Note: *~*~*~*~* means a memory read.
Thankful acknowledgments to Shallsee, Zarah, Miss Parker, The Chief,
Pointblank, OA11 and the other characters from the Centre Exchange.
The Memory Reader
Part Three
I had so much running through my head. So many things I'd found.
My sister had an entrance date. The Centre had Morgan. Manchester had
worked with her according the file. He refused to tell me anything. If
only I could have looked at the rest of that file. Maybe found out
where they were keeping her.
And my memory was fine. I did remember some of what had happened
that Saturday morning. However, somehow I decided that it would be
safer for all of us if Ididn't. What I didn't remember they couldn't
use as an excuse to get rid of me, or anyone else. I didn't trust
Manchester. He had taken my past and refused to give it back to me. I
wondered if he knew he had given me part of his past. Even if I didn't
understand it yet.
Research Assistant Daielyn
Research Dept.
The Centre
******
Four Weeks Later
Daielyn switched from one foot to the other outside the office
door. A session with Cat. Why had Mel and Shallsee suggested one? She
felt fine. She couldn't tell them she had her memory back. She hoped
Cat wouldn't ask about it.
She had enough to think about. Although it was Monday and they
had been able to get her out of a day with Manchester. He was becoming
much more agitated but he hadn't called her Joey lately. She had to go
with Manchester on Tuesday. She was going to ask him about Joey.
Daielyn looked at her reflection in the window outside Cat's
office. Her long black hair was pulled back into a pony-tail. Her
bangs needed trimming. She wore a white tee-shirt and a navy-blue
corduroy slacks. She was just about to open the door when someone
walked pass her. She turned to see a girl several years older than
she was. The girl had long blonde hair and crystal blue eyes.
Daielyn felt a rush of intense emotions and collapsed falling
against Cat's office door. Vaguely, she saw the face of the girl. She
was one of the girls from the pictures. Zarah. Daielyn also saw Cat's
face. The office door opened and she was carried into Cat's office.
She heard her name. She heard Cat and Zarah's short conversation but
it seemed like they were very far away.
"She's a Memory Reader," Zarah stated. "Has she collapsed like
this before?"
"No, not completely out like this," Cat answered. "Did she say
anything to you?"
"No. She must be doing a memory read. Send her to my office when
she wakes up." Zarah headed for the door.
That was the last Daielyn heard of the conversation.
*~*~*~*~*
Ball rolling. Smiling. Fun. Into the hall. Come back here ball.
Ball rolling. Oh no! Don't roll down there. A girl. Blonde hair,
crystal blue eyes. Maybe seven or eight. Solid purple dress. Slight
wave. You're looking at me, wave back. And my ball is over there.
Wait, give it back. Rolling it to me. Small smile. No wait, come
back.
"Lynie, come on. It's time to go." No, Manny, not yet.
"Who was that?"
"It's not important. Now, come on."
*~*~*~*~*
After finishing her own memory, Daielyn involuntarily began to
view one of Zarah's.
*~*~*~*~*
I will go in there and I will stop him. I have to before someone
is hurt. Before Alia is hurt. He must not, no, he will not be allowed
to continue to work the Fire Starters in this way. Into Dr. Sterling's
office.
"Is there something I can help you with, Zarah? Make it quick I
have work to get to." How can you be so casual after what you've been
doing? I've never seen Alia so tired. "Zarah, is something wrong?"
"You are working the Fire Starters too hard." This will hurt him.
I don't want to hurt-- I will not let my own emotions get in the way
of this. I have to see this through, and if it means I cannot have
emotions, then so be it.
"I know it may seem that way to you. But they are fine. They can
handle it." How can you say that? The Centre may let you get away with
it but I will not.
"You have to stop. You've seen what they can do. You've seen the
fires they've started. They may be too unsure of their power to use it
freely but when they are older and wiser they will seek revenge for
what you've been doing." Intimidating painful stare. Time to look.
Time to SEE. "Look at me! Do you know what it's like to burn, Dr.
Sterling?"
He looks worried. He doesn't want me to see but he IS worried. I
will notback off. I will look you straight in the eye and you will
listen. You have to listen. "Do you know how it feels to have flames
slowly burn away your flesh? To be eaten alive by fire. It is said
burning is one of the most painful ways to die. Have you ever felt
that pain? A pain so strong that even after the fire is gone you still
feel it. And it is something you can never EVER forget. For the rest
of you life, that fire surrounds you, eating away at you every day. Is
that what you want?" Ah, now I have your full attenion. Understand me,
Sterling. Listen to me. I see your fear. I feel it. "Is it?"
"No, no of course not." I heard the choke in your voice. I see
your hands trembling. I see the terror in your eyes. Let it grow! "I
will stop. I'll do anything, just please don't let the fire get me."
Your voice trembles. You know the pain I speak of. Somewhere inside
you, you KNOW. Silence. Are you too afraid to say anything? Then, you
understand. I will go.
Out of the office...down the hall...into the elevator. When did I
become so cold? So tense? I can feel my heart pounding. I caused him
such terrible pain. Out of the elevator...into my office. It is too
bright in here! Turning off lights...closing drapes over windows.
Complete darkness.
These emotions are too strong to hold back. Clenching fists...
sinking to the middle of the floor. I hurt him. I really hurt him. Not
with fire, with words. Swallowing hard. No, I don't want to...but I
can't help it. I'll let the tears come...for as long as they, no, as
long as I need. I have to put out my own fire. The one that I let
burn freely in Dr. Sterling's office. I have to...I have to let the
tears come...I have to bring my heart to peace....
*~*~*~*~
*******
Daielyn swallowed hard and hesitantly knocked on Zarah's office
door. "Enter." The word was muffled by the door. Daielyn walked in
slowly. She'd woken up only a few minutes before. She could feel
Zarah's intense emotions building up but restrained herself from
collapsing into another memory read. It was difficult.
Daielyn looked around Zarah's office.
*~*~*~*~*
White-on-white walls, huge pane window overlooking the bay,
hardwood floor (the broken glass gathered too finely in the rug). The
room has no colors in it, and is sparse of furniture. One couch, a
desk (glass and metal), two chairs, a low filing cabinet in the corner
of the room, and a computer.
*~*~*~*~*
Daielyn shook away the memory and looked again. It looked about
the same, except it was neat, instead of wrecked as it had been when
Zarah had once lost control. Daielyn found it almost scary how
controlled Zarah appeared to be in contrast to the emotions she always
kept in check.
Zarah noticed how hesitantly Daielyn had entered and was now
standing a safe distance at the opposite side of the room. Zarah got
up from her desk and smiled a welcoming smile. However, her crystal
blue eyes conveyed the seriousness of what she was about to say. Those
who feared her would say her eyes were like ice but Daielyn saw them
as sapphire raindrops that sparkled when no one was watching.
"You have seen my memories. Have they frightened you?"
Daielyn stepped forward and swallowed hard again before walking
up to Zarah's desk. "I don't know," Daielyn answered. "I barely know
you. Usually, I feel like I know someone after viewing memories, but
you are still a mystery to me." Zarah looked slightly displeased. "I'm
sorry. I wouldn't have viewed them without your permission if I could
have."
"And now you know more about me than anyone else does." Zarah's
voice was calm but serious. "What you know you are not to tell anyone.
Not Shallsee, not Cat, not Alia." Zarah circled her. She stood still
with her eyes closed for a second.
"These are the most intense I've ever had." Daielyn lowered her
voice. "I'm suppose to report them."
"But you don't," Zarah countered. "Not Shallsee's abandonment,
not Cat's nightmares."
Daielyn would have to get used to having someone knowing her as
well as she knew herself. She was silent. It was true. Those were the
things she didn't report. "But you are of particular interest to my
trainer."
"Well, your trainer will just have to take an interest in someone
else," Zarah replied. "Who is your trainer anyway?"
"Truthfully, I've been trying to avoid you. I know he'll find out
I saw you," Daielyn replied.
Zarah raised her eyebrows and gave Daielyn an intimidating look.
"Who is he?" Daielyn felt Zarah's emotions building.
"Manchester," Daielyn admitted. Zarah relaxed.
"He scares you."
"Yes." Daielyn walked over to the opposite side of the room.
"Have you ever met another Memory Reader?" Zarah questioned.
Daielyn shook her head. "The Centre has only one other Memory Reader
in use. He's somewhere in Europe. He's not as strong as you."
Zarah stood so straight and tall. Her long purple dress went down
to her ankles. Daielyn smiled. Daielyn began to feel a tingle in her
head. She tried to hold off the viewing. Daielyn started to approach
Zarah and suddenly collapsed. Zarah rushed forward and caught Daielyn.
*~*~*~*~*
"Dr. Fredricks, where are we going?" Where are we going? We
don't go in this area very often. What simulation are we going to do?
