A loud sound

I'm startled for a moment when I hear a pounding from the door next door. I look at my wristwatch. Ram must have woken up and by her strength she might destroy the door.

I quickly run to the door and knock on it. The pounding from the other side stops. "Go a few steps away from the door, then I can open it" I tell her and wait a few seconds. Then I unlock the door and open it.

On the other side is an angry Ram. "Where am I and where is my sister?" she asks me loudly. "I'll explain that to you in a minute with the others. But first sit on the bed, then I can at least introduce myself." Ram sits down after a moment's thought.

"My name is James Gardner and to answer your question where you are, you are in my house. However, I'm afraid I can't tell you where your sister is."

"I really need to find her" she says, already jumping up again. I stand up too. "Sit tight for now, I'm sure your sister will have the same fate as you here." "What do you mean?" "I will explain everything to you right after lunch. Please wait in here until then, and please don't knock on the door so loudly again, okay?" I ask her. "I'm not feeling so well, so I'm sure you're right."

The few years in cryosleep will certainly not immediately make everything look the same with her. I say goodbye and walk out the door again. I still have to put the collars on the two of them.

I go back downstairs and go to Ram's drone first and get out her remote control as well. Then I press the return button and let the two drones return to RealDreams. Only then do I sit down on the couch and watch TV for a few minutes. However, since I'm starting to get hungry then, I go up to Ikumi's room.

"Is the list ready?" "I don't know why I did that but yes" she replies. If I don't order her to like it, then I guess she still has control over her thoughts and speech. "I'll make everything come quickly. It definitely won't be the ingredients you normally cook with, but it will be enough for today. Then in the next few days you'll go shopping for the stuff."

She looks at me angry, but does nothing. I then go with her into the living room and to my laptop. I order the ingredients Ikumi wanted from a local retailer and click on deliver immediately so that the ingredients arrive as quickly as possible.

Ikumi remains sitting silently next to me during this time. After the ingredients arrived, I order her to stay seated and go to get the 2 collars. "Sit still while I put this on you" I order her as I return. I put the collar on her and lock it.

"What kind of collar is this?" she then asks. "I'll explain that to you after we eat with the other two. Let's move on to something fun for now though" I grin and she looks confused.