Disclaimer: see chapter one
AN: So sorry about the wait. RL has been a right royal pain in rear end, and it's been kinda busy lately between yet more exams and being fired from my job. I believe the term the company used was retrenchment, but it was really a firing. Add sports events and injuries on top of that and you have one very busy teen. Anyway, it's up now, so read on and enjoy.
Many thanks to my awesome beta Little Miss Bump for reading through this.
Chapter Four
To: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
From: Gordon Tracy (fishphase_fms. com)
Subject: Quick question
--
How on EARTH do you survive up here, John?
The water tank is miniscule on your little tin can! I went in for a shower and the water cut off before I could soak properly! Your chlorination and filtering process takes way too long! I had to wait three lousy minutes before the clean water tank fills up again with enough water for a short shower after the filtering process. Is there any way to speed it up?
John, you studied bio in school, you know fish can't survive on oxygen alone.
Also, there's a small blizzard brewing up in the Artic Circle. Do I monitor the situation before calling it in or do I call it in now? Refresh my memory; it's been just over a year and a half since I've done a rotation up here.
That's all for now.
Gordy
PS. The tin can might not be in the exact… ummm… same condition you let it in. Just giving you plenty of warning so you can mentally prepare yourself.
To: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
From: Tin-Tin Kyrano (sweet-sweet_fms. com)
Subject: You are in a bit of a predicament…
--
But have no fear! Tin-Tin is here to help!
If I were you, I would project my true personality. Who could resist your scintillating company, warm sense of humour and general all round likeability?
Better still, ask her out on a date. You know you want to.
Just remember, if you need any more advice, you know who to email. And keep me posted.
Tin-Tin XOX
To: Gordon Tracy (fishphase_fms. com)
From: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
Subject: You have GOT to be kidding me…
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You are seriously telling me you've used up Five's water supply in less than a week?!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?
What am I meant to do once I get back up there? Stink?
You are unbelievable. It's called rationing. Heard of it?
I mean, I know the water is recycled constantly, but that's not the point! And no, there is no way of speeding up the filtering process. It is going as fast as it can. You need to learn to abstain from
And you call in the Artic Circle blizzard. Base will then make a decision of whether they wait for a call or head straight in. They will most probably wait, but you have to call it in anyway, following protocol procedures.
And if Five is missing anything, or there are gaping holes in the fuselage, or if there is a single scratch on my 'Bird, you will pay.
From a disgruntled John.
To: Tin-Tin Kyrano (sweet-sweet_fms. com)
From: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
Subject: Muchos Gracias
--
Thanks for the tips, Tin. They were so much more helpful compared to Scott's advice.
But, I can't ask her out. I don't even know her that well. But I'm gonna work on that over the next few days.
Any more suggestions?
From the ever grateful,
John.
To: Jade Mackenzie (jmackenzie_nyeditor. com)
From: Greg Sanchez (gsanchez_nyeditor. com)
Subject: Congratulations, kid,
--
You're on time at work for the first time in months. I guess the dog-walker showed up, then.
Now, all you have to do is hand your columns in on time and I really wouldn't have a reason to fire you, Mackenzie.
Greg.
To: Jade Mackenzie (jmackenzie_nyeditor. com)
From: Lara Sadlinsokov (lsadlinsokov_nyeditor. com)
Subject: Your last e-mail
--
Come on Jade, there's gotta be more to your meeting than you saying "hi" and him running into his aunt's flat.
You know you wanna tell me.
Lara.
To: Lara Sadlinsokov (lsadlinsokov_nyeditor. com)
From: Jade Mackenzie (jmackenzie_nyeditor. com)
Subject: You know you wanna tell me
--
Actually, Lara, that was pretty much it. But I'll also tell you this.
Seb 'John' Freelancer is nothing like the descriptions I've heard from his aunt and other people. Did I tell you he's asked me to call him John? I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself; I just can't remember.
Under his shyness, he seems like a genuinely nice guy. Which is a stark contrast to the carefree, self-centred, egocentric, and I quote here, a pathetic excuse for a human who has no inclination to change his personality.
