Sadly I cannot say. I've never thought I would need that information so I never learned it myself. I could find out of course. I can answer the question of stairs though. It handles stairs fairly well though it is heavy footed.

It possess amazing balance despite how narrow a step is in comparison to it's size.

He chuckled a little, knowing of the memory. He regarded her for a moment. I was not exempt but seeing how I was busy restructuring your mind at the time I knew the reasoning behind it so no offense was taken. You'll see when they return to you ...

He would let that be a bit of a surprise though at the same time he wanted to make it clear that she hadn't over stepped her bounds or felt guilty when the memory returned.

I am not put off. Komi may visit, I don't know of anyone else that would come here unless I am surprised. Of course with Tinman so close at hand she might be dissuade from doing so. Then again, she does have a node and might decide to press her luck because of it but seeing that I can sense her presence I can warn her off while she's at the school if the thought so much as crosses her mind. Tinman will be unaware that I am gone too. I come and go by the ocean and he will not know. I doubt that it will come into the cove but if it hears nothing it just might chance it.

Juniper chuckled to herself as she mentally imagined the Tinman standing on it's mechanical toes, arms braced against the walls as it lumbered up the stairs that separated one level of the school from another. She probably shouldn't have found it near as funny as she did, but she was feeling a little bubbly and relieved in the aftermath of he confrontation with Rena, even after her near-miss on the beach.

"Are they all going to come at once, or should I expect to be getting snips and snatches without context until it all falls into place?" she grimaced a bit. She was trying not to think about the blocked off portion of her memory for the moment. Waiting around for the knot he'd stuck in her brain to work itself loose was hard, harder than simply not knowing. If he'd just burned it out, at least she could be out there digging through files, looking for footage. Oh, the worry would twist in her guts, but it was already twisting a bit . . . and she didn't have the search to distract herself with. At least this was safer, she conceded.

"If she shows up, I'll be polite. Scout's honor." Juniper said, raising her hand. Of course, she'd never been a scout, but he didn't know that. Probably. "Mmn . . . out of curiosity, how long is that underwater exit? On the offhand chance that Tinman does decide to push his luck, I'd like to know if I can make a break for it under the waves. He pulled back at the water's edge before, so I figure the water must be bad for him."

She glanced at the collection of drinks he'd accumulated over time, trying to determine if he'd brought any bottles. In a pinch she could drink those and convert them into air bottles, barely a breath in them perhaps, but it would extend how long she could be underwater considerably. Just planning ahead, as she tended to do. Though the screw caps would be no good, she'd need to figure out an alternative.

Snippets. I did not want to overwhelm your mind with them all coming back at once. I thought it would be better though their will be a week at most before they return. Staggered you can get use to things a bit easier. I doubt there is anything there that there is anything too overwhelming there but I thought it best to keep you level headed for the night.

I could have and still can burn those memories away but there is the possibility that there is something that might be useful to you at a later date.

Aegir considered the question and did some rough calculations. I'm not sure. It comes down to your swimming speed. Judging from an average speed about five minutes. A strong swimmer or someone that can hold their breath for a good length of time could swim through the underwater chasm easily enough.

There were indeed six bottles of water in the chest amongst the drinks.

"Fair enough." Juniper said, shrugging her shoulders slight, "I'm just getting antsy. You keep mentioning it, but I don't know so my imagination is trying to fill in the gaps. You know, the day after I found out that the world includes such things as psionic squid-people, rampaging robots, and honest-to-god brain-jacking Demons. It's fertile ground for nightmare fuel." she closed her eyes and settled her head back, taking a deep breath through her nose as she chewed on the plastic stick between her lips.

"It's the not-knowing that's killing me here, I don't see how burning it out so that I no longer have that direct association would help anything." she opened her eyes just long enough to give him a dirty look, before letting out a sigh. "Though I guess it would get me off my ass, if that's all you wanted."

