Julie was still sobbing even as they drove home. When they got there the 18 year old ran to her room and slammed the door.
"I hold
you
responsible for this," Daniel declared.
"Me?" said Joanna.
"It didn't escape my attention that you tried to distract me while Robbie was on top of her." He glared at her.
She took his hand. "Daniel, if you believe anything I say, believe me that I didn't want Julie taken at the Swim Club! It was all Robbie's idea!"
"But you knew about it, didn't you?"
Joanna bit her lip.
"I never imagined she'd have such a reaction. No one has had such a reaction before that I know of," said Joanna. "And even if she's upset now, think of the big picture. Your daughter's life has been saved. She won't die before our very eyes in the coming plague."
Daniel put his hand away. "I don't believe there ever was or will be a plague, Jo. Does that surprise you? I think this was all a scheme by the World Government to put riders on our back."
"Why? Why would the World Government do this?"
"To control us better," said Daniel. "You showed me that gem hanging between your legs. You said it allows them to know exactly where you are at all time. You now have a creature on your back which tells you what to do. That's control, Jo."
"It... it doesn't order me around, Daniel. That's not how it works," said Jo.
"How
does
it work, Jo?" He folded his arms.
"It... it's hard to explain," said Joanna. "It's like it's operating in the background. It... makes suggestions... but most times I usually don't even notice them."
"Uh huh," said Daniel. He turned away.
"Where are you going?"
"To help our daughter."
********
When Daniel entered Julie's bedroom, he found her shivering and clutching a pillow tightly to her chest. She hadn't even changed out of her bikini. He sat down by her. "How you doing, baby girl?"
"I don't know, Daddy!" said Julie. "I have this thing on my back... I thought it would be fun, and sexy, like what Mom has. But I can feel it trying to get into my mind, telling me to do things."
"Yeah," said Daniel. He paused for a long moment. "Would you like me to remove it?"
She gave him a startled look. "Is that even possible, Dad?"
"I don't see why not," said Daniel.
Julie felt her rider pulsating on her back. "I... I don't know, Dad," she said uneasily.
"Julie, you've had it for less than an hour. If you want it removed, now is the time to do it, before it grows and takes control of your mind. You saw those giant bones on your mother, didn't you?"
She nodded.
"Then let me take it off you, Honeybun. It won't hurt, I promise."
Julie bit her lip. She could feel her rider trying madly to influence her, to tell her that it loved her, that removing it would be a
terrible
idea. She looked into her father's eyes. He was so loving and concerned. "All right, Daddy."
"Turn around, Honeybun."
Julie reluctantly turned around. Daniel saw the small, yellow-brown rider pulsating on her back. It was much smaller than Joanna's, much thinner, and as of yet it had no bone structure. It shouldn't be difficult to remove.
Daniel gingerly put his fingers around one of the edges of the small rider. It gripped her back tightly, but started to give. As he started to peel it, Julie cried out. "It hurts!"
"Just hold on," said Daniel. He peeled a little more. It gripped her back incredibly strongly, but it did come off slowly.
"Daddy, it hurts!" she cried.
"I'm almost halfway there!" he cried.
"No!" Julie cried out in agony. She spun around so her rider was faced away from him. Daniel found himself wrestling with his daughter's arms.
"Please, Julie!" he cried.
"No Daddy!" she yelled. As he tried to grab her wrists she pulled away and scratched him across the face. Then she ran to the corner of the room, sobbing.
Daniel just sat there, touching the red marks on his face.
"Oh, Daddy, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," said Julie, as tears streaked down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry too," said Daniel. Even if after being attached to his daughter's back for only an hour, the rider still exerted enough control over her to prevent anyone from removing it. There was no way to save her now. He saw Julie staring at him with her tear streaked face.
"Come here," he said.
"I'm not going to let you do it!" she cried.
"I won't. Come here."
"You, you promise, you won't touch my rider?"
He nodded. "I promise."
"Oh Daddy!" Julie flew into his arms. She shivered as she hugged him. "Oh Daddy, I'm so so sorry! I'm so very sorry!"
"Shhhh," said Daniel. He rocked back and forth as he hugged her. "Everything's going to be all right."
********
The following morning Robbie Blackburn came to the door. "Hello, Joanna. Mr. Harris."
"What do you want?" said Daniel.
"I've come to take Julie for her first training."
"You're not taking her anywhere!" Daniel snapped. "Haven't you done enough already?"
"Daniel, Julie is at a vulnerable stage. She needs help and guidance so her rider can mature properly," said Joanna.
"She's vulnerable because you two conspired to put that thing on her back. She's not leaving this house!" said Daniel.
"Daddy."
All eyes turned to Julie.
"Hey Robbie," she said, her face calm.
"Hey Julie. How you feeling?"
"A little mixed up," Julie admitted.
"I can help with that," said Robbie.
"I'll bet you can," said Daniel.
"Mr. Harris, with all respect, she's 18 years old. She can decide for herself."
"What will it be, Hon?" said Joanna. "Robbie could really help you with your angst."
Julie looked from Robbie to her mother to her father. Her father mouthed a silent "no" with pleading eyes.
"No, I guess not," said Julie.
"Are you sure?" said Robbie.
"Yes, I'm sure," said Julie.
"I can come back later if you change your mind," said Robbie.
"No you won't," said Daniel, slamming the door in his face.