Author's Note: I could apologize for taking a week, but I figured I'm bored of apologizing, and sometimes I feel like all authors do in their author's notes are apologize for being late. I'm as tired of saying what a busy person I am, and how hard it is to write a chapter every week as I am of saying the disclaimer (I don't own anything. So there, I'm not typing it again). You know that I'm busy. You know I have school, and extracurricular, and babysitting duty for by lil' brothers, and maybe you don't know the exact details, but I'm sure you realize that I don't just sit around on my computer every day typing these stories. I have a life too, and things might be a little late.
Whew, had to get that out.
Onto a happier subject, namely, REVIEW CORNER!!!
Miasinpie: I love the accent! I actually know two words in German, and they're both insults. I'm not sure how to spell them, but they mean "pigdog" and "dumbhead." They sound something like "dombkoph" and "svienhuent." Yeah, that's me, insulting people in German. Guess what, my family was watching "UP" (have you seen it yet) and of course, the dogs were so hilariously stupid, but the character whom I felt really bad for was the explorer, who, or course, was evil. If you haven't seen UP then you'll have no idea what I'm talking about, but I found it funny I empathized with the antagonist. Well, enjoy x-mas in Utah!
Smileyfacer: Yeah, we're spending a couple more chapters with the Interceptors before we go into present day. Thank you so much for the good wishes, now I only have to wait until grades come out!
Dancing-with-the-devil 1995: Thank you so much, I most certainly did get it and I do appreciate it. You shamelessly flatter me, but I will try to keep producing acceptable work.
SunflowerIce: You never know, there may be some plot twist where they survive and Starling has no idea…don't count on it, but it's still a possibility. Thank you so much for the review and the good wishes, and I did get the chapter up, didn't I?
Oh, and in case all of you didn't notice from the content of this chapter, this is "Prisoner: Special Christmas Edition."
Can you be someone's mother if you're younger than them?
Not literally, of course—that's impossible. Completely and utterly impossible. Anyone who thinks that could happen must still believe in the stork flying around delivering babies to happy couples.
Yet staying in the Nelistar for nearly two months now, I've become somewhat of a mother to the entire squadron.
It's funny, because we're all so young, and we're all somehow orphans or outcasts. Brandon's mom died in childbirth, and his dad, a brilliant but eccentric scientist, taught him everything. When Brandon decided to join a squadron, his father sent him off happily, as he just really got in the way of experiments.
Zelpha had a whole huge family, and she was the youngest of 13? 14? I'm not really sure what number she told me, and it changes depending on whether or not you're counting half-brothers, step-sisters, or cousins that had lived in the giant house since before she was born. She loved her whole huge family, but they could practically populate a Terra on their own, and no one had too much time to pay attention to her. She decided to get out and see the world, and a Sky Knight squadron was her ticket.
I actually didn't learn about Zach and Versa's past for a little while. I had mentioned it to Zelpha, and she got a sad look and her face and told me that Zach would share when he was ready. I didn't push her, because although I had told them I was an orphan, I didn't give them any more details on the death of my family. It was too painful to talk about.
It was getting dark, the ship was moored, and everyone was playing around in the bridge while I cooked them burgers and made some salad. I personally did not see the appeal to meat, so, of course, there was tofu for me (Versa had taken up eating it, too, although I'm not sure if it was because she hero-worshiped me or if she really liked it). From the smells coming from the stove, the patties were almost done. I popped the buns from the toaster, and quickly assembled the food the way everyone like it.
One onion, and a dash of salt for Brandon, Versa was eating just tofu and salad tonight, although I knew her brother would convince her to take a bite or two of his, a cheeseburger with everything for Zelpha, and two cheeseburgers with everything for Zach. Well, his sister was going to steal a bit, but still, it's an awful lot of food!
"Dinner's ready!" I called. Zelpha hurried to help me with the plates, grabbing her own and Brandon's and taking it to him on the couch. I put Zach's on the counter where he could easily grab it as he crossed the room, and then lifted the two vegetarian dishes up. I plopped one on Versa's lap, then pushed her the rest of the way across the room. With everyone seated and happy, I closed my eyes for a minute and let the conversation wash over me.
"So, Brandon, any good new articles in Scientific Atmosian?"
Zelpha smiled, her bright eyes twinkling, as she waited for his reply. The first time she did something like this, flirting with all the boys on the crew, I confronted her about it. She laughed, tossing her metallic hair, and informed me she wasn't interested in any of them, she just needed practice.
Sometimes I wonder if I will ever understand her.
"Well, there was a very interesting piece about the affect of Cyclonia on innovation. Almost all the important breakthroughs in crystal science have been done by a Cyclonian terra, and even non-Cyclonian inventions are said to have leaked from laboratories on Cyclonia."
Versa grew interested now. "What about my rocket-chair?" she grinned.
"Well, that's the interesting part," Brandon explained, looking down. He was oblivious to the affect his words had on her. "Your chair was used as an example. The mechanics the Bogatron scientists adapted from that of skimmers, and the crystals themselves were made based off a Cyclonian research report they were given. Terra Bogatron is still in alliance with Cyclonia, you know."
