Kumiko's run
It was a Ya-hoo night! The children were in bed, and so was Frank, Kumiko and Liz. Kumiko was on top of Frank, slowly riding as Liz elicited kisses from him, then rose up to kiss Kumiko. Kumiko could tell Liz was aching for a nip.
This damn collar she wore made it hard for Liz to get a sip from her. Kumiko flung the collar off and hugged Liz as she helped her vampire lover to her neck, tipping her head back with a sigh. She really liked when Liz took her sips. Liz's fangs sunk slowly into Kumiko's neck. Riding Frank's shaft and Liz slowly drawing blood from her neck, Kumiko was in heaven!
Suddenly, Kumiko disappeared. Liz fell sideways onto Frank. They both looked around and cried, "Where'd she go?"
Kumiko went from being in bliss to free falling. "Ghaaa!" she cried. Below her was a pond below a water fall. Two hugging figures looked up at her. She was going to fall on them!
With a squeak of surprise, Kumiko brought her wings out to stop her fall. She did deflect her fall to skim just above the water. Seeing the shore and big rocks very close, she tried to turn. One wing caught the water's surface, making her tumble. She splashed down just before she hit the rocks lining the pond, throwing a large splash up into the air.
Now sitting in the shallow water, Kumiko let out a pained cry of, "OUUUCH!"
In the water, the lovers, Logan and Jessica had watched Kumiko crash. They swam/ ran over to the blue haired woman with the thin, ripped up semi-see through short dress. The strange woman who had wings got up to lean against the rock she'd hit.
"Ouuuch!" Kumiko cried again.
"Are you OK?" Logan asked as he went up to her. Jessica noted a few bruises on the blue haired woman, and she'd split the corner of her left eye open.
Kumiko whined, "Where am I?"
Jessica got her clothes and ripped off a strip from the bottom of the dress she'd been wearing. She put it around Kumiko's head low, just below her eyebrows to cover the split in her skin.
Never seeing a person like this before, Logan said, "I'm Logan Five. This is Jessica Six. Who are you?"
Kimiko winced again and put her palm to her injury. "I'm Kumiko Yeager, where are we?"
"We're outside the city!" Jessica said happily. Showing Kumiko the clear gem in her hand, she added, "We're free!"
"Good for you. What city?" Kumiko asked.
"The City," Logan said firmly.
"Right, but which one?" Kumiko asked, eyeing them.
Logan and Jessica looked at each other. "There's more than once city?" Logan asked. "Don't you have a number?"
Looking like she was about to cry, Kumiko splashed her fists in the water and yelled, "WHY does this keep happening to me! Instead of a ya-hoo time, I get to drop out of the sky and crash into a rock! This is NOT FUN AT ALL!"
Looking confused, Jessica asked, "Is this Ya-hoo a place?"
Kumiko was tired of appearing in different places, and especially not getting the long sexy night she had been looking forward to. Getting jerked out from between Frank and Liz was really pissing her off! Straightening herself up, she glared at the sky.
Her wings, nails and tail came out as did her yokai. The couple that were here gasped as Kumiko's yokai washed over them. In a rage, she roared at the sky. "WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME! I WANT AN ANSWER!"
The energy she radiated as well as her powerful voice made Logan and Jessica back away in awe of her.
The air above the rock she crashed into glowed, showing a ball of light that grew into a small figure. The small, foot tall female form bore a wand much like Ruby's. She wore a blue and white dress and had a light blue pointed hat. The figure smiled at Kumiko.
"Oh dear, don't you know Sam Beckett?" the little woman said in a kindly manner.
"Who's he?" Kumiko asked. "And what does that have to do with me ending up ... all over the place?"
Proudly, the little woman said, "I am the fairy hero director. I brought you here so you can complete your task."
"What task?" Kumiko asked, "And you can't even wait until we finished having sex to yank me here?! Why screw with ME anyway!"
The little woman frowned at her. "You are the one who hides behind your leash, not me. I grab you when you're vulnerable. Don't blame me for your timing. You do have a back log of jobs to perform."
"What, so I'm going to be sent off to God knows where to do God knows what for you? Even if I don't want to?" Kumiko asked.
The little woman nodded. "Pretty much, yes. Finish the job, you can go home. Until then, you're stuck here. You dear, are my Sam Beckett." The woman popped out of existence.
