As she got close to the second-year area, she looked around to ensure there were no others before approaching. Quickly she ran to the tree which put her in the room she had told it to create. It was small and cramped. This was not a willow tree after all.
In the dark room she found a broken body that she assumed to be Rakshas if the tree had done its job, so she asked, "Rakshas, I presume?"
She heard him spit more than saw the simple motion. "Who wants to know?"
"A friend of Blaine."
"That monster doesn't deserve friends. Do you even know what he's capable of?"
Lana bent forward and grabbed a handful of hair. "I know what he's capable of. And if you truly did, you'd have stopped already. Hands Off. You can't handle the consequences."
The tree showed her what exactly happened to Rakshas as it removed her from the room. She touched the tree, "wither".
Lana raced back to the first-year dorms and up to room 2303. Paul had asked for her so she got there as quickly as she could. She let herself in and he was surprised she still didn't have Blaine at her side.
"I talked to my parents. They want to market the kitchen and have you do the commercials. Are you okay with that?"
Lana smiled, "of course!"
She had it with her as she always carried her bag. The kitchen had simply replaced her other bag. They set it up and he recorded the whole process.
She asked what he needed of her and followed his instructions. They used technology to put her in different clothing that would suit the expected market. On film she appeared to be in beast gear and had a Hunter's Tag. The Tag showed how strong you were, 1-10 with 10 being the strongest, like the watch with the ability levels. Her tag displayed a 6.
Lana 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 an hour, they were done and Paul sent the footage off to his parents' company to see what they thought.
That night, she lay in bed, finally setting her books aside. She closed her eyes and her mind replayed what the tree shared with her.
It was fast. Far faster than she had imagined. It had done its job swiftly and proficiently as it listened to the students talking. It learned who its target was. When Rakshas was alone, the tree's branches snatched Rakshas from the ground in a swift swooping motion. Rakshas' ability was foresight but even that two seconds wasn't fast enough for him to react and get out of the way. The vice-grip-like branches crushed his arms and legs with ease while wrapping branches around his mouth to keep him silent. The action was rough. Dirty. Angry. The tree threw its victim into the tiny room it had created. Rakshas' back hit the far wall and he slid down, moaning in pain. The tree sent a message and waited.
Lana slept peacefully and dreamlessly that night.
The next morning at breakfast, Blaine sat next to her before getting his food.
"I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away," she replied curiously.
"Rakshas. I heard his friends are saying he was beaten up by a tree. Would you know anything about that?"
Lana chuckled, "how could I beat up someone I've never laid eyes on before?" Under her breath she continued, "and if he hurts you again, it will be worse."
Blaine just made out the words and smiled.
"I'm going to go get my food now. Behave!" He grinned as he left the table, just as Dobin sat down.
"Did I miss something?" Dobin asked.
Lana chuckled, "no. How's the studying going?"
He shrugged, "it's going. Alto told me you fed him your food in the infirmary yesterday and he was able to get enough energy to return to our room."
Lana nodded, "I also made him stay until I was done, though, so I could walk him back."
"Something needs to be done. We can't live like this."
"I know. I'm working on it."
Just then Alto sat down with his plate accompanied by Almin and Kattie. Technically, level 3s were targeted as well but they were focusing on 0, 1 and 2 at the moment, it seemed.
A few moments later, Blaine, Chekof and Karlen all arrived together. The friends enjoyed breakfast together, talking about their plans. Alto, Almin and Dobin were going to the game again. Kattie decided to go with them once she was done with Sven's outside time so they decided to all go to the park together, first.
Lana had received a message from Paul so she needed to go back up to his room.
"I need to go talk to Paul."
Blaine nodded. "Come to our room once you done? I need to get my laundry done. It's been a bit … busy lately."
Lana chuckled. "Sure."
After they finished, Karlen went to his roof and Blaine and Chekof returned to their room.
Lana let herself into Paul's room.
"You needed to see me?" she asked.
Paul nodded, "they liked the footage but asked for a few other things. Can we set it back up and get a few more shots?"
"Of course!" 30-minutes later, they were done.
Paul smiled, "perfect! Also, my parents told me to give you something else. May I see your watch, please?"
She held out her wrist. Paul touched her watch. He typed on his computer. A few moments later, she could see a phantom message in front of her again.
[Paul Techno wishes to transfer 15,000 credits for Payment of Commercial Services. Does Lana Plantwell accept his Payment?]
[Yes/No]
Lana confirmed [Yes]. She heard her watch ding and looked down.
[15,000 credits deposited, transfer from Paul Techno; MEMO: First Commercial Payment.]
Upon hearing her watch ding, he knew the transfer went through.
"I need you to sign this contract then payments will be automatic."
Lana nodded, read the contract, then signed. She then hugged him. "Thank you!"
[Quest Update: Progress Toward Friendship: Lana Plantwell 100%]
Paul smiled. "Thank you as well. I've never had a friend before."
"You do now. I also know the feeling. I don't want to disturb your work too much so I'll pack up and let you get back to work. I'll see you at dinner!"
Her next stop was room 2215. She knocked on the door and waited patiently.
Blaine answered the door with a smile, "come in. What did you need to see Paul about?" he asked as they headed to have a seat on the edge of his bed.
"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?" Blaine 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. Chekof was sitting on his bed. It looked like he was almost done reading his book. He observed out of the corner of his eye, not wanting to get involved just yet but he was concerned.
"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. Blaine and Chekof were staring at her. Blaine 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 are sitting 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.
Chekof and Blaine 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 waited 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."
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