I can't thank you enough... for what you're doing... I almost understand...

"I know I wouldn't be here with you if someone hadn't taken my place... and somehow you will teach me how to force the connection... away... in my cerebellum...

"It was Blythe... wasn't it? She took my place... I know it... that's exactly what she would do..."

Charles nodded in agreement. "Yes that is exactly what she would do."

Simon looked into the George Gordon windows of the soul of Charles. "She spoke of you. She... is always very focused on... her mission... whatever that is, but when she spoke of you, I could tell..."

"I know Simon. You and I have much in common."

They left it at that.

Simon changed the subject. "I've studied some of the Ancient Ways in the Free Web. Of course I've never been plugged in fully until... when was it?"

Charles extended his arm toward a space where, just after, a stone round table appeared. "That was two months ago."

"Why so long?" Simon took a seat.

"Everyone is different, and has different strenths and points which... challenge. Would you like a drink?" Charles manifested himself something bubbly and cherry flavored in a tall champagne glass.

"Say weakness, Charles, I'm from the subways. We don't use fluff. Uhh... yeah... is there whiskey? How do you do that?"

"Sure but it won't get you drunk." Charles laughed and put his hand above the table, palm facing down. "Unless you really believe it will. Better yet..." Charles withdrew his hand, "Put your hand where mine was."

Simon did so.

"Now close your eyes. Imagine the last time you had a glass of whatever your preffered poison. Recall the taste... the color of the fluid... the temperature... and the container it came in. Got it?"

"Yeah... easy."

"Okay now hold that image in your mind... and remember what the Shaman showed you... let the Light flow down from your crown... through the colors... back up and out through the center... through the palm of your hand like a lightning flash and make that image dissapear quick and open your eyes!"

Simon did so, and picked up the glass, and looked at it. "Thanks, man."

"Don't mention it." Charles looked to his right and smiled, seeing some others coming. "How's it going, Roy? Richard?" Roy came in the form of a blonde male human in his mid twenties, side burns, a gote and a purple suit over a subtly silver shirt. Richard came in a form much like his actual form. Older than the other three, late fourties, in a classic VI times rebel uniform with sword."

"Charles!" Roy replied. "This Blythe's errand boy?"

Simon stopped sipping his drink, coughed, and said "Excuse me?"

"Pay no attention to that crazy cross-breed freak." Charles winked at Simon. "Roy, Richard, this is Simon, Simon this is my good friend Roy, and this is Richard of the Underworld." Charles looked at Simon, "Richard is a human, if you hadn't guessed."

"Ahhhh..." Simon raised an eyebrow "Whiskey?"

"Don't mind if I do..." Richard replied.

"Wait," Simon gestured with a raised forefinger, then held out his hand, blinked briefly, and handed Richard a glass like his own. "I just learned how to do that."

"Ahhh... Nice." Richard took a sip. "Irish?"

"You know it."

Richard put the glass down, "Yeah I still have to use the old methods since I've never formally been plugged into anything."

"Yes I see." Simon nodded.

"We'll work on that with you sometime." Roy said.

"Huh?" said Simon, confused.

"The Venusians don't have plugs," Richard explained. "They do it differently."

"Really??" Simon asked, slurring his speech a bit, looking at Charles, then Roy.

"They're here to help us, Simon." Richard said, not wavering eye contact with Simon.

Simon's confused brows gradually relaxed, and his eyes lit up with understanding. "Ooohhhh...."