Red Meadow.

[johalt]

(epic cliffhanger: pt 2 :D)

John walked closer to the device in the corner of the room he was almost mesmerized by. It was round, sitting at about waist height, only a few feet in diameter, and in the center was another indentation for the pendant, this time however, it looked like it would fit the pendant fully opened. John did this, and placed it on the device. "Now," he said, "we get some answers."

The room suddenly dimmed, the light from the viens in the walls shuddering away slightly, while another source, more concentrated, appeared at the centre of the device. It shot through the picture in the opened pendant, generating a three dimensional, partially see-through image, a hologram, of the subject of the photo. The image stood only so large to now be at eye level, but the image itself was quite detailed: she looked so much like Jewl, the relation was now undeniable in John's mind. Now that he could see the whole figure, he noticed that something about her -- her subtle movements, perhaps -- reminded him very much of a feline; in fact he half expected her to show up with pointy ears and a long, slim tail, for some strange reason...

He was soon wrenched out of his thoughts as the woman be fan to speak. "It i's good to see you again."

John startled back a little, not quite expecting a response. "Uh, hello?"

The woman's eyes seemed to shine, almost as if she was silently laughing at him. "Hello. Do you wish to start another recording session?"

John was utterly confused now. "Uhm, I don't mean to be rude, but... Who or what are you?"

The figure looked confused herself for a moment, then looked as if she had just remembered something that made everything make perfect sense. "Oh that's right, forgive me: I am June, a construct designed to house memories and record data. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, I had forgotten the accident."

John's face went from confusion back to surprise. "The accident? Do you know what happened?!"

June shook her head, almost seeming saddened by the fact. "I only noticed a significant decrease in your life signs, and noticed you taking several emergency precautions, many more than I have noticed you ever take before, including having me help you block off certain memories."

"Memories?" Could this be the key?

"Yes. I think that you believed the extent of your injuries would impaire many of your normal brain functions, and by blocking them off you might be more likely to recover them completely later. I had forgotten about this when you activated me again just now."

"you said that you helped to block them: i's it possible you can unblock them now?" John said, very hopeful.

June shook her head again. "I'm sorry, but I was specifically told not to let them be activated until the circumstances absolutely called for them."

"Circumstances like what?"

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't answer that either."

Great. he thought, his head sinking into one of his hands.

Almost as if she had read his mind, June spoke up again. "However, there was a recording left that I was given permission to open for you or Jewl. Would you like to hear it?"

John looked up again, hope running through his mind. "Yes!" he quickly stated "please play the recording."

June nodded, then began to fade away. She was instead replaced by an image of John, looking slightly younger: in fact exactly as he did the three years ago before he disappeared. The image then began to speak.

"recording started. Hello. If you are listening to this message, then I am either dead, or as good as. If not, then something much worse has come about. In either case, then the plan has now been change." the figure paused, seeming to collect their thoughts, before starting again.

"You're probably wondering what this all i's, and why and how this all came to be. The short answer i's to give Jewl the best possible chance of becoming the best she can be, independent of the frivolities and material bullshit most of us, perhaps especially me, have come to rely on. The long answers are mostly unimportant now, and will be explained later. For now the important thing i's that things are no longer safe -- or rather, even less safe than before. This place may now be compromised."

The recording paused again, this time the image looking extremely grieved. "Jewl, if you are listening to this, know that I love you, more than anything else in this world, and that nothing, not even death, will change that. You have grown into a fine young woman: bright, intelligent, resourceful, independent. If you are listening to this, then you have no doubt spent a significant amount of time on your own now, without my help. I'm terribly sorry for this, be it of my own doing, or by preempted fate. I had to make sure you were ready, that you could carry on just as well, if not better, without your old man helping you the entire way. I don't expect your forgiveness, nor do I relish it, but the fact remains, I had to be sure. Jewl, if you are listening to thus message, then you are in grave danger. Our house i's no longer safe. You must leave as soon as possible. Take yourself, and all that I have taught you, with you far away from this place. There i's safety in numbers. You must now teach yourself what I could never teach you; you must find a way to become part of society, without losing who you are. Take heed, and be forewarned; choose your friends well, as they will no doubt be an invaluable asset to you. And whatever you do, remember what I have taught you." the figure paused again, his head bowed, and a single tear could be seen running down his face. "I love you Jewl, forever, and for always. End recording."

The image faded then, though the lights were still a bit dim. John didn't know what to say. He looked over at Jewl, to see how she was taking all this.