Chapter 5: Recollection
*Riley is situated across from Own at her favorite "antique eatery," Rigaldo's, where the food actually looks like food even before you put it into the Zaptron. Better yet the food didn't even look like capsulated nutrients. Both of them are eating on the patio. Riley orders more food than she could actually eat. She slurps the last bit of her third Root Beer Fizz*
Riley: When he says 24 hours, do you think he means from the exact hour he said it or an actual whole day?
Owen:…
Riley: Yeah you're right. (Holding up a fork)
Do you know what I don't understand? If they CEN want me so badly why don't they just brainwash me themselves?
Owen: Well…
Riley: It just doesn't make sense to me. Just like that time in Neo-Prague where the innocent guy got so overworked he shot himself, not just once, three times, two in the leg and then one in the head. I mean if he wants to go so badly why not just shoot himself in the head first right? Hey, you remember that old movie?
Owen: Let me guess… Minority Report?
Riley: Yeah, I mean why can't we have something like that?
Owen: You mean three creepy albinos who lay in clear goop all day?
Riley: You know what I mean.
Owen: I kind of wanted to save this for a time when it's not so tense but, um, you remember Rachel Devna?
Riley: Yeah. Why does everyone treat me like I've lost all of my memory of what happened before those 2 years? Yes, she's my best friend as well as yours.
Owen: Oh, well, I don't know if she would be any more.
Riley: And why not? I mean so you guys have had you differences before it's not like…
Owen: She turned.
Riley: The corner? On the light? The knob? What?
Owen: She's working with the Awakening faction.
Riley: Because she was brainwashed.
Owen: She chose to Riley.
Riley: Because she was brainwashed.
Owen: After she heard the people that were suppose to be good put you behind bars, she first went into denial, then didn't bother to talk to anyone or eat, and put herself into solitude. Then she ran off and sought to join the people against the CEN.
Riley:…I…I. I don't get it. I mean mom and dad they didn't…
Owen: No, they didn't go through anything that juristic, but it didn't mean they did love you, as much they cried every time something reminded them of you or when someone mentioned something about you.
Riley: And you…
Owen: I fell apart. I didn't know how I was supposed to live with out you for 2 years. It's hard enough missing and worrying about you for a week while you were off working.
Riley: You fell back on your older habits didn't you?
Owen: Yeah I couldn't stop drinking. Every time I saw a beer it just reminded me of the effect you had on me when you were around.
Riley: *with tears falling down her cheeks* You mean I make you feel like a drunken idiot?
Owen: Maybe not the drunken idiot but yes, an idiot at times. Look it's not your fault. And even though I would let you worry yourself to death, it just wouldn't work well on my conscience. So how about I take you home?
Riley: Pfft. If I have a "home" to go back to.
*Owen and Riley walk up to his car* Owen touches some of the bullet holes*
Owen: Man.
Riley: At least it wasn't us.
*Riley and Owen climb into the once sleek red car* On the license screen it reads FF* The car lifts up in the air*
Riley: (Frightened) Jeez. Almost forgot what its like to be in one of these again
Owen: I take that as a no speeding then.
Riley: What happened to Skyler?
Owen: Well, we know he wouldn't live with anyone but your parents if you were gone…
Riley: But they said they would never take care of him.
Owen: Never is just saying if ever we don't have to.
Riley: (Laughs) I can't wait to see him. Four years old now.
Owen: Yeah. They even threw him a birthday party.
Riley: They were never really into those. Hey, can we stop by Marlevini?
Owen: Yeah sure. No problem.
*Riley peers out the window as she sees cars fly overhead and under the car. Tall skyscrapers tower overhead* There is a long period of silence in the car, where only the honking of horns and the whizzing of cars is heard*
Riley: So?
Owen: Yeah.
Riley: How many people we got on other planets now?
Owen: Well most of them are retired people or misanthropes who just want to get away.
Riley: That'll do it, (distance from earth to mars) is plenty away. You visited?
Owen: Yeah went on vacation, don't see what they hype's about.
*Owen parks the car on a 3 story-parking garage labeled "Marlevini's Parking Only, All Violators Will Be Credited"*
Riley: Wow. They've changed a lot.
Owen: You should see the clothes.
Riley: Why? What's wrong with them?
Owen: Nothing.
Riley: Uh, huh. So I suppose nothing is a way of saying there's something that I wouldn't say?
*As they take the elevator down and walk into the store a techno remix of "Killing Me Softly" is playing*
Riley: You know no matter how many times they redo this song somehow it's still good.
Owen: Yeah unlike those Disney/Pixar song remakes. Shudder. *he fake shivers*
*Riley laughs quietly as she is really distracted but the clothes instead*
Riley: What do you mean "I should see the clothes?" There's nothing wrong with them.
Owen: You should pick out a dress.
Riley: Why?
Owen: So I can buy it for you.
Riley: It's not like…I…don't (puts her hands in her pockets, realizing that she really doesn't have any "money" with her)…fine. But you know that once I shop it doesn't stop.
Owen: You're forgetting Skyler.
Riley: Right. Quick silver hidey ho!
Owen: Um, yeah, you know where I'll be?
Riley: Yeah, waiting be the dressing rooms, reading.
