750 words export dec 2011

8/2/2019 750 Words Export Dec 2011

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#####ENTRY#####2011-12-01,num_words:1083,num_minutes:27.2884ItwasataConferenceofUnionHistory.MeredithNewmanwentwithDrAsordatothiseventwhichtookplaceatauniversityonChien.Meredtihlikedgoingwithhimtosuchconferencesonotherplanet.Eventhoughshehadseenmoreplanetsthantheaveragehumanbeingfromhertime,itwasgettingboringonlyseeingTorrieeveryday.Funnyhowfastyoucanchange.MeredithknewAsorda'slecturesbyheart.Shewasalwayssittingwithhimathome,workingoutdetailsonEarthhistoryanddebatinghowfasttheprogressinresearchcangowhenyoucouldbasicallytellthemeverythingbutfifty-fouryearsbetweenherdisappearanceandtheFirstContact.Shewasyawningandanddoodlingonahere-padwhenawomannexttoherstartedtalking."It'sboringisn'tit?Hejustramblesonthisbullshitlikehewasthere.AndIknowforsurethathedidn'tgetaclearancefortime-travel.""Well,Ihearhislecturesveryoften,"Meredithsaid."Sothere'srarelysomethingnewforme."Keepitlow,Mer."Icanonlyimaginehisgirlfriendmustbebored,Iwonderifshecomestosuchlectures."Sittingrightnexttoyou,darling."I'mMeredith,"saidshe."Nicetomeetyou.""Aime,"thewomansaid."You'recute."Wow,that'sadirectmove.You'recute,too."Wannahavesomecoffeelater?"Meredithsaid."Towakeupagain?""Soundsgood."Aimemadeanoteonherpad."IonlyhavetogettoAsordatonailhimdownasafraud."

"Soundslikeit'syourlife."Meredithsaid."Soyoucometosuchlecturesmoreoften.""Ihaveneverseensomeonewithhim,strangely."Aimesaid."Therearerumours,ofcourse,butnothingeverhasbeenproven.""Whatrumours?"Meredithasked.Asthegirlfriendshehasofcourseaninterest."Parties-Idon'tmeanthenormalonesthatendinorgiesoranybondagethinggoingon.Weirdones.Veryweirdones.Idon'twanttothinkaboutit.""Soundsjuicy,"saidMeredith.Shehadtosmile.Eventhoughshehaslivedsomeofthefuturestandardsofrelationships,shestillfoundsomethingsverystrange.Sheoftencomesacrossasprudeoroldfashioned,butthiscanbeexcusedwithherofficialoriginfromearth-Sol3-whereeverythingisa"bitbehind"aswell-orsowhattheytell."OhIcanshowyoulatersomeofthejuicystuff."Aimesaidandsmiled.Meredit

hthoughtforamoment.Hersexlifewasokay,eventhoughAsordaratherlikedtohavesexwithmenthanwomen,butsomehowtheymanagedwithasmallbutawesomedevice.Anotherstrangethingofthefuture-loveandsexisseenastwodifferentthings.Alotofprogress."OhIbetyoucan."Meredithanswered.Asordaandherhadanagreement-eventhoughloveandsexwasseparated,Asordaunderstoodherviewgivenhe'sahistorian-thattheygottheirsexelsewhereiftheywanted.Meredithhadlonggottenusedtotheyoungmenwhenshecamebackearlyinthemorningafteranightofcrisesmeetings."Aftertheconference,maybedinner?""Ithoughtyouwouldn'tgetme,"Aimesmiled."Wecanuptomyplace,Ilivejustacrossthecorner."MeredithkeptdoodlingonherpadwhileAimehadturnedbacktolistentoAsorda'slecture.Thisisgonnabefun.

>Ican'tcometonight.Havedinner&sex.XOMer,shewrotetoAsordalater.Shehadexplainedsomeof21stcenturyabbreviationstohim,andnowtheykeptusingtheminthemails.>Bringmesomeleftovers,darling


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"Soyou'reafanofAsorda?"askedAimelaterovercoffee."OtherwiseIwouldn'tseeareasonforyoutobehere.""Iamactuallyinterestedinit."AndwhenseeingAime'slookontheface,"It'sagreatsourceforstories.""Soundsinteresting,areyouawriter?""No,butIdomybitofwriting."Noneedtoliecompletely."Andspinningstories.""I'dlovetohaveastorybetweenus."Aimeteased."Whatdoyouthink?""Ithinkitwouldbejustfine."

Withacab,theyarrivedatAime'sflatafterthedinner."Youdoearnwell,"statedMeredithbythesightofAime'sflat.Itwasupintheskyandnotoneofthecheapflatsinthedownlevel."Well,provingAsordawrongearnsoneaverygoodliving.Hebringsoutabook,Itelleveryonewhowantstolistenhowbollocksitis.Easymoney.""Nice."Meredithsaid,staringatAime'schest."MywayoflivingorI?""Youofcourse."Meredithsmiledsuggestively.Aimetookherhand."Letmeshowyouthepartyroom."AimeleadMeredithtoherbedroom,laydownonthebedanddraggedherdown.Meredithtookadeepbreath.Shecan'trememberthelasttimeshewaswithawoman,andonlyawoman.Serinawaswaytorarelyalonewithher.LyingonAime,AimerolledoverandMeredithwasnowunderAime.Carefully,Mere

dithremovedAime'sthinjacketthewomanworeoverherblackandwhitedress.AimekissedMeredithandstrokedthroughherhair.Meredithleanedback,enjoyingeverymomentofit,kissedAimeback."Timetoremovethoseclothes,"whisperedAime,lickedMeredith'searlobeandkisseddownherneck.Meredithopenedhertrousers,meanwhileAimehadherhandsunderMeredith'sshirt."Don'tdestroyit,Isuckasewingbuttons,"Meredithsaid."Ibetyousuckatmore,"saidAime,openingthefirstbuttonsandkissedbetweenMeredith'sbreasts.Witheveryopenebutton,AimeplacedanotherkissonMeredith'sbody.Soon,theshirtwasopen,andMeredithsatuptoputitoffcompletely."Weneedtotosomethingagainstyourdress,"Meredithsaid.AimeturnedherbacktoMeredithandsheopenedthefinezipperontheback.Sheplacedkissedonh

erneckandfollowingthespine.

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-02,num_words:764,num_minutes:32.862SheslowlyremovedthedressandcaressedthesidelinesofAime'sbody.MeredithkissedtheshoulderandheardAimebreathingoutverysharp."Youlikethis,doyou?"Meredithsmiled.Aimeworenobraunderthedress.MeredithtookAime'sbreastsinherhandsandstartedmassagingthem."Nono,itshouldbeyourturn,"saidAimeandturnedtoMeredith.SheplacedanotherkissbetweenMeredithbreasts."Justcloseyoureyesandenjoy"...

WhenMeredithawokethenextmorningwithAime'salarmclock,shefeltrelaxed.ShelovedgivingtoAsorda,butonceinawhileshewantedtobetheonetoleanbackandrelax.Aimenexttohergroanedandlookedattheclock."Anotherbori

ngday..."AimeturnedandsmiledatMeredith."AtleastIwakeuptoaniceview."Meredithsmiledback.Shewentoutofbedandstoodnakedagainsttherisingsuninfrontofthecurtainedwindow."Reallyniceview."Aimestartedgrinning."AndIthoughttoday'shighlightshouldhavebeenProfessorMoran'slectureaboutthe5thmillenium.""Well,theprioritieshaveshifted,"Meredithsaid."Iwilllooktomyhotelroomandwe'llmeetbackattheuniversity?""Soundslikeaplan,"Aimesaid."Butwhatdoyouthinkaboutbreakfast?""Notmyfavouritetimeoftheday."Meredithsaidshortly."Irathersleepinandhaveacupofcoffee."


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"Hm,toobad."Aimesaidandposedherselfinthebedwithherarmsposedovertheheadandherbreastsexposed."Youaren'tchangingyourplans?""Sorry,Idon'tgetanythingdowninthemorning,"Meredithsaid."AndIwanttocheckonsomestuffforwork."Meredithcollectedherclothesandstartedputtingthemon."ButIpromisewemighthavelunchtoday?""Soundsaboutright."Aimesaid."Seeyouthen."

Inthehotelcorridor,ayoungmancametowardsMeredithoutofAsorda'sroom.Itwashisassistantandcurrentlover,Joe.Meredithopenedthedoorandsawherboyfriendsittingnakedonthebedandlookingthroughhisnotes."Hadfunlastnight?"heasked."Verymuch,butIcouldn'tgetyouanything,"Meredithanswered."Shehatesyou.""Ohyoudidn't-"heturnedtoMeredith."You'resleepingwithher?Wow,Ihaveneverthought...didshementionme?""Onlythebest,"Meredithgrinned."She'sobsessedwithyou.Ifsheonlyknew.""Soyoudidn'ttellher?Iamdisappointed.""MaybeItellhertomorrownight,"Meredithcontemplated."Shockofherlife.""IwishIcouldseeherface."Asordasaid."Anyway,psychedforMoran'slecture?Heisoneofthebesthistoriansaroundhere,andneedlesstosay,hehatesmemorethananyone.Ishouldn'thavetoldthepublisherIwashisstudent,andtheyputitrightawayinthedescriptionofmylife.""Awful,"Meredithputdownherclothesagain."I'lltaketheshowernow,okay?""Hey-what'sthehickeyonyourneck?Couldyoupleasestopfuckingmyrivals?"

HelaughedwhenMeredithclosedthebathroomdoor."Iwillstopassoonasitstopsbeingsomuchfun,"Meredithtoldhimthroughthebathroomdoor."ThenIwillmakeitstop."Asordacouldn'tstoplaughing."ThenIwillmakesureyoudon'tfuckyourassistants.""Youcan't!"Meredithsnickeredandputontheshower.Awarmshowerwastherightthingaftersuchagreatnight.Andafteranicecupofcoffee,shewouldbeverymuchrefreshedandreadyformaybeanothernightofmindlessfucking.Butthistime,itwouldbeAime'sturntorelax.

Aftertheweekend,MeredithandAsordasattogetherinthesmallshuttlebacktoTorrie.

"And,didyoutellher?"Asordaasked."No,Ididn't."Meredithsaid."Ireallylikeher,andIdon'twanttomisstheopportunitytospyonyourrivals.""OhMeredith."Asordaputandarmaroundher."Ireallydon'tknowhowtoloveyoumore.Usingyourbodytospyonmyenemies.Soselfless.""Thankyou,dear."Shekissedhimonthecheek."Andwhat'swithyourassistant?""Iamoverhere,thankyou,"saidJoe."Andwereallylikeeachother.""Fine,fine,"Meredithsaid."Ican'tcompetewithyou.I'mgivingup."Allthreelaughed."So,what'sfordinnertonight?"Meredithasked."IthoughtofcookingsomeSolanrecipes,"Joereplied."IfoundareallygoodbookwithmanyIwanttotry."

"Soundsgood."Meredithsaid,andthenturnedtoAsorda."Ithinkyoucankeephim,hecooks.Ilikehim."

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-03,num_words:800,num_minutes:41.6138Wecankeephim.Fourwordstoomuch.Onlyshortafter,Asordakepthimandmadeherleave.Ormore,theypartedbecauseitdidn'tworkanymore.Anyway,itwasshortlybeforeafestivitythatremindedMeredithofChristmas.Onlysixyearsago,itwasthelasttimeshehadcelebratedChristmas.Firstintheinstitute,withaverydrunkenprofessor,thenwithherfriendsandCoopagain,whotriedtokissherunderneaththemistletoe(andanhourlater,succeeded.Itwasputun


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der"eventswebothenjoyedbutpleaseall-the-gods,letitneverhappenagain").ThenshespentathirdChristmaswithherparentsbeforeshespenttheafter-ChristmasdaysandNewYears'withherbrotherinLondon,justtorepeatNewYears'EveoneweekafterwithCoopandtheothersintheUSA.Theyweremanydrunkenweeks.Andnowshesatinheroffice,after-hours,withacupofhotcoffeeandwaitingforthenextdayfortheofficeparty.Justfine.ShewaslookingforwardtointroduceAimetoChristmasonEarth.Atleastsomething."MissNewman?"VicePresidentSkeltonlookedintoheroffice.Shewassurprisedhowfriendlyshehadbecomewithhim.Onlyfiveyearsagoshethoughtheonlywantedtokillher."You'restillhere?""Noone'swaitingforme,"sheanswered."Well,okay,Ijustwantedtotalktoyouanyway."Heseemedsovulnerablesometimes.Asofthejobwastoomuchforhim."Inprivate.""Andwhatdoyouwanttotalktome?"Sheputdownthecup."Youdoverygoodworkhere,MissNewman,andIthinkit'stimeforapromotion."Hesaid."Doyouhaveanyinterestinbecomingmypersonalassistant?""IdothinkIhavethewrongsexforit,"Meredithanswered."Yes,usuallyyouwouldhave,"Skeltonlaughed."ButIamcurrentlynotinterested.Ithinkit'stimeithiresomeonewhoiscapableofdoingthisjob,andnotjustinsanelyattractive.""Ihavetothinkaboutit."Meredithwassurprisedbyherwords.Usuallyshewouldhavesaidno,Iwanttogobackintoresearch.Butgiventhestandardatthosetimes,shehadsoongivenupthatideaandkeptscienceasahoobyandbackgroundinformationforherjobasascientificadvisor."IwouldsuggestSimmonsas

mysuccessor.""Thankyouforyourinput."Skeltonsmiled."Youshouldgohomenow,tomorrowwillbeveryfun.""Thankyouforyourinput."Meredithsaid."Ionlywanttofinishthiscup."Skeltonleftherofficeagain.Home.Homewascurrentlyasmallflatstuffedwithbooks.Asordahadgivenheracompleteeditionofhisworksasagood-byepresent,andshehadcollectedmanybooksfromthistime,eventhoughprintworksweremoreexpensivethanotherbooks.Butitwasempty.Curiously,shehadn'tlivedaloneforages.Andwiththeamountoffriendsshehadinthistime,itwasveryeasytobealone.

