Chapter five

Disclaimer: Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing Is that not a dainty dish to set before a king?

Brandy: Wow, someone's excited. Thanks so much for your review, it's good to know I'm doing something right. Jarod faking it, hmm. Maybe, maybe not. My lips are sealed. You'll find out soon enough.

dmg1013: Why thankyou. I'll write if you review.

mariel4000: as do we all. The sentiment is appreciated.

Parker's Pretender: I only called you desperate in a good way. Don't sulk. I like people being desperate for my stories. It makes me feel wanted. :)

sparkling silver angel wings: Interesting name you have there. I actually have something worse than a bullet in store for Mr Lyle but you'll see when I get there.

Pretender fanatic: What have I done to upset my review fairy?! I didn't mean to, hey, I don't even know what I did. I'm sorry. You are a wee bit pedantic though. Oh well, I know the feeling. I'm actually studying memory disorders in psychology at the moment, which is the inspiration for this story. When I say studying, that means that I don't know it all yet, so I am liable to get some wrong. But hey, I'll know that if I do, my review fairy will be there to pull me up. And Parker did say 'muscle memory, or something.' It was talking from her perspective, not mine. If Sydney had said it on the other hand... Thanks for the review.

Nans: Thanks for the pledge of loyalty. I have thought about my promise and Sydney angst, and I'm sorry to say, I probably can't fit it into this story. Sorry :(. How about this- I'll write another story for you, full of Sydney angst. There'll be lots of Sydney in this one as well though.

morgan: thanks for the review. I like that you liked it.

Gemini-M: two reviews from you, lucky me. Yeah, Parker's a smart woman and for all she denies it, she knows when to admit she needs help. Thanks, keep reading.

KatieQ: Thanks for the review. Enjoy this chapter

Author's note: If you have reviewed and I haven't replied, sorry. I got a sudden deluge of reviews and it's a little confusing about what's what. Just review this chapter, then I'll reply to that (if I don't die from sleep exhaustion first) ;)

Parker had known Lyle would not keep his promise of freedom for her and Sydney. He was too much of a scumbag, and he judged everyone else by his own standards. He was afraid that if he let Parker go, she would gather power and come to take the chairmanship from him. Still, she was surprised, yet grateful, for his choice of cellmate for her.

'Miss Parker? I thought you managed to get away'

'No such luck Freud. Where's Broots?'

'He saw this coming and walked out one hour after Lyle took power. Hopefully he will not be considered important enough to pursue.'

'Hopefully' agreed Parker, not bothering to ask Sydney why he hadn't followed the technician. Sydney would rather have sawed off his own arm than abandon the Centre's inmates.

'It's good to see you again' said Sydney, standing and giving her a brief fatherly hug. Parker was glad for the reassurance. The constant and timeless darkness of the Centre that would not be banished by the brightest lights was starting to get to her in a way it never had when she was on the other side of the bars. The two friends went to sit side by side on the cot.

'If you're in here I take it to mean that you couldn't get Jarod to remember'

'The opposite Syd. He remembered. Now Lyle is afraid I'll take his precious chairmanship from him if he lets me go.'

'A man who is so insecure of his position can be very dangerous'

'He is my twin Sydney. I know.'

Sydney gave her a grim smile and they sat in silence, each wondering what tomorrow would bring, and hoping like hell that Jarod would be able to save them.

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Jarod heard Parker's footsteps leave the cell and instantly missed her warmth, her presence. Still, he was almost grateful when the door clanged shut behind the twins. It meant Lyle did not want anything from him. Yet. He needed time to deal with his memories. The things he had done... Never again. He would never sim for them. No matter what.

When Lyle came back for him, flanked by two sweepers, he found Jarod curled in the same ball he had left him in. 'Rise and shine pretender' ordered Lyle, his voice full of malice. Jarod did not respond. The new chairmen strode forward and kicked him hard in the ribs. Jarod grunted but did not move. 'Get him up' Lyle told the two sweepers. They advanced on him, and grasped one shoulder each. Jarod allowed himself to be heaved upright with no resistance, but his head lolled forward like a rag doll and his feet did not support his own weight.

