by The Eurostar, Danny and Chewy Walrus
Edulcore Cicciotto:
I open my eyes. My head hurts, badly.
It's raining. The stone pavement of the street, wet, is glowing from the lights of the town.
A man is holding me. It's not Turner, it's Chance. I stand up, still not steady on my legs. There is also Quantos, near me, talking to me.
Too much confusion. I don't get what he's saying. What happened? Turner... betrayed me?
My hand goes to the back of my head. That's where it hurt. Suddenly, I understand. The chip!
The chip that is a tracking device and also a means to keep every EPS member in check. It can cause unbearable pain and can also explode, like Walker did with Vidalia's corpse.
I was the only one not to have that. With my elemental body, there was no way Walker could have implanted it. But then, after the Revolution, when I got my old body back, Walker did not only reduce my powers, he implanted a chip in me. And I, foul, never suspected it!
"How could you have trusted him, Ed?" It's Chance, talking to me.
"It's okay," I whisper.
He says nothing.
"Really. I know now. Although he has followed me to spy on us, he has freed me from Walker. I guess he's still a friend," I say, smiling slightly.
"But... where has he gone, now?" asks Quantos.
"I don't know... I really don't know."
"But if he really helped you, why did he flee?" asks Chance.
"Maybe he was feeling guilty for the treachery," suggests Quantos.
"Guilty? I don't think so. He is a professional; he has been for his whole life. But we have learned to trust each other during our escape. I never thought that he would have settled with us, and I was very surprised when he asked to come to the complex."
"Do you think he's returned to his own business?"
"Sadly, he has not a life on his own. Well, he had none, when he found that his life was a fake. I guess that the EPS is the only place he can call home."
"The EPS? But they are criminals!" shouts Chance.
"Well, more or less, I think the same. But if not for them, Chicago would not exist anymore, I guess. Until we will be able to take those kinds of matters into our hands, and we are very far from it from what I have seen, the world, sadly, needs an EPS."
The others are silent, and I continue.
"But Turner is a different man, just like I have changed, too. I guess life will be different for Walker, now."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh, with Walker, nobody can be sure of anything!" I say, and laugh.
My two friends laugh, too.
"Well, I feel better, now. Let's get inside. I don't want to miss the show of my uncle!"
"Now THAT was cool," said Hal.
"Quiet, you." Danny Hearn was in Michelle's washroom, making liberal use of her facilities. He flushed and went to wash his hands.
"You old dog. Lady killer, you are."
"Don't be stupid."
"Oh, yeah! Beating the women off with a stick is our boy Danny!"
"Shut up!"
"Almost forgot that I see everything you see and feel everything you feel, didn't you?"
Danny paused. He looked up into the mirror, and burst out laughing. "Most people think having voices in their heads makes them crazy. Never the other way around..."
Danny left the bathroom and went back to Michelle's bedroom. She was sitting up on her bed, her nightgown draped across herself. "Hey, you..." she said.
"Ask her if she wants to go again!"
Danny had to stifle a laugh, then said, "Hey."
"You know, Danny... just so we're clear here..." she said, a serious look momentarily crossing her face.
"Yeah...?"
"This really didn't mean anything much. No offense, but... you know..."
"Yeah. I know."
"I was scared, stressed. You saved me. I guess I just needed... company."
"I get it, really. Me, I'm REALLY not ready for a relationship or anything like that myself... I think I was just... glad to be of service."
They both laughed. Danny sat down on the bed next to her.
"You know... a friend of mine has an ex named Michelle," Danny said.
"Really? Well, I guess it's a pretty common name."
"Yeah..." Danny said nodding, then fell silent. After a moment, he said, "Well... I should probably get going."
"Right. I should get some sleep. I've got to be up early tomorrow," Michelle replied.
"Okay, well, I'll see you later..." Danny said. He leaned over the bed and hugged her goodbye. "I might call you sometime, or something," he quickly added, standing up to leave.
"Sure. Cool. Whatever," Michelle said, as Danny left the room to let himself out.