Teylon: Being raked over the coals by his caring Angel of Death Blue Ocean Dome was not quite half way round the planet from Verdant, but it was still a long way. It was situated deep in the Melas chasmata region of the Vallis Marineris canyon system. It was on the floor of one of the deepest canyons on Mars, about 11 kilometres below the surrounding plains. Because of this depth, atmospheric pressure was higher than normal, a bit over one percent compared to Earth's, although still nowhere near enough to allow anyone to survive outside. But the deep canyons proved to be an ideal location for obtaining the tenth of a billion tonnes or so of water needed to make the ocean in Blue Ocean Dome. The main body of water was ten or so kilometres diameter, roughly circular with large and small bays and in places more than a kilometre deep. This, together with the other, smaller, lakes and rivers, was the pride of the Martian community. The dome that covered the ocean and prevented it from evaporating away was fifteen kilometres diameter and five kilometres high at the middle. It did not yet have as high a population as Verdant City, and big swaths of the land that surrounded the ocean were still under construction, but it was a popular location for people to move to. And, of course, it did a roaring trade as a tourist centre. People came from all over the planet, agog with excitement at the chance to see the porpoises and dolphins, and the current population of two whales. They had been shipped, at great expense, from Earth as two juveniles, and there had been much excitement a few months ago when it was announced that the female was pregnant. Blue Ocean Dome was a prime example of the usefulness of esp powers. Constructing it would have been totally impossible without them. On the first day of the school holidays, Teylon's group all turned up at his apartment for breakfast, then they moved off to the closest maglev station. On Mars, the maglev system of each large dome was connected to the global spanning maglev tracks and the trains themselves were all standard. For travelling around inside a dome, the train carriages had up to twelve seats. But, for long distance travel, the train system automatically configured the cars to have six seats each, with a small toilet and wash room packed into one end and a luggage area in the other. Which lead to the truly important issue: who goes with whom in which carriages? Teylon looked at his loyal troupes. Travelling certainly gets complicated when I have to take into account everybody's preferences. It was so much easier when it was only the lone Teflon Rat, within ten minutes I could pack my hand luggage and go. No commitments, no worries, no fuss. And, they are all looking at me tell them what to do. Let's make it as comfortable as possible, shall we? He fiddled with his wristband, and called up three carriages for long distance travel. "How about me and Juniper and the Girls in Pink travel in one car?" That keeps Juniper with both Devina and me. "And Sarsaparilla and Adalace and Leroy and Kaydence travel in another." That keeps Sarsaparilla and Adalace together, and lets Kaydence be with Sarsaparilla and Leroy. And Leroy and Adalace can get in some practice at being in each other’s company on a social basis. "And the rest go into the last car." Maggie and Sarawatch like each other, and Erasyl won't object to going with Maggie, and maybe Maggie won't object to going with Erasyl. Keeping in mind that Teylon was generously paying for all of this, and he was also paying for their upmarket holiday accommodation, nobody objected. It was going to be a six-hour trip at supersonic speeds, their maglev cars racing along tracks that were mostly above ground but sometimes, when the terrain was too rugged, through tunnels. The car had small portholes through which the scenery was visible. Since said scenery was generally a dull reddish flat plain, it got real boring real fast. In the carriage that Teylon was in, the Girls in Pink were sitting in a row on one side of the cabin, and Teylon and Juniper were sitting next to each other on the other side. The rows faced each other, so everyone could see everyone else and, if they wanted to, talk to anyone else. In the dead silence of high-speed magnetic levitation travel through an almost complete vacuum, the topics of conversation died down to an occasional murmur. Wish I had specified the seats to be pointing in the same direction. It's getting embarrassing looking at each other, and if I lean back and go to sleep everyone will be looking at me if I snore. Not that I ever snore, of course! An hour into the trip, Juniper twitched and looked startled. Oh shit, she's going to have another episode. Teylon’s Soul Reading: Juniper A white haired middle-aged man was standing