'Jarod!' barked Lyle sharply. The pretender's head snapped up, but his body remained otherwise relaxed. His eyes were rolled so far back in his head that only the whites showed and there was a faint grin on his face. It seemed that in the short time since Parker had left him, Jarod had lost it.

Lyle stepped back for a moment in shock but then remembered himself and slapped Jarod hard across the face. Jarod's grin got wider and his dark irises rolled downwards so he was staring piercingly at Lyle. Once again, Lyle found himself unnerved by the crazed pretender. 'Cut it out Jarod, it won't get you anywhere' Lyle's voice was smooth and controlled.

'You all want something. We won't. Never again, we won't. Just leave us alone.' Jarod's eyes rolled wildly and his head lolled forwards again.

'Nice golem impression' commented Lyle dryly. 'Take him to SL-16' he ordered the sweepers.

They had to drag him.

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Lyle was annoyed. Not only had Jarod not cracked, the torture seemed to have no effect on him. The pretended had found a headspace where he didn't so much as wince when threatened with red hot metal, didn't scream when sliced with razor blades, didn't beg for mercy when electrocuted. He just hung there, for hour after hour of brutal torture, occasionally giggling slightly.

Normally Lyle enjoyed a bit of a challenge, even at the point where most sweepers had to be excused to vomit. The problem was that torture was only fun if the victim showed the fear, if they started to sweat simply when he entered the room.

Lyle had also discovered that even as the head of the Centre, he answered to higher masters. The very people that had helped him to take power were now growing impatient with his lack of progress. As much as he had been in his lifetime, Lyle was at a loss. And this made him annoyed. Since it was clearly having no effect, he passed over his morning torture session and went in search of some way to get around the way Jarod had temporarily taken his mind of the hook.

He found the answer in the DSA of Jarod and Parker's time together. More specifically, what Parker did to get Jarod to remember. He almost slapped himself when he found it, that he hadn't seen it before. 'Refuge' whispered Lyle grinning. He didn't go to Jarod with it straight away. Instead, he fast forwarded the recording until Parker left the cell, and watched the curled up ball of a man to see what he did to so thoroughly disconnect himself from the world. Nothing became obvious so Lyle summoned a small squad of sweepers and rode the elevator downwards to present the pretender with his new discovery.

Jarod was lying in the same position as he had last been dumped. That was another thing. The pretender rarely moved of his own volition. Lyle considered it and decided that he probably wouldn't move either if he had the injuries that Jarod did.

He thought in anticipation of how the pretender would scream. Rubbing his hands together he had the sweepers haul the only semi-conscious man upright. Stalking forwards until their faces were only inches apart then whispered the safe word. Jarod's eyes rolled downwards until he was more or less looking at Lyle. Occasionally they would tick sideways or roll upwards but Lyle was sure he had Jarod's attention. 'No refuge for you. The devil will burn in his own hell. You can't touch us.' He giggled then flopped backwards. Lyle swore loudly then punched Jarod hard in the stomach, cutting the giggling short as he wheezed for breath.

Shaking his knuckles out, Lyle suddenly had a flash of brilliance. 'You know what Jarod, you're right, I can't touch you.' Lyle's voice had become suddenly friendly. Jarod did not respond in any way. 'I can't touch you Jarod. But I can touch those you care about. In fact, I can gouge their eyes out, because I don't need them to be able to sim for me. Think about that for me will you? I have to go and run the Centre now. But I will be back. And I would like an answer then. OK?' the whole time, Lyle's voice stayed patronisingly sweet. He waited for a few moments for a response from the pretender but gave up. Signalling for the sweepers to drop the dead weight they held between them, he waited until he was out of the cell to give his orders.

'Two of you stand guard here. If you hear anything strange, I want to know. You, go watch the security cameras. He may try to escape. I'll be in my office. If anything happens, call me.'
TBC.