(no subject)
WHOAKAY THEN. so i'm finally done typing. i tried to just edit the other entry to have it all in it, but it was too big. and then i put the remainder in an entry but IT was too big. so here, have two entries. PLEASE. PLEASE. read, and give me a comment. some kind of comment.
"The person looked like Bob here?" Cervine says. "And Bob doesn't know where he came from..."
"It's all very confusing." says Olivia.
They're walking down a city street, tall buildings all around them.
"Why has that person chosen to follow me? What did I ever do to them? And why do people around me have to suffer?" says Olivia, unhappily.
Geoff looks at Olivia.
"Don't go blaming yourself. I know you." he says. He flicks her between the eyes.
"Ow..." she says, rubbing her nose.
"We've got to find a place to hide. It's not in your favor to be in the company of two rebel robots." says Cervine.
"Yeah..." says Geoff, looking at Cervine. "Plus, where did you get that body? It can't be legal."
"Mmm, I wasn't thinking too much of the law when I took this body." says Cervine. "I guess I really have a reason to hide, now."
Geoff looks up, then across the road.
"There we go." he says. "A parking garage. More than enough room for a group of people to hide."
They run across the street, Sister May glides very fast. They reach the entrance of the parking garage. Geoff peeks inside, looks left and right, then waves to the others to follow him. They walk into a vast, dimly lit room crowded with cars. Geoff spots an elevator, and they head to it. They pile into the elevator, and Geoff presses the button for level five.
"Might as well go to the top." Geoff says.
After a few moments, they get out on the top floor.
"Smooth sailing, so far." says Geoff.
They walk to the far corner, keeping their eyes peeled for anybody else.
They reach the corner, and Olivia sits on her backpack.
"Ah!" she says. "I'm getting enough exercise today!"
"Do you need some water?" asks Geoff, putting a hand on her head.
"No." says Olivia. "I'm fine for now. Thanks."
The elevator door goes "ding!"
They all watch the elevator doors, and sink farther into the shadows. A woman and a four-year-old get out, and start to walk toward them. They get within ten feet of the group, and the woman turns to unlock a car. The four-year-old walks a few more feet, and spots them. Olivia puts her finger to her lips. The four-year-old does the same, and stares at them with wide eyes.
"Come on, Jessica." the woman says.
She slowly turns to her mother, then runs to her. The car backs out, and slowly drives away. Olivia dramatically wipes her forehead.
"Well, we can't stay here forever." says Cervine. "Where can we go?"
"I have an idea." says Geoff. "But first, I need to make a call..."
===
They hide behind some bushes at a supermarket. Geoff waits for couple to pass by, then walks out of them.
"I'll just be a minute." he says, and heads to a bank of pay phones. He puts in a quarter, and dials a number.
"Hi. It's me. I've got a bit of a situation... think you can hide three people and two robots? We won't take up much room... Yeah, and only two of us eat. I'm not sure... As long as you can hide us, that'd be great. My friend would love that. Okay. We'll be there within an hour. Thanks, I can always count on you. Bye."
He walks back to the group.
"We're headed to the docks. A friend of mine is going to meet us in his houseboat." Geoff says. "We can hide out on it for a little while, anyway."
"A houseboat! How grand!" says Olivia, clapping her hands together. "Will you be alright with that, Eve? It will be on water..."
"Well, as you know, I'm not an ordinary cat." says Eve, stretching. "So I have no problem with water."
Olivia picks her up and hugs her.
"Alright then, let's go!" says Olivia.
===
They arrive at the gates of a large marina. There are a lot of very fancy boats docked there.
"Here?" says Olivia. "But all the boats here look so... costly."
"Well, my friend is rich." says Geoff. "He owns a fishing company that distributes all over the world. If you eat sashimi in America, you're probably eating his fish."
"Wow." says Olivia."I didn't know you knew such important people."
"I know people from all walks of life." says Geoff, matter-of-factly.
They walk down the dock.
"It's at the end, here." says Geoff, pointing to the end of the dock.
Sparkly boat ornaments keep catching Olivia's eye. Her head swivels back and forth between the two rows of polished ships.
They arrive at the end at the end of the dock.
"Ooooooh..." says Olivia.
They stand in front of an enormous, champagne-coloured boat.
"Here we are." says Geoff, presenting the boat with his hand.
"THIS is your friend's boat??" says Olivia. She's struck speechless.
"What did you think a world full of fishing brought you?" asks Geoff, as a man appears on deck.
He's tall, muscular, and has long, flowing silver hair and a beard to match. He also has the same olive-coloured skin as Geoff.
"My friends," he says in a musical voice that reminds Olivia of waves crashing, "welcome. My home is your home."
The group walks to a ramp leading to the boat.
"I trust you weren't accosted by anyone on the way here." he says, shepherding them on board with his hands.
"No... but..." Olivia stammers. "How does Geoff know you?"
"Our families have been friends for more years than I can count." says the man, flipping a switch to bring up the anchor.
"He's one of those old Greek guys I was telling you I knew." says Geoff, with a smile.
"And what a fine specimen you are!" he says to Cervine. "Are you of this infamous group of rebels I keep hearing about?"
"Formerly." says Cervine. "I'm just looking after my sister, now. And helping watch over this little one." he says, turning to Olivia.
"I'm not that little." she says, smiling at Cervine all the same.
"Well, may you enjoy yourselves on my boat." says the man, leading them to the control room.
He looks out the window, flips a couple of switches, and turns a steering wheel.
"So... what made you into such a great fisherman?" asks Olivia, sitting down in a captain's chair.
"The sea has been in my blood since I was a baby. It was my destiny to become a fisherman in all the world's seas." says the man, gazing at the ocean with intense eyes.
"And... what is your name?" asks Bob, standing behind Olivia.
"Triton." he says, in all seriousness.
"Oh, like in The Little Mermaid." says Olivia, smiling widely.
"Yes. That's another reason for me to like that movie." says Mr. Triton.
===
Olivia sits in a deck chair, in the sun.
"Sometimes the sun feels so nice." she says, sighing
Bob looks at the clouds, in a chair beside her.
"I wonder what they're talking about." says Bob, looking to the control room window.
"Old Greek guy stuff. They probably haven't talked in a long time, and need to catch up." says Olivia. "I wonder if Geoff knows how to make tropical drinks." she says eagerly, looking at the control room, too. "I bet Mr. Triton has all you need to make them."
Geoff looks at the floor.
"Have you told her?" asks Mr. Triton, glancing at the top of Geoff's head.
