"Ok, Ciarra, Let's try this again." Said Alec Tate. "Close your eyes, and project the memory to Tyler."
"But, It's not his memory! You made it up." Stalled Ciara.
"It's nicer than his other memories of her." Argued Tate. "Now, Try again."
Six year old Ciarra closed her eyes and concentrated on the false memory. She opened her eyes and stared into the eyes of the little boy in front of her. "Tyler," She said in a soft controlling voice, "Tell me about your mother."
"My mother?" Tyler asked.
"Yes." Nodded Ciarra, "Tell me what she looked like, how her voice sounded, what color were her eyes?" Upon the word eyes, Ciarra closed hers and started telling Tyler what to say, with her mind.
"My mother was pretty." Started Tyler.
~She had long red hair~ Projected Ciarra.
"She had long red hair." Said Tyler.
~Her smile made me feel safe, and her voice sounded like an angel.~ Thought Ciarra.
Tyler repeated everything Ciarra thought, as if he was really remembering his mother. "And her eyes were brown. Said Tyler.
"NO!" Said Tate as he firmly placed his hand on Ciarra's shoulder, "Not brown, It was green!"
Ciarra trembled, she knew she couldn't get Tyler to remember green eyes after she had already planted brown eyes into his memory.
"Tyler, You may go now." Tate said to the little boy.
Tyler looked at Ciarra, then at Mr. Tate. "What about Ciarra?" He asked. "Can't she come too?"
"I need Ciarra to help me with something first." Explained Tate, "She'll be along shortly."
Tyler shrugged, then walked out the door and down the hall.
Alec Tate turned to Ciarra. "This is the third time this week." He said, his voice slightly angry, "We went over this memory many times. Why did you project Brown eyes? You knew it was green!"
Ciarra looked down at the floor and bit her bottom lip.
"Why Ciarra?" Tate asked again, kneeling in front of the child.
Ciarra looked up into his eyes, ~It WAS brown, remember?~ She tried projecting to him over and over.
"Ciarra! Stop that!! It was GREEN!" Replied Tate, furious at the child.
Ciarra bit her lip again, tears slowly started to well up in her large, brown eyes. She looked down at the floor again, trying to keep herself from crying. "Cause Daddy had brown eyes." She whispered, barely audible.
Tate looked at the child, then waved his hand at the door. Two sweepers stepped quickly into the room. "Ciarra," Said Tate, "Go!"
Ciarra looked up at the sweepers, her eyes full of terror. "Please, Can't you take me?" She asked looking at Tate, tears slowly streaming down her face. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She cried.
The sweepers looked at impatiently at the child, "Let's go." Said the one standing closest to the door.
"No, I can't Ciarra. I have some work to finish. Go now."
Ciarra stood up and smoothed out her dress, then started for the door. ~They won't hurt me~ She repeated over and over in her mind, ~As long as I'm good and not try to run away like Miranda, They won't hurt me.~ The sweepers quietly walked Ciarra to her room.
****************************************
"East? Here's that file you wanted." said Mara Jade, walking into Eastlynne McCourtnee's office.
"What file?" Asked September, from the highbacked chair facing the window. (her favorite spot)
"Huh? Oh, just some research she asked me to do." Mara answered, slightly startled. "Where is she?"
September peeked over the top of the chair, "She had a meeting with Mr. Kelsey, about me." She grinned. "She should be back about............."
"SEPTEMBER! You are in trouble!" Said Eastlynne McCourtnee, entering her office.
"Whatever it is, I didn't mean too!" September answered, trying to sound innocent, but failing.
"You know exactly what you did, and you did mean too!" Replied Eastlynne. "We'll talk about this later, when I've calmed down some."
September slid back down into the chair, without saying anything. She knew she was in REAL trouble when East says she has to calm down before talking about it.
"Umm.....Maybe I should go." Said Mara.
Eastlynne turned around to face Mara. "I'm sorry" She apologized. "I didn't know you were here."
Mara Laughed slightly. "Here is that file you wanted," She said holding out the file.
"Thanks." Said Eastlynne as she took the file from Mara.
"I found some pretty interesting things." Started Mara.
Eastlynne looked at September's chair, "later." She said to Mara, "We'll talk about this later."
Mara looked at the chair then nodded. "Ok, I understand." She said, "Well, I need to go. I have some work to finish before going to the Exchange later."