"Five minutes . . ." she tapped her finger on her knee and considered. "I'm not the strongest swimmer, but I'd have the cave walls to push and pull along to speed things up a bit. My lung capacity is pretty good . . . but I'll admit I've never tried to hold it that long. Might be something to practice while you're gone." still, she counted the water bottles. Definitely a back-up plan, though she'd hold off until she had some along time to enact it. After all, there was no promise she'd even need them. "Place like this? Being able to hold my breath is probably a crucial life skill."

"How about you?" she tilted her head to the side, arching an eyebrow, "Any big plans for the day?"

Nothing too extreme but understandable how your thoughts can begin to run away with you. Hopefully by the time they do return you'll be 'that's it' expecting far worse.

He watched the bob of the end of the lollipop as it danced and grabbed his attention. He seemed to mull over something in his mind for a moment there but said nothing thus far.

Burning it out wouldn't help, save for let you sleep better but your nights will be plagued with other nightmares no doubt. I am patient, when you get moving you get moving whether tomorrow or a year from now makes little difference to me. I am quite old by you standards though I suppose you would term me as a young adult.

I have determined that I am going to put you on my list. I have not yet established where though. He wave a hand in front of her to silence her and let him finish with the thought first before hearing any objections, not that she could really object to his thoughts but he'd listen nonetheless. Aegir was good at that. Sometimes he ignored what he heard sometimes not.

[color=#BF000]The list is always in constant flow. Those highest, usually, but not always have a node. One to five is usually fairly stable but six to ten are always swapping places. Well it's more like six to nine. Ten gets dropped often enough based on my moods. Now the list is somewhat meaningless for everyday life on the island and I have never discussed it with anyone before. It amuses me and helps pass the time I suppose.

But it only seems fitting to place you one it. Perhaps I'll get into more details bout it later on, it is not important for the time being other than knowing that you are on it and won't be dropped from it unless there is some form of betray or interest on your part to be removed from it for whatever reason.[/color]

He considered the question for a moment. No plans for the night. Unless I go to the dorms and manipulate some dreams for my amusement then I generally call it a day. I often let a few of the select girls play out their fantasies in their sleep. And sense I can feel emotions I can feel their arousal, if it is indeed that sort of fantasy that they embark on. Some may just long for a horse back ride or watch a sun set with a loved one.

Oddly enough my days are usually spent lazing about the forest and I only come here to sleep usually or if meeting with Komi for instance. Tomorrow perhaps I will continue to indulge Alynia with her time in Llynoria. I'm quite fond of the caste of characters in that one that her subconscious mind had a hand in shaping. I have some time to decide. Then again talking about Komi is making me consider her too she enjoys my company. Perhaps I will introduce you two one day though I have little doubt that you two would get along, she's a wonderful girl but your interests and her's would appear different enough … then again she may need someone with your investigation skills as much as I'm afraid that her personalty may shift and she'd stop coming around I am determined to assist her in getting her memory back.

"Nightmares I can handle. You tend to wake up before the worst stuff happens in them."

The sweet hard candy at the end of her sucker had long since been ground up and eaten, but it didn't stop Juniper from rolling the white plastic stick from one end of her mouth to the other. She bit down hard on the little plastic tube, pinching the end closed and flat before she turned it half over with her tongue and flattened it again fromt he other side. It was relaxing for her, in an odd sort of way, a surrogate for her confiscated cigarettes.

She'd opened her mouth to comment when he'd mentioned putting her on a list, but closed it again with a slightly petulant look as he'd raised a hand. Well, she supposed he could be spared her "wit" long enough to explain exactly what it was that he meant by that.

"Hmn." she mulled that explanation over for a bit, though it really didn't seem like much of an explanation. There was a list, 1-5 didn't change much, 6-10 did. Most of what the list actually meant was either dismissed as meaningless or an amusing mental exercise. Still, it implied that she was in his good graces, which had worked out in her favor so far. "I guess I don't mind. Though I don't plan be be carrying around any nodes, no matter how useful telepathy would be." she paused a bit to chew a little higher up on the stick bobbing on her lips before rolling it to the side again, "I'd like to think that I've already made it clear that I prefer to protect my sources. I don't think betrayal is really in my best interests."