Kumiko cried, "Wait, come back here!" ... There was no response, the tiny woman was gone.
"Well, YOU SUCK!" Kumiko yelled at nothing. Throwing her hands up, Kumiko yelled at Logan. "She didn't even say what the job was! Do my job, whatever the hell it is. How come she's picking on me? Why not pick on someone else?"
Not sure what Kumiko was looking for, Logan asked, "Do you have a special talent or something you need to use?"
Kumiko frowned at him, then winced and clapped her hand over her eye. "Argghhh! What are you people doing out here anyway?"
"We're looking for Sanctuary," Jessica offered.
"Yes, people who escape the city got to sanctuary," Logan agreed.
Kumiko eyed Jessica, then Logan. "You talk like sanctuary is a place."
"It is where people who escape the city go to," Logan said firmly. "I must find it."
"We think we're the first ones to get through. All the others were frozen or killed," Jessica added.
"I have a question. What is so bad about a city that people want to escape it?" Kumiko asked.
Logan offered, "They are afraid to be renewed, so they run."
"Renewed? How?"
"It's called carousel," Logan explained. "At the end of your 29th year, carousel renews you into a new baby and
you live again."
Kumiko eyed him and asked, "Why not just grow old?"
"It's required to be renewed," Jessica added. "That way no one has to grow old and die."
"How does this carousel make you into a baby again?" Kumiko asked.
"I don't know," Jessica said, and looked at Logan.
"I don't know either," He admitted, "But it does."
"So, Logan, you remember your whole life then? How many times have you been renewed?" Kumiko asked.
Logan stared at her. "I... only remember this life."
"So all your memories are erased?" Kumiko prodded.
"I..." Logan looked at Jessica. "Do you remember anything before your last renewal?"
Jessica shook her head.
Kumiko looked at Jessica, then Logan. "Guys? I don't think this carousel does what you think it does."
"It must," Logan stated.
Kumiko had another question. "Jessica, have you ever had a baby?"
Jessica nodded. "Once. It grew in me for six months until my belly swelled up, then I went to the hospital.
There, they removed it so it could grow up with the other babies."
Kumiko raised an eyebrow. "They took your baby from you?"
Jessica nodded. "All women who get pregnant to that. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Something wrong?" Kumiko asked. "Hon, EVERYTHING is wrong with that! Do you know where your child is? How they are doing, who is taking care of them?"
Jessica gaped at her. "The city takes care of everyone. I'm sure my baby is somewhere."
"Can you identify her?" Kumiko asked in a harder tone. "Have you even seen her, or him?"
"It was just a baby," Jessica said defensively. "Who takes care of their own babies?"
The next thing Jessica knew, Kumiko had her by the throat off the ground. Kumiko's eyes had turned black, and now her mouth was filled with pointed teeth.
"I CARE FOR MY CHILDREN!" Kumiko spat at her. "As my mother before me, and her mother before her! If ANYONE dared to try and take my kids from me, they would feel HELL rain down on them! How can you possibly let your baby get stolen from you?"
Logan acted quickly, He tried to push Kumiko's arm down so the wide eyed and gasping Jessica could breathe. He hung off her arm, not budging her at all. Kumiko tossed Jessica back in the water, then it was Logan's turn to be lifted up by his neck.
"AND YOU ALLOW THINGS LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN?" Kumiko raged at him.
Logan, pedaling his feet as he gasped for air cried out, "That is all we know!"
Kukimo dropped him to stagger in shallow water and gasp. "We don't know any other way!" he cried.
"Where is this city?" Kumiko asked heavily.
From in the water where she landed, Jessica said, "Back up the hill, over there I think." She was afraid to get out of the water to face Kumiko, fearing getting strangled again. Miss short and busty was really strong!
Kumiko eyed the pair staring at her, then looked off to where they had come from. She needed to get into that city. How, was the question. So far, the only real difference she could see between them and a normal run-of-the-mill human, was that gem embedded in the palm of their left hand. She pointed to Jessica and hooked a finger at her. "Come here."
Jessica shook her head. "No, you were going to kill me!"
"Was not! Get over here, I want to see that gem you got on your hand."
