Yeah. About Adric.

Yes, Adric. Do you know much about him?

No. He was just the person who showed up when Arthas said he needed a blood sacrifice.

He's from the planet Alzarius. He doesn't have a family... Well, I suppose he has his brother back now. But he didn't when he joined me.

Oh. [You can hear Drake shuffling uncomfortably, and that 'oh' sounded a little guilty. Drake's more uncomfortable than he realized he'd be talking about this.] But he's back now, yeah? And I made sure he was unconscious when I did it.

At least... But I suppose that's little consolation. He died before coming here. He died attempting to save lives, and he did so magnificently. The fact that he earned his right to return home is deeply impressive to me, and I think my timestreams will be all the better for having him in it. He earned his life, and his confidence.

So you see, at least a little, that you may have taken something from him. Even if he were to be resurrected, you deprived him of a comfort that many people, including him and myself, struggled to be certain he would enjoy?

So what do you mean? You die here you have to earn your life back all over again?

I mean, say... you've a house that's insured. You worked hard to gain these possessions, your sense of security. You give to the needy. You help the poor. You make people happy.

The house is robbed and you're attacked. The attacker cares nothing about you, and you're forced to do nothing while you watch him take your things, even if it's nothing personal. You're just a useful commodity to him.

But, the house does have insurance, and the cost of the stolen items is reimbursed. But every night you fall asleep, and you wonder if that man or another one will come back. You wonder if you're truly safe, and what might happen to all those people you've been aiding. Are they subject to the same threat? Must they worry about the safety you've given them being taken away?

I...I think I get it.

Why did you do it?

Arthas promised me powers that were like the ones I had before I came here, without the Barge limitations. And...I wanted to show Arthas that I could do it. And now he's got his soul back and I have no powers, so it was useless.

Was that all it was for? The powers?

If you're agreeable, and you don't murder people, most importantly, I'm certain that your warden will give you some of your abilities back. He seems like an understanding sort of fellow. But now you're going to have to prove yourself.

Well...and because I like Arthas, but mostly the powers.

I know, but I'm not a terribly patient person.

If you must be impatient, then the best way to go about it would be to intern under a legitimate wizard so when you regained your powers you would have the preparation to utilize them.

Did you not realize Arthas was using you?

He wasn't using me. It was a mutually beneficial partnership.

Oh, was he? What made it a friendship rather than a business arrangement?

I don't know.

Usually a friend has a genuine personal interest in your success, and would make an effort to protect you from anything that might endanger your well-being. He may yet have been your friend, but a real friend will also accept "no" for an answer.

He tried to protect me from my Warden when it was obvious he was too fast for me to handle. The problem is, he's too fast for anybody to handle.

And I don't know if he would or not. It didn't even occur to me to say 'no'.

Because you wanted your powers? Had you any idea of what he'd done to the Barge before?

No.

"No" for the powers, or "no" concerning what he'd done?

What he'd done.

I know you very much want to improve upon yourself, Drake, I doubt you were particularly interested in harming people. But do consider what it is that your friends wish to do.

I did consider what he wanted to do. I just didn't care.

I want to get into the Garden. I cannot access it without my item.

We'll meet there. I'll speak with Armand over obtaining you a key. [Somehow someone legitimately insane like the Joker seemed... easier. He doesn't entirely want to punish her. He doesn't think she's evil, just egotistical.]

When do you want to meet.

Are you available now?

I am. I shall meet you there.

[Persephone had considered being obstinate and stubborn--she considered throwing a fight and waiting and making him wait even further like the seven days that she had spent in level zero while those who were unnatural were around her. But she missed her plants and found herself hurrying up to the deck where the green house was.

The Goddess looked quite frankly awful. She'd refused to bathe in the inmate showers, and while she didn't smell as a mortal would, the effect was not pretty. Even worse than that, she looked like a flower who had been deprived sunlight. Her appearance seemed shriveled, almost curled in upon itself and her face was grim. Persephone did not look healthy by any stretch of the imagination.]

[She didn't look good by any stretch of the imagination. He supposed certain individuals would have been glad to see it, but he didn't wish them to.

When she comes closer, he opens up the gardens for her as she wished.] You need a shower. What powers were you permitted to retain?