in front of Juniper. He indicated an open door behind him. "Come into the bedroom, young lady, and take" Teylon: Teylon managed to control his nausea reaction. At the same time Juniper clutched his jacket and looked up to him, anguish in her eyes. "It's that white haired man again. He's horrible, but I don't know what it's all about." Shit. Shit. That soul reading must be a memory fragment, showing what she is currently recalling. Esmeralda! Why are you tormenting her like this? No answer came. At least she isn't getting anything more... I hope. He put his arms around her. "It's probably nothing to worry about, it’s a by product of getting your memories all mixed up." "Oh, OK". Juniper relaxed slightly - Teylon’s Soul Reading: Juniper Another image. More like a series of images, nightmare visions seen darkly through a broken mirror, dark fragments shattering throughout Juniper's mind. Teylon: This - this must be how she sees it. Shit, shit, shit, shit. Esmeralda, stop this! Please! What hell are you doing! Teylon’s Soul Reading: Juniper The images faded a bit and merged together, leaving a muddy messy splodge of disgust and revulsion behind. Teylon: "Teylon, Teylon, that man, he, he, must have - raped me, didn't he? When I was completely vulnerable, completely defenceless." Juniper's face was right up close to Teylon’s; she was trembling and holding his jacket so tightly her knuckles were going white. Teylon briefly glanced at the Girls in Pink - If that man was here right now, he would be dead three times over - then turned to look back at Juniper. "Juniper, it's all right, it's only a memory, and he can't hurt you." You can't hurt her now, you utter bastard! "But why did that happen?" said Juniper. "I don't -" Teylon’s Soul Reading: Juniper A brief image of the man, talking to her. "I must say, you were certainly worth the money I spent on you." Teylon: What an utter creep! Juniper looked deeply shocked. "He brought me, treating me like, like a slave! Or prostitute! I was used and then discarded like a piece of dirty rubbish!" I had better not look at the girls now, otherwise I'll get scorch marks on my retinas. At least, for the time being, Devina is letting me handle this, presumably because Juniper is concentrating solely on me. So forget about the girls, let's save Juniper first. But how? "Juniper, it's all right. Nothing is going to happen now." Pathetic, is this the best I can do? "But how do you know? Maybe that man will get me again. Or some other man?" "No, really, I will do the best to protect you." "You will? Promise?" Juniper relaxed slightly, still looking at Teylon. "Have you ever bought a prostitute yourself?" Fucking hell, why did she have to come up with that? This is getting nightmarish. I had better start ad-libbing like mad here, and deflect this line of inquiry- Teylon’s Direct Message From Esmeralda: You will tell the full truth. Esmeralda's voice was clear and strong. This was unmistakably an order. Teylon: What!!!!!!!! But she is on the verge of falling apart! Teylon’s Direct Message From Esmeralda: You will tell the truth. You will ensure that she doesn't fall apart. If she does, that fact will be held against your soul. Teylon: ... ... shit ... ... Teylon began sweating. Fortunately, Juniper did not notice. "Well, ah, in my past, I" gulp "did. But, not anymore!" A gasp of horror from Juniper, as she tried to push herself away from him, but his arms were around her. "So, so, you'll repeat all of that and do the same to me?" "No! No! I'm going to look after you. Please, believe me!" She slumped and leant against him again. "How can I believe you? What makes you different from that white haired man?" "Because, because..." How am I different? But I want to look after her! What's the magic words I can say to convince her? Teylon’s Soul Reading: Juniper Another soul reading: fragments of memories of her being abused... Teylon: Her psyche is collapsing before my very eyes! Esmeralda! How do I save her? Before he could organise a reply, she continued. "Have you ever loved anyone before?" How do I answer that? I've never been in that situation... Teylon’s Soul Reading: A much younger Teylon Teylon as a younger man, talking with Emilia. "I'm running out of options. I'm at the end of my tether, Teylon. This whole thing I can't take anymore! Do you have any love at all for me? Is there any chance of some connection between us?" said Emilia. Her voice was even more anguished than Juniper's. There were tears trickling down her face. "I, I, err, I don't do that sort of thing! I'm definitely not in a position to commit myself to someone! I'm sorry, I don't feel that there is any connection between else. I, I'm sorry, but I really can't." Emilia turned away and, stumbling slightly, went out of the door. As she went, she