(Author's Note: This episode was previously, for the most part, written by DocLock, with some minor errors fixed.)
"Okay, dude. Look, calm down. We can figure your stuff out," John said, looking towards the little girl (who's name was Sandy, he heard her say when she introduced herself to Cassie earlier). "You better head home, Sandy. Cassie, can you walk her home?"
Cassie nodded, then she and Sandy walked out.
"Fucking parole violation bullshit," the gruff man said.
"Relax, buddy. It'll all be okay. You know were friends, right? Johnny takes care of his friends," John said, trying to calm down the criminal.
"I got that lab tech you wanted. It was easy, like you said. Just walked in and pretended like I was a graduate student," the man said, rubbing his neck. "But you gotta promise me you'll keep me outta prison!"
After calming the man down, he found his name was Derek.
So, John thought. Apparently, I now have a guy who can acquire things for me. My own little henchman. But I gotta treat him good. These are my friends, after all.
John thought it over. He wasn't a bad guy. Just tired of not feeling in control. And bored with life. Maybe what he did to Cassie wasn't exactly ethical, but she was happier now. Which really does matter more, right?
Suddenly, the orb drifted in. "Oh, thank god," John said, as the orb bounced. "Yes, yes, you've done good. But right now you need to make sure no one who isn't our friend can find this apartment."
The orb glowed and the apartment seemed to shift, the light outside going black as if there was nothing out there. Panicked, John opened the door to see Cassie looking confused. Derek stood up. "What the fuck did you do?"
The world beyond Cassie and the apartment was intact, but the window showed inky blackness.
Cassie said quietly "Your door is on the wrong side of the hall now. Why is it on the wrong side?"
She looked scared and confused.
Derek was on edge, looking confused at John.