Jessica moved closer and showed her hand to Kumiko. Kumiko pulled her closer and studied the gem. Poking and trying to move it, she found it wasn't some kind of stone, more like a clear mole that had roots into Jessica's hand. Holding her left hand up, Kumiko morphed a fake gem into her hand like Jessica had. "Everyone in this city has one of these, right?"
"They do. In the city, they glowed. they don't now," Jessica explained.
"We are out of range," Logan explained. "Those are our personal identifiers."
"What color do they glow?"
"Green unless you are sick, red when you're in your last year," Logan explained.
"Last year?" Kumiko asked.
"Yes, the year you get renewed."
Kumiko didn't think these people were getting a new shot at life. She had to go see this place that took babies from their mothers. She concentrated on her fake gem. It glowed a light green. "Like this?" she asked, showing to him.
"Yes, do you know where Sanctuary is?" Logan asked.
Kumiko eyed him. "Sanctuary is not a place in itself. It's where you feel at home and safe. I just got yanked out of my sanctuary to deal with baby stealers here."
"I don't understand," Jessica said, looking confused.
"That doesn't surprise me," Kumiko grumbled. "You let them take away your baby." Kumiko looked in the direction Jessica had pointed. "This city, it's up that hill there?" she asked.
"Yes, where we came out looks like a cave."
"You shouldn't go there," Logan said. "If you're not from the city, the Sandmen will come after you."
"The what?" Kumiko asked, turning to him.
Locan pointed to his uniform. "The Sandmen. We maintain order and put people to sleep who try to run or cause problems." He showed her his pistol.
"Sleep huh? you're talking permanently." Kumiko said, eyeing the weapon.
Logan nodded.
"So, you're police," Kumiko concluded.
"I don't know what that is," Logan replied.
Kumiko let out a sigh. "You two just, keep having your fun here." She then jumped up and flapped her wings, flying away.
Logan and Jessica watched her go. "She is really strange," Jessica noted.
"Very strange," Logan agreed. "Come on, we have to find Sanctuary."
.
Kumiko found the cave entrance high in the hill. She flew in and flapped to a stop. Inside was an ice cave and it was cold in here! Shivering, Kumiko walked in, noting diffused light was coming from somewhere. Walking on she noted in the ice were frozen people. She also found a mechanical man/thing lying with a burn hole in it. Walking on and wishing she had a coat, she saw another man with a uniform like Logan had. The tall, dark haired man saw her and raised his gun.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Kumiko walked over to him. "Kumiko Yeager. I'm lost, can you show me into the city?" she asked.
His gun lowered. "How did you get here? Did Logan bring you here?" he asked, scanning her body.
Of course he looked at her, she was barely wearing anything and her nipples were hard and prominent under the translucent remainder of her nightgown. Kumiko pointed the way she came. "I saw this Logan, he's down the hill there. They told me this cave led to the city. How do I get there?"
The man came closer, still studying her. "You didn't come from the city? Let me see your palm."
Kumiko showed him her left palm and raised it up. "See, I'm trying to get into the city."
"Did you run? How did you get here?" he asked.
"I was dumped here," Kumiko told him with a frown. "Can you get me into the city or not?"
He glanced the way she came and said, "I have to find Logan." Pointing behind him, he said, "There's a lift back there in an alcove. Go down, then up the ladder you see. That will take you into the city." He looked at her palm again. "Did Logan make you come with him?"
"NO, it wasn't Logan. I'm cold. The city isn't this cold, is it?" Kumiko asked.
The man shook his head. "It's temperature controlled. I have to go find Logan."
"Bye bye then," Kumiko said with a wave and went looking for this lift thing.
.
Kumiko found a platform in an alcove that had a lever on a post that was rounded at the top. Since it was down, she pushed the lever up. The platform dropped. After going a while, plunging into darkness, it stopped in as dimly lit room. It was warmed, but again, she was ankle deep in water before she even got off. Stepping off the platform, the water was mid thigh deep. She sloshed over to a small door and stepped through.
Going on, she went into rooms. Every ladder she found, she climbed. Eventually she came out into a pillared foyer type of room. She could see a street outside. Walking out, ragged looking people came from the sides. What looked like a teenage boy bore a chain he twirled as he eyed her.
"Hey, sexy, you can cooperate, or we'll tie you up!"