said: "That's all right. It was a desperate move, I had to take the chance to ask you, but it's all right. I'll go now." Teylon: Feeling like a heavy weight boxer had slammed a punch into his guts, Teylon barely managed not to fold himself over double. Oh my god, where did that memory come from? I must have been suppressing it for decades. Teylon’s Soul Reading: A much younger Teylon Teylon, a month later, disconnected a call and then let his mobile fall to the tabletop. Oh. She was killed in a car accident. Verdict of possibly suicide. What do I think about this? What do I feel? I don't know. He brushed his hands over his face. What's this, tears? But, why? Teylon: Teylon, back in the present in the maglev car racing across an empty Martian landscape, took one hand off Juniper's shoulder and brushed it across his face. Tears? After all this time? But I never thought about Emilia again. He realised: I forced myself to never think about her. Buried myself into my work and blocked out all memories of her. Juniper was looking at his face. "You're crying. Why?" At least she is not being terrorised by her horrible memories. "I'm crying, am I? Why? I, I don't know." "Have you ever loved anyone?" asked Juniper, again. "I guess, I must have loved Emilia. Even if it was only a little bit. Even if I didn't know it at the time." This is agony. And I still haven't saved Juniper. I didn't save Emilia. "Who was Emilia?" Now I have to tell Juniper all about Emilia? At least she is being distracted from other things. So he told her. Haltingly, in broken sentences, trying to keep the information to a minimum, but always cognisant of the little fact that Esmeralda was watching, forever waiting to pull him up if he didn't do exactly as she wanted him to do. "So, you could have saved her, but you didn't. If you didn't save her, does that mean you really won't save me, either?" Juniper still looked distressed. And the occasional soul reading Teylon was getting backed this up. "I, I didn't save her..." I have no options left, but to trample my dignity under foot and grovel. I can't think of anything else. "But, please Juniper! I was stupid and wrong, back then. I, err, I can only ask for your forgiveness. Please, I, ah, can no longer ask Emilia's forgiveness. And this time I will save you!" He brushed some more moisture off his face. Why am I still crying? Bloody hell, what is happening to me? And Juniper still doesn't look convinced. What else can I say? "But, you said you might have loved Emilia. Do you love me? Will you promise to look after me?" Oh. Right. This is my last, desperate, stand. Say I love her. And that I will commit myself to her care. The word 'commitment' echoed around his head. He was really sweating now. I have never committed myself to anyone before. Never. I have always run away. Admit it, I ran away from Emilia. I ran away from other situations that might have developed in the same direction. Oh shit. He got another soul reading from Juniper. She could potentially disintegrate before my very eyes. Say it! What stopping you, you stupid twit! Say it! "Juniper, of course I." Gulp. "Love you." He was having trouble breathing, but he forced himself to continue. "I promise to commit myself to looking after you, yes, I really do!" Oh shit. Now I've done it. I'll never be free again. But, I'm not free now, anyway, am I? Not after being reincarnated and all of that. Admit it, I'm more frightened of commitment than of being killed and brought back to life again. Pathetic. Juniper, her face close up to his, watched some more tears trickle down his cheeks. Still crying slightly, she put her face on his chest. "Teylon, thanks." He got another soul reading. At last, she's calming down. He continued to hug her, and as he did, she relaxed and gradually drifted off to sleep. Oh my God. Esmeralda, this is all by deliberate plan, wasn't it? Force me into a corner where I had no choice but to bare my soul to save hers. You bitch! Esmeralda, from her vastly superior position, felt no need to give a reply. His face still wet from tears, his shirt soaked in sweat, his heart still beating fast from this emotional turmoil, Teylon tried to relax. Juniper's head was against his shoulder, he could see part of her face. He watched her breath. What sort of person would she have been if it wasn't for all of this horrible stuff that happened to her? She must have been a nice person, I'm sure. Perhaps she would have had a boy friend by now? In her last year of schooling? Deciding on what to do with her future? Instead, she was smashed down and discarded like a piece of useless rubbish. What chance did she have after all of that? And now it's up to me, God help me, to lead her back to life. Me and Devina, I suppose... Crap. He looked up, to see three girls, each