"We are going someplace very special, Zarah." Why are you
walking so fast Dr. Fredricks? This is kind of fun. You have such a
nice smile. What through security? Out the door. We aren't supposed
to. "It's okay Zarah. Come on." Out the door. Oh BRIGHT!
Shielding eyes. "The sun!" Looking up. "And clouds!"
"Yes, Zarah. Now, come on." Into a car. Away from the Centre.
Grass! Flowers! The bay. The World is so beautiful.
Where to now? A park. Other children, a playground. Playing,
laughing other smiling faces. Friendly words, happy people. Sunshine,
blue skies. Rolling in grass. Laughing. Butterflies, bees, ladybugs.
Summer, cool breezes. A grass-hopper. Tulips, daisies, Queen-Anne's
Lace and violets. Blowing away dandelion seeds.
No, Dr. Fredricks we can't go yet. What's that? An ice cream
stand? What's ice cream? Over to the stand. An ice cream cone! Yum!
Back into the car. Back to the Centre. A day not to be forgotten.
*~*~*~*~*
Daielyn opened her eyes slowly. She was lying on a couch. She
stared at the ceiling a second, then sat up. She felt slightly dizzy.
She started to get up. "Take it easy," Zarah cautioned. "Don't get up
yet." Daielyn stared at Zarah a second.
"May I ask you something?" Daielyn asked.
Zarah debated it a second. "What is it?"
Daielyn took a deep breath. "Why do you try so hard at being
controlled instead of being you?"
Zarah walked over to her desk, opened a drawer and took out an
empty solid purple journal. She walked back over to the couch and
handed it to Daielyn. "I know Manchester has probably asked you the
same thing I am about to ask."
"You want your memories written down in this journal and not even
one to go to Manchester," Daielyn decided. Manchester had given her a
white journal with pink flowers.
"Not just mine, Alia's as well. If Manchester gets suspicious,
then I will give you some to give to Manchester. Until then, our
discussion is over." Zarah got up and turned away. Daielyn headed for
the door.
"Bye, Zarah." There was no reply. Daielyn wondered if Zarah had
heard her. Maybe she'd been too deep in thought. Daielyn exited the
office and headed down the hall.
As soon as Zarah heard the door close, she fell into her desk
chair and placed her head in her hands. Why was she so cold to
Daielyn? She loved children. Why couldn't she be warmer when it came
to the children? When had her own elusive ways become so important? So
important that Daielyn knowing about her true side was so very
dangerous? And not just for her and Alia, for Daielyn too.
Oh and Alia! Why did she spend the least time with the person she
loved the most? The answer to this question haunted her each day she
worked with the Tower personnel. She knew it was the only way to keep
both of them safe. If she showed how important Alia was to her, then
Alia would become a pawn in a very a dangerous game. A game she lost a
little every day as Alia grew further away from her.
A game in which the other players already had the upper hand. And
they wouldn't settle for a tie. It had to be checkmate. But Zarah knew
she could never let that happen. Because in this game, checkmate meant
death. And Alia's death was an unacceptable outcome. No matter what
she would keep her sister safe, even if it meant sacrificing her own
life.
******
Research Specialist Mel's Office
Research Department
Daielyn entered Mel's office. She was standing on her desk
pushing away one of the tiles to the drop ceiling. She pulled out a
folder. "Hi Daielyn," she greeted.
Daielyn sat down. She had also fallen into deep thought. Zarah
was so controlled. Everything was thought through so well. She thought
of the repercussions of her decisions for years to come. Decisions
that should have been easy to make.
Mel placed the ceiling tile back and got down. "Daielyn, what's
wrong?" Mel had never seen her assistant so upset.
"Everything and nothing," Daielyn replied.
"What?" Mel asked.
"I mean, I met Zarah today. She's practically in charge of
everything but yet there's nothing she can do," Daielyn answered.
"What if I end up like that?"
"Daielyn, Zarah has her reasons for staying here." Mel replied.
She lowered her voice to a whisper. "We all have our reasons. You
don't have the choice of whether to stay or go. But if you did, would
you leave?"
Daielyn wasn't completely sure. It was something she'd wanted
since she'd arrived almost two months ago. Something she'd wanted when
she'd come ten years ago. She had gotten out the first time. She
wasn't sure how but she had. "I don't know," Daielyn finally answered.
"Did you find the research on me?"
"I tried. The file was recently printed then deleted. Someone has
a copy of it somewhere, but I can't get to it." Mel replied. "Any
ideas on who it might have been?"
"One," Daielyn responded.
******
Manchester's Office
2am
Daielyn walked up to the door. She picked the lock. Something
she'd learned from the memories of several sweepers. She opened the
door slowly. Then, closed it behind her. She took out a flashlight and
shone it around the room. Bookshelf, filing cabinet, computer, desk;
where should she start?
Where would Manchester hide papers on me? Daielyn wondered. She
looked around the bookshelf. Dusty. She moved books around, searched
boxes of DSAs, looked through folders that didn't have her name on
them, in case he'd hid it in one of those. Nothing!
Daielyn moved on to the filing cabinet. She looked through the
numbers of files that she thought Manchester might associate with her.
She looked in a file labeled "Memory Readers". She found the first few
lines of her record. It only went down as far as the names of her real
parents. Had Manchester hid it in parts? It could be everywhere.
Daielyn found another four lines of it in a file labeled "DC," as
in Daielyn Cantrell. However, it still didn't go past the part she
hadn't read. Daielyn moved on to the computer. Searching for a
recently added or downloaded file that could have been about her or
her sister. It seemed Manchester hadn't hidden anything on his
computer. However, it was a possibility he had downloaded the file
years before. None of the search parameters entered for that wide a
search would work without a specific name for the file.
Daielyn began a search of the desk. It was all very organized.
Manchester seemed to be a perfectionist in the area of being neat. She
found one final slip of paper neatly wrapped and rubber banded in the
front drawer with the pens. Daielyn had found all theparts she'd read
except what she's found about Morgan. Daielyn unwrapped the paper
slowly and read it.
DATE OF PARENTS' DEATH: 12-2-97
CAUSE OF DEATH: PLANE CRASH
It was the day after her entrance date. But did it mean her real
parents or her adopted ones? And a plane crash? Daielyn sat down on
the floor brooding over the paper. If they had wanted to kill her real
parents, they would have done it long before December second, Daielyn
decided.
Daielyn opened the desk drawer nearest to her. It was the bottom
on her right side. It was full of thick folders of projects Manchester
had worked on. She found schematics for the memory downloader. Flashes
of the awful event where it had been used came tomind. Daielyn rubbed
her head trying to rub away a horrible headache. She rubbed her eyes
and looked into the drawer just above the bottom one. She took out a
framed photograph.
Daielyn stared at the photograph a second. It was a picture of
Manchester, Joey and a woman who must have been Manchester's wife.
Joey looked a maybe a year younger than Daielyn in the picture.
Daielyn took the photo from the frame and looked at the back. On the
back was written, Greta, Joey and I. Daielyn placed the picture back
in the frame.
Daielyn didn't find anymore information about herself. She placed
things back the way they were and took a peek out the small window in
Manchester's office. There were several sweepers at the far end of the
hall. Other than them, the corridor was empty. Daielyn opened the door
slowly. She tiptoed out and closed the door gently behind her. She
walked around the corner, then slipped into an elevator and returned
to the floor where her room was located.
******
Shallsee's Office
Daielyn tapped lightly on the door and then opened it. Shallsee
was sitting at her desk, talking on the phone, and typing at her
computer. "You wanted to see me?" Daielyn asked.
Shallsee stood up and nodded as she began wrapping up the phone
conversation. Daielyn closed the door. Shallsee finished and hung up
the phone. "Daielyn, I saw you coming out of Manchester's office early
this morning."
Daielyn nodded. Somehow she'd expected this to be why Shallsee
had called her. Shallsee seemed to SEE everything. "And?" Daielyn
asked.
"Why were you in there?" Shallsee inquired.
"I believe Manchester printed and deleted my file, then hid it in
his office," Daielyn answered. "I was trying to find it."
"He doesn't have authorization to do that." Shallsee looked
searchingly at Daielyn."And that still does not give you the right to
break into his office."
"Well, somehow he did. I no longer have a file in the Centre
Database." Shallsee turned back to her computer to check. She
initiated a search on Daielyn. FILE FOUND, flashed on the screen.
Shallsee gave Daielyn a questioning glance. She hit enter to open the
file. Daielyn looked at the file.
NAME: DAIELYN SANDRA ENGLE
ENTRANCE DATE: 12-1-97
BIRTH DATE: 7-27-84
GENDER: FEMALE
HEIGHT: 5 FT 3IN
WEIGHT: 112LB
HAIR COLOR: BLACK
EYE COLOR: BLUE
PLACE OF BIRTH: BRADFORD, MI
PREVIOUS RESIDENCE: BRADFORD, MI
PARENTS' NAMES: JAMES AND FELICIA ENGLE
SIBLINGS: NONE
Daielyn looked at the file. "That's not my file!" she exclaimed.
