Thieren examined Ken for a long moment.
"Unlike Flail, you never replied to my assistant on how you want to be compensated. Tell me if you ever need my help in your future career and studies. I owe you a lot for what you've done for her," Thieren said in a softer voice. "And I know how big a role you played in her life before the battle. If things had continued that way, I wouldn't be surprised if the two of you had started falling in love. But she's my woman - my wife now. I too, married her to keep her safe, so consider your explanation accepted. Unless you cross any boundaries. If you do, then don't blame me for not being polite anymore. You can rest assured that she's in good hands. Enjoy your chat. Excuse me, but I really have to go."
Thieren strode out without waiting for an answer and the door shut, waving for another two bodyguards to join Miao in protecting Stacey in the room.
The two boys stared silently for a moment. They glanced at the guards and then focussed on Stacey again. They looked around the room and out the window.
Stacey gave her old friends a crooked smile and then held out her arms to them again. Ken leaned in to give her a hug and then Flail. They took a seat on the visitors' chairs by her bedside.
Stacey looked down at Flail's left leg. With socks, shoes and trousers covering it up, she couldn't tell he was wearing a prosthetic at all. She had noticed that his walking and movement was a bit stiff and awkward, but it was much better than she had expected. Tears welled in her eyes. He had lost that leg because of her.
"Flail, sorry," she choked, her tears spilling over. "So sorry."
"Great gods," Flail said in a fluster while Ken calmly passed her some tissues with tears in his own eyes. "Don't cry, Stacey. Please don't cry. I never know what to do when a girl cries."
Stacey smiled at him through her tears.
"Hug. Kiss," she teased him and smirked when his face flushed red.
"Seriously, Stacey," Flail yelled. "Be serious. Don't make fun of me. Has married life turned your mind dirty?"
Stacey looked taken aback. She scrunched her nose up at him.
"No," she said. "Hate him."
There was a moment of awkward silence.
"Your leg?" Stacey pointed. "Better?"
"My leg? My leg, oh yeah. Yeah, it's a lot better now," stuttered Flail, trying to escape the awkwardness. "The program compensated a lot of us who were injured in the battle and couldn't return to the program. Lord Huo especially took care of those of us who had tried to protect you. His personal assistant got in touch with me and asked what my future goals and dreams were now. He said I could ask for almost anything I wanted within reason. So, I got this walking leg. He said when I'm ready for it, he'll fund a running and a dancing leg for me, and help me if I still want to get back into the entertainment industry. I really have to thank him. There's no way my parents would have been able to afford such a high end model. Do you - do you want to see?"
Stacey nodded, leaning over in curiosity. Ken caught her when she leaned too far forward and almost fell out the bed.
"Thanks," Stacey nodded her thanks to Ken and then watched how Flail doffed his prosthetic leg and showed it to her. He explained its special features and the different parts. He showed her his stump and explained how he had to take care of it.
"I'm sorry too, Stacey," he told her after he had donned his prosthetic leg back on his stump. "I really hated you after the battle. I knew it wasn't really your fault but I still couldn't bring myself to accept it. It's taken a while to get my head back on the right way. Ken talked to me and helped a lot. He's studying to be a... doctor now, you know a - a - what's it again, Ken?"
Ken said a word in Tadpole that Stacey didn't recognise.
"Anyway," Flail continued, "I'm just glad I survived. I feel sorry for Endo though. Man, he got hit bad. I feel so horrible. He took the brunt of that blow, or I'd be the one dead. I only lost a leg but he lost his life. You know, man, I can't believe it sometimes when I think about it."
"Me too," Stacey nodded. "Endo saved me too."
"Yeah, yeah. You nearly died too," Flail nodded, wiping his eyes. "Ken told me how you told him that Endo helped you back to us when they thought you were gonna die. While I was in rehab and stuff, I sometimes watched your clips. Man, you've had it tough. I was so mad with the producers and the government and everything they put you through. You've worked so hard. I heard that you'd lost your memory again and had to relearn everything under pressure in the program, when you should have still been in rehab. I loved your new songs though. Man, Stacey, how did you even come up with some of that stuff when you were so sick?"
Flail chattered on while Stacey listened and nodded with a smile. It seemed he said 'man' a lot now.
"And now they've almost worked you into the ground," Flail said, looking sad. "I'm your big fan now I'm not there with you in the program, did you know? I was so worried when they put up a post saying you were seriously ill and back in hospital with a brain attack due your old injuries being provoked. Man, I thought brain attacks were things only old people got. I thought I had it bad, but here you are. Can barely sit, let alone walk. You struggle to even talk or swallow. Man."
Flail shook his head and wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands.
"Memory back," said Stacey, pointing at her head and trying to be more cheerful. "One positive."
"Yeah," Flail nodded but looked skeptical, "although, considering what you've been through, I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing."
"Good," Stacey smiled. "Mostly good. Talked parents - talked to parents," she corrected herself upon hearing the mistake she'd made in her speech. "Happy."
"You managed to find your parents?" Ken sat up straight and his eyes shone as brightly as Flail's did. "Congratulations!"
"I'm so happy for you," Flail said.
"Thanks," Stacey clapped her hands.
"Respect," Flail put out his fist and spoke in imitation of Endo, making all three laugh and bring their fists together.
"When are they coming? They are coming to pick you up, right? Or at least to come see you?" Flail's voice trailed off as Stacey's smile faded and her eyes filled with tears.
"Man, no, Stacey, don't cry. I'm sorry. Ken, help. I said something wrong and made her cry again. Help me, man," Flail flapped his hands and then shook Ken.
"Your parents can't come?" Ken said in a soft voice, leaning forward to pat her arm. "We're really sorry to hear that. Can you tell us why?"
"Too far," Stacey sobbed. "Never going - never see home - again."
"Man, that is tough," Ken said and gave her a hug, passing her tissues and patting her arm. "At least you got to speak to them for a bit. Isn't that something? You'll be able to talk to them on the phone once in a while at least," he said.
Stacey nodded and blew her nose.