Thepartywasverydrunken.Shehaddancedwithalotofcolleagues,andwasrathersurprisedhowgoodadancerSkeltonwas.

"Simmons,whatwouldyouthinkaboutworkinginmyposition,"sheaskeddrunkenlyinaratherflirtingmanner."Imean,itwouldbefun.""Yourposition?Areyouquitting?"hesaid."Thatwouldbesad,you'reanawesomeboss.""No,no,justaskingbecauseIwanttomakesomedrunkensmalltalk."Meredithlaughed."Betterpay,moreresponsibilities,soundslikeaperfectjobforme,"hesaid."Butyouwon'tquit,willyou?""Never,Ilikeithere."Shemadeamentalnotetotaketheoffer.Afewsecondslater,shemadeanoteonapieceofpaperbecausesheknewshewillhaveforgottenitthenextday.>Takeoffer.makesureSimmonsgetsjob.ShewroteitinEnglishandwassurprisedhowwellitstillwas.Sheputthenot

eintoherbackpocketofhertrousers."So,doyouknow'boutChristmas?"sheaskedSimmonslater."Becausethat'swhatwecelebratedonEarth.""Earth?""Theol'nameofSolThree."Meredithsaid."Ilearneditfromthedoc.""Ah,youreallyhavespenttoomuchtimewithHistorians,"Simmonslaughed."Betterspenditwithrealscientists.""'ewasagoodhistorian,"Meredithsaid."Notacknowledgedlikemygirlfriendbutanyway,hewasgood.""Alreadysomeonenew,hm,Newman?"Simmonssaid.


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"Yeah,itcomesandgoes."Shelaughed."Icouldneedanotheroneofthis."SheheldheremptyglasscuptoSimmons."Wouldyoubeagentlemenandgivemeanother?""SometimesIthinkyou'remorealienthanIthoughtsomeonefromSol3wouldbe,"Simmonslaughed."Ifyouonlyknew,"shemutteredtoherself.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-04,num_words:782,num_minutes:47.1607Meredithwokeupwithabadheadachethenextday.Shehadn'ttakenthehangoverdrugthedaybefore,soofcourseshewashungover.Shehadn'tbeenhungoverforages.Actually,shewasquitesurethatitwasatherlastChristmasinhertime.Yeah,thatsoundedquiteright.Meredithsighed,atleasttherewasnoonelyingnexttoher.Andtherewasalsonothingthatindicatedthatsomeonewasthere.Shealmostfelloutofbed,andslowlywalkedovertoherbathroom.Hercurrentflatsosmallbutshecouldn'taffordanythingbigger.Shethrewup.Tastingthevomitinhermothalmostmadehercry.Afterasecondtime,sheactuallystartedcrying.Thatwastoomuch,howcouldasimplesicknesscouldmakeherhomesick?SherememberedhowCoophadheldherhaironce(afterthenighttheykissed)andassuredherthateverythingwillbeokay,eventhoughshewascryingatthetimebecauseofahungoverdepression.Afterathirdtime,sheslowlygotup,flushedthetoiletandbrushedherteeth.Thetoothpastemadeherfeelnauseousagain.Inthekitchenette,shepreparedcoffee.Shedidn'tknowwhatpeopleusetocurehangoversinthistime.Probablynothing,becausetheydidn'tgetanyanymore.Shedecidedtotrythewebanyway,sometimesyoucouldfindsomething.

Onecupofcoffeelater,shestillhadn'tfoundacure.Heck,shedidn'tevenknowthewordforhangoverinthislanguage.AndshebetAsordawouldn'tknowitaswell,becausefirstshehaddoexplainwhatitwas.Damnthismedicalsoadvancedtime.Butsuddenlyathoughtoccurredtoher.Whentheyhadamedicamentagainstit,theremustbeaname.Shecouldhavehitherselfthatherhangover-riddledbraindidn'tthinkofit.Shelookedonthepackageofthedrugandsearchedthewebagain.Well,whocared.It'sherfreeday.Whybotherwithcuringahangover?Shedecidedtogetbackintoherroomandsleepforanotherhour.

Shewaswokenbyamessagefromherpad.Skelton.Whatthehellcouldhewantfromher?Shedecidedthatshedidn'tcarewhathethoughtaboutherlooksandanswered.

"What?""Justatestifyouwouldtakeacall,"hesaid."Youlookawful."Meredithsighed.Hereallywantedtohaveherashispersonalassistant."Yeah,andI'mfeelingthatway,soifthere'snothingmore,pleaseletmerest.""Forgottenyourmeds?Betterletthisnothappenlater."Hegrinned."Simmons."Shesaid."IonlyacceptifyoumakeSimmonsmysuccessor.""Fine.Hedoesgoodwork,andyourlastreportonyourteamwasverypositive."Helookeddownonsomepapers."So,isthatayes?""Ithinkso."Meredithsaid.Sheshouldnotmakeanydecisionshungover.Thiswasnotgood.Thiswon'tendwell."Yes.""Fine,soI'llseeyoutomorrowinmyoffice.Ihopeyouhaven'tspoileditforSimmons.""I...preparedhim.Inaway.Askedhimifhelikedtohavemyjob."Mereditha

dmitted."Well,betterthansurprisinghimtoomuch,yes."Shesawhimwritingsomethingdown.Untiltomorrow."Heendedthecallandhisfacedisappeared.Meredithgroaned.Shehadthefeelingthatshereallywouldregretthisoneday.Justinthenewamountofworkloadthatexpectedher.

Shegotupafewhourslaterfeelingmorerefreshed.Ashowerlater,sheevenstartedtomakesomefood.Shewasstarvedfromearlierandshealsowantedtothinkaboutherdecision.Itseemedtosurreal.Themanwhotriedtoimplythatshewasaspy,thatshewastrainedforappearingasatime-traveller,nowtriedto


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giveheracareer.Arealcareer,afterbeingaresearchscientistwasreallynotathingforhertobe.Itwasn'tinhertime,itwasn'there,shewasnevermeanttobeascientistatall.Sometimesshewonderedhowlifewouldhavebeenifshehadtakenthecontractinsteadofstudying,butthenagain,shewouldneverhavemanagedtoseethefutureofhumankind.Andsometimesshejuststandsthereandthinks,manthat'sawesome.Becauseitwas.Meredithturnedonthetelevision.Shelistenedtothenews,butthenshegotbored.Shehadtoremindherselfthatknowingthenewswouldbeevenmoreofherjobthanitwasnow.ThePAofthevice-presidenthasashitloadofresponsibilities.AndoneoftheconcernedtheboringdiplomaciesofTorrieandKymru.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-05,num_words:812,num_minutes:42.99Onthenextday,MeredithwentstraighttoSkelton'soffice.Shewouldn'tstartimmediately,ofcourse,butshewasveryexcited.Anewjobwouldalsomeanapay-rise.Andmaybeshewouldcomeoutabit.Shehadalreadymetsomeinterestingpeoplewiththecurrentjob,butshewasn'tabletoreallytraveltheUnionandmeetthereallyinterestingandimportantpeople.Andshewouldactuallygooutoftheoffice.Thatitalsomeanttobea24/7hourjob,wasokayforMeredith.Soshehadnottolookforabetterandbiggerflat,andtherewerenootherresponsibilitiesinherlifeanyway.

SheknockedattheofficedoorandwaiteduntilSkeltoncalledherin."Iexpectedyou,MissNewman,Ihopeyoudidn'tchangeyourmind,"hesaid."No,Ididn't."Meredithsmiled."Iamstilltakingtheoffer.""Fine,becauseIhavealreadypreparedthecontract."Heopenedthedocumenton

hisdesk."Andhere'sacopyoftherulesforyou,whichyouhavetosignbeforeyoustart.""Whataretherules?"Sheasked,lookingatthetitlepageofthedocumentonherpad."Theshortversion?""Mostlyconfidentialityclauses,"saidSkelton."Nothing,everythingyouwilleverhear,see,tasteorhoweveryousenseit,isstrictlykeptsecret.Someofitisthesubjectoftheunion'ssecurity,mostofpersonalnature.Ihopeyouhavenoproblemwithanythingpersonal,sincewearetospendmosttimetogether,andyoumightseemorethanyouwanted.""Iwenttoarelativelysmallcollege,"Meredithsaid,"IthinkIcansaythatImayhaveseenalmosteverythinginthedormroomsIdarenottospeakabouteventhoughtheparticipantsarealreadyover8,000yearsdead."Skeltonlaughed."Yeah,sometimesthethingspeopleseeatthecollegesarenot

suitableforanyone."Hebecameseriousagain."Youstillknowtherulesaboutyou?""SolThree,thoughIhavethefreedomtosayEarthbecauseIdatedahistorian,graduatedStanfordInstituteforScienceandTechnology,StanSTech.Can'tbelievewewonagainstCalTech."Sheaddedasajoke."Ithinkmylanguageskillsarealsobetter,becauseIonlyspokewithAsordaintheUnionlanguage.""Theyareverygood,forsomeonefromSol,thatis,"hesmirked."It'sveryfluent.""Thankyou."shesaid."Itwasonlyasmallcheck,andIstillcan'tbelievethatStanSTechacknowledgedyourdegree.""TheysaidthatitwasamongthestoredinformationfromFC,"explainedMeredith."SinceIdisappearedlongbeforeandtheysurelythoughtIwasdead,oneofmy

friendsmusthavesmuggledmyfileintothesaveddata."Sheswallowed."Sothat...nooneforgotme.""Adrink?"Skeltonasked."No,it'sfine.I'musedtohavesuddenhintsofhomesickness.ThoughIthinktheremustbeabettertermthiswithtimetravel.""Toobadthere'snosupportgroupforthat,"Skeltonsaid."Nostalgia,"MeredithsaidinEnglish."Thatmustbetheword.Idon'tknowifthere'sawordinthelanguage.""That'sstufftheDocknows,"Skeltonsaid."Anyway,enoughchatter,doyouwanttosignyournewworkingcontract?Youwillstartnextweek,youwillgetaful


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llistwithsomedetailedinformationlater.Schedules,numbers,peopleyouhavetoknow,mypolicies,etcetera,etcetera.""Yes,Iwanttosign."Shetookheridentitycardandlaiditontothesurfaceofthedesk.Itbeeped,andshehadelectronicallysignedthenewworkingcontract."Thankyou.Youwillgetabetteroffice,soyoushouldstartpackingyourstuffeventhoughyouofficiallystartyourworknextweek.Seethisweekaspreparation."Shestoodupbuthehaltedher."AndcouldyousendSimmonstome?Timeforhispromotion."

