Chapter sixteen: A long time ago

“I have a mother? I have a mother! Wow. What about One and Kal? Do they have mothers too? AJ looked anxiously at One. “I sure hope they have a mother too. And a father? Do I have one of those too? Do we all have fathers?”
 
“Yes,” said Hector. “You all have mothers and fathers. They are up there. They know you have been taken here, but they simply don’t know where here is. But they know. Well technically your fathers didn’t know this was happening. We kept the fathers out of this. Your fathers would not understand any of this. But moms. They understand. You do realize that women are smarter then men yes?”
 
“Well since I met One I have figured that out,” said AJ. “But then again I have no idea if I am speaking to her or the others.”
 
“On the topic of women I have someone you must meet. The other brain of the operation. On screen please.” 
 
A thin white drape and the outline of a person behind it appeared on the screen. The woman was obviously hiding her identity.
 
“I don’t want to leak memory so I am staying behind this curtain. If you saw me it may leak a memory of your past. So I will just stay back here. Hello AJ. Kal. One. The other C/Os. Welcome.
 
Now that you’ve met Hector we can now start our journey together. Let’s try an experiment. Think of a number between one and 1 million. Yell out your number on three. One. Two Three. “Six thousand two hundred and nine” they yelled out together. Yes. Yes. Together. Yes. It worked. Hector, you have outdone yourself.”
 
“Now watch the screen. I will show one hundred images of random items in 10 seconds. Can you identify each item from one to one hundred? Here goes.” Pen. Ice cream. Fish. Cup. Blanket. Window. Doorbell…” On the group went in unison, rhyming off 100 items.
 
Yes indeed. Hector. Open the door. Show them their new home. Say goodbye to the C/Os One. They are not needed here. We will send them back to the children. They have a lot of work to do. And you three. Well the time has come for you to save your parents. And save yourselves. Except you AJ. Hector will kill you. But rest assured it will be an accident. He will not do it on purpose. My husband would never do that.”

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