cycleofages | Action

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[For most people, the pain of feeling like they were being squeezed too tightly into a space too small for them was, while all too real, also somewhat illusory; a transitory feeling accompanying being brought to this place. While horrifying, it would pass. For KITT, the pain was all too real, and seemed to continue long after he'd dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach and squeezing his eyes shut as if to ward off the sensations.

He stayed that way for many long moments, but when his eyes finally opened, he realized several things.

Knees. He had knees. And kneeling on the hard floor was making them hurt with a different kind of pain. Also, he had a stomach, and hands, and eyes. He was seeing his surroundings, not with scanners, but with eyes, recording not with sensors, but with skin. How was this possible?

He sat back on his haunches, raising his hands before his face, his mouth contorting into horror. What had happened to him? What was going on?

There was a woman speaking, but he ignored her, ignored everything but this nightmare he'd awakened into. He'd been re-charging in the back of the semi, and now he was here, and...

The world went black as he passed out, slumping heavily to the floor.]

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[Grace is standing near the door when the man collapses on the platform. Like every other person who arrives she looks to see if it's her father and when it isn't her heart sinks in her chest.

She can't do anything to help him but she steps closer to take a look anyway. She kneels at his side careful not to touch him or hurt him. Her eyes are puff and red with tears but there is strength hidden in her gaze. She begins to sing a sweet song, her voice trembling with a broken heart as the words form from the young child's lips.]

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

Lavender’s green dilly, dilly
Lavender’s blue
You must love me, dilly, dilly
‘cause I love you.

Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so

[Were Kitt conscious, his heart would wrench with sympathy for the plight of the little girl, lost and lonely without her father. All he can do in his present state is moan slightly, his head rolling slowly towards the sound of her voice, that sweet song calling to him, but his eyes still remaining closed]

[Grace stays by his side and continues to sing. She hopes that he might hear her words and that his heart might be soothed.]

Call up your friends, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork

Some to the hay, dilly dilly,
Some to thresh corn
Whilst you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

[Her tone trails off at the end and she carefully takes a small handkerchief from her pocket and presses against the dots of seat at his forehead.]

[His eyes open, just a little, the light too bright. Her voice is sweet, gentle, and he watches her through his lashes as she sings. His eyes continue to follow her movements as she blots his brow, his hand reaching up to gently catch her wrist, feeling the texture of her skin, its cool softness with the delicate bones beneath]

... Who? Where?

[Grace freezes as his hand catches her wrist. Her eyes widen and she almost jumps as the sudden movement.]

I'm Grace.

[She doesn't really know where.]

You showed up like me and the others...

[He didn't mean to scare her, but saying he's sorry seems too much effort]

Grace. Kitt. My name is Kitt. You - and the others?

[She nods her head slowly, her voice soft and kind when she spoke.]

We just showed up here... like you did.

[Grace lightly places a hand on his forehead and forces a smile to her lips.]

You should sleep, I'll keep singing until someone comes to move you to a bed.

Oh.

[She didn't have to tell him twice, or even at all. He closes his eyes as soon as her hand rests on his forehead, his speech sleepy and slurred]

Thank you. For your singing. For your kindness.

[Grace feels her lips pull into a warm smile though it doesn't touch her eyes.]

You're very welcome.

Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turns to brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.

And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won't bark,
Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town...

[Airy's words cut mid-sentence. She runs towards the strangers side, her hand coming to rest lightly on his shoulder. She doesn't know what's happening but it doesn't look good. Thin fingers lightly brush his hair from his face as she inspects his features.

He looks pale.]

Hey, are you alright? Are you still there?

[She turns on the phone and pinches it between her ear and her shoulder. Her voice is low but panicked.]

Rachel?! Rachel. We need a doctor. Please come quick.

[Airy closes her phone and slips it back into her pocket.] Please tell me that you're alright. Help is coming.

[His body had been twisted and turned, formed and shaped and twisted again, all out of proportion and with the wrong parts. Everything hurt, pain such a new and bright concept, even passing out couldn't contain it. He was moaning at the sound of the child's voice singing her pretty song, the voices of others, women, strange and unfamiliar. His eyes open, just a crack, but there is no coherence or recognition behind them as he looks into the face of the woman above him. After a few slow blinks, they slip closed again, his body going limp once more]

[Airy bites her lower lip before hearing the sounds behind her. Her head turns and spots Rachel who assists in getting Kitt onto the rolling bed. When he awakes next he'll find himself in a hospital bed and his pain greatly reduced.