wearing something pink, looking back at him. I confessed to all of that, in front of these three? He opened his mouth to say something, only to have Francesca lean towards him, and put her finger over his lips. "Shush, wouldn't want to awaken our princess, would we?" She looked amused as she sat back into her seat. Tamara had her arms folded, and was watching him with a quizzical look. There did not seem to be all that much hostility in it, unlike her normal expression when dealing with him. Devina looked up at Teylon and smiled slightly, her face looking much softer and gentler than usual. She then went back to watching Juniper's face. Teylon looked at the front of the cabin, where there was a display panel. Still another four hours to go. He did his best to make himself comfortable. Teylon: Teylon groggily opened his eyes. Urk, the bright light is stabbing my eyes, my back has seized up, my right arm appears to be missing, and what is that hitting my knee... The cruel light became kinder as his eyes adjusted. He found out that his knee was being gently assaulted by Francesca tapping it with her foot. "Wakey wakey Teylon, we're half an hour out of Blue Ocean!" She appeared to be bright and chirpy. As for his right arm, he looked at. Oh, right, Juniper is still sleeping, leaning against my side, and incidentally sitting back on my arm. He managed to extricate his arm, and tried to wave it around, but it disobeyed his mental commands and merely flopped down into his lap. But he could feel the pins and needles sensation starting up. Great. For the next ten minutes, I'm going to slowly and painfully regain my feelings in my arm. He cautiously straightened out and had a look around. Juniper was still sleeping, but showing signs of waking. As were both Tamara and Devina, they were leaning against each other and beginning to stir. "Why are you the only one that looks more than half alive?" "Because I didn't go to sleep, of course. I mean, someone's got to be on watch and look after our sleeping charges, don't they?" "Yeah..." Oh shit, that's right, I told Juniper I loved her and I committed myself to looking after her. And these girls watched me all the way. Francesca smiled one of her evil little smiles. "Yes, I'm sure us girls will be enjoying a nice long talk with you. But first, let's get our disembarkment in process." And what will Juniper actually remember? "Hello Juniper, did you sleep well?" asked Devina. "Ah, yes? Are we there yet?" Everybody was watching Juniper but trying not to make it obvious. "Ah, do you recall much of our trip?" said Teylon. "Ah, no? It certainly seemed to go fast... Although, that's right, Teylon said he loved me! That's nice." she said, while giving him a small hug from the side. "Of course..." said Teylon. If he seemed to have some difficulty in saying that, Juniper did not seem to notice. "And I'm sure that Devina also loves me." she said. "Err, yes, naturally I, ah, love you." said Devina. Juniper also did not seem to notice that Devina said that as if she was completely out of practice in telling someone how she felt. There was a big yawn from Juniper. "Well, having slept all the way I'm feel like I could do something really active now." "I think you are in luck there!" said Francesca. The maglev cars all stopped at the same underground station and everybody got out. When they went up the escalators and stepped out they saw the ocean on one side, literally ten large steps from the door. And on the other side was their accommodation, a seaside holiday bungalow. Big enough to hold them all; Teylon had gone full out and booked the entire building for themselves. And, apparently, everyone else in their group had had a good rest, and were raring to go swimming. Teylon, looking a bit washed out and out of sorts, eyed his troops. "I took the easy option and hired the whole building. Consequently, everyone has their own bedroom, of which there are plenty, so help yourself and pick whichever one takes your fancy. It looks like you all want to go charging off into the water?" "Yes!" said half a dozen voices. "Well, I think I'll take it easy..." "Actually, us Girls in Pink feel like taking it easy too, for the first half day. What say Teylon treats us to a lunch at some restaurant, and we all meet up here for tea?" said Francesca. Some of the teenagers exchanged quizzical glances, but there were no objections. "Are you sure you're OK with this?" said Devina to Juniper. "Yes, I'm fine. I have my friends with me, so I'm happy." said Juniper. Half an hour later everyone else, including Sarawatch, were in bathers and down at the water line. Francesca was looking at some tiny print on her wristband. "Ah, Teylon, apparently the most expensive place to eat here is the Out of the World Ocean Reef restaurant." "Fine, fine."