savetheearth | text; forward dated to 1/21

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text; forward dated to 1/21

I used to think it'd be easier if I just forgot all of this, but it turns out that it's really unnerving if it actually happens. Especially when there's no reason for it.

Maybe it was a 'six months on the network' anniversary.

This is Nick, for those of you who know me. I remember everything again.

[Individual texts sent out via cell phone if he has it, network number if he doesn't, to: Yuji, Kotetsu, Ray, Lyall, Karl, Melissa, Anthony, Axlex, Barnaby, John Mitchell, and vampire!Alex.]

You're all safe, I didn't do anything to put the network in danger when I didn't remember it. ...but I did think I was with Sherman legitimately, and agreed to get modified.

[Private message to Ravi.]

This is going to sound like a weird request, but whenever you have a free moment, can I use your medical expertise? I'd like to be checked out by someone on the network who I trust.

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Thanks, man. It's actually really good to be back, which is something I never thought I'd say.

[...oh right, that. In hindsight, Nick mostly just thinks it's funny, although he's hoping Karl hasn't told Lyall about Nick thinking Karl was trying to set them up.]

It's cool, I'm pretty sure it was in retaliation. You make one or two bird jokes...

Yeah, they did. I, uh. Well, apparently, I now have nine lives.

[As far as this mun knows, he didn't say anything about it. Which is really too bad.]

You do seem to like to make animal jokes, Nick :P

So as in, like a cat? Except cats don't *really* have nine lives, so how exactly does that work?

[There's a pause, and then he makes a face on the other line and adds:]

Oh dear, does that mean you'll smell like cat now, the way all the others smell like their animals? Are there any other side effects related to the animal in question?

[It really is too bad. Not that Nick'd agree, of course.]

I can't help it, they write themselves. But they're done with affection.

Yeah, like a cat, but no, I don't think I smell all that much like one, and as far as I know, there's nothing else. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure how the hell that works - but they assured me it did, that the alien's technology was way more advanced than anything we have.

Advanced or not, I don't believe *anything* comes without side effects, much less changes to your DNA. I'm a biologist, and *I'm* not sure how it could possibly work.

So you're all right, after all that, then?

[He's just making sure. With Karl, he'd been too surprised to really be concerned, but now that he's had time to think about it? Yeah, he's a bit worried about them both.]

[There's a moment of hesitation before Nick replies. If it was most anyone else asking, he'd brush it off and say he was fine, but Lyall's one of the few that it's easier to be honest with.]

Right now? Yeah, I'm all right, but I agree with you. Whatever this is, it probably comes with side effects - either from the procedure, or something intentional that they're just not telling us.

I'm not going to lie and say I'm not a little worried, but aside from getting myself checked out, I don't think there's anything else I can do.

Keep track of how you feel, how you react to things, and anything odd you notice (or don't notice). I'd suggest keeping a journal, in fact. Then even if you don't notice something now, you might reading back.

And of course, keep in contact with your friends :) We might notice things, too.

So you're all right, physically, for now. How about otherwise?

[He's trying to make sure Nick isn't feeling too rattled about the whole experience, specifically.]

Mostly what I'd been planning, yeah. I don't know how good I'll be at that whole journaling thing, but I'll give it a shot. It's good advice.

That, I can do a lot easier. Might sound weird, since I actually saw you, but I missed you, and everyone else.

[And he pauses here, causing a delay in his response, before once again going with the truth.]

Honestly, I'm not sure. It's unsettling thinking I could just forget, at any time. It wasn't even two weeks, and I didn't actually go anywhere, but it feels like I've been gone a lot longer.

[That makes Lyall smile on the other end.]

Well, you're back now. So I suppose a part of you went somewhere else, and that counts. And really, considering all the things that go through this network, I imagine it *does* feel like you were gone for longer.

How long has your memory been back for?

