Loyalty Test


Pandora is sitting at a table on the highest point of the lunch room, everyone else is at a lower level in a strange descending order with the majority on the same main level. Those on the upper levels are a mixture of the football players, cheerleaders and the student government. They all appear to be serving Pandora in some way. Sarah, Kat and Ian approach but are stopped by cheerleaders and a few football players.

There's a bit of a standoff between Jemma's friends and the football players and other cheerleaders. After a while, Sarah, Kat and Ian kneel in front of Pandora. This makes Pandora smile and wave away her soldiers.

"I'm glad to see that you've joined us." Pandora says with joy, although there's silence from the kneeling people, "What is it?"

"My lady, we're sorry. We failed in our first mission. Sarah told us that we need to convince Jemma to join you but she resisted." Kat says, clearly upset at her failure.

"Hmm, she's becoming a problem." suggests Pandora absently.

"Although we might know why she's resisting." Sarah said.

That makes Pandora curious, "Really? What's your theory?"

Sarah hesitates for a moment, "When we went to try and convince her, she had... The Box."

Pandora sits up at that, not happy about it.

"The Box? God can't I get away from that thing? What did you do? Did you get it away from her?"

There's a long silence.

"I'm sorry, she got away from us with The Box."

Pandora grumbles at that, "All right, well... we're going to have to do something about that. I can't have her out there screwing things up for us."

"What would you have us do, my lady?" Sarah asks expectantly.

The possessed girl with a destiny takes a moment to think about it, "Nothing, for the moment, except watch her. Keep an eye on what she does with The Box. I think I'm going to need to take drastic action to fix this situation."

All three of them respond to the command, "Yes, my lady."

Bowing their heads, they wait before finally getting up and turning to do as they ask. Pandora puts her arms out as if she's parting the red sea and her protectors move to make a space for her. She comes down off the almost throne she's been sitting on and walks out of the lunch room.

* * *

Jemma walks down the hall of the school, her bag over her shoulder. During her walk, she stops, looking around. Seeing nothing, she goes back to walking down the hall to class. Again she feels the need to stop, as if eyes are on her and turns to find them... without success. Going back to heading towards class, she comes up on a turn goes down it, quickly hiding behind the corner. It isn't long before Sarah comes around the corner, confused when she doesn't see Jemma down the hall.

"Can I help you?"

Sarah isn't sure how to respond right away.

"Well, I guess Pandora was right about you." Sarah says somewhat playfully.

Jemma crosses her arms over her chest defensively before responding, "What exactly did she say?"

"That you're more trouble than you're worth." laughs Sarah.

Jemma's somewhat put off by that, "She said that?"

"Yeah, and you just proved her right."

"Why? Because I didn't like you following me?"

Sarah scowls at Jemma, "No, because you just had to confront me about it. That's what's so good about what Pandora's doing. She's going to make it so that there's no more confrontation. No more anger or pain or anything like that. She's going to make it all better."

"And how is she going to do that?" asks Jemma, curious.

"By being awesome, obviously. I mean, I thought you were in love with her." suggests Sarah.

"I mean... I... I like her... liked... her, but..."

"So why wouldn't you want her to succeed? That way you can be with her."

Jemma pushes back, "Because I didn't really feel the togetherness when I was being hit with apples from everywhere. Call me crazy."

"You're crazy." pushes back Sarah, "You wouldn't go along with her plan. What the hell was she supposed to do?"

"Didn't she try that?"

That has Jemma not saying anything for a while.

"Look, just stop following me. It's really creepy and I don't need any more stress in my life right now."

"Because you got that box thing?" questions Sarah, "I thought you said it was dangerous."

"I... I thought it was, but... now I'm not so sure."

Sarah gives her a questioning look, "What changed?"

It takes Jemma a second to answer, "Pandora did."

Jemma walks away from Sarah.

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