money. What's the difference?"
"You kill people because you think they're beneath you, in your way, as if they are nothing more than a bit of trash on your boot. We kill people when they leave us no choice." Tali says with venom.
"And who said you could speak, _suit-rat_! Last I checked, this conversation was between myself and _tin-man_ here. And you have a choice. You don't have to do this. I can tell you-" Nassana says, jabbing at both Tali and I, the moniker _tin-man_ making me laugh in my head at the inadvertent _Crysis 2 _reference. She was cut off by a bodyguard. "What?" She said upset.
"I heard something." The commando said.
"Damn it. Check the other entrances." Nassana ordered. "You three, stay put. When I'm finished dealing with this nuisance, we are going to... What-" Nassana was again cut off, but this time by her guards being quickly killed behind her. As she tried to take aim, her arm was stopped, and Thane put a merc's pistol to her chest, and fired. He laid Nassana down on her desk, gasping to her final breath. He stepped back and began to pray.
Deciding to be considerate, I told Tali and Garrus to lower their weapons and wait for him to finish, remembering how I found Shepard interrupting Thane in the games to be rude. He finished his prayer and spoke.
"Thank you for your silence. Prayers for the wicked are not to be forsaken." Thane said calmly.
"A prayer for her, or you?" I ask, equally calm.
"For myself. You are very perceptive, more so than most humans. The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone. Take you three and Shepard for instance. All this destruction, chaos. I was curious to see how far you'd go to find me. Well, here I am. And I noticed you take down the Krogan. Where did you learn that method?" Thane says.
"Very detailed knowledge of Krogan biology. How did you know we were coming?" I reply.
"I didn't. Not until you marched in and started shooting. Nassana had become paranoid, believing that one of her sisters would come to kill her. You saw the strength of her guard force. You were a valuable distraction."
"Clever. Adapting to the situation that we caused." Garrus noted.
"A necessary part of this profession. Now, you have certainly fulfilled your end of the bargain. What would you like to discuss?" Thane asks.
"You know of the Collectors?" I ask.
"Yes. Attacking them would require passing through the Omega-4 relay. No ship has ever survived."
"Well, they have been abducting human colonists in the Terminus. And we are working on a way to go through it and live."
"They did tell Shepard it was impossible to get to Ilos as well." Tali notes.
"A fair point. Shepard and her crew have made a name in doing the impossible." Thane replies. "This was to be my last job. I'm dying. Low survival odds don't concern me. The abduction of your colonists does. " He finished.
"My guess is Kepral's syndrome." I say.
"You would be correct." Thane answers simply.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Tali asks with some concern for her crewmate's wellbeing. I figured it was a Quarian thing, others first.
"Giving me this opportunity is enough. The universe is a dark place. I'm trying to make it brighter before I die. Many innocents died today. I wasn't fast enough, and they suffered. I must atone for that. I will join Shepard's crew, no charge." Thane says, shaking my hand.
With that, we proceeded to go back down to where Seryna had dropped us off, and found a skycar, which we took back to the docks. I delivered the Kirosa generational archive to the Salarian there, and we headed back to the Normandy, Shepard's team having finished their mission some time ago. I stopped in the Armory with Garrus to install the explosive mod to his Viper before heading down for a meal, and after that, back to my station in Engineering.
* * *
**A/N****: This took a lot longer to write than I thought, just over two weeks in total. As I mentioned before I am going to update less often now,with more time spent thinking out what missions will be done, and including a bit more on ship interactions between Nick and the crew when he is not on the ground or the Normandy is in transit from one location to another. Also, I made a new cover for the story, guess the fonts and where they're from.**
**Beta'd by Konner N7**
**-Jötunn**
8. The (not so) coming overlords Part 1
**A/N: Why hello again people. I took a nice long break from writing since term 3 of school was ending, and I was making a mad dash to finish any missed work. Now that that has passed, I can get to writing this. The title of this chapter should make the contents rather obvious. I am also going to use this chapter and the next one to reveal another few things about Nick and his past. Thanks for all the reviews and support of this new writer so far. I'd bake all of you cookies, but I haven't the slightest idea where you live. Now, forward unto the story!**
**DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT MY OC! BIOWARE/EA OWN MASS EFFECT!**
"Speech"
_"Thought"_
_"Computer/VI Speech"_
_**"Nanosuit voice"**_
* * *
**Normandy: Deck 4: Engineering**
The past week after Tali, Garrus, and I recruited Thane had been uneventful. Most of it was spent docked as we installed the upgrades to the ship and got all the engineering systems rebalanced. We are now in transit again, on our way back from Zorya after Zaeed's personal mission. Shepard chose to save the workers, much to Zaeed's anger. Vido didn't escape however. Joker hit Vido's ship with a torpedo as it tried to leave the system. Zaeed had calmed down after hearing the news.