Shesatdownonherdeskwithacupoftea.Itfeltstrange,butforthesecondtimewithinayear,shehadmovedon.Shewasalone,true,butshefinallygotajobwhereshecouldreallyappreciatelivinginthefuturewithoutdepressingside-effects.Politicswasoneofthefieldsthatneverchangemuch,shehadlearned(unlikeScience),andactuallyknowingsomethingwasgoodforachange."Youaremad,"Simmonssaidafewminuteslater."AndIthoughtyouwereonlyjokingwhenyouaskedme.""Doyoulikeit?"Meredithgrinned."Like?Boss,that'sthebestnewsIgotinawhile.Andthat'swithoutyougettingfired.""Iaskedforyou,"Meredithsaid."Somakemeproud.""Ocaptain,mycaptain!"Hesaluted.Meredithlikedthatherteamtookallthelittlejokesfromthe20th/21stcenturyandmadeitintosomerunninggagsbetwee

nthem.Sheintendedtogoonwhenshestartedhernewjob.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-06,num_words:901,num_minutes:30.4281MOOD:tiredMOTIVATION:lessthanzero

"Thereisameetinglaterwiththepresident,don'tforgetit,"Meredithsaid."Youknowwhat?"Skeltonsaid,turningintohisswivelchair."You'reapainintheass."Meredithwasworkingashispersonalassistantfortwoyearsnow,andshehadheardworse.Shemadeanoteonherpad."AndMissMerillionwantstotalktoyou."Skelton'sfacebrightened."SayMerylIwillcomeoverinanhour.""There'sthemeetingwiththepresident,sir,"shesaid."Youcan'tmissthison

e.""Icanmissthisone,it'sfortheplanet'seconomy!"Heinsisted."I-whatwasthat?"Hejumpedoffhischairandrantothewindowoppositeofhisdesk."What?"AspaceshipwashangingoverTorrie'scapital.Itstartedshootingatdifferentskyscrapersofthecity,thetoweroftheuniversitywasinflames."Whattheactualfuck?!"Meredithjusttookashortlookourofthewindowandcalledthepresidentimmediately."Whereareourforces?"Asiftheyhadheardit,TorrianbattlefighterstartedtoattacktheshipandtriedtodragitbackintospaceandoutofTorrie'satmosphere."Yes,MrPresident,Iunderstand,heisonhisway."SheturnedtoSkelton."No

meetingwithMissMerilliontonight,thereisnowarealreasonyoushouldgotothepresident.Immediately."Sheglaredathim."Noexcuses.""Yes,yes,ofcourse."Hewaspanicky.Justfine."TellMerylthatI'mbusy."Skeltongrabbedhispadfromhisdeskandhurriedaway.

Whenshewasalone,Meredithsighedaudibly.Shewonderedhowthebattleshipmanagedtogetsoclosetotheplanet?Noshipcomesthroughthefirstouterringofthesystemwithoutthemilitarynoticing.Eveninsidejobswerenotthateasy.ShehastilywroteanotetoGalex,butshewasalreadypresumingthatMissMerillionwasknowingthatSkeltonwasnotcoming.Sheseriouslyhopedthatwasonly


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asingleinstance.Herphonestartedringing.Shetriedtoanswerit,butinthismoment,theofficephonestartedringing.Herofficephonestartedringing.Alistofpeopleappearedonherpad,allwantingtocontacther.Shetookadeepbreath,andclickedonthefirstname."No,heisnotinofficerightnow,statementfollows."Thestandardanswer.Everyoneknowsthatwasthestandard,ofcourse,butshehopedthattheyalsounderstoodwhyshesaidit.Nextone."Holdon."Next."Statementfollowsinafew."Next.NextNext.Therestoftheafternoon,wellintothenight,shehadtoanswerthecallsthatway."Ican'ttell-oh,MsNeals.""ItoldyoutocallmeMarlene,we'reinthesameexes-club,"thewomansaid.MeredithhatedthatshewantedtobefriendswithherjustbecauseMsNealswastheex-wifeofAsorda."What'sgoingon,Marlene?"Meredithreallywantedtoknow.AndifsomeoneknowsthenoneofTorrie'stopdiplomats.Andshecanusethewishtobefriendsnow."Skeltonisstillwiththepresident."AndIonlytalktoyoubecauseotherwiseIwouldhavetoanswermoremeaninglesscalls."Idon'treallyknow,itendedsofastandnoonehassaidanything."Marlenesaid."Butweassumeitwasasingleincidentofterrorism-whatwasthat?"Meredithjumpedoffandrantothewindow.Alargeshipappearedagaininthesky."Whydoesthemilitarydonothing?"Meredithcried."What'swrong?""Idon'tknow!"saidMarlenebutthenwasdistractedbysomeonetalkingtoher."Kymru."shesaid,thenputoffthecall.Meredithlookedatthelistofpeopletryingtoreachher.Kymru?WhatonEarth-Torrie!-didtheyhavetodowitht

his?Meredithdecidedtorecordamessage,hitsendtoallwhowereandwillbetryingtocallonanyphoneoftheoffice,andshutdownherpadforofficialuse.ShedecidedtowaitintheofficeforSkelton,andturnedonthetelevision.Therewasnothingonit.Thereportontheincidentoftheafternoon,yes,butnothingmore.Meredithassumedtheremustbeamediablockageandthat'swhythereweretryingtoreachher.Luckilysheknewbetter.Someonecalledonherprivateline,Simmons."So,what'sgoingonupthere?Whendowereleaseastatement?""Idon'tknow,"answeredMeredith."Ihaven'tseenorheardfromSkeltonforhours,soyouhavetowaitaswell.""AreyouasannoyedasIam?"Simmonsaidmorecheerful."It'sastheythinkweactuallyknowsomething.""Iknowright?"Meredithhadtogrinaswell."EvenIhavenoideawhat'sgoing

onand-"SheconsideredforamomenttotellhimwhatMarlenehadtoldherafewminutesago,butthendecidedagainst."andIdon'tthinkIwilldointhenexthours.You'rethefirsttohear.""Soundsaboutright,"Simmonssaid."You'regoingtostayintheoffice?""No,Iamtakingavacation,"saidMeredithsarcastically."Whatelseisthere?Istheresomethinggoingon?""Don'tworktoomuch,"saidSimmonsandthenherangoff.Meredithletherselffallonthesmallcouch,alittlenapwouldn'thurt.AndSkeltonwouldmakesureshewon'toversleeptheimportantstuff.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-07,num_words:906,num_minutes:34.6164MOOD:motivatedMOTIVATION:five

"Ican'tbelieveit!"Skeltoncameshoutingintotheoffice."Ican'tbelieveit!"Meredithslowlygotonherfeetandadjustedhereyestobeingawakeagain."Whatisit?""Kymru!"Skeltonshouted."Thatthanklessbitchthinksshecandowithuswhatshewants!Icould-AAH.""Justcalmdown,Igoingtogetatea."Meredithwalkedoutoftheoffice,whenitdawnedher.Kymru'spresidentwasMaylinVeena-exactlytheonewhowaspresidentonSolanwhereSkeltonhadstartedoffhiscareeraseverlastingvice-president.ItwasunderstandablethatSkeltonwasfurious.Withapotoftea,sheca


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mebackintheoffice,Skeltonwassittingathisdesk,staringatsomedatadisplayedonthetable."Thankyou,"hesaidwhenMeredithpouredhimacup."Didanythinghappen?""Justallthejournalists,bloggerandeveryonealivecallingtofindoutwhathappened.Irecordedamessagethattherewon'tbeanynewsuntilwesayso.""Ofcourse,ofcourse,butit'salreadyleaked,sobetterfireupSimmonstopiecetogethersomethingofficial."HesendabunchoffactstoMeredith'spad,whothenprocessedthefactstoSimmonsoverasecureline."Done,"shesaid."MsNealcalled,issheinvolved?""Yeah,she'stheonlyhopewegotrightnowbeforeweendupinwarwithKymru."Helookedup."Youhavenoideawhatwarmeansinthistime,doyou?""I'vereaduponsomerecentconflicts."Meredithanswered."It'snotverymuchdifferentfromwhatIhavereadandheardinmytime.AfriendofminediedinbattlebeforeIstartedmyPhD.""Sorrytohear."Skeltonsaidinhisbusinessvoice."Conflictshereendupveryrarelyinbattle.Everysystemhastheirsecretweapons,andsomethatarenotverysecret,and-itusuallyisenoughtokeepeachotherfromblowinguptheplanets.Bitswereblownoutofplanets,nevertheless."Hechuckled.Meredithwasnotsureifthatwasfunny."Usuallytheunresolvedtensionsbetweenthegovernmentscanholdupforages.Chienhadn'tbeeninvolvedinaconflictforages,buttheykeepuptheirpassiveaggressivepolicies.""It'salwaysthesamethroughouthistory."Meredithsaid,quotingoneofAsorda'scatchphrases."Nothingwillchange,ever.""Hehe,youandyourhistory,"Skeltonsaid."CanyougetmeonthelinewithMer

ylnowandthenpleaseleavetheoffice?It'simportant,andmostly,offtherecord.""Yes,sir,"Meredithsaid.Afewsecondslater,thelinewason,offtherecord,andMeredithlefttheofficetoherownsmallofficenexttoit.

SkeltonusuallytalkstoMissMerillionofftherecord.Meredithcanthinkherpart(andshebelievessheisverymuchrightabouttheirrelationship),butusuallyitissomelobbyworkbetweenhimandGalexthatdoesnotcomeverygoodonthegovernmentrecords.Meredithfillsthisgapwith"conversationsofadelicateandpersonalmatter",whichwereallowedtoacertainextendbyrecordrules.Notthatitwasanopensecretthatmostoftherealpoliticswasmadeduringthosecalls.

Afewminuteslater,SimmonssenthispressreleasetoMeredith.Shelookedoverit,okay'dit,andthensentittoSkelton,whosentitbackapprovedonlymomentslater.AtleastthismatterwassettledandMeredithcouldturnherpadbackonforbusinesscalls.Asexpected,peoplewereangrythatshehadputthemoff.Sendingoutthereleaseshouldappeasethematleastalittlebit.Onlysecondlater,theofficialreleasewasallovertheweb.Peoplewereangry,happythatthegovernmentdidn'tdenyitornotevenbothered.Theusual.

"Newman?Couldyoupleasecomein?"Skeltonaskedoverthespeaker."Sure."Intheoffice,hewaslookingoverthecity."IhaveagreedwithMerylthateventhoughKymrumightstartawar,Iwon'tgiveintothem.Toomuchisontheline."

"Soundsreasonable.""Soyouarewithme?Itisimportantthatyouarewithme."Skeltonsaid."Becausethepresidentisn't.Thisisgoingtobeaproblem.""I'lltalktohisPA."saidMeredith.AfewproblemswerealreadysolvedthiswaybecausethepersonaladviserofthepresidentreallylikedMeredith.Alot.Andshewasnotafraidtouseit."Ithinkthatgoesoverhisinfluence."Skeltonsaid."Hecantellthepresidentoverandoveragainthatitisabadidea,butthepresidentisprettydeterminedtogiveintoKymruassoonasanopportunityarrives.Whatwehavetodoistopostponethismomentasfarasitgoes.Letmebebluntwithyou-"heturned


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toher."-awarbetweenKymruisprettymuchasurething.Meryltoldmetheystockedup,andobviouslythethingtodaywasnotasingleincident.Wehavetoprepare."Meredithswallowed.Allherlife,shehadbeensafe.Sheofcourseoftenhadfearsthatherfatherwouldn'tcomebackfromawarzonewhenhestartedgoingoutagainafterstayinginthecountrybecauseshewasyoung.Andmorethananything,shewishedthatshehadtalkedaboutthewarwithherfather.Justsoshewouldn'tbeleftsounpreparedrightnow.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-08,num_words:712,num_minutes:Thenextday,Meredithwasupveryearly.Shehadspentthenightinheroffice,andwasawaitingfurthernewsonthesituationwithKymru.Ofcourse,nothinghadreallychangedovernight,butoneneverknew.Shewenttothebathroom,washedherfaceandrefreshedhermakeup,andalsochangedintosomepareclothesshekeptatwork.Whenshefinallywasreadytofacethenewday(whenwasoneactuallyreadytofacethenewdaywhenitcertainlybroughtbadnews),sheknockedonSkelton'sofficefordoorwithafreshcanofcoffee.Hewasalreadyworkingwhensheentered."Hadalongnight,sir?"sheasked,eventhoughsheknewtheanswer."Iwasn'tathome",hesaid,notlookingup."Andsowereyou,Isee.""TherewasnothingIcoulddoathome,"Meredithanswered,puttingthetraywiththecoffeepotdownandpouredSkeltonacup."Exceptwaitingandwaiting,andIwouldbesodumbtoactuallywatchthenews.""Don'tdothis."Skeltonfinallylookedup."Thissituationisserious.Wecan'triskanyonetomissasecondjustbecausehewaslisteningthedriveltheysay

onthenews.Whatcountsarefacts,notthespeculation.""Soyouindeedknowwhatwasonthenews,"Meredithsaid,puttingthecupnexttoSkelton'sarm."Thankyou."hesaid,takingasipfromthecup."Yes,Iknow,anditisnotverypretty.""ThenIdon'twanttoknow."Meredithyawned."Sorry.""Itisfine,"saidSkeltonsmiling."Wewon'tgetanysleepthenextweeksanyway,sowemightbettergetusedtocoffee.""IsthereanythingelseIshoulddo?"Meredithasked."SeethatyougetSimmonstoputareporttogetherwhatthenewsareactuallysaying,"Skeltonsaid."Thenbringittome.""Andelse?"Meredithasked."Don'tlookinthere,itisnotverynice."

Meredithmadeamentalnotetolookinthere.Thisconflictwaswaytoointerestingtomiss,andthenewssituationwasasimportanttoherasitwastoanyonewithinthegovernment."Idon'tthinkso,"saidMeredith."Imightlookintoit.Ihavetopreparedfortheworst,youknowhowthosepeopleare."Skeltonsmiledacknowledging."Andthat'swhyIthinkit'sabadidea,butIcan'torderyou."Hegaveheralistonapieceofpaper."Andtrytogetthosepeopletogether.Thepresidentaskedmetodoit,andwhatheasksme-""Iwilldothen,"saidMeredith.Shewasusuallytheonewhogetseverything.Sometimesevenfromtheidiotpersonaladviserofthepresident."Wasthatall?""GetthosepeoplefromtheirvacationonTorrie,andbetterassoonaspossible,latesttomorrow.ThepresidentofKymruisexpectedtomakeastatementsoon."Butshedidn'tmakeastatementinthetraditionalway.Sheratherthrewsomebo

mbsonTorrie,whichwasastatement,butnotareallygoodoneforTorrie.

Meredithtookadeepbreath.Sheclosedhereyes,listenedtothebombsfalling,andtothebattlefightersbeingshotdown.It'sbeenamonthsincethefirstincident,andKymrustartedafull-fletchedwarwithTorrie.Eventhoughtheywereprepared,theywerenotpreparedenough.Ittookthewholesystembysurpise.Afteroneweek,thefirstoutpostfeel,andthefleetwasalreadyoverthemainplanet.Noonehadanideahowfasttheycoulddothis.ButeveryonesawtheendofTorrie."She'sgoingtohatemeforthis."SaidSkelton.


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"Whoisgoingtohateyou?"Meredithasked."Meryl.HeckshelovesTorrielikenothingelse,andIamgoingtoadvisethepresidenttocapitulatetogiveinandsignthedamnthing."hesaid."Butyouareagainstit,"Meredithremindedhim."DOesthismatter?Iamstillagainstit,butIcantellthepresidentoftenenough,hewouldn'tlisten.ItisasIwasthesameopinionashewasintheend.Allmyfault.""Andwhatisgoingtohappenwhenwegivein?TorriebecomesKymrianterritory?""Worse,Torriebecomespartofthe#####ENTRY#####2011-12-09,num_words:38,num_minutes:"Worse,TorriebecomespartoftheKymriansystem."Skeltonalmostwhisperedit.TheywereinthebunkerunderthegovernmentbuildingofTorrieandtheydidtheirbesttocontinueworking-whateverthatwasatthattime.

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-11,num_words:931,num_minutes:907.061MOOD:BlahMerediththoughtalotthesedays.Afterthefirstweeksofattack,shewasabletocomebacktoherflat.Nothingwasdestroyed,butwhenshelookedoutofthewindow,shesawthemostofthecitywasinruins.Meredithsighed.Shepackedabagwithsomeofthemorevaluablebooks,especiallythoseshedidn'thadacopyofonherpad.Alsothe"smallboxofEarth",asshecalledit,aboxwitheverythingshehadonherbodywhenshefirstcametothefuture:Thet-shirtshewore(withacartoonreferenceno-onewouldevengettheslightestatthistime-sometimessheworeitinhopesthatsomeonelookedatherandsaidthattheyk

newtheshow),herlong-brokenwristwatch,herbrokencellphone,andaGuinnesscoasterfromherfavouritepubshehadinhertrouserpocket.SherememberedthehappytimewhensomeITtoldherthatshehadsavedandencodedallofMeredith'sdatafromhercellphone,sothatshehadthepicturesofherfriendsandherfavouritesongsonherpad.SometimesMeredithneededtoberemindedhowawesomethetimebeforeOctober2009was.Thenshepackedsomeotherthingsshehadcollectedovertheyears.Smallpresentsbyhersignificantothers(andshewassurprisedhowmanyrelationshipsshehadduringthelastsevenyears),postcards,souvenirsandthebadgesfromherformerworkplaces.Thatoneeveninggown,abusinesssuitandasetofcasualclotheswanderedinthebag.Shecouldn'ttakemore.Thebagwashardtoclosebutshemanaged.Everytimeshemoved,Meredithwassurprisedhowaccustomedshehadbecameofli

vinghere.Maybeshewasn'tsopronetogiveintomiseryasshehadthoughtofherselfwhensheimaginedsituationslikethat(onlythatthoseinvolvedherbeingcalledtosomesupersecretbaseinouterspacewhereshewouldneverreturn).Smilingsheclosedthedoortohersmallflat.Itdidn'thurt.Shewasonlyafraidofwhatwouldcomenext.

"MissNewman,Iamgladyoucamesoearly,"Skeltonsaidwhensheenteredhisshatteredoffice.Itwasn'tdestroyedassuch,buttheglassfrontwasbroken(andonlyaforcefieldhinderedthecoldwindtoentertheoffice),andtheinteriorwasveryuntidyasifawhirlwindwentthroughit(andMeredithsuspectedthatthiswasnearlythecasesincetheforcefieldwassetuplater)."Sorryforthemess.""Youshouldseemyoffice,"Meredithsaidsmiling.Herofficewasn'tasbadlyda

maged,shehadnowindowsorconnectiontotheoutsideofthebuilding.Itwasallnaturaluntidinessofherself."Well,whatIamabouttosayismostimportant.Peoplewillhatemeforthis,butyouhavetoknowthereasons,incasesomethinghappenstome.Idon'twantmyreputationdestroyed.""I...understand."shesaid,butshehadnoideawhathewasabouttosay."Thepresidentisstubborn.YouknowwetriedtoeverythingtoconvincehimnottocapitulatetoKymru.ButwhenpresidentMaylincomesovertonight,hewillsignthecapitulation,Iwillhavetosignitaswell,andTorrieasapoliticalsysteminhistory.Youonly-"


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"Iknowthatyouarenotbehindthis,"saidMeredith."Noneedtobetheatrical.I'llmakesuretothinkofitassoonassomeoneattacksmeonthistopic."Skeltonsmiledappreciatively."Thankyou.NowIhavetogo,wishmeluck.""Breakaleg,"Meredithmuttered."What?Thatwouldbeinconvenient."Skeltonwondered."It'sasaying.Frommytime.Itsimplymeansgoodluck.""Strangesaying."Skeltonraisedhiseyebrows."Butthankyou."

"Skelton."PresidentMaylinsimplysaidwhenshesawheroldvicepresident."Maylin."Skeltonnodded."Longtimenosee.""Suchinterestingcircumstances,though."BothmoreorlessignoredthepresidentofTorriewhiletheyweretalking.Thensheturnedtohim."Sowebettergetstarted,Iwanttogiveoutthepressreleaseinafewminutes.""Yes,MmePresident,Iwilldoeverythingtoendthiswar."Thesigningofthecontractwentfast.SkeltononlysignedreluctantlybutdidsointheendwhenMaylinwaslookingathimimpatiently."Thatwasn'tsohard,wasit?"MaylinsaidandsmiledatSkelton."Andyou,sir,comewithme.Wedon'twanttohaveTorrie'sinterestsunrepresented,dowe?""Whatdoesthatmean?"Skeltonsnarledather."IthinkwemadeeverythingclearwhenIleftyouonSolan.""Yes,butIcouldneedsomeonereallygood,"Maylinsaid."AndasfarasIremember,youweretheonlycapablepersonaroundthisplanet.""Thanksforthecompliment,butIamafraidIhavesomebusinesstoattendtohereonTorrie."

"Yes,takeyourtime.Bringyouraideorwhateveryoucalltheboysthistime.Mydoorisopenforyou.""MmePresident-"thenowformerpresidentofTorriestarted,butMaylinglancedathim."Youarefreetogoanddowhateveryouwant,"shesaid."Ihavenouseforyou.Haveaniceprivatelife."Withthat,sheturnedonherheelandwalkedoutofthepresident'sofficetogetherwithherlittlearmyofbodyguardsandsecretatries."Haveyouheardit,Skelton,shecan't-""Yes,shecan,"saidSkeltonsmuglysuperior."AndIthinkyoudoasshetoldyou.Coward."#####ENTRY#####2011-12-12,num_words:772,num_minutes:41.3648Thenextday...

"Youwantme?"Meredithsaidsurprised."YouwantmetocomewithyoutoKymru?"MeredithwasnotreallysurprisedthatSkeltonwantedtotakeher,butshewassurprisedthatPresidentMaylinwantedSkelton.WasshemissingtheoldSolantimes?Meredithdidn'tmissthematall,forobviousreasons,butshewouldgoanyway."Idon'thaveanyoneinmystaffwhoisthatflexible."Skeltonexplained."Soyouwillcome?""Ihavealreadypacked."Shegrinned."ButIwanttotakesomemorebooks,ifIcan.""Fine,wearenotinahurry."Skeltonavoidedherview."Ithinkaweekorso,Iwanttoclosethebusinesshere.""What'swiththepresident?"askedMeredith."Him?"Skeltonnowlookedather."Iforgottenabouthim."Heopenedafolderon

hisdeskandsendittothemedia."IthinkIhavedealtenoughwithhim.Makesureyouwatchthenewstonight."Hegrinnednow.Meredithcanonlyimaginewhathehadplanned."Oh,andthere'sanotherthing.""Whatisit,MrSkelton?""JustmakesureMissMerilliongetsabottleoftheoldSolan,"hesaid.HeusuallycalledherMeryl,sosomethingmusthavehappened."Ihopeshelikesmypresent.""Iwillseetoit."Meredithnoteditonherpad.

HerworkonKymruwasnotreallydifferentfromherworkonTorrie.Itwasthes


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ameold,butsomethinghaschanged.Itwasalotmoredepressing.Meredithmetsomepeopleamonghercolleagueswhomshecouldcallfriends,butnotmore.Sheoftencalled(andsometimesevenvisited)ZelfakisandSarina,andevenmetupwithAsordaonce,becausetheydidn'tpartonanyveryhardfeelings.HeandJosephhadpartedaswell,andhetoldherthathemissedher.Theusualstuffyougetonsuchoccasions."Well,Ican'tcomebacktoyou,canI?"saidMeredith."It'snotwhatIsaid,"saidAsorda."It'sonlythatImissustalking.Marlenecallswaytoooftenformyliking,andIjustwanttotalktosomeoneabouthistory,notaboutcurrentpolitics,orwhateverTorriehasleft."Meredithhatedthetopic.SheworkedforthepeoplewhowerehatedonTorrie-PresidentMaylinforconqueringtheplanet,Skeltonforbetrayingtheplanet(eventhoughthetruthwassomethingelse,butthatwasdisclosed),forKymru.Evenherfriendswhotalkedtoher.Theydidn'tsayit,butMeredithnoticedit.Shesighedeverytimeitcameup."Well,it'snotmyfault.""can'tyoucomebackintoresearchonTorrie?"Asordaasked.Ineedsomeonewhocandrinkcoffeewithme.""ThenaskedAime!"Shesaid."Shewilltalktoyou.Shewilltellyouhowmuchyousuckandstuff,andyoutwowillhavefun.Skeltonneedsme,andIcan'tjustleavehim.""Well,Ithinkhegotyou."Asordasaid.Heorderedanothercoffee."Rememberwhenwefirsthadcoffeetogether?""YouwerethefirstsanepersonImet,"Meredithsaidandsmiled."Irememberyo

uaskingmealotofquestion,takingmetothemuseumandIwasjustbaffledthatmypresentwasalreadyhistory.Farawayhistory.Ancienthistory.""It'sbaffling,isn'tit?Ican'tevenimaginehowitmustfeeltohavetheowntimeashistory.Imean,wetalkedalotandspentalotoftimetogetherindifferentsituations-"Hegrinned."-andwell,Ijustcan'tandwillneverunderstandwhatyouhavetobethrough.""Juststop,please."Meredithsaid,almosttearingup."AtthemomentIdon'twanttothinkaboutit.It'stoohardalready."Butitwasn'tonlyhardforMeredith.ShesawSkeltoneveryday,dragginghimselffromonemeetingtoanother,havinglosttoomuchinthewar,inhislifeandslowly,withoutevenwantingit,sheempathizedwithhim.Verymuch.Toomuch.Shesighed.Itonlymadeherwantingtostayevenmore.

"MerillionsteppedbackasCEOofGalex"wasthenewsoneyearlater.Nooneknewwhy,butSkeltonsmiledwhenheheardthathisformerpersonalassistantAndrewsbecamethenewCEOofGalex."See,youcanmakeitfarwithme,"Skeltontoldher."Though,Ihavetoadmit,nooneevercanreplaceAndrews,thoughyoutrytobeclose,nooffence.""Nonetaken."Meredithsaid."Whatdoesthatmeanforus?""Merylwillcomeafterme,ifwe'relucky,"Skeltonsaid."MaybesheevenmanagestobringbackTorriealongtheway."#####ENTRY#####2011-12-13,num_words:1059,num_minutes:41.9429"MrSkelton,I-whyareyoupacking?"Meredithaskedwhensheenteredtheofficeafterashortsprintthoughtthecorridorsofthebuilding.Hedidn'tlookup.HeputafileintheboxandthenapaperweightfromSolan,andasinglepen.

"Whatishappening?"Meredithaskedagain.Whydidhepackafterthreeyearsofservice?Hedidn'thadthegutstoquit,didhe?"Igotsacked,"hefinallysaidandlookedather."Lostmyplanet,officiallybetrayedthenext,gotsackedfromthethird.MyCVdoesn'tlookedthatgreat.""Butwhy?"Meredithasked."Ican'tthinkyoudidanythingtoKymruthatharmedit.NotthatIknowof.""No,Ididn't,"saidSkelton."And...IthinksheisjustafraidIwouldtakeadvantageofheragain.Ididn'tdoit,sothere'sjustthereasonthatshewantstogetridofme."TwosecurityguardsappearedinthedoorbehindMeredith.


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"Iamsorry,Miss,couldyoupleasestepawayfromhim?"oneofthemaskedpolitely.Meredithlookedathimandsteppedback."Iknowthewayout,thankyou."Skeltonsaidandtookhisbox."Meredith,takecareofthismess,Ican'tdoitanymore.""Yes,MrSkelton."Shelookedafterhim,beingescortedbythetowguardsoutofthebuilding.Theassistantofthepresidentappearedinthedoor."IthoughtIwouldfindyouhere,Meredith,"hesaid."Thepresidentwantstoseeyou.""ButIhaveto-""Immediately."theassistantsaid."Fine,Dom,Iwillcome."Sheputdownthepileofpapersshewasholdingandfollowedhim.

"MissNewman."saidpresidentMaylin."Ihaven'tseenyouproperlyforalongtime.""MmePresident,"saidMeredith.Somethingwasnotright."IhaveneversaidsorryforwhathappenedonSolan,"shesuddenlysaid."Iamdeeplysorryforwhatweputyouthrough.""Apologyaccepted."Meredithbecamenervous.Thepresidentwasplanningsomethingwithher."Andyet,youhaveworkedsohardforSkelton,"saidthepresident."Fiveyears,"saidMeredith."Andyouhaveheardmanythings."Thepresidentstoodup."Itwouldbeashamei

fyoudon'tshareitwithus.""Idon't...understand."saidMeredith,butbehindher,twosecuritymenwaitedforasign."Youwillunderstand."Thepresidentturnedtothewindowtolookoverthecity.ThetwomengrabbedMeredith'sarms.Herpaddidn'tfalldown,theytookitaswellundertheirarms.Theleadherharshlyoutoftheoffice."Hey!Youcan'tdothis!Ididn'tsoanything!Whatareyou-"ahandwasheldoverhermouthtosilenceher,butshetriedtofight.Themenweretoostrong.

Shewasleadinasmallcellinwhichthemenfinallylethergo."Whatdoyouwant?"Shescreamed,buttheydidn'tseemtohearher.Afterminutesofscreaminghervoiceslowlybecamehoarseandshecoughed.Meredithsatdownontheuncomfortablebedandsighed.Whatthehellwashappening.

Shemusthavedozedoff,whentheguardshoutedtowakeher."W-what?""Name!"Theguardscreamed."MeredithNewman,whatisthis-""Youdon'tspeakmore!"Heshoutedather.Thesamerepeatseveryhour.Shewasjustdozingoff,amanshoutedandshehadtorepeathername.Fine.Shehadpulledmanyall-nighterswhenshewasyounger.Liketenyearsago.Shefeelssomucholdernow.Everyhour,itishardertorepeathername,buttheydon'tstopshoutingatheruntilshesaysitcorrectly.Somewherebetweenhour24and26,shemusthavelostcount.Shewaslyingonthebedwithhereyesopen,waitingforthenexthourtocomeandpass.Shestartedtoshiver.Meredithwassuretheperiodstheynowcamewasbecomingshorter.Nowtheywerehalfanhour,andshecalculatedinherheadthatitmusthavebeennowalmosttwodaysofwakinganddoz

ing."Whatdoyouwant?"Sheshoutedwhentheyaskedherforhername."Stateyouname!"repeatedtheguard."MeredithfuckingNewman!""Stateyourname!""MeredithNewman!"Sheshoutedback.Whenshesatbackonherbed,shestaredatthewalloppositeofher.Sheshivered,butthethinblanketdidn'tdoanything.Theguardcameagain.Andagain.Andagain.Suddenly,themandidn'tshoutather,andsheansweredclearlylikeshewasacountess.Shesmiledwhenshesaidhername.Butwhydidtheywanttoknowhername?Dotheywanttogoogleherand


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seehowmuchshehasdownloaded?Notthattheyfindanything.Clearly,theyonlywanttomaketheprospectofdeathbearable.Maybeshewouldn'tmindsomuchwhenshe'smad."Name!"theyshouted.Sheansweredwithsomename,possiblyherown.Shelookedattheman.Maybeheonlycaredaboutherandwantedtoknowifshewasn'tdeadyet.Hownice.Afterafewmoretimes,shesuddenlyfoundherselfinainterrogationroom."So,MissNewman,pleasetellusaboutSkelton.""Skelton?"Sherememberedthename."Ithinkthereisn'tmuchtotellabouthim.""Really?Whatdoyouthink,youtellusaboutSkeltonandweletyousleep."Sleep."Sleep?"Shesaid."ButthereisnothingtotellaboutSkelton.Hewasjustthisguy."Andshestartedtalkingonlyabitabouthim."Weknowthisalready!"Theyshoutedather."Telluswhatheplannedeverythingyouknowabouthim!""Nothingmore,"shesaid.Shewantedtoyawn.Sheshiveredthewholetime.Thechairfeltuncomfortable,notright.Somethingwaswrongwiththechair."Bysigningthis,youwillsayanythingaboutSkeltonyouknow,"theinterrogatorsaid."Thenwewillallowyoutosleep.""Iwon'tdie?""No,youwon't."Meredithtookthepen."Doesn'twork.""Justwriteyourname.Wedon'tcareifitworks.""Yes."Shesignedhernameandlaughedshortly.Thenamelookedfunny.Something

waswrongwithit.Thenexttimeshewokeupshelayonasimplebedwithathinblanket,andeverythinginherbodyhurt.Beforesherealisedwhereshewasandwhathappenedbefore,shefellasleepagain.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-14,num_words:1091,num_minutes:49.3329Meredithwaswokenbymetaldishesthrownonthestoneground.Shelookedtothepoint.Thebowlwasfilledwithsomeporridgelikemud.Meredithsatup.Shewasstillinthecellfornoreason,andaftertheweekwithoutsleepshedidn'tfeelfullyrestedatall.Tearsfelldownhercheekswhileshedraggedherselfoutofthebed(eventhoughitdidn'tfullycapturethemeaningofabed,itwasmoreapallet).Thefoodstankbutshefeltweakanddidn'tmindhowittasted,aslongatitwassating.Theforcefieldwasshortlyturnedoffandabottleofwaterwasthrownintohercell.Meredith'sdrylipswaitedforabitofliquidandluckilymomentsbeforeshedrankthewholebottleatoncesherememberedtod

rinkisverysmallsipstobekepthydratedandsavewater.ItweremomentslikethisshehadspentherwholelifewatchingTVshows.Whohadknown.Shestaredatthewalloppositeofher.Shestillhadnoideawhattheywantedfromher.There'snothingaboutSkeltonshecouldtellthem.Sheknewalotofhisprivatelife,true,butthatwasn'twhattheywanted,wasit?ShethoughthardifSkeltonhadanysecretsshehadlearnedaccidentally.Andthenithither.Hiswholepolicywasonebigsecret.Hisbusinesscontacts,thelobby-backing,thewholenetworkofagentsandinformants.Meredithknewonlyapartofthem(andtheygotthelistfromherpad,includingtheirsexualandfoodpreferences),sowhatdotheywanttoknowfromher?Hewasn'tthereanymore,maybealreadykilledorhiddensomewhereonanotherplanet.Theforcefieldwasturnedoffagain."Come!"Shetookasipfromthebottleandputitonherbed.Whatpossibilitieswereth

ere?Shewasacivilian,notknowinghowtodealinsuchsituations.Somebodycouldhavebriefedher.TakingallfromTVshowsshehadseenlastalmosttenyearsagowasnothelpful.Sheslowlystoodupandfollowedtheguard,maybeitwastimeforhertoseeifshecouldstandagainsttheKymrianEmpire.

Herhandsandarmswerecuffedonthetablesothatherarmswerelyingflatonthesurface.Hershouldersbegantoache.Shewassittingthatwayforalongtimenowandtheykeptherwaiting.Amanandawomanenteredtheroom.Themanwassittingdownoppositeofherwhilethewomanwaswaitingnexttoherchair.Shewasintimidatinglytall,andher


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facedidn'tmove.ThemanlookedatMeredith,hewastallaswellandworeablacksuit."MissNewman,therearetwopossibilities-eitheryoustarttalkingallbyyourselfandyouanswerourquestionsormycolleagueherewillstartcuttingyourarmsoff."Meredithdidn'tsayanything.Shecouldstaysilentalittlelonger."Well,let'sstartwiththequestions,shallwe?"Hestartedaskingherquestionsabouteverynametheyhadfoundonherpad.Includingthoseofherfriends8,000yearsago.Shecouldn'tjusttellthemanything.Thepresidentknew,butevenherdidn'tuseitagainsther-luckily,toomuchwasatstakewhenitcameoutthattheyagreedtoletDrBurtondotheexperimentinthefirstplace."Noanswers?Finewithme."Henoddedtohiscolleague.Sheproducedascalpel,andcutafinelineoverthewhiteskinofMeredithforearms.Itstartedtobleedalittle."Irepeat.Tellusanythingaboutthosepeople."Meredithgrittedherteeth.Theywon'tkillheratonce.Thewomancutadeeperwoundinherforearms,thistimeclosertothewrists.Meredithdrewherbreathsharply.Onlyafewmillimetresmissingfromherwristarteries."Wedon'twantyoutoslowlybleedtodeathwon'twe?"Themansaid.Meredithslowlyshookherhead.ThescalpelwasnowmovingverysuperficiallyoverthesensitiveskinofMeredith'swrist.Meredithclosedhereyesandhopedthescalpelwon'tcuttoodeep."Thethingis,sheknowshowtokillyouslowly.Whichveintocutsothatyouwillsurvivelongenoughforourcause,"themansaid."Ifwearemerciful,youw

illbeshotbeforeyoudiefromthebleeding.""Whatdoyouwanttoknow,"Meredithsaidnow,shaking.Thewomantookthescalpelaway."Nowwearetalking."Themansmirked.Justtelluseverythingyouknow,andIwillaskyousomequestions.Iguessyoudidn'tbelievewecouldbenice."Hesmiled.Meredithfeltveryuncomfortable.Shelookeduptothewoman.Herstone-coldfaceshowednotraceofemotionbehindhersmile.

Later,Meredithwasbackinhercell.Thesmallcutsonherarmshadclosed,andsheexpectedthemtovanishcompletely.Shewasshaking,unabletosleep,nomatterhowtiredshewas.Notverymuchlater,shewastakenunderground.Thecorridorhadonlyasmallartificiallight.Attheend,therewasadoor.Beforethedoorwasopened,theturnedonthelighttofull.

Thedoorwasopened.Peopleweregroaningatthelightthatstreamedintotheroom.Meredithwasthrownintoitandthedoorclosedagain.Itwaspitchdarkintheroom-cutoffalllightsources.Theeyescouldn'tpossiblyadjustthemselvestothedarkness.Meredithpressedhereyestogether,tookadeepbreath,andopenedthemagain.Chanceswereshewouldrotinthisplace.Itwasfinewithher.Inthedark,noonewouldcareifshediedanyway.

Ahandtouchedherhip.Shedidn'treact."You'renew?Whatnewsarethereoutside?Isanythinghappening?"Peoplestartedaskingquestionsaroundher.Shecouldn'tpossiblyanswer,sheneverwantedtoansweranyquestionsagain.NotaftershehadbetrayedSkeltonagain.Wasn'tthathiswayofcomingforwardinpolitics?Betrayingeveryoneheknew?Meredithjustwantedtosleepuntilshediedorwentmadanddidn'tcareanymore.