Outside, there was sky. She snorted at him and flew straight up, leaving him and his reprobates far behind.
Flying up into the air, Kumiko had to rethink the 'sky' part. Yes, she was flying in open air, but far above her was a dome. Looking off into the distance, she saw at the end of this huge dome, there was a long arc of an opening to another one. Below were large buildings, land, lakes and what looked like elevated tubes between the pyramid shaped buildings.
This was really odd. Going back down to fly by the buildings, she didn't see one window. Coming to a larger one, she did note access doors on an upper level. She flew over to the door. Great, there was no handle on this side. Who built this place?
Finding the hinges, Kumiko cut the door free of the hinge pins with her nails. The door stayed in place. She jammed the nails from her right hand in at an angle and pulled. The door came out and disengaged from the latch. She set the door to the side and went in.
She was in a short hallway that ended in another door. On the other side, she did hear people's voices.
Before she went any farther, she wanted to contact her family. Going back out to the door leaning against the side of the building, she scratched a magic circle on it and chanted her audio portal spell.
"Frank? Liz?" she asked.
"We're here," they chorused. "Where are you this time?"
"I have no idea," Kumiko said honestly. "I'm in this weird place that the best I can describe is a ... city under big domes. All I really know is whoever is in charge here steals all the babies, and kills everyone when they turn 30. And it seems to be OK with it!"
"You do get yourself into odd situations," Liz said with a dry chuckle. "OK, keep your spell active and don't go too far away. We'll contact Jade about finding you."
"Thanks, Liz. I'm real sorry about leaving suddenly," Kumiko said with a wince.
"Yeah, me too. You're disappearing like that really killed the mood!" Liz said with a grumble.
"Sorry, it wasn't my fault," Kumiko offered. Hearing footsteps approaching, she said, "Someone's coming."
Another man in the black clothes with the gray band across the chest like the man in the ice caves, stepped out and eyed the door. He then looked at Kumiko. "Your ID please?"
"huh?"
"Your palm, let me see it," he said, indicating her left hand.
He looked at it and asked, "What are you doing out here? We got a seal alarm. Did you hear it happen?"
Kumiko shook her head. "I heard something and came out to see what it was. Look, we're outside," she said, gesturing to the landscape.
The man grinned. "We are and it's not a safe place to be." Looking her up and down he asked, "Something happen to you?"
Kumiko let out a huff and said, "I don't know what happened, but I suddenly I was falling and landed in the water. My nightgown is ruined and I'm not sure where I'm at," she explained as she cast her charm on him.
The man smiled at her. "Don't worry, we'll take you to a medic station and make sure you're all right, then get you some new clothes. After that, I'll take you to my place and we can relax. Sound good?"
Kumiko nodded. "First, do you know where the babies are being kept?"
"I do. We'll go after I get you some clothes," he said. Glancing at her chest, his smile grew. "Wow, I think those are the biggest I've ever seen! Girls don't usually want breasts that big. I will say they look fantastic on you."
Kumiko returned his bright smile. "I'm glad you like them. Shall we go?"
He gestured for her to lead. "I'm Dan 7, you are?"
"Kumiko Yager," she replied.
"What's your number?"
Kumiko remembered everyone had a number here. "Seven. Strange coincidence, us having the same number," she said in a sexy tone.
"I must say it's strange you having two names," he told her. He rushed by to open the inner door for her. This way," he said, motioning to the left.
Walking down the hall side by side, they turned and went down a wider hallway. There were many people here. Kumiko noted that every woman was dressed in a semi-sheer what looked like a poncho dress that was open on the sides. She didn't feel so under dressed. Almost every one was the same style. Only the colors were different.
"Hungry?" Dan 7 asked and motioning to a snack bar with tables nearby.
Kumiko smiled and headed to the short line. She saw the woman ahead of her put her palm down on what looked like a scanner when she ordered. Their turn came. Kumiko went to put her hand on the device to see if it would work. Dan quickly put his hand down on it.
"My treat," Dan said, smiling at the counter woman. Seeing they had blue 'poncho' dresses for sale also, he got one for Kumiko.
"Thank you, Dan," Kumiko beamed. This close she could see there was some kind of light flickering when he put his hand on the device. Somehow, it was reading his gem. It would also not read hers since hers was fake. When he handed her her dress, she put it on over her the remains of her nightgown. He chuckled at her.