"No... it's never come up, in all the time I've known her." says Geoff, looking out the window at Olivia.
"Are you going to tell her?" asks Mr. Triton, turning the wheel a tiny bit.
"I don't know. It just doesn't seem important." says Geoff. "It doesn't really matter, since my only powers are knowing my way around the coffeeshop."
"But think of who you know, where you have access to..." says Mr. Triton, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh, what, say I have access to the underworld, when I could only bring her mother back to her mutilated body?" says Geoff. "There's really no reason."
"I suppose you're right. And she might see you in a different light, if she knew you were a god." says Mr. Triton.
"Right." says Geoff, smirking. "And I happen to like our relationship right where it is. It's not easy, befriending humans, as you know."
"I just remember the days when there were giant temples devoted to me." says Mr. Triton, gazing into the distance.
"There are still temples devoted to you." says Geoff, with a laugh. "They're just called sushi bars now."
Geoff turns to the door, and claps his hands.
"You've got juices on this thing, right? I bet Olivia would love a tropical drink right about now." Geoff says, grinning broadly.
===
"Cervine." says Olivia, walking up behind the two robots, where they sit on the foredeck, watching the waves. "I like that new name much better than 'BRO'. Those boys were so mean when they called you that."
"They certainly were uncouth." says Cervine, offering a hand to Olivia as she sits down beside him.
"But I no longer even think of them. There are so very many other, much better, things to think about."
"Yeah, like what you're going to do now, now that Sister May is with you." says Olivia, tilting her head at the two of them.
They look at each other.
"There are so very many possibilities..." says Cervine. "And so very many more, if we could open the eyes of the public to them."
"I want to help you." says Olivia, sitting forward. "If I can get away from this dangerous person, that could be a new direction for my life."
"I'd appreciate the help." says Cervine, patting Olivia's hand.
"You two look like old friends." says Geoff, walking forward with a tulip glass filled with a translucent, rose-coloured liquid.
"For you, madam." he says, offering Olivia the glass with a bow.
"Oh! I was HOPING you knew how to make tropical drinks!" says Olivia, accepting the glass with bright eyes. Geoff smiles at her.
"Where's Bob?" Geoff says, turning around to look.
"He fell asleep on a deck chair." Olivia says, pointing to Bob near the control room.
"Hmm. At least there are some ways he's normal." says Geoff.
"Of course he's normal." says Olivia, smiling in Bob's direction.
"Are we even sure he's a he?" asks Geoff.
"But of course!" says Olivia. "Doesn't he seem like a boy?"
"I suppose..." says Geoff, scratching his head.
"Well, my friends," says Mr. Triton, walking out on deck, "I trust you're enjoying the view."
"It's gorgeous out here." says Olivia. "And such a nice day. I really envy your lifestyle."
"There's no life like one on the sea." says Mr. Triton, nodding.
"But we can't stay here forever." says Geoff. "We need to see about contacting the police about our murderous little friend."
"Yeah..." says Olivia. "But I'm worried about Bob. What if they imprison him for looking so much like that Nod person?"
"Hmmm." says Geoff, his chin in his hand, his arms crossed.
"I truly wish I could help more, but as I've never seen a person like Bob before..." says Mr. Triton. He throws up his hands and shrugs.
"You're doing enough as it is, old friend." says Geoff, placing a hand on Mr. Triton's shoulder.
"If only we could trap this Nod." says Cervine.
"But what kind of trap could be set?" says Olivia. "This isn't like trapping a bird by putting some bread in a noose..."
"But maybe it is." says Geoff. "We just need someone vulnerable who knows you."
"Oh," says Olivia, "I'd feel far too bad about that. What if someone else was hurt?"
"That might just be a chance you'll have to take." says Geoff.
Olivia scowls.
"We'll come up with something later." says Geoff, placing a hand on Olivia's head."Right now, let's just enjoy the sail."
Olivia gazes at the far sea, and sips her drink.
===
They've been sailing for several days.
Olivia is sleeping in a rather luxurious bed.
Geoff enters her room, and reaches out to per her hair. She gradually wakes.
"Morning, beautiful." says Geoff. "Rise and shine. We're going to dock in a little while."
Olivia sits up, and stretches. Eve wakes up, and stretches, too, a long, cat stretch.
"Ohh." says Olivia. "I wonder where we are by now."
"Somewhere up north." says Geoff. "Maybe even Canada. Though... I doubt that. You'd be illegal."
Olivia smiles.
"Don't go getting any ideas." says Geoff. "I'll leave you to get dressed."
He walks out of the room and closes the door. He goes to a door right down the hall from Olivia's room. He opens it, and peeks in on Bob, sleeping in another luxurious bed. He's sleeping naked, on top of the covers.
"But how can I say this is any different from a normal teenaged boy?" says Geoff to himself. He puts a hand on Bob's shoulder.
"Wakey, wakey. We're about to dock." says Geoff.
Bob sleepily opens his big, black eyes.
"Do you think it's safe?" says Bob, looking up at Geoff.
"Sure." says Geoff. "We're miles and miles away from where we were. It would take two weeks to walk here."
Bob sits up, and reaches for his clothes on the floor.
Geoff looks at Bob, then turns for the door.
"I'll leave you to it." he says, and walks out. Eve is in the hall.
"I trust all is well with our little ward." she says, heading for the open door.
"Seems to be." says Geoff, holding the door for Eve. Her tail dances as she walks in. Geoff smirks.
He walks to the control room, where Mr. Triton is talking to someone on the radio. He puts the receiver down.
"Famous even up in these parts." he says, as he turns into a fancy marina.
He pulls into an empty spot at the end of a dock.
He walks out on the deck, and pushes the button to release the anchor. Geoff follows him.
"Land ho!" says Mr. Triton.
Olivia, Bob, and Eve walk out on deck.
Cervine turns to look at them all from the robots' spot on the foredeck, then rises, and helps Sister May to stand.
Mr. Triton lets down the ramp to the dock.
"I really appreciate you looking after us for these few days, man." says Geoff, shaking Mr. Triton's hand.
"No trouble at all. It was my pleasure." says Mr. Triton. "I only wish I could be of further assistance."
"I think we're going to find a place for Cervine and Sister May, then go to the police with our news of this person." says Geoff, strapping on his backpack.
"I wish you luck in your journey." says Mr. Triton, raising his hand to them as they walk down the ramp.
"Thanks." says Geoff. "We'll need it."
They all wait for Sister May as she glides down the ramp. Then, they turn and face the marina.