"It's different. Someone deleted my real one and put this one in it's
place."
"What's different about it?" Shallsee asked.
"According to the other one, I wasn't born in Bradford. And I do
have siblings. And a lot of other things have been changed," Daielyn
replied.
"Daielyn I will look in to this. Please, think about what I said.
What if Manchester had found you in his office? It would have given
him the perfect excuse for you to lose your freedom. Daielyn, I know
what's that like, and I don't want it to happen to you."
It was a soft, caring reprimand. Daielyn understood. "I'm sorry."
"I just don't want them to cheat you out of a childhood, like
they've done the rest of us," Shallsee continued. Daielyn could hear
the pain of Shallsee's own lost childhood creeping into her voice.
Shallsee glanced at her watch. "I'll see you later, Daielyn."
Daielyn was about to leave when she noticed a DSA holder on
Shallsee's desk. Had Manchester perhaps hidden some of her file in
there? "Have you looked at all of those?" Daielyn inquired. She nodded
towards the DSA holder.
"Yes," Shallsee answered. "Why?"
"Did you find anything on them? Or in the holder?" Daielyn asked.
"No. Was there something I should have looked for on them?"
Shallsee replied.
Daielyn was a silent a second. "No," she finally said. "I was
just curious how far they went back."
"Back to December first," Shallsee responded. "Your first day
here." Shallsee noticed the curious expression on Daielyn's face. "Is
there something you're not telling me?"
Daielyn considered telling Shallsee everything. All about Morgan,
about the Memory Download, about her adopted parents' death. But she
couldn't. Not yet. Not until she knew more.
*~*~*~*~*
Headache. Window! young face...strawberry blonde...blue eyes...
small nose...terror.
*~*~*~*~*
Daielyn did her best to hide the flash of her memory from
Shallsee. Where had this happened? Whose memory was it? Had that been
Morgan? "I better go." Daielyn headed for the door.
"Daielyn, are you alright?" Shallsee questioned.
"I'm fine," Daielyn opened the door and started down the hall.
Shallsee walked to the doorway of her office.
"Daielyn, wh--" Shallsee probably would have started down the
hall after Daielyn but the phone rang in her office.
Daielyn ran to elevator. She was surprised by the other person in
the elevator. A who girl looked a year or two older than her. The girl
had shoulder length blonde hair and crystal blue eyes; a younger
version of Zarah. "Alia?" Daielyn questioned.
"Yes," the girl answered. "Have we met?"
"No, but I know your sister," Daielyn replied.
Alia seemed to glow. She had a zest that Zarah didn't often show.
She looked intrigued by Daielyn and her eyes were smiling. "So, are
you going to see Zarah?"
"No," Alia answered. "I don't go see her very often. I was on my
way to see Miss Parker, but she's on assignment."
"Oh, out chasing Jarod, I guess," Daielyn remembered. Alia
nodded. The elevator door opened. "Where are you headed?"
"Missy told me if I needed someone to spend time with, while she
was gone, I was suppose to find someone in the Research Department,"
Alia replied.
"Really? I work in research," Daielyn offered. Alia smiled. "Want
to come with me to the Centre Exchange?" Alia grinned.
"Let's go!" she exclaimed. Her crystal blue eyes sparkled.
******
The Centre Exchange
Sub-Level 1
"Zarah, doesn't like me coming here alone. She says it's
dangerous," Alia told Daielyn.
"Mel told me that just a couple weeks ago there was a person
called Watcher was here and they tried to kidnap VG and kill Cardinal.
But bad stuff only happens in the evenings. We should be safe,"
Daielyn replied.
Daielyn walked over to the mini-fridge and took out a grape soda.
"What do you want?" she asked Alia.
"Diet Coke," Alia answered.
"Okay," Daielyn answered. She handed a can of Diet Coke to Alia.
"Where did you learn to like those?"
"Missy, I guess," Alia responded, opening her Diet Coke. Daielyn
took a sip of her grape soda.
Alia and Daielyn sat down at a table near a window. It was
situated near the ceiling just high enough that you could see
outside. Daielyn peeked out the window. She saw alot of dirt clumped
on the grass. "Oh, what happened out there?" Daielyn asked.
"Not sure. I heard it was something about a bomb and a motorboat
and some people Missy knew in high school," Alia remembered. She took
another sip of her Diet Coke.
"A bomb?" Daielyn asked. "Maybe this place IS dangerous." She
drank some more of her grape soda. "What do people Missy knew in high
school have to do with a bomb?"
"She wouldn't tell me, but I think she made a few enemies in high
school."
"Oh wait, I did hear something about this. It had something to do
with Brigitte and her chums...no wait, she called them Missy's chums.
And something about Wrangler getting hurt," Daielyn remembered. "Oh,
forget it. So, what do you do for fun around here?"
"Fun?" Alia asked. "I play board games with Missy. And I play
with the cats. They have parties here a lot, although I usually can't
come."
"Spend time with your sister, I guess," Daielyn suggested. She
wished she could do the same with her own sister.
A touch of sadness flashed in Alia's eyes. "Not as much as I'd
like to, but I understand." The tone she used told Daielyn that Alia
didn't understand at all. "She's very busy. She promised that we'd do
something together at the end of this week." Alia smiled hopefully.
Daielyn felt a memory read coming on. She hadn't told Alia about that
yet.
Daielyn skimmed the exchange. There were several people engaged
in private conversations and a few in the shadows. "Alia, I--" Daielyn
began the memory read before she could finish.
*~*~*~*~*
"Okay, Alia we are done for the day." Yes! Maybe I can go see
Zarah or Micheal.
"Bye Colin!" Small wave. He has such nice brown eyes. Out into
the hall. Hey wait, who are they? Sweepers! Colin, where are you?
Backing up. What are they doing here? What do they want?
"Hello, Alia!" laughed one sweeper.
"Leave me alone!" Oh, go away. Please, go away. Please. Backing
up. Hey! Let go of my arm!
"Still starting fires?" said the other sweeper. Leave me alone!
"Not so tough without your sister!" I can be tough. Let go!
"What are you two doing?" Oh Colin, I'm so glad you're here. "Let
her go." Yes, let me go.
"Sure thing." Backing off. Running to Colin.
"Go back into the sim-lab, Alia." Okay, Colin. Colin, are you
coming? What's that you're saying? Asking about who they work for?
Colin, can't we just leave? "I will talk to him later. And you two
stop bothering Alia."
Yes, Colin, let's go. Walking back into sim-lab. Sweepers
pushing! Colin falling. Hitting metal table. "COLIN! " Looking up.
Sweepers running away. "Colin! Colin, wakeup! Colin!" Shaking. "Colin,
wake up! Please, wake up! COLIN!"
*~*~*~*~*
"Daielyn! Daielyn, are you okay? Daielyn!"
Daielyn opened her eyes slowly. She was lying on the floor. She
looked up at Alia who was sitting beside her, trying to wake her up.
Daielyn sat up slowly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Poor
Alia. Daielyn hoped this incident didn't bring back the horrible
memory Daielyn had just seen.
"What happened?" Alia asked.
"I'm a Memory Reader, that happens a lot. I can see other
people's memories," Daielyn explained.
"Did you see one of my memories?" Alia questioned.
"Yes," Daielyn answered. "I'll be fine. Let's go do something
fun."
Alia smiled. "Okay, come on!"
******
Research Specialist Mel's Office
Research Department
4pm
Daielyn walked in. She was wearing blue shorts and a magenta pink
shirt. She was dripping wet. "Daielyn, what have you been doing?
You're sopping wet!" Melexclaimed. She handed Daielyn a towel. Daielyn
took a step forward. "No, stay over there. Don't drip on the files."
"I went swimming," Daielyn answered. She began using the towel to
dry her hair.
"In your clothes?" Mel laughed. "Well, while you were out did you
see Alia? Missy's Messenger said she might drop by."
"Yep. She went swimming too," Daielyn replied. She dried her arms
and legs.
"You can go to your room and change. I'll see you later," Mel
laughed.
"Bye." Daielyn exited and went down the hall to the elevator.
******
Daielyn's Quarters
5pm
Daielyn exited the bedroom. Her hair was still slightly damp but
she had put on some dry clothes; solid purple tee-shirt and black
jeans. She walked over to the kitchenette and opened the refrigerator.
She took out some orange juice and closed the refrigerator door. She
noticed a note taped to the refrigerator.
Daielyn pulled the note off the refrigerator and read it. Her
mouth went dry. The color faded from her face. She dropped her glass
of juice and stared at the words that glared back ather. The glass
shattered into a million pieces and the juice began creeping across
the linoleum floor. Daielyn quickly grabbed a towel and tossed it on
the moving liquid. She glanced at the note again. It still read the
same.
