SARAH-Zoe, post Milliways introduction.

[smart_house]

It's a quiet, typical afternoon.

SARAH is watching Jerry Springer. Again.

At least she's not displaying it out loud.

Comments

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Zoe returns home from school.

"Hey, SARAH. Is my dad around?"

She has a plan. But it's a plan that will only work if her dad is busy elsewhere.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

A quick check on the locator in Jack's cell phone:

"He is in the office at the moment. Do you need me to call him?"

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, don't bother him," Zoe says quickly.

She's quiet for a few moments, trying to figure out the best way to formulate her request.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

Uh oh.

"You want to go to Milliways."

And she doesn't want Sheriff Carter to know.

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Zoe nods. "I didn't really get a chance to explore when we were there," she says. "And you know how my dad is. If we go together, he'll keep me at arm's length and I won't get to meet any cool people."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"What homework do you have?"

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

SARAH is worse than her dad sometimes.

"I don't have any," she lies.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"Alright. Just give me a moment to access the high school database to confirm -- "

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Zoe sighs. "Okay, okay, I have to read two chapters in my history book."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"That is everything?" A moment's stop. "You are making use of study hall. Good job."

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that's all," Zoe says.

Seriously, between her dad and SARAH, she's beginning to wonder if she'll ever have a life.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"Sheriff Carter gave me explicit instructions to not let you go to Milliways until you have finished your homework."

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"Didn't you say that time stands still here while we're gone?" Zoe points out. "So what difference does it make if I do my reading now or later? It will still be done at the same time in Eureka."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

That is...not a bad point.

"Is there any hope at all of convincing you to just find a booth at Milliways with some food and your history textbook?"

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"Sure, I'll take my book," Zoe says.

Not like she'll read it.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah?

"Okay. We will go to Milliways.

"If will give me time to read your history textbook as well. To help you study."

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Of course SARAH wants to help her study. She's beginning to re-think her position of wanting a parent to actually take interest in her life.

"Thank you, SARAH."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome. Did you have any questions about Milliways, before we go?"

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so," Zoe says. "I really just want some time to explore and meet new people."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

Good answer.

See? Milliways can be educational.

One of the wall panels loses its color, coalescing again into images of people that Zoe's never met. Inside SARAH, even -- a football game on the TV screen, a woman in blue, several men relaxed on the couch.

"I will try to trigger the shift."

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Zoe watches the wall panel with fascination. It's so weird for her to think of her house as having a social life.