Once everything was safely stowed to sell the next day. She turned to her team and raised her hand. "High-five everyone. We made over 1,000 credits and I won't tell you the number in tips thanks to 2 very generous people. Let's go to the library and see if we can find what we need, shall we?" She grinned her biggest grin.
In the library, they were able to find both books they needed used. For 9,000 credits, both Alto and Almin were able to get the next book to level up. They left the library and headed back to the dorms, exhausted. They had food in their rooms so they didn't need to worry about any of that. Lana went straight up to the Logan's so he could film all the particulars. She didn't need to worry about the camera he was using in the stall since it was a spider robot and it just climbed on her shoulders to return back to him. Once in Logan's room, it did just that.
She asked what he needed of her and followed his instructions. The short of it was the family was going to have her in the initial advertising campaign. She changed her hair to one pony tail, worn normally and she liked it much better. They used technology to put her in different clothing than her miliary uniform. She demonstrated opening and closing the kitchen a few times, the cleaning process, how durable the plates and cookware were, she even added in that one tank of water can do two full cleanings. After 2 hours, they were done and Logan sent the footage off to his parents' company to see what they thought. The next Monday morning, production was to start so they wanted to get advertising ready to go and drum up the desires of people to want to purchase it.
It was now 8pm. She yawned and Logan told her to go get some rest.
Just after leaving his room, she sent a text message.
How was everything?
How was what? Came the reply.
The juice? The sandwich, the deserts? She responded.
Where are you?
In the stairwell heading down from the third floor. She replied.
Come to my room.
She had just reached the second floor landing and looked at the door she would need to walk through to enter his hallway. She shrugged and decided why not. It was a slight detour.
Her hand just hit the door to knock when it opened.
"Why do you keep giving me lovely things but are shocked when I do nice things in return?" Vorden asked.
She looked confused, "What do you mean?"
Just then he noticed her hair and smiled. "You should do that more often."
"Do what? You are confusing me."
He sighed exasperated. "Come in, please."
She did as asked and followed him in.
"You busted your buns out there today. All of you did. I saw the look on your face when you saw what I paid you. You all deserved that for the hard work you put in. Look. All I'm asking is that you accept that you deserve what I give you and for you to wear your hair like that more often," Vorden said with sadness in his eyes.
"Did I attempt to reject our kindness? I was surprised to see you out there if I'm going to be open about my thoughts."
"Why is that?" It was Vorden's turn to be confused.
"I did pester you. I would think you'd stay away from me as much as you can."
Vorden's eye twitched. "It's not that I hate you or even dislike you. I want to protect you."
She flashed a brief smile. "Are you going to answer my question? Was everything you got today to your liking?"
"Well, if I'm going to be as frank as you, I'm going to have to say no. I don't appreciate finding out you have been holding back on me."
"Excuse me?"
"The apple juice. I need more. Lots more."
Lana smiled brightly, "I only have so many jars. We sold a lot of stuff today and that is one item that is not going on the list. I'll be out there again in the morning doing the same thing."
He nodded, "Why were you upstairs? I thought sandwiches were Monday and Thursday."
"I was asked to do some filming for the kitchen I have. His parent's company has decided to market it."
"OH! Moving up in the world are you?" Vorden had a big smile on his face. "See, there are people who value you. I know what you …. What is it?"
Movement had caught her from the corner of her eye out the window. When she turned her head to see what it was, an overlay filled her vision. She was shocked and had no idea what was going on. Just then, Quinn entered the room. It was 8:30 and he wanted to relax before he went to bed. He looked beat.
"I… I'm seeing an overlay? That's the only way I can describe it."
She tried moving her head, looking up and down, the overlay moved with her eyes staying in her vision. She groaned in frustration. "This damned ability!"
She decided to look at the overlay because there had to be a reason for it being there. She was seeing trees from overhead and dots. There was also a big red X. Vorden and Quinn were staring at her. Vorden had a bit of fear in his eyes.
Under her breath she said "Wait a second…"
On her watch, she called Dobin. "Where are you?"
"In the park. We all decided to go for a walk after dinner. We are siting under that willow you planted back when we first got here." She looked at the trees floating in her vision and saw four green dots in that area. The red X was flashing all over, hard to follow.
"Okay, I see you."
"Wait, are you coming here? We don't see you."
"Um, no. Just give me a minute. Something really strange is happening and I'm trying to figure it out."
She observed the red X for a few moments. It stopped blinking right next to another dot.
"What's with the dots…" she said to no one in particular.
Quinn and Vorden shared concerned looks.
It looked to her that there was a designation of good, bad and neutral. She had never played video games before and had no interest. Had Dobin been able to see what she was looking at, he could have explained.
"Dobin, do me a favor and turn up the volume all the way on your watch. I want to talk to the tree." She waited a few moments. "Are there people nearby who wish to do harm?"
The word "yes" appeared above her tree in her overlay. Okay, so red means enemy. "Lock it down. Place them in your branches." She waits for a few moments, "I need a confirmation of that, Dobin."
"Done, but not all are happy about this…"
"Sorry… I'm winging it right now."
The X and the red dots were now surrounding the tree but were unable to move the branches aside to get to her friends, so she assumed. They stayed in place for a little while as if waiting. It felt like a stand-off to her.
Then she noted the red X blinking from near the tree to the other side of the trees in her vision. Each time the X blinked back to the tree and a red dot disappeared at the same time the X blinked to the other location. "so… Dobin, I think it's Pucket."
"Sis, I think I need more clarity."
"You and me both. Okay, I'm going to need you guys to get back here. Tree, here are my instructions. Only myself and the four people presently in your branches are permitted to be under you. Stay on lockdown when we are not present and only open to one of us. Set them down and allow them to leave then return to lockdown."
Her eyes stayed on the red X and dots. She started chewing her bottom lip trying to figure out what was going on and what these people wanted from her.
She saw four green dots walking back toward the path that would bring them to the dorms. Just as they reached the path, the red X started moving toward them, bouncing across her vision.
"Um guys, you may want to run…" The green dots started moving quicker. The red X made it to the tree and stayed there a few seconds. Is he listening to see if they are still in there? The friends were halfway there when the X jumped to the path.
"Run faster!" The X was jumping down the path. They ran faster but the X was jumping along the path faster than they were running. They were almost at the gate to enter the campus when they heard an evil laugh. Lana heard it through Dobin's watch and chills went down her spine. She then saw her friends enter through the gate. The X started bouncing across the map toward the red dots.
"This makes no sense!!!" she yelled. "Dobin, I'll see you when you get up here. I'm in 2215." And she disconnected the call.
"Oh shit!" She looked shocked then fear crept into her eyes, "it was a fishing expedition and he caught something important…" She looked up at the ceiling, "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." She started taking her emotions out on the overlay. "How do I get rid of this damned thing!!!" she yelled.
Vorden grabbed her hands and sat her down, "getting upset will not help."
Quinn suggested, "Is there an x in your field of vision? Something that resembles a close option on a computer?"
She shook her head. She bit her lip again. "The answer has to be in this overlay somehow."
"What do you see?"
"Trees. Just trees and dots and the red X that is Pucket. Oh, there are other red dots. Are they bullies? That's interesting. Some are green as well, others are either grey or white. The color is light."
"Okay, so it's like a combat screen which shows where everyone is on the field in a video game."
"Sure? I don't play games. I don't have the time to engage in such things."
Vorden nodded. "So, it showed your friends and Dobin in the park and a tree. What else?"
"Actually, now that you mention it, there are no benches on this overlay. It's also only 1 species of tree plus my willow." She looked out the window and suddenly it clicked. "Thank you trees for your vision and guidance in my time of need." The overlay vanished. She wiped her sweaty brow. It took a lot of energy to do what she just did.
"Vision cleared?" Vorden asked.
"Yes." She exhaled slowly, "Thank you for helping me through this."
Vorden chuckled, "I'm not sure I was much help."
"I almost started panicking…"
"What exactly is your ability?" Quinn asked.
"It's hard to explain but what I can say is I think my ability to speak to trees just leveled up…"