Eastlynne smiled as Mara left. East then sat down at her desk and started some work on the computer.
September stood up and stretched, then disappeared into the shadows. She walked slowly through the shadows on her way to the elevator. She stepped out of the shadows just before coming to the elevator. Cécile stood waiting for the elevator.
"Hiya Emmy." Cécile smiled when she saw the girl. "What's up?"
September looked up at the ceiling. "I don't understand." She said, still looking up. "What am I looking for?"
Cécile laughed slightly, she forgot September Dosn't understand certain expressions. "I meant What have you been doing?" She smiled.
September looked at Cécile and shrugged. "Not much. I'm in trouble again. I thought I'd go to my quarters so East doesn't yell at me anymore."
"What did you do this time?" Cécile asked curiously.
"Nothing really," September replied, "Just the usual."
"Emmy! The only reason Eastie is angry is because she cares about you. She worries about you and she doesn't want you to have to live through some of the things she did when she was your age." Cécile tried to explain.
"I know she cares for me." Said September looking ashamed, "But sometimes I just have to get away!"
Cécile hugged the younger girl. "We all feel that way sometimes. But sometimes we can't get away, no matter how much we want to."
September sigh deeply and nodded. She quickly stepped out of the elevator once the doors opened. "Thanks Cécile." She said as she disappeared down the hall.
****************************************
Ciarra went quietly into her small room. She waited until she was sure the sweepers were gone, then she layed down on the floor and started crying. "Why can't I go home?" She whispered to the dark room. "I want my Daddy." She lay there and cried herself to sleep.
An hour later, her door opened slowly.
"Ciarra?" Came a small voice, "Are you in here?"
Ciarra sat up and rubbed her tear stained face. "Miranda?" She whispered, "Miranda, Is that you?"
The little girl at the door came into the room. "Uh-huh! It's me!" She smiled.
Ciarra stood up and ran over to the other girl. "I missed you!" She exclaimed as she hugged her friend. "Where have you been?"
Miranda looked sad, "I had to stay in the infirmary for a few days."
"Why?" Ciarra asked looking scared. "What did they do to you?"
"Nothing," Answered Miranda, "I..um..I was sick."
Ciarra looked at her friend, she knew she was lying, but why? What did they do? She hugged Miranda again and said, "Do you want to play?"
Miranda nodded, "Uh-huh! But what shall we play? Lets go find Tyler. He'll know what to play."
Ciarra looked out into the hall. "I'm not supposed to go out." She whispered. "I got in trouble."
Miranda looked into the hall also, "We could stay here and play then." She pulled a small plastic box out from under Ciarra's bed, and started to dig through it. She pulled out some modeling clay and sat down at the small table. "Let's make something."
Ciarra smiled and sat down beside her friend. She took a small bit of clay and started to roll out the air bubbles.
"What are you going to make?" Asked Miranda. "I'm gonna make a horse."
Ciarra looked thoughtfully at her clay. "I'm gonna make a rose."
**************************************
Eastlynne finished the report she had been working on, and hit the print button. She sat back in her chair and waited for the printer to stop. ~What am I going to do with Emmy?~ She thought to herself, ~She's worse than I was.~
"What's wrong, East?" Obsydian asked as she slipped out of the shadows. "You look worried."
Eastlynne looked up, "I'm alright." She smiled.
"No, you're not." Obsydian stated, "You forgot, I can 'read' your emotions. Now, What's wrong?"
Eastlynne sighed. She knew ther was no use lying to Obsydian. "I'm just upset, and worried about Emmy. I had a meeting with Mr. Kelsey about her this morning."
Obsydian grinned, "Yes, I know, Go on."
"Well, They've, again, threatened to assign sweepers to her. They've also threatened to take her out of the mentor program." Eastlynne sighed again. "I don't know what has gotten into her lately."
Obsydian looked thoughtfully at Eastlynne. "Do you want me to talk to her?" She asked.
"Please! She listens to you more than me."
"I'll see what I can do." Obsydian smiled. "I'll see you later. I have a... um... meeting, of sorts."
Eastlynne smiled knowingly. "Alright, bye." Eastlynne smiled as Obsydian slipped back into the shadows and disappeared.
****************************************
Ciarra looked up at her rose. A few more petals and it would be done.
"Your rose looks better than my horse." Sighed Miranda.