Right now, I was at my station in Engineering, with The Clash playing in my ears, and the sound of Gabby and Ken having one of their usual "discussions" caught my attention.
"So, Kenneth, did you know we've got a crazy woman squatting down in the sub-deck?" Gabby said.
"What!? If she touches anything, I'll kill her!" Ken responded angrily.
"Oh, and the only thing she wears from her waist up is tattoos."
"Oh! Maybe I should go down and welcome her aboard." Ken said in a voice that bordered on sultry.
"And she's a murderer. Has biotic powers that could crush you with a blink. Hates everyone in Cerberus." Gabby explained.
"Damn it, girl! Stop toying with me!" Ken said in exasperation.
At that point, Tali began to laugh at them, and I couldn't help but chuckle at it. I decided to make them squirm a bit.
"Come on, you two! Get a room and take your lovers' quarrel somewhere private. You already bicker like an old married couple." I say in a humorous tone.
Gabby and Ken splutter and try to form a coherent response, while Tali goes from laughing to full on guffawing at the two of them as they blush like teenagers and try to retort. Tali then collapses to the floor as she laughs. As Gabby and Ken turn back to their work, their blushing having gone almost nuclear red, I move over to help Tali up from her laughing fit.
"You could give Joker a run for his money!" Tali says in between laughs.
Tali's laughing subsided soon after, and work returned to normal. Nothing new happened until Shepard paged the ground team members to the briefing room.
* * *
**Normandy: Deck 2: Briefing/Comm Room**
Tali, Jack, Grunt, Zaeed, and I stepped off the elevator and made our way to the briefing room, where we saw the rest of the ground team waiting for us. The meeting was held so that Shepard could explain the plans for the near future. Before we left though, she made her final statement on what I remember from the games to be probably the saddest DLC in the entire mass effect series, Overlord.
"The final note for this meeting is on our next mission. I got word from TIM that a Cerberus experiment on the planet Aite in the Typhon system in the Phoenix Massing cluster has gone dark. He didn't specify what was happening there, but he said that it must be seen to urgently, and the bring team members experienced in tech. We will be arriving at Aite in three hours. I am going on the ground with Nick, Tali, Grunt, and Jack."
I knew what was to come, and I realized something. I may be rather vulnerable to David's hacking. I decided to make some preparations before we arrived. I was going to test the upgrades I made to the nanosuit AI system, along with the name I address it by, Nomad. Suiting up, I set to work.
"Nomad, activate system hacking firewalls, expect hacking attempts from a computer controlled by a human."
_**"Acknowledged. Initializing firewalls and countermeasures."**_
I also decided to make a final precaution, one that I had devised for possible situations like this. I went to speak to Tali.
"Nick? Do you need something?" Tali asked after I got her attention.
"Tali, I have something for you. Something important." I replied
"What is it?"
"An override command for my suit. A safety system should it get hacked somehow. It will disable the suit, and it has a system to purge the suit computer of viruses in such an emergency. I am sending the code to your omni tool, keep it safe."
"Why... why are you trusting me with this?"
"Because if my suit gets taken over, I would become a massive risk. The Illusive Man said to bring techs on this mission, and that worries me. Usually, techs are not specifically asked for unless the mission involves some kind of computer, and knowing the kind of experiments Cerberus does, this computer or VI could have gone rogue. If I am right, I want you to be able to shut me down before I cause too much damage if I am hacked." I say while working to keep my knowledge of the future hidden.
"... Alright. You do have a few good points there. I will take the override system and hold on to it."
"Also, you must keep the override from getting into Cerberus hands. For them to have that and be able to control me and the suit would be a major issue." I added.
"Of course." Tali affirmed.
"Thanks Tali."
"Anytime."
With that matter settled, I went to the mess hall for lunch. In my time as a member of the ground team, I had learned that going on a mission on an empty stomach was a very bad idea, and the fact that with the high grade provisions, Rupert could make some of the best meals I have ever had in my life, so there was little reason to not eat before going groundside.
