Chapter 38

Jamison gazed at his house. There was a longing in his eyes. Behind him, Trevon cleared his throat. Jamison slumped as he dragged his feet toward the pod, letting his backpack droop. Trevon wiggled his finger toward himself. The trunk was already opened. Jamison shoved the backpack at his dad.

"Daddy," Jamison asked softly.

"What is it, Jamison?" Trevon asked with a sigh.

Jamison backed away at hearing his name. Nessa was confused too. Usually Trevon called him "bud", and Enya called him "J".

"Can I...say goodbye to Nessa?" Jamison questioned in a sheepish tone, ducking.

"The alien?" Trevon retorted.

"Yeah," Jamison admitted. "Her name is Nessa."

Trevon paused a moment and shook his head.

"Your attachment to her and your disconnect from reality--that's why we're doing what we're doing. Sending you to the hospital." Came the reply.

Enya extended her arms toward Jamison and pumped her hands like she was squeezing a stress ball.

"J," she said.

He fell into her arms and clung to her. Meanwhile, Nessa connected to the holo-feed of Jamison and his family, while not taking her eyes off the security guards.

Enya lowered his face as if to kiss his head, but instead she whispered:

"You'll be out soon. I'll make sure you get out soon."

Nessa kept to the darkest part of the chamber. Perhaps that would stall the guards.

"You'll be out soon. I'll make sure you get out soon." When Nessa heard the words, she nodded.

"So will I, Maz," she said at him but to herself. "So will I."