Ciarra hugged her friend. "I like your horse." She smiled, "Besides, you can draw better than me."
Miranda smiled and finished her horse. "I have to go now." She said when she was done.
"Do you really have to?" Ciarra asked, adding the last petal to her rose.
Miranda nodded and stood up. She smoothed out her dress and went to the door. "I'll come back later, ok?"
Ciarra smiled, then nodded as her friend slipped out the door. She sat, for a moment, quietly looking at the two sculptures. She looked first at the horse.
The horse looked somewhat like a horse. It looked like the work of any normal seven year old. The rose, on the other hand, looked like the work of a great sculptor. Ciarra could make the clay into anything she saw, anything she thought up. This is one of the reasons she was brought to the Centre.
Ciarra picked up her rose and sat there staring at it. Her mind wandered through time. She remembered her Daddy giving her a rose. She closed her eyes to remember more, but as soon as she did, there was a knock on the door.
"Ciarra? I need you to come with me." Said a tall man at the door.
Ciarra's eyes filled with fright. The man was a sweeper, and Ciarra was deathly afraid of sweepers. "Where are we going?" She asked, trying not to sound scared.
"Just be quiet, and follow me." Said the sweeper.
Ciarra did exactly as she was told. She stood up and straightened out her wrinkled dress, then followed the sweeper down the hall.
At the end of the hall, they met another sweeper and Miranda. Ciarra smiled slightly upon seeing her friend.
"Where are they taking us?" Miranda whispered.
"I don't know." Answered Ciarra, "But I hope we get to stay together."
Miranda took Ciarra's hand in hers. She knew how scared sweepers made Ciarra feel. "We'll always be together." She whispered, trying to comfort Ciarra.
"Let's go." Said Miranda's sweeper.
The two girls and the other sweeper followed down the hall. The girls were taken to a small room. They had never been in this room before.
Ciarra looked around, her eyes taking in everything, every little detail. "Where are we?" She asked on of the sweepers.
"Just wait here." Was all he replied. Then the two men left.
"I'm scared!" Ciarra said to her friend. "Why did they bring us here?"
"I don't know." Said Miranda, still holding Ciarra's hand. "But. we'll be alright." She smiled and hugged her friend.
Miranda let go of Ciarra and walked over to the small table in the middle of the room. On the table was some clay and a drawing pad. next to the clay was a small figurine of a tiger. Next to the drawing pad was a photograph of the same tiger.
"I wonder why this stuff is here." Miranda said aloud.
"It's a test." Said Ciarra. "They made me do something like this when my mommy brought me here." She picked up the figurine and examined it carefully. "I did this the first day I was here. They made me draw a picture of the tiger, then I had to make it out of clay."
"Why" Miranda asked.
"I don't know." Replied Ciarra. "I just remember doing it." Ciarra set the tiger down. "After I did that, my mommy left." She looked down at the floor, trying to hide her tears.
Miranda walked over and hugged her friend again. "It will be ok." She said quietly. "I won't leave you."
The door opened and a friendly looking woman walked in. "Hello girls." She smiled. "How are you today?"
Miranda looked up at the lady. "Why are we here?" She asked bluntly. "What are we going to do?"
The lady smiled. "You are going to help me make something." She sat down at the small table, and picked up the picture of the tiger.
"I already did this." Ciarra stated as she wiped her eyes. "I don't want to help make anything, and niether does Miranda!"
The woman looked at Ciarra, then at Miranda. "Well, then what do you want to do?"
Miranda smiled. "Will you let us do whatever we want?" She asked, her eyes blazing.
"Well, maybe. It depends on what it is."
Miranda giggled. "We want to go play outside!" She said. "Ciarra hasn't been outside since she got here."
The lady nodded. "Outside it is." She smiled. "Oh, my name is Miss Stevens."
Miranda smiled. "Alright, Miss Stevens, this way." She said as she lead the way out the door and down the hall. ***************************************
September walked quietly outside. She went to Eastlynne's rose garden and curled up under the big oak tree. She sat there with her eyes closed, thinking. ~~Why do I have to stay here? Why do I have to do Simulations all the time? I don't see any point to it.~ She opened her eyes and looked around at the many different colors of roses surrounding her. She stood up and walked over to a bush full of blue roses. September picked a blue rose and walked over to the bench. She sat down and examined the rose carefully.
