"This isn't real is it?" he asked sadly.
"No," answered his companion.
"Where are we really?"
"I suppose you could say that we're in a place you feel safe," came the answer. "Your mind needed a place to retreat for a while and this is it."
Trek nodded, his eyes narrowing as he tried to assimilate the information.
"Who are you?" he asked. "You can't really be my grandpa 'cause he died when I was a kid." He looked across at Annie again and shook his head ruefully at the inconsistency of what he had just said.
"I'm part of your subconcious. The rational part that could cope with what happened and understands what's going on. The rest of you... us... went into shock and needed somewhere to hide for a while. Needed a soft place to fall."
Suddenly Trek heard a low buzzing noise. He shook his head trying to clear it.
"What the hell is that?" he asked.
"Your team-mates... friends... whatever you want to call them. They've been trying to reach you for days but you just weren't ready to hear them until now."
"Days?"
"Mmm," the old man answered. "Listen kid, you've got a decision to make. You can't stay here forever. Sooner or later you've either got to go back or move on. You know what you'd be going back to, but where you move on to... well I guess that all depends on what you believe. You don't have to decide right away though. Take youe time and think about it. After all there's a lot riding on it."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Erica passed a weary hand across her eyes. It had been seven days since the explosion and in that time the young man in front of her had shown no sign of response. She knew the rest of the team had begun to give up hope and Plato's continued silence wasn't exactly helping. Everyone knew that the human/car symbiotic relationship was at its most efficient between Trek and Plato, and the fact that to all intents and purposes the bike seemed dead to the world did not instil everyone with a sense of hope. But Erica wasn't ready to give up yet, wasn't willing to let her friend go.
She felt a pair of hands massaging her shoulders and looked up to see Kyle watching her compassionately. Erica gave him a weak smile which Kyle returned.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I was wrong."
Erica looked away.
"Erica, you need to get some sleep and something to eat," Kyle stated.
She shook her head.
Kyle shifted uncomfortably.
"I know we all miss Tre but I think we're gonna have to move on," he argued. "It's been a week and the doctor said he thinks Trek may not recover... or may not be the same if he does. We have to be ready to let him go just in case..."
"He's going to get better," Erica interrupted in a low voice.
"Erica..."
"I know Kyle. I just can't give up hope yet."
