Chapter 36 Knowledge and Young Age
"My, you really like doing this, don't you?" Devin said as we were in the middle of an article, and he looked up at me to see that I was still wearing a smile.
"This has been my dream for awhile now," I said. "This is my best opportunity to get it."
"That's what this program does," Devin said. "It gives kids that are determined like you the opportunity to further pursue their dreams." He looked at the time. "My goodness, will you look at the time!" He got to his feet. "My dear Amanda, we are going to be late to the greeting meeting if we don't hurry!"
"Alright," I said as I got to my feet.
We went out of the room and to the meeting.
As we walked, I said, "Devin, would it be too hard for you to come talk to my class one day?"
"My dear, I would love to," Devin replied. "I'll just need to talk to Jeremy first."
"I'm sure he'll agree," I said. "After all, he tries to get a guest speaker into his class once a month for us to ask questions, and he's struggling to find one for November. Maybe you could come then?"
"It would be an honor," Devin said.
We went into the meeting and took some seats up front that Matsuri had saved for us.
"Welcome future doctors, dentists, pediatricians, orthodontists, athletic trainers, veterinaries, and all other medical professions," said a man as he spoke into a microphone. "I would name them all, but that would just be too long and we would be here day and night for the next five day. I hope that you have enjoyed the beginning of this five-day cruise, and I hope that you will like every moment of it." He talked about what some of the stuff that would be done and a few brief rules that were supposed to be followed while on the ship. Then, he said, "Many of your teachers have been here before, but I want to introduce Doctor Devin Backstring, who is having his first year here. Many of you already know him by his discovery and curing of several cancers. Doctor, would you like to say something?"
"Sure," Devin said, getting to his feet and taking a stand at the podium. "Hello," he began, but had to quiet down as everyone started clapping. "Yes, yes, I know, applause, applause. Alright, you can stop." With the cue, everyone stopped clapping. "Wow, that worked." Everyone chuckled. "Ok, hi everyone, you know my as Dr. Backstring, but while here, you can just call me Devin, after all, it's still going to be me. And let me just start by saying that everyone here has full potential to become whatever you want to be. After all, my lovely student has wanted to be a doctor for as long as she could remember. Even if you just decided yesterday you wanted to do this, you can still become that medical person. It doesn't matter." He started a short speech about this life and finding cures, finishing with, "Any questions?"
A billion hands shot into the air.
Devin was a bit shocked by it. "How much time do I have?" he asked.
"Five questions," the other man said.
Devin answered five questions out of people that he picked randomly and then the man came back up, saying that he was glad that they could get such encouraging words of advice.
"Alright, now that it's near time for lunch, I'll call this welcome meeting to a close and let everyone prepare for a meal," the man said. "I hope to meet with all of you sometime this week."
We filed out of the room and Devin, Matsuri, and I walked to our cabin to put our stuff away that we had while he was teaching me and then went to lunch.
"I swear, that smile seems to never leave you," Matsuri said as we left the cabin again.
"In your smile, I see possibility, determination, spirit, pride, and the ability to keep going until the end," Devin commented. "All something I go by."
"I'm not saying anything bad about it," Matsuri said. "Just that she's keeping her smile."
"I think it'll be on all week," I said. I looked at my mobirates as I got a call. "I wonder what's up."
"We'll leave you to it," Devin said. "You know the way, right?"
"Yea," I said.
"Then we'll see you there," Matsuri said. She and Devin walked away.
"Hello?" I answered, opening my mobirates.
"Amanda, hope we're not bothering anything," Marvelous said.
"No, why?" I said.
"Navi prediction," Marvelous said. "Perfect for you."
"Let me hear it," I said.
"Meet a nurse on ship and create friendship," Marvelous said.
"Yea, I've got this," I said. "It just so happens that I'm also paired with the pink ranger from GoGoV."
"GoGoV?!" came Gai's voice.
"Why are they home early?" I said.
"Power outage," Ahim said.
"They let us go before lunch," Grace said.
"Can we count on you?" Marvelous said.
"Have I ever let you down?" I replied.
"Can't say you have," Marvelous said.
"Amanda, get me an-!" Gai began.
"Already planning on it," I cut off. "When I first found out it was her, she told me she would give me one tonight."
"Yea!" Gai said. "I'm getting an-!" He voice was cut off by the sound of recovering from a hit in the stomach.
"Good one, Luka," I said. "I've gotta go: it's lunch time. I'll call tonight to let you know how I'm doing."
"Good," Marvelous said.
We broke contact and I put my mobirates away, continuing to lunch.
After some more lessons, Devin let me have the rest of the night off.
"Matsuri, do you want to take a walk?" I asked as Matsuri placed a folder in her bag.
"Sure," Matsuri replied.
As we walked, I said, "Matsuri, do you know how to get your team's Grand Power?"
"The way I know is to complete something that we would know," Matsuri said. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, that call I got was from my captain, Captain Marvelous, and he told me a clue to get the next Grand Power," I said. "And that clue has to do with a nurse on a ship and forming a friendship."
"Well, that sure does sound like me," Matsuri said. "And we're already friends, so you should have that power by now."
"Really?" I asked, taking out GoGoV's red ranger key. It started glowing. "Wow, that was the easiest Grand Power to get. Marvelous will be pleased."
"Good," Matsuri said. "After all, you shouldn't have to worry about ranger duties while on a medical trip."
"We'll just have to see how things play out," I said.
We continued our walk around the ship's deck, but it was soon cut short when there were some Gormin on deck.
"Of course, they have to ruin a good day," I said as I got ready to fight. "Back to my ranger duty."
"What are those things?" Matsuri said.
"Gormin," I replied. "Something that comes from the Zangyack Empire."
"Then, even as a former Super Sentai member, we've got to get rid of them," Matsuri said.
"Here," I said, handing her the pink GoGoV ranger key. "Go ahead and use it."
"Thanks," Matsuri said. "Flash on!" She morphed into the pink GoGoV ranger.
"Not bad," I said. "My turn. Gokai Change!"
"Gokaiger!" my mobirates screeched, getting the Gormins' attention.
"Let's do this," I said.
Matsuri nodded and charged at the Gormin. "FiveLaser!" she said.
"Don't start the party without me," I whispered as I took out my GokaiSaber and GokaiGun. I followed Matsuri and we teamed up against the Gormin, defeating them.
"That was the least of the rangers' problems!" said a monster, jumping down from the upper deck.
"Who are you?" I said.
"Trimeer says no names!" the monster said.
"Are you talking in third person?" Matsuri said.
"Trimeer speaks normal!" Trimeer said.
Matsuri and I looked at each other and then back at Trimeer.
"So, Trimeer is going to defeat us?" I asked.
"Yes!" Trimeer replied, charging at us.
"He is speaking third person," Matsuri said as we dodged the attack and then returned fire.
"I'm going to add some backup," I said, getting out the GokaiCamo key. "Gokai Summon!"
"Gokiager!" my mobirates shrieked.
"GokaiCamo!" Grizza said.
"A third person won't help the rangers!" Trimeer said.
"He speaks in third person," I told Grizza, who had tilted his head to the side slightly.
"Alright then," Grizza said. "That shouldn't make a difference."
"No, it makes a huge difference!" Trimeer said. "Multiply Trimeer!" Suddenly, he cloned himself and formed a circle around us.
"You can't catch me!" all the Trimeers said.
"He's messing us up," I said.
We went to attack one, but we were thrown back into the middle.
"Wait, listen closely," I said. "We know that Trimeer speaks third person, not first person."
We listened to the talking, and I heard a voice say, "Rangers can't catch Trimeer!"
"There!" I said, running forward and slashing that Trimeer.
"Ow! The ranger got Trimeer!" Trimeer cried.
"What, gonna cry about it?" Grizza said.
"No! Now Trimeer is mad!" Trimeer said. "Now Trimeer is going to attack the pathetic rangers!"
"Not only is he talking third person, but he is also insulting us," Matsuri said. "I don't think he knows who he's messing with!"
"Nope, he doesn't," Grizza said.
"Then let's teach him," I said. "Grandpa, ready?" I put my ranger key into my GokaiSaber.
"Ready," Grizza replied, doing the same.
"What's going on!?" Trimmer said. "Trimeer does not like it!"
"Too bad," Matsuri said, slashing Trimeer and then stepping out of the way as Grizza and I sent our attacks at him.
"Ow!" Trimeer said. "That hurts Trimeer! Trimeer's going to leave now!" He turned around and disappeared.
I sighed. "I hate it when that happens," I said.
"When do you think he'll come back?" Matsuri asked.
"Dunno," Grizza said. "But, of course, I'll always be ready to help my granddaughter out." He changed back into a ranger key and floated into my hand.
"Thanks for the help, Grandpa," I said, putting the ranger key away.
"How come he isn't like us?" Matsuri said.
"Because he died," I said. "But, he helps me out when I need it."
"We're gotta get to dinner," Matsuri said, looking at the sun setting. "Dinner is always at sun fall."
"Well, that fight did make me hungry," I said.
We powered down and began our walk to dinner.
"Here," Matsuri said, holding out her ranger key to me.
"Wait until Friday," I said. "You never know when that Trimeer guy will come back."
Matsuri nodded, looking at the key. "This brings back memories," she said with a smile. "It reminds me of my siblings."
It seemed that Friday came all too quickly, and we were walking onto the port in Japan again.
"Dang, Friday already?" I asked.
"It seemed like only yesterday we set sail," Matsuri agreed.
"So, my dear Amanda, did you like your education?" Devin asked, his hands in his jacket pockets.
"Yes sir, very much!" I replied. "Thank you for teaching me!"
"You're very welcome," Devin said. "And I shall see you in class sometime." He got a call on his phone. "Hello? Yes, I just got off. Already? Again? My goodness, that's the third time this month! Yes, I am on my way." He hung up. "My dear, I would love to take you back to the school, but I've gