"Thanks."
"No problem. Careful now. Sli…."
"I know. 'Slippery when wet.'"
"How'd you…"
"It's written all over your face."
"Funny."
"....Darius, where's Ariel?"
"Why?"
"I'd like to...See if she's ok, and is liking it here."
"But I already told her it is. I am showing her around."
"Teacher to student."
"Oh no.
Is she in trouble?"
"Nothing to worry about."
"Trouble…..not even on the first day?
Uhhh....she's in the Bathroom. First floor."
"Thank you."
"Guys, I promise; no matter what it takes, we will make it home; and we will see our children again. Have patience.
If not, then we…."
Ariel!!!!
"JUST A MINUTE."
"Ariel, we need to talk.
I've been looking over the specs of...
*Blink*
"Did your left rib just wink at me?"
".....No.
Those were my eyes."
*Blink*
"There. There it did again. Your eyes did not move. I swear it."
"Uhhhh…."
"Remove your shirt, Ariel.
It's okay. I promise not to hurt you. I just want to see."
"You might want me to remove my shorts as well."
"How many Eyes do you have? They blend into your skin so well.
Fascinating."
"It's okay, Little ones. She's not here to hurt you."
"Little ones...…plural?"
*Blink.*
*Blink*
*Blink*
*Blink*
*Blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink*
"Ariel, you...."
"You hate me now, don't you? Think I am a freak; just like all the others."
"No.
…No. Quite the...…oppo….site.
They keep moving with my hands.
How many are there? Do you not feel pain?"
"They Eyes and I are one. We are all born with something different that covers our body, and marks our end to come. Starts off with a puff of wrinkles, but every year; they wake up.
Five hundred eighty six eyes!!!!!!!!
How do they…."
"Rachel, I know you have a lot of questions, but please…..I don't have the time for answers."
"Why aren't some eyelids opening as wide as the others? Is it because of age, or...…
Huuuuuhhhh?
Are we doing this to you?"
"They have protected me for so long, but these Eyes are my first and last line of defense. Everytime they stay closed; I can live. They blink; stuff gets in..."
"You get sick."
"But it's my duty that every eye stays open until my last breath. Then....the last eye will open, and I will be reborn."
"As what?"
"I said too much."
"Ariel, wait; don't cover up. I just wanted to…"
"What did you want to ask me?"
"...You sure you want to leave?"
"Ask that again."
"Well....will you at least say goodbye to Darius first? What about the others?"
"Just tap me on the shoulders when it's time to leave."
"That might….be sooner than you think."
"....I'll call my Craftmakers to build me another. As long as it reaches me to my System; the Patorl can tag me home."
"You don't think we can make it all the way to your Planet....and….land?"
"Rachel, not everything is a challenge. Not everything is a race, and not everytime will you receive a prize.What matters not is what I think, but what you do. You are not receiving a reward, and may never see me again after today; but I will always remember your thanks."
"In exchange….."
"You fill a hole in your heart of gratitude."
"Oh. I...…."
"Were expecting me to pay you or something? Then it would no longer be an act of kindness, but of Service. Their is a huge difference between the two."