"This way!" Miranda shouted. "Let's go this way! I can see flowers!" Ciarra giggled and followed her friend.
Miss Steven's followed close behind the girls. "Don't run to fast!" She called out the the girls as they ran ahead. "Be careful!"
September looked up in time to see two little girls race past her. One had blond hair and the other had curly red hair. She smiled at the fun the girls were having. She watched the one with red hair. She reminded her of herself when she was little.
"Miranda! Wait up!" Ciarra laughed. "Slow down! I can't run that fast in this dress." Ciarra ran back past September. She stopped and turned around. She looked at September quietly, then ran off again. "Miranda!!!" she laughed.
"Over here!" Miranda called from behind the lavender Angel face roses. "I'm over here."
"Be careful." September warned, "The roses have plenty of thorns."
Miranda walked over to September, "Hello." She greeted. "What's your name?"
September smiled, "September. But you can call me Emmy."
Ciarra came back from behind the red bushes and climbed up beside September. "I'm Ciarra," she said shyly, "That's Miranda. She's silly."
"Miranda? Ciarra? Time to go in!" Miss Stevens called from the walk. "It's time for dinner."
"Coming!" Miranda called. "It was nice to meet you Emmy." She smiled. "Bye."
Ciarra smiled as she climbed down and followed Miranda in.
September waved at the girls. She watched Ciarra till she couldn't see her anymore. ~~Why couldn't I have fun like that?~~ She thought. Quietly she got up and went inside too. It was dinnertime at the Centre, and if she didn't show up for hers she would be in more trouble.
****************************************
Obsydian slipped quietly throught the shadows, on her way to September's quarters. She slid silently into September's room and waited for Emmy.
September opened her door and switched on the light.
"Too bright!" Came a voice from the corner.
"No, It isn't Mek!" September laughed as she let the bird out of it's cage. Meleek (the bird) hopped from the cage and flew to Obsydian's shoulder. "Heya, Syd." September greeted her friend. "What are you doing here?"
"Emmy," Stated Obsydian, "We need to talk.
****************************************
Ciarra looked down at her plate of food. She wasn't very hungry. Quietly she watched Miranda eat hers hungrily.
"Are you going to eat?" Miranda asked between mouthfuls.
Ciarra shook her head, "I'm not very hungry." She answered. "You can have mine if you want."
Miranda shrugged and finished her dinner. "No, Thank's, Ciarra." She said. "But if you don't eat, They might think you're sick."
Ciarra looked at her plate again. She picked up her fork and took a small bite of her peas. Then she set her fork down again. She wasn't hungry at all, But she didn't want them to think she was sick.
Miranda looked at her empty plate. "I'm still hungry." She commented.
"You can eat mine." Ciarra offered again, looking at her full plate.
Miranda looked curiously at her friend. "Ok. If you are sure you're not hungry."
Ciarra pushed her plate across the table to Miranda. "I'm sure." She said as she got up and went over to her bed.
Miranda watched her friend as she started eating again. Ciarra layed down and closed her eyes. She was soon fast asleep. Miranda finished her dinner and sat quietly waiting for her sweeper.
****************************************
Eastlynne and Mara Jade walked to the Centre Exchange.
"So. Did you ever look at that file I gave you?" Mara asked Eastlynne.
"No, not yet." East answered. "I've been really swamped with other paperwork." She said as she rolled her eyes.
"I know that feeling." Said Mara as she opened the dor to the Exchange.
"Hiya Eastie! Hey Mara!" Came greetings from all around the room. MAra and Eastlynne smiled and greeted all their friends, then found an empty table in a quiet corner. Cécile joined them shortly after.
"Ok, Mara. What exactly did you find out?" Eastlynne asked her friend.
"Well," started Mara, "I found out that Emmy's mother once worked for the Centre. I also found out that Emmy has a younger sister. And that she's somewhere in the Centre."
"A sister?" Cécile asked. "But if Emmy's mom died while having her, then how can her sister be younger?"
"Because she's only her half sister." Mara answered.
"What's her name?" Eastlynne asked. "Who's she under?"
Mara shrugged. "I don't know! I had to crash the system before I found out. Someone figured out that I was playing with the files."
"Sorry Mara." Came a voice from behind them. "I tried to tell you it was only me, before you crashed, But. . .Well. . . .Sorry."
Mara turned around to face a mirror "image" of Cécile. "Allassandra! It was you?" She asked the girl.