The brunette is sitting next to the bed with a book propped between her legs. She looks like she's about to fall asleep.]

[The last thing he remembers is a little girl singing to him. He doesn't understand why he was looking up at her, or why she was singing. Now he doesn't know why she's not here, or where he is. His eyes open fully, but it takes him a few moments to realize it's a ceiling he's looking at, not a wall. Why isn't he looking at a wall? The wall should be before him, as it always is. Why does he feel so small? Why is there - pain? He feels dry, where? His mouth? He has a mouth? Why does he have a mouth? Is this a simulation? What the hell is going on? He needs to speak. If he does have a mouth, he'll need to learn to use it. He licks his lips, but finds no relief]

Where... where am I?

[Airy sits up a little straighter, her book closing and falling to her lap.]

You're awake, oh. I'm sorry. You're in the hospital wing. When you arrived you had passed out and I didn't know what was wrong. I'm glad to see you're awake. [She pauses, biting her lower lip before continuing.]

You're under New York City in a safe place we call HQ but it probably isn't your New York City... you see... how do I... explain. [She fumbles with the words awkwardly.] Why don't you ask what you really want to know first and then I'll ramble?

[His eyes focus on her, watching her carefully]

I'm not myself. This isn't what I am. I'm not human. [His eyes were pleading with her now to understand, even as he was trying to swallow down the panic he was beginning to feel again]

Not my New York? [He was frowning without realizing it, trying to understand what was going on]

How did I get here? Why am I human? Where are my friends? [Each word was painful, his throat dry and scratchy]

[Airy's lips formed a confused frown. She does understand which is why she suddenly looks very worried.]

Here. [She holds out a glass of water for him and waits until she's sure he has it before passing it over.] It's something that's been happening here. I don't know where your friends are. People have been showing up from all over... well... people and what you are.

I'm sorry, I feel like it's somehow my fault that you've taken this shape. I made the platform you woke up on because people were arriving as energy but then they were going somewhere else and it was dangerous. I made that so that we can transport you safely here. I didn't think that something like this might happen.

[He takes the glass from her, holding it and looking at it with a frown of his own. He understands how to drink in an abstract sort of way, but he's never had to put knowledge into practice. He'll wait, for now. He feels better just holding it]

I'm a car. I was a car. An artificial intelligence housed within the body of an automobile. I don't understand what's happening.

[He raises his eyes to her, watching her face as he listens to her explanations, risking the tiniest of sips from the glass]

Where were they going? Why were they arriving as energy? Why were they arriving? Where is here, exactly? New York? I was in the back of a semi, traveling through Nevada. I don't understand. Can you bring my friends here? Is it still 1986?

Oh...

[Airy has no reason to believe this except that she's seen some pretty weird things around HQ. She just really hopes that this isn't her fault and she's ended up messing everything up somehow.] Cairn tracked it to a forest around Montana I think? But it's shifting and moving a lot. We don't know why yet but giving you guys a place to go is better than staying as energy right?

[That sounds awkward.]

Yes, we are technically beneath New York. Once you get check out... here. You'll be free to go explore and check it out. We have rooms for you here though since this isn't your world we're worried about the impact. Um...

[Now she feels awkward.]

It's 2016... I don't think I'll be able to find your friend... I'm sorry.

[He closes his eyes, sinking his head into the pillow again as he continues to listen]

Yes. Much more preferable. Not my year, not my world. Is there anything about New York I would recognize? Times Square, Central Park?

[Wait a moment]

We have rooms. Are we prisoners here? What are you planning for us?

Both of those are here.

[She quickly answers his second question.]

Not prisoners no but everyone is worried about people from different worlds upsetting time and this world. You guys arriving hadn't been the plan. Giving you a place here is just the best way to do it. You don't have to stay in HQ. You can walk around the city but we'd like you to be safe is all and try not to get into trouble.

[Airy really doesn't want people to think they are prisoners.]

[Hermione was coming out of the library, a book in her hand. ]

Oh My Goodness! Are you quite alright?

[There was nothing all right about his condition, not yet. Maybe not for a while]

[Hermione just moved to his side, falling to her knees. She was unsure how receptive he would be to touch, but she reached out anyway, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. ]

It's alright. It's going to be alright.

[He doesn't open his eyes, but he relaxes beneath her touch]

Everyone's telling me that. I don't believe it.

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