"Sounds like a pretty relaxed life." she said, fiddling around with the blanket around her shoulders until she'd tied a knot under her collar. She idly reached up and stretched, checking to make sure the knot wouldn't slip and leave the blanket sliding down her front before she tucked her hands behind her head, "Don't you ever worry that you spend all your time in fantasy worlds though? Dreams, and fantasies, are nice, but they can't sustain you alone."

"Missing memories, huh?" Juniper looked up at the ceiling, "That can be a tricky one. Unless she lost them here on the island, there isn't going to be a lot of evidence to gather . . . and amnesia is usually the result of trauma. They should come back on their own, eventually." she paused a bit to tongue at the stick, causing it to bob slightly, "Though I don't think you'll have to worry about her personality shifting too much. It's not as though more recent memories will go away. Unless you seriously dicked her over somewhere in the period of lost memory I can't see why your relationship would change much."

So true at that. My nightmares tend to be different when I do have them, their rare but they do exist ... T what things he had nightmares about had been something that he had not addressed, however.

I had no concerns of betrayal. But nodes are something I generate sparingly after Fafner … there are five in total there. I am extract one or two and move them around. Typically I only use them on the first five though number one does not have one yet it is an easy matter to draw one out of someone not one the list at all and simple transfer it I ever explain it to her and she accepts of course. She may object though I doubt she will. Still, I have some apprehension abut how she will react to things.

He nodded a little as she mentioned the fantasy worlds. A few years ago I did not delve as deeply into these realms as I do now but tried out new elements on a whim. I have been caught up in delving into this ability. Most of my time year is spent indulging in these fantasies but I am patient. I am looking at things long term though. I won't ruin that discovery so close to your victory. That will sort of defeat the purpose of taking it easy and laying low for a little while at least. Perhaps I will say something when you are on the move again.

Aegir considered Komi's plight. She lost the memories on the plane here … in fact, maybe there is a story there that you would be interested in. The memories are returning, quicker now than when I first met her. There are some answers to questions that I discovered, others that still exist though it is of a concern of mine that things will change between Four and I, Komi that is. That, however, cannot be helped.

I hope that you are right. I suppose that my main concern is that her personality has been a ruse, that it isn't the real her and something deeper was altered though from what I have seen thus far that shouldn't be the case.

I have not dicked with her too much, I don't think. The first time I encountered her she believed I was a stead. There are no animals on the island and I was aware f her pining to ride again s I allowed her such a small indulgence. She found out what I was soon thereafter and seemed far more interested in the fact that I let her indulge in this rather than what I am. She is rather lonely in that regard and takes an interest in monster and human alike provided that they are kind t her, fat chance in finding many of the former here though.

Juniper couldn't help but quirk her eyebrows as he mentioned that he had nightmares. She hadn't even really verified that he slept yet, and with his mental powers she'd kind of assumed he'd be a lucid dreamer if his mind had such an analogue at all. Hadn't he said something about being able to track multiple thoughts simultaneously? Maybe he slept in "shifts", letting one part of his brain decompress and then the next . . . or would that just result in a kind of waking dream? Mmn.

"Who is number one anyway?" she asked, covering her mouth for a moment as she caught her chew toy between her fingers, "I'm kind of curious as to what makes someone your ideal pet." she smirked a bit and flicked the stick into the fire, watching it begin to sag and melt. She nodded along a bit as he explain that his dream delving was kind of a recent development. She supposed she could understand getting caught up in a new toy, at least. Idly, she wondered ability he might develop next, "And who's this Fafner guy? Sounds like you two don't get on."

Juniper closed her eyes and listened quietly as Aegir went over the details of "Number Four's" predicament. Lovely, she could look forward to being rendered down to a number in casual conversation too now. She snickered a bit at the thought of Aegir being seen as some kind of steed, she couldn't help but think that having someone ride him would seem terribly undignified to the creature. Though, she supposed, Kimiko would just be experiencing some refreshed sensory data from her old memories of riding, extrapolated upon a bit by her mental intruder.