They got their food and found seats at a table. Sitting across from her, Dan asked, "There's a carousel tomorrow. Come see it with me."
"If I can, sure." Kumiko agreed. "We're going to see the babies today?"
"Yes, if that's what you want. I'll show you the beginning of the cycle and the end," he said.
"Of life?" she asked.
"No, not the end of life, the end of our current life. See, we're born, live, then after 29 years, we recycle through
Carousel to begin life anew," he explained. He then asked, "Weren't you taught that?"
"I wasn't," Kumiko agreed. "Do you remember your previous lives?"
Dan shrugged. "No, but as I understand it, when we're born again, our small brains don't have the capacity to remember everything we did before. It's nothing to worry about."
Kumiko didn't agree. She did want to try something. "How can you tell when someone is close to being ...reborn?"
Dan took her left hand gently and tapped her palm. "When you get to your last year, this will turn red. On your last day, it will blink red. That tells you it's time to be reborn. Were you never taught that in school?"
Kumiko let out a giggle. "I was terrible at school. I guess I should have paid attention more. Do you know who's coming up on their last day?"
Dan looked around. He nodded to a full table. "Over there."
Kumiko looked. she saw a blinking first from their palms. It looked like a whole group of last day people. "Can we go over and meet them?" she asked.
Dan paused then smiled and said, "Sure we can. We'll go over and wish them happy Last Day!" he said eagerly.
Dan leaned over the table, holding her hand as they got up. They went over to the group, Kumiko noticed the talk died down as she and Dan approached. She also felt them became nervous. "Hello!" she called brightly. "We just came over to wish you all a happy Last Day!"
"Yes," Dan said eagerly. "Tomorrow, you all get renewed to live all over again!"
Kumiko noted one in the group wasn't a last dayer. He hid his palm but she noted there was no reflection of a flash from the table. She picked another man sitting close to her. Putting her free hand on his shoulder, she said, "I hope your Last Day will be a day to remember for all time!" She then bent low and kissed him. In the kiss she drew a bit of life out of him and breathed a tiny bit of her into him. She also got some information from his soul. This man was only 29 years old, a young soul. Even if he had a new body, his soul would belie his age. It didn't.
He gaped at her heady from that kiss, then said, "If tomorrow is anything like today, it will be!"
Dan laughed as did a couple others. The non-last dayer at the table put in a forced smile.
Kumiko looked at nothing, then put a hand to her face. "Oh no! It's been so exciting, I forgot I had an appointment! Dan, thank you for helping me, and everyone, it's been great to meet you!" She waved to everyone and ran out. The instant she was out, she made sure no one was watching, turned invisible and grew her wings out then flew up to the ceiling. Getting on the top of a decorative light, she watched the entrance.
A few minutes later, Dan came out and went on his way, searching for her. She then felt the man she kissed coming. He came out and went the other way, as did a couple others and the one who wasn't on his Last Day. She let them get ahead, then flew after them near the ceiling. In short hops from light to light, she stayed over the quiet group. The man who wasn't on his last day guided them into a bar. Kumiko had to drop low and hope she didn't run into anyone when she went inside.
Knowing how to levitate now saved her. She didn't have room to flap her wings without bumping someone on the head. Floating near the ceiling, she followed them into a back room. She floated through just before a man shut the door.
The man eyed the group. "So, you all want to go to Sanctuary? You know, if you're caught, you'll be killed."
"We're dead anyway," the man she'd kissed stated.
Kumiko spoke up. "You're right. Carousel is a lie."
Everyone below her looked around for the unseen voice. The man who'd led them here asked, "Who are you!"
Kumiko drifted down to stand beside the man she kissed, absorbed her wings and turned visible. Clapping a hand on his shoulder, she said, "Right here."
People spun and stared at her, as did the man she kissed. Seeing their shock, she grinned and added, "It's nice to be noticed."
"Where'd you come from!"a man demanded.
"You were with that Sandman!" a woman accused.
"You're turning us in, aren't you!" another woman cried fearfully.
"Calm down!" Kumiko said with a huff. "Look, people, I already knew you were planning something. If I was going to turn you in, I would have done it by now. You're right, your only chance to live is to get outta Dodge. I can get you out, I know the way."
