It is the late afternoon, and Jayson and Lexia climb Derrick's tree, both quiet and still in shock by what they saw. Derrick flies past them, and when Jayson climbs over the railing, he stops. Derrick is also on the porch, but is looking inside his nest, eyes wide.
Jayson sees what Derrick sees, and his eyes and ears perk.
Lexia climbs over moments later, flops over the railing, and staggers up. She hobbles forward while trying to catch her breath and grabs Jayson for support.
“Oh man, that climb sucks,” says Lexia. “You really need to install a ladder or an elevator for your tree.”
When Jayson and Derrick don’t reply, Lexia realizes they are staring into the nest. When she sees what they see, her expression matches Jayson's.
Derrick draws his pistol and walks in his nest first, and Jayson and Lexia follow him. Lexia retrieves her bazooka from seemingly thin air, and Jayson is holding his cosmic wood sword tightly.
Sitting at the dining room table is Trafford Augustine, smiling calmly while he turns a female ram warrior priestess figurine in his hands.
“Hello, lady and gentlemen,” says Trafford.
“We watched you die,” says Derrick.
“You did.”
“So how are you here?”
“Are you a clone?” asks Lexia.
Trafford sets the figurine down. “Nope. Please, have a seat. I would like to continue our talk.”
“I'd rather stand,” says Derrick.
Trafford shrugs and stands up, easily taller than the others.
“Alright, suit yourself,” says Trafford. “I just want to know if you're interested in the bounty that I put on Ramsey Prosper. It is a decent amount of money on top of other problems vanishing.”
“How can you erase our problems?” asks Derrick.
Lexia steps past Derrick and points at Trafford, eyes narrowed and ears flat.
“And I want to know, a) How you got in my house, and b) How I know you're not pulling my leg about this rehab thing,” says Lexia.
Jayson silently stares at Trafford, and the two lock eyes for a moment before Trafford looks at Derrick.
“The people I work for are very powerful. They can and will pull strings for those they reward. And as for your concerns, Lexia, I just walked in. Your security sucks,” says Trafford.
Lexia pales, and flinches when Trafford slides behind her and grips her shoulders, giving her a playful squeeze as he grins next to her cheek, regardless of the glares Jayson and Derrick are giving him.
“But your lovely mother has nothing to fear from us. The rehab facility we're willing to put her in is fantastic-o. There is no other place like it in the world. Guaranteed. Complete cleaning and psychological redevelopment to remove addictions from the body and mind.”
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Trafford pats Lexia’s shoulders and slides to the front of everyone as he pulls out a VHS tape from a case in his pocket.
“Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to show a video,” says Trafford.
“I do mind, actually,” said Derrick.
“Oh… Okay.”
Trafford goes to Derrick's TV, anyway, slips in the VHS in the built in VHS player and turns it on. Yellow credits start rolling with happy 80s retro futuristic music.
“Ah drat! I forgot to rewind it,” says Trafford.
Trafford stops the tape, then rewinds it, and looks at the group while the TV shines its blue light on him. He leans against the TV and smiles at Jayson.
“So, Mr. Hopper, that is an interesting piece of wood you have there,” says Trafford.
“Thanks,” says Jayson.
“Can I hold it?”
“No.”
Trafford clicks his tongue and looks at Derrick. “Derrick Marlow, how's life been treating you?”
“I'm sure you have an idea,” says Derrick.
“Tough crowd. Hey, Lexia Hartwick?”
“Yeah?” says Lexia.
“Has anyone told you that you look like an Amazonian princess?” says Trafford.
Lexia smiles and her little tail wags. “Aww~ Thank you. Xenia the Warrior Princess is one of my favorite shows! I love her Amazonian prowess.”
“Yeah, I really doubt you’re a fan,” says Jayson.
Lexia glares at him. “Don’t start, hobo.”
Jayson rolls his eyes. “If Xenia was one of your favorite shows, then you would know Xenia wasn't an Amazonian. She was born in Amphibiapolis in the Endo area of Thrashia. Gabriella of Potatodia was the Amazonian warrior, and the queen of three tribes when she was with Xenia. So, if you're inspired by an Amazonian, you should dress more like Gabriella instead of Xenia.”
Everyone looks at Jayson, and he keeps his focus on Lexia, who is scowling at him.
“Nerd,” says Lexia.
Then the VHS clicks, and Trafford hits the play button.
“Here we go!” says Trafford.
On the TV, a colored, grainy footage of an old ram with faded shades of gray and black, wearing a lab coat stands in the middle of a clean and brightly lit hospital with happy patients and nurses. On the doctor's suit is a winged DNA strand, and the same symbol is on the wall behind him. The caption below him says “DR. GREGORY GORE.”
“Hello. My name is Dr. Gregory Gore of the Renewal Rehabilitation Facility,” says Gregory stiffly. “At this facility, we believe that all lives and minds are valuable, so our mission is to rehabilitate the bodies and minds that have been destroyed by addictions. Addictions such as-”
His voice is suddenly replaced with a robotic tone and a list of words slide up the screen as addictions are named off.
“Meth. Cigarettes. Alcohol. Pain killers. Reel Sight. Narcotics. In general. Porno. Graphy. Reading. Excessive. Gaming. Sex. Music. Massages. Blankets. Mustard. Gaming.”
The list goes on and Jayson’s eyes glaze over, Lexia’s eye and nose twitch, and Derrick rubs his face. Five minutes later, the robotic voice stops, and Gregory waves the camera forward with unnecessary force and a strained smile.
“Let me show you around the Facility,” says Gregory.
The old ram leads the camera down the hallway, passing rooms with comfortable amenities.
“Here, we take very good care of our patients, and to show you how much we care about our patients, I’m going to show you all the rooms!” says Gregory.
Time dissolves around the group as the video continues. The late afternoon sky rapidly shifts to night, bringing the moon out and the cracks in the sky to shimmer.
Jayson and Derrick are sitting on the couch, with Jayson being absolutely bored to near death, Derrick is asleep and drooling, Lexia is leaned forward in interest, and Trafford is off to the side, watching them.
The video is still playing, and thirty minutes later of boredom induced torture later, Jayson slaps his thighs and stands up. Derrick jolts awake and yanks out his pistol. Nobody reacts.
“That's it, I'm out of here,” says Jayson.
Derrick slumps on the couch. “Lucky you.”
“Where are you going?” asks Trafford.
“Out,” says Jayson sharply.
“But the video.”
“Your video sucks, dude. I’d rather watch Xeno Resurrection than this.”
Trafford gasps. “Rude.”
“Also, this is Lexia's thing. I'm out of here,” says Jayson. He looks at the harlequin-hare. “Have a good night, Lexia.”
“Uh huh,” says Lexia, still focused on the video, which is now showing off the grass.
“See ya, Derrick,” says Jayson.
“Stay safe,” says Derrick.
“I will.”
Jayson leaves after that, and Trafford watches him go. When Jayson goes to the porch railing, he looks over his shoulder and sees Trafford is still watching him. Jayson rolls his eyes and climbs over the railing.