Chapter 21

Settle in with The Listeners

Paul: So who are you?

Sapphire: None of your business.

Paul: If you're going to be staying here with my tribe I think it is.

Sapphire: Ask your sister, but right now she's not my biggest fan.

Paul: Why not?

Sapphire: When the Technos took her boyfriend, KC, I grabbed Patsy's hand and made her run away so she wouldn't get caught. She was mad with me because I wouldn't let her run after him and try to get him back.

Paul: Well thank you for making sure my sister was safe. I appreciate it.

Sapphire: Glad someone does.

Paul: What's your problem?

Sapphire: Look, a lot of stuff has happened to me and just when it looks like it's going to get better, that everything's going to be okay, it gets bad again.

Paul: It hasn't been easy for anyone-

Sapphire: I don't need a lecture on how it's been so very difficult for everyone on the planet. You asked, I told you.

Paul: Looks like they've told Dee everything. (he points in the direction of the House.)

END OF SCENE

START OF SCENE

Cloe: You've done a fantastic job here Dee.

Patsy: Everyone loves you.

Dee: Thank you. Ved, Patch will help you find a place to setup and if you need an extra hand he's quite good with technology. Your idea of how to fight the Techno's is brilliant.

Ved: Thanks Dee. Maybe I've never told you this but you're kinda great.

Dee: Where have the aliens taken the real Ved?

Ved: Oh whatever. (leaves with Patch)

Cloe: So everyone works together here?

Dee: Yep, we share food, water, and our talents. Some are good at making clothes, others at hunting, others at tracking, others at teaching. We're all a really close community. (calls out to a group) Charlie, I saw that! Come here now!

A small, dark haired boy hurries over.

Cloe: Charlie?

Charlie: Cloe!

Cloe: (hugs him) You just … disappeared. Oh, I'm so glad you're safe.

Dee: (smiles) Ahh, the Mallrats. How do you lose so many?

Cloe: (over the top of Charlie's head) Who knows?

Dee: Charlie, you can talk to Cloe later. Right now I want you to take Tally and Andy here and show them around. Get them settled in, get them fresh clothes, and so on. You understand?

Charlie: Cool Dee, but just a second please?

Dee nods.

Charlie: (to Cloe) How's Mouse? Is she okay?

Cloe: Last time I saw her, she was great.

Charlie: Good (smiles) C'mon you two.

Dee: Speaking of fresh clothes you two and that other girl probably need some.

Cloe: Sapphire! Come here!

END OF SCENE

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Paul comes into a room where Cloe and Patsy are, Sapphire is in the one next door. Cloe and Ved are sharing a room but Ved is still working with Patch. Sapphire is sharing with Patsy but she's asleep and Patsy and Cloe want to talk.

Cloe and Patsy have explained everything that's happened since his disappearance except for Sapphire's history or who she really is.

Patsy: So tell us my brother, what happened to you?

Paul: I was upset, mostly over Lex always yelling at me. I felt kind of worthless, and incapable. Like I really didn't contribute anything so I left. But I was only really going out to clear my head and that kind of thing. On my way back the Demon Dogs caught me. Decided I'd be kind of good as a slave so they sold me to the slave traders. From there I was sold to this farm in the countryside but I eventually escaped. The Listeners found me after that. When I was about to leave for the City to find you Pats, the Techno's moved in and I couldn't risk it.

Patsy: Oh Paul, I'm just glad to have you back.

Cloe; Me too.

Paul: That KC sounds like a good guy Pats. We'll get him back. Cloe's man knows what to do.

Cloe blushes.

Paul: So what's this Sapphire chick's problem?

Cloe and Patsy look at each other and then back at Paul.

Cloe: Sapphire's… complicated.

Paul: How so?

Cloe: Well, from what we know and Ryan's told us, her brother is Ram.

Paul: The Techno leader?

Cloe: Yes.

Paul: And you trust her?

Patsy: You would too, if you hear the next part.

Paul: Well tell me.

Cloe; She and her sister were reported dead from an accident while evacuated. Ram still thinks they're in heaven. They survived the accident but ended up joining some random tribe. Shortly afterwards they were forced into Chosen mines where they got separated and Ryan met Saff there. When the Chosen were defeated Ryan made his own tribe and Saff made her own, but they were brother tribes. They fought against a Techno invasion but it turned into a massacre. Since Sapphire was a rebel leader-

Patsy: They took her in and decided to start a project on her. Project No-Name. Basically they tortured her into submission and brain-washed her 'till she believed she was a computer, a machine.

Paul: No, that's… that's.

Cloe: Inhumane?

Paul: And Ram approved it all?

Patsy: We don't think he knows 'Sapphire' is his sister. She changed her name after the virus and he never came face to face with the girl they did the No-Name Project on. He did it all from head office.

Paul: Did you rescue her?

Patsy: We were breaking Ved and Jack out of the centre.

Cloe: And they both said she'd be the ultimate wapean and what was being done to her was cruel.

Patsy: But they didn't know just how much.

Cloe: She and Ryan were close.

Patsy: She was just starting to get so much better.

Cloe: Now's she's going downhill again.

Paul: I don't think I helped.