"It's a trap!" the man facing them stated and drew a knife.
Kumiko showed him her hand and extended all her nails. "Really?" she asked. He was close enough, she swiped and cut his knife blade short. He stared at the two pieces of blade that fell to the floor. "Wannabe's shouldn't mess with pros," she stated.
He backed away. The man she was holding onto the shoulder of asked, "Who are you?"
"Kumiko Yeager, and you?"
"Dennis 5."
"Well, Dennis, and all of you need to go to I think they call it 'the Cathedral' building. I'll meet you there. I also suggest you leave tonight, before the Sandmen come looking for you." She then grinned at Dennis and said, "See you there." She winked and disappeared.
Lifting back up, Kumiko waited as they left, talking quietly but excitedly about her. She drifted over them until they dispersed, then headed back to find out where Dan had gotten off to.
She found him in a common area, arms folded over his chest and leaning against a giant hand statue as he watched the crowd. She dropped down and became visible, sitting on the base of the statue a few feet from him.
"Are you waiting for me?" she asked sweetly.
Dan spun and gaped at her. "How'd you get so close to me and I never saw you?"
"I'm sneaky," she cooed in a sexy tune. "Can we see the babies before I try to make one?"
Dan blushed. "Ahh, yes we can." He clasped her hand and led her on. In a quieter section of hallway, he asked, "How did you get that close to me? I had no idea you were there."
"I told you, I'm sneaky. I also found out there may be a running attempt tomorrow," she sang.
Dan eyed her. "Who is it?"
Holding up a finger, she said, "Who is not important. Where is. I'm going to need to trust you, Dan. No other Sandmen can be involved. I prodded them to begin early, so we can be there to convince them it is much better to go to Carousel and be renewed, than to die on the street."
Dan stopped and clasped both her hands. "Kumiko, I can tell you care about people. So do I. If Carousel starts and they are not there, my job is to end them."
"Right! So that's why we go meet them BEFORE carousel starts! We talk to them and get them there on time," Kumiko insisted.
Dan studied her, then said, "You're saying they are leaving tonight."
"They should be. Hey, if they aren't then we'll have a little time all alone and have to make up something to do," she said with an evil grin.
Dan chuckled. "You know, we can just go to my place."
"Aww, what about the thrill of not knowing if we'll be caught, huh?" Kumiko asked eagerly. "Where's the risk of interruption in just cuddling in bed, Huh?"
Dan grinned at her. "You, my lady, like to play dangerous games, don't you?"
Kumiko winked and said, "Just don't chain me to a bare concrete floor, OK? That's not really erotic."
"Someone did that to you?"
"Yeah. They branded me too. I was also shot once. That wasn't fun at all." she told him.
"What do you mean 'branded'?" he asked.
Kumiko tapped the back of her shoulder. She pulled her clothes back and turned so he could see it. "It really burned when they did this," she stated.
Dan looked at the dark gray circular scar. Touching it lightly, he said, "At New You body modifications, I'm sure they can remove that scar."
"Nope, it can't be removed," Kumiko said firmly. "After a few years, Papa and Mama Yukari stopped trying. It's there permanently. It keeps any energy from hurting me. The one on my right shoulder I had put on, it helps me keep track of my family."
Kumiko shifted, pulling her clothes off her right shoulder. "At least this one's more colorful."
"It is," Dan agreed. "Both these tattoos are circular. Do these circles signify something?"
"It's Wizard magic," Kumiko said.
"I've never heard of that before," Dan said, eyeing her.
Kumiko shrugged. "I never heard of many things before either. If I don't know, I ask."
Dan chuckled at her again. "Very wise. You mentioned a Mama and Papa. I must ask who they are."
"My parents, all mine parents," Kumiko replied evenly. "I wasn't raised in a city incubator. I grew up at home with my family."
"That's impossible!" Dan stated. "Every child is raised by the city."
Kumiko giggled. "You want to see impossible? Let's go see the babies, then I will show you impossible."
Staring at her, Dan said, "There is something wrong with you, Kumiko."
Kumiko gazed at him intently. "No, Dan. It's this city that is wrong. You are going to help me correct it. Aren't you?"
Dan knew Kumiko had to have mental problems. All he could do was say, "Yes, I will do whatever you want." It was then he realized that even though his training and everything he knew was being replaced by Kumiko's will, and there was nothing he could do to defy her. It was now he became afraid of her.
