Nessa was planning on doing some things during her vacation. She was planning on going to Loch Ness for a swim, but she hoped the media wouldn't make it into a total circus. If there was a Loch Ness Monster, they'd most likely scare it away. But Nessa had other things planned. For instance, she wasn't going to take a holiday in Scotland without visiting her old friend.
Aggie's grandmother, Elise Wemyss didn't live in MacDuff's castle herself. The castle was far too drafty for someone as old as her. In fact, she probably couldn't go to the castle if she wanted to. Her rheumatism was really setting in her old age. Elise was finding it hard to get out of her bed, let alone her chair. But she at least was able to muster enough strength to walk to a waiting chair outside of her cottage. It would have been a bit tricky for Nessa to get in herself.
"So, Muriel, yer time in America has done a lot for ye," said Elise.
"I go by Nessa now," said Nessa, "A new name for a new form and new life."
"And not just because yer setting' yerself up ta be the new Loch Ness Monster?" asked Elise wryly.
"First, I'll need ta find the real one," said Nessa.
"Aye, yer havin' a life of adventure and travel. Meanwhile, I've been mindin' the castle for so long, me very bones are turnin' ta stone. And not even the hard, study kind." Elise's tone got a bit more bitter.
"Well, ye can have another chance at life, ye know," said Nessa.
"Joinin' Animalia? Sounds too good ta be true," said Elise, "Nothing that marvelous can exist without strings attached."
"Well, there are a few extra legal things ta go through," said Nessa.
"Aye, especially because yer president is a daft dunderhead no smarter than a duck," said Elise.
"I didn't vote fer him," said Nessa.
"Right, the only way he got elected was cause the Russians were stuffin' the ballot box fer him," said Elise.
Nessa heard rumors that gave credence to Elise's story, but there wasn't real proof to go on them yet. "Anyways, it's not that hard ta get processed, especially with a sponsor," said Nessa before muttering, "Assumin' his pocket-paid congress don't ban conversion fer the elderly because of regressive hypersexuality."
"Speak up!" snapped Elise, "Me ears ain't as sharp as they used ta be."
"Well, gettin' ye converted shouldn't be hard once yer there," said Nessa.
"Me? Travel? In my condition, the only way I'm goin' ta America is in a box," said Elise, "I ain't goin' on a journey ta give me new life that'll kill me before I get there."
"I supposes we could transport it to ye, if it were really necessary," said Nessa.
"Oh, and I suppose ye brought some that elixir o' life with ye. Should I stick out me arms now or do I need ta drink it from yer monstrous bosom like a wee babe?" asked Elise sardonically.
"No, I don't have it with me and they were insistent I was vaccinated before I left," said Nessa. But she wasn't particularly offended by Elise's tone. In this part of Scotland, flowery insults were practically teatime conversation. But Nessa did make a mental note to apply for Elise's conversion as soon as she could. Elise shouldn't be trapped in a petrifying body. Nessa wasn't sure if Elise would want to be an Elsasmosaurus like herself, but she hoped to give her old friend a new lease on life.