Chapter 11: A Bright Light

After Kida's father talked to the Mayor of the city, it was decided that Whitmore's expedition group would not only be allowed to stay in Atlantis for one year but also be integrated into Disney Academy's student body and staff to be watched closely. While Commander Rourke became the school's new gym teacher, he was assisted by the blonde-haired woman Helga and the elderly man with the Western drawl who was called Cookie became the assistant cook with the tall African-American man known as Sweet becoming the school's official doctor though that didn't undermine the authority of the resident nurse Mary. Other members included the man with the funny goggles, who was nicknamed Mole, being made the school janitor while a skinny man called Vinny took care of the school's flower gardens and an old woman named Packard was put in charge of the school's PA system.

Milo, meanwhile, became part of the Sophomore class which Kida was in alongside the Hispanic girl who was named Audrey. This in turn tempted Kida to ask Milo some questions, but there was no way to ask him during school. So one day after the last bell rang, Kida decided to sneak up on Milo and grab him from behind with her hand covering his mouth.

"I have some questions for you and you're not leaving this city until they are answered," Kida said coyly.

As Kida loosened her grip, Milo spoke, "Yeah, well, I—

"Shh!" Kida insisted, clamping Milo's mouth shut. "Come with me."

Kida then dragged Milo towards the school's greenhouse, which included not only various exotic plants but also an artificial waterfall with a pond filled with large koi fish.

"Oh, there is so much to ask about your world," Kida mused after letting Milo go. "You're a scholar, clearly since you're suited for nothing else. How did you—

"Actually, I have some questions too," Milo interrupted. "So why don't I ask a question, and you ask one, then…well, you get the idea."

Initially annoyed, Kida sighed. "Very well. What is your first question?"

"Um, how did you get here?" Milo said, then he corrected, "I mean, not you personally but your culture — how did the continent of Atlantis…end up below us?"

"It is said that the Gods became jealous of Atlantis," Kida began, walking away from Milo. "They sent great cataclysms and banished us down into the earth. All I can remember is the sky growing dark and…people shouting and running. Then a bright light, like a star, floated above the city. My father said it called my mother, and I never saw her again."

"I'm sorry," Milo apologized, causing Kida to look back at him. "If it's any consultation, I lost my — wait a minute! Whoa, back up! What are you telling me? You remember what happened to Atlantis because you were there? That's impossible! That would make you 85-8800 years old!"

"Yes," Kida answered casually, relieved at not having to lie about her age for once.

Milo's confused expression lingered and then he hid it with a slight grin. "Hey, um, looking good! Um, please forgive me…did you have a question?"

"How was it you found your way to my home?" Kida asked.

"Well, I tell you it wasn't easy," Milo admitted as he reached into his school bag. "If it weren't for this book, we never would've made it."

From his bag, Milo pulled out a leather-bound book with metallic borders a gold scroll-like spine and a swirl design on the cover. Intrigued, Kida took the book from Milo's hand and started flipping through its delicate yet sturdy pages.

"What is this?" Kida wondered.

"It's called the Shepherd's Journal," Milo answered. "Supposedly, it was written by a man named Aziz who actually journeyed to Atlantis and wrote about his experiences. Well, eventually, this journal made its way to Iceland where it was found by my late grandfather Thaddeus Thatch in an expedition funded by Mr. Whitmore who was his friend."

As she was flipping through the pages, Kida came across one page depicting a group of stones floating around a mysterious light.

"Okay, second question," Milo continued. "Legend has it that your people possess a power source of some kind—

"Can you…understand this?" Kida abruptly asked, looking at the words below the image.

"I study dead languages as a hobby," Milo stated. "Actually, I hope to become a linguist—

"This! Right here!" Kida snapped, showing the page to Milo. "You can read this?"

"Yes, yes, I can read Atlantean just like you," Milo insisted.

Embarrassed, Kida looked back at the page.

Milo's eyes widened. "You…can't, can you?"

"No one can," Kida replied. "Such knowledge has been lost since the time of the Great Flood. Can you show me?"

Kida handed the journal back to Milo, who proceeded to read a passage from it. As she listened to the words, Kida started to translate them out loud, "'Follow the narrow passage to another lead, and there you will find the fifth marker…'"

"Yeah, that's it," Milo smiled. "How did you do that?"

Unsure of how to answer, Kida grabbed Milo's shirt. "Here, let me show you something."

Kida then took him over to a large tarp that was on the roof at the back of the greenhouse. She unveiled it, revealing a metallic device that resembled a fish with a cockpit and dashboard inside while intricate carvings covered the thing.

"Looks like…some sort of vehicle," Milo remarked, inspecting the device closely.

"Yes, but no matter what I try it will not respond," Kida said irritably. "Perhaps if you—

"All right, let me take a look," Milo stated, looking at some words carved into the dashboard which also had a slot in it shaped like a crystal. "Okay, 'Place crystal into slot.'"

"Done that," Kida responded.

"'Gently place your hand on the inscription pad,'" Milo recited.

"I did that too," Kida said, pacing back and forth.

"Did you turn the crystal half-right and a quarter back?" Milo asked.

"Yes!"

"While your hand was on the inscription pad?"

"No."

"Well, seems like an easy thing to overlook." When Kida gave him an annoyed look, Milo responded, "Okay, let's give it a try."

Taking the crystal off her neck, Kida placed it into the slot with her hand on the pad with the inscriptions around it on the dashboard. She turned the crystal half-right and a quarter back, which caused the pad to glow a light-blue color. Then to her and Milo's surprise, the fish-shaped vehicle's eyes glowed blue along with the carvings as it levitated a few feet off the ground.

"T-This is great!" Milo said excitedly. "I wonder how fast it goes…"

As Milo pressed the pad, the fish-shaped vehicle took off in a flash flying in circles around the school's rooftops before flying right over them forcing Kida and Milo to duck. Looking up, they saw the vehicle had crashed into a shed near the football field.

"So, who's hungry?" Milo joked, causing Kida to glare at him for the bad joke.

End of Chapter 11