"I don't claim to be an expert." Juniper said, lightly tonguing the inside of her cheek as she considered, "But usually radical personality shifts are time to extreme events. The same kinds of extreme events that might cause amnesia, actually. If there's something like that in her background, blocking off the memory is her mind's way of compensating. This way it gets broken to her gently over time, so that it doesn't warp her personality." she tapped her own forehead for a moment, "I know your familiar with the principle. Like I said, I wouldn't worry too much, if anything trying to push it is more likely to make her resentful."

"Of course, that's predicated upon the notion that this is something natural instead of something that was done to her." Juniper added with a deep sigh, the latter was a reality she was still adjusting to, "I can see why she'd be eager to make new acquaintances though. She hasn't got memories of friends and family to fall back on, a support network is important in times of trouble."

His mental voice seemed t take on a tinge of cheerfulness as a portion of his segmented mind dwelled on the answer. She had assumed correctly in that sections of his brain shut off at times to recharge. At others though he shut most of them down at once to enter a state close to true sleep to avoid that waking state f all encompassing sleep. He had only kept a few rudimentary portions f his mind awake at such a stage t monitor his surroundings and rouse himself if there had been danger.

Number one would be Miss Evans now. Alynia. She is partially responsible for Gersham's existence, I saw that you had encountered him while I was doing the touch up of your mind. She … I cannot determine what it is about her, whether she appreciates the creation I've spun, her devotion t it and what not or if it is something else that interests me, something t look forward to than the usual.

Sadly she does not know the truth as of yet and while such a revelation has not occurred there has been enough that I have revealed to her, all will be revealed in chm though I am worried abut the truth coming to light. There is enough to make her realize that this is suspect, she will not believe it yet, she does not question the fantasy in light of the usual horrors f this place.

Yet another person I have to worry about, he chuckled at the irony of giving someone what they wanted backfiring on him too. The longer that went by, the worse it would be. She knows some of the truth but it has all been tied into the fantasy and simple part f it rather than it' own thing. Ironic that something that one wants so badly could cause them utter disdain when acquiring it.

And there is no love loss between Fafner and I. I do not particularly like him, I'm rather indifferent to him on most occasions but I harbor no doubt that he would kill me if it were ever in his power to do so but I have about four thousand years of experience on him and there are traits that he ignores t develop that I have to greater degree.

He is in this dimension and while once upon a time my species reproduced sexually we evolved beyond such a practice and reproduce by budding. Essentially the nodes. They are non sentient children if you will. You would think of them as no smarter than a screw driver but they gain in intelligence as the tool ages, thus they become more 'valuable' to the parent. Some realize the error of showing to much in the way of smarts for a smart node is destroyed for all nodes are destined to want their independence and thus the death of their parent. When they succeed they gain true independence and are released from this life of servitude along with any other nodes where they go from tools t a full on entity. It takes a number of years for a node to move from a mere tool to full blown sentience and while I have only dabbled with it I theorize it is the direct link and influence of the 'parent' that grants this sentence over time that matures the creature form mere automaton to something more than such.

Fafner is one such node I created when young. I had some theories that I wanted to enact but the only real result was Fafner maturing but me being unsuccessful in ridding him of the hatred he innately feels. So in a sense he is the only one of use that has reached his state f being without having to kill their creator in the process though he wants too. I've theorized that the hatred has to be genetic in nature.[/i ]

He sighed and shook his head a little. The modes though were no more than tools though destined to fill a simple role least the catch their parent unaware. Interestingly enough as a node begins to develop sentience it becomes useful to keep around but is already plotting it's creators demish.[/color]

He paused, that was a bit to digest though there may be a bit of confusion on the mater, he was not use to bringing up his biology. He dwelled upon what she said about Komi's memories. She lost her memory while coming here of her past life. She remembers everything after arriving here. I haven't been rushing her … it is odd though, the entity that to them was familiar with me and assumed that I would unlock them.

Even with her memories it did not seem that she had to many acquaintances. None would be more like it. She was rich but very lonely and lacked for companionship.