"Yes." Obsydian replied. "I tried to stop it from crashing, but I guess I taught you too well." She smiled as she sat down beside her twin (Cécile). Mara grinned slightly in spite of herself. (She doesn't like to show her emotions)
Cécile looked at her sister. "So. What brought you out of the shadows?" She asked curiously.
"I came to give Eastlynne this." She answered as she held out a file folder. "I finished Mara's search."
Mara looked over at Obsydian. "You did?"
Obsydian nodded. "It's all in that file. She's the charge of a Mr. Alec Tate." Obsydian said, lowering her voice.
Eastlynne looked up from the file. She recognized the name Tate. "I'll look into this first thing in the morning." She said, rubbing her forehead.
"East? Are you ok?" Cécile asked her friend.
Eastlynne nodded. "Yeah. Just got one of my headaches is all. I think I'm gonna go lay down. I'll see you guys in the morning."
"Alright. Night Eastie." Her friends called as she left. Eastlynne walked slowly to her room. Her head pounded as she made her way throught the dark corridors.
****************************************************
Ciarra woke up and looked around the room. It wasn't her room!
"Where am I?" She whispered to the empty room, as her eyes filled with fright. She sat up and scanned the room again. It wasn't like any of the rooms she had ever been in.
"Hello Ciarra." Said a man in a white lab coat, as he walked into the room. "How are you feeling this morning?"
Ciarra rubbed her eyes softly. "I'm alright" She whispered. "Where am I?"
The man smiled at Ciarra. "You're in the infimary. You've been very sick the last three days."
Ciarra looked at the man, puzzled. "But I only fell alseep after dinner last night!" She whispered. "Why can I only whisper?" She asked.
"Sweetie, You fell asleep three days ago. You've had a really high fever and you've been here ever since." The man answered. "You can only whisper becuase you have a virus that takes your voice away for awhile." Ciarra sighed deeply. She didn't like the thought of not being able to talk. "You'll be able to talk in a week or so." The man continued. "Mr. Tate will be here shortly to get you." Ciarra sat quietly as the man checked her breathing, pulse and heartrate. After he did this, he scribbled a few notes on Ciarra's chart and left.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
September sat quietly on her bed. She thought about what Obsydian had told her. She really didn’t want sweepers following her around. "Guess this means no more exploring." She said to the grey kitten in her lap. "At least not for a while." She sighed. The kitten looked up at September and yawned, as if upset about being awakened. She (kitten) stood up, stretched, then curled up on the pillows. September smiled softly. She got up and went to the door. ~I don’t have any sims till this afternoon~ She thought. ~I think I’ll go to the Exchange.~
September slipped quietly into the Centre Exchange. Being early morning, not many people were around. She looked around for a familiar face. Eastlynne was asleep in the windowseat. (She hadn’t been able to sleep well in her quarters, and had come to the CE sometime after everybody had left.) September curled up on the couch to wait.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ciarra silently wandered the corridors. Mr.Tate had said she could go find Miranda. She had checked all of Miranda’s usual hiding spots, but hadn’t found her yet. She rounded the corner and saw a door that wasn’t labeled. ~Curious!~ She thought. ~All the other doors have labels on them. But this one doesn’t!~ Slowly she opened the door and peeked inside. Maybe Miranda was in here. Ciarra scanned the large room for her friend. She saw two girls, about her age, at a table, drawing. And she saw September asleep on the couch, but no Miranda.
~I wonder what this place is!~ She thought.
"That’s the Exchange!" Miranda smiled as she walked up to Ciarra. "The adults go there all the time."
Ciarra turned and smiled. "Who are those girls?" She asked pointing to the girls at the table.
Miranda shrugged. "Don’t know. But they’re always playing in there." Miranda looked down the hall. "Let’s go wake up Tyler."
"Alright." Ciarra said as she looked into the Exchange one last time. Ciarra and Miranda raced down the hall toward the elevator.
"I’ll get there first!" Miranda called over her shoulder.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Emmy. Emms, wake up." Eastlynne said as she softly shook the girl. "September, it’s time for you to go!"
September sat up and sleepily rubbed her eyes. "Go where?" She said, still half asleep.
"You were supposed to be in the sim lab, twenty minutes ago."
"What??" September said. "It’s only 9:15." She looked up at the clock. "Oh-no!! I’m late!!" she said as she jumped up from the couch and sprinted from the room. She ran down the hall and to the elevator.