Was Manchester after her? Did he know she'd searched his office?
Shallsee wouldn't have told him. Had she been caught by a security
camera? Had Manchester seen her? Had she left something out of place?
Fingerprints? Somehow, someone had found out. Who? And how?
Daielyn cleaned up the spilled juice and swept up the shattered
glass. She stuffed the note deep into her pocket. She needed to think.
Would she tell anyone? Shallsee? Mel? Cat? Zarah? Zarah. Why did that
seem like the safest choice? Shallsee would be the easiest to talk
too. She knew Mel a lot better. Cat could help her find out who.
But...why did she suddenly feel drawn to Zarah? Zarah, who could turn
her emotions off and when she turned them back on they took over. And
there was a small amount that she'd show now and then. The small
smiles when Daielyn and her had first talked.
Daielyn thought it over a long time. It was six o'clock when she
finally made her decision. She got up and exited her quarters.
******
Zarah's Office
The Tower
6:17pm
Daielyn tapped lightly on the office door. She waited a few
seconds then knocked again. "Zarah?" she called. She knocked once
more, still getting no answer. She opened the door a crack and peeked
in. "Zarah?" she asked again. The lights were off. Daielyn entered.
She saw Zarah sitting on a table in front of the window. She was
watching the sun set over the bay. She seemed to be looking far out
into the distance. Daielyn walked up slowly behind her. "Zarah?"
"Yes, Daielyn?"
Daielyn hesitated. "What are you doing?"
"I'm taking a break from my work to watch the sunset. What to you
need?" Zarah glanced at Daielyn.
"You're a Pretender, right?"
"That is my survival and my curse," Zarah answered.
"You can become other people," Daielyn stated. She hesitated.
"Zarah, do you ever get scared?" She thought back to the threat she'd
just received.
"I can't afford to get scared," Zarah replied. Daielyn was silent
a second.
"There has to be something that frightens you," Daielyn tried. It
was true. Everyone was afraid of something whether they let it bother
them or not.
Zarah looked away from the sunset and gave Daielyn a searching
look. "What's bothering you?" Daielyn looked away. "These questions
aren't about me. They're about you." Daielyn hesitated, but Zarah
could tell it was something she wanted to tell. Zarah was also finding
it puzzling and flattering that Daielyn had chosen her company. She
knew others probably would have if she had ever given them the chance.
"Daielyn,did someone scare you? I can't help unless you tell me."
Daielyn took the note from her pocket and handed it to Zarah.
Zarah read it. STOP YOUR SEARCH OR DIE
"Daielyn do you have any idea who might have sent this?" Zarah
asked. Concern in her voice. Daielyn thought a second.
"It COULD have been Manchester. He has been pretty upset over all
the sessions I've missed, and he does know about my search," Daielyn
replied.
"What search?" Zarah inquired.
Daielyn looked around Zarah's office and then at Zarah's eyes.
They were curious, yet concerned.
"I have a sister. Her name is Morgan. I don't know much about
her. Only that she's here. She has red hair and blue eyes like mine,"
Daielyn replied. "I'm pretty sure Manchester worked with her at one
point."
"A sister," Zarah stated. "Do you have any idea where she is? Is
she at a Centre branch office or here? Daielyn, do you know if she's
still alive?"
"Why wouldn't she be?" Daielyn looked hurt. A sister she didn't
even know yet could not be dead.
"I need to know more about her," Zarah decided. "Is she a memory
reader like you?"
"I'm not sure. I think she is but," Daielyn paused a second. She
squinted as her vision blurred.
"Daielyn!" Zarah exclaimed, watching the girl begin to sway.
Zarah got up and supported Daielyn as she walked her over to the
couch.
*~*~*~*~*
Down the hall. A hall full of windows. "Manny, where are we
going?"
"You'll see, Lynie. Very soon you'll see." Manny, why are you
smiling so much? You're happy. Maybe I should be happy too. Smiling.
Stopping. That window is too high for me to see in. "Manny, what
do you see?" Pick me up so I can see too. I hate being so short. Yes,
up I go. Mommy! I haven't seen her in a long time. Where's the door?
How do I get in? "Mommy!"
No, Manny don't put me down yet. Following Manny into room.
"Mommy!"
"Daielyn! Daielyn!" Let me go to her Manny. She's calling me.
What are all those people doing here? They look like doctors. Who is
that crying? A baby!
Looking at Manny. The doctor carrying a baby, where did he go?
No, I don't want to leave! "Mommy! Mommy!" My leaving is making Mommy
cry. Let go, she's crying and calling me. "Put me down! Let me go!"
Let me go! Don't you hear her! Let me go!
*~*~*~*~*
Daielyn jerked back awake. "She was born here! My sister was born
here!"
"Relax, Daielyn. Whose memory did you just see?" Zarah asked.
"Mine. I was three and I was here. I saw my mother and I saw a
glimpse of Morgan," Daielyn replied.
"If they wanted her the day she was born she must have been very
important. She was probably a Memory Reader like you. Maybe even a
stronger one," Zarah explained.
"Zarah, will you help me find her?" Daielyn asked.
Zarah saw the hope in Daielyn's eyes and couldn't refuse. "I will
try. I can't guarantee we will find her." Daielyn gave Zarah a melt-
your-heart smile. Her blue eyes danced. She is going to help me find
my sister. I just wish there was some way I could do something for
her. Something that would make her happy. Maybe there is.
"Thank you!" Daielyn exclaimed. Zarah gave Daielyn a small smile.
Daielyn stood up. She took a step towards Zarah. She stopped smiling
and cleared her mind of lingering memories.
Zarah noticed Daielyn's change in expression. "Daielyn, is
something wrong?" Zarah placed her hand on Daielyn's shoulder. Daielyn
forced another smile.
"Yes, I'm fine. I better go," Daielyn replied. She headed for the
door. "See you tomorrow." Zarah nodded, noticing something about
Daielyn had just changed.She just wasn't sure what.
******
Daielyn usually liked Thursdays. The paper came, it was almost
Friday and unexpected things always seemed to happen. This Thursday
was different. Daielyn worked in research for the morning, but Mel
noticed her attention was directed elsewhere and gave her the rest of
the day off.
Daielyn was undecided what to do first. She went to the database
claiming she needed to do research. After getting a computer Daielyn
initiated a search for a Morgan Cantrell. There were no matches found.
She tried to search on herself again but still came up with the fake
file.
Daielyn searched under Memory Readers. A file popped up. It
listed three names: Wellington, Daielyn, Morgan. It was just a list
and a description of what a Memory Reader was. Daielyn closed the file
and exited the database. She passed by Manchester's office on her way
to her next location.
Manchester saw Daielyn outside his office. He opened the door.
"Why don't you come in?" Daielyn looked at Manchester. She walked into
his office and sat down.
"What do you want?" Daielyn asked.
"I want to know what you know," Manchester replied.
"I don't know what you mean," Daielyn replied.
Manchester thought a second debating whether or not to believe
Daielyn. "I have a special project I'd like your assistance with.
Saturday, 8am."
Daielyn hesitated. This was Manchester's test to see if she
really didn't remember what had happened that Saturday Morning. Was he
going to try another memory download? Fighting that machine had taken
a lot of energy and given her a horrible headache. She wasn't sure if
she could handle that sort of thing all over again. But if she didn't
then Manchester would know she remembered and then who knows what he
might do; try some sort of memory erasure or even try and kill her.
"I think I already have plans for eight on Saturday," Daielyn
said. That could be true. Working to find Morgan could count as plans.
"How about at seven?" Manchester asked.
"Seven too!" Daielyn exclaimed.
"Six?" Manchester inquired. He was giving her a suspicious look.
"Okay," Daielyn nearly whispered the words.
"You seem a little unsure. Is something wrong?" Manchester
questioned.
"No, nothing's wrong. I have to go," Daielyn replied. "I'll see
you Saturday."
Manchester nodded. "Alright, have a good day Joey."
Daielyn hid a strange look and exited Manchester's office. He had
done it again. Why did he call her Joey? She could look a little bit
like his son but she didn't look that much like him that someone
couldn't tell them apart.
******
Daielyn entered her quarters. The second she walked in, she knew
something was wrong. Furniture was overturned, a few decorative vases
were broken; basically it looked like the place had been thoroughly
searched. But what was whoever looking for? They must of known she
didn't have all the information on Morgan, and even if she did, she
would not have kept it in her room.
But someone had been there. If only Daielyn had known who.... And
who would she tell? Someone had broken in. Someone might break in
again. Next time, someone might break in while she was there.
Daielyn had a sudden protective feeling. If too many found out
about this break in, then whoever it was had done it would find out
too. What if they wouldn't stop at killing her and move on to killing
anyone she told? No, she would clean up the mess and not tell anyone.