*Riley slowly hops over to clothing racks. Seeing the shoes Vance was suppose to buy later*
Riley: Hmmm…
*After an hour and a half Riley not only succeeds at finding a dress but dresses and shorts, and pants, and shirts, and skirts, and a personal shopper* The personal shopper by the time has a cart full of clothes* Riley finally finishing shopping after going through the whole two story store twice arrives at the dressing rooms* She sees Owen reading a News-Scan*
Owen: I knew it would be dresses.
Riley: Well I did…
Owen: (laughs) Just go try them on.
*Dress after dress, shirt after shirt, she tries on all her clothes and comes out to get Owen's opinion* After trying on everything and wearing the clothes she walked in with she comes out of the dressing room seeing Owen talking on his cell phone. She over hears some things he says" "Yeah. She's fine. Even after the new. *Owen glances over and sees Riley* Riley pretends not to be listening or paying attention*
Owen: (still on the phone) Yeah, uh, I got to go. Yeah talk to you later. (He walks over to Riley)
Riley: Anyone I would know?
Owen: Uh not really.
Riley: Right. Ok. So I want these (She holds up countless of hangers) is that ok?
Owen: Yeah, just don't expect a birthday or Christmas gift from me for a long while.
Riley: …Uh huh. Sure you won't.
*Riley and Owen walk up to the check out counter*
Lady at the counter: You total comes to 1453 credits (Riley scratches her head as Own hands his wallet e-cred-card to the lady at the counter)
*They exit the store and make their way to the car*
Riley: (carrying three bags) Yep. I think I did enough shopping to last me a couple of years.
Owen: (carrying three other bags) I think you've shopped enough to cover my end as well.
*Owen gets out his car laser. Click. The doors open. Click. Click. The trunk opens* Owen and Riley stuff the bags into the trunk and close it*
Riley: What'd they do with my clothes anyway?
Owen: Oh they're probably sitting in a box being eaten by mothanti.
Riley: Yeah, I can't believe we have worse moths than they had years ago.
Owen: Look at it this way they maybe more worse but they are less of them.
*Riley and Owen get into the car*
Riley: Where are we off to?
Owen: You'll see.
*During the whole care ride its silent not like an awkward silence more like a peaceful thinking silence* Skyscrapers everywhere, cars as populous as bugs. The sun sets as colors Riley remembered as a fourth of the rainbow illuminate the sky. More artificial light is turned on as the natural light fades* Close to Riley's first day being over* Feeling like a kindergartener her eyes shift every which way sometimes opening her mouth to ask Owen questions but rather have the silence instead. As they arrive at the Leanheart building, a building made up of apartments, condos, whole floor "houses" and of course houses or as some would say really big apartments*
Riley: Why are we here?...wait…no…you…don't?
Owen: Actually no. I don't live here, I still live where I use to live.
Riley: I was about to say, did you rob a bank or strike the credit jackpot? Okay, so if you don't live here who does?
Owen: You'll see.
Riley: Why? (She whines) I want to know now.
Owen: (chuckles) Be patient, Ri.
*As they enter the building the first floor's ceiling is high above their heads, nice fancy couches are precisely organized. The walls are covered with vintage classic movie posters as classic postmodern art. No cheesy elevator music is played but more of a calm Celtic kind of melody is heard* Riley taken aback with her head cocked upwards staring at the ceiling, Owen tugs at her arm* They walk over to the check in counter*
Owen: (to the man at the counter) Yes, we're here to see a Mr. Courvogner.
Man at the counter: Oh yes, he's expecting you. (He hands Owen a laser key)
Riley: Who the hell is Courvogner?
Owen: A person you need to see.
Riley: And why may I ask do I need to see him??
Owen: You'll see.
Riley: Quit saying that. What if I poke out my eyes? What are you going to do then?
Owen: All this time you've been asking the questions *near an elevator he pushes the up button*
Riley: I can't help it if everything I use to know has changed.
Owen: Some things have changed. But I promise you Ri, most things don't.
*They both walk into the elevator as Owen pushes the button to floor 53* Still no cheesy elevator music is heard* The noise of beeps is heard as they reach floor after floor*
Riley: You know I never really liked heights.
Owen: Though you manage to fly jets and helicopters?
Riley: Well I don't see my adrenaline rush kick in when I ride up and down elevators now do I? Why am I following you? I don't even necessarily trust you.
Owen: You only told that to Carter to snap at him.
Riley: Sometimes knowing someone too well is a downfall.
Owen: (laughs) Only because you know I'm right.
*In 1 min they have reached the 20th floor*
Riley: This is taking forever. If there was a fire…
Owen: But there isn't.
Riley: So. You know this is a safety hazard this 74 floor building?
Owen: No not really, there's a new fire protocol.
Riley: Sure there is. Like that's going to help.
*2 minutes on the 40th floor*
Riley: I mean who in the right mind would actually want to live on floor 53 let alone floor 74.
*Owen quietly stands there as they reach floor 53* The only thing that they see as the elevator doors open is a short hallway and a door*
Riley: Creepy like. Reminds me of a …
Owen: Quit with the movies.
Riley: Um I was going to say song.
*Owen and Riley both approached the door as Owen turns the knob*