K approached Ereshkigal the day after their encounter at the pool at about noon. He was obviously displeased at what she had done, but more so at his not having picked up her presence in time to have avoided her seeing what she so obviously had. He sat down beside her and said, "Why"? She shrunk back a bit from his formidable tone and presence.

"Freedom."

K looked into her eyes deeply and she felt as if he was indeed entering her through them. What ever he was doing, when she realized he was again sitting next to her he seemed satisfied with her answer.

"What price is this freedom worth to you?"

She knew she had only one chance to answer correctly or else he would be gone and her means of escaping this life with it. "What ever it takes."

K knew she could have no idea of the strain he was under or of the events about to be set in motion that would rock not only Babylon but much, much more and on many levels. Freedom was a strong enough desire to keep one alive in pursuit of its attainment. He reached out to her and held onto her arm. She could feel him coursing through her, it was a new and at this time an invasive action on his part. Her first reaction was to flinch and pull back. The fact that she did not made up K's mind to help her.

"I will help you. It must be tonight. You will have only this night. If you lose your way I can not help you. You will be lost in an endless cycle of self pleasure. They will call you mad, but where your mind will be that label will have no meaning. There will no turning back, no half way point for you. Your only compensation will be that should you survive this will be a permanent part of you from now on. This too comes at a price. This gift must be used wisely at all times, if you ever misuse it. There will be those who shall come after you and take it from you.