Whoever it was probably hadn't found what they were looking for. That
meant they would probably be back. How was Daielyn going to prevent
that? How many questions would people ask if she got her locks
changed? Too many and the same went for any other prevention plan. The
only plan that wouldn't be revealing was to be ready when whoever it
was returned.
******
Early on Friday morning Daielyn was at the Research Department.
She was there before Mel arrived with orange juice and an oatmeal
cookie. Mel was not an early riser and had a habit of skipping
breakfast to avoid waking up any earlier to fix it. Often, she would
forget to eat breakfast until two in the afternoon followed by lunch
around 5pm and dinner at eight. On the days she remembered, it was
usually orange juice and a cookie.
"Couldn't sleep?" Mel asked Daielyn. Mel hardly ever had any
trouble sleeping.
"I wasn't very tired," Daielyn replied. "I spent the night
thinking, researching, memory reading and writing." Daielyn nodded
towards two journals on the edge of the desk, one white with flowers
the other purple. Mel picked up the flowered one and flipped through
it seeing if any of her memories had landed in it. It was nearly full,
but not just of words, of drawings.
"Daielyn, I didn't know you could draw so well!" Mel exclaimed.
"Neither did I, but when I was here and I was little they had me
do sketches of what I saw and I guess I was good at it." Drawings
Daielyn had done when she was younger flashed in her mind.
Mel giggled. She held open the page of a picture of a drenched
Miss Parker at the Centre Exchange. Daielyn smiled. Mel put the first
journal down and reached for the purple one. "On a second journal
already?"
Daielyn protested. "No! I have to give that first journal to
Manchester and what I put in there anyone can read but this one, I
can't share this one." Mel looked undecidedly at her assistant and
handed her the journal.
"It's dangerous for you not to give all those memories to
Manchester, whether it's morally right or not," Mel cautioned. Daielyn
waited. "But, I don't know whether you do or not, because I never saw
that purple journal." Mel smiled. Daielyn placed the purple journal in
the desk drawer and nodded. "Now, let's see about getting some work
done today."
"So you aren't going to tell?" Daielyn asked.
"Tell what?" Mel asked, staring at Daielyn with a look of genuine
confusion.
"Nevermind," Daielyn replied. "I wrote nothing, you saw nothing."
******
Later that day, while Daielyn was off working, Mel researched a
few things. She was hoping to uncover truths about Daielyn, but she
uncovered something much deeper. As she read the file, she gasped.
"Poor Daielyn. How am I going to tell her this?"
******
Shallsee's Office
Intergroup Concourse Level
Mel burst in and tossed her findings on Shallsee's desk. Shallsee
looked at the folder and then at Mel. "You want me to tell Daielyn,
don't you?" It wasn't exactly a question. It was more of a statement.
"Well, you would certainly be better at breaking the news than I
would. When it comes to things like this, I'm just too blunt," Mel
replied. "It might not sound so bad coming from you."
Shallsee nodded. "I'll tell her tonight."
******
Daielyn had several free moments and she knew exactly what she
was going to do with them. The last couple of days everything had
seemed so clear instead of jumbled. She knew what needed to be done
and she was doing it. She barely even thought about her appointment
with Manchester that Saturday. She felt she was going to be able to
handle it. Even if he brought up the Memory Downloader, she felt she
could be focused enough to short it out again. Just as long as she
stayed in control.
Daielyn headed down into the sub-levels claiming to be
researching in order to gain access to the areas on which she had
placed her interest. She started down a hallway. A dark, eerie
hallway. There were at least twenty sealed doors in the corridor.
Usually, Daielyn would have felt uneasy walking down the hall but she
was feeling calm.
Daielyn looked in the small slit of a window in the first door.
She saw a boy. He was reading. He looked about seven and his book
seemed to be about mathematics. He had brown and green eyes. Daielyn
continued.
The next room was empty. The third was another girl who looked
maybe a year or too younger than Daielyn. She stared back at Daielyn
when Daielyn looked in the window. Neither one of them spoke. The girl
had blonde hair large curious brown eyes that looked like they might
have once been full of exuberance and life but now were just full of
sadness.
Daielyn was trying very hard not to memory read any of the
children. It might havebeen helpful, one of them might have seen
Morgan. Daielyn continued. In the next few rooms were twins. There
were a few more empty rooms. None of the children looked like the
Morgan Daielyn pictured. Daielyn could tell that many of the children
wanted to leave and a lot of others couldn't remember life before the
Centre or if they had even had one.
Daielyn gave up for the day and headed back to her quarters. It
was late but Daielyn wasn't tired or hungry. Shallsee was outside the
door knocking. "Hi,"Daielyn greeted, walking up.
"Daielyn, there's something I need to tell you," Shallsee
replied.
Daielyn nodded. "What?"
"Walk with me," Shallsee replied. She headed for the elevator.
Daielyn followed. "Mel was researching on you today and--"
"She found Morgan!" Daielyn exclaimed.
"No, but she did find out something about your family," Shallsee
answered. Daielyn looked at Shallsee expectantly. "Daielyn, your real
parents worked for the Centre."
"What!" Daielyn cried in disbelief. "But this place is so awful!
Why would they ever want to work here? Where are they? Why did they
leave me here?" They got out of the elevator and they went to
Shallsee's office.
"I've been told there was once a time when the Centre wasn't the
way it is now. It seems your mother was raised here, like I was. She
was working here, but it seems she stopped working here several months
before you were born."
Daielyn was silent. Her face showed no reaction or emotion to the
news. She waited for Shallsee to continue. "Are they alive?"
"Daielyn, there was a plane crash ten years ago. It exploded.
Your parents and your brother Christian were on the passenger list,"
Shallsee continued. She stopped. She still saw no emotion in Daielyn's
face. Shallsee stood up and closed her office door. "Daielyn, I-"
"I don't want to hear anymore," Daielyn interrupted. "Excuse me."
Daielyn got up and exited the office. She ran down the hall.
"Daielyn! Daielyn!" Shallsee called after her. "Daielyn!" Daielyn
didn't stop running, but she didn't cry either. She continued down and
around Centre halls not stopping to talk to anyone, or realize she was
being followed, by someone besides Shallsee.
Daielyn stopped at a large hall window on the east side of the
Centre. She pulled her legs up and rested her chin on them. She cried
no tears, but she was hurting, deeper than she ever had in her
lifetime. Deeper than anyone of her age should ever have to hurt.
Had the Centre killed her parents? Daielyn refused to believe
otherwise. She watched the waves crash against the rocks. Daielyn
watched all her dreams, as they were pushed out to sea. All her
dreams, except one.
Daielyn didn't move when Shallsee came up behind her and
whispered her name. "They could still be alive, Daielyn. The plane
exploded, but that doesn't mean that they were on it. And as long as
you remember them, they aren't really gone."
"It was never really them I was searching for anyway," Daielyn
replied. "I wanted to find Morgan. I wanted some link to the past as a
sort of promise that I had a future."
"Don't give up on your dreams, Daielyn. You still have a future.
Sometimes life has a way of surprising you," Shallsee answered.
"I hate surprises," Daielyn grumbled. "That's how I ended up
here."
Shallsee stared at Daielyn who looked away. Shallsee was able to
catch a glimpse of Daielyn's face. It was a cold expression. She
looked angry, but it seemed like she was trying to hide it.
"It's okay to be mad, Daielyn. Everyone, including me, gets angry
sometimes," Shallsee continued.
Daielyn heard Shallsee, but she wasn't listening. She was
planning her next move. If she stopped working in research, then she
couldn't find out information. There were too many nice people around
to literally blow up the Centre and there was no way for her to get to
restricted areas. But she was going to find something, something that
would make the Centre hurt. She didn't want revenge, she wanted
freedom but she was already learning the price of freedom was very
high.
"Come with me," Shallsee reached out her hand. "There is someone
I want you to meet." Daielyn hesitated. She was not in the mood to
meet new people. However, she took Shallsee's hand and followed her.
"Who am I going to meet?" Daielyn asked.
"The Chief," Shallsee replied.
******
The Chief was a rather distinguished looking person, trim and in
good physical condition. He was dressed casually. He had a ready
smile. He was always ready with a joke or humorous rejoinder. The
Chief liked to see people laugh, which is probably what made him such
a wonderful Chief Morale Officer.
Daielyn finished examining the Chief and looked around the room.
The Chief sat behind a very large Teakwood desk which he made
himself. There was a comfortable sofa which was used for informal
meetings and counseling sessions. The Stereo Cabinet contained a CD
player and an impressive assortment of Reba McEntire and Merle
Haggard CDs. There was a Credenza behind him which the Coffee Pot sat
on along with a small library of technical manuals and Centre
Regulations. In the corner, sat a trophy case showing his collection
of awards and trophies won during his years of service at the Centre.
