In a future present moment, the past doesn't seem all that long ago no matter the fact that a lifetime has also come and gone in the meantime. On the outer side of the large window, that porthole to the great beyond, he takes a walk. Both being on the outside and walking are things he has not done in quite some time, at least not by himself that is, though if there ever is a time for either or both then that time is now.

For a moment he is right back smack in the middle of that moment, a moment of history that stayed with him through all those years. How he would so like to be back there, in many ways he is still there, in many ways it is as if he never really left it behind. Though leaving it all behind suggests there was a choice, was there ever a choice? That in itself may be up for debate.

***

With things as they are, Eric is still a little confused, in fact he is very confused but there is one thing in particular that he wants to be able to wrap his head around and that is in regard to what he had observed in the glasshouse. He knows Audrey connected with her surroundings there as she had at the botanical gardens. Thing is, had those two strange men already gotten what they wanted? Had that so-called government bureau found a way to clone Audrey or maybe they managed to find a way to do something similar, or to use just what it is she is?

And was this why it was so easy for him and Mike to locate and retrieve Audrey after Audrey had been taken from Eric's home? There had been no real rescue mission. He and Mike simply left with Audrey as if nothing happened at all. There is this alteration in Eric's personality. He never really worried before unless he had something to worry about. He never before got in the habit of over thinking things but this new trait of his, it has him considering things he never would have before. This whatever it is, surely is some kind of a gift, and it may lead to serve him well one day.

All the questions he has were and are valid concerns, but Eric has something else, something that may stabilize this new trait of his. See Eric trusts his senses; and in these past and short few days he has come to trust the connection that he has with Audrey. If something was or is not right then he would be sure that he would feel the difference, so for now he must continue as if all is well and good for right now all is well and good. But really, what is in that green house, can it be used in the future, or had the life taken on in there only something temporary?

What did take place in that glasshouse, well, that was more down to Audrey's temporary and good-natured influence. He can question everything or let it be and move on. Yeah, he can relax, what was in that place will remain insentient.

Eric and Audrey arrive back home, and a conversation continues as they walk up the garden path. What a strange thing now to consider too ... home is now a place for two and not just one.

'So, what are we going to get up to tonight?' asks Audrey.

'Thinks have been a little hectic lately to say the least. I thought that we could just relax and take this easy for a bit.'

'Relax and take it easy? Time is short, you only have me for a few more days and you wanna relax and take it easy? We should be going out on the town, painting it red and having some serious fun.'

'It's not all about you ya know. We could always watch a movie; I have a great one in mind.'

'Invasion of the Body Snatchers, nice one, thing is I've seen it, both the original and the remake.'

'How'd ya ...? Oh yeah right, this connection thingy, I forgot for just a moment.'

As the two reach the front door Audrey stops and attempts to prevent Eric from moving any further forward.

'What is it?' he asks.

'Look' says Audrey pushing the front door open, no key had been used. 'Someone or other has been here and may still be here.'

'Our friends from the bureau I presume.'

'Quite likely.'

As Eric begins to head inside Audrey warns him to be careful. This, Audrey's concern alters his momentum, for Eric wanted to and would have gone in head strong, ready and willing to take on anything and everything he sees but rather that do that, he actually moves forward slowly and cautiously. Such is the affect that Audrey has had on him in the few days up to now.

At least a couple of minutes pass before anything of note grabs Eric's attention. No furniture, presses or anything of the likes had been disturbed, what it is that has grabbed Eric's attention is the site of a DVD disk on the kitchen worktop area with the words 'play me' written on it.

'I guess we are going to watch a movie after all, be it one neither of us probably want to watch' says Audrey.

The DVD indeed is played and indeed is a video of their two bureau friends showing that they have taken Mike and Ellen into custody and that it would be wise if Eric and Audrey co-operated so that no further moments of uncertainty occur. It also informs as to there being just twenty-four hours to comply.

At the moment the DVD comes to an end, both Eric and Audrey have themselves a 'Mission Impossible' moment as a puff of smoke escapes the DVD player effectively ending the life of the DVD disk as well as that of the DVD player too.

'I guess they win' suggests Audrey, 'there is no way I can let anything happen to Mike and Ellen. Did you see how stressed Ellen looked on there? It would kill me to know that something bad happened to her or Mike because of me.'

'It would also kill you to know that clones of you are being sent into battle, right?'

'Yes, I, we, my kind are passive, we are not aggressive, not at all, not ever.'

'Then we are going to have to put this right.'

There is a slight pause then Audrey smiles, 'yeah, I like how you think. I'm with you.'