Free Accidental Creatures by Anne Harris Page B

character, but he just wanted to watch.”
    Helix looked up at the mention of soaps. “Did you see ‘We Are the World?’”
    Chango wrinkled her brow. “Is that the one where the two power bitches are fighting it out over this woman whose husband died?”
    “That’s it. My character — I mean Natasha, that’s the one I like to play — she’s going on trial for murdering the husband. Did you see her? What happened? Have they set the date for the trial yet?”
    Chango shook her head. “Wow, you’re really a freak for that show, aren’t you? We only caught the end of it. Something about a couple stranded on an island in the South Pacific.”
    “Carmen and Peter. They’re boring.”
    Hugo likes Tears of Joy.”
    Helix made a face.
    “Hey, I think they’re all stupid. I mean they may have all those fancy settings and stuff, but as far as pure drama goes, they can’t hold a candle to what goes on around here. Why just last week Coral found out that her boyfriend Val was sleeping with her best friend Yolanda. She caught them at it when she went to Yolanda’s house to drop off some blast for her. She was mad at first — she kept the blast - but now they’re thinking of making it a threesome.”
    Helix raised her eyebrows. “I guess you have a point.”
    “You bet. Don’t worry, pretty soon Mavi will let you out of bed, and you can meet some of these people. It must be really boring for you, stuck in here all day and night.”
    “Yes.” Helix admitted. “But maybe its just as well. I’m not sure I want to meet anyone.”
    “Oh come on. You can’t stay in here forever.”
    That was true. She hadn’t really thought about what would happen when Mavi let her out of here. She thought of Night Hag, who had said almost the same thing to her the day she left Hector’s. “Do you think you could borrow a transceiver from somebody? I have a friend on the holonet. I’d like to contact her.”
    “Oh,” Chango said, surprised. “Well, the only people I know who have a transceiver are Benny and Hyper. Benny would lend you his, but Hugo uses it, and I wouldn’t want to ask. Hyper... well he uses his constantly, but I’ll make a strong case for you. Maybe if it’s just for an hour or so.”
    “She always takes my calls. It wouldn’t take long.”
    “I’ll try.”
    oOo
    The following afternoon, Chango came into the pink room with a self-satisfied smile and something hidden behind her back. “Catch,” she said, tossing a headset transceiver at her. It landed on the bed, and Helix picked it up. “Thanks. Did you have trouble getting it?”
    “No, but he made me promise that when you get out of bed, he’d be the first person to meet you.”
    “Oh.”
    “Don’t worry. You’ll like Hyper. He’s a sport, like us, and he makes a lot of cool things.” Chango handed her the wrist keypad that went with the headset and stood with her arms at her sides, seemingly at a loss. “I guess I’d better leave you alone, so you can call your friend.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I promised Hyper I’d have it back to him tonight.”
    “That’s okay.”
    Chango left, and Helix placed the transceiver on her head, pulled the imaging lens down over her right eye and dialed Night Hag’s number.
    “Helix! Where have you been? You haven’t been answering my messages,” said Night Hag, still using the construct she’d had the last time they talked. Hyper had the transceiver set to visuals, and in her haste, Helix had forgotten to check it. She was sitting up in bed, and had made no attempt to cover up her arms. It was just as well, she thought, she was going to have to start letting people see her. But Night Hag didn’t pay much mind to her appearance. Instead she peered at the peeling walls behind her. “Where are you?”
    “That’s why I called. After the last time we talked, I left Hector’s apartment. I’m in Vattown now.”
    “Where they make the biopoly. Good. That’s good. Have you found a job yet?”
    “Not