I guess that goes to show that people can change and adopt a more likeable personality. I just wish I could have gotten to know him a bit better in that brief interlude we had.
Jade.
To: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
From: Scott Tracy (flyboy101_fms. com)
Subject: Just checking you're still alive
--
Haven't heard from you in a while. It's been a few days. But I've been busy, so I might have been out saving the world you when you called.
So, how's things? Talks and lectures good? Sealed any deals yet?
And are you still posing as Seb? How's that working out?
I hope, for your sake, it's going well. Otherwise you'll be up to your neck in hot water.
Scott.
To: Scott Tracy (flyboy101_fms. com)
From: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
Subject: God, you are such a...
--
Mother hen, aren't you? You can't even go a week without checking up on me!
Just kidding. You know I don't mind, really.
And are you still posing as Seb? How's that working out?
Yes, I am still impersonating him. And it is going horribly!
After years of playing the field, I've finally met someone who I really and truly want to know better.
Someone who looks stunning in heels that are five inches too high for her and business attire while also managing to look absolutely fabulous in sweats and runners.
A girl who seems genuinely interested in me. Not my money, even though she doesn't know about that. Me.
A girl who laughs at my asinine jokes and listens to my inane stories. A girl who has the same hobbies and interests I have. She loves tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, blues and conspiracy theories.
Are you getting this, Scott?
My God, after all the other girls I've dated, (Heather, Meghan and Courtney, just to name a few... my God, remember Meghan?) who've only been interested in my personal assets, I've finally met a Jade who doesn't know the difference between an IPO and an IOU.
And I can't even tell her my real name.
No, she thinks I'm Sebastian Freelancer, instead of John Tracy.
Sebastian Freelancer, who is nothing more than a self-centred moron whose brain atrophied at the age of sixteen.
Sebastian Freelancer, who has derived his knowledge on how to treat women from Saturday morning cartoons.
I know what you're going to say, Scott.
And the answer is no. I can't.
Maybe if I'd never lied about this in the first place, things would have been different. Maybe if I had just told her from the very beginning, "look, I'm not Seb. He feels really bad about what happened, but he couldn't make it, so I came on his behalf," things would have been easier.
But I didn't.
And it's too late to tell Jade the truth. Because if I do, she'll always have the 'once a liar, always a liar' voice in the back of her mind. Don't tell me she won't. I've seen this on old re-runs of Oprah.
So there you have it. My hellish life in under four hundred words.
And yes, I am perfectly aware that I brought this down on myself. I've dug my grave, and now I have to lie in it, even if I've lined it with jagged rocks.
Cadaverously yours,
John
PS. Did I tell you I'm beginning to write another book? This time it's a novel. It's about time I did something different.
To: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
From: Scott Tracy (flyboy101_fms. com)
Subject: What novel?
--
You're writing a novel? You lead a mysterious double life, -triple if count your current deception-, you try and save most of mankind anonymously when you can, you attend a day job at Tracy Industries and you're writing a novel?
Honestly, who do you think you are? Bruce Wayne?
Scott
To: Scott Tracy (flyboy101_fms. com)
From: John Tracy (spacecase_fms. com)
Subject: Batman
--
Actually, Scott, to my knowledge, Bruce Wayne never wrote a novel. Sure, he saved Gotham City anonymously as Batman, but he never wrote a novel.
I can send you the first few chapters as soon as I get a chance, if you want.
Anyway, back to my mysterious third life. There is an important e-mail I have to send now.
John
To: Jade Mackenzie (jmackenzie_nyeditor. com)
From: (spacecase_fms. com)
Subject: Hi
--
Hi Jade. It's me. Seb (John) Freelancer. I've just realised I've never given you my new e-mail address.
Anyway, because I haven't seen you in person since Thursday morning, I've had to resort to writing an e-mail asking you if you are doing anything on Sunday.
If you aren't, would you like to go see a movie and grab a bite to eat afterwards?
Hoping to hear from you soon,
John.