"You weren't kidding when you said the list was in constant flow and subject to your moods. I'd think a potential bombshell like that would keep someone from the top spot, but I suppose so long as she's giving you the most entertainment <i>right now</i> that's all that matters." she said with a slight roll of her shoulders. He hadn't corrected her when she'd used the term pet, she jotted that note down in her mental log for later. It was always important to knew where one stood. "Though fond wishes turning to ash in our hands is a story as old as time itself for my people, so I guess I can sympathize some."

"Sounds like more of a pest than a problem." she arching an eyebrow as she covered Fafner, "Younger, not as developed, and you know not to trust him. If he's grown out of a node, I assume you have the same awareness of his location as you do with those." she shrugged her shoulders slightly, "I mean, really, if he wanted a piece of you it sounds like the best chance he has is by messing with your ten. Maybe wind a psychotropic backlash into a portion of their memory or a favored fantasy to spring while you're poking around. Of course, if you know where he is, and where all your node implanted girls are, that could be tricky." she stuck her tongue out "But then, #1 is unimplanted, as are the bottom half of the list, so it's not as though he hasn't got an in."

Though the stone was hard and unyielding, Juniper reclined back and let her legs uncoil, she was feeling warm and comfortable under the blanket. Combined with her relief, she had to admit she was fighting against dozing off. She stifled a yawn and watched the rolling tongues of the fire with a slightly glazed expression.

"I guess the money scared most folks off. Shame . . . she probably could've used a dog." Juniper said with a faint smile, remembering her own for a moment. She blinked after a second, "Wait-- what entity?"

I believe she is enjoying herself and in a way she will be upset when she discovers the truth though I have been braking it to her a little at a time until I can brake it to her all outside of the realm. Provide that she does not find out ahead of time I should be able to convince her. Her, One to five are fairly static though can change drastically with revelations or, well, I'll save that tidbit to another time perhaps. That is if the whole foolish notion of the list isn't a bore to you.

He consider it for a moment. Fafner is a mere pest. He really can't be much more than a speed bump to me and he does not come here simply because I am here. What I like he instantly dislikes just because … well, there are some things that we hold common, despite trying to be different he is a copy of me and can only change s much despite taking things to extreme to prove how different he is.

He does have an in if he strikes at number one but he will not come here. Still … there is a chance ... And Fafner would do it because he couldn't get at him directly at least and would have to settle for small victories.

Funny you should mention it but she did have a dog. In one f the uncovered memories it died though. He considered abut how much he should tell her about the entity though he really didn't know much. Still, she might chance upon information in the future s he decided to pass some f it along.

I am unsure … I do not think he resides on the island but knows f me and thus probably has at least an understanding of whom resides on the island. Apparently he is some sort of angel that was present on the sea plane. She awoke and saw it, it had scrubbed her memories and I am sure that it has something t d with the necklace he has given her. I cannot remove it though, nor can she or any other from what I have learned so I have surmised that it suppresses memories in some way. I am working on a means of removing the device but haven't succeeded yet.

I will in time I suppose. I have not expected to retrieve as many memories as I have thus far. But you are getting tired. You should rest.

"I idea of a list doesn't bore me, I'm just trying to sort out the reasoning behind it." she chuckled softly, "Though I guess the notion that it's an entirely a frivolous pursuit isn't exactly surprising. Magazines are filled with top ten lists, after all." she tilted her head slightly to the side, "Does the list exclusively comprise students? I mean are they any lady-monsters or staff members who've caught your eye? Or graduates, for that matter." she asked after a moment.

"Sounds like a teenager. Are you sure he won't eventually grow out it as he develops his own personality and stops worrying about how much like yours it is?" she asked about Fafner. He sounded like a mean piece of work, it was probably for the best that he didn't hang about the island. The last thing she needed was to end up on the hit list of a belligerent telepath just because he had daddy-issues with one of her contacts. Who knew what she'd end up doing in that case, at least Aegir seemed inclined to grant her her self determination.

"Oh good, the Angels and Devils are in on things here. Why am I not surprised?" she said, giving a little chuckle. The necklace was an interesting detail though . . . idly, she wondered what it was made of. If they couldn't get it out from around her neck, she kind of doubted she'd be able to slice a chip off of it for study . . . and it was probably a "magical" effect rather than a metallurgical one anyway.

