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January 8, 1999 |
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Damen establishes contact with Yo
The image of Damen says "So I'm sitting here....at my new place. Sipping a beer. Corona if you must know...and I have a six pack. And I'm thinking hey....can't drink a six-pack...I'd get drunk...and then the horses would laugh at me. And we can't have that happen."
Damen offers to pull her through.
Yosannah pushes her textbook aside, blinks a couple times and reaches for his hand.
Ranch - Montana
Nestled in a valley this small ranch is well maintained and cared for. A large corral contains two horses, a black stallion and a white mare who run back and forth frolicking with one another pausing only to munch on the lush green grass. A small creek winds it's way down from the mountains and passes by the western side of the ranch, whose sun-porch was built conveniently near to offer a view of the burbling water. The porch was made for sitting on during the long afternoons and sipping lemonade. Just east of the ranch is a barn, it's large doors open, and the casual observer can see a training room of sorts, with weights and fencing equipment tacked to the wall.
Damen motions to the cooler next to the bench he's sitting on. He leans back, enjoying the view from his porch.
Yosannah moves around the bench and kneels down toward the cooler. She reaches a hand in and fishes around for a corona and holds it out for him, "I don't suppose you could open this for me?"
He nods, "Sure thing." He takes the bottle and in one quick motion swipes it down against the wrought-iron hand rail of the bench. The cap flies off and land s on the floor of the porch some distance away. He offers the bottle back to her. "There's slices of lime and lemon in there as well."
Yosannah studies the bottle for a moment before standing and moving to sit beside him. "This is beautiful. Where are we." She clasps the bottle with both hands. It dangles between her legs as she rests her elbows on her knees.
Damen glances out at the surrounding mountains. "Montana. Kalispel to be more specific."
Yosannah nods, "We're on Earth then."
Damen laughs softly, "Some call it that." He asks, casually. "How've you been?" He tilts the bottle back and moves his gaze to his horses.
She nods and follows his gaze to the horses, "I've been good, Damen." She smiles, "I've been getting along, you know. It's been hard." She turns to study him for a moment, "You?"
He shrugs nonchalantly, "I built this house with my own hands...no sorcery...no crew. It's kept me occupied."
Yosannah looks down at her shoes, "I was worried something happened to you. And here you are."
Damen turns to regard her, "I've checked up with Stone periodically. He doesn't know exactly where I am either."
Yo humphs, "Well, now I don't feel so bad." She glances up at him and smiles.
Damen returns her smile before looking back into the valley. "Well...you look good."
Yosannah nods slowly a couple times, "yeah." She says this with a sarcastic chuckle. "Thanks."
Damen shrugs, "No problem. So how are your horses?"
"My horse." She runs her fingers through her hair, "She's fine. She's not really mine though..." She takes a swig from the bottle."
Damen raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Whose is she?"
Yosannah smiles and stares at you, "You've been away a long time. There's lots you don't know, Damen."
Damen shrugs, "So fill me in. If you want..."
Yosannah shrugs and peers into the bottle, "I'm very sick Damen." She looks to you again, "I'm being admitted to Dr. Greenmoon's mother's clinic next week."
Damen frowns, looking at you in concern. "Sick? What do you mean sick?"
"It's um.. a parasite of sorts. At least we think so. Quite sentient actually, which is quite unnerving."
Damen reaches over and takes her hand in his own. "Do they have any information on it? I mean...a parasite...what the hell...somebodies been watching too much Star Trek Voyager."
"It's done things..." Damen says "What It?"
"The parasite." She laughs as if she knows how absurd she sounds. "And the horse belongs to the parasite."
Damen quirks an eyebrow up.
She says "I know I know..."
Damen says "You're not making -any- sense.....why not start from the beginning."
Yosannah stares at him. Quietly. "It started when you took me to Kashfa months ago. She found me there. Used me for months until a friend found out that my 'lost time' was due to her. She had done things that I only remember as if in dreams. And now she.. it.. has made it so that I can't live without her." She searches your eyes for some sort of understanding.
Damen frowns faintly, bringing a hand up to his jaw. "How has she used you? You just have no memories if she takes control? Can Del get it out?"
Yosannah shrugs, "She showed herself to Merlin one night. I was aware at that time. It was strange because I was flooded with things I had done. Del wants her mother to look at me. To see if separating us will really kill me like the parasite says it will."
Damen frowns, "How did she show herself to Merlin?"
She shakes her head, "He had given me a pendant. He said it would help my sickness because I wasn't get'n any better. I lost it and didn't know what happened to it. He did one of those magic things like you do. Well sorta." She smiles. "He like... pressed a rewind button in my head and played back my memories and saw that I had gone to this place and disposed of it. And wahlah." She exhales, "She pushed me aside and confronted him about it." She laughs, "She was saying all these things about being the First of Four. It was insane."
Damen nods, "Okay...I can deal with that. So who is Del's mother?"
"A Chaosian doctor."
Damen frowns, "What kind of doctor? Psychic or physical?"
"Physical. Psychic. Both."
Damen nods, thoughtful, "And the prognosis?"
Yosannah bites at her lip, "Not good so far." She forces a smile, "I'm diseased, Damen. This thing keeps me alive. You have no idea... I'm like one big fat cancer cell."
Damen smiles, if not wanely, "But at least your a cancer cell that looks ravishing in a black slip dress." He rubs his temple, "When are you going in? You should have someone familiar with Chaos cancer there...."
Yosannah laughs, "I don't know. Del is supposed to stop by after she talks to her mom. It's definitely next week though."
Damen nods. Then after a moment, regards her. "Do you want me there with you?"
Yosannah stares at him and, after a brief pause, looks away with a smile and just shakes her head. "Felt like old times there for a second."
Damen sips his beer. "That wasn't an answer...and there's nothing wrong with thinking about old times."
Yosannah tilts her head back and chugs the rest of her beer. "No, you're right." She sets the bottle beside her on the bench. "I have to go, Damen."
Damen nods, looking up to you. "I understand. Call me if you want me." Damen stands and brushes off his jeans.
Yosannah stands and takes one of her cards in hand. She pauses to look at him. "Thanks." She smiles, "I'd like you there you know. It would be comforting."
Damen nods, "Then I will be."
Yosannah reaches out and squeezes his arm before vanishing.