[When he opened the door for the garden Persephone walked into it quickly, sweeping past him. Finding the nearest pile of dirt, the goddess sunk her knees into it and she touched the plants. Where once they would have seemed to have a level of near human awareness and longing for her touch, they barely stirred. There was no calling of them too her like cats. It was disheartening and the goddess frowned quickly.]

I do not shower, I bathe, but my tub is gone. And the plants in my room no longer bloom. I can make them spark, but then they instantly die. I cannot sustain them anymore.

[Not that it had stopped her from trying--she had, but it hadn't worked and it had zapped some of her strength.]

Then I'll return your green thumb. No sense in you being deprived of that as well. [And he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.] If it will get you to maintain yourself you can use my bathroom. I rarely make use of it.

[He watched her hands in the dirt, tucking his own into his pockets as he regarded her.] ...What's it like. Touching them. What you do normally?

[Persephone inclined her head when the Doctor said that he would return her green thumb. She wondered if that meant that he would restore all of her powers or simply the power to make her plants live once more. She didn't argue for the moment, because after being able to spend all of her time with the plants, she didn't want to lose the option of having them constantly.] I am a goddess, I do not need to be maintained as mortals do.

Normally they come to me like cats, demanding attention, vying for it. Normally they speak, not in words but with emotions. When I come, they are happy. When I do not come, they tell me that they are sad.

The ones here are alive because I had given greatly to them so that they would not die when I had left.

So they feel emotion?

[He settles down not too far from her, looking down at the soil with a quizzical sort of look.] When I feel intent... it's almost like... scent. Or hearing. It's a whole other sense.

You don't like when people are disrespectful toward them, do you? The plants? Fairly obvious observation, of course, but... I'm attempting to understand.

It is not emotion by a human definition. It is... more primal than that. Less personal.

[Persephone pulled her fingers from the dirt, and lifted them a bit, the head of the flower seemed to want to try and follow, but it might have been the wind or a desperate bit of her imagination.]

The plants do not make the choice to be here. They can do nothing but grow. If you are attempting to make a connection between them and empathy for humans, and if I agree with you does that mean I can go home?

I can't decide when you go home. The Admiral decides this. What I do is attempt to make you understand so that you might return. And to help you understand, I must be capable of understanding you. [He scratches under his chin.] Do you know a dear woman named Sveta? Very kind-hearted?

I do not understand why my father is forcing me to stay here. [Her voice sounded soft and petulant and bitter.] Was my time in hell not enough?

I do not know the woman of which you speak.

He's not abandoned you... Perhaps he wants you to better appreciate the stupid apes. [Apologetic. He knows humans are dumb.]

I would like you to meet her. She's quite exceptional. She would give excellent advice. Are there any humans here you're fond of?

[Persephone scoffed quickly at that, because well... millennia in hell didn't help any with abandonment issues, even if her father and uncle had cursed her husband horrible things.]

I was fond of the little bird, but she wished to die. I do not understand why she did. I know why the rest went, but she would have been spared if she had not been trying to get herself killed.

She didn't wish for her friends to be killed. Just as you wished Coyolxauhqui a safe journey off the vessel. [He stared down at the plants. They did look rather dismal without her affection.]

You misunderstand. I believe that she meant to be killed. She did not need to die.

[Persephone frowned quickly, and she looked to the plants and then she looked to the Doctor once more.]

Humans are stupid creatures.

No, I understood. I simply mean she couldn't stand by when they were being subjugated. They're not all stupid. [Some are, he won't contest that. He folds his hands together.] They're simply aware of the short lives they live and they've no desire to live that life as someone else's resource.

I'll gladly help. Granted, I don't like the idea of Adric leaving, but I don't like the idea of anyone leaving.

Neither do I. But he did something impressive. Something we've been unable to accomplish. I told him if he stayed, stay for what he can do with himself. Not because of us.

Come now, I managed to graduate an inmate as well. But you're right...you know, the way you're talking about him reminds me of Susan. I wonder how she's doing.

Whatever we decide to do, I'll gladly help.

Graduating an inmate is one thing. Graduating Omega is another entirely.

For one, I need to decide what manner of vehicle to give him. A motorcycle seems a bit much.

A lovely idea. I'll contribute, of course.

Excellent! I now have to ponder on a mode of transport. A motorcycle seems ill-suited.