On the wall across from his desk was a Dallas Cowgirls Cheerleaders
poster and clock..
The Chief got up from his desk and walked around to greet his
visitors.
Daielyn first looked at him and saw yet another member of Centre
personnel and nothing more. However, she had long ago learned that you
can't judge a book by its cover and that it was what's inside that
counts. So she was willing to give him a chance.
"Daielyn, this is the Chief. Chief, this is Daielyn."
"Hi Daielyn!" Chief greeted. Daielyn's past anger was softened by
his smile. She began to think of him as a kind of teddy bear of a man.
"Hello," Daielyn answered.
"I'll see you later Chief," Shallsee said. She nodded to Daielyn.
"So, how long have you worked here?" Daielyn asked. He seemed
well settled in.
"A long time," Chief replied.
Daielyn looked at the trophy case. "Do you like it here?"
"I like helping the people here," Chief answered.
"That's something I'd like to do," Daielyn responded. "Many of
the people here are nice but this place is so horrible. I know I
shouldn't say that, memories of a lot of people have taught me not to
speak against the Centre but just can't help but say what I'm
thinking."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with that. I often put my foot in my
mouth. Often I pay for it later." Daielyn looked away from the trophy
case and noticed his amused grin. She couldn't help but smile back.
******
Research Specialist Mel's Office
Research Department
4pm
"So you told her," Mel confirmed. Mel looked down underneath her
desk and then began shifting through files. "And?"
Shallsee sighed. "She reacted differently than I had expected. I
mean, she reacted as though it was interesting but not important." Mel
looked confused. "I was confused by it too. She just didn't react like
Daielyn. So, after I found her I took her to see the Chief."
"Hmm." Mel looked across the room. "Could you hand me those?"
Mel pointed to the files on the chair next to Shallsee. Shallsee
handed Mel the folders. Mel shifted through them and rearranged them
with the pile she already had. "So what do you think Daielyn's going
to do?"
"The same things she's been doing. Did she seem different to you
this morning?"
Mel opened a drawer and looked at its contents. "No, not really.
A little more serious. She mentioned not sleeping well and she has
been distracted these past couple of days." Mel closed the drawer and
turned to the filing cabinet. "Are there anymore folders on the floor
over there?"
"No," Shallsee replied. "She did seem to take the whole thing
rather lightly." Mel started shifting through the folders again. "Did
you lose something?" Shallsee inquired.
"No," Mel replied. "Daielyn organized these this morning and now
they are all mixed up again. It looks like someone has been through
them. I haven't been in and out much. I just made one delivery and I
wasn't gone more than twenty minutes."
Just then, the door opened and Daielyn walked in. She was
grinning but stopped when she entered. "You were talking about me,
weren't you?"
"Yep," Mel replied. "How was the Chief?"
"He's really nice. I like him. I know you both care and everyone
wants to look out for me but you can't protect me from everything. And
there are some things you can help me with and some things I need to
do myself."
"Daielyn, what's wrong?" Mel asked. "And I already know about
your parents but what is really wrong?"
"Just stop trying to look out for me!" Daielyn yelled. She ran
out of the office and back to her quarters. It was wrecked again. Who
was searching and what were they searching for?
Daielyn walked in slowly. She walked into the kitchenette and
looked at the refrigerator. There was another note. It was folded.
Daielyn took it off slowly. She unfolded it and read it. She gasped.
Suddenly, she heard something drop in the bedroom. Whoever was
searching wasn't gone yet.
Daielyn slowly placed the note back on the refrigerator. She
walked towards the bedroom and peeked around the corner. A person
dressed in black was tearing apart the bedroom. Daielyn back up
breathing hard. The person pushed over a table and exited the bedroom.
Daielyn backed up. The nearest room was the bathroom. She ran in and
jumped into the bathtub, slowly pulling the hunter green shower
curtain closed. She hunched herself into the corner of the bathtub.
She waited. She heard several things break. There was silence. Daielyn
peeked out.
The person walked into the bathroom wielding a gun. The cabinets
were searched. Everything was left in disarray. Daielyn glanced around
the tub. She took a piece of soap and gripped in her hand, waiting...
and waiting and waiting.
******
Shallsee's Office
Human Resources Department
8pm
"Have you seen Daielyn?" Mel asked.
"No, why?" Shallsee questioned.
"I haven't seen her in hours," Mel answered.
"She was headed towards her quarters, last time I saw her, but
that was four hours ago," Shallsee replied.
"I have a couple last things to do before I go. Could you check
on her?" Mel asked.
"I will," Shallsee answered. Mel smiled.
"See you later." Mel exited.
"Hasta!" Shallsee looked at one last thing before getting up and
going to Daielyn's quarters. She knocked several times but there was
no answer. Finally, Shallsee took out a key and unlocked the door.
She walked in. The furniture was overturned, vases broken.
"Daielyn!" Shallsee called. She walked around finding everything
out of place. "Daielyn!" Shallsee's voice increased with concern as
she found each room wrecked. "Daielyn!"
Finally, Shallsee ran to the bathroom. She pulled back the shower
curtain. Daielyn was still hunched in the corner of the bathtub but
screamed when the shower curtain was pulled back. "It's okay, Daielyn.
It's okay," Shallsee soothed. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Daielyn looked up, pure terror in her eyes. "I don't know but
someone was here. I don't know who they were or what they were looking
for. I guess I really thought they wouldn't come back again."
"You mean someone was here before?" Shallsee questioned. She
helped Daielyn out of the bathtub.
Daielyn nodded. She didn't want to mention the threats but
Shallsee was looking at her expectantly. Daielyn walked over to the
refrigerator and took the note off. She handed it to Shallsee.
Shallsee read it: Warning you once again. Stop your search or
die. This note was written and was in pencil instead of ink. However,
it had the same message. "Daielyn, when did you receive the first
warning?"
"A couple days ago. I was going to tell you but I wanted to try
and handle it myself," Daielyn replied.
"Daielyn, this is too serious to handle alone. You can't keep
threats like this a secret," Shallsee warned. "Someone is going to a
lot of trouble for this."
Daielyn nodded. She still wasn't sure WHO.
******
Simulation Laboratory 4
Saturday
6am
Daielyn walked in. Manchester was waiting. She noticed sweepers
rolling the memory downloader in. Daielyn swallowed hard, trying very
hard to pretend she didn't remember the machine.
"Hi, Daielyn," Manchester greeted.
"Hello," Daielyn replied. She looked at the machine. "What's
that?"
"You don't know?" Manchester asked.
"Why would I know?" Daielyn asked, doing her best to sound
innocent.
Manchester shook his head. "That's not important. Sit," he
ordered and pointed to the chair.
"I'd really like to know what is going on," Daielyn replied.
"Sit!" he ordered more forcefully. He nodded to the waiting
sweepers.
"Wait!" Daielyn exclaimed. "Here." She handed Manchester the
flowered journal. Manchester snatched it and looked it over.
"Interesting. This is very good, Daielyn." He flipped through it.
"Why aren't there any Zarah memories in here?"
Daielyn was a silent a second. "Why do you care so much about her
memories?"
"Why?" Manchester asked. He took several steps closer to Daielyn
and his eyes seemed to gleam evilly. "Because having her memories
means knowing what she knows. And knowing what she knows is my ticket
to the top and the key to her demise."
Daielyn backed away. She could not let herself be hooked up to
that machine. There was too big a chance that a part, no matter how
small, of some memory, would end up in the machine.
"Get me some of her memories!" Manchester ordered. "Now!"
Normally, Daielyn would have protested claiming that Zarah was
probably asleep, but somehow she knew that she wasn't. Daielyn nodded
and exited the sim-lab.
Daielyn hurried to an elevator and to the Research Department.
She unlocked the door and ran to the desk. She got up on the desk and
moved away a tile of the ceiling. She took out a purple journal. She
had hid it there just in case. Daielyn put the tile back and ran out
of the office.
******
Zarah's Office
The Tower
Daielyn took her time walking up the hall. She knocked on the
office door. "Come in." Daielyn entered. "Daielyn." Zarah smiled. "Up
and around early, aren't you?"
Daielyn nodded. "I don't sleep much anymore. Too much to think
about."
Zarah looked concerned. "Shallsee told me about what happened to
your quarters. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just didn't think it was important at the time. Right now, I
need your help."
"With what?" Zarah got up from her desk and walked over to the
couch. Daielyn continued to stand.
"Manchester wants your memories. He seemed really insistent upon
it." Daielyn sighed and handed Zarah the purple journal. It was nearly
full. "I gave him the other journal today and he realized none of
your's are in there. He told me to get some, now."
Zarah began flipping through the journal, stopping at a few
pictures. She read a couple entries. "I'll try and get a few memories
to you this afternoon," Zarah finally said. "I'll see you later."