"Can'tyouhearshe'scrying?"Afamiliarvoicesaidsuddenly."Shewilltellussoonenough.""Joseph?"Shesaid.WhatdidhedoonKymruinprison(Meredithwasn'treallysureifshestillwereonKymru,butitwasasgoodasanythingelse)."Yes,howdoyou-Meredith."Hejuststated."Whatthefuckhaveyoudonetogethere?"#####ENTRY#####2011-12-15,num_words:1094,num_minutes:28.3201Meredithhesitated."IworkedforsomeonewhogotsackedfromthegovernmentfornotthoroughlybetrayingTorrie.""Thatsoundsstrange,"Josephsaid."Sowhathaveyoudone?Youalwaysstruckme


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assomeonewhodoesn'tgetintotoomuchtrouble.""I...Ididn'tgetmyselfintotrouble."Meredithsaid."Joe,Idon'tknowwhyIwasthrowninhere.""Theyarefinishedwithyou,"someonesaid."Theyputyouinhereafteryouhavesaideverythingtheywantedtoknow.""Maybe."Meredithdidn'twanttotalkaboutanything.Shefeltterrible.ShejustwantedtosleepandrelaxanddreamofTorrieorbackhomeinStanford,withEricinthepub,drinkingtoomuchGuinness,...sheswallowedhard."Just,Iamgladyouarehere."Josephsaid."Whyareyouhere?"shewhisperedtohim."Theyimprisonedallhistorians,fornoreasonatall."Josephanswered.Meredithknewwhatthatmeant.SomewhereAsordawasimprisonedaswell.Shecouldn'tbearthinkingabout."But...well,it'snicetohearafamiliarvoice.Eventhougheveryvoiceinherewillbecomefamiliaroneday."Meredithfeltahandonherrightfoot."Isthatyou?"Josephasked."Ifyoumeanmyfoot,yes,that'sme."Josephcarefullyfelthimselfup.Shedidn'tcare.Shewon'tcomeoutofhereanyway,sowhyshouldshecare?"Sorry,Idon'twanttofumbleyou.""It'sfine,youfumbledmyboyfriend."Meredithhadtosmileaboutherownjoke.Itwasthefirsttimeinweeksshesmiled.Hermusclesinherfaceached.Josephalsolaughedveryshortly.

Helaidahandonhershoulder.Meredithdidn'tthinkthathumancontactcouldfeelsonice.Shesobbed."I'msorryforwhathappenedtoyou.""It'snotyourfault.""ButIstartedwithAsordaandthatmadeyougoawayand-""Notyourfault."Shedidn'twanttodiscussherlovelifewithsomeoneinadarkdungeonwithmanyotherpeopleinit.Theywerelistening.Meredithheardwhentheystoppedtheirconversationsassoonasaslightmentionofsomeone'slovelifecameup."Ijustwanttogetoutofhere.""Weallwant."Josephsaid."Andwewon't.""Bugger."ShefeltthatJosephembracedher."Ijustwanttosleep.""Weallwant."Josephsaidevenquieter."Please,youcancry.Wealldothis."Shefelthisbreathinherneck."Pleasestop."Shelistenedintothesilence.P

eoplewerewhispering,abouteverythingbutwhathappenedtothem.Someweresnoring,sheheardsobbingandsomewhereinthedarkacouplewasevenhavingsex.Noonecared.Despiteeveryoneheardeverything,noonecouldseeathing.Maybethisreminderofbeinghumanevengavehopetopeoplenottogiveuponthemselves.Meredithfinallyfellasleep.Atleastitwasdark,nooneaskedhernameeveryhourandshecouldbealonewithherthoughts.

Nodaysandnightsandevencheckupsmadeithardtocountthedays.Evenfoodanddrinkcameinmoreorlessregularintervals,butnoonecouldtellherhow.Shegotusedtolisteninthedarkandresthereyes.

Alongtimelater,thedooropenedagain.Meredithclosedhereyes,butthelightwentthroughherlidsandmadeherblinkseveraltimes.Noonewasbroughtin.

"MeredithNewman?"Amilitaryvoicedemanded.Themanwaitedandthenrepeatedhisrequest."Youshouldgo,"whisperedJoseph."Ihopeweseeeachotheragain.Goodluck.""Goodlucktoyouall,"shewhisperedback.Shecollectedallherstrength,stoodupandcalledout,"Iamhere.""Comewithme!"themanordered.Sheslowlywalkedtowardstheentrance.Shelookedback,frightened,aboutherselfandthosepeople.Boththeirfateswereunknown.Thedoorwasclosedbehindherandshewasledthroughthecorridors."Youhaveanyskills?"Themansaid."Tellme!"


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"I-Iamamechanicalengineer.Theoreticalphysicist.Whatever.""Amechanicalengineer?"Thesoldierseemedinterested."Lookslikeitwasagoodideaafterall."Whatgoodidea?Themanledhertoaladder."Climbupthere!"Shewasnotinthemoodtodisobeyandsufferfromanyconsequences."Yes."sheclimbedupandlookeddown.Thesoldierwaslookingaroundnervously,thenfollowedherandpointedhertogoonclimbing.Shereachedthehatchofthespaceship,andwasoutofbreath.Climbinghadneverbeenherstrength.

Shelookedaround.Thehatchledintoahugecargobay.Thesoldierreachedthehatch,closedit,andsaidoverradio,"Startnow!Fast!""Whatishappeninghere?"Shedaredtoask."Oh,we'reyourrescuemission."ThemangrinnednowandstrippedoutoftheuniformjacketofKymru."Ihopeyouarenottoosurprised.""Howcansomeonebe'toosurprised',Daniels?"Skeltoncamewalkingintothebay."Doyouhavethepad?""Itwaseasiertogetthanher,consideringthesensitiveinformationonit."Hepulledthepadoutoftheinnerpocketoftheuniformcoat."Whatthehellhappenshere?"Meredithasked."Rescuemission?Idon'tunderstand,whowantstorescueme?""Idid,"Skeltonsaid."ButwhenIseehowungratefulyouare,Ibetterletyououtatthenextbestoccasion.""No,ofcourseIamgratefulbut-""Butwhat?Youtoldthesecretservicesomestuffthepresidentalreadyknew,so

what?"Skeltonsaid,thenheturnedtotheintercomandcalledtothecaptain."Meryl,youbettercallAndrewssinceourlittlegirltalked.""Fine,"answeredMeryl."Healreadytoldme,butofcoursedeniedanycontactwithus.Youforgetwhoheis.""Thebest,Iknow."Skeltonsmiled."Yourpad,Iguessyouwantitback.""Yes,ofcourse!"Meredithtookitandcheckedatfirstifanyofherdatawasdeleted.Everythingwasthere."Thankyousomuch!"Shegenuinelysmiled."Sowherearewe,whyand...howlongisitsinceyougotsacked?"SheaskedSkelton."Fivemonths,"hetoldher.Helookedatherknowinglyanddidn'taskanyfurtherquestions."Let'slookforaquarterforyoushallwe?""Merylstilldecidesintheend,"Danielssaid."ButIthinkthere'sisaniceplacesomewhereforyouintheend."Hesmiled.Everyonesmiledather.Meredithsuddenlyfeltliketheywouldkillheranyminute,butshewalkedonbravely.

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-16,num_words:852,num_minutes:20.0169Thewholenightontheship(accordingtoship-time),Meredithspentcheckingherpad.ThelistswithSkelton'scontactswereopenedandedited,butnotcutout.Thosepoorpeople,shecouldonlyimaginewhatwillhappentothemwhenonlytellingthosenamesbroughthersomuchpain.Herpersonalimagesanddatawasstillonthepad,aswasadiagnosisprogrammeDrNolanhadgivenhersomanyyearsago'Incaseyou'llneeditoneday'.Maybeshecouldlookiftheywantedit.Whenmorningdawned(metaphorically,ofcourse),shewaitedstaringatthedoor.Noonecametogether.Shewaitedabitmore,thendecidedtolookforherself.Sheputherheadaroundthecorner,lookingifsomeonewaswaitingforher.Notrap.Meredithslowlywalkedontothediningareaoftheship.ThelittleplanshehadgottenfromDanielswasnotreallyhelpful,buttheshipwasnothardtounderstand.Forsomeonewhohadspentamassivetimeinseminarsdesigningthe

m,thatis.ThediningarealookedsomethingbetweenacrossoftheSerenityandtheEnterprise.Meredithhadtosmile,evenafterallthoseyearsshekeptcomparingtherealspaceshipswithfictionalspaceshipsfromhertime.Anancientcoffeemachinewasstandingwithfreshlybrewedcoffeeinthecornerofthesmallkitchenette.Shouldsheriskisorcouldithavebeenatrap?"Huh?That'sasurprise!Noonetoldmewehadanewpassenger."Themanhadshortdarkhairwithblondehighlights.HelookedratherscruffyandMeredithwasn'tsurewhathedidontheship.Themechanic?"I'mChester,themedic,"hesaid."Andwhoareyou?YoushouldlatercomeoversoIcouldgetyourhistoryinmy


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data,incaseyougetshot.Happensalotaroundhere.""Peopledon'tgetshotsoeasily,notundermywatch."Adarkvoicesuddenlysaid."I'mCaptainMeryl,andyoumustbeMeredithNewman.Skeltontoldusmanystoriesaboutyou.""Whatstories?"Meredithpanicked."Onlygoodofcourse,"thecaptainsmiledandpouredherselfacupofcoffee."Doyoulikebreakfast?Chesterherewantedtomakeussome.""Idid?"hesaidbutthenhecaughttheviewMerylsent."Yes,Iforgot.That'swhyIgotupsoearly.Maybeyoustartwithacupofcoffee,Torrie'sbest."HereachedintooneofthecupboardsandgaveMeredithacup."Thatone'snew,soit'snowofficiallyyours.Forthismorning,atleast."Hesmiledaswell.Whywaseveryonenicetoher?ShedecidednottoplayherluckandtookacupofcoffeeandsatdownattheotherendofthetablewhereMerylwascheckingthenewsonherpad."So,earlyriser?"Danielscamein."Wasalongnightforme!"Heyawned."ButIfoundaplacethatisn'tsupervisedbytheKymrianscum.Somepeoplearestillhonestandlikehonestpeoplelikeus.""Iwouldstrikethe'honest'outofourdescription,aslongaswehaveSkeltononourship,"Merylsaid."Butthere'scoffee,extrastrong,extraexpensivefromTorrie.""Whyyoukeepgettingthis?"Danielsasked."Becauseitcoversourtracks.Andtheguyisafriendofmine,verydiscreet."Sheginned."No,IgotitfromTorriewhenweleft,soIkeepitforcelebrations.Andweshouldshowournewcrewmemberthatthegoodstuffisrare."

"Icanlivewiththat,"saidMeredith,quietly."Oh,shecantalk!"Chestersaidlaughing."Sowhatdoyoulikeforbreakfast?Sausages,eggs,toast?""Idon'tthinkshe'dlikeit,shewastoolongonKymru,"saidDaniels."NoonebutpeoplefromTorrielikethis.""Soundsgreat,"saidMeredith.Danielsstaredatherpuzzled."Ialwayslikeditafteralongtimewithnothinggoodtoeat."Shenowsaidmoreconfidentially."AndKymrushouldhireanewprisoncook.""She'sjoking,theprison'sain'tsobadafterall,"Chestercommented."Well,youwouldknow,"DanielssaiddarklytoChester."Becauseyouwereinthem.""No,but-""Youdon'thavetodiscussthisnow."Merylsaid."Speakingofpeoplebelonging

inprisons,where'sSkelton?""Iamalwayslistening,dear,"Skeltonsaidcomingintothediningroom."Andit'sgreattoseeafaceatthetablewhodoeslikemeafterall.""Dependsonwhatgrounds,"saidMeredith."ButitwasKymru'sfaultallthetime.""Yes,itwas,nevermine."Merylglancedathim."Okay,butnotthethingwithMeredith,okay?Thatwasactuallynotmyfault.Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscowardofapresidentdestroyseverythingwiththeonlycopyleftonthepadofmypersonalassistantofthelists?Notmyfault.""Yourmileagemayvary,"saidMeryl."Enoughdiscussion,breakfasttime!"Chestersaid,servingMeredithfirst.Thesmellofthedishrememberedhertoomuchofherbrother.Butthehungerwasstrongerthantheurgetocry.

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-17,num_words:841,num_minutes:44.2711Meredithmanagedtogetcomfortablewiththerestofthecrewveryfast.Onthethirdday,shestartedrelaxingandstopthinkingthattheywantedtokillher.Shecouldn'tbelieveunderhowmuchstressshehadbeenduringherimprisonment,nowthatshecoulddecideherselfagainwhentoseelightandwhendark.Shemostlykeptherlightinherquartersdimmed,nottoobright,butalsonotcompletelydark.Evenatthenightsontheshipshekeptthelightson.Meredithknewthatcouldn'tgoonforever,butatthemomentshedidn'tcare.Atthemomentshewashappythatshehadaplacewhereshecouldrelaxandpeopleweren'tdemandinganythingfromhersoshecouldcontemplatetofindherselfagain.Afterallt


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hoseyears,shefinallyfeltlikeshewasabeing,thatshewasliving,andbreathingandnotbeingdistractedbyanything,likethefutureorelse.