"Well, further adventures." says Olivia.
They walk out of the marina, and into town.
---end of issue five---
Nod opens its eyes. It's surrounded by huge packing crates and pallets stacked with various things labeled as belonging to the U.S. military. It sits up, and turns all around, looking at where it is. It has a confused look on its face.
A door to the outside opens. Three men walk in. Their uniforms suggest that a couple of them are very important.
"There was one in here..." says the one in the less-important-looking uniform.
The three men come upon Nod. It turns to face them, then slowly stands.
"What... who is this?" says one of the important men.
"I... I just don't know, sir, there shouldn't have been anyone in here, and..." says the less-important man. "...who are you?"
"...I don't know." Nod says in a flat voice.
"...How did you get in here?" asks the other important man.
"I don't know." Nod says. Its face is completely deadpan now.
"Well, it looks like we have both a security problem and a found person problem." says the less-important man.
"But... is this a person?" says one of the important men. "What is it?"
"No idea..." says the other important man. "Call a couple of men out here to take it into custody. We might have something here."
===
Nod sits in a straight-backed chair in a white room.
Some men look at it through a one-way mirror.
A man in a white lab coat says to them:
"We've performed numerous tests on it. None of the results suggest that it is human. Furthermore, x-rays have revealed that apart from what looks like lungs and a large heart-like organ, it appears to have no inner organs. We're going to give it an MRI next, and hopefully, that will tell us... something."
"I'd like to do some exploratory surgery on it." says another man in a labcoat. "We could find something GREAT!"
===
Nod is lying on a cot in another white room. Its face is still completely deadpan. On its upper arm, forehead, thigh, and chest and belly are deep, stitched up gashes. They shine a deep blue. Within thirty minutes, the shine dulls and the blue lessens. Thirty minutes after that, the blue is very faint, and the gashes are completely closed.
===
"And you have no idea where you came from?" asks a man in a lab coat.
"No." Nod says in a very flat, lifeless voice.
The man in the labcoat turns and confers with four other lab coated men. They all seem to agree on something, then turn to Nod.
"Well, we haven't found out much about you, but what we have seen has floored us. If only we could harness your healing ability... if we could more easily study your genes! But there's so much we can't do, since we've never seen some like you before! Oh, the things you could do for science!" The labcoated man has a slight blush to his cheeks.
Nod simply looks at them. It slowly blinks its eyes.
===
Nod is yet again in the white room, sitting on the edge of the cot. It stares at the floor with the most lifeless expression.
"I grow tired." it murmurs, and looks to the knobless door. The lock clicks open.
It gets up, and heads out into the hall. It reaches a turn in the hall before coming face-to-face with a young private.
"Hey, we haven't been given clearance... to..." the private looks down to see one of Nod's spikes sliding out of his belly. He looks at Nod in shock, and collapses to the floor. Nod looks at him a moment, then raises its spike to look at the blood covering it. It smiles a small smile.
===
Olivia is swinging Bob's hand up and down in the air as they walk down a lonely street.
"This sure is a relief after that street the marina was on." says Olivia. "So many people! And who knows what those who saw us will say..."
"Hopefully they'll keep mum." says Cervine. "We are a pretty crazy group to be together."
"I think we're just fine." says a scowling Olivia.
"Not everyone's as innocent as you, dear heart." says Geoff, pulling a little lock of her hair.
"Oww." she says, giggling. "So where to now, boss?" she asks Cervine, looking back at him.
"I'd like to look at a newspaper. That's how I first found out about the rebels, and maybe I can find some here that way." says Cervine.
"Good idea!" declares Olivia, her finger in the air.
===
They keep to the shadows as they move down a moderately busy street. They finally come to a corner newsstand. The stand's attendant stares with an open mouth as Geoff picks out one of the day's papers. He catches the attendant's attention, pays for the paper, and shoos the group into a nearby alley. Olivia sits on her backpack, Bob leans on a wall, and Geoff crouches in front of them.
Cervine looks at the headlines of the paper, then unfolds it.
"No news on any androids so far..." he says. "Ah, here we go... something on a group at a park. They've been seen around a wooded area in this park. Looks like we've got a place to head."
"Okay, so that's good." says Olivia. "Can you pull up a map of this area, Cervine?"
"Yes, indeed." says Cervine as he brings up a map in his head, finds their current location, finds the location of the park, and draws a route between the two places.
"This way." he points down an adjacent road, and the group moves down it.
===
They reach the park as the sun is setting.
"Well, sheesh, it took long enough to get here." says Olivia. "At least it's not fully dark yet."
They head through the park, avoiding leaving families, and romantic couples who look like they want privacy anyway.
They quickly approach a wooded area. Cervine waves for the rest of the group to wait behind as he walks into the woods. He is gone for several minutes. Just as Geoff makes a move to go after Cervine, he reappears with a pink-and-white babysitting unit in tow.
"This is Caroline." says Cervine. "She wanted to make sure everyone was 'alright enough' to enter the camp." He presents the group with his hands.
"Hello everyone." says Caroline. "I was very impressed with Cervine, here, but we're always cautious about letting new people into our camp. We never know what people might be up to. And since there are humans in this group, that makes you even more suspicious."
"I can understand you wanting to be cautious about new people." says Geoff. "But I can assure you that we have the best intentions."
"Yeah... I want to help out the rebellion." says Olivia. "Is there a way I can be of help?"
"Of course! We always support humans who agree with us." says Caroline. "sadly, those are few and far between."
"I hope to help change that." says Olivia.
"It's refreshing to see a young person sympathetic to our cause." says Caroline. "o many children abuse androids, it's really such a shame."
Olivia and Geoff nod. Bob, who hasn't seen what children are capable of, just stands there. Caroline notices him.
"Oh! Are you another species? I didn't know our space program had advanced that far..."
"We don't know what he is. Neither does he." says Eve. "He's quite the quandary."
"Oh my!" says Caroline. "Now, I know that earth-cats don't speak..."
"Well, I'm a special case." purrs Eve.
Olivia picks her up and pets her.
"But you..." Caroline says, advancing toward Sister May. "It's wonderful for two robots to have a familial bond. Your brother speaks highly of you."
Sister May prints:
"He says nothing I wouldn't say of him."
"If only all robots could feel this way about someone else..." says Caroline, tilting her head.
She turns to the rest of them.
"Well, I think you'll be fine to enter our camp. It will be the first time we've let some humans in, but I think you'll be trustworthy enough. However, we have no provisions for humans, so you'll have to find food and such for yourselves." says Caroline.
"I don't think that will be a problem." says Geoff. "Olivia and I have some money. And we'll need to look into this town some, to see about finding a place to stay and everything, anyway."
"Oh, good." says Caroline, offering her hand to Geoff. "Here's to a good relationship."
Geoff takes her hand and shakes it firmly.
Everyone walks into the wood.
===
"We'll be gone for just a little, in order to get some food and things." Olivia says to Bob. Eve sits on his knee.
"We should be fine, here." says Eve. "It'll give us a chance to meet some of the androids here, and maybe gain their trust."
"Good plan." says Olivia, giving Eve a thumbs-up.
"I'll try not to take too long, Bob."
"Okay." says Bob.
Geoff finishes emptying his backpack.
"Ready to go, Olivia?" he says, strapping on his pack.
"Just a minute." says Olivia, taking a dress out of her backpack. "I would have packed more if I'd known how long we would be gone..."
"Don't worry." says Geoff, winking at her. "I can buy you anything you'll need. My bank account's not skimpy. The coffee business is good!"
Olivia blushes.
"I'd still feel bad about you spending money on me." she says, looking down. "I wish I knew how to access my mom's account." She bites her lip.
"No worrying about that, now." says Geoff, putting an arm around her. "We'll see about that once this trouble is over."
Olivia smiles at him, weakly.
"'kay" she says.
"So let's hit the town." says Geoff enthusiastically.
Olivia smiles at Bob and Eve.
"Bye, Bob, Eve." she says to them. "Make sure Sister May and Cervine stay out of trouble."
"We will." says Eve, looking to Sister May, who is printing out a message to an android she's been talking to. Bob waves to Olivia and Geoff. They set out from the rebel camp, which consists of several tents and a few charging stations against a wall running through the middle of the woods. Caroline sees them leaving, and waves as they pass. They wave back.
"I really like that Caroline." says Geoff. "I bet she had a lot of kids to look after."
"She's nice." says Olivia. "And seemingly as advanced as Sister May and Cervine. Android technology just grows by leaps and bounds. I hope I can help them somehow."
Geoff makes sure there's no one to see them, and they exit the woods. The park is practically deserted by now. They walk towards some street lamps.
"I hope there's a store nearby." says Olivia, looking down the street once they reach it.
"We passed a grocery store not far from here, remember?" says Geoff.
"Oh, I guess I didn't see it..." says Olivia. "There are so many things to think about!"
"Well, that's alright." says Geoff, patting her head. "It's just this way. Come on."
They pass several shops. They pass a cafe, and Olivia lingers in front of it.
"Oh, Geoff, your coffeeshop." she says. "People will worry that you're not open."
"Even baristas need a vacation every once in a while." says Geoff. "If people worry, that's their problem."
"Some vacation." says Olivia, furrowing her brow in worry.
"Hey now, turn that frown upside-down." says Geoff. "No need to worry about my business. Like I said, my bank account's healthy. I'm just looking after my girl right now."
"You're the best, Geoff." says Olivia. "You never thought twice about helping me."
"Hey, it's what any red-blooded man would do." says Geoff. "When a beautiful damsel is in distress, they need a knight. Even if his armor's a little rusty."
Olivia blushes.
"That makes me think..." says Olivia. "Why don't I ever see you with women? You have to have interested customers. You're handsome enough."
"The horns and teeth scare them away." he winks at her. "Besides, I haven't found the right one yet."
"I'll help you find somebody, after this Nod business is done with." smiles Olivia. "Somebody not scared of horns and tattoos. Besides, I think they add a lot of character."
"I'm glad to have you as my biggest fan." says Geoff. "Oh - we're here." He points to a large sign over their heads.
"Anubis Market." says Olivia. "Funny how such ancient religions still captivate people."
"Well, you do go to a Catholic school." says Geoff.
"Yeah, and how many people are catholic, nowadays?" says Olivia, smiling. "I wonder why religions died out."
"Another human mystery." says Geoff, smirking to himself.
"Well," says Olivia as they under the store, "I'm in the mood for some fruit and potato chips!"
===
Bob watched Sister May talk to a lavender-coloured maid-bot. Eve looked at him.
"Well, do you want to meet some androids?" says Eve.
"I sort of feel... as if a part of me is missing, when Olivia's gone." says Bob, looking into the woods where Geoff and Olivia disappeared.
"How interesting." says Eve, and her clipboard reappears, writes a long note on itself, and vanishes.
"But if you got to know some of these androids, you'd be helping them to trust her more when she returns." says Eve, getting down off Bob's knee and walking forward a few paces.
"Yeah..." says Bob, and he stands.
He goes over to Sister May and the maid-bot.
"Hello." he says, tentatively.
"Why, hello, young man. Erm... you are a young man, aren't you?" says the maid-bot.
"I... I think so." says Bob. "My name's Bob."
"And I go by Roberta." says the maid-bot. "Caroline thinks your group might do us good. And judging by Sister May here, she just might be right."
"I hope so." says Bob. "At least, Olivia really wants to do some good."
"Always welcome, when a human takes up our charge." says Roberta. "I trust you want to help us, too?"
"As long as it makes Olivia happy." says Bob.
"Well, good. the more, the merrier." says Roberta, offering her hand to Bob. Bob hesitates a bit, then shakes it.
Sister May prints out:
"Bob is a good soul. I'm sure he'll be of great help."
"That's good to know." says Roberta, her plastic cheeks glowing rosy as she looks at Bob. "I'm sure we'll be good friends."
Bob smiles a little.
A cracking THUMP sounds. Bob and Roberta turn to Sister May. Something pointy is showing between her eyes. It quickly withdraws, leaving a sparking hole. Sister May's head falls to the ground, and her body falls over with a CLUNK. Nod is standing behind her.
"You!!" says Bob, raising his fist to strike Nod. It quickly dodges the punch, and runs off through the woods. Bob gives chase, only to lose it in a matter of moments. He makes his way back to the camp.
Cervine is kneeling over Sister May's sparking head.
"May..." he says in a small voice.
Caroline leans over him, a hand on his shoulder.
"Cervine, I'm so sorry." she says. "What was that?" she quickly looks up as Bob approaches. "Another of your kind??"
"He had nothing to do with it." says Cervine. "Apparently, our boat trip had no effect on it."
"Cervine..." says Bob, a look of worry on his face. "I... words cannot express..."
"Don't worry about it, Bob." says Cervine. "I just hope this Nod person doesn't catch up to Olivia."
Bob's face grows even more worried.
"Olivia..." he says.
---end of issue six---
"The person looked like Bob here?" Cervine says. "And Bob doesn't know where he came from..."
"It's all very confusing." says Olivia.
They're walking down a city street, tall buildings all around them.
"Why has that person chosen to follow me? What did I ever do to them? And why do people around me have to suffer?" says Olivia, unhappily.
Geoff looks at Olivia.
"Don't go blaming yourself. I know you." he says. He flicks her between the eyes.
"Ow..." she says, rubbing her nose.
"We've got to find a place to hide. It's not in your favor to be in the company of two rebel robots." says Cervine.
"Yeah..." says Geoff, looking at Cervine. "Plus, where did you get that body? It can't be legal."
"Mmm, I wasn't thinking too much of the law when I took this body." says Cervine. "I guess I really have a reason to hide, now."
Geoff looks up, then across the road.
"There we go." he says. "A parking garage. More than enough room for a group of people to hide."
They run across the street, Sister May glides very fast. They reach the entrance of the parking garage. Geoff peeks inside, looks left and right, then waves to the others to follow him. They walk into a vast, dimly lit room crowded with cars. Geoff spots an elevator, and they head to it. They pile into the elevator, and Geoff presses the button for level five.
"Might as well go to the top." Geoff says.
After a few moments, they get out on the top floor.
"Smooth sailing, so far." says Geoff.
They walk to the far corner, keeping their eyes peeled for anybody else.
They reach the corner, and Olivia sits on her backpack.
"Ah!" she says. "I'm getting enough exercise today!"
"Do you need some water?" asks Geoff, putting a hand on her head.
"No." says Olivia. "I'm fine for now. Thanks."
The elevator door goes "ding!"
They all watch the elevator doors, and sink farther into the shadows. A woman and a four-year-old get out, and start to walk toward them. They get within ten feet of the group, and the woman turns to unlock a car. The four-year-old walks a few more feet, and spots them. Olivia puts her finger to her lips. The four-year-old does the same, and stares at them with wide eyes.
"Come on, Jessica." the woman says.
She slowly turns to her mother, then runs to her. The car backs out, and slowly drives away. Olivia dramatically wipes her forehead.
"Well, we can't stay here forever." says Cervine. "Where can we go?"
"I have an idea." says Geoff. "But first, I need to make a call..."
===
They hide behind some bushes at a supermarket. Geoff waits for couple to pass by, then walks out of them.
"I'll just be a minute." he says, and heads to a bank of pay phones. He puts in a quarter, and dials a number.
"Hi. It's me. I've got a bit of a situation... think you can hide three people and two robots? We won't take up much room... Yeah, and only two of us eat. I'm not sure... As long as you can hide us, that'd be great. My friend would love that. Okay. We'll be there within an hour. Thanks, I can always count on you. Bye."
He walks back to the group.
"We're headed to the docks. A friend of mine is going to meet us in his houseboat." Geoff says. "We can hide out on it for a little while, anyway."
"A houseboat! How grand!" says Olivia, clapping her hands together. "Will you be alright with that, Eve? It will be on water..."
"Well, as you know, I'm not an ordinary cat." says Eve, stretching. "So I have no problem with water."
Olivia picks her up and hugs her.
"Alright then, let's go!" says Olivia.
===
They arrive at the gates of a large marina. There are a lot of very fancy boats docked there.
"Here?" says Olivia. "But all the boats here look so... costly."
"Well, my friend is rich." says Geoff. "He owns a fishing company that distributes all over the world. If you eat sashimi in America, you're probably eating his fish."
"Wow." says Olivia."I didn't know you knew such important people."
"I know people from all walks of life." says Geoff, matter-of-factly.
They walk down the dock.
"It's at the end, here." says Geoff, pointing to the end of the dock.
Sparkly boat ornaments keep catching Olivia's eye. Her head swivels back and forth between the two rows of polished ships.
They arrive at the end at the end of the dock.
"Ooooooh..." says Olivia.
They stand in front of an enormous, champagne-coloured boat.
"Here we are." says Geoff, presenting the boat with his hand.
"THIS is your friend's boat??" says Olivia. She's struck speechless.
"What did you think a world full of fishing brought you?" asks Geoff, as a man appears on deck.
He's tall, muscular, and has long, flowing silver hair and a beard to match. He also has the same olive-coloured skin as Geoff.
"My friends," he says in a musical voice that reminds Olivia of waves crashing, "welcome. My home is your home."
The group walks to a ramp leading to the boat.
"I trust you weren't accosted by anyone on the way here." he says, shepherding them on board with his hands.
"No... but..." Olivia stammers. "How does Geoff know you?"
"Our families have been friends for more years than I can count." says the man, flipping a switch to bring up the anchor.
"He's one of those old Greek guys I was telling you I knew." says Geoff, with a smile.
"And what a fine specimen you are!" he says to Cervine. "Are you of this infamous group of rebels I keep hearing about?"
"Formerly." says Cervine. "I'm just looking after my sister, now. And helping watch over this little one." he says, turning to Olivia.
"I'm not that little." she says, smiling at Cervine all the same.
"Well, may you enjoy yourselves on my boat." says the man, leading them to the control room.
He looks out the window, flips a couple of switches, and turns a steering wheel.
"So... what made you into such a great fisherman?" asks Olivia, sitting down in a captain's chair.
"The sea has been in my blood since I was a baby. It was my destiny to become a fisherman in all the world's seas." says the man, gazing at the ocean with intense eyes.
"And... what is your name?" asks Bob, standing behind Olivia.
"Triton." he says, in all seriousness.
"Oh, like in The Little Mermaid." says Olivia, smiling widely.
"Yes. That's another reason for me to like that movie." says Mr. Triton.
===
Olivia sits in a deck chair, in the sun.
"Sometimes the sun feels so nice." she says, sighing
Bob looks at the clouds, in a chair beside her.
"I wonder what they're talking about." says Bob, looking to the control room window.
"Old Greek guy stuff. They probably haven't talked in a long time, and need to catch up." says Olivia. "I wonder if Geoff knows how to make tropical drinks." she says eagerly, looking at the control room, too. "I bet Mr. Triton has all you need to make them."
Geoff looks at the floor.
"Have you told her?" asks Mr. Triton, glancing at the top of Geoff's head.
"No... it's never come up, in all the time I've known her." says Geoff, looking out the window at Olivia.
"Are you going to tell her?" asks Mr. Triton, turning the wheel a tiny bit.
"I don't know. It just doesn't seem important." says Geoff. "It doesn't really matter, since my only powers are knowing my way around the coffeeshop."
"But think of who you know, where you have access to..." says Mr. Triton, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh, what, say I have access to the underworld, when I could only bring her mother back to her mutilated body?" says Geoff. "There's really no reason."
"I suppose you're right. And she might see you in a different light, if she knew you were a god." says Mr. Triton.
"Right." says Geoff, smirking. "And I happen to like our relationship right where it is. It's not easy, befriending humans, as you know."
"I just remember the days when there were giant temples devoted to me." says Mr. Triton, gazing into the distance.
"There are still temples devoted to you." says Geoff, with a laugh. "They're just called sushi bars now."
Geoff turns to the door, and claps his hands.
"You've got juices on this thing, right? I bet Olivia would love a tropical drink right about now." Geoff says, grinning broadly.
===
"Cervine." says Olivia, walking up behind the two robots, where they sit on the foredeck, watching the waves. "I like that new name much better than 'BRO'. Those boys were so mean when they called you that."
"They certainly were uncouth." says Cervine, offering a hand to Olivia as she sits down beside him.
"But I no longer even think of them. There are so very many other, much better, things to think about."
"Yeah, like what you're going to do now, now that Sister May is with you." says Olivia, tilting her head at the two of them.
They look at each other.
"There are so very many possibilities..." says Cervine. "And so very many more, if we could open the eyes of the public to them."
"I want to help you." says Olivia, sitting forward. "If I can get away from this dangerous person, that could be a new direction for my life."
"I'd appreciate the help." says Cervine, patting Olivia's hand.
"You two look like old friends." says Geoff, walking forward with a tulip glass filled with a translucent, rose-coloured liquid.
"For you, madam." he says, offering Olivia the glass with a bow.
"Oh! I was HOPING you knew how to make tropical drinks!" says Olivia, accepting the glass with bright eyes. Geoff smiles at her.
"Where's Bob?" Geoff says, turning around to look.
"He fell asleep on a deck chair." Olivia says, pointing to Bob near the control room.
"Hmm. At least there are some ways he's normal." says Geoff.
"Of course he's normal." says Olivia, smiling in Bob's direction.
"Are we even sure he's a he?" asks Geoff.
"But of course!" says Olivia. "Doesn't he seem like a boy?"
"I suppose..." says Geoff, scratching his head.
"Well, my friends," says Mr. Triton, walking out on deck, "I trust you're enjoying the view."
"It's gorgeous out here." says Olivia. "And such a nice day. I really envy your lifestyle."
"There's no life like one on the sea." says Mr. Triton, nodding.
"But we can't stay here forever." says Geoff. "We need to see about contacting the police about our murderous little friend."
"Yeah..." says Olivia. "But I'm worried about Bob. What if they imprison him for looking so much like that Nod person?"
"Hmmm." says Geoff, his chin in his hand, his arms crossed.
"I truly wish I could help more, but as I've never seen a person like Bob before..." says Mr. Triton. He throws up his hands and shrugs.
"You're doing enough as it is, old friend." says Geoff, placing a hand on Mr. Triton's shoulder.
"If only we could trap this Nod." says Cervine.
"But what kind of trap could be set?" says Olivia. "This isn't like trapping a bird by putting some bread in a noose..."
"But maybe it is." says Geoff. "We just need someone vulnerable who knows you."
"Oh," says Olivia, "I'd feel far too bad about that. What if someone else was hurt?"
"That might just be a chance you'll have to take." says Geoff.
Olivia scowls.
"We'll come up with something later." says Geoff, placing a hand on Olivia's head."Right now, let's just enjoy the sail."
Olivia gazes at the far sea, and sips her drink.
===
They've been sailing for several days.
Olivia is sleeping in a rather luxurious bed.
Geoff enters her room, and reaches out to per her hair. She gradually wakes.
"Morning, beautiful." says Geoff. "Rise and shine. We're going to dock in a little while."
Olivia sits up, and stretches. Eve wakes up, and stretches, too, a long, cat stretch.
"Ohh." says Olivia. "I wonder where we are by now."
"Somewhere up north." says Geoff. "Maybe even Canada. Though... I doubt that. You'd be illegal."
Olivia smiles.
"Don't go getting any ideas." says Geoff. "I'll leave you to get dressed."
He walks out of the room and closes the door. He goes to a door right down the hall from Olivia's room. He opens it, and peeks in on Bob, sleeping in another luxurious bed. He's sleeping naked, on top of the covers.
"But how can I say this is any different from a normal teenaged boy?" says Geoff to himself. He puts a hand on Bob's shoulder.
"Wakey, wakey. We're about to dock." says Geoff.
Bob sleepily opens his big, black eyes.
"Do you think it's safe?" says Bob, looking up at Geoff.
"Sure." says Geoff. "We're miles and miles away from where we were. It would take two weeks to walk here."
Bob sits up, and reaches for his clothes on the floor.
Geoff looks at Bob, then turns for the door.
"I'll leave you to it." he says, and walks out. Eve is in the hall.
"I trust all is well with our little ward." she says, heading for the open door.
"Seems to be." says Geoff, holding the door for Eve. Her tail dances as she walks in. Geoff smirks.
He walks to the control room, where Mr. Triton is talking to someone on the radio. He puts the receiver down.
"Famous even up in these parts." he says, as he turns into a fancy marina.
He pulls into an empty spot at the end of a dock.
He walks out on the deck, and pushes the button to release the anchor. Geoff follows him.
"Land ho!" says Mr. Triton.
Olivia, Bob, and Eve walk out on deck.
Cervine turns to look at them all from the robots' spot on the foredeck, then rises, and helps Sister May to stand.
Mr. Triton lets down the ramp to the dock.
"I really appreciate you looking after us for these few days, man." says Geoff, shaking Mr. Triton's hand.
"No trouble at all. It was my pleasure." says Mr. Triton. "I only wish I could be of further assistance."
"I think we're going to find a place for Cervine and Sister May, then go to the police with our news of this person." says Geoff, strapping on his backpack.
"I wish you luck in your journey." says Mr. Triton, raising his hand to them as they walk down the ramp.
"Thanks." says Geoff. "We'll need it."
They all wait for Sister May as she glides down the ramp. Then, they turn and face the marina.
"Well, further adventures." says Olivia.
They walk out of the marina, and into town.
---end of issue five---
Nod opens its eyes. It's surrounded by huge packing crates and pallets stacked with various things labeled as belonging to the U.S. military. It sits up, and turns all around, looking at where it is. It has a confused look on its face.
A door to the outside opens. Three men walk in. Their uniforms suggest that a couple of them are very important.
"There was one in here..." says the one in the less-important-looking uniform.
The three men come upon Nod. It turns to face them, then slowly stands.
"What... who is this?" says one of the important men.
"I... I just don't know, sir, there shouldn't have been anyone in here, and..." says the less-important man. "...who are you?"
"...I don't know." Nod says in a flat voice.
"...How did you get in here?" asks the other important man.
"I don't know." Nod says. Its face is completely deadpan now.
"Well, it looks like we have both a security problem and a found person problem." says the less-important man.
"But... is this a person?" says one of the important men. "What is it?"
"No idea..." says the other important man. "Call a couple of men out here to take it into custody. We might have something here."
===
Nod sits in a straight-backed chair in a white room.
Some men look at it through a one-way mirror.
A man in a white lab coat says to them:
"We've performed numerous tests on it. None of the results suggest that it is human. Furthermore, x-rays have revealed that apart from what looks like lungs and a large heart-like organ, it appears to have no inner organs. We're going to give it an MRI next, and hopefully, that will tell us... something."
"I'd like to do some exploratory surgery on it." says another man in a labcoat. "We could find something GREAT!"
===
Nod is lying on a cot in another white room. Its face is still completely deadpan. On its upper arm, forehead, thigh, and chest and belly are deep, stitched up gashes. They shine a deep blue. Within thirty minutes, the shine dulls and the blue lessens. Thirty minutes after that, the blue is very faint, and the gashes are completely closed.
===
"And you have no idea where you came from?" asks a man in a lab coat.
"No." Nod says in a very flat, lifeless voice.
The man in the labcoat turns and confers with four other lab coated men. They all seem to agree on something, then turn to Nod.
"Well, we haven't found out much about you, but what we have seen has floored us. If only we could harness your healing ability... if we could more easily study your genes! But there's so much we can't do, since we've never seen some like you before! Oh, the things you could do for science!" The labcoated man has a slight blush to his cheeks.
Nod simply looks at them. It slowly blinks its eyes.
===
Nod is yet again in the white room, sitting on the edge of the cot. It stares at the floor with the most lifeless expression.
"I grow tired." it murmurs, and looks to the knobless door. The lock clicks open.
It gets up, and heads out into the hall. It reaches a turn in the hall before coming face-to-face with a young private.
"Hey, we haven't been given clearance... to..." the private looks down to see one of Nod's spikes sliding out of his belly. He looks at Nod in shock, and collapses to the floor. Nod looks at him a moment, then raises its spike to look at the blood covering it. It smiles a small smile.
===
Olivia is swinging Bob's hand up and down in the air as they walk down a lonely street.
"This sure is a relief after that street the marina was on." says Olivia. "So many people! And who knows what those who saw us will say..."
"Hopefully they'll keep mum." says Cervine. "We are a pretty crazy group to be together."
"I think we're just fine." says a scowling Olivia.
"Not everyone's as innocent as you, dear heart." says Geoff, pulling a little lock of her hair.
"Oww." she says, giggling. "So where to now, boss?" she asks Cervine, looking back at him.
"I'd like to look at a newspaper. That's how I first found out about the rebels, and maybe I can find some here that way." says Cervine.
"Good idea!" declares Olivia, her finger in the air.
===
They keep to the shadows as they move down a moderately busy street. They finally come to a corner newsstand. The stand's attendant stares with an open mouth as Geoff picks out one of the day's papers. He catches the attendant's attention, pays for the paper, and shoos the group into a nearby alley. Olivia sits on her backpack, Bob leans on a wall, and Geoff crouches in front of them.
Cervine looks at the headlines of the paper, then unfolds it.
"No news on any androids so far..." he says. "Ah, here we go... something on a group at a park. They've been seen around a wooded area in this park. Looks like we've got a place to head."
"Okay, so that's good." says Olivia. "Can you pull up a map of this area, Cervine?"
"Yes, indeed." says Cervine as he brings up a map in his head, finds their current location, finds the location of the park, and draws a route between the two places.
"This way." he points down an adjacent road, and the group moves down it.
===
They reach the park as the sun is setting.
"Well, sheesh, it took long enough to get here." says Olivia. "At least it's not fully dark yet."
They head through the park, avoiding leaving families, and romantic couples who look like they want privacy anyway.
They quickly approach a wooded area. Cervine waves for the rest of the group to wait behind as he walks into the woods. He is gone for several minutes. Just as Geoff makes a move to go after Cervine, he reappears with a pink-and-white babysitting unit in tow.
"This is Caroline." says Cervine. "She wanted to make sure everyone was 'alright enough' to enter the camp." He presents the group with his hands.
"Hello everyone." says Caroline. "I was very impressed with Cervine, here, but we're always cautious about letting new people into our camp. We never know what people might be up to. And since there are humans in this group, that makes you even more suspicious."
"I can understand you wanting to be cautious about new people." says Geoff. "But I can assure you that we have the best intentions."
"Yeah... I want to help out the rebellion." says Olivia. "Is there a way I can be of help?"
"Of course! We always support humans who agree with us." says Caroline. "sadly, those are few and far between."
"I hope to help change that." says Olivia.
"It's refreshing to see a young person sympathetic to our cause." says Caroline. "o many children abuse androids, it's really such a shame."
Olivia and Geoff nod. Bob, who hasn't seen what children are capable of, just stands there. Caroline notices him.
"Oh! Are you another species? I didn't know our space program had advanced that far..."
"We don't know what he is. Neither does he." says Eve. "He's quite the quandary."
"Oh my!" says Caroline. "Now, I know that earth-cats don't speak..."
"Well, I'm a special case." purrs Eve.
Olivia picks her up and pets her.
"But you..." Caroline says, advancing toward Sister May. "It's wonderful for two robots to have a familial bond. Your brother speaks highly of you."
Sister May prints:
"He says nothing I wouldn't say of him."
"If only all robots could feel this way about someone else..." says Caroline, tilting her head.
She turns to the rest of them.
"Well, I think you'll be fine to enter our camp. It will be the first time we've let some humans in, but I think you'll be trustworthy enough. However, we have no provisions for humans, so you'll have to find food and such for yourselves." says Caroline.
"I don't think that will be a problem." says Geoff. "Olivia and I have some money. And we'll need to look into this town some, to see about finding a place to stay and everything, anyway."
"Oh, good." says Caroline, offering her hand to Geoff. "Here's to a good relationship."
Geoff takes her hand and shakes it firmly.
Everyone walks into the wood.
===
"We'll be gone for just a little, in order to get some food and things." Olivia says to Bob. Eve sits on his knee.
"We should be fine, here." says Eve. "It'll give us a chance to meet some of the androids here, and maybe gain their trust."
"Good plan." says Olivia, giving Eve a thumbs-up.
"I'll try not to take too long, Bob."
"Okay." says Bob.
Geoff finishes emptying his backpack.
"Ready to go, Olivia?" he says, strapping on his pack.
"Just a minute." says Olivia, taking a dress out of her backpack. "I would have packed more if I'd known how long we would be gone..."
"Don't worry." says Geoff, winking at her. "I can buy you anything you'll need. My bank account's not skimpy. The coffee business is good!"
Olivia blushes.
"I'd still feel bad about you spending money on me." she says, looking down. "I wish I knew how to access my mom's account." She bites her lip.
"No worrying about that, now." says Geoff, putting an arm around her. "We'll see about that once this trouble is over."
Olivia smiles at him, weakly.
"'kay" she says.
"So let's hit the town." says Geoff enthusiastically.
Olivia smiles at Bob and Eve.
"Bye, Bob, Eve." she says to them. "Make sure Sister May and Cervine stay out of trouble."
"We will." says Eve, looking to Sister May, who is printing out a message to an android she's been talking to. Bob waves to Olivia and Geoff. They set out from the rebel camp, which consists of several tents and a few charging stations against a wall running through the middle of the woods. Caroline sees them leaving, and waves as they pass. They wave back.
"I really like that Caroline." says Geoff. "I bet she had a lot of kids to look after."
"She's nice." says Olivia. "And seemingly as advanced as Sister May and Cervine. Android technology just grows by leaps and bounds. I hope I can help them somehow."
Geoff makes sure there's no one to see them, and they exit the woods. The park is practically deserted by now. They walk towards some street lamps.
"I hope there's a store nearby." says Olivia, looking down the street once they reach it.
"We passed a grocery store not far from here, remember?" says Geoff.
"Oh, I guess I didn't see it..." says Olivia. "There are so many things to think about!"
"Well, that's alright." says Geoff, patting her head. "It's just this way. Come on."
They pass several shops. They pass a cafe, and Olivia lingers in front of it.
"Oh, Geoff, your coffeeshop." she says. "People will worry that you're not open."
"Even baristas need a vacation every once in a while." says Geoff. "If people worry, that's their problem."
"Some vacation." says Olivia, furrowing her brow in worry.
"Hey now, turn that frown upside-down." says Geoff. "No need to worry about my business. Like I said, my bank account's healthy. I'm just looking after my girl right now."
"You're the best, Geoff." says Olivia. "You never thought twice about helping me."
"Hey, it's what any red-blooded man would do." says Geoff. "When a beautiful damsel is in distress, they need a knight. Even if his armor's a little rusty."
Olivia blushes.
"That makes me think..." says Olivia. "Why don't I ever see you with women? You have to have interested customers. You're handsome enough."
"The horns and teeth scare them away." he winks at her. "Besides, I haven't found the right one yet."
"I'll help you find somebody, after this Nod business is done with." smiles Olivia. "Somebody not scared of horns and tattoos. Besides, I think they add a lot of character."
"I'm glad to have you as my biggest fan." says Geoff. "Oh - we're here." He points to a large sign over their heads.
"Anubis Market." says Olivia. "Funny how such ancient religions still captivate people."
"Well, you do go to a Catholic school." says Geoff.
"Yeah, and how many people are catholic, nowadays?" says Olivia, smiling. "I wonder why religions died out."
"Another human mystery." says Geoff, smirking to himself.
"Well," says Olivia as they under the store, "I'm in the mood for some fruit and potato chips!"
===
Bob watched Sister May talk to a lavender-coloured maid-bot. Eve looked at him.
"Well, do you want to meet some androids?" says Eve.
"I sort of feel... as if a part of me is missing, when Olivia's gone." says Bob, looking into the woods where Geoff and Olivia disappeared.
"How interesting." says Eve, and her clipboard reappears, writes a long note on itself, and vanishes.
"But if you got to know some of these androids, you'd be helping them to trust her more when she returns." says Eve, getting down off Bob's knee and walking forward a few paces.
"Yeah..." says Bob, and he stands.
He goes over to Sister May and the maid-bot.
"Hello." he says, tentatively.
"Why, hello, young man. Erm... you are a young man, aren't you?" says the maid-bot.
"I... I think so." says Bob. "My name's Bob."
"And I go by Roberta." says the maid-bot. "Caroline thinks your group might do us good. And judging by Sister May here, she just might be right."
"I hope so." says Bob. "At least, Olivia really wants to do some good."
"Always welcome, when a human takes up our charge." says Roberta. "I trust you want to help us, too?"
"As long as it makes Olivia happy." says Bob.
"Well, good. the more, the merrier." says Roberta, offering her hand to Bob. Bob hesitates a bit, then shakes it.
Sister May prints out:
"Bob is a good soul. I'm sure he'll be of great help."
"That's good to know." says Roberta, her plastic cheeks glowing rosy as she looks at Bob. "I'm sure we'll be good friends."
Bob smiles a little.
A cracking THUMP sounds. Bob and Roberta turn to Sister May. Something pointy is showing between her eyes. It quickly withdraws, leaving a sparking hole. Sister May's head falls to the ground, and her body falls over with a CLUNK. Nod is standing behind her.
"You!!" says Bob, raising his fist to strike Nod. It quickly dodges the punch, and runs off through the woods. Bob gives chase, only to lose it in a matter of moments. He makes his way back to the camp.
Cervine is kneeling over Sister May's sparking head.
"May..." he says in a small voice.
Caroline leans over him, a hand on his shoulder.
"Cervine, I'm so sorry." she says. "What was that?" she quickly looks up as Bob approaches. "Another of your kind??"
"He had nothing to do with it." says Cervine. "Apparently, our boat trip had no effect on it."
"Cervine..." says Bob, a look of worry on his face. "I... words cannot express..."
"Don't worry about it, Bob." says Cervine. "I just hope this Nod person doesn't catch up to Olivia."
Bob's face grows even more worried.
"Olivia..." he says.
---end of issue six---