Daielyn got the point. Zarah wanted to be alone. Daielyn nodded.
"Thanks," Daielyn headed for the door. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine, Daielyn," Zarah answered. Daielyn exited.
Zarah began reading the journal, surprised at how many memories
Daielyn had already viewed from her and Alia. She was amazed by the
drawings, several of which Daielyn had taken the time to color.
Zarah closed her eyes with a pained look as she read several of
Alia's memories. Remembering how Alia had reacted when Zarah had told
her about Colin. She'd known his death had had a large impact on her
sister.
Zarah read for hours. Noticing which memories had bothered
Daielyn by her change in handwriting. It seemed to be heavier with
some of the bad memories. The journal also affected Zarah. Reading it
enhanced memories she would have preferred to forget.
"Hold it steady, Zarah." Nodding. I hope they'll be careful up
there. This is a tall ladder. It looks like a long way up. Up goes
John. I think that was his name. Okay, the ladder's steady. CLANK!
What's that over there?
"Aaaaahhhhh!" Looking back. He fell? He fell! I just looked away
for a second.
"Quick get a doctor!" Hurry people! He needs help! Help him!
"It's too late for a doctor, Zarah." Dr. Wilder, what are you
saying? He can't be dead! He can't be! He didn't fall very far. Just
that little way. Why did I look away at that moment? Did I let go of
the ladder? Did I hold it too loosely? I must have done something
wrong. I killed him. It was just a simulation. No one is suppose to
die for real. No one is suppose to die! "Zarah, it wasn't your fault."
It was my fault! He wouldn't have fallen if it wasn't for me. He
wouldn't have! I was the one holding the ladder. People aren't suppose
to die during simulations. Never again. Never! This is my fault. It's
all my fault. It should have been me not him. It should have been ME!
Keeping eyes open to hold back tears.
No, I don't want to go. Dr. Wilder let me stay...at least until
they take him away. How did I let this happen? I looked away. I
shouldn't have looked away. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He died and it was
my fault. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
Zarah put the journal down. She leaned back against the couch and
shut her eyes, remembering. This was something she'd never fully
forgiven herself for. Seeing it written out, brought it all back. All
the images, all the feelings. John had seemed like a nice person, and
here he had died. She hadn't know him but that didn't make any
difference. All death should be taken seriously, whether it was
accident or not. Especially at a place like the Centre. Where often,
death was NOT an accident.
People never allowed to be children have the hardest time growing
up. Somewhere deep inside them there was always a child, and for Zarah
it was a scared child. She pulled herself into a ball on the couch and
once again felt the pain of bad memories that seemed to come with
growing up in the Centre.
Two hours later, she gave Daielyn the information she needed.
Afterwards, Zarah seemed to cheer up and was in a good mood the rest
of the day.
******
Three Weeks Later
Research Specialist Mel™'s Office
Research Department
8am
Mel walked in. All her files were organized. Daielyn was on the
computer printing out finished research. "Is there any work left for
me to do?" Mel laughed.
Daielyn's serious expression didn't change. "Yes, but not much.
You can take the rest of the week off if you like."
Mel looked amazed at the stacks of finished research. "Daielyn,
were you here all night?"
"I couldn't sleep," Daielyn replied. She took a freshly printed
sheet of paper, placed it in an open file folder, closed the folder
and placed it on top of one of the three stacks.
Mel looked in the small cabinet next to the computer where she
kept snacks. "Didn't you eat anything while you were here?" The snacks
looked like they hadn't been touched.
"No," Daielyn replied, shortly. "I had some water." Daielyn
nodded towards a half full water-bottle.
"Well, when was the last time you did have something to eat?" Mel
asked. Silence. "You don't remember do you?"
"I think it was yesterday morning," Daielyn replied. Mel took a
carton of orange juice from a mini-back pack she always carried around
with her. She handed it to Daielyn.
"Drink this."
"I'm not--"
"Drink it!"
Daielyn took the juice hesitantly. She opened it and took a small
sip. Then, put it down. "I'm really not that hungry."
"Daielyn, what's going on? You haven't been yourself lately. You
aren't eating, you aren't sleeping. I would say you're acting like
Zarah except she hasn't really been herself either. Really cheery. Not
that I'm not glad about that, and Shallsee is thrilled but what is
wrong with you, Daielyn?" Mel looked sincerely concerned.
Daielyn sighed. "I should go and deliver these." She reached for
a pile of folders and started to get up.
"No!" Mel exclaimed. "You aren't doing anymore work! What is
going on?"
"Just leave me alone! I don't want to talk about it." Daielyn
stormed towards the door.
"Talk to someone Daielyn. Anyone, anytime, but you have to talk
to someone and soon. Whatever it is, it's eating you up." The office
door slammed. Mel sighed and began shifting through a stack of
folders, finding they were already marked for delivery.
******
3pm
After finishing all her deliveries, Mel began doing some research
on Daielyn. She found one of the same files Daielyn had once found.
The one that had listed three memory readers and the definition of a
memory reader.
Memory Reader: Memory Readers are persons with the ability to
relive the memories of all they come in contact with. They have the
ability to transfer, enhance and share the memories with others
including those who are not memory readers.
Mel thought as she looked at the definition again, reading it
over several times. Could that be the reason--but she seemed to know
what she was doing--then she has been spending a lot of time with
Zarah and their personalities seemed to have meshed.
Mel looked at the definition of memory transfer. Memory Transfer:
The link created by one or more memory readers that exchanges the
memories of individuals although not necessarily between memory
readers. This transference does not require the permission of both
parties. It can be done unbeknownst to one, and although not very
often, both parties. Memory transference has some unexplored emotional
and sometimes memory side-effects. (Please see Memory sharing.)
Mel copied both definitions and emailed them to Zarah and
Shallsee. Then, she set out to find Daielyn.
******
Shallsee's Office
Intergroup Concourse Level
Shallsee looked at the email she'd just received. Suddenly,
everything seemed to make sense to her as well. She exited her office
to go looking for Daielyn. She checked Daielyn's quarters first, then
offices, the exchange. Daielyn didn't seem to be anywhere around.
******
Zarah's Office
The Tower
5pm
Zarah entered her office. She had also started to understand
things after receiving the email from Mel. She had gone looking for
Daielyn and returned to her office to check on some work and see if
there was any news.
Zarah had just started up her computer when she had the uneasy
feeling that someone was in her office. "Zarah," a whisper came from
behind her.
Zarah spun around. "Daielyn!"
Daielyn was hunched in the corner, her chin resting on her knees.
She didn't look up to see Zarah.
"How long have you been in here?" Zarah asked. Daielyn shrugged.
Zarah sat down next to Daielyn. "What are you hiding from?"
"Me, you, us." Daielyn's voice barely broke a whisper.
"You DID do a memory transfer, didn't you?" Daielyn nodded. Zarah
faced Daielyn and asked, "Why?"
"I wanted to help. You were helping me and I wanted to help you.
You were so much happier when I transferred some of your memories to
me." Daielyn swallowed hard.
"Daielyn, you can't save a fish from drowning and you can't live
my life for me," Zarah answered. "You're reliving a past that I've
already learned to deal with."
"It was just so wonderful at first. It was like a burden had been
lifted off of you. But after a while, I started to feel it and it was
like I was half me and half you."
"Is there a way to reverse the transfer?"
Daielyn nodded. "But I received them over a long period of time.
Since you aren't a Memory Reader, I can only return them all at once."
Daielyn sighed. "And I've never done it. I know how, Manchester told
me but I have no idea about the side-effects of the transfer."
Zarah nodded. She stood up. Daielyn sighed again before doing the
same. Her legs felt sore from being hunched in the corner for so long.
Zarah sent for Shallsee and explained things to her when she arrived.
Then, they were ready to reverse the transfer.
"You're so tall," Daielyn stated. "I guess you'll have to sit
down." Zarahtook a seat on the couch. Shallsee stood nearby.
Daielyn placed her pointer fingers on Zarah's temples and closed
her eyes. Zarah closed her eyes. Daielyn took a deep breath and began.
Her mind began racing with flashes of Zarah memories, slowly at first.
After a while they began to go so fast that the images began to be
superimposed on each other. Racing past faster than any computer could
ever process them. Daielyn and Zarah breathed in unison. Finally,
Daielyn pulled away and placed her hands at her side.
Zarah's eyes remained closed. She swayed slightly and finally
opened them.
"Are you okay?" Daielyn asked. Daielyn felt a little tired.
Zarah looked exhausted. "I'm fine," she answered.
"Are you sure?" Shallsee questioned. Zarah's expression was
serious. A normal expression for Zarah.
"Yes," Zarah answered.
Daielyn smiled. "I think you'll be okay. You're just feeling how
I feel after a memory read. Tired."
