3/21/12020 – Aircraft Shenanigans
–
3 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN NIMBUS
–
[The background is drowned by the quiet hum of the aircraft. Renton, Eureka, and Maurice are heard snoring in front of Ao and Amber's seats, while faint music can be heard from Amber's speakers. Pencil scribbles on Amber's notebook can also be heard]
Ao: Um… I thought school ended four days ago.
Amber: Shh. I'm thinking.
Ao: That's the first time I've seen you actually do that in a while.
Amber: Well, obviously I'm not thinking of doing anything stupid when we get to Nimbus.
Ao: Obviously, since your arm is still screwed up.
Amber: Actually, it has been getting better for the past couple of days. I asked mom about it and she said I could swim the next day.
Ao: Heh, that's good to hear.
Amber: Yeah… still gotta wear this cast for one more night, though.
Ao: Where'd you get those Gekkostate stickers?
Amber: The back of the garage. You know, where the old ray=out magazines were.
Ao: Ah. Where you do your stupid kung-fu training.
Amber: Shut up.
Ao: Uh, huh. TIGER STYLE!
Amber: *exasperated sigh*
[Suddenly, a muffled kicking noise is made from behind]
Amber: What the hell?
[The seat is being kicked once more]
Amber: Hey! What gives?
Lily: Nyah!
Amber: Ugh…
Ao: Just ignore her, sis… So, what are you writing?
Amber: Some questions for my interview with Dom and Anemone.
Ao: Still obsessing over that essay?
Amber: Yeah, just trying to get it done before school ends. You know, there's so much to learn from World History, and to be friends with people who've been a part of it is a huge plus.
Ao: Mom and dad were a huge part of history too. So were our big bros and sis.
Amber: I know, but mom doesn't think it was all that great. Hell, she doesn't even consider herself a hero.
Ao: Neither does dad.
Amber: Yeah, which is kind of a bummer. They're amazing people.
Ao: Maybe they don't want the attention?
Amber: Dude, when you've done something as big as saving the world, you're gonna get all the attention.
Ao: They've been through a lot. I mean, the Human-Coralian war wasn't pretty.
Amber: Yeah, but I still want to hear more about what they had to go through to become the heroes everyone sees them. They must've done a lot of amazing things with Gekkostate and the Nirvash.
Ao: Including killing soldiers?
Amber: Well… they were trying to kill them. And they don't call it the Human-Coralian WAR for nothing.
Ao: I dunno, man. I admire them for what they did, but I know mom's still kind of uncomfortable about the killing part.
Amber: Yeah, I know. I guess when you spend too much time with Miss Tiptory and the Vodarac, you get way too soft.
Ao: Hey, I'm not disagreeing with you on mom being a hero. I'm just saying… maybe there's a catch to being one.
Amber: Hmm…
Ao: Sis? What do you think makes a hero?
Amber: *sigh* Um… I… that is a difficult question.
Ao: No rush, sis.
Amber: Hmm…. I guess… a hero... a hero is someone who goes out to save the ones they care for no matter what.
Ao: Even if they do bad things on the way?
Amber: Oof, I dunno.
Ao: I mean, I've read books where the hero kills the villain to save someone or something. And you know how mom thinks about killing.
Amber: Good point.
Ao: Well, what do you think?
Amber: I guess-
[The seat is kicked once again]
Amber: Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Lily: Loser!
Amber: I was quiet last time!
Lily: I don't have space! Put up your seat!
Amber: Okay, okay, jeez… Here. Satisfied?
Lily: Nyah!
Amber: Ugh, you're welcome... Now, where was I?
Ao: Heroes.
Amber: Right, um… I guess… if you're going to go save the world, maybe you're going to have to make some choices you don't even want to make. Like killing.
Ao: So, what you're saying is… heroes have to make the hard choices to do something great?
Amber: Yeah, that's it. Kind of like what mom and dad used to say: Don't beg for things. Do it yourself or else you won't get anything. Maybe good and bad isn't so black and white like those good guys in TV, right?
Ao: Hmm. Interesting.
Amber: I guess mom and dad did go through a lot of bad things to save the world.
Ao: Yeah… you wonder if we're ever gonna have a go at our own adventure?
Amber: Like, what? A saving-the-world kind of thing?
Ao: Yeah.
Amber: Heh, I kind of hope so. But if they write a book about us, they better make it short.
Ao: Heh, yeah. I don't want my life story to be like three big books.
Amber: *snickers* Yeah, that'd be me and my list of screw-ups.
Ao: *chuckles*
[The seat is kicked, but with more intensity than last time]
Amber: LISTEN HERE, YOU LITTLE SH-
Anemone: *yawns*
Amber: Shhhh-sugar honey ice tea!
Anemone: The hell did I miss?
Amber: Lily won't stop kicking my seat.
Anemone: Oh, my goodness. Lily!
Lily: She was being loud!
Amber: I was not! I was keeping my voice down the whole time!
Anemone: Alright, now. That's enough. Both of you. Come on, sweetie, it's time for your shot.
Lily: Aww, can we do it when we land?
Anemone: Baby, it's already time. We don't wanna miss another one like last time. Now let me unbuckle your seat.
Lily: Okay…
Anemone: Hey, don't worry… it's just a quick pinch, then it's back to normal. Okay?
[Lily's seatbelt is heard being unbuckled. There is movement in between the seats, and a carry-on is heard being taken out from underneath Anemone's seat. Footsteps are heard walking away from Amber and Ao]
Amber: Wait. Lily has to take a shot?
Ao: *whispers* Lily was born premature.
Amber: For real?
Ao: *whispers* Yeah. Anemone used to be human, but she became an experiment during the war. It kind of messed her up a bit.
Amber: Damn… where'd you learn that?
Ao: *whispers* Uncle Dom told me.
Amber: Seriously? Man… I feel bad for the both of them.
Ao: Hey, we're half-aliens and we get bullied in school from time-to-time. We don't get off that easy.
Amber: Fair point.
Ao: Just don't tell what I said to them. Because they'll kick our asses.
Amber: Note to self… keep my effing mouth shut.
[The tape recorder beeps, indicating low battery]
Amber: … and change the batteries on this thing. Man, if I had packed some extras before this trip. Damn it.
–
[Amber's notes from her history notebook]
–
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CARNIVAL OF LIGHT:
–
- What were the PLF doing in South Aires?
- What did Christophe Blanc do in the Carnival of Light?
- Did you take part in the evacuations in South Aires?
- How did you know the Secret wasn't Coralian?
- Are there still people who believe the Secret was Coralian?
- Why hasn't there been a Secret appearance since the Incident?
- How does fighting the Secret compare to fighting Gekkostate or PLF or the Antibodies?
- What is Generation Bleu doing nowadays since there aren't any Secrets popping up?
–
[Random scribbles below: A caricature of Amber as a knight with a bow and arrow taking aim at what appears to be a giant, monstrous German Shepherd guarding a large pot of Nazuka's Spicy Ramen]