Issue 1 Downtime

As tempting as one of the facilities helicopters may have seemed, for the sake of subtlety Mel had settled on stealing a boat instead. Currently heading south along the coast towards Aberdeen Mel is standing at the wheel, looking towards the city in the fading daylight. She's been quiet since their escape, seeming to ponder something.

"You came for me, despite all they've done to remove any trace of me from your mind." she breaks the silence.

"I had to," Drew says. "I don't know why, I just...I had to."

"Very curious. I wish I could claim that as having been my contingency plan. I still might." she laughs. "What did they tell you why you were at Muir?"

"They said that there had been some sort of accident," Drew says. "That I had lost control and hurt people."

"Imbeciles. They didn't even have the decency to tell you the truth. You belonged to me, you couldn't have lost control if you wanted to."

"Why did they lie to me?"

"Because they're so wrapped up in their own self-congratulating morality that they would rather make you fear your own past than admit that you were perfectly happy when you were with me. Though despite stripping all that away you still came for me. In my zealousness I might have overlooked something precious."

Drew nods, not quite understanding.

"So, what happens now?"

"First we need to find some clothes, money, a place to stay. I'm thinking we might be able to find something better than this dingy nutshell in the harbor, I'm liking the mobility."

"And you'll help me remember? You'll tell me who I really was?"

"Sadly I can't just conjure it up for you, but I'll gladly help you find yourself."

Drew smiles, "Thank you."

"And, whatever you need. Anything," Drew promises. "I'll do it."

"Oh I have a couple things in mind but I'm afraid we'll have to put business before pleasure for now. How would you feel about impersonating the owner of a yacht?"

"It sounds like a lot of fun," Drew says.

"Then I believe it's time to go shopping." she smirks as their small boat pulls into the harbor. "Let's find out if you have some taste. See anything you like?"

Drew scans the harbor. Finally, he points to a modestly sized, but well-maintained yacht.

"That one."

"I suppose we can't be too picky. And I believe we're in luck." she says, letting her thoughts flit across the ship and it's lit up windows on the top deck, narrowing in on the two minds inside.

"My my, I do believe I know this less than proper gentleman if not his little concubine. Let's tilt the odds in our favour a little..." she says, planting a suggestion in the man's mind that doesn't take much insistence to take root. "Do you think you can handle the little hussy he has in there by yourself?" she asks Drew as she pulls up their ship next to the yacht.

"Do you want her left alive?" Drew asks. His voice had all the emotion of someone wondering taking a lunch order.

"I don't care about her. We need him alive for a while to get everything we need out of his head."

"Yes, ma'am," Drew says. "I understand."

"Go ahead then. I'll be right behind you if you need any help." she says in a tone that suggests having to help out would not really be acceptable. Pulling their boat around she docks at the back end of the yacht.

Drew gets out of the boat and climbs to the yacht, shifting into a form that's more blonde and scantily clad as he does.

"Wow!" Drew calls out, trying to attract attention. "This boat is so big!"

Things go quiet for a moment, then there's hurried movement and a moment later one of the doors opens and a brunette woman wrapped in a silk robe looks out into the night.

"Who are you?" the woman asks as she spots Drew.

"Who are you?" Drew says sharply. "This is my boyfriend's boat."

"What? Oh for the love of god." she turns around to the door again for a moment. "I told you threesome cost extra."

With her back turned, Drew grabbed her from behind in a sleeper hold, quickly cutting off her breathing.

"What thrgh..." she gets out before her air is so rudely cut off. She flails around, trying to aimlessly strike and kick at Drew for a while until her movement grows weaker and eventually stops as she passes out.

"That's enough for now." Mel says, stepping onto the yacht.

"Tie her up, gag her, put her next to her client who you'll find inside already tied to the headboard of his bed."

"Oh, we're keeping her?" Drew says. "Fun."

He releases her, letting her fall roughly to the floor. He then obediently drags her to the room to do what Mel asked.

"You were too loud. And I could use another hand around here" she sends as she unties the yacht from the pier before heading up to the bridge to lay in a course for open waters.

I'm sorry.

Drew honestly sounded a little hurt. Like a puppy that had been chastised.

"At least you're not making excuses." she says, coming back down from the bridge. She eyes Drew's handiwork and then dismisses him with the wave of her hand. "Go make dinner with what we have on board, then go to the bridge and take us towards London. I'll need some time alone with our two lovebirds. Do not interrupt me."

Drew bows his head obediently and heads off to do exactly what he is commanded to do.

He felt excited and elated. This is what he was meant to do. This is what had been missing from his life.

He finally felt at home.