Chapter 6: Sentinel

I sat down at the front window and looked out onto the planet. Was this my home now? No, no. I don't know where home is. I sighed. I felt lost, like I'm running in circles but I don't know how to stop or where to go.

However, I was startled by an alarm. A voice blared out that an intruder was on the ship, and the kid bolted out into the main hub and looked up at the monitor. It had switched to a camera, and showed a... moving jar full of purple goo and some eyeballs with a moustache and an oddly familar chef's hat on it in the machine room.

We entered the room, and saw it sitting down on the ground. It seemed to... notice us.

"So we meet again! My archnemesis!" It shouted in an oddly familiar masculine Italian accent, looking straight at the kid.

"Who... and what... are you?" I asked.

"What?! You don't remember me?! How rude!" It.. or he... shouted, "It's me! Boss of the Mafia, remember?"

"Oh," I said.

"How'd you become...?" The kid asked, and he stared dead into her eyes.

"You blew me up in our little dispute, and your friend put my remains in a jar!" He yelled, "I should be furious! But, it's okay. The past is the past, and I'll accept your carcass as an apology!"

She gasped and stepped back, and I immediately got between them.

"Listen up, you pathetic piece of trash. That's not going to happen," I hissed.

"What? You won't hand it over?! Such nerve on a young adult! If I had hands, I would slap you!" He shouted.

"You wouldn't dare, if you knew what's good for you," I spat back.

"Whatever, I'll just buy a new body! There must be some poor soul out there willing to trade their corpse for money," He grumbled.

"Okay, if that's the case, get out," I ordered.

"Wait, wait, wait! I may not look like it right now, but I'm well traveled. I know every corner of this planet, and I can help you find relics that can make you rich!" He explained happily.

"Go on," I said, and a merchant stand appeared from nowhere.

"Buy my map badge, and it can show you where relics are hiding!" He stated, and the kid stood up and bought it from him.

"Thank you!" She said happily.

"Just equip the badge whenever you need to find relics," He said, and she nodded, then walked out of the room. I walked out as well, until I heard the boss grumble something about 'his revenge'. I ground to a halt and stomped back into the room.

I picked him up roughly and held him high up into the air.

"Let me make something clear, PAL. If you ever, EVER hurt her, then I don't give a damn what I need to do. I don't care if I need to find you a body, crack your stupid jar body, shove you into an oven and crank it to broil, I don't give a single damn care in the world. I will find a way to kill you if you ever hurt her," I warned, "Are we clear?!"

"Y-yes," He said, and I put him back down.

"GOOD," I hissed, "She means the world to me. She's the only person here who's been kind to me, and she's the best person I know. If she ever got hurt, and I did nothing to stop it, I'd never forgive myself."

I walked out of the machine room. The kid was sitting on the carpet, just looking out the window. I sat down next to her. It was getting pretty late now, and she yawned.

"I guess it's time for bed now, kid?" I asked, and she nodded. "You want me to help you, or are you good?"

She smiled. "I'd appreciate it if you tucked me in," She said, and I smiled.

"Ok, I'll go get you a glass of water," I said, and she lied down on the carpet. I got the glass of water, set it down, pried open the doors to her bedroom, and motioned for her to get up.

"No," She said.

"If you don't get up I'll pick you up," I warned, and she just blew a raspberry at me. "Okay," I said, then picked up the glass in one hand and then picked the kid up gently with my other arm.

It was just then I saw something that made me cringe. It looked like a scar under her right ear.

"Kid? That's a nasty scar. How'd you get that?" I asked, and she froze. She said nothing. I laid her down in her bed. "Kiiiid?"

"I... no. I-I..." She said. She was refusing to tell me. I put my hand on her shoulder.

"You don't need to tell me if you don't want to, kid," I said, "But, I just want to tell you this. If you ever need to let something out, or say something, or are looking for someone to explain things to to clear your mind, I'm here for you, not for anyone else. You can tell me anything. I won't judge you."

She smiled tiredly and sadly at me. "Thank you," She said, and hugged me. I hugged her back.

"It's the least I could do, kiddo," I said, then she let go and lied down in her bed. "Good night," I said, then left the room.

What felt like an hour later, I heard her calling for me.

"Mega?" She shouted.

"What do you need, kiddo?" I asked.

"Can you come here?" She asked, and I went in. She seemed sad.

"What's wrong, kid?" I asked.

"Nightmare," She said sadly. "I... don't want to fall sleep now."

This seemed very familiar to me. I gasped, and right before my eyes, I saw something.

"Mom? Dad?"

"Did you get a nightmare again?"

"Y-yes."

"If I sing to you, will you go back to sleep?"

"I... think so."

"Okay, sweetie."

The flashback disappeared.

The kid tilted her head in confusion, probably to ask me what happened.

"I... I think I just saw..." I muttered, "I remember, I had nightmares too when I was around your age."

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah. My mother would sing to me to get me to fall back asleep," I said.

"Can you sing to me?" She asked.

I could not believe what I just heard. "Me? Sing? To you?" I exclaimed, and she frowned.

"Pleeeease?" She begged.

"I would, kiddo, I honestly would. And, to emphasize it, I don't think I've ever sung for anyone, ever. I'm not the singing type. But, I don't remember any songs, and I know for a fact my singing voice is terrible," I explained sadly, "I'm sorry, kid."

She pouted. "Is there anything you like? Anything that relaxes you? I want to help you. For all we know, singing wouldn't have worked anyway," I said.

"Uhh, I used to get myself a warm glass of milk when I couldn't sleep," She said, and I frowned. Where were her parents in all of this?

Oh.

It finally clicked in my head.

She was an orphan, wasn't she?

I smiled at her.

"Okay, I'll get you a warm glass of milk. Try to fall back asleep, I'll wait in here," I said, and she smiled.

"Okay," She said, and I left and got her a warm glass of milk. I set it down on her nightstand far away from her hat, and sat down at a desk. I got up a couple of minutes later to check on her, and she was sleeping like a baby.

No matter what happens, I'll protect her. I'll be her sword and her shield; her sentinel.