“Story of my life, searching for the right, but it keeps avoiding me, sorrow in my soul, cause wrong loves my company.” Unfaithful, Rhianna, Unfaithful - Single

“Hello,” Holly said from behind Artemis.

“Hello Holly, this is Marie and Freedom, Marie and Freedom, this is Holly,” Artemis introduced them. There was a noticeable tension in the air. With Marie and Freedom glancing wearily at Holly in her Section 8 uniform.

“I don’t bite,” Holly said, raising an eyebrow at them.

“Freedom is a criminal on Garth, and is weary of all police. I don’t know why Marie is edgy though.” Artemis told Holly.

“I might not be convicted like Freedom, but I am a criminal too.” Marie said, edging away from Holly.

“Okay, whatever, follow me, the shuttle is right past that hill.” Holly said walking toward said hill.

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

When they finally got to Section 8 hq, Marie and Freedom were shocked. They had never seen that much technology in their entire lives.

“Finally! I thought you guys weren’t going to show up after all.” Foaly said.

“Wow, this is…odd.” Freedom replied, looking around. “It’s weird, I believed in all the fairy tales about Earth, but I never believed in fairies. It just didn’t seem possible at the time.”

“What’s Garth like? How does it differ from Earth? What—” Foaly was cut off by Freedom.

“How does it differ? Oh let’s see, the only law is that you can do no Good. What do you think it’s like? God I hate it so frickin’ much! I am a convicted criminal on Garth cuz I’m a goody two shoes by Garth standards. By Earth standards I’m in between, not a goody two shoes, but not a bad person.” Freedom scowled, getting annoyed, “That’s why December and I built a portal to Earth. Last time I saw it, it wasn’t operational. We thought it would work, so we tried it, a little while after turning it on it malfunctioned. It released a bolt of energy which hit me and sent me flying into the back wall. The doctors say I was lucky to survive it. It’s the reason behind the weird coloring of my eyes, they used to be coal black. I was wearing fucshia tinted goggles, the energy changed my eyes to fucshia with a rim of black around the outer edge. I’ve also been able to create portals to Earth.”

“What’s the fashion like back there?” Holly asked.

Freedom looked down at her outfit. The pink and black striped long sleeved shirt with it’s slight v-neck, over it a pink tank top with a custom print on it. Her pink skirt and fish net tights. The really unusual thing about her outfit was that her exposed mid rift was covered by fish netting. “For guys it’s there choice, for girls it’s an entirely different matter. If you have a boyfriend, they have an outfit planned for you, to show others that your their girlfriend. If your single you have a choice.”

“That’s sexist,” said Holly, annoyed.

“That’s Garth for you. December is really nice though, he hates the custom, but he follows it so that they aren’t suspicious of him. I try doing that to, but it can be hard. Anyway, I picked some of it. Oppression, though he may be nicer then most boyfriends, conforms completely with Garth culture.”

“And, let me guess, there aren’t any laws against abusing your girlfriend.” Holly snapped, really mad by now.

Freedom shrugged, “There aren’t. The ratio of abusive boyfriends to non-abusive boyfriends on Earth is reversed on Garth. Though girls can fight back. Sometimes.”

Holly walking off fuming, trying to find a way to vent her anger.

“Anything else you want to know about my crappy home world?” Freedom asked Foaly, one eyebrow raised.

“We got company!” Holly yelled, running toward them.

Sure enough, a figure emerged from the shadows. Her long black hair was in a ponytail down her back, grinning evilly. “My names Ivy Tall. Stop where you are.” she told them, bringing her handgun level. “By order of the FEL you are to freeze and turn yourself in.”

“What did we do?” Holly asked.

“You’re in our way, now put your hands on your head.” Ivy answered.

Some other stories by Lydia Tall:

• B Is For Betrayal
• Code Red Creations
• A Is For Accusation
• Disturbia Isn't a Pleasant Place
• A Goddess of Chaotic Balance