Not too long, I got it back just last night. But yeah, you're right, it really is a lot. That's something I noticed now that my memories are back, it seems like half my life goes through the network, with all the plans I make and the things I-

[...and then he remembers one of those plans, and grimaces.]

Shit, how did the full moon go? You were going to go out of town, right?

Oh, it went quite well... for me. Not quite so well for Reilanin and Hajime. I came home to find my living room destroyed again. Apparently she got out.

Oh, man, ouch, I'm sorry I wasn't there. Is there anything that can be fixed?

But going out of town worked, then?

By the time I actually got home, the two of them had actually replaced most of the ruined furniture, and I've learned to live with the loss of my books. I keep most of them in my bedroom these days, anyway.

[For just this reason.]

But yes, going out of town worked quite well, in fact. I almost turned back once the memory loss kicked in, but I had my brochures for the teachers' training breakfast on the seat beside me, so I had a reason to keep going.

That's something, at least. ...but maybe I should make the offer of the storage facility to Rei, since that keeps happening.

Yeah? Are you going to try doing that now, if you can come up with a reason to get yourself out of town every month?

Perhaps. Or perhaps letting her have the bedroom will help. I get the impression she was using the garage again, which is admittedly not as secure.

As for me, yes, I think I'm going to try. If I can find an excuse for it each month, then it seems safest for everyone. Even if I only manage it every other or every few months, it's better than nothing. Next month shouldn't be hard: the full moon is on a Friday, so a weekend trip is hardly out of the realm of possibility.

Your poor house, man. At least now I know what to get you for your birthday.

That's awesome, though. There's worse ways to handle things than going on vacation once a month, or every few months. Hell, I'm almost tempted to join you.

You've a while to wait on that one, and a lot of furniture in the meantime, I imagine.

[The second text comes after a moment of thought, because that... is probably not likely to happen, but it sounds surprisingly nice.]

And if you think you can manage a trip with me and not leave the moment you'd forgotten everything about me, I won't say no to the company.

I could do it in stages. A piece of furniture every time one gets destroyed, instead of a whole new set on the day itself. Like a birthday payment plan.

[It does sound really nice. Nick can't remember the last time he actually took a vacation.]

Hey, I won't forget everything about you. I'll remember getting coffee for you this last week. And anything else not network related, so really, that's just incentive to hang out more.

That would be a birthday present far in excess of what most people would consider, I think, Nick ;) I'm doing all right, at the moment, anyhow. I'll let you know I or Rei escape again, how's that?

You'll remember being annoyed that your superior officer ordered you to bring him and a random teacher coffee, which I don't believe is going to endear me to your other self. Did you remember all the other coffee runs before?

What can I say, I'm a big gestures kind of guy. Yeah, okay. But if you'll let me, I'd rather be there if I can, just in case.

Nah, I wasn't as annoyed as you might think. Not with you, anyway, I still liked you. I remembered the first time we talked in your classroom, when I was covering someone's shift at the school. Not what we talked about, of course, just that we'd chatted.

Oh, now that your memories are back, you are definitely back on claviger duty if you want it :) I feel much more comfortable with at least two people there, especially given there's two of us wolves now.

I'm surprised. I got a definite "annoyed" feeling off you, but perhaps that was just at your boss? I am glad, though, I felt terrible for him making you come out there without you knowing why.

Yeah, man, I'm in. I'd be thinking about you guys all night anyway, I might as do it there.

It was definitely just him, but I'm not surprised you picked up on it. I really hate people who abuse their rank like that, especially since he knows damn well I have a department of my own to look after. But I get why, now. I mean, he's still a jerk, but at least in an entertaining way.

I am not terribly fond of rank abuse, either, I will admit. At least now you know, and we can go back to our regular routine, if you're still interested in coffee and the occasional lunch at the high school.

Of course I'm still interested. Besides, I wouldn't leave you guys at the mercy of terrible generic coffee.

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text; forward dated to 1/21

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