Taking Kumiko up to the nursery floors first past the long rows of babies in their closed in cribs, Dan started explaining. "All children are grouped by age. As soon as they reach four months old, their ID transponder is put on their palm and the timer is activated to start their 30 year count down."
Passing into another section, toddlers were in large rooms walled with glass on this side, playing with a robotic attendant. Dan explained, "The two to four year olds are in here, learning how to socialize and their instructor begins their learning processes."
Kumiko noted the metal instructors who was giving out treats to the kids that were behaving well. Seeing a girl squatting in the corner, her head on her knees, Kumiko said, "I don't think she's happy."
"That happens," Dan said with a sigh. "If she doesn't want to conform, she will be sent back through a Carousel here to try again."
"I don't think so," Kumiko stated. She tapped on the glass. The girl didn't move. OK, subtle wasn't going to work. Kumiko extended an index fingernail and scratched a door in the glass. A thump on it with a fist and the glass fell into the room to break on the floor.
Shocked, Dan said, "You can't go in there!"
"Watch me," Kumiko replied in a hard tone. She stepped into the room as all the children and their robot teacher watched.
Kumiko sat down by the girl and poked her shoulder. "Hey, why are you so sad?" she asked.
The girl looked up and frowned at her. "Adults aren't allowed in here. Only our teacher can talk to us."
The robot teacher rolled over on the wheels under her. "This is a violation of child indoctrination. Sandman are..."
The teacher stopped speaking when Kumiko raised her hand and intoned, "Fulnem". A lightning bolt shot from Kumiko's hand to hit the robot. The robot sparked and fell over backwards. Kumiko got up and held her hand out to the girl, "I'm leaving. You coming or staying?"
The girl got up. She stared at the robot, then cast her wide-eyed look at Kumiko.
"Stay or come, it's up to you," Kumiko told her.
The girl reached up and clasped her hand. Other kids, also staring at Kumiko, came over to them. Kumiko turned to leave and saw Dan was staring open mouthed at her. Leaving the room, Kumiko said, "I told you I'd show you impossible. Follow me, and I'll show you more impossible."
Kumiko moved on, Dan and the toddlers all followed.
The next rooms were pre-teens, sitting at desks and watching a movie about how Carousel renewed people so they could continue to go on living a healthy life. They all jumped when a lightning bolt hit the screen and made the TV explode.
"Carousel is a lie!" Kumiko stated as she came in behind them.
A robotic teacher came out into the room. "Unauthorized..."
Kumiko hit this one with a lightning bolt. It sparked and fell over. Kumiko then turned to the children. "This carousel destroys your body when you turn 30. It does not renew you, it ends your life. If you do not want to die, come with me."
When Kumiko walked back out, the class came with her. Surrounded by children, Kumiko asked Dan, "Please, show me the fastest way to get back to where that broken outside door is without anyone seeing."
Dan wasn't sure he wanted to show her, but he found himself saying, "Keep going, to the right up here is an access way with an elevator. Only Sandmen are allowed to use it."
"Thank you, Dan. Walk behind the children ant protect them," she told him.
Again, he wasn't sure he should, but did as she asked. He just could not defy the lovely Kumiko.
The lift door opened and a pair of Sandmen stepped out. Seeing the children they raised their gins at her. "Stop! Explain yourself!" they chorused.
"Of course!" Kumiko said, beaming them a Charming smile. "I am going to take these children to safety. Surely you big strong men want to help keep children safe, don't you?"
Both men took on glassy looks and lowered their guns. "We do!"
"Wonderful! Everyone, on the lift!"
The lift wasn't big enough. Each Sandman held two kids, one in each arm. Kumiko put more on their shoulders, then loaded herself up with kids. The last small ones squeezed on. The doors managed to shut. The lift groaned a bit but took them up t the correct floor. Piling out, Kumiko got all the kids down then told one Sandman, "Keep the elevator here until I return, please sweetie?"
He blushed said, "Anything for you my love!"
Walking back down the hallway to the door outside, Kumiko had Dan and the other Sandmen guard the children and went back out to find the outside door had been replaced. There was no magic circle on this one. "Well this sucks," she grumbled.
.