Mara Jade was waiting for the elevator. "Where’s the fire?" She asked September.
"Fire?" September exclaimed, "What fire?"
Mara laughed, "I meant, where are you going so fast?"
"I’m late!" September said. "I was supposed to be in the sim lab 20 minutes ago! This elevator is taking too long!" September sighed. "Bye Mara!" She said as she ran toward the stairs. She ran all the way to the sim lab on level 4. She breathlessly peeked around the corner, but Mr.Kelsey wasn’t there.
~Oh-No!~ She thought. ~Now I’m in major trouble!~ Slowly she waslked to Mr.Kelsey’s office. "Mr.Kelsey?" She said as she looked into the office.
"September. Come in." Mr.Kelsey said.
~He doesn’t sound angry.~ September thought as she carefully entered the office. "I. . . .I’m sorry, I’m late." She apologized. "I went to the Exchange. . . . . ." She started to explain.
"Shh! Miss McCourtnee has already explained what happened. You’re not in trouble."
"I’m not??" September asked, shocked.
"No," Continued Kelsey, "She also explained, to me, that I’ve been working you too hard. So I’ve decided to let you have a few days to yourself."
September stared at the man in front of her. She couldn’t believe what he was saying.
"Your next simulation," Continued Kelsey, "Isn’t until a week from today. I want to see you here, the day before." Mr.Kelsey scribbled something on a small piece of paper. "Give this to Miss McCourtnee. She’ll remind you when the time comes." He handed her the paper. "Now, You may go. Don’t get into any trouble."
September smiled, "Me? Trouble?" She said as she skipped out the door. ~A whole week of Freedom!~ September thought. ~WOW~ She skipped down the hall and headed for Eastlynne’s office. She wanted to give her Mr.Kelsey’s note before she forgot about it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ciarra sat quietly in her chair, waiting for Mr.Tate to tell her what she was supposed to do. She looked around the room as she waited. It wasn't the usual sim lab. It was smaller and ther was no glass room, (control booth) in the corner. Two sweepers stood by the door. They both had ear plugs in their ears.
"Ciarra," Mr.Tate called her to attention. "We're going to to something different today."
Ciarra looked up at Mr.Tate. "What are we going to do?" She asked quietly.
"We're not going to be working with memories. We're going to work with your voice."
"My voice?" Ciarra asked.
Tate nodded, "Yes, I'm going to bring in a little girl. I want you to talk to her."
"Talk to her?" Ciarra asked again.
"Yes," Tate answered, "I want you to talk to her in your projecting voice, only we aren't projecting any thoughts. Ok?"
Ciarra still looked puzzled, "Ok." She answered. "What do I talk to her about?"
Mr.Tate handed her a piece of paper, with a short story on it.
Ciarra looked at the paper. "You want me to tell her this story?" Ciarra asked reading the stroy.
"Yes," Tate answered, "I want you to tell her this story and make her believe it. But, You cannot project any thoughts to her."
Ciarra still didn't understand, but nodded anyway. She reread the story, memorizing it word for word. Mr.Tate went to the door and called for the little girl. "Ciarra, This is Danica." Tate introduced the girls. "Danica, why don't you go sit down and talk with Ciarra." Danica walked over and sat down beside Ciarra. She was older than Ciarra, about eight or nine years old. She had long, black hair and shiney black eyes. She smiled at Ciarra as she sat down.
"Hi." Danica said softly.
Ciarra smiled, "Hi. Um.... I need you to do something for me." Ciarra said in her sweet controling voice.
"What?" Danica asked.
Ciarra began to tell Danica the stroy she had memorized. It wasn't long before Danica was totally under Ciarra's control. She believed every word Ciarra was saying.
Mara Jade watched silently from the darkness of the shadows. She was early to her "control" sim, and decided to watch the one befroe her. She frowned when she saw the young girls. ~Oh-No!~ She thought. ~They're training her to be another voice controller!~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Eastlynne sat at her desk, reviewing the file that Obsydian had given her. She frowned. She knew she had to meet with Mr.Tate about this child, but she really didn't want to. The last time she had seen Mr.Tate, he had kidnapped her. She shook her head and put the file down. This wasn't about her. This was about Emmy. She HAD to do this. Mara Jade walked into Eastlynne's office. She looked upset.