About an hour before the mission, I was helping some of the crew sort some of our new cargo in the hold, when one of the crew tripped and fell, dropping a weapons crate, which opened as it hit the deck. Helping her off the floor, I told her to get another crate, and that I would clean up the spilled weapons and ammunition. As I was picking up the contents, I noticed something. A familiar compound bow, with multiple boxes of each type of arrow around it.
"This... why is this here?" I muttered as I picked up the Predator Bow from Crysis 3. "Huh. It's like the Halo Energy Sword. The fact that the bow, the sword, the suit, and I got transported here may be more than coincidence. Whatever the reason, I have not seen any possible causes for this to be happening yet, but something tells me that I will, and there could be dire consequences. I ponder as I unfold the bow, then collapse it again and place it on one of the suit's magnetic holsters and continue to pick up the crate's contents, keeping the boxes of arrows for myself, placing them on the magnetic ammo holders on the suit. "I should get an ammunition vest or a harness of some kind. I only have so many magnetized spaces on this thing." I add to my list of things to buy.
After that, I continued to assist in taking stock of our cargo until the mission began. Shepard was the first to notice the bow attached to the suit.
"Nick, what is that you have?" Shepard said, pointing to the bow.
"This? A new toy. A compound bow designed to be used by me while in the suit. Has enough kinetic energy to stop a charging Rhino dead, and has four types of arrows. Main one is a carbide impact head, old-fashioned, but works. Next is a EMP head. If someone is standing in water and I shoot the water, the shock is enough to drop them. Third is a thermite HE arrow, that when it embeds in a target, it starts a short countdown to an explosion that could cripple a Mako if the shot is placed right, and finally an airburst fragmentation head. Should be easy to figure out what that does." I reply.
"Seems a bit old fashioned. Wouldn't that have trouble penetrating armor, let alone barriers and shields?" Shepard asked.
"Barriers and shields are used to stop supersonic projectiles. These arrows are subsonic, meaning that barriers and shields are more likely not going to detect the arrows in the first place. As for armor penetration, I just need to aim for weak points in the armor, like the neck or in between the solid plates, but if I am correct, it should be able to punch through most armor, well, probably not Krogan armor. The best part of the whole thing is that it is nearly silent. With it, I am basically an invisible hunter." I explain.
"Well, seems impressive for such an old type of weapon." Tali notes.
"That it does. And you have the perfect chance for a field test too." Shepard says.
By the time the conversation was over, we were already halfway from the Normandy to Hermes station, the beginning of this little planet of horrors.
* * *
**Phoenix Massing Cluster: Typhon System: Second Planet _Aite_: Hermes Station Landing Area**
We dropped onto Hermes station, and entered the lobby, and moved fast. Pushing forward through numerous lines of glowing green Geth, we made it to the satellite dish control. As Shepard retracted the dish, it stopped, and I heard the familiar garbled words I came to associate with this mission.
_"QUIET PLEASE! MAKE IT STOP!"_
I shuddered as I heard the chilling phrase of an autistic person in pain. Overlord always hit close to home with me because I am autistic, but I had people to guide me in having a social life. I decided to break that train of thought and save it for Dr. Archer at the end. I was damn sure I would have a nice rant for him later.
The mission was just as I remembered it. Hordes of Geth, room after room of them. We got to the final room before the tram to the dish, when I decided to split away from the main group to give my bow and abilities as a silent hunter to the test.
"Commander, I will go alone to the dish. You three go and find Archer." I say as we get to the tram station.
"Really? You want to go out there with no backup? Why?" Shepard asked, voice laden with confusion.
"Think about it. The fastest way to stop the VI is to simply blow up the dish. With that logic, which of us is more likely to survive blowing up a dish like this?" I reply, stating facts.
"Are you completely sure you don't want at least one of us as backup?"
"Yes. I'm completely sure. Plus, I can field test my bow and my abilities. I haven't had much chance to fully put the stealth systems through their paces." I say as I unfold the bow.
"...Alright. Seems like there is no convincing you otherwise." Shepard said hesitantly.
"I'll rendezvous with you four at the main room of the station when this dish is a pile of scrap metal and rubble." I say as I move into the elevator.
Shepard POV
"Do you think he will be all right, Shepard?" Tali asked.
