CHAPTER 135: The Greatest Album Ever

 "And bless all the poor people in the world, and all our brave servicemen in Vietnam and may this food be blessed to our stomachs...Amen" said Summer, saying Grace at the breakfast table before she, Travis and Liberty chowed down to eat.

"Travis...you didn't clean up your dinner plate from last night!" Summer complained.  "And must you have the record player on so loud?  I could hardly say the grace over that racket?"

"It's not just a record player...it's a stereo!" said Travis with glee.  "And you have to listen to this! It's the new Beach Boys album:  Pet Sounds...and it's like...mind blowing, man!"

"Is that who it is?" said Summer, only mildly impressed.  "Nice song"

"Nice?  This is the next level, Babe!  You know The Beatles threw down the gauntlet when they made Rubber Soul but The Beach Boys have picked it up, ran with it and now they've upped the ante!  This is total sound!" Travis was really warming to his theme now.

"I like The Beatles a lot" said Liberty, who had come to breakfast and noticed the stereo was playing.

"Oh so do I?  Who do you prefer? John or Paul?  I have a soft spot for Paul...'Can't buy me looooooveeeee'!" said Summer, cheerily singing a different song to what Travis was listening to.

"Man, that song was like two years ago...two years!  That's an eternity.  This is here, now, this is like breaking the Sound Barrier but with pop music!"

"...until The Beatles release their next one" said Liberty.

"Well, I don't know what they could do to top this!" said Travis.  "I mean, listen to the harmonic range!  I wonder what key this is in?"

Summer let out a little giggle "You don't actually know anything about music, do you Trav?"

Travis twitched nervously.  "Maybe not...but I know what great music should sound like!  Come on, girls, aren't you getting the same vibe here?"

"It's nice" said Liberty.

"Yes, it's a pretty tune" said Summer, but neither her or Liberty added anything more.  

"Pretty...tsch, philistines!" he said.  "Well I will enjoy this music on my own then"

Summer went to put the breakfast dishes, including Travis' plate from last night, into the sink to clean when there was a deep gurgling noise, followed by a cracking sound and then a whoosh as water suddenly poured out of a gap between the faucet and the sink.

"Oh great!  Sink's broken...again!" said Summer in exasperation.

"I'm on it!" said Liberty, who was the house's resident repairwoman.

"It's probably a broken washer..." said Liberty.  "We've been buying a lot of cheap, shoddy ones lately but I have somewhere in the house tool kit some superior ones which are used for the space program, you know?"

Summer had left the room and Travis was still engrossed in Pet Sounds leaving Liberty talking to thin air.

When side one of the album had ended, Summer quickly moved to switch the stereo off and shifted Travis to finish his work project before his shift started.  "But wait 'til you get a load of side 2!" he complained.

"Travis went to his workbench and continued to work on the punch cards that would be used for the massive mainframe computer at his job, but he wanted some company so he asked Summer to stick around while he worked and she chatted:  Talk did not distract him at all as he had a mind where about half a dozen ideas whirred, whizzed and floated around his mind.

 "You're so cute when you get these little obsessions" said Summer.  "What's the word they use?  'Nerd'?"

"I'm not a nerd!" Travis replied, indignantly.  "Just because I have particular music, movie, TV and comic book tastes does not make me a nerd"

"Whatever you say, big guy" said Summer, rolling her eyes and smiling at her man.  

As was customary in this house, Liberty entered the room without knocking and proceeded to sit down next to Summer on the bed.  Privacy was not an option here.

"Anyone up for a trip to the park?" she asked.

"I'm off to work soon" said Travis.

"Normally I'd say yes but I'm really worn out and I've got a big work shift tonight...I'll have to pass as well" said Summer.

"Well, suit yourselves...it's too nice a day to be stuck indoors listening to that racket!" said Liberty, standing up and striding out the room.

"Hey!" said Travis in indignation at Liberty's remark.

MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM PARK

The man in the pink shirt stood motionless, blocking the path of Nancy Landgraab who was on her daily run in the park.  She had not met this particular one before but she knew who...and what...he was.

"Nancy Landgraab" he said, flatly.

"What do you people want from me this time?" she said, in weariness.  These intrusions on her daily life by the Visitors were grinding her down.  They promised they would stay in the background and they were increasingly encroaching on her activities.

"Has John Action caused you any more trouble?" said the man.

"No.  He's left us alone.  My contacts in the Police Department say he's been assigned to other cases."

"John Action and Suzy Kent have discovered the Biome" said the man, flatly.

"The biome?" replied Nancy, shocked.  "Which one?"

"Willow Creek.  You were meant to demolish those houses.  You were meant to be building the research facility."

"It's been difficult!  There's been political moves in the council that has prevented the company from taking control of that area."

"Feng has proved a disappointment" said the man.  "Bring them around, or we shall deal with them."

Nancy said nothing; she was too worried.

Blissfully unaware of that intrigue, Liberty was at the chess tables taking on all comers.  Her first opponent was Cassandra Goth, who took a long time to take her moves as she carefully considered every potential move she could make.  She never took her eyes off the board but that didn't prevent her from striking up a conversation with Liberty.

"I believe you work in the Space Programme" she said.

"That's correct.  Is that something you're interested in?" asked Liberty.

"I'm interested in space exploration...you might know:  Are there aliens?  I mean, do they exist?" asked Cassandra.

Liberty was taken aback by that question.  "I don't know.  We haven't found any evidence of their existence" she said.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow in surprise.  "You're sending rockets, satellites and probes into space and that hasn't attracted attention from aliens?"

"Space is vast and we've not left the confines of Earth orbit yet.  If aliens did exist, they'd have a massive task to even reach our solar system"

"What about the reported sightings of aliens on Earth? Isn't that evidence?" the girl continued to press her point.

"There's no credible evidence.  You know, a UFO does not mean an alien...it just means 'unidentified'" explained Liberty.  "Have you seen anything like that, Cassandra?" she added.

"Well...I haven't" said the girl, stressing the word 'I' "But....oh, you've checkmated me.  Anyway, thank you for the game Miss Lee.  Well played" and with that Cassandra got up and walked off.  Nice, bright girl thought Liberty But something's off with her.

Liberty's next challenger was a university student called Julia Wright.  She was a more devil-may-care player who started the game aggressively but ended up losing to Liberty's more cautious style of play.  Liberty liked hanging out around the park and playing chess...not only was it a good way to meet people it also honed her gaming style.

Eventually it was time to move on so she headed home.  By now Summer was up and about and wanting to hit the gym...Liberty had no better suggestion so they grabbed their keep fit clothes, bundled them into a bag and headed downtown.

"I'm determined to get more fit, Libs" declared Summer, positively brimming with enthusiasm.  "I don't want a return to that state I was in when we all piled on the pounds...I couldn't fit into my favourite dresses!"

"Oh don't remind me of that.  I agree...in principle...but I can only spare an hour before I have to go to work but they want me to do 6 hours of exercise in a week; not sure why, I mainly work in a lab and we don't exactly have to bench press weights there."

The girls headed to the changing rooms to get into their fitness clothes but when they came downstairs, they found that all the treadmills were being used.

"Oh dang it!" said Summer.  "I fancied a run but those guys there look like they're going for some 20 mile epic...this means..."

"The weight lifting machines!" said Liberty in dread.

There was not much choice so they took the weight machines closest to the treadmills in the hope that one or two would become available soon.

It soon became apparent that the men on the treadmills weren't going to stop any time soon...or indeed ever at the rate they were going.  The girls instead used the weights and did some stretches before Liberty had to go upstairs and change before going to work.  Summer spotted Julia had just arrived and headed over to greet her.

"Hey Jules...if you came here to use the treadmills you're out of luck:  Those guys haven't stopped running since I got here" she said.

Julia looked at the group of sweaty, muscly men and sighed.  "Typical of that kind of man, really.  Well, we could do some weights" she said.

"I've done that" said Summer, rubbing her sore left arm.

"OK, maybe some exercises, some yoga and throwing a medicine ball around...let's improvise" replied Julia.  

"You seem very keen today to exercise." said Summer as they walked over to the soft mat area.

"Well, I need to keep in shape and toned...maybe do something about my skinny legs" said Julia.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Jules.  You've got a nice, trim little body and better slim legs like yours and not great big calves like I had a few months ago!"

"I think my body is too trim; scrawny is more like it" said Julia.  

"Nonsense!" replied Summer, fetching a medicine ball from a rack.  "And I thought you didn't care about your looks."

"I don't...normally...but I'm thinking about changing my image a bit"

"Really?" said Summer, quizzically.

"Yes...maybe put a teeny tiny bit of weight on to look less like a stick insect, maybe ditch the pigtails as they're a bit schoolgirly."

"Ditch the pigtails!" said Summer, shocked.  "But that's your trademark look!"

"And also switch to wearing contact lenses" continued Julia.

"Are you feeling OK?" asked Summer.

"I'm fine..." said Julia with a sigh.  "OK, let's throw that ball around."

Meanwhile Travis had finished work and made his way straight back home.  There was only one thing he wanted to do when he got there:  Put the Pet Sounds album on the record player and listen to it once more.

At that moment, Summer entered the house.  "Phew, what a time I've had at the gym!  I ache all over!" she said, loudly.

"SHHH!  Listen!" said Travis, putting his finger to his lips.

"Is this that new Beach Boys album?" She whispered.

"Yes...this is the best bit" he replied, also in a whisper.

They stood there, silently, listening to the song.

"It's pretty" said Summer, still whispering.  "I can see why you like it"

"It's poetry, Sum" he said.  "Everything; the music, the lyrics, the vocals...it all comes together."

The two of them turned to face each other and the mood of the song seemed to magnetically move them close to each other.  Then, in a flash, they embraced.

"Oh Travis, you are really a romantic kind of guy!" she said.

But across the vast gulf of the Atlantic Ocean, in a recording studio in North London, the greatest pop group the world had ever seen and heard listened to Pet Sounds with envious ears.  Slowly and surely, they drew their plans to go past the Beach Boys and escalate the musical arms race.

CHAPTER 130: One Track Mind

 

Corrrrrrrrrrrr! This is the life! A new house, a new place to live, wide open spaces...not like that cramped apartment we used to live in and I can ride my bike without worrying about whether I'm going to knock someone over or having it stolen. Jamie McGregor; today is the first day of the rest of your life, me laddo! I wonder if there are any cute chicks in this neighbourhood?

I held up my end of the bargain...I sorted out my stuff in my new room, put the posters up; that sort of thing.  Mum and Dad are much better at finding places to put the crockery, TV and hanging paintings up than I am.  To be fair, the removals guys did most of the heavy lifting work, I was only going to get in the way of professionals by interfering; fair's fair.

Now who's THAT?  Attractive blonde lady...maybe a bit on the older side but, hey, she's can move a bit!  Maybe that's who I need to meet, an older, more sophisticated lady who can show a bright and enthusiastic young man of 17 years a thing or two?  Maybe not...getting involved with a woman the same age as my mom is a little freaky.  I wonder if she has a daughter my age?

Well, that's a successful reconnaissance mission...pity there were hardly any people...especially girls...around.  But, early days.  Better get home because Mom's probably made lunch by now and Dad will be hollering for me to hold a shelf in place whilst he drills holes in the wall.  I know my parents so well.

"Ah the wanderer returns...how's the neighbourhood?" 

"Fine, Mom, it's a nice day for a bike ride.  Hmmm, this is delicious, thanks.  Is Dad going to join us?"

"He's eaten already; he's just finishing putting the bookshelf up.  Now..."

Oh, here it comes...the request.

"...I think it might be good if you offered to help with the rest of the unpacking, or..."

"Or?"

"Do your homework.  I'll leave it up to you"

That's Mom's way:  Present me with two less than desirable options and make it sound like I chose one of them.  The last time I helped my Dad do something involving wood, drills and hammers he missed the nail and hit me square on the thumb.  I had a bruise and cut there for six weeks.

"I'll do my homework"

"Oh, Jamie's doing homework is he?  Will wonders never cease?" 

"Ha, ha, Dad.  At least I won't get my thumb hurt this way"

"I told you, I was startled by that pigeon that hit the window that day"

"What subject are you doing there, Jamie?"

"A book report on Great Expectations...although my expectations won't be so great if I keep getting disturbed."

"That's telling us, Myra!  Come on, let's get the rest of the bedroom stuff unpacked"

After I got to grips with Magwitch I felt I had earned a rest.  The advantage of doing your homework on the dining table is that my folks can see that I'm actually doing the work I've been set.  Mom didn't even insist on reading what I'd written:  Maybe, after all these years, she trusts me to do a decent job?  Maybe she sees that I'm 'maturing'?  Becoming a more well rounded individual. 

"Now don't forget to put your name on your book report and put it...carefully...into your school rucksack.  Don't just leave it lying around there; I need to give the table a good clean before dinner!"

"Yes Mom...got the report here!  Oops, I hadn't put my name on the report.  Ha-ha!  There, that's done!"

"Family meeting!"

"What, now Dad?"

"Yes, we must celebrate our first day in our new home!  Come, let's gather on the sofa!"

He's going to do a speech, I just know it!  "Four score and seven years ago this day, we set out from San Myshuno to Oasis Springs to ensure the McGregors shall not perish from the face of this Earth!"

"Now when we set out from San Myshuno last night..."

I wasn't far off

"...little did we know just how quickly we would settle in.  Now this is an opportunity to improve not just this home, but our lives.  We now have space to entertain, to work from home in more comfort and to enjoy a pleasant, quiet neighbourhood."

I won't bring up the subject of whether I can throw a party just yet...

"I wonder what the neighbours are like, Colin?"

"I have no idea, Myra.  Anyway, that bookshelf is now firmly fixed to that wall and now we can bask a little bit...Jamie, where are you off to?"

"I thought I'd go for another bike ride...down to the park?"

"There's a park?"

"Yeah, it's not far.  I thought I'd check it out.  Part of my reconnaissance mission...phase 2 if you will"

I'm too restless right now to lounge around at home.  I need a boost to my social life and if this street hasn't got any talent, I will find somewhere that does...the park seems as good as place as any to start the search.

The house next door looks very smart indeed; not a single thing out of place.  Now, by contrast, the house opposite...if I can call it a house, is more like an old trailer, jacked up on stilts or something like that, and has definitely seen better days.  I wonder what our neighbours are like?  I wonder if the smart house next door has a groovy chick living there?  A groovy, single chick!

Now we've arrived, let's check out the scene....hmmm, it looks pleasant and quiet.  Too quiet.  There's no one here except for that guy asleep on the bench.  Great.  The only other person here is a bum.  OK, looking around, there's a BBQ area, a fishing pond, it's great for the kids who want to climb on that frame...shame we didn't have anything awesome like that when I was 10.  And...what else?  Wait!

That heavenly vision in red!  That might be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen...and I've seen every Julie Christie movie that's been made!  I should go over to her and say hello.  Who am I kidding?  It'll come out of my mouth as gibberish and she'll look at me as if I've escaped from the loony bin.  But then I might never see her again!  OK, what to do?  Take a deep breath, Jamie, walk over cool and calm as you like and say "hello...my name is Jamie...no, James.  Hello, my name is McGregor, James McGregor...oh no, that would sound really bad coming from me...no, I must be cool, more like Dean Martin cool and...oh, she's gone.

Oh well, that's that I suppose.  Let's check out this area...hmmm, nice.  Nice couches, an open fire, a selection of reading...I wonder if there's anything 'spicy' here.  This would make an ideal hang-out.  I wonder why that guy out there doesn't nap in here instead of on a cold, stone bench?  Wait a minute, who lit this fire?

Actually, I like it here.  It even has a guitar just lying around.  I wonder if it belongs to someone in particular or whether it's part of this clubhouse?  I mean, you don't go leaving a guitar lying around if you don't want people to play it?  OK, let's give it a go...

"Watcha doin'?"

"What, wait?  Oh, hello...you startled me there for a moment.  Lost my place in the song"

Not that I'm complaining!

"You're not too bad"

"Well, I'm finding my style, you know?  Yeah, looking into taking my music to the next level and all that"

Play it cool, Jamie, play it cool.

"So, I recognise you but can't quite put a name to your face.  I'm Jamie McGregor."

"Yuki Behr"

"Oh, would you happen to be Candy Behr's sister?"

*sigh* "Yes...not like I can ever escape her shadow.  'Are you Candy's sister?  Can you get me her autograph?'"

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that!  I mean, I don't particularly want her signature or anything...I meant as a way of....erm...clarification, that's all.  Well, erm, do you play any instruments?"

"Yes, but I'm bored with the whole Beat Scene..."

"Oh..." She's a right barrel of laughs.  "I'm new here to this park...so is this a kind of hang out?"

"Yes.  I come here quite a bit.  Mostly high schoolers though.  I'm at Buckingham High.  You?"

"Same...funny how we've never crossed paths before"

"It's a big school"

"So...would you like to hang out... with me... for a bit?"

"Sorry, I'm waiting for my date"

Nghhhh!

"Oh...date.  Going anywhere nice?  I hear that British movie, Afie, is supposed to be good."

"No.  Off to a party"

"Nice.  Well, maybe if you're interested, you would like to go see that movie with me sometime?"

"Maybe...oh, here comes my date now"

"Hi there, Yuki...well, Jamie McGregor...fancy seeing you here"

"Hello Marcus"

Marcus Mueller...thinks he's something special.  The other day he claimed he was chatted up by this cute female doctor.  I don't believe a word of it!  AND he's Yuki's date as well!  How unfair is life?

"Sorry I'm late, Yuki, but are you ready to head on to the party?"

"Whose party is this, might I ask?"

"Oh, don't you know?  It's at Judy Keith's house...hmmm, but then again how would Judy Keith know you?

Thanks, Marcus, rub it in that I'm invisible to Judy Keith...the most glamourous and desirable girl at Buckingham High.

"So I guess you'll be looking after the youth club on your own tonight.  Have a good shift.  Come on, Yuki, we don't want to be late"

"Bye Yuki, have a nice time"

"Bye, Jamie"

Well, that's just great isn't it?  Marcus somehow, mysteriously gets Yuki Behr to go on a date with him AND they get invited to Judy Keith's party!  Well, I have my books, I have my fire and I have my guitar.  Maybe not everyone's going to Judy's party and they'll show up here?  

Hang on, who's that headed this way?

Oh no, it's Cassandra Goth!  Of course she won't be invited to Judy's party; she'd just bring the mood down.  She's heading straight for the club house!  I'll be stuck here with her jabbering on about the 'inevitability of death' or 'the cold, bleakness of space' or some other kind of doom-laden depressing observations on life...or in her case, death!  I wish she cheered up!  OK, Jamie, your bike is over there...it's just a short run...stay low, stay fast and she won't spot you.  Except for this bright, yellow, light reflecting shirt you're wearing!  Oh no, she's getting closer.  OK, it's now or never...just run to the bike, don't look left or right, focus on the bike and get out of Dodge!

CHAPTER 20: Queen's Pawn

 

Suzy Kent's next assignment for "Hey, Wow!" magazine involved a lot of research for an article entitled "66 years, 66 looks". That meant not going in to the office this day, but heading down to the library.

Gathering a huge stack of books, she got to work, writing extensive notes, photocopying relevant pagesfrom the news and magazine archive and generally creating a mess for the librarians to sort out afterwards. However, as was the pattern of late, her focus was divided between her work and what...or in this case who....was also around: Victor and Lily Feng.

They were playing chess mere yards from where she was working and speaking softly about matters that she couldn't quite make out but judging from the serious looks on their faces she knew it wasn't just about the game they were playing. She kept glancing towards them, trying to be inconspicuous but when they met one of her glances she quickly said a friendly 'hello' before burying her head in her research material.

Lily Feng was suspicious though. Her game with Victor had petered out in to a draw; a common occurence these days as both of them could read each other's game so well. Victor stood up to give his wife a kiss but she pulled away from him.

Lily fixed her gaze at Suzy and whispered to Victor. "That young woman...Kent is her name...she's been observing us for some time now."

"I know; she's a fashion journalist who wants to interview us" said Victor, nonchalantly.

"Hmmm, I'm not so sure. I can't quite put my finger on it but there's more to that young woman than what meets the eye"

"Are you jealous, my little Lotus Flower?" said Victor, smiling.

"Of her? No. And if I were to catch you and her together you know what that would mean, Victor?" said Lily, fixing him with a cold smile.

Victor's playful expression vanished. "We're in this together, remember? Our fates intertwined as it was foretold" he said with absolute sincerity. "Anyway, I must be back to City Hall...are you coming, my sweet?"

"No...I will catch you up. I have one more matter to attend to" said Lily. Once Victor had left, she motioned towards Suzy to come and join her over at the chess table.

"Miss Kent, we meet again...care for a game?" said Lily.

"That's kind but I've got an assignment that needs doing. Another time?" replied Suzy.

"Indeed. I have one bit of advice for you, Miss Kent...don't bite off more than you can chew. Perhaps it is better to occupy yourself with simpler assignments than miring yourself in a subject you don't understand."

"Is that it?" said Suzy, her curiosity piqued.

"That is it" and with that, Lily Feng stood up and left the library.

Suzy knew she was getting too close for comfort with the Fengs....but what was it they were hiding? She went back to work, resolving that in the afternoon she would go and see someone who might know.

Later

Suzy stood outside of the imposing Gothic mansion; home to the aptly name Goth family. Outside she saw two children walking towards her. A little boy, aged 10 or 12, and another, teenage girl who Suzy recognised as Cassandra Goth.

"Hello Cassandra" said Suzy.

"You're that fashion reporter, aren't you?" replied the girl.

"Yes, Suzy Kent...I know it's a bit sudden but are your parents home?"

"Hmmm, Mom should be. Dad's probably working. Do come in though."

Once inside Suzy was impressed by the olde worlde charm of the house. Despite the rather dilapidated exterior, the interior was impressive with a wide variety of antiques prominently on display. Suzy paused to look at a particularly fine violin...a Stradivarius perhaps?

Cassandra ushered Suzy into a fine, large parlour where the matriarch of the family; Bella Goth, was sitting playing chess with the boy.

Mrs Bella Goth looked even more beautiful and impressive in real life than she did in the press photos. She wore a very short dress that clung to every curve of her body and which had no visible means of support on her and the highest heels Suzy had ever seen. It was, at once, both a modern and a vintage look that was very individualistic; a summary of the woman herself.

"Miss Kent, pleased to meet you" said Bella, standing up and offering an outstretched hand. Suzy shook it, lightly. "My husband says you want to interview us about our....style, was it?"

"That's right. You know, most stylish and influential people in Sim City?"

Bella let out a little laugh. "I don't know if we satisfy either criteria but my husband's family are one of the first to settle in this area; one of the founding fathers of Sim City."

"So I gather...so can I interview you now?" asked Suzy.

"I would rather my husband be here as well...and I have an important appointment I have to keep now. But do return and you can have a look at our family archives if that helps you with your article?"

"It would, and thank you" said Suzy.

Bella excused herself and instructed Cassandra to show Suzy out, but pausing by one of the bookshelves in the drawing room, she couldn't help but notice that one entire shelf of it contained books about the Landgraab family. The plot thickened.

CHAPTER 13: The Touchpaper

 

On a cool, Wednesday evening on a typical day on a typical week on a typical month in Sim City, Suzy Kent took a trip downtown to the Willow Creek Archive to do some research. She was angling for a promotion at "Hey, Wow" magazine and the way to do that was make sure her articles were better written, with a snappier style and eye-catching prose. She also needed the money as she wanted to renovate her drab little house into something more fab and with-it.


She asked the librarian whether they had any good books on writing.

"Well...." he began. "There's some basic writing books I could recommend but do you just want to improve your skills or do you want to excel at them? How good do you want to be?"

"Oh....well I guess I want to stand out. Be great at it" she replied.

"Then you'll need to check upstairs....that's where we keep the really good stuff!"

"Are you talking about books?"

"Of course I'm talking about books! What else could I be talking about? This is a library...not a hashish den!"

"Yes, sorry....upstairs. Any particular book?"

"How good do you want to be?" He peered into Suzy's eyes.

"The BEST!"

"Then you'll want Kenton Fabricant: The Best"

Suzy went upstairs to the library and looked up the book in the index cards. Walking over to the shelf where it was kept, she couldn't help but notice a book lying on the floor with a couple of pages lying loose and sticking out in it. She picked it up...it was called "The Wonderful World of Gardening" but it was the two loose pages that took her interest. She sat down and began to read them.

It has been observed... the pages began …that these beings live and walk among us. What their purpose is; unknown. Where do they come from; unknown. What do they want...also unknown. They form part of the Triangle of Power that exists with Sim City: The Visitors, The Fengs and The Landgraabs. The connection between The Visitors and the Landgraabs goes back at least a century, when Gregory Landgraab came into his mysterious fortune. The rumours that Nancy Landgraab controls all the criminal networks in Sim City still persist. She is opposed by Lily Feng, whose wealth comes from legitimate sources but her ambitions know no bounds. She is interested in making contact with the Visitors in order to....

And that's where the text on the pages ended. The rest of the book was about gardening. Who wrote those pages? What book were they originally from? Who left them here to be found...seemingly at random...by Suzy?

Shocked and stunned, Suzy left the library and mulled over what she had discovered. Was it all just nonsense, someone's idea of a joke? Or was it written by a crazy person; one of those who made a lot of noise about "government conspiracies" and who believed that the President had been shot by his own people?

As she got ready to head home, she bumped into Cassandra Goth. The Goths! They were an old, established family in Sim City. Maybe they knew what it all meant?

"Hi, Cassandra" said Suzy.

"Do I know you?" replied the rather gloomy girl.

"Suzy Kent...I interviewed you last week about your liking of black and grey as a fashion statement"

"That sounds like something I would say."

"Your family's been around here for a long time, haven't they?"

"Since the 19th century, when the city was founded although I can trace my family tree back to the early 18th."

"Does the name, The Visitors, mean anything to you?"

"I have heard it...I don't know who they are though"

"Or the Triangle of Power?"

"I heard someone mention that once....let me think....oh, it was Malcolm Landgraab"

"The son?"

"Yes...hmmm, don't you think he's dreamy?" Cassandra suddenly went weak at the knees thinking about him.

"I wouldn't know. Thank you, Cassandra, you've been a help"

Suzy began to think there may be something to these writings....

CHAPTER 8: On Assignment

Income....a small amount. Expenses, especially bills, a lot. This is the problem Suzy Kent found herself in. She had a job...technically, at "Hey Wow!" magazine but few there knew who she was other than "New Girl". She had an assignment to complete: Interview 3 ordinary citizens of Sim City about what they were wearing, why they were wearing it and where they got it.
Fortunately for Suzy, right across the street from her house was a woman who was checking her diary. Before she moved on, Suzy ran over to interview her.

"Hello, ma'am, can I interview you about what you're wearing....I'm from "Hey, Wow!" magazine"

"Erm...sure" said the woman. "What do you want to know?"

Suzy wasn't sure what to ask; she had the bare minimum training in this kind of thing. She looked at the woman's outfit and started to pull questions out of thin air.

"So....do you like the colour pink in general?"

"Yes"

"Erm...do you have many outfits in pink?"

"Some"

"Do you think pink's going to be the in-colour this season?....oh, she's gone"

Suzy was left to scribble down the notes for subject number one. The trouble with stopping people in the street was that they were often busy trying to get somewhere and didn't want to talk. What she needed was a place where people weren't going to go away in a hurry but at the same time not be burdened with work or things to do. The perfect place for her next interview was Magnolia Blossom Park.

When she arrived, there weren't many people around. Suzy took out her notepad and started sketching the park to pass the time whilst she looked for someone suitable to interview. But she didn't have to find them...one found her.

"What are you doing? Can I see?" said a bespectacled teenage girl dressed in grey and black.

"Sure, it's just a doodle of the park. Nothing great"

"I like it. Are you an artist?" said the girl.

"Only in my spare time...I'm a fashion journalist trying to interview people about what they like to wear" replied Suzy.

"I like to wear black" said the girl. "Sometimes grey, mostly black. Black suits my mood"

"I see you like to wear both black and white at the same time? Is this to symbolise the duality within the human soul? Both light and dark, perpetually divided with no mixing, no hope of reconcilliation?" the girl continued.

"Well, actually, it's a Mod thing with me" replied Suzy.

The teenager pondered this before saying "my brother's stuck on the monkey bars...I have to go now."

Suzy wrote up some more notes before thinking about where to go next. Downtown Willow Creek!

"Excuse me, sir...can I interview you? I'm from "Hey, Wow!" magazine...sir?....What about you, madam? No, have a nice day!"

"Now it's a cryin' shame no one can spare the time to answer a question from a pretty lady" said a male voice behind her. Suzy turned around to see a cool looking black man addressing her.

"Can you spare the time, sir?" she said.

"Call me Bakko, Bakko Jang" he replied with a smile. "Sure, go ahead"

They talked about his up to the minute, with-it style, which he claimed was part of his public image as a popular entertainer in town.

Bakko, once started, found it difficult to stop talking...on any subject. Suzy eventually had to make excuses to get away (get a new notebook) and write up what she had learned from her three interviewees.

It was getting late in the day and as she was in town she decided to pop into the Blue Velvet for a drink.

The chat from the regulars was convivial, the drinks flowed. Without fully realising it, Suzy had been goaded by the bar staff into singing at the club microphone. One person who was present that evening would go on to write that her singing combined the style and grace of a cat being bathed combined with the sensation of tin foil being dragged across the teeth. Nevertheless, by the time Suzy staggered out of the club, she was 24 Simoleons better off through tips.