"What's wrong?" East asked her.
Mara sighed. "They're making another voice controller." She explained. "The truely sad thing is, She looks as if she's only four or five years old." She continued, "They gonna end up putting her through the same Hell I went through!" Mara frowned again. This was really upsetting her. She hated her abilities and the way the Centre exploited them. And now they were going to do it again!
Eastlynne walked over and hugged her friend. "We'll figure something out." she said.
Mara smiled slightly.
"Can you do me a favor?" Eastlynne asked.
"Sure. What?" Mara answered.
"Can you come with me to a meeting?" East said, "I really don't want to go alone."
Mara nodded. "Sure. What's the meeting about?"
"I'm meeting with Mr.Tate about Emmy's sister."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ciarra walked quietly to her quarters. In front of her door sat a small grey kitten. Ciarra smiled, "Hello kitty." She said as she picked up the kitten. The kitten rubbed it’s head against Ciarra’s chin and started to pur. Ciarra giggled and concentrated hard on the kitten. (Miranda had taught her how to talk to the animals with her mind)
*What’s your name?* She asked. *And where do you belong?*
The kitten purred some more and Ciarra ’listened’ to her thoughts. *My name’s Tyannah* Thought the kitten, *Emmy’s mine, I live in her room*
Ciarra giggled and scratched the kitten’s head, between her ears. "Well, then" Ciarra smiled, "We shall have to find her and return you." She cuddled the kitten and started down the hall. She headed to the Centre Exchange, because that was where she had last seen September.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Eastlynne and Mara Jade walked to the Exchange. East’s meeting wasn’t for another hour, so they had decided to go have lunch first. They chose an empty table and sat down.
"Heya guys!" Cécile greeted as she joined them. "What’s up?"
Eastlynne smiled, "Not a lot." She said. "Just sitting around waiting for my meeting."
Cécile sat down. "Meeting?" she asked.
"I have a meeting about September’s sister." East answered.
"Oh yeah." Cécile said.
Mara’s cell phone rang and she quickly answered it. "Jade!" she said then listened for a few minutes. "Uh-huh? . . . . .Yes, sir. . . . .I’ll be right there." And with that she hung up and put her phone away. "Sorry East. I can’t go to that meeting after all." She said as she stood up. "Something has come up and my services are neede." She sighed "See you later." Mara pushed in her chair and left.
Ciarra carried the kitten into the Exchange. She stood close to the door and looked around the room. She walked up to a young woman, "Excuse me." She said quietly.
Eastlynne looked down at the child. "Yes, what do you need little one?" She smiled.
Ciara held up the kitten, "Do you know where September is?" She asked, "I found her kitten in front of my quarters."
Eastlynne scratched the kitten’s head. "Hello Tyannah. Where have you been?" She asked the kitten.
"She says that she went exploring and got lost." Ciarra answered.
Cécile looked surprised. "You can talk to her?" She asked.
Ciarra nodded. "Uh-huh. She told me all about her exploration."
Eastlynne smiled, "Well, little one, I don’t know where Emmy is right now, but I’m sure we can find her."
Ciarra smiled. "What’s your name?" She asked Eastlynne.
"My name’s Eastlynne and this is my friend Cécile. What’s your name?"
"I’m Ciarra." She grinned.
Eastlynne looked at Cécile then back at the child in front of her. Standing right here in front of her was September’s sister. "Well, Ciarra, It’s nice to meet you." East smiled. "Shall we go find Emmy?
"Yes." Said Ciarra, "Tyannah says she misses Meleek. Ciarra looed curiously at Eastlynne, "Who’s Meleek?"
Cécile giggled, "Meleek is Emmy’s bird. He likes to play with Tyannah."
Ciarra laughed. "That’s silly!"
Eastlynne gathered her stuff and the three of them headed off to find September.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
September skipped into Eastlynne’s office and looked around. Seeing that nobody was ther, she sat down at Eastlynne’s desk. As she set Mr.Kelsey’s note down she noticed a file laying open on the desk. Now normally Emmy would not have messed with the file at all, but she noticed something familiar on this one. She noticed her father’s name. She picked up the file and began to read it silently, memorizing it word for word. ~~I have a sister?!~~ She thought, shocked. She set down the file and looked around the room. She read the name of the child again. "That little girl in the garden!!" She said aloud, "The little red-haired girl is my sister!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