"I'm not tired . . . I'm just coming down off my adrenaline high . . ." she said, though the effect was ruined a bit as a broad yawn cracked her jaw open wide, causing her to cover her mouth, "Okay, maybe I am a little tired . . . " she admittedly grudgingly. There was something . . . something she was forgetting to do. Something about the physicals . . . ? She closed her eyes and tried to remember . . . something about long blonde hair. Rose. Dammit.

"If it's not too much trouble, I might need to get a message out tomorrow." she muttered, not able to compose her thoughts well enough at the moment. How long was Tinman going to sit out there . . . he could be patient as stone, but certainly eventually even he had to realize that there were better opportunities unattended elsewhere. She rolled over onto her side, tucking her arm under her head, the other arm curled around her chest for a measure of modesty. She was certainly she'd slept in less comfortable surroundings before . . . though she was hard pressed to recall when exactly.

He was about to expand on that answer noting that there was interest there and he did not have to get into vast details that she would probably have some fun with discovering later on. The list only contains students. The staff here, with the exception of the head girls is off limits for certain elements. They are a special case that is. By their very nature monsters are kept from the list though there have been a few that I have interacted with for the most part I avoid them. I do not bother with them and they don't bother with me.

Well, Fafner is a special case but since he has no interests here the rare times he is an obstacle I have to move into his circle. No grad students are on the list. That is when they are remove not from my interests mind you … I have another list that they are place one where number is simply an accordance of who gets there first so for instance if Ten is the first one that meets the criteria, Ten becomes One one the new list though number on the second list is rather irrelevant to matters since all are equal then more or less.

Without getting into things too deeply I suppose you can look at it this way. The current list denounces a pecking order. One beats out Two and Two beats Three if it ever comes to an issue of having to make a choice between them for whatever reason. It sets priorities but once being moved to the second list there is no longer a conflict of interests so there is no need to have a strict order of things, number just denotes age at that stage, who made it to the list first. Aegir considered this for a moment.

Perhaps one day he would explain it to her in greater detail. In truth he had three lists going, one was blank, one was just a short list of preferences that didn't matter and there was the current list of students that he had been keeping that was 'the' list as far as some of his greater interests laid. After a moment he did add to his words. Graduates can make it to the other list though, there is always the chance that they don't but they have easy access to it.

But to Fafner he analyzed that situation a little. Perhaps in a few thousand years he will give up matters, we age different than humans and in about that time he should be out of the teenage years and realize that he is not likely to succeed unless he gets lucky and just give up for the most part. He does prove to be a masochist when it comes to most people I know that he tends to get his clutches on though. Instead of looking at them favorably he wishes to tare down that established bond.

The angels here are fallen ones I assume. He chuckled adding to her own. In my time I have met all sorts. Demons, giants, plant creatures, aquatic ones, even a fertility goddess once. Never an angel though. It is interesting that he knows about me and in a recovered memory that he revealed that I would be the one that would return her memories so I am supposing that he is on retainer for the school and somewhat familiar with residents here. How he would know this or why he'd expect me to find her may be attributed to lucky guesses based on reading some detailed accounts or some ability to glimpse possible futures … I have not determine which though only recently discovering him, though not a name yet or anything listed amongst Hunters on the island that I have discovered yet anyway.

He watched her struggle with information recall. Of course he could have dug into her head to discover what she was forgetting had he not said he would refrain from doing so. What is the message and to whom?

"There's a girl . . . I saw her the first night . . . long blonde hair." she murmured softly, "Rose, room Rone 117. She was worried about the physicals too, since I kind of interrupted Rena's fun with her." she paused for a moment and looked at the stone wall across from her. What, exactly, should she say? She didn't even tell the other girl her name, gripped tight in her paranoia for Rena as she had been. "If someone could just tell her that "Hope" says she couldn't find a good hiding place, but that she found a way to take care of "the problem" and that the physicals should be safe . . . I guess that'll have to be enough."

