Brilliant light...

It was the whirring, keening high-pitched sound which eventually drew Jack from his synthetic slumber. Groggily he thought, can microprocessors react groggily? Is "groggy" a human feeling or can any living thing feel groggy?



Uncertain about the solution to that line of thinking, Jack sat up. Surrouding him was the most brilliant yellow-white light! This light reminds me of high noon, on the sandy white beaches at Tropwen Shores...just before their sun burned out! Panicking, Jack sought the source of the light. As he laid his palms flat upon the ground, he felt the spongy give of grass.



I am outside! Then Jack giggled. Immediate understanding overtook him and he adjusted his vision filters. His exposure oculars were at their maximum setting! How did this happen? Where am I? What do I remember last?

Tailer moved into Jack's field of vision. "Oy Jack! Feeling groggy are we?" It wasn't what Tailer said that struck paralizing fear into Jack's body, it was the overexposed, toothy grin Tailer wore as he spoke.

"I'm delighted you're so happy to see me!" Tailer chirrped.

"So you followed me, you miserable excuse for an enemy! Let's be done with this charade of civility. Tell me what you want so I can be on my way." Tailer's grin gaped even wider, if that were possible.

"'Tis not that simple, lucky Jacky! There is no way to be on to for you. I've followed you thus far to correct your path. You coin me "enemy." Soon, I prophesy you will call me friend!" While speaking, Talier had moved to within inches of Jack. Jack heard the snick of the locking mechanism Tailer had already secured around Jack's left ankle.

Like a rabbit securely caught in a snare, Jack was tethered to Tailer.

Enemies forge slavery. Friends encourage freedom. Jack reasoned within. He had a very small inkling as to what Tailer wanted from him. Jack wondered if he could buy his freedom from Tailer without revealing his one little secret. He slowly smiled and meant it.

"You are not a prophet, Tailer. You are a very sad little project gone wrong. However, I will abide your charade for the moment. In time, you will see we can only be enemies and nothing more. The ONLY thing we have in common now is this artificial umbillical cord which tethers us as one."

If Tailer's smile diminished, Jack couldn't detect it.