Twenty-Eighth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[public]
[There is fumbling on the phone line for a few seconds and a bit of hesitant breathing, as if the speaker isn't sure whether or not he should say what he's about to say.  When he finally gets the words out, though, they are spoken firmly, with confidence.]

I believe him.

I'm not going to ask anyone else to, but . . . I do.  I don't think for a second that he can really get us out of here, but I think he's trying to help us.  It's not out of selflessness or anything -- There's some reason we can't understand . . . If it makes sense, though, I think . . . I think whatever he's after, it's better for him if we escape than if we stay.  It's not for our sake.  But I believe him.

We've fought so hard for so long.  So when somebody offers to help us for the first time . . . If we just refuse and say it's a trick to hurt us even more -- Isn't that a victory for them, too?  We've all been hurt so deeply that our first reaction is to be afraid.  . . . I don't want to become like that.  I don't want to become someone who's bitter and frightened and always suspicious.  I understand -- I'm naive, and I'm stupid.  But I've gotten as far as I have by believing in the good of people, and I won't let Mayfield take that away from me.

 . . . He said something to me.  'Keep on keeping on'. . . .

[filtered to Crowe, Kay, Luke, and Ness]
[He's chosen the people he wants to speak with carefully.  There are so many people he loves and cares for in this place, but . . . He needs a certain type of person for this.  And after carefully considering for another few moments, Lucas slowly and deliberately filters away from his mother.  There are some things he doesn't want her to know.]

I have something to show you.  It might not be a good time now -- When all of this is over, though, I'd like to ask you to come over when you can.  Thanks.

Comments

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

[God.. This had never been so difficult, even when Ness knew the answer. So much of him wanted to say "No", but he knew deep in his heart that every thing he had also done to this point was always for the good in people. However, Ness chose to keep the answer to himself for now over the wire.]

Just let me know when you're good to meet up, Lucas. I can be over there right away.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas would understand if his point of view was dismissed. It was simply his own; there was no reason for anyone else to accept it.]

I'll be free whenever you are. If you'd like to come over now, you can, or if you'd prefer later, that's fine, too.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

Mm. I'm on my way over now, then.

[Ness rests the phone back on the receiver. With haste, he slips on his shoes and is out the door.

After a few moments, he now stands at the doorstep of Lucas' residence, rapping a knuckle against the front door.]

*KNocK KNocK*

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[And the door swings open. Lucas looks a little tired, but otherwise no different from how he usually is.]

Hi, Ness. Um. It's nice to see you're feeling better. Do you want something to drink before . . . ?

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

[He's scratching the back of his head, still feeling rather awkward after that whole "be more like Lucas" nonsense. What was there to be awkward about? Rethinking things in a flash of a moment, Ness shook his head and did his best to maintain normalcy.]

I'm good, thanks.

Listen. About the other day.. Thanks. I mean it. With that aside, though.. Everything okay with you?

Sorry for late again; a lot of stuff came up.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas nods in response to Ness's question as he begins to lead him slowly up the stairs.]

Yeah. I told you earlier . . . Nothing really happened to me on Christmas.

Re: Sorry for late again; a lot of stuff came up.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

[Ness follows close behind, taking Lucas's lead up to the next level of the house.]

That's a relief. Never thought it would be a good thing to get nothing from Santa, huh?

[Ness can't help but laugh a little at the thought. Of course, every boy and girl wanted presents from Santa on Christmas, but.. Had they known..]

So, what is it you wanted me over for?

Re: Sorry for late again; a lot of stuff came up.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I wanted to show you something.

[Lucas continues to lead the way into his room as he talks.]

I don't think you'd remember, but there was a man here named the Netherlands. He . . . He left about three months ago.

Re: Sorry for late again; a lot of stuff came up.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

Oh! I remember him! I think I may have bumped into him about once or twice when I first got here.

[Let's not press the issue, Ness. He could tell from Lucas' pause that perhaps the Netherlands leaving was.. not by good terms?]

Okay. So, the Netherlands.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I don't think you were here then, but there was a time when we were all taken to this other city -- Westport.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

That wasn't the strange "Russian" city, was it?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

((Oops. That should read, 'when some of us were trapped in', sorry.))

No, it was before that. But what's important is that we found out something about Jane Smith -- the woman at the party. That her real name is Samantha Achewood and that she was brainwashed.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

[This kind of plot sounded rather familiar to Ness.. Gigyas?]

"Brainwashed"? Huh.. So the drones here are all real people? Or is she just a strange case?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

We don't know for sure except for Jane and for Billy. But . . . the man I mentioned, Mr. Netherlands. He tried once to get Jane to remember being Samantha. What ended up happening was that both of them were killed by Grady in a fire.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

Th-that crazy, fat cop?! So, the Netherlands? Did he make any progress?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh.

. . . He never told anyone, but he did. He got her to remember. This is how I know.

[And once again, Lucas draws out the box from underneath his bed, removes the lid, and shows it to Ness. It's filled with papers the Netherlands wrote about his interactions with Jane.]

He never stopped trying to get Samantha back again, but he was working at being friends with Jane. He didn't get a chance to make another attempt before he left.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

Holy cow! That's a lot of paper work!

How did these come to you? Did the Netherlands leave them for you? And.. has any one tried some thing like this with the drones since?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

He did.

[Lucas closes up the box again after a few seconds.]

The Netherlands wanted me to see it in case he left. So . . . So I'm showing you in case I leave. You and a few other of my friends.

No one's tried again. . . . But I think I want to.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

In case.. You leave?

[Ness didn't like the thought, but he had to be real here. The risk involved was VERY real.]

Who else have you told? And.. If you're going to try, do you want help?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Some of my other friends. Luke, Crowe, Kay . . . I'm going to ask you the same thing that I asked them. Don't talk about it unless I really do go. It's . . . something that the Netherlands trusted me with.

I don't know yet. I'm not even sure I will try, but . . . thanks for offering. I'll let you know what I decide.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

[Ness traces a finger over his heart, holding up his hand as his eyes dead-lock with Lucas' gaze.]

I swear it. I won't tell any one else unless some thing happens to you.

*Sighs* Let's hope it doesn't come to that, though. Was there any thing else?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas thinks for a few seconds before rummaging through the papers.]

You'd better look through these, too.

[The stack he removes now is comprised of notes all about what they learned in Westport. (http://community.livejournal.com/junefield/48836.html#cutid1).]

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

[Ness looks through the recordings and documents with great attention.]

I.. I don't even know what to say. It's all so incredible.

"Unite"? Hmm.. Easier said than done.

What do you make of all of this as a whole, Lucas? What are your thoughts?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . It's been a long time since it happened, but all I can say is what we all agreed on. That someone named Zemekis is responsible for all this, that some of the drones here were real people, too, and that Grady used to be on the rebellion's side before he betrayed them.

[nessbound.livejournal.com]

So then.. What should we do? After all of this mess with the Postman, it seems like the only answer to me is to have every one work together.

But I can see the downside to that. We might have people like Grady in our town, ready to stab us in the back at a moment's whim. Or maybe the town wants us to distrust one another.

..Ugh. This is all such a dead-end problem.