"Anybody who my Battlemaster trusts to do a mission alone is strong enough to make it. Why would she let them go without a krantt if they weren't?" Grunt said.
"Not the way I would have put it exactly, but yes. I would have sent one of you if I didn't think he could make it." I said.
Nick POV
I entered the elevator and activated the panel to take me to the maintenance catwalk. When the elevator arrived, I switched the bow to heavy draw weight and activated my stealth systems.
_**"Solar energy sufficient to extend use of stealth systems by 45%. Tactical options available."**_ The suit informed me.
"Good. That gives me a ton of time under cloak. Enough to plan my assault." I said as I opened the full visor scan. I could take the easy route along what of the catwalk was still intact, or take the quiet route and skirt the edges, changing general location every time I make a kill. I remembered that the numbers of Geth on this part of the catwalk is fairly minimal. The first Geth popped out of the alcove it was in before, and I remained undetected. I drew back on the arrow, and let it fly. The arrow hit the Geth right in the optic, ripping most of its 'head' off in a mangled mess of cables and sparks. This alerted its compatriots, and their optics began searching for me, and found nothing. They activated their shields, and I noticed that one was a Geth Destroyer. I could send a thermite arrow at the firestorm fuel tanks on its back, and possibly send the entire Geth squad into oblivion. Loading the thermite arrows, I lowered the draw weight to medium to keep the arrow's speed low enough that the shields would not deflect it, and fired. It landed on the shoulder of the destroyer, close enough to the tanks. A few seconds later, a massive explosion rang out, as Geth debris and white 'blood' spattered everywhere.
I took the time to decloak and fully recharge, knowing that the next wave of Geth wouldn't be for a minute or two. When I made it to the final catwalk, I decided to take the fast route and simply send a few thermite arrows at the Geth on the other side, ending them quickly. David let out an enraged bellow in his garbled voice over the intercom. It was here that I realized that I didn't bring any remote-detonated explosives that I could simply set, get clear, then hit the button, and watch from a safe distance as the dish became a pile of scrap. I decided that more thermite arrows would do the trick. I knew that the next room was one that I could easily bypass without them ever seeing me, so I decided to be quick and quiet.
When I arrived in the main dish, I moved over to the edge nearest to the tram station so that I could jump off quickly. Running a remote hack through the small, isolated maintenance panels that lowered the protective gates, I fired three thermite arrows in quick succession, and jumped. I managed to get safely to the catwalks as the arrows detonated, and watched as the chain reaction brought the dish down. Decloaking, I broke into a run and made for the main section of the Hermes station.
On arrival, Shepard tasked Grunt, Jack, Tali, and I to cleanup duty as she spoke with Dr. Archer.
"Fucking Cerberus. Dumb shits don't know when an experiment is going too far." Jack said as I hauled the body of a Cerberus scientist to a casket.
"Can't argue with you there Jack. No worries. I got a plan to shove a Reave mixed with a Flare up their ass when we're done with the Collectors." I say, hinting at my personal plan to do exactly as I said, knowing what the future holds if I don't do something.
"Good to hear that someone has some fucking sense around here." Jack replied as she went back to work.
Just then, Shepard came out of the main area of the station.
"Food and latrine break is now, we move in 10!" She called out to the four of us.
I grabbed a chair and opened a small rations pack, and ate it. Next stop, either Vulcan or Prometheus station.
* * *
**A/N: Whooowee this took a lot longer than I'd like to write. Overlord will be broken into two parts. This one, and the next chapter, which will be Vulcan, Prometheus, and Atlas stations. As you may have noticed, Nick is becoming a solo operator, with a style based on stealth and silent, fast strikes, involving use of the predator bow, one of my favorite gaming weapons. As stated in this chapter, Nick is autistic, so Overlord hits close to home with him, and I know how to write this because I am autistic, and I feel very sorry for David every time I play Overlord, and my logic on this will be revealed in due time.**
**I also began writing this chapter a week after uploading chapter 7, but after a number of save failures and by extension, loss of writing, and general loss of muse, this chapter took a lot longer than I'd like.**
**Beta'd by Eclipse-Luna (formerly Konner N7; check his profile to see why he changed his pen name.)**
**And once more, I have made the cover pop out a bit more. The BG for the image is from a DeviantArt artist named Pateyos. Props to him for a really awesome crysis armor mode pattern. How do you guys like the new cover?**
**-Jötunn**
**Updated 4/16/14**
End file.
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