A new morning and a new day, Eric manages to sleep until almost half past ten. Despite not having had all that much to drink the night before at the karaoke bar, the morning light still affects Eric's eyes more than it would on any other morning, and it takes a moment or two for his eyes to adjust and for his head to clear.

The place is quiet, the house as a whole is quiet, perhaps a little too quiet. Not quite being one hundred per cent awake just yet, Eric clonks his way downstairs and slowly moves through the hallway and into the kitchen.

Moving towards the refrigerator Eric glances through the adjoining dining room and sees two strange men, both unknown to him, sitting at the dining table. Almost as if he hadn't seen these strangers, Eric continues towards and opens the fridge. It is only at this moment that it registers, he realizes that there are other people in his home.

Eric closes the fridge, and the two men stand in unison, one of whom approaches.

'Please excuse us for letting ourselves in but we need to speak with you Mister Russell' speaks the approaching man as he extends his right hand.

Eric doesn't accept the offer of a handshake. He just stands for the time being in silence right where he is. Introductions are soon made and apparently these two men are from a government bureau, one of such that Eric is unfamiliar with.

'What can I do for you gentlemen?' asks Eric.

'We understand that you have a very unique house guest.'

Momentarily Eric stares at his new guests then attempts to make a bolt for it but he is blocked by the second man. Eric takes a step backwards and thinks about bolting towards the back door but the man, the one who had spoken to him is in the way.

'Look, we are not here to hurt you or harm you in any way, as a matter of fact we would like you to help us out.'

'Why would I want to do that?'

'I am not expecting miracles here, but I ask of you to just think about it. We are on your side.'

With that the two men begin to make their way out into the hallway but before they make it to the front door, Audrey arrives in. They continue on towards and past Audrey as if Audrey wasn't even there at all. Surely their business here is of her, they more of less just said that, ... still they are leaving.

'Hello boys' speaks Audrey. 'Hope we were all playing nice, were we?'

Audrey smiles as the two men leave.

'Right, we really need to speak.'

'Let's go then so' says Audrey.

'Go, what do you mean let's go? Go where?'

'You'll see.'

Eric walks briskly; following Audrey's lead and pretty soon they are back down by Chinatown way, but nowhere near that antique store, the shop in which they first came together in a way. No, the intention is not to revisit that store, rather Audrey with Eric in tow have come to the Chinese botanical gardens and where they so happen to have come is to a secluded area, an area in which strange things begin to happen, as if strange things haven't already been going on for some time now.

Arriving to this secluded area Audrey stops, so Eric stops too but before he can make any inquiries, he begins to notice these strange occurrences. All of a sudden and momentarily the sun shines extra bright, so bright in fact that it for a second or two blinds Eric. When the extreme brightness dissipates Eric is hit by awe.

'Wow, what is going on here? Are you doing this?' he asks.

'Hush now, just enjoy this for a moment, there will be plenty of time for talk.'

What it is that Eric sees, is something that surrounds him and surrounds Audrey too. This being a moment that moves in a kind of slow motion while both Eric and Audrey appear to be able to move at regular speed. Rose petals, red, yellow, and white; leaves green, brown, and orange all brilliantly illuminated, and thin white spores are all falling out of thin air, falling slowly and all around. Eric can reach out, touch, and feel that which is closest to him.

'This is seriously amazing.'

A Robin Redbreast moves as slowly as everything else and comes to hover right in front of Eric's face. Eric wants to touch this bird; he wants to hold it. He begins to reach out but before he can get close enough, the Robin vanishes. Eric turns his look toward Audrey and Audrey, with the bird well and truly past her lips, just offers a look which suggests that a question of 'what?' is being asked.

With what has just transpired, things return to normal or to as normal as things can be given the circumstances.

'You see' speaks Audrey once her most recent consumption has been completed, '... There are those who wish to exploit my kind.'

'Those two men?'

'Yes, they and those of their kind want to build an army. Imagine if you will, having an army of me or an army of my kind to send into battle. I can transform myself to not only look like a soldier but to be one too. There never would be any loss of life, not human life, not from one particular side. You see they need consent; consent I and my kind are not willing to give.'

'Alright I get it. I can imagine that, but I thought though that you are the only one of your kind.'

'I may be rare and unique, but I am not alone. As you can see here and back in that greenhouse you and Mike had come to, I affect my surroundings. I only wanna do this peacefully. Those men you met this morning, they are trying to use you, get you on their side, use you to get me on their side but we cannot concede, we must not concede.'

'Audrey, don't worry, you have nothing to fear. I am on your side.'

The two smile and even share a hug.

'Time to head home?' asks Audrey.

'Time to head home, by the way, what just happened here, that was truly awesome.'

'Of course ... it was, this is me after all, you know? Birds are one thing ... I refuse to hurt sentient life. I refuse to bring profit through pain ...'

'I understand. And even if I didn't understand or agree with your words, which I do, I feel as you do ... even separately from our connection.