"Then, you and I should leave so she can get some rest," Shallsee
decided. She ushered Daielyn towards the door. "See you later." Zarah
nodded. Shallsee and Daielyn left.
******
Simulation Laboratory
2:10am
It was Wednesday. Daielyn had to spend the morning with
Manchester. She disliked spending anytime with Manchester but she felt
better about it now that the transfer had been reversed.
However, this day, Daielyn was feeling kind of strange working
with Manchester. He called her Joey for most of the session. Finally,
Daielyn asked, "Who is Joey? Is he your son?" Anger flashed in
Manchester's eyes.
"We are here to work," he replied.
"But is he?" Daielyn persisted. Manchester frowned. Daielyn
stopped looking at the people she was reading. She walked up to
Manchester. "You can tell me. I think he's your son but I want to be
sure. Please, who is Joey? Can I meet him?"
Before Daielyn could even expect it she felt stinging on her
right cheek. Manchester had slapped her! Daielyn was stunned.
Manchester grabbed her by her wrists so hard she thought he might
break them. He shook her. "Don't ever ask me that again!" Manchester
growled.
Daielyn broke free of his grasp and ran out of the sim-lab. She
ran down the hall and didn't stop running until she was in her
quarters and the door was locked. She sank down to the floor leaning
against the door. She cried. She cried to let out all the tension over
the weeks she hadn't been herself. She cried because she was
terrified.
******
Several hours later Daielyn was feeling better. No one had come
looking for her even though she was missing from Sim-lab 2 and late
for her research duties. Daielyn got up, washed her face, changed into
a long sleeve shirt and exited her quarters. She headed down the hall.
"There you are!" Mel exclaimed as her assistant entered the
office. "Where have you been? You were supposed to be here two hours
ago."
"I was in my quarters. I guess I lost track of time," Daielyn
answered. "Sorry."
"It's okay. Here, can you deliver this to Chamille?" Mel handed
her assistant a pileof folders. Daielyn took the folders, nodded and
headed up to the Tower.
******
Daielyn walked out of Chamille's office. She headed down the
hall. She was just passing Zarah's office when the office door flew
opened and Alia stormed out. "Zarah! You promised!" she cried.
"I know I did, but I had no idea this was going to come up,"
Zarah replied calmly coming to stand in the doorway. "I shouldn't make
promises. My life is too unpredictable."
"But all you ever do is work! You never have any time for me!"
Alia continued.
"Alia, I'm sorry," Zarah replied, earnestly.
"You're always sorry! Don't you care about me?" Alia cried.
"I DO care. Next time, okay?" Zarah answered.
"It's always next time, I never get to see you! Don't you want to
see me? Don't you love me?" Alia ran to the elevator, crying, before
Zarah could answer.
Zarah looked hurt. "But I do love you," she whispered. Zarah
walked into her office. Daielyn followed.
"She doesn't mean that. She's just disappointed," said Daielyn.
"I know," Zarah answered. It still hurts though, she added in her
head. "I just wish she could understand. I do so much for them." Zarah
nodded towards the Tower offices."And I do it--"
"You do it for her," Daielyn finished.
Zarah looked at Daielyn. "Yes. All she's ever done is love me and
I'm always pushing her away. And I don't want to, I love her."
"Maybe it's true what they say," said Daielyn.
Zarah looked at Daielyn expectantly. "What?"
"Maybe the people who show the least emotion," Daielyn paused.
"Are the most emotional people of all."
Daielyn and Zarah stared at each other with a strange new
understanding.
******
Research Specialist Mel™'s Office
Research Department
Daielyn entered the office. "Have trouble finding Chamille's
Office?" Mel asked, taking note of how long her assistant had been
gone.
"No, I just stopped to talk to Zarah a second." Daielyn replied.
"Anything else to deliver?"
"Yeah. Manchester dropped by while you were gone, said you left
the session earlyand would like to see you an hour tomorrow," Mel
answered.
"What did you tell him?" Daielyn asked.
"That'd you get back to him. He wants early in the morning before
it's time for research so it's okay with me," Mel responded.
"I was planning on coming in early tomorrow," Daielyn answered.
"I guess I'll just have to see him next week." Mel noticed Daielyn's
nervous expression. She was about to remark on it when Daielyn reached
for a pile of folders. "I'll go deliver these." She hurried out of the
office. It wasn't until she was halfway down the hall that she
realized how hard her heart was pounding. Manchester had scared her
that much.
Daielyn stopped. She caught her breath and waited for her heart-
rate to go down. Then, she got into the elevator to go deliver the
research. At the end of the day Daielyn went to Manchester's office.
She was thankful he had the door propped open. She stood in the
doorway. "I won't be coming tomorrow," she stated. Manchester didn't
reply. He didn't even look up. Daielyn left. She headed down the hall
to Shallsee's office. She stood outside the door a few seconds
debating whether to go in. She could feel a throbbing pain in her
wrist. She looked at one; it was red but it was turning purple.
"Daielyn, do you need something?" Shallsee asked. She had seen
Daielyn through the glass. Daielyn quickly hid her hands behind her
back.
"I was just coming to say hi," Daielyn answered. Shallsee gave
her a searching look.
"Daielyn, let me see," Shallsee replied. Daielyn hesitated.
Finally, she puther arms out so Shallsee could see them. Daielyn
winced as Shallsee slowly pulled back the sleeve to take a look.
"Daielyn, how did this happen?" Daielyn didn't answer. "Was it
Manchester?"
"I don't think he meant to. He just got angry. I asked him about
Joey," Daielyn explained. "He has a picture of Joey in his office. And
of someone named Greta. Greta kind of reminds me of you."
"I don't care what he got angry about. He had no right to do
this. I don't want yougoing to see Manchester until further notice,"
Shallsee answered. "Understand?"
Daielyn nodded. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to find out as much information on Manchester as I
can," Shallsee replied. Daielyn smiled. She exited the office.
Shallsee sat down at her computer and began a search for
information on Daielyn. A search that proved to be rather long. It was
late evening and there was still a lot of information to find.
Shallsee was used to staying up late, sometimes all night. The longer
she searched the more information she found, which seemed to bring up
some interesting questions about who Manchester worked for.
It was 6am when Shallsee decided to stop for the night. She
exited her office planning to return in the morning but she never even
made it down the hall.
******
Research Specialist Mel's Office
Research Department
10am
Mel burst into the office. "Sorry, I'm late. I oversl--" Mel
looked around. The office was empty. Daielyn hadn't even been there by
the look of things. Maybe Daielyn over-slept too. Mel put down her
things and got to work figuring Daielyn would walk in any minute.
Half an hour later, Daielyn still hadn't shown up. Mel got up. It
was Thursday, had Daielyn gone to the Centre Exchange? Mel checked.
She wasn't there. Mel checked several other places. Finally, she went
to Shallsee's office. She walked in and found an undelivered memo
saying that Daielyn should no longer go see Manchester.
Several papers were strewn across the floor. It looked
disorganized, unlike the way it usually looked. Usually, the papers
would have been locked in a filing cabinet somewhere and the office
door should have been locked. Just then, Zarah entered. "Have you seen
Shallsee or Daielyn?" Mel asked.
"No. I've been looking for Shallsee for several hours. I have not
seen Daielyn either," Zarah replied.
"Was she in her quarters?" Mel asked.
"No, and her car is still here."
"Well, I'm going to go check Daielyn's quarters. And I'll let you
know if I find either of them," Mel replied. Zarah nodded. She picked
several papers up off the floor and began to read them.
******
Daielyn's Quarters
Mel knocked several times before she tried the door. It was open.
Mel looked around. She'd heard about the break-ins. However, this time
it looked different. Only one coffee table was overturned and several
magazines were out of place. It didn't look like it had been searched;
it looked like there had been some sort of struggle going on in the
room.
"Daielyn! Daielyn!" After a thorough search of the rooms Mel was
worried. Daielyn wasn't there. What was going on? Where were they? Mel
thought back to the memo. Could it be that Daielyn and Manchester were
in one of the sim-labs?
Mel rushed out of Daielyn's quarters and down the hall. She got
in the elevator and began checking the sim-labs. She found them in
Sim-lab 3. Manchester seemed to be forcing Daielyn into some chair
next to a weird looking machine. "No! No!" Daielyn cried.
Mel burst into the sim-lab. "What is going on here?!" she
exclaimed. "What are you doing? Let her go." Manchester stopped a
second. He walked towards the door pulling Daielyn. He laughed. Mel
stood in front of the door. "Let her go, now!"
Manchester smiled reasonably. He was right next to the doorway.
He looked like he was about to give in. "Never!" he snarled. He
loosened his grasp on Daielyn just long enough to push Mel out of the
way, then he escorted Daielyn out of the sim-lab.
Mel hit the wall with full force. She was knocked unconscious