Theshiphadlandedinaverydarkport.Meredithwassittinginthediningroom,readingonherpad.Shewasalone,butthenDanielswaswalkingby,gettingacoffee."Iwantedtoaskyou,"Meredithsaid.Shewasrathersurprisedbyherself."IfIcouldtakealookattheships'systems.IhaveadiagnosticprogramfromDrNolanandIthoughtIcouldconfigureittotheshipssetting.""Soundsnice."Helookedather."Rightnow,or...?""Rightnowwouldbenice,Idon'thaveanythingelsetodo."Meredithsaidandfetchedherselfacoffee."Ifthat'sallrightwithyou.""Yeah,fine.Justfollowme."Danielssaid."Wouldbenicetohavesomeonewhounderstandsthedeeperlevelsoftheships'computer.""Shouldn'tyouknowit,asapilot?"Meredithaskedwhilewalkingbehindhim.Shewonderedhowmanycorridorstheyputinthisship.Itisbynowaylogical,anditiswayoutofpossibilitiesthattheshipwasanythinglikebiggerontheinside."SureIknow,"Danielssaid."Buteventhecaptaindoesn'tknowthedeepestlevels,andshehaswaymoreexperiencethanIhave.And,"heclimbedupasmallladdertothecockpit,"besides,youwereastudentofNolan,andasIknow,Merylreallylikesthatscience-guy.""Well,IhopeIcanliveupthoseexpectations,"Meredithsaid."Pluginhere,"saidDanielsandpointedtoasmallhub.Itopenedafieldonth

epad."Wait,Ijustputinmynumber,IthinkIcandiscusswithMerylsothatyouwillgetyourown."Meredithremembered.Thenumberwasapassword,usedtoidentifythepilotsandsavetheshipfrombeingstolentooeasily.ThatMeredithwouldgetherownnumbermeantalot.Shehadnevergottenanyaccesstoships'computers,notontheoutpost,notonlytoaworkstation.Shewasexcited,eventhoughitwasnotevenclearshewouldgetanything.Thesystemsopenedinfrontofher.Sheclickedthoughthemwithoutchanginganysettings."IthinkIhaveseensuchasystembefore,"Meredithsaid."IsthataBurara-classship?""Bibasis,"saidDaniels,"It'sthebetteroneofthetwo.""Oh,right."Sheclickedthroughtotheships'internaldiagnosisprogram."It'saverybasicdiagnosisprogram,Iguesstheydidn'tofferyouanupgrade?"

"Nope,"Danielssaid."Iwasluckytogettheshipinabetterconditionasitwas.ButMerylwantedsuchaship.""Yes,Icanunderstand."Shecouldn'tunderstand.Shewasnopilot,butthefirstweekssheusedtoresearchships,andappreciatespaceshipslikesheappreciatedcarsbackonEarth."So,whatdoesyourprogramdo?"Danielsasked."Itupgradesthewholediagnosisprogramoftheshipandthenadditionally,theprogramonthepadcandosome...miracles."Shesmiled."It'snotneeded,though,exceptinemergencies.""Well,assoonsomethinglikethatexists,therewillbeanemergency."Danielssaid."Iwouldneedsometimetoadjustthesettingsandtoinstalltheprogram,butIthinkeveninemergenciesasyouimaginethem,mybasicswillbeenough."

"Yousoundprettyconvinced."Danielssaidandsmiled."IwilltalktoMerylassoonasIseeher,sothatyoucouldstartworkingassoonaspossible.""Thankyou,"Meredithsaid."It'sgreattohavesomethingtodothathassomethingtodowithwhatIlearnedandnotwiththrowingoutpeopleoutofofficestheniceway."Shelaughed.Danielsdidn'tseemtohavegottenthejoke."Iwonderwhyyoudon'twanttogoout,afterallthetimeyoucouldn't.Newplanet,newport,maybeyoucouldgoshopping.""There'snothingtoshophere,"Meredithsaid."AndIdon'treallywanttogoamongpeoplerightnow.""Icanunderstand,"addedDaniels."Musthavebeenprettytraumatizing."


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Meredithdidn'tanswer.Whodidhethinkhewas?Definitelynothertherapist."Iamokay,"Meredithsaid."I#####ENTRY#####2011-12-18,num_words:1171,num_minutes:68.4456"Iamokay,"Meredithsaid."Icandealwithit.Ihavegonethroughworse."Thatwasablatantlie.Notevenlosingheroldlifefromonedaytoanotherhadbeenworse.NotwritingherMaster'sthesis,thedoctoralthesisshedidforherdegreeinsomething,noteventheworststressfuldayatSkelton'sofficehadbeenworse."Maybeyoucantalktosomeone,youhavefriendsathome,haven'tyou?"Danielsaid."Ican'ttalktothemaslongasIamin...mypositionyouknow?IdothinktheywillsufferenoughifKymruknowsIknowthem."Daneilswatchedhertalkingandstaringdownonthepad."IthinkIoweittothemthatIdon'ttrytomakecontact."Meredithsmiled."Hownobleofyou."Danielssaid."Iguesstheotherswillcomebacksoon,maybetheybroughtsomethingforyou.""Youreallythink?Whyshouldtheydothat?""Becausethat'swhatwedoforthenewguy,"Merylsuddenlysaid,standingatthebackofthecockpitandgrinning."Youdidn'tdothatforme."Skeltoncomplainedfromdownstairs."Yeah,becauseyouaren'tamemberofmycrew,traitor!"Shesaidthatlovingly,thoughMeredithwasn'talwayssurehowtheystood.Sheknewhowtheystoodbefore,butnow?Thosetwowerejustimpossibletofigureout."Sowhatisit?"Meredithwasquiteexcited.Shehadn'tbeengettinggiftsfora

ges,ifyoudonotcountSkelton'sgiftsforpurelybusinessreasons(everyoneintheofficegotthem)."It'sactuallynothing,butChesterthoughtyouwouldlikeit,Idon'thaveanyexperienceit..."Meredithwassuddenlywaytoconfused.Whyweretheynicetoher.Theybarelyknewher,exceptthatshehadworkedforSkeltonandDrNolaninthepast.MaybebecauseofDrNolan,Meredithknewthatthecaptainverymuchlikedandtrustedhimbackthenontheoutpost,andZelfakisoftenconfirmeditbyhisstories.Shehadn'tseenZelfakisforageseither.DanielsclimbedfirstoutofthecockpitafterMeryl.Beforehewasdowncompletely,hesaid,"Trustme,Meredith,youareamongfriendshere."Hesmiled,thendiveddowninthecorridor.Meredithpluggedoutherpadandputitintotheinsidepocketofherjacketthatwasespeciallydesignedtokeepitthere.Thatjacketwasallthatwasleftfromwhatsheusedtohave.Itwasalreadyrelatively

shatteredbecauseitwasallsheworethelastmonths.Shewishedshehadhert-shirt.Evensomethingsmall,thenecklace,theGuinnesscoaster,anything.Shearrivedinthediningroom,wherethecrewwasalreadywaitingforher."Youreallyneedtogoshopping,"Chestersaid."Youlookawful.""Ialsohaven'tslept,"Meredithsaid.Shepouredherselfanothercoffee."Sowhat'Sthebigsurprise?"Chestergotupandsaid,"Closeyoureyesandholdyourhandsup.""Okay..."Meredithsaid,buthesitated."Comeon,we'renotdoinganythingtoyou,"Danielssaid."Iwilllookafterit."Foramoment,Merediththoughthewouldsay'you'.Sheclosedhereyessomethingwasputinherhands."Openthemnow,"Chester'svoicesaid.Itwasasimplekeyring,withasmallblueorbonit."Happybirthday!"everyonesaid.

"How...?""Skeltonspilledthebeans."Chestersaid."AndsinceyoucamefromSolThree,Ithoughtyoumightlikethisone.""Thenhespilledalotofbeansaboutme."Meredithsaid."Toldyashewouldn'tlikeit,"Merylsaid,turnedtoSkelton."No,no,Ireallylikeit."Meredithwashumbled.SheputtheringbetweentwofingersandletthesmallblueEarthspinningaround."Thankyou.Thankyouall."Sheswallowed,soshehadnottocry."Itmeansalottome.""Well,nowdon'tgetsodramatic,"Skeltonsaid."Ihavenothingleft,soImighthaveeveryrighttobedramatic!"Meredithsaid


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,butshegrinned."ButIwon'tbealwayslikethat.""Thankthegods,Skelton'senoughdramaqueenalready."Merylsaid."Iamgladitdidn'truboffonyou.""Well,no,Iamnotadramaqueen.Neverbeen.Iamusuallytheonewhokeepsaclearhead.""Wewilseetothat,"Merylsaid."Butanyway,let'sjusthavedinner,shallwe?"Meredithsatdownwiththeothers,alltheattentiontoherwasgoneandshewaspartofthegroup.Sheputthekeyringinthepocketofhertrousers.Sheverymuchfeltwelcomerightnow."Newmanhasamagicaldiagnosticprogramonherpad.ByNolan,"Danielsstartedtheconversationoverdinner."Ithoughtweshouldgetheracodesoshecouldworkitintothecomputer."Merylthoughtforasecond."Whynot,andlet'slearnherhowtoflytheship."shesaid."No.""ButMeryl,it'sagreatthing,asfarasIunderstoodit.Newmanunderstoodthesystemreallyfastandevenknewtheshipclassbyjustlookingintothedatacore."Danielscontinuedarguing."Additionally,Nolandescribedmeaspromising,andZelfakismeantthat'sascloseacomplimentashecouldgo."Meredithsaid."Itwouldbereallyhelpfulfortheship,thosesmallonesusuallydon'tcomewithaverycomplexsystemandfalldownfromtheheavenslikeflies.""Soyouknowreallyaboutships,doyou?"Merylnowturnedtoher."Andyouweren'tjustanassistantforpaperwork,asNolantriedtoconvincemetopayyouas.""What?"

"Backontheoutpost,hewantedmetopayyouasanassistantforpaperwork,becausesurprisingly,theygetbetterpaidthananyotherassistant.""Well,no,I...Ididn'tknowhewantedtodothis."Meredithsaid."AndIalsohiredherforthesciencesheknew,notthepaperworkshecoulddo,"Skeltonargued."Soyoubettergiveherthecode.""Okay,okay,betteryouthanSkelton.Ihopeyouunderstandwhatthatmeansifyougetacode,"Merylsaidnowseriously."Itmeansyouareresponsiblefortheshipandhavetodefenditwithyourlifewhenitcomestothat.AndyouwillbenumbertwounderDaniels,whichisthesilliestthingIhavedoneinmyentirecareer,butherewego."Nowshesmiled."Understood.""Understood."Meredithsaid.Shewasoverwhelmed.Notevenontheshipforafewdays,andnowshe'swayupfromNewGuytoNumberTwoUnderDaniels."OhandSkelton,thatmeans,youlistentoheraswell,"Merylsaid,enjoyingth

ebittoomuch."Shehasmorepowerthanyouontheship,bettergetusedtothethought.""You'reonlydoingthistoannoyme,aren'tyou,Meryl?"Skeltonsaid.Meredithhadtolaughalongtheothers.ShesomehowfeltveryFirefly(andanothersudden21stcenturypopculturemoment,asifMeredithhadeverforgottenherfavouritesciencefictionshow).#####ENTRY#####2011-12-23,num_words:0,num_minutes:

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-28,num_words:775,num_minutes:42.1172Meredithwasturningaroundinherbed.Thesofthummingoftheshipremindedherthatshewassafe,butshestillcouldnotsleepatall.Atfourinthemorning(shiptime),sheclimbedoutofherbedandthrewajacketoverher.Shetookherpadandwentdownintothekitchen.Meredithmadeherselfacupoftea,the

silentlywalkedtothecockpit.Noonewasthere.Danielshadparkedtheshipinasmallport,andMeredithcouldseethefewpeopleworkingdownthere.Sheturnedonthelight,pluggedinherpadandenteredthesecuritycodeshehadmemorized.Whenitwasaccepted,shefeltalittlebitrelieved.Foronehour,shejustlookedthroughthesystem.theshestartedupherprogramandcopieditontheboardcomputer.Theteanexttohergotcoldwhileshewasabsorbedinconfiguringtheship'scomputerwithherprogram.Shehadnotfeltsoaccomplishedwhenshesawthatitstartedtowork.Shehadmissedbeingpreoccupiedwithsomepieceofscience.Somethingthatoccupiedherbraincompletelyanddidnotlethernoticeanythingsurroundingher.ShewasstartledwhenDanielsputacupofcof


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feeintheplacewherethecoldcupofteahadbeen."You'vebeenupallnight?"heasked."What?"Shelookedup."No,butveryearly.Ifyouonlyletmefinish,it'salmostdone.""Youshouldtalktosomeone,"Danielssatdowninhispilot'schair."Idon'tbelieveyouthatyoujustwereupearly.""And,isityourproblem?"shesaidannoyed."Ihavetofinishthis,IcomedownwhenIamdone.""Fine,justdon'tworktoomuch."Danielssaidandwalkeddownagain.