Of course, Juniper didn't really know that the physicals were going to be safe. There was no guarentee that Rena was the only thing taking advantage of the trust placed in medical professionals, after all. But, at least, their mutual menace was attended to. Idly, Juni considered that if she stayed here today then she'd miss the scheduled physicals herself. Assuming they wouldn't be cancelled now that the one who'd pulled so hard for them was indisposed. She smirked a cruel little smile to herself as he breathing steadied softly. At least there was one less problem on the island. Feeling more than a little pleased with herself, she nodded off.

-- -- --

She dreamed, of course, though exhausted as she was it was fitful and disjointed. She remembered creeping through some kind of industrial complex, a pudding colored like pale flesh being squeezed out of mechanical umbillacles into a mold before iron coffins sealed over them. Hissing steam accompanied the press of the molds on the assembly line, keeping the concrete and steel warehouse hotter than the blazes of hell, sweat beading off of her skin. She was moving quickly, looking for a way out, the feeling of being stalked was dominant in her mind but she couldn't remember what it was she was running from.

The molds rotated vertically before opening, each one disgorging a mannequin that shared Juniper's features, a mechanical arm tattooing a large blocky number on each imitation's right buttock as it rolled to the end of the line. As she approached it, she saw them all standing there, a veritable army cast in her own reflection, each with baleful amber eyes and a cruel smile. But despite their judging, hateful expressions, they didn't move to intercept her, and the exit lay beyond them. They pressed too closely together for her to simply walk between them, she had to squeeze, crawl, and climb her way through, that feeling of dread always growing her her. Dimly she was aware that she'd lost her own clothes somewhere in the mix, just another product, as she put her shoulder to the door and pushed out into the cold night air.

And as she stepped out onto the grass, she swallowed. Everywhere she looked, she was fenced in with chainlink and barbed wire, guard towers sprinkled liberally around the parameter. It was nothing but open ground as far as the eye could see, no place to hide, no tools to use. She brought her hand up to cover her face as the glare of a spotlight picked her out, squinting as she tried to make out which tower it was. And then, the tower shifted and moved, and she realized it's spotlight was shaped as a single glowing visor, the ground shuddering as it stepped over the fence like a child's toy. Tinman, writ fifty feet high and reaching for her.

-- -- --

She came too with a slight jerk of her body, blinking her eyes quietly. God, she hurt. Her head and ribs most acutely, but between the jarring impact she'd taken against the wall last night, the long hard climb through the elevator shaft, the swim, and the long night on an unyielding stone floor, she felt like a wreck. All those endorphins her body had been pumping into her last night to keep her moving had long ago run their course, and now she was left to deal with the aftermath of last night's adventure.

Just another morning at Shokushu University. . . she thought with a low groan. She rolled over slowly to try and take in her surroundings, wondering if she'd be waking up to find Aegir staring over her sleeping form again, or if he'd taken the opportunity to slip out unnoticed.

Hm, Rose. 117. I can give her a message when I go up to the dorms later. It's an easy enough matter to be a freebie. I do not have to put myself at risk or go out of my way to come across her since I was considering going there in the first place. I just have not decided on whom to visit when I do go there, someone I haven't seen in a bit I suppose. He considered his choices for a moment though he was in no hurry to decide. In the end he had concluded that he did not have to select just one but he could get away with seeing several for a few hours a piece if he wanted.

But June soon fell asleep. Aegir was not monitoring her brain activity, more or less living up to his word when he could at least so he was unaware of the dream. He suspected that she would have nightmares, thankful that the ordeal was over with.

She was not the only one with fitful dreams though. When she woke he had been sleeping himself, most of his minds turned off but he had been alerted to her wakefulness when she jarred awake. His eyes opened, his minds turning on so to speak.

Bad dream? But just a dream nonetheless. On a note more relevant, however, Tinman has left. He was out there for several hours though, I saw him through the night. When I was up about an hour ago he had left. Sleeping with multiple minds is a bit … different … I was curious as to how long the construct would wait so I had once section of my brain, easier to think as each section as individual minds, count down the seconds that past to see how long it waited. It was there most of the night. Another problem that has worked itself out. Either it was recalled by something or got distracted with another student, I doubt it lost patience waiting.