Relative Strangers (Book 2) No Man Is An Island

17. Planning Together

Emily was not happy about Matt going with E on her mission, but Matt refused to back down.
He was adamant that he wanted to go with E, and no one could talk him down.
"I thought we should talk about tomorrow" admitted E after Emily had stormed off to her room in a strop.
"You haven't changed your mind have you?" Asked Matt.
"No, but I thought you'd better know what you're getting yourself in to. You've never been with me when I'm on a mission in time, so you don't know what I'm like" replied E.
"I came with you that time when you escaped the ARC"
"That was different, because once we were in the future we didn't travel anywhere by anomaly. I also had just escaped imprisonment, so I had all of my guards up. Tomorrow I will be different to how you've seen me before".

"Are you going to tell me what the plan is for tomorrow?" Questioned Matt.
"No, I don't like to have set out plans anyway, but even if I did, I wouldn't reveal it to you, because I wouldn't want to give you the chance you argue with me about it. The second we step through that anomaly tomorrow, you will have to follow all my instructions to the tee" replied E.
"Don't worry, I promised you earlier that I was going to try and do everything you tell me to do, and I will do my best to stick to that"
"Good. I have travelled with other people before, but they have always known their place. They know not to contradict me. But I'm worried that you will try and undermine me while we're on our mission"
"I will try my best not to".

"Good... I also have to make a small detour tomorrow before we start the mission" revealed E.
"What kind of detour? Not back to the island?" Frowned Matt.
"No, not back there. I need to visit one of my groups in the past, to check on how they're doing" admitted E.
"And you're O.K with me coming along? You don't want to go alone first and come back for me afterwards?"
"No. If I leave without you I will be tempted to stay longer. Having you with me, will remind me that I can't be away for too long"
"These people won't mind meeting me will they?"
"They've met several of my companions over the years, so they'll be O.K with it"
"Right. And I don't need to wear anything in particular?"
"Everyone in my camps wears different clothing, so no. Once we start the mission and enter the era I've chosen, I will dress us both in period appropriate clothing, so that we don't stand out".

"I didn't think you'd mind about being stared at for looking different. I mean, when you were younger you can't have had access to multiple wardrobes" admitted Matt.
"No, I didn't. But me and Helen didn't visit many time periods that contained humans. After her death, when I would enter the past, I wouldn't change my clothes. But after attracting the wrong attention one too many times, I started dressing so that I would blend in. I have a few male clothes as well, so you will be covered as to. But to be honest, it is female clothing that has changed the most, so you could probably get away with black trousers and a shirt. I hate the outfits that women were forced to wear back then, so I will be in my costume for as little time as possible" replied E.

"Are you nervous about what we have to do?" Asked Matt.
"I'm scared of what will happen if we fail. I'm also worried about doing something that will change history. I have to go through life, being cautious of my actions, so that I don't alter anything by accident. That's why I don't visit time periods with humans in that often, unless it's the future, because I can't change anything there" answered E.
"When I went into Emily's time zone I got into a fight with her husband" revealed Matt guiltily.
"I know. But you had a good reason, because he was trying to put her in an asylum. Hopefully we won't have to talk to anyone while we're there. But if we do, just let me handle it. I don't want you saying anything stupid and starting another fight"
"I'll try and keep my head down"
"Good".

"So, you've been to where we're going, before?" Questioned Matt.
"Around that time yes. But like I said earlier, I try to avoid human time periods... I've never been good at dealing with humans" admitted E.
"If you hate humans so much, have you ever tried getting yourself a pet, so that you aren't so lonely all the time?" Quizzed Matt curiously.
E chuckled, "Can you really see me with a goldfish?".
"No, but I was thinking more like a cat or a dog"
"Animals are a risk I cannot afford, they could get you killed. The closest I've come to having a pet, is my mind controlled Predators"
"Come again?"
"I had about half a dozen Predators under my control for a while. They made good guard dogs".

"I can't believe that after everything you've been through, you would willing spend more time around those things" admitted Matt.
"I was younger then, and in need of protection. I had just been betrayed and abused by that man I told you about, so I wanted to take a break from humanity for a while. I decided to enhance the tech that Leak had developed, making it more reliable. My Predators had a chip implanted into their brain, that could not be removed externally. If the chip ever faltered, it would kill the creature, because of where the chip is implanted. I never took unnecessary risks" revealed E.
"That's pretty impressive" commented Matt.

"Thanks. I could always tell my Predators apart from the normal ones, because the chip also turns the veins pink. I was a lot more girly back" blushed E.
"That was a good idea. Because then you wouldn't accidentally shoot your own ones" replied Matt.
"Exactly... I deactivated them a few years ago, when I began to detest them too much. And after I had one grown inside me, I certainly wanted nothing more to do with them. Looking back, I didn't really need them, but they gave me a sense of security that I didn't have"
"If they made you feel safe, then that's all that matters"
"I guess... We should probably go to bed now, so that we can have a good night's sleep. Afterall, we have a busy day tomorrow"
"Yes, we do. Goodnight E"
"Goodnight Matt".