Meredithhadfinishedhalfanhourlater.Thecoffeewasalreadylukewarmbutshedrankitanyway.Shelookeddownonherpadandsmiled.Shetookadeepbreathandfinishedupthelastdetails,thensignedoffandturnedoffherpad.Shelookedaround.Thesunoftheplanethasrisen,morepeopleoutsidewerebusy.Shesmeltbreakfastfromthediningroom.Shelivedinthemomentforawhile,smeltthemixtureoffreshbreadandtheship'snormalsmellofleatherandoil,andlistenedtothepeopledowninthediningroom,thehummingoftheship,andtheshoutingofpeopleoutside.Itfeltabitlikehome,morethanTorriehadeverfelt.ShenearlyforgothowitfeltwakingupinStanford,withEricmakingbreakfastforhimandthegirlhebroughthome(andMeredith),herbedfullwithbooksandpapers,andmaybeevenherlaptopnexttoher(notonthefloor,thoughthishadhappenaswell).No,shedidmissit,butthelifeontheshipbroughtherbacktothefeelingshehadwhilewatchingFireflyandbeingjealousofthecrewandhavingalifeontheship.Shestoodupfromherseatandputthepadinthepocketofherjacket.Shetooktheemptycupandwalkeddowntothedinin

groom."Oh,youfinallycame!"Chestersaid.Hetookaplateandputsomeeggsonit."Dheresaysyouworkedallnight.""Onlythemorning,"Meredithreplied."AndIreallylikeddoingmywork,"sheadded,lookingtoDaniels."Fine,youlikeworkingthen,"hesaid."AndItoldyou,Chess,I'mnotDforyou.Fornoone,tobeclear.""Yes,D,"Meryllaughed."Whatdidyouworkon?Nolan'sprogram?""Yes,captain,"Meredithansweredwhileshecarriedherplateandanewcupofcoffeetoafreechairatthetable."It'sintheshipnow,anditisworkingefficient.Though,Ihavetoadd,theonlyrealresultwecouldgetwouldbeinanemergencysituation,butIplayedsomethroughonmypad,atleasttheoreticallyitissuccessful."

"Soundsfineforme,"Merylsaid."Anditdoesn'tinterferewiththerestofthecomputer?""Theoretically,not,"Meredithanswered."MaybeWecouldmakeatestflylater,soIcanlookthroughsomeconfigurationswhileallsystemsareonline.""Atleastyouthink,"Merylsaid."IhavetodealwithsomebusinessbackonTorrie,butIguessDanielscanhelpyou.""Yeah,Ithinkso,"Danielssaid."Isitonlyme,oraretheyawkwardwitheachother?"Chestersaid.Noonegaveacommenttothis.Meredithsmiledintohercupthatnoonetriedtoshipherwithsomeoneelse.

#####ENTRY#####2011-12-29,num_words:998,num_minutes:40.4473AriadnesatinasmallcafincentralLondon.Shewashavingapieceofcakeand

coffee(sinceheruniversitydaysherfavouritemealoftheday)andreadingthepaper,whensheoverheardaconversation."AndyouheardaboutthecountessofHalbourne?Shelikestopartyalot."-"MaybesheshouldhavemarriedPrinceHarry,nottheviscount,theywouldhavemadeaperfectmatch!"-"Ohyes,"giggledthefirstwoman."Ibetshedoesn'tevenhavethemannersof-""Excuseme,"Ariadnesaid,slowlyapproachingthetableofthosetwoyellowpressreaders(shestillwonderedwhyhernamewassoofteninthere,theHalbourneswerenotthatimportant,andherfamily,thoughtraditional,wasnotimportantaswell.Butthereweremoreimportantthanthosepapers,anyway)."Ihaveoverh


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eardyourconversation."Thetwowomendidn'tmove.Edwardmadesurethatherpicturewasmostlyoutofthepapersinthemorerecenttimes,especiallywhenshehadtoliveuptheexpectationsofhisgrandmother."ItmaybeunfairtospeakaboutLadyAriadnesobadly.""Andhowwouldyouknow?"saidthesecondwoman."Oh,Icouldfindoutyournameandaddresswithasimplegooglesearch,"Ariadnesaidcoldandcalculating,"andthenyouwouldbeverysorryyoueverspokeofhersobadly."Thetwowomenweren'timpressed."Because,youknow,mydearhusbandtheviscountdoesn'tlikeitwhenpeopletalkbadlyabouttheLadyHalbourne."Theytookthehintandwereprofoundlyshockedandembarrassed."Though,Ihavetoadmit,itwasverynicethatonetimeIdidactuallymeetthePrinceHarryataparty."Ariadnewalkedbacktohertableandcontinuedreadingthepaper.Shelookedovertheedgeofitandsawthetwowomenwalkaway.Maybesheshouldatleastwritethemapostcard.

"Tremendousperformance,MissSerin,"awomansaid.Ariadnelookedoverthepaper.Noonecalledherbyhermaidennamethosedays,onlyifit'spersonal.Verypersonal."YouareclearlyawomanworthyholdingtheHalbournename.""Andyouare?"Ariadnesaid."Betternottalkaboutthisoutside,weshallgoinside."Thatwasn'taoffer,itwasanorder.Ariadneknewthattoneofvoice.Itwasbetternottoignoretherequest."Weshalldothis."Shetookherpaperunderherarmfollowedthewomenintothecafeintoasmallbooth.Thewaitressnoticeditandnodded,sothatshehadse

enthatAriadnehadmoved."Andwhoareyou,Ithinkyouowemethatanswer.""CordeliaLyndharrow,"thewomensaid."Cordelia,LadyofHalbourne."Ariadnestated."Edward'slatemother.""Notsolate,Isuppose."Thewomansmiled."AndIgobymymaidenname,mostofthetimes.""Onlywhentalkingpersonalmatters,"Ariadnesaid."LikeIdo.""Exactly,"MsLyndharrowsaid."AndIwon'ttellyouhowIusuallygoby,Ihopeyouunderstandthat.""Morethananyone,"Ariadnesaidandsmiled."AndIalsohaveamillionquestions,butIdon'tthinkyoucameheretoanswermethoseexceptwith,'Ihadreasonstodothis',"Ariadneconcluded."Yes,youarecorrect,"MsLyndharrowsaid."AndIwouldpreferthatyoudon'tmentionthismeetingtomyhusbandormyson."

"Icanpromisethat,"saidAriadne."IhopeyoucanforgivemewhatIamabouttosay,"MsLyndharrowsaid,butthenshewasinterruptedbythewaitresswantingtotakeorders.Whilehermother-in-laworderedtoglassesofwine,Ariadnenoticedthatshestillworeherweddingring.TheHalbourneweddingring.Everywomanhadthesame.Thewaitresswentaway."IsupposeIcan,"Ariadnesaid."Ididsomediggingintoyourpast,andwhileIcan'tagreewithmostofit,Iwassurprisedyouweren'ttheonewhosoldtheHalbournestothepolice.""I'vehadthechance,tobehonest,butIratherstayedwithEdward.""Yes,andyouhadreasonsforit,"MsLyndharrowsaid."Andyoutookthewrongdecision.""Imadetherightone,"Ariadnesaid.

"Iwasyoungonce,too,youknow,andfallingforaHalbourneistooeasyaregrettablething-""Iamnot'fallenforaHalbourne',"Ariadnesaid."Yousaythatsoeasily,"MsLyndharrowsaid."Weallknowthat'snottrue.""IhavebeeninformedseveraltimesthatIcan'tfallinlovewithanyone,"Ariadnesaid."SoIcanassumeIdidn'tfallforEdward.""Andyouraresureaboutthat?"Shewasasked."Youareaone-hundred-percentsureyouarenotinlovewithmyson?""Ihavetoexcusemyself,"Ariadnesaid."Ifyouthinkyoucanwalkawayfromme,youarewrong,"MsLyndharrowsaid.


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"Iamnotwalkingaway!"Thewaitressbroughtthetwoglassesofwine.Ariadnecursedthatshehadsoughtthewrongtimetoleavethetabletogotothetoilet.Butsheneededtorecollectherself.Onthetoiletshelookedonthesmalldispenser.Shewasoffcocaine,butshealwayshaditwithher.No,shethought,Edward'smotherwouldnoticethat.Shecouldhavekilledforacigarette.Theworstcase,someonehadnotpresumedthattheywereinlove,someonehadactuallyasked.AndAriadnehadnohonestanswerforthat.Becauseshewasnot'inlove'-shecaredforEdward,obviously,butshecouldn'tsaythatshewasinlove.Noteventohisownmother.Whywasn'tshethepracticalwomanlikeEdward'sgrandmother?Thatwomanhadsomeotherpriorities.Shetookadeepbreath(whichturnedouttobeamistakeonapublictoilet)andafterwashingherhandsandrefreshinghereyemakeup(justalittle,toseeifshenoticed),shewalkedoutagain.Timetofacethewomanwhohadprobablyjust'spiked'herwineabit.#####ENTRY#####2011-12-30,num_words:760,num_minutes:61.1647MOOD:pissedMOTIVATION:zero

BeforeAriadnetookasip,shesmeltthewine.Nothingstrange."Youaresmart,Isee."saidMsLyndharrow."Andyoudon'ttrustmeIunderstandthat.""Theusual,"saidAriadne."Inaturallydon'ttrustanyone.ButIusuallygowiththeflowandtakeeverythingasasurprise."Ariadnesmirkedandtookasip."Ididn'tpoisonit,itwouldn'tdomypurpose."MsLyndharrowtookalsoasipandsmiled."IamprettysureIalreadywarnedyou.TheHalbourneshavetheabili

tytosuckyouintoadeepblackhole,thereisnoescapeonceyouhavecrossedacertainpoint.Whichyouhaven't,Ipresume.""Ihavecrossedmanypointsfromnotknowinganything,"saidAriadne."Someofitmyself,somewiththehelpofthefamily.""Andyouwillcrossmore."shestated."Idon'tthinkyouwilllistentome.""See,Cordelia,Imaycallyouthat?"Ariadnedidn'twait."Iwasinprettydeepshitinmypast,andIonlygotoutbypretendingthatIcaredtobe---normal.Sodon't-andreally,don'ttrytobefriendme,that'swhatthefirstladythoughtaswellshecoulddo-don'ttrytomothermewheremyownmotherfailed.""Fine."Thewomanfinishedherglassofwine."Herearefiftyquid,thatshouldbeenoughforthesmallbillhere.Andmycallingcard,maybeyoufigureitoutwhenyouneedme."Ariadnelookedafterher.Edward'smotherwasthefirstpersonforageswhodidtrynottogiveuponher.Atleastknowingthattherewasso

meoneouttherewhodidwasanincrediblefeeling.

Shelayonthesmallcouchinhersittingroomandlookedatthesmallcallingcard.Itcontainedaseriesofnumbers,allofwhichdidn'tseemtohaveanythingincommon.Shesighed,tookanothersipofthewhitewine,whenEdwardentered."Whatareyoudoing?"heasked."Nothing,"sheanswered."Itwasboringtoday.""Yeah,Ithinkso,listen,Ihavetotellyousomething."Hesatdowninthechairnexttothesofa."Iwillbeoutofthecountryforthenextweek.""Whydidyoutellme?"Shesmiled."Youusuallyjustvanish.""Thistimeit'sbetteryouknowwhereIam.Iwillleaveyouacopyofmyhotelandflightnumbers.AskAlextokeepaneyeonthem.""Whycan'tyoudothisyourself?"shesaid."Butit'sfine,Ihavetoaskhimto

getmetheCCTVpicturesoftwoveryrudewomen,Iwillsendthemapostcard.""Youarebored,aren'tyou?"Edwardsmiled."Cansomewhipsandchainsexciteyou?""No,actuallynot."Shesighed."IfeelsoboredIacceptedadrinkfromastrangertoday.Ineedsomeexcitementbackinmylife.""Youwillgetthewholebusinessinyourhands,wouldyoulikethat?""No,andIknowthatyourfatherwilltakeitwhenyou'reaway.IwonderwhatHalendoesrightnow...""Analternative,youcouldusetheweektogetridofhim."Edwardsuggested."Youwouldn'tbebored,andwewouldlivemucheasierinLondonwithouthim."


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"AndElisabethwouldfinallygethermoney,"Ariadneconcluded."Yes,thatsoundslikeanalternativetodaytimetelevision.""Muchbetter,withlessbloodandthreats."Edwardlaughed."We'reinvitedtothemansionlater,Ihavetotalktomyfatherbecauseofmyabsence.""Dinnerwithyourfamily?"Ariadnesighed."AndIthoughthedaycouldn'tgetbetter.""Itwillbeprettybig,someextendedfamilywillcomeaswell."Heleanedover."Davieswillbethereaswell.""Whyareyourfamilygatheringssomuchmoreboringthanmine?"Ariadnesighed.Edwardleanedmoreforwardtokissher."Atleastmyfamilyismuchmoreopentoyourkindoflifestyle.""Istillhavetolaughaboutthefacemycousinmade."Shestartedlaughing."Iwillneverforgetit!""Youwill,"Edwardsaid."Whenyou'redead.""Oh,Idon'tthinkso,"Ariadneanswered."Thatface?Ne~ver!"Bothstartedlaughing."So,whatareyouuptonow?What'sthiscard?""Nothing."Sheputitintoherjeanspocket."IhavelearnedthatIshouldtrustyouwhenyousay'nothing',"Edwardsaid."ButIamverycuriousnow.""Notyouarenotcuriousaboutitrightnow,"Ariadnesaid."IwilltellyouassoonasIfoundoutwhatitall

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