Disgust tightened in my gut, and I clenched my fists. Cyclonian technology. Sure, great. The same Cyclonian technology that had killed my parents, and thousands of other innocent civilians.
Yet when I calmed myself down enough to glance at Versa, I could tell she was taking it even worse. Her entire face was contorted in a mixture of anger and hate, yet she was biting her lip and tears were welling up in her eyes.
I glared at Brandon. "We did not need to hear that," I hissed through clenched teeth. He started, and seemed to notice the reaction everyone was having to his news, then blushed furiously.
"I'm so sorry…" he began to stammer, but I cut him off.
"Zach, you are fairly knowledgeable about history, who invented the crystal converter that can change practically any stone of power into fuel for a ship?"
"Um…"
"Terra Cyclonia," I answered myself irately. "It was in History and Technology 101 at the Sky Knight Academy; I was hoping you might have actually listened a bit during class. It doesn't matter. What matters is, does it make all of Atmos evil for using such crystal technology to power our ships? No!"
I took a deep breath, and continued my rant. "The scientists are forced against their will to obey Repton, who in turn is the dictator of that place and he alone decided to affiliate himself with Cyclonia. Those scientists were just trying to make the world a better place, and because they made you happy, they did."
"But you know what? Even if they were evil, and that wheelchair had the capability to become a doomsday device, it still wouldn't make you evil, Versa. It still wouldn't make you connected with the Cyclonians in any way. You're using the technology to stop them, and to help people, and that's the way it should be."
I couldn't think of anything else to say, but Zelpha jumped right in. "Starling's completely right, you know. It doesn't matter where your chair was from, it doesn't matter where you are from. It's who you are right now, it's what you do and the choices you make, that confirm your identity."
Brandon cringed even more.
Zach came over and hugged her, and whispered something into her ear.
At this time, the reality of the whole situation came crashing down on me. Sure, she might be upset over the chair, but really, this reaction was over the top. There was something here that I wasn't being told. There was something here that I was missing.
My confusion must have manifested in my expression, because Versa took one glance at me then said, "Starling, I'm so sorry. I should have told you, but I was afraid you would hate me, ever since you told me the Cyclonians killed your family. Starling, I am Cyclonian."
I had to admit, it was a shock, but not a surprise. I knew she and Zach had been hiding something about their past, and this revelation was almost expected.
Although what was I supposed to do?
I swallowed. As their leader, there was only one thing I could do.
"It doesn't matter."
Four head whipped up and stared at me in shock. I took a deep breath, then repeated, stronger, "It doesn't matter. You might be Cyclonian in blood, but same as the chair, it's your actions that make you who you are. And you don't seem to Cyclonian to me when you're kicking their asses with you awesome flying. I've mad Atmosians at the SKA who are total jerks and bullies. There are Atmosian criminals. Being born on Terra Atmosia doesn't make you good."
"Same being from Terra Cyclonia doesn't make you bad. It's what you choose to do that makes you good or evil."
"Versa, I've spent two months with you here on this ship, and I can say that I know you are good. Even more than that—I love you. You are like family to me." I looked around meeting their eyes. "All of you are like family to me. So I don't care if you're from Cyclonia or Atmosia, it's your actions that make you who you are—hero, villain, Sky Knight, jerk—not your birth."
There was a solemn silence for all of three seconds, then, naturally, "Well, thanks a lot, Starling."
I glared at him. "What is it this time, Zach?"
"Don't think I didn't catch the insinuation that I was a jerk just because my dad was from Atmosia."
Of course, we all laughed, and the bright mood was back, but it was different. It was as if there were less walls between us. All of us were closer.
We were truly becoming family.
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That night, when I decided to retire early, I was slightly surprised when Zach followed me. I decided I didn't want to wait for him to corner me in the hallway, so I stopped.
"You did a great thing back there, reassuring her like that."
"Why wouldn't I? I just told her the truth. I only wished you trusted me enough to tell me before."
"Starling, I don't care about you, I care about her. I will keep her safe, no matter what. I want you to remember that."
"Overprotective brother much? Why are you so obsessed with keeping her safe?"
"Because I failed the first time. What I came to tell you was, you did a truly kind thing, reassuring her like that, especially when you didn't know her history. Or mine. I was born to an Atmosian mother and father, then the war with Cyclonia got bigger. My father joined to ranks of the Sky Knight Infantry. My mother was a medic, often on the scenes of battles. One time, the Cyclonians attacked the hospital tent she was working in. A Talon raped her. The next day, she learned her husband, my father, had been killed in the same battle. She also learned she was pregnant. I was two, already being taken care of at the Sky Knight Academy Toddler services."
"By the time she had the baby, Versa, she had gone nearly insane. She hated the child, because the innocent baby was half Cyclonian, and a reminder of all she had lost."
"Mom took me back home, and home schooled the both of us. She wanted me to follow my father's footsteps, and she treated Versa like a slave. I hated it. I wanted to get out. As soon as I was ten, I went to the Sky Knight Academy and never looked back."
"When I was sixteen, I visited again. I found Versa confined to a wheelchair because Mom, in a fit of rage, had shattered the bones in her legs then refused to let her go to the hospital."
"I sued for legal emancipation—I was old enough—then turned the evidence of child abuse over to the authorities, enough for her to get thrown in jail. I took custody as the only living relative of Versa, then ran before they could figure out that I was still a minor. With the training I received at the Academy, I was able to score a job as a squaddie on a team. I took Versa with me. The pilot was getting old, and befriended her, and soon Versa was flying the ship, too. When we had saved up enough money, we got our own ship, an old one, but Versa began to fix it up. Sure enough, the Sky Knight squadron we were with was getting old, and retired. We went to our new ship, which she insisted on calling the Nelistar. Zelpha heard of us and found us, and by that time, we were called 'Terra Mesa's unofficial Sky Knight Squadron.' We though of a name together—about that point, Brandon joined us, and we applied to the official registry. They said I couldn't be our Sky Knight, because I had left school before I could take the final exams and 'kidnapped' Versa. However, they were willing to forgive me for that, if I remained in the Sky Knight Service. Then they sent me you."
My cheeks reddened. "Oh, Zach, I'm so sorry."
"Don't apologize for something that was not your fault." His voice was as sharp as his glare.
"No…I've been calling you a lazy drop-out since the moment I met you. I had no idea."
Zach smirked, and my cheeks went red. "Oh, yes, Starling, I am such the victim here. My low self-esteem can't bear to take all of the insults you've thrown at me." He moved closer to me.
"Yeah, right, more like your ego," I snorted back.
He was definitely in my personal space right now, so I backed up a little.
"Starling…" he began softly.
Zelpha burst into the hallway. "Hey, Zach, Versa wants to talk to—oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?"
She grinned knowingly. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
"No, Zelpha! It's not like that!" we both cried simultaneously.
She smirked. "Aw, the Sky Knight and the First Officer. That is such a perfect couple. It's like a fairy tale! So cute!" She flounced back into the bridge, all thoughts of getting Zach gone.
"Zach, you don't like me like that, do you?" I pleaded.
"No way. Strangely, you're almost like a mom to me, the way you're always giving orders, making us do chores, cooking our dinner, keeping us safe…I mean, I don't want to hurt you feelings, but it would be weird."
Relief shined through my face. "No, that's good, because knowing her, she's going to try to set us up, and I don't need you on her side making this harder for me."
"Going back to hating me already?"
"No…I just like teasing you, that's all. Plus, how old are you exactly?"
"Oh, that stings. I think you've hurt my over-inflated ego again."
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The next morning, I woke up with actual sunlight shining across my face. What the…?
Quickly, I fumbled for my alarm, and found it perfectly disabled, with a note from Zelpha that read, Happy Winter Solstice! We thought you'd like to sleep in.
Oh, I saw what was coming, all right. Zelpha wanted something, and she was so not above sucking up for it. Maybe another Sky Knight would be happy, but I was just annoyed. Seriously, I was missing my entire morning exercise and training routine, and I was seriously worried about someone other than me cooking.
I came into the bridge to smell fresh, warm pancakes, oozing with strawberries and bananas. Before I could start drooling, Zelpha set a large plate down before me.
I tore my eyes away from the beautiful feast—think with your head, not your stomach, girl—and glared at her. "What do you want, Zelpha?"
"What makes you think I want something?"
"You're cooking."
"Point conceded. Although, this time, it wasn't my idea."
I glanced around the room. Zach looked bored, but he was grinning slightly, obviously enjoying my embarrassment and cluelessness. Brandon was digging into his own pile of pancakes, although they looked slightly burn, obviously an earlier batch. Versa was very intently studying a magazine.
Oh, yeah, guilty through and through.
"Versa, what do you want?"
"Zelpha was the one who convinced me about it. I just said that you liked pancakes," she squeaked, nervous.
I rolled my eyes, turning back to Zelpha. "Well, what do you want?"
"Winter Solstice party. Tonight, all night. After all, it's the longest night of the year."
"I can't go. I'm too young."
Zelpha grinned predatorily. "Oh, we can sneak you in easy."
My grimace conveyed exactly how much I liked that idea. "I'm a Sky Knight. I don't do parties."
Behind the magazine, Versa's face fell. Even Zach sighed and looked even more bored than usual. "But you guys can go, I mean, someone needs to stay behind and watch the ship."
Everyone looked delighted again; watching their faces swing between such extreme emotions was almost comical. Only Versa seemed to hold the slightest bit of reservations. "Are you sure? It is my ship, and I don't want you to miss out on all the fun."
Parties had never been fun to me. Even when one took out the illegal substances, all it was consisted of too loud music, dark, flashing lights, and too many people squashed together. No, I did not enjoy parties one bit.
I smiled as pleasantly as I could. "Don't worry, I'll have fun here on the Nelistar." After all, I did need to catch up on my missed morning training.
Yep, that was how I spent my winter holidays.
Um, I was going to include the festival too—and a visit on the Nelistar by a surprise guest—but it got too long. Hopefully, there will be another installment before Christmas. Review! And tell me, just who do you think my surprise guest will be?
