(no subject)
OKAY SO HAVE SOME MORE OF MY STORY THEN IF YOU WANT TO READ IT SO MUCH
"Bailey! Bastian!" calls Peebo, in front of the door. The dogs ramble up.
"Those are my good boys. You did so good!" croons Peebo. "You get a treat!"
He gives them each a piece of liver. They hungrily chew it down, then leap up on Peebo, begging for seconds.
"That's enough, that's enough! Just one piece of liver, guys!" Peebo says loudly.
The dogs quiet down, and sit at Peebo's feet.
"That was good, protecting uncle Jasper, but I've got to go back inside now." says Peebo, bending over and patting the dogs on the head.
He turns around, and walks back into the kitchen. Jasper stands up.
"Well, man, I'm gonna go back home. Put on a new shirt and stuff." he says to Peebo.
"Take it easy, man, thanks for driving us." says Peebo.
Olivia comes up and gives Jasper a hug.
"I'm so sorry you nearly got killed today." says Olivia. "And yeah, thanks for driving us."
"No problem, little miss." says Jasper.
He waves at Cheryl, nods at Geoff, Alexis, Cervine, and Bob, pets Eve, who's still in the window, and walks out.
"Just what was out there?" asks Cheryl, who's finally calmed down.
"It's a... person. That's after me." says Olivia. "It's responsible for killing my mother and several other people. We don't know anything about it. Except that it sort of looks like Bob."
"How did you get such a dangerous person after you?" asks Cheryl, clasping her hands together.
"I have no idea." says Olivia. "Ohh, and now I've put you in danger, too! Ohh, I'm so sorry!"
Olivia puts her hands to her forehead.
Geoff goes over to Olivia, and strokes her shoulders.
"No need to worry over something we can't help." says Geoff.
"But..." says Olivia. "If only we hadn't come here and endangered Jasper and Peebo and Cheryl..."
"But you did, and that's quite alright." says Cheryl, coming over and patting Olivia on the shoulder, too.
"And Bastian and Bailey are here to protect us, as you just saw." says Geoff. "It's really handy that Nod is so afraid of dogs. We need to keep that in mind."
Olivia looks at the floor.
"It is good that they could chase it off..." Olivia says in a quiet voice.
"I think we should all have a glass of lemonade and cool down." says Peebo, holding up the platter of drinks.
"A good idea." says Cheryl, taking one glass and handing another to Olivia.
"Thank you for being so nice and understanding." says Olivia, taking a sip.
"But I think I need to hear the whole story." says Cheryl, taking Olivia's hand and walking into the parlor.
===
"That's... really quite the story, dear." says Cheryl, siting back in her chair and sipping her lemonade.
"But it's all happened..." says Olivia, lying down on the sofa. "And I don't know what'll happen next."
"Oh, I believe you." says Cheryl. "One can take one look at your group and kind of figure it out."
A kitten scrambles up the side of the sofa and onto Olivia's chest. She strokes it.
"What I can't figure out is Bob. Why did he suddenly appear just before all this mess started happening?" says Cheryl.
"You can't blame any of this on him." says Olivia, sitting up with the kitten in her arms, and turning to face Cheryl. "He's been as flabbergasted by Nod as the rest of us. And he was a victim!"
"Of course I don't blame Bob..." says Cheryl, turning to Bob, who stands in the doorway to the parlor. "But it is very unusual."
"Yes. But everything has been unusual lately." says Olivia. She holds her arms out to Bob. He hesitantly goes to sit by her, and she wraps her arms around him.
Cheryl looks at them for a moment with a gleam in her eye, then gets up, and fetches a small, wooden box with bone inlay from a desk against the wall.
"Let's just see what the tarot has to say." she says, and she takes a deck of cards out of the box. She shuffles the deck thoroughly, cuts it, and lays it on the coffeetable. She pulls a card from the deck.
"Oh, how perfect. The fool." she says, and lays the card face-up on the table.
"That is just what's been happening." says Olivia. "We've been in an adventure, facing unknown things, and doing all sorts of unexpected stuff. Plus, I've felt overwhelming love and protection from my group. I've sort of felt like a kid again."
"That's as it should be." says Cheryl, smiling at Olivia and Bob.
Eve comes in from the kitchen, the other kitten right behind her. She picks it up by the scruff of the neck, and leaps into Bob's lap. She deposits the kitten in Olivia's lap. The one who'd been sitting there, startled out of a doze, mews.
"Oh, little darling, shh." says Olivia, gathering the kittens to her chin.
Cheryl rises, and picks up her glass and Olivia's glass, and takes them to the kitchen. She comes back to the parlor.
"Now, what also interests me is how you've started to gather your own little supernatural force." says Cheryl.
"Well, I never would have guessed Geoff was what he is, or that we'd meet a native American forest spirit in our travels..." says Olivia. "I wonder who we'll meet next."
"It's a big world out there." says Cheryl.
"I wish we could just stay here for a while." says Olivia.
"Well, maybe that's a good idea." says Cheryl.
She gathers up the kitten from Olivia's lap, and settles into her chair with them. Olivia smiles at her. She beams back at Olivia.
===
Peebo, Alexis, and Geoff walk into town with Bailey and Bastian on leads. Other people on the sidewalk give them a wide berth.
"People are gonna think I'm even more of a radical hippy with you near me, Geoff." says Peebo, a big grin on his face and his eyes sparkling.
"Sorry if I don't add to your good reputation." says Geoff, a big grin on his face, too.
"I don't see what the big deal is..." says Alexis, leering at the people they pass.
"Oh, my, don't tell me your as innocent as Olivia." says Geoff, raising his eyebrows at Alexis.
"I'm just not used to people not accepting me." says Alexis, frowning a little.
"Aw, you little darling, you!" says Peebo, poking Alexis hard in the side. Alexis laughs.
"Owie." he says.
"This is where we're headed." says Peebo, and he stops in front of a small town supermarket.
They tie Bailey and Bastian to a light pole in front, tell them to stay, and walk inside.
"Grandmama's making chicken pot pie, and we need fixin's." says Peebo.
===
They're all sitting at a large dining-room table in a dining room at the end of a hall. Cervine and Bob sit there too, though they have no dishes in front of them. Olivia speaks:
"I just want to thank the both of you for taking us into your home and hearts like this. You're really too kind."
"Hey, you needed help, and we had help to give. My grampa wouldn't have left you beside the road, and neither would I." says Peebo.
"Now, let's eat this pie before it gets cold!" says Cheryl, rising to serve the molten pie.
"And also, thank you for feeding us. We can pay you-" starts Geoff.
"Hush, don't talk such silly talk. What's three extra people? I would've made this much even if it had just been Chester and me. You're helping us avoid leftovers!" says Cheryl, putting a heaping mound of pie on each plate.
Alexis smiles widely at Olivia and Geoff. Bob stares at the floor.
"Now, Bob, don't be so glum." says Cheryl, smiling. "We just asked you in here because we wanted to include you in the conversation."
"Thank you." says Bob, smiling a small smile at her.
"So, Cheryl thinks we should stay here for a while." says Olivia, taking a bite of pie.
"Yeah! That would be totally cool. I could show you around the place." says Peebo, his mouth full.
"That would be swell." says Olivia.
"I don't suppose there's anything I can help out with, is there?" asks Cervine.
"Well, you're a teacher, and Olivia here isn't in school..." suggests Cheryl.
"Ohh." says Olivia, frowning and knitting her brows.
"Now, Olivia, you shouldn't neglect your education just because of some life-changing events." says Cheryl.
"I know..." says Olivia, hanging her head. But she quickly turns to face Cervine.
"At least I have a really cool teacher!" she says exuberantly.
"I'd be happy to teach you, Olivia." says Cervine, crossing his arms and resting them on the table. "But you'll have to put up with the further education I gave myself while at the warehouses."
"Oh, did you learn a lot?" says Olivia.
"Oh, yes, I memorized two sets of encyclopedias, and learned a couple more languages from foreign androids whose owners had brought them overseas." says Cervine.
"I've always wanted to learn another language!" says Olivia with a bright smile. "What languages did you learn?"
"French, German, and Japanese." says Cervine.
"Ooooh..." says Olivia. "I've always wanted to learn Japanese. My dad learned it from his mom."
"Lessons start tomorrow, then." says Cervine, sitting back.
"Can I sit in on these lessons?" asks Bob.
"Of course, Bob." says Cervine. "The more students, the better."
"Well, then, I might sit in too." says Peebo, grinning. "I wasn't the best student in school."
"You'd better pay attention this time, too, Chester." says Cheryl, wagging her finger at Peebo.
"Yes ma'am." says Peebo, sheepishly.
===
"I can't believe you're making us do math." says Olivia, with downcast eyes. "Who needs algebra?"
"You never know when it may come in handy." says Cervine, writing several equations on a piece of paper. He hands it to Olivia, then starts writing the same equations on another sheet.
"Math was always my worst subject..." says Peebo, haltingly.
"You never know what you'll learn." says Cervine, handing Peebo the seconds sheet. He starts on a third.
"I'm having no trouble understanding it." says Bob, flipping a pencil in his hand.
"Well, you could be a super-genius, for all we know." says Olivia, nudging Bob with her elbow.
"But I have no way of knowing if I am..." says Bob.
"We could give you an IQ test." suggests Cervine,handing the last paper to Bob.
"I suppose..." says Bob, glancing at the equations and quickly writing the answers to all of them.
"Goodness, you are smart." says Olivia, her eyes wide. "I couldn't get through this without a piece ofscratch paper and a lot of head-scratching." She looks morosely at her blank equations.
"I'll allow scratch paper." says Cervine, crossing his arms and looking down at Olivia.
"I guess there's nothing like the present." she says, looking at Peebo. Peebo shrugs, and takes out a sheet of paper. They both start earnestly working on the equations.
===
Cervine looks at Bob over the test he's checking. He lets out a low whistling noise.
"Well, looks like Olivia was right. You appear to be a super-genius." says Cervine. He waves to paper he's been checking in the air. "Your IQ is off the charts. Which is rather curious."
Olivia claps Bob on the shoulder.
"Wow, Bob," says Olivia, "you could be anything!"
Bob sits back,with a look of surprise on his face.
"But I feel like... I don't know much of anything." he says. "How can I be so smart, and not have any knowledge of myself? How can I have no history?"
Eve has been watching all this for a while, from the doorway. Her clipboard is in front of her, writing notes on itself continuously.
"Perhaps you are here for a purpose, and are meant to create your own history." says Eve.
"But what is that purpose?" asks Bob.
"Maybe it's to help me." says Olivia, looking at her hands. "If you hadn't been there in the woods, Nod would have got me."
"That's a good enough purpose." says Bob, putting his hand on Olivia's.
Olivia smiles her radiant smile at him.
Jasper walks into the room.
"Hi." he says. "Cheryl said you guys were having school."
"Yeah, and my man Bob here has found out he's a super-genius!" says Peebo, reaching over to Bob behind Olivia.
"Whoa. Awesome." says Jasper.
"And I found out I'm still bad at math." says Peebo.
"Well, I could have told you that." says Jasper.
Peebo chuckles.
"You weren't much better than me." he says.
Jasper shrugs.
"I don't need math to deliver pizzas." he says.
"What do you do, Peebo?" asks Olivia.
"Oh, I, um... I work at a farm." Peebo says, looking at the floor.
"Oh, so you help to make our food!" says Olivia, her eyes bright.
"Um... yeah. Something like that." says Peebo, blushing.
"You mean you work growing marijuana." says Cervine.
Olivia's mouth falls open.
"Heh."says Peebo, not taking his eyes from the floor.
"Wait, there's money to be made from marijuana?" Olivia asks.
"Oh, sweetheart..." says Jasper.
"I can live comfortably on what I make from the farm." says Peebo, sitting back.
"Lunchtime!" calls Cheryl, from the kitchen.
"Well, let's finish this conversation another time." says Peebo, standing up from his chair.
"Hmm... does Cheryl know?" asks Olivia.
"No! Of course not." says Peebo, whoaing her with his hands. "And you can't tell her, okay?"
"...Alright." says Olivia.
They all get up and head for the dining room.
===
"Are you sure you don't feel weird?" says Bob, to the dark.
"No, of course not." says Olivia, beside him. "We're both grown people, and it's not like anything can happen between us, you know?"
"Still, I wish there had been another bed." says Bob, sighing.
"Silly Bob, you worry too much." says Olivia, slipping her arm over Bob's chest under the covers.
"Eesh!" says Bob. Olivia giggles.
A BANG! sounds from something hitting the side of the house.
Olivia sits up.
"Ohh... Cervine!" she says.
They get out of bed, and head to the kitchen. Geoff and Alexis are already there. Geoff opens the door and heads outside. So do the others.
Down the side of the house, they find one of the potted shrubs turned over, and a little down the way, Cervine has his back to them. His back is sparking.
"Cervine?" says Geoff.
He turns to them. Wires and circuit boards are visible through his belly. Red liquid seeps slowly from the ragged tear.
"It thought it could strike when the dogs were sleeping." says Cervine.
"But it got you!" says Olivia, running to Cervine and putting her hand on the wound.
"I can repair myself." says Cervine, looking down at Olivia.
"We've got to do something about catching it." says Alexis.
"But what?" says Olivia.
"Set Olivia outside, and lay in wait with a net." says Geoff.
Olivia's eyes get wide.
"That does seem to be the only thing to do." she says.
Peebo comes outside.
"What happened, guys?" he says. He looks at Cervine's belly. "Ouch, dude, your stomach! Was it Nod again?"
"Yes." says Geoff. "We were just talking about a way to catch it."
"Yikes." says Peebo. "Then what would you do with it?"
Geoff looks at everyone.
"I'm not sure." he says.
"We need to figure out where we can take it once we have it." says Olivia.
"I think we should just take it straight to the police." says Alexis.
"I agree." says Cervine. "You were planning to go to the police anyway. I'm sure they're wondering where you've gone." he says to Olivia.
"Yeah..." says Olivia. "I just hope they can hold it."
===
Olivia sits outside, in the daylight. Cheryl sits with her.
"You don't have to be out here with me, you know." says Olivia.
"Oh, I know, dear." says Cheryl. "But I didn't want you to get lonely out here all by yourself."
"Thanks." says Olivia. "But you know it's dangerous."
"I know, I know." says Cheryl. "I wouldn't want you to face this danger alone."
She pats Olivia's hand.
Olivia smiles widely at her. She looks up into the branches of the oak tree, Geoff, Alexis, and Peebo are in them, holding aloft a large net. Geoff puts his finger to his lips, and points down to direct her gaze away from them. Olivia looks down.
There's a noise in a bush to her right. She purposefully doesn't look. Nod charges out of the bush, aiming a spike at Olivia. She rises, pulling Cheryl with her. They run a few steps. The net falls on Nod.
It falls to the ground, and thrashes around. It lets out a wail.
Olivia comes forward, finds the corners of the net, and gathers them up. She holds them tightly.
Geoff jumps down from the branch he was on. Alexis and Peebo take a little more time getting down. Geoff takes the corners of the net from Olivia. He makes a sack of the net. Peebo brings a piece of rope from the base of the tree. Geoff grapples with the thrashing Nod, and finally gets hold of its arms. Peebo ties its arms together at the elbow behind its back. Geoff holds its legs, and Peebo ties them at the ankle. Geoff pulls the net fully off of Nod. It lays on the ground, glaring up at them.
"Oh, what scary eyes." says Cheryl, her hands to her lips.
"Now I want some answers." says Olivia, looking down at Nod.
---end of issue ten---
"What are you doing?" Olivia asks Nod. "Why are you killing people close to me?"
She crouches by Nod. It sits up and stares at her.
"I am the bad in you." it says to her.
"What?" she asks, a fearful, quizzical look on her face.
"I am the bad in your mind. He is the good." Nod says, nodding to Bob, who has just walked out the door and up to them.
Olivia's mouth is open.
"What... what are you saying?" she asks.
Bob looks confused.
"You once wished for your father to die. I was born from that wish." says
Olivia shakes her head.
"No no no! I... I only thought that, once. But I immediately regretted it, and took it back!" says Olivia, her face turning dark.
"No matter. In that instant, the wish was real, and I came from it. Perhaps your wish to take it back is what gave birth to him." Nod says solemnly.
Bob and Olivia stare at each other.
"So... you mean... you're, like, poltergeists?" Olivia asks, her eyes wide.
"In a way." says Nod.
"So... so I killed my mom. And Artie. And Sister May." says Olivia, her eyes filling with tears. She coughs as the spiders start to come out of her mouth.
"Your wish began the cycle." says Nod.
Olivia puts her face in her hands and cries loudly. Bob kneels and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Whoa..." says Peebo.
"Corporeal poltergeists... how surreal." says Cervine, who's walked out of the house, and is standing beside them.
"What do we do?" says Geoff. "We can't hand a poltergeist over to the police. How would we explain it?"
"Maybe that's just what we do." says Alexis. "Maybe we can take it in for the murders, and then Olivia can wish it out of existence."
"Hopefully that will work." says Geoff. "What do you think, Olivia?"
Her crying has quieted. She removes her hands from her face, and wipes at her cheeks, though the tears still flow. Spiders continue to crawl from her mouth.
"But what if they ask about me?" Olivia says, hiccuping. "If they know Nod is my poltergeist, that'll make me guilty of murder."
"But you didn't want this to happen." says Alexis. "Nod was completely seperate from you when everyone died. You can't be blamed for Nod's actions."
Olivia sniffs.
"But... if I wish for Nod to disappear, what will happen to Bob?" she mutters.
"Good question." says Geoff. "You'll just have to mention Nod by name when you make your wish."
Olivia nods. she turns to Nod.
"Nod, if I wish for you to disappear, will you?" she asks.
"Yes." says Nod in its flat voice.
===
Peebo is on the phone.
"Yeah. We've captured it, and I need you to come take us to the police station." he says. "You will? Thanks, pal, you're always there to help. Alright, see you in a few. Right. Thanks, bye."
He turns to everyone, standing and sitting in the kitchen. Bob is gazing in wonderment at Olivia across the table.
"What?" says Olivia, blushing.
"I'm part of your mind." says Bob. "You... gave birth to me."
"It sounds weird when you put it that way." says Olivia. "But... yeah. You're a part of me. That must be why we get along so well."
"And why he feels he cannot be apart from you." says Eve, jumping up on the table. Her clipboard follows her.
"I think my report is nearly finished, now that we've found out where Bob and Nod came from." says Eve. "I should be about ready to head back.
"You'll be leaving us?" says Olivia, taking her paw.
"Well, yes, my purpose here is finished." says Eve. "But... I could find other purposes to stay here."
"Oh, please do!" says Olivia, drawing Eve into a hug. "I've come to like you so much."
"And I you." Eve purrs.
Jasper walks in the door.
"Where is it?" he asks.
Olivia points to the sofa in the parlor where Nod is sitting.
"Yeeps, what a creepy thing." says Jasper. "Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah." says Geoff. "The sooner we get rid of that thing, the better."
"Bob, you'd better stay here, so the police won't get any ideas about you." says Olivia.
"Okay..." says Bob.
"I'll stay with him." says Alexis.
"Okay. Thanks." says Geoff. "Well, let's go, kids."
Geoff and Peebo go to collect Nod from the sofa. Cheryl and Olivia walk wih Jasper out to the station wagon.
"You guys sit in back with Nod." says Jasper to Peebo and Geoff. They both nod.
They get in the back while Jasper, Olivia, and Cheryl get in the front.
"Please let this be the end." says Olivia.
===
"So you're saying this... person killed a woman and a homeless scientist and broke a runaway robot?" says the policeman.
"I also killed several government officials and a tall, youngish man with black hair." says Nod.
"Wait... are you saying you killed my father, too?!" says Olivia.
"I thought I had already explained that I had." says Nod. "Yes, I killed him."
Tears run silently down Olivia's cheeks.
"Government officials... where?" asks the policeman.
"At an army base." says Nod.
"The nearest army base is fifty miles away!" says the policeman. "Are you telling me you walked that far?"
"To get to her city, yes." says Nod.
"What city did you come from, miss?" the policeman asks Olivia.
"Silverton." says Olivia, wiping her cheeks.
"That's over the state line!" says the policeman. "You traveled that far, running from this... person?" He looks at them all.
"Not me and Chester, here, we just met them along their way." says Cheryl, gesturing to Peebo and herself.
"Well, of course not, I know you, Cheryl. Which is why I'm considering this seriously." says the policeman. "I'd better call the Silverton police station and the army base and let them know we have somebody."
He flicks through a rolodex and quickly dials a number.
"Jefferson army base? This is the sergeant of the Luth city police department. Did you recently have some murders at the base? Three? Uh-huh. Well, I've got a... a person here who says they committed those murders. Yep." he eyes Nod. "Yes, and they've murdered several other people as well, it seems. Yes. I'll be holding them here. What? You want it? No, I don't know what it is. Well, alright. I'll just lock it up here, for now. Okay. See you then. Bye."
Olivia bites her lip.
"The army base is going to send a couple of men over to get... you." says the policeman to Nod. He takes a pair of handcuffs out of a drawer and stands up.
"You can untie it, now." he says to Peebo and Geoff.
"Well, officer, that might not be best." says Geoff. He turns Nod around.
"See for yourself." he says.
The policeman looks at Nod's spikes.
"Oh dear." he looks puzzled. "Well, we'll just leave the rope there, then, shall we?" He walks to a door beyond his desk.
"If you two would follow me." he says.
Geoff and Peebo pick up Nod, and follow the policeman down a hall. They turn a corner, and the policeman unlocks a cell. Geoff and Peebo walk in, and set Nod on a bench. Geoff bends, and unties Nod's feet. Geoff and Peebo walk out, and the policeman locks the cell. They all walk back to the policeman's desk.
Olivia has a hand on her face.
"Well, now to call the Silverton police." says the policeman. He flicks through the rolodex again, and dials another number.
"Silverton police? This is Sergeant O'shaunessy with the Luth city police. I've got a suspect who claims to have murdered three people in your city. Just a moment. What were the names of your mother and father and the scientist?" he puts a hand over the mouthpiece of the phone and asks Olivia.
"Rehema Honeycutt, Nathaniel Honeycutt, and... Artie. That's all we knew him by." says Olivia, looking to Geoff. Geoff shrugs.
"Nathaniel Honeycutt, Rehema Honeycutt, and a homeless scientist called Artie. At the rebel android base in some warehouses. Yes. That's all I know. Yes, I've got Mrs. Honeycutt's daughter right here. She's fine. Apparently, she's been on the run from the suspect they brought in. Geoff Hornsby?" he looks at Geoff. Geoff nods.
"Apparently, he's been with Mrs. Honeycutt's daughter. They're both here. They caught the suspect and brought them in. No, it's one person, but... it appears to be sexless. Yes. It's a very odd person. That'll be fine, I've got them locked up now. okay. See you tomorrow. Bye."
He turns to the group in front of his desk.
"The Silverton police said they'll send someone tomorrow." says the policeman.
"What about the army guys?" asks Olivia.
"I'll just have to explain about Silverton wanting to come." says the policeman.
"And what do you want us to do?" Geoff asks.
"Well,' says the policeman, checking the notepad he was writing on, "I guess you can go. The Silverton police know how to contact you, right?"
"Yes." says Olivia, taking Geoff's hand.
"Just be sure to be available for any questions they might have. Take care getting back to Silverton. Have a good day." The policeman raises his hand goodbye.
"You too, officer." says Cheryl.
They head for the door.
===
Olivia leans her head back into the seat of the station wagon. Geoff runs his fingers across her cheek. She sighs.
"I can't believe it's finally over!" bubbles Olivia. "I thought it would never end!"
"I'm just glad you didn't get hurt." says Geoff, smiling at her.
"But we lost some good friends." says Olivia, frowning.
"And we gained new ones." says Geoff, smiling at Peebo and Cheryl and Jasper.
"Yes, at least there's that." says Olivia, taking Cheryl's hand and patting it.
"So what are you guys going to do now?" says Peebo. "Head back to Silverton?"
"Yeah. I've got my house to see to, and Geoff has his coffeeshop." says Olivia.
"Well, I'll hate to see you go." says Cheryl, giving Olivia a hug. Olivia hugs back with both arms.
"Yeah, thing'll be less exciting with you guys gone." says Peebo.
"We'll have to stay in touch." says Olivia, looking back at Peebo.
"We can do that over the internet." says Peebo.
"Sure! What's your e-mail address? Mine's ohoneycutt@worldself.com." says Olivia.
"mine's peebo@hazardfarms.org." says Peebo.
"Well, good. We'll have to e-mail each other when I get back to my house." says Olivia.
Peebo and Olivia smile at each other.
"I'll just let you two deal with that." says Geoff, his eyebrows raised. "I've never gotten used to the internet."
"Now, you should be ashamed of yourself, Geoff. Here you've got a popular coffeeshop, and no internet available in it!" says Olivia, scoffing.
"Well, maybe you can help change that." says Geoff.
"Maybe I should!" says Olivia, her eyes sparkling.
They pull up in front of Cheryl's house.
Bob, who has been watching the yard from the window, comes out to greet them.
"How did it go?" he asks Olivia as she gets out of the car.
"Nod's in the system now." says Olivia. And it seems to have killed some army people, too, so the army is after it."
"Nod was just bad news." says Alexis, coming out behind Bob.
"But, hopefully, and thankfully, that bad news is behind us." says Olivia, hugging Bob. Bob haltingly hugs her back.
"Have you wished it gone yet?" asks Alexis.
"No..." says Olivia. "So many people seemed to want it, so... I think I should let it spend some time in the system. Hopefully, it won't say anything about being from my mind or anything."
"We can only hope." says Geoff, behind Olivia.
===
Olivia looks around the parlor.
"Where's Eve?" she asks Bob.
"Oh... she's gone." says Bob.
"Ohhhh. I was hoping she hadn't." says Olivia, grabbing a cushion off the sofa and flopping down on it.
"But she said she would try to find an excuse to come back." says Alexis, sitting down on the sofa beside her.
"I hope she can." says Olivia, burying her chin in the cushion.
===
Cheryl hugs Olivia.
"You'd better call me every once in a while, just so I know you're alright." says Cheryl, tucking a piece of paper into Olivia's hand. "This is my phone number, so don't forget!"
"Of course I won', Cheryl." says Olivia, stuffing the paper in a pocket. "It'll do me good to know there's a grandmother over here worrying about me."
Cheryl beams at her.
"And Chester here will have to keep me informed about your talks over the computer." says Cheryl, patting Peebo's cheek.
"Well, my friend Triton said he was still at the marina, and I told him we'd be there by 3:00." says Geoff. "So we'd better take off."
Olivia crouches, and pets the kittens. The two cats on the table stare at her.
She stands, and she, Geoff, Bob, Alexis, Cheryl, Cervine, Peebo, and Jasper all walk out to Jasper's station wagon. Geoff and Alexis shake hands with Cheryl. She hugs Bob. They all get in the car, leaving Cheryl behind. They pull out of the drive. Cheryl waves after them.
Geoff turns to Alexis.
"So what are you going to do, Alexis?" Geoff asks. "Do you want to go back to the woods?"
"That's a good question." says Alexis. "But I've been in those woods for the longest time, and it gets so lonely..."
"You can come and live with me!" says Olivia. "I've got a big house."
"I think it'd be better if he stayed with me." says Geoff. "I've got an extra room in my apartment."
"Thank you for the offer!" says Alexis. "Would it be alright if I stayed with you?"
"Sure!" says Geoff. "As long as you don't mind helping out in my coffeeshop."
"Okay." says Alexis, smiling broadly.
"And what about you, Cervine?" says Olivia. "Are you going to go back to the rebels?"
"I think that's where I'm needed." says Cervine. "There's still much to be done."
"I'll miss you." says Olivia. "I'll have to come visit you. And I can work in the community to raise awareness of the treatment of androids."
"That would be splendid." says Cervine.
Olivia strikes her fist against her leg.
"I need to learn to drive!" she says. "I can't be doing all these things if I don't have a car."
"Hold your horses, honey. You're not sixteen yet." says Geoff.
"I know!" says Olivia. "I can't believe it'll be a year and a half til then..."
"You'll make it." says Peebo. "Jasper here didn't get his license until he was nineteen, huh, Jasper?"
"That's right." says Jasper, looking at Olivia in the rearview mirror. "And Peebo here never got his at all."
"How can you stand it, Peebo?!" says Olivia.
"It's fine." says Peebo. "I can just ask Jasper for a ride."
"Hmph." says Olivia. Peebo grins at her.
===
They pull in to the marina.
"well, guys, it's been a blast." says Peebo, turned completely around in his seat. "I'm definitely glad we met."
"Me too." says Olivia, grabbing Peebo's hand. "I'll try to come up and visit you guys sometime."
"I'd like that." says Peebo. "Grandmama would really like it. We'll see you guys later."
"Goodbye, Peebo. Bye Jasper! Thanks so much for all you've done for us." says Olivia, getting out of the car.
"No problem, lady." says Jasper, raising his hand out the window.
"See you guys!" says Geoff, waving at the two of them.
They wave as Jasper pulls out.
The group turns to the docks.
"Here we go again." says Geoff, as they walk down a pier.
They come to Triton's massive boat.
"Wooow." says Alexis.
"Yeah. I know people." says Geoff.
"Wait..." says Olivia. "Is... is Mr. Triton... Poseidon?"
"Haha." says Geoff. "I'm surprised you didn't figure that out sooner."
"I remember reading about Poseidon in literature." says Olivia. "It's amazing to know him."
"He's a good guy." says Geoff. "He's always been on my side."
Olivia's eyes are wide and sparkling.
"My friends!" says Mr. Triton, on the deck of his boat.
"We made it." says Geoff, raising his hand as the ramp slides down.
"How good to see you again." says Mr. Triton, ushering them all on board. "What happened to your fellow teaching unit?" he asks Cervine.
"She met up with Nod." Cervine says. Mr. Triton puts his hand on Cervine's shoulder.
"Ah, I am sorry." says Mr. Triton. "Well, that aside, let's try to enjoy a leisurely ride down the coast. And who might you be?" he asks Alexis.
"I'm a friend they met along the way." says Alexis. "I'm Alexis."
"A pleasure to meet you, Alexis." says Mr. Triton. "Welcome to my boat."
---end of issue eleven---
Olivia looks at Mr. Triton with an appraising eye. Mr. Triton notices, and turns to her.
"Is there something you'd like to ask, my dear?" he says, turning the wheel a tiny bit.
"Are you really... Poseidon?" she asks hungrily.
"Aha, so he told you." says Mr. Triton. "Some people have called me Poseidon. Some people called me Jupiter. Some people have cursed me as they have fought with the sea."
Olivia looks exceedingly pleased and happy.
"It's an honor to know you." she says.
"Well, thank you very much, my dear." says Mr. Triton. "It's a pleasure to know you."
===
They pull into the marina in Silverton several days later.
"Thank you so much again for taking us back here." says Geoff to Mr. Triton.
"No need for thanks." says Mr. Triton. "It was just a favor for a friend. And thanks to that, I've made these new friends, that I'm glad to have."
"We're glad to have you as a friend, as well." says Alexis. Olivia and Bob nod.
"Bailey! Bastian!" calls Peebo, in front of the door. The dogs ramble up.
"Those are my good boys. You did so good!" croons Peebo. "You get a treat!"
He gives them each a piece of liver. They hungrily chew it down, then leap up on Peebo, begging for seconds.
"That's enough, that's enough! Just one piece of liver, guys!" Peebo says loudly.
The dogs quiet down, and sit at Peebo's feet.
"That was good, protecting uncle Jasper, but I've got to go back inside now." says Peebo, bending over and patting the dogs on the head.
He turns around, and walks back into the kitchen. Jasper stands up.
"Well, man, I'm gonna go back home. Put on a new shirt and stuff." he says to Peebo.
"Take it easy, man, thanks for driving us." says Peebo.
Olivia comes up and gives Jasper a hug.
"I'm so sorry you nearly got killed today." says Olivia. "And yeah, thanks for driving us."
"No problem, little miss." says Jasper.
He waves at Cheryl, nods at Geoff, Alexis, Cervine, and Bob, pets Eve, who's still in the window, and walks out.
"Just what was out there?" asks Cheryl, who's finally calmed down.
"It's a... person. That's after me." says Olivia. "It's responsible for killing my mother and several other people. We don't know anything about it. Except that it sort of looks like Bob."
"How did you get such a dangerous person after you?" asks Cheryl, clasping her hands together.
"I have no idea." says Olivia. "Ohh, and now I've put you in danger, too! Ohh, I'm so sorry!"
Olivia puts her hands to her forehead.
Geoff goes over to Olivia, and strokes her shoulders.
"No need to worry over something we can't help." says Geoff.
"But..." says Olivia. "If only we hadn't come here and endangered Jasper and Peebo and Cheryl..."
"But you did, and that's quite alright." says Cheryl, coming over and patting Olivia on the shoulder, too.
"And Bastian and Bailey are here to protect us, as you just saw." says Geoff. "It's really handy that Nod is so afraid of dogs. We need to keep that in mind."
Olivia looks at the floor.
"It is good that they could chase it off..." Olivia says in a quiet voice.
"I think we should all have a glass of lemonade and cool down." says Peebo, holding up the platter of drinks.
"A good idea." says Cheryl, taking one glass and handing another to Olivia.
"Thank you for being so nice and understanding." says Olivia, taking a sip.
"But I think I need to hear the whole story." says Cheryl, taking Olivia's hand and walking into the parlor.
===
"That's... really quite the story, dear." says Cheryl, siting back in her chair and sipping her lemonade.
"But it's all happened..." says Olivia, lying down on the sofa. "And I don't know what'll happen next."
"Oh, I believe you." says Cheryl. "One can take one look at your group and kind of figure it out."
A kitten scrambles up the side of the sofa and onto Olivia's chest. She strokes it.
"What I can't figure out is Bob. Why did he suddenly appear just before all this mess started happening?" says Cheryl.
"You can't blame any of this on him." says Olivia, sitting up with the kitten in her arms, and turning to face Cheryl. "He's been as flabbergasted by Nod as the rest of us. And he was a victim!"
"Of course I don't blame Bob..." says Cheryl, turning to Bob, who stands in the doorway to the parlor. "But it is very unusual."
"Yes. But everything has been unusual lately." says Olivia. She holds her arms out to Bob. He hesitantly goes to sit by her, and she wraps her arms around him.
Cheryl looks at them for a moment with a gleam in her eye, then gets up, and fetches a small, wooden box with bone inlay from a desk against the wall.
"Let's just see what the tarot has to say." she says, and she takes a deck of cards out of the box. She shuffles the deck thoroughly, cuts it, and lays it on the coffeetable. She pulls a card from the deck.
"Oh, how perfect. The fool." she says, and lays the card face-up on the table.
"That is just what's been happening." says Olivia. "We've been in an adventure, facing unknown things, and doing all sorts of unexpected stuff. Plus, I've felt overwhelming love and protection from my group. I've sort of felt like a kid again."
"That's as it should be." says Cheryl, smiling at Olivia and Bob.
Eve comes in from the kitchen, the other kitten right behind her. She picks it up by the scruff of the neck, and leaps into Bob's lap. She deposits the kitten in Olivia's lap. The one who'd been sitting there, startled out of a doze, mews.
"Oh, little darling, shh." says Olivia, gathering the kittens to her chin.
Cheryl rises, and picks up her glass and Olivia's glass, and takes them to the kitchen. She comes back to the parlor.
"Now, what also interests me is how you've started to gather your own little supernatural force." says Cheryl.
"Well, I never would have guessed Geoff was what he is, or that we'd meet a native American forest spirit in our travels..." says Olivia. "I wonder who we'll meet next."
"It's a big world out there." says Cheryl.
"I wish we could just stay here for a while." says Olivia.
"Well, maybe that's a good idea." says Cheryl.
She gathers up the kitten from Olivia's lap, and settles into her chair with them. Olivia smiles at her. She beams back at Olivia.
===
Peebo, Alexis, and Geoff walk into town with Bailey and Bastian on leads. Other people on the sidewalk give them a wide berth.
"People are gonna think I'm even more of a radical hippy with you near me, Geoff." says Peebo, a big grin on his face and his eyes sparkling.
"Sorry if I don't add to your good reputation." says Geoff, a big grin on his face, too.
"I don't see what the big deal is..." says Alexis, leering at the people they pass.
"Oh, my, don't tell me your as innocent as Olivia." says Geoff, raising his eyebrows at Alexis.
"I'm just not used to people not accepting me." says Alexis, frowning a little.
"Aw, you little darling, you!" says Peebo, poking Alexis hard in the side. Alexis laughs.
"Owie." he says.
"This is where we're headed." says Peebo, and he stops in front of a small town supermarket.
They tie Bailey and Bastian to a light pole in front, tell them to stay, and walk inside.
"Grandmama's making chicken pot pie, and we need fixin's." says Peebo.
===
They're all sitting at a large dining-room table in a dining room at the end of a hall. Cervine and Bob sit there too, though they have no dishes in front of them. Olivia speaks:
"I just want to thank the both of you for taking us into your home and hearts like this. You're really too kind."
"Hey, you needed help, and we had help to give. My grampa wouldn't have left you beside the road, and neither would I." says Peebo.
"Now, let's eat this pie before it gets cold!" says Cheryl, rising to serve the molten pie.
"And also, thank you for feeding us. We can pay you-" starts Geoff.
"Hush, don't talk such silly talk. What's three extra people? I would've made this much even if it had just been Chester and me. You're helping us avoid leftovers!" says Cheryl, putting a heaping mound of pie on each plate.
Alexis smiles widely at Olivia and Geoff. Bob stares at the floor.
"Now, Bob, don't be so glum." says Cheryl, smiling. "We just asked you in here because we wanted to include you in the conversation."
"Thank you." says Bob, smiling a small smile at her.
"So, Cheryl thinks we should stay here for a while." says Olivia, taking a bite of pie.
"Yeah! That would be totally cool. I could show you around the place." says Peebo, his mouth full.
"That would be swell." says Olivia.
"I don't suppose there's anything I can help out with, is there?" asks Cervine.
"Well, you're a teacher, and Olivia here isn't in school..." suggests Cheryl.
"Ohh." says Olivia, frowning and knitting her brows.
"Now, Olivia, you shouldn't neglect your education just because of some life-changing events." says Cheryl.
"I know..." says Olivia, hanging her head. But she quickly turns to face Cervine.
"At least I have a really cool teacher!" she says exuberantly.
"I'd be happy to teach you, Olivia." says Cervine, crossing his arms and resting them on the table. "But you'll have to put up with the further education I gave myself while at the warehouses."
"Oh, did you learn a lot?" says Olivia.
"Oh, yes, I memorized two sets of encyclopedias, and learned a couple more languages from foreign androids whose owners had brought them overseas." says Cervine.
"I've always wanted to learn another language!" says Olivia with a bright smile. "What languages did you learn?"
"French, German, and Japanese." says Cervine.
"Ooooh..." says Olivia. "I've always wanted to learn Japanese. My dad learned it from his mom."
"Lessons start tomorrow, then." says Cervine, sitting back.
"Can I sit in on these lessons?" asks Bob.
"Of course, Bob." says Cervine. "The more students, the better."
"Well, then, I might sit in too." says Peebo, grinning. "I wasn't the best student in school."
"You'd better pay attention this time, too, Chester." says Cheryl, wagging her finger at Peebo.
"Yes ma'am." says Peebo, sheepishly.
===
"I can't believe you're making us do math." says Olivia, with downcast eyes. "Who needs algebra?"
"You never know when it may come in handy." says Cervine, writing several equations on a piece of paper. He hands it to Olivia, then starts writing the same equations on another sheet.
"Math was always my worst subject..." says Peebo, haltingly.
"You never know what you'll learn." says Cervine, handing Peebo the seconds sheet. He starts on a third.
"I'm having no trouble understanding it." says Bob, flipping a pencil in his hand.
"Well, you could be a super-genius, for all we know." says Olivia, nudging Bob with her elbow.
"But I have no way of knowing if I am..." says Bob.
"We could give you an IQ test." suggests Cervine,handing the last paper to Bob.
"I suppose..." says Bob, glancing at the equations and quickly writing the answers to all of them.
"Goodness, you are smart." says Olivia, her eyes wide. "I couldn't get through this without a piece ofscratch paper and a lot of head-scratching." She looks morosely at her blank equations.
"I'll allow scratch paper." says Cervine, crossing his arms and looking down at Olivia.
"I guess there's nothing like the present." she says, looking at Peebo. Peebo shrugs, and takes out a sheet of paper. They both start earnestly working on the equations.
===
Cervine looks at Bob over the test he's checking. He lets out a low whistling noise.
"Well, looks like Olivia was right. You appear to be a super-genius." says Cervine. He waves to paper he's been checking in the air. "Your IQ is off the charts. Which is rather curious."
Olivia claps Bob on the shoulder.
"Wow, Bob," says Olivia, "you could be anything!"
Bob sits back,with a look of surprise on his face.
"But I feel like... I don't know much of anything." he says. "How can I be so smart, and not have any knowledge of myself? How can I have no history?"
Eve has been watching all this for a while, from the doorway. Her clipboard is in front of her, writing notes on itself continuously.
"Perhaps you are here for a purpose, and are meant to create your own history." says Eve.
"But what is that purpose?" asks Bob.
"Maybe it's to help me." says Olivia, looking at her hands. "If you hadn't been there in the woods, Nod would have got me."
"That's a good enough purpose." says Bob, putting his hand on Olivia's.
Olivia smiles her radiant smile at him.
Jasper walks into the room.
"Hi." he says. "Cheryl said you guys were having school."
"Yeah, and my man Bob here has found out he's a super-genius!" says Peebo, reaching over to Bob behind Olivia.
"Whoa. Awesome." says Jasper.
"And I found out I'm still bad at math." says Peebo.
"Well, I could have told you that." says Jasper.
Peebo chuckles.
"You weren't much better than me." he says.
Jasper shrugs.
"I don't need math to deliver pizzas." he says.
"What do you do, Peebo?" asks Olivia.
"Oh, I, um... I work at a farm." Peebo says, looking at the floor.
"Oh, so you help to make our food!" says Olivia, her eyes bright.
"Um... yeah. Something like that." says Peebo, blushing.
"You mean you work growing marijuana." says Cervine.
Olivia's mouth falls open.
"Heh."says Peebo, not taking his eyes from the floor.
"Wait, there's money to be made from marijuana?" Olivia asks.
"Oh, sweetheart..." says Jasper.
"I can live comfortably on what I make from the farm." says Peebo, sitting back.
"Lunchtime!" calls Cheryl, from the kitchen.
"Well, let's finish this conversation another time." says Peebo, standing up from his chair.
"Hmm... does Cheryl know?" asks Olivia.
"No! Of course not." says Peebo, whoaing her with his hands. "And you can't tell her, okay?"
"...Alright." says Olivia.
They all get up and head for the dining room.
===
"Are you sure you don't feel weird?" says Bob, to the dark.
"No, of course not." says Olivia, beside him. "We're both grown people, and it's not like anything can happen between us, you know?"
"Still, I wish there had been another bed." says Bob, sighing.
"Silly Bob, you worry too much." says Olivia, slipping her arm over Bob's chest under the covers.
"Eesh!" says Bob. Olivia giggles.
A BANG! sounds from something hitting the side of the house.
Olivia sits up.
"Ohh... Cervine!" she says.
They get out of bed, and head to the kitchen. Geoff and Alexis are already there. Geoff opens the door and heads outside. So do the others.
Down the side of the house, they find one of the potted shrubs turned over, and a little down the way, Cervine has his back to them. His back is sparking.
"Cervine?" says Geoff.
He turns to them. Wires and circuit boards are visible through his belly. Red liquid seeps slowly from the ragged tear.
"It thought it could strike when the dogs were sleeping." says Cervine.
"But it got you!" says Olivia, running to Cervine and putting her hand on the wound.
"I can repair myself." says Cervine, looking down at Olivia.
"We've got to do something about catching it." says Alexis.
"But what?" says Olivia.
"Set Olivia outside, and lay in wait with a net." says Geoff.
Olivia's eyes get wide.
"That does seem to be the only thing to do." she says.
Peebo comes outside.
"What happened, guys?" he says. He looks at Cervine's belly. "Ouch, dude, your stomach! Was it Nod again?"
"Yes." says Geoff. "We were just talking about a way to catch it."
"Yikes." says Peebo. "Then what would you do with it?"
Geoff looks at everyone.
"I'm not sure." he says.
"We need to figure out where we can take it once we have it." says Olivia.
"I think we should just take it straight to the police." says Alexis.
"I agree." says Cervine. "You were planning to go to the police anyway. I'm sure they're wondering where you've gone." he says to Olivia.
"Yeah..." says Olivia. "I just hope they can hold it."
===
Olivia sits outside, in the daylight. Cheryl sits with her.
"You don't have to be out here with me, you know." says Olivia.
"Oh, I know, dear." says Cheryl. "But I didn't want you to get lonely out here all by yourself."
"Thanks." says Olivia. "But you know it's dangerous."
"I know, I know." says Cheryl. "I wouldn't want you to face this danger alone."
She pats Olivia's hand.
Olivia smiles widely at her. She looks up into the branches of the oak tree, Geoff, Alexis, and Peebo are in them, holding aloft a large net. Geoff puts his finger to his lips, and points down to direct her gaze away from them. Olivia looks down.
There's a noise in a bush to her right. She purposefully doesn't look. Nod charges out of the bush, aiming a spike at Olivia. She rises, pulling Cheryl with her. They run a few steps. The net falls on Nod.
It falls to the ground, and thrashes around. It lets out a wail.
Olivia comes forward, finds the corners of the net, and gathers them up. She holds them tightly.
Geoff jumps down from the branch he was on. Alexis and Peebo take a little more time getting down. Geoff takes the corners of the net from Olivia. He makes a sack of the net. Peebo brings a piece of rope from the base of the tree. Geoff grapples with the thrashing Nod, and finally gets hold of its arms. Peebo ties its arms together at the elbow behind its back. Geoff holds its legs, and Peebo ties them at the ankle. Geoff pulls the net fully off of Nod. It lays on the ground, glaring up at them.
"Oh, what scary eyes." says Cheryl, her hands to her lips.
"Now I want some answers." says Olivia, looking down at Nod.
---end of issue ten---
"What are you doing?" Olivia asks Nod. "Why are you killing people close to me?"
She crouches by Nod. It sits up and stares at her.
"I am the bad in you." it says to her.
"What?" she asks, a fearful, quizzical look on her face.
"I am the bad in your mind. He is the good." Nod says, nodding to Bob, who has just walked out the door and up to them.
Olivia's mouth is open.
"What... what are you saying?" she asks.
Bob looks confused.
"You once wished for your father to die. I was born from that wish." says
Olivia shakes her head.
"No no no! I... I only thought that, once. But I immediately regretted it, and took it back!" says Olivia, her face turning dark.
"No matter. In that instant, the wish was real, and I came from it. Perhaps your wish to take it back is what gave birth to him." Nod says solemnly.
Bob and Olivia stare at each other.
"So... you mean... you're, like, poltergeists?" Olivia asks, her eyes wide.
"In a way." says Nod.
"So... so I killed my mom. And Artie. And Sister May." says Olivia, her eyes filling with tears. She coughs as the spiders start to come out of her mouth.
"Your wish began the cycle." says Nod.
Olivia puts her face in her hands and cries loudly. Bob kneels and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Whoa..." says Peebo.
"Corporeal poltergeists... how surreal." says Cervine, who's walked out of the house, and is standing beside them.
"What do we do?" says Geoff. "We can't hand a poltergeist over to the police. How would we explain it?"
"Maybe that's just what we do." says Alexis. "Maybe we can take it in for the murders, and then Olivia can wish it out of existence."
"Hopefully that will work." says Geoff. "What do you think, Olivia?"
Her crying has quieted. She removes her hands from her face, and wipes at her cheeks, though the tears still flow. Spiders continue to crawl from her mouth.
"But what if they ask about me?" Olivia says, hiccuping. "If they know Nod is my poltergeist, that'll make me guilty of murder."
"But you didn't want this to happen." says Alexis. "Nod was completely seperate from you when everyone died. You can't be blamed for Nod's actions."
Olivia sniffs.
"But... if I wish for Nod to disappear, what will happen to Bob?" she mutters.
"Good question." says Geoff. "You'll just have to mention Nod by name when you make your wish."
Olivia nods. she turns to Nod.
"Nod, if I wish for you to disappear, will you?" she asks.
"Yes." says Nod in its flat voice.
===
Peebo is on the phone.
"Yeah. We've captured it, and I need you to come take us to the police station." he says. "You will? Thanks, pal, you're always there to help. Alright, see you in a few. Right. Thanks, bye."
He turns to everyone, standing and sitting in the kitchen. Bob is gazing in wonderment at Olivia across the table.
"What?" says Olivia, blushing.
"I'm part of your mind." says Bob. "You... gave birth to me."
"It sounds weird when you put it that way." says Olivia. "But... yeah. You're a part of me. That must be why we get along so well."
"And why he feels he cannot be apart from you." says Eve, jumping up on the table. Her clipboard follows her.
"I think my report is nearly finished, now that we've found out where Bob and Nod came from." says Eve. "I should be about ready to head back.
"You'll be leaving us?" says Olivia, taking her paw.
"Well, yes, my purpose here is finished." says Eve. "But... I could find other purposes to stay here."
"Oh, please do!" says Olivia, drawing Eve into a hug. "I've come to like you so much."
"And I you." Eve purrs.
Jasper walks in the door.
"Where is it?" he asks.
Olivia points to the sofa in the parlor where Nod is sitting.
"Yeeps, what a creepy thing." says Jasper. "Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah." says Geoff. "The sooner we get rid of that thing, the better."
"Bob, you'd better stay here, so the police won't get any ideas about you." says Olivia.
"Okay..." says Bob.
"I'll stay with him." says Alexis.
"Okay. Thanks." says Geoff. "Well, let's go, kids."
Geoff and Peebo go to collect Nod from the sofa. Cheryl and Olivia walk wih Jasper out to the station wagon.
"You guys sit in back with Nod." says Jasper to Peebo and Geoff. They both nod.
They get in the back while Jasper, Olivia, and Cheryl get in the front.
"Please let this be the end." says Olivia.
===
"So you're saying this... person killed a woman and a homeless scientist and broke a runaway robot?" says the policeman.
"I also killed several government officials and a tall, youngish man with black hair." says Nod.
"Wait... are you saying you killed my father, too?!" says Olivia.
"I thought I had already explained that I had." says Nod. "Yes, I killed him."
Tears run silently down Olivia's cheeks.
"Government officials... where?" asks the policeman.
"At an army base." says Nod.
"The nearest army base is fifty miles away!" says the policeman. "Are you telling me you walked that far?"
"To get to her city, yes." says Nod.
"What city did you come from, miss?" the policeman asks Olivia.
"Silverton." says Olivia, wiping her cheeks.
"That's over the state line!" says the policeman. "You traveled that far, running from this... person?" He looks at them all.
"Not me and Chester, here, we just met them along their way." says Cheryl, gesturing to Peebo and herself.
"Well, of course not, I know you, Cheryl. Which is why I'm considering this seriously." says the policeman. "I'd better call the Silverton police station and the army base and let them know we have somebody."
He flicks through a rolodex and quickly dials a number.
"Jefferson army base? This is the sergeant of the Luth city police department. Did you recently have some murders at the base? Three? Uh-huh. Well, I've got a... a person here who says they committed those murders. Yep." he eyes Nod. "Yes, and they've murdered several other people as well, it seems. Yes. I'll be holding them here. What? You want it? No, I don't know what it is. Well, alright. I'll just lock it up here, for now. Okay. See you then. Bye."
Olivia bites her lip.
"The army base is going to send a couple of men over to get... you." says the policeman to Nod. He takes a pair of handcuffs out of a drawer and stands up.
"You can untie it, now." he says to Peebo and Geoff.
"Well, officer, that might not be best." says Geoff. He turns Nod around.
"See for yourself." he says.
The policeman looks at Nod's spikes.
"Oh dear." he looks puzzled. "Well, we'll just leave the rope there, then, shall we?" He walks to a door beyond his desk.
"If you two would follow me." he says.
Geoff and Peebo pick up Nod, and follow the policeman down a hall. They turn a corner, and the policeman unlocks a cell. Geoff and Peebo walk in, and set Nod on a bench. Geoff bends, and unties Nod's feet. Geoff and Peebo walk out, and the policeman locks the cell. They all walk back to the policeman's desk.
Olivia has a hand on her face.
"Well, now to call the Silverton police." says the policeman. He flicks through the rolodex again, and dials another number.
"Silverton police? This is Sergeant O'shaunessy with the Luth city police. I've got a suspect who claims to have murdered three people in your city. Just a moment. What were the names of your mother and father and the scientist?" he puts a hand over the mouthpiece of the phone and asks Olivia.
"Rehema Honeycutt, Nathaniel Honeycutt, and... Artie. That's all we knew him by." says Olivia, looking to Geoff. Geoff shrugs.
"Nathaniel Honeycutt, Rehema Honeycutt, and a homeless scientist called Artie. At the rebel android base in some warehouses. Yes. That's all I know. Yes, I've got Mrs. Honeycutt's daughter right here. She's fine. Apparently, she's been on the run from the suspect they brought in. Geoff Hornsby?" he looks at Geoff. Geoff nods.
"Apparently, he's been with Mrs. Honeycutt's daughter. They're both here. They caught the suspect and brought them in. No, it's one person, but... it appears to be sexless. Yes. It's a very odd person. That'll be fine, I've got them locked up now. okay. See you tomorrow. Bye."
He turns to the group in front of his desk.
"The Silverton police said they'll send someone tomorrow." says the policeman.
"What about the army guys?" asks Olivia.
"I'll just have to explain about Silverton wanting to come." says the policeman.
"And what do you want us to do?" Geoff asks.
"Well,' says the policeman, checking the notepad he was writing on, "I guess you can go. The Silverton police know how to contact you, right?"
"Yes." says Olivia, taking Geoff's hand.
"Just be sure to be available for any questions they might have. Take care getting back to Silverton. Have a good day." The policeman raises his hand goodbye.
"You too, officer." says Cheryl.
They head for the door.
===
Olivia leans her head back into the seat of the station wagon. Geoff runs his fingers across her cheek. She sighs.
"I can't believe it's finally over!" bubbles Olivia. "I thought it would never end!"
"I'm just glad you didn't get hurt." says Geoff, smiling at her.
"But we lost some good friends." says Olivia, frowning.
"And we gained new ones." says Geoff, smiling at Peebo and Cheryl and Jasper.
"Yes, at least there's that." says Olivia, taking Cheryl's hand and patting it.
"So what are you guys going to do now?" says Peebo. "Head back to Silverton?"
"Yeah. I've got my house to see to, and Geoff has his coffeeshop." says Olivia.
"Well, I'll hate to see you go." says Cheryl, giving Olivia a hug. Olivia hugs back with both arms.
"Yeah, thing'll be less exciting with you guys gone." says Peebo.
"We'll have to stay in touch." says Olivia, looking back at Peebo.
"We can do that over the internet." says Peebo.
"Sure! What's your e-mail address? Mine's ohoneycutt@worldself.com." says Olivia.
"mine's peebo@hazardfarms.org." says Peebo.
"Well, good. We'll have to e-mail each other when I get back to my house." says Olivia.
Peebo and Olivia smile at each other.
"I'll just let you two deal with that." says Geoff, his eyebrows raised. "I've never gotten used to the internet."
"Now, you should be ashamed of yourself, Geoff. Here you've got a popular coffeeshop, and no internet available in it!" says Olivia, scoffing.
"Well, maybe you can help change that." says Geoff.
"Maybe I should!" says Olivia, her eyes sparkling.
They pull up in front of Cheryl's house.
Bob, who has been watching the yard from the window, comes out to greet them.
"How did it go?" he asks Olivia as she gets out of the car.
"Nod's in the system now." says Olivia. And it seems to have killed some army people, too, so the army is after it."
"Nod was just bad news." says Alexis, coming out behind Bob.
"But, hopefully, and thankfully, that bad news is behind us." says Olivia, hugging Bob. Bob haltingly hugs her back.
"Have you wished it gone yet?" asks Alexis.
"No..." says Olivia. "So many people seemed to want it, so... I think I should let it spend some time in the system. Hopefully, it won't say anything about being from my mind or anything."
"We can only hope." says Geoff, behind Olivia.
===
Olivia looks around the parlor.
"Where's Eve?" she asks Bob.
"Oh... she's gone." says Bob.
"Ohhhh. I was hoping she hadn't." says Olivia, grabbing a cushion off the sofa and flopping down on it.
"But she said she would try to find an excuse to come back." says Alexis, sitting down on the sofa beside her.
"I hope she can." says Olivia, burying her chin in the cushion.
===
Cheryl hugs Olivia.
"You'd better call me every once in a while, just so I know you're alright." says Cheryl, tucking a piece of paper into Olivia's hand. "This is my phone number, so don't forget!"
"Of course I won', Cheryl." says Olivia, stuffing the paper in a pocket. "It'll do me good to know there's a grandmother over here worrying about me."
Cheryl beams at her.
"And Chester here will have to keep me informed about your talks over the computer." says Cheryl, patting Peebo's cheek.
"Well, my friend Triton said he was still at the marina, and I told him we'd be there by 3:00." says Geoff. "So we'd better take off."
Olivia crouches, and pets the kittens. The two cats on the table stare at her.
She stands, and she, Geoff, Bob, Alexis, Cheryl, Cervine, Peebo, and Jasper all walk out to Jasper's station wagon. Geoff and Alexis shake hands with Cheryl. She hugs Bob. They all get in the car, leaving Cheryl behind. They pull out of the drive. Cheryl waves after them.
Geoff turns to Alexis.
"So what are you going to do, Alexis?" Geoff asks. "Do you want to go back to the woods?"
"That's a good question." says Alexis. "But I've been in those woods for the longest time, and it gets so lonely..."
"You can come and live with me!" says Olivia. "I've got a big house."
"I think it'd be better if he stayed with me." says Geoff. "I've got an extra room in my apartment."
"Thank you for the offer!" says Alexis. "Would it be alright if I stayed with you?"
"Sure!" says Geoff. "As long as you don't mind helping out in my coffeeshop."
"Okay." says Alexis, smiling broadly.
"And what about you, Cervine?" says Olivia. "Are you going to go back to the rebels?"
"I think that's where I'm needed." says Cervine. "There's still much to be done."
"I'll miss you." says Olivia. "I'll have to come visit you. And I can work in the community to raise awareness of the treatment of androids."
"That would be splendid." says Cervine.
Olivia strikes her fist against her leg.
"I need to learn to drive!" she says. "I can't be doing all these things if I don't have a car."
"Hold your horses, honey. You're not sixteen yet." says Geoff.
"I know!" says Olivia. "I can't believe it'll be a year and a half til then..."
"You'll make it." says Peebo. "Jasper here didn't get his license until he was nineteen, huh, Jasper?"
"That's right." says Jasper, looking at Olivia in the rearview mirror. "And Peebo here never got his at all."
"How can you stand it, Peebo?!" says Olivia.
"It's fine." says Peebo. "I can just ask Jasper for a ride."
"Hmph." says Olivia. Peebo grins at her.
===
They pull in to the marina.
"well, guys, it's been a blast." says Peebo, turned completely around in his seat. "I'm definitely glad we met."
"Me too." says Olivia, grabbing Peebo's hand. "I'll try to come up and visit you guys sometime."
"I'd like that." says Peebo. "Grandmama would really like it. We'll see you guys later."
"Goodbye, Peebo. Bye Jasper! Thanks so much for all you've done for us." says Olivia, getting out of the car.
"No problem, lady." says Jasper, raising his hand out the window.
"See you guys!" says Geoff, waving at the two of them.
They wave as Jasper pulls out.
The group turns to the docks.
"Here we go again." says Geoff, as they walk down a pier.
They come to Triton's massive boat.
"Wooow." says Alexis.
"Yeah. I know people." says Geoff.
"Wait..." says Olivia. "Is... is Mr. Triton... Poseidon?"
"Haha." says Geoff. "I'm surprised you didn't figure that out sooner."
"I remember reading about Poseidon in literature." says Olivia. "It's amazing to know him."
"He's a good guy." says Geoff. "He's always been on my side."
Olivia's eyes are wide and sparkling.
"My friends!" says Mr. Triton, on the deck of his boat.
"We made it." says Geoff, raising his hand as the ramp slides down.
"How good to see you again." says Mr. Triton, ushering them all on board. "What happened to your fellow teaching unit?" he asks Cervine.
"She met up with Nod." Cervine says. Mr. Triton puts his hand on Cervine's shoulder.
"Ah, I am sorry." says Mr. Triton. "Well, that aside, let's try to enjoy a leisurely ride down the coast. And who might you be?" he asks Alexis.
"I'm a friend they met along the way." says Alexis. "I'm Alexis."
"A pleasure to meet you, Alexis." says Mr. Triton. "Welcome to my boat."
---end of issue eleven---
Olivia looks at Mr. Triton with an appraising eye. Mr. Triton notices, and turns to her.
"Is there something you'd like to ask, my dear?" he says, turning the wheel a tiny bit.
"Are you really... Poseidon?" she asks hungrily.
"Aha, so he told you." says Mr. Triton. "Some people have called me Poseidon. Some people called me Jupiter. Some people have cursed me as they have fought with the sea."
Olivia looks exceedingly pleased and happy.
"It's an honor to know you." she says.
"Well, thank you very much, my dear." says Mr. Triton. "It's a pleasure to know you."
===
They pull into the marina in Silverton several days later.
"Thank you so much again for taking us back here." says Geoff to Mr. Triton.
"No need for thanks." says Mr. Triton. "It was just a favor for a friend. And thanks to that, I've made these new friends, that I'm glad to have."
"We're glad to have you as a friend, as well." says Alexis. Olivia and Bob nod.