"Need to go potty, Joan."Nudity in the pod started becoming the norm. The kids playing video games in the common room did little more than glance in t...eir direction. Strangely, it seemed easier for her, Eve and the other thirteen-year-old girls than for the boys.Ted and Bert started using the workout machines on the lower level. That spectator sport possessed a few things that held her attention.The trip to the toilet proved successful. The AI posted a star under Tina's successful potty. " I do apologize for my rudeness, sir. I would be deeply grateful for any help you might render." The first thing we need to do is get you some protection from the sun. Even with your dark skin, I'm sure that you would burn painfully if we don't we get you covered. I realize that it is probably a stupid question, but do you have any belongings around here?" Oh, yes, I do have a full suite of clothes hidden over there about ten steps in that direction."My jaw dropped open and I could only stare. .. but Midway ... the movie ... something to do that needs skill. First it was bouncing a hardwood dowel off a floating piece of board ... then I found the dynamite. Whee! So I studied on the computer. Ooo ... what I found was wet. Baggies ... ziplock baggies ... diatomaceous earth and aluminum cigar tubes ... I rolled my own.”“You know about explosives?”“I have tried,” she said. I gave a little shake. She stopped.“Listen ... I need you to humor me on this,” I said. “I’m going to close my eyes. “I doubt she even knows where you are at.”Karen grins at the tree. “Besides I highly doubt she is even still sentient, especially after all these years.”She stands looking at the tree, waiting for it familiar feeling of it in her mind to subside before turning away to walk toward her house. As she crests the hill behind the alien tree, her mind is invaded again.She spins around to look directly at the alien tree that looks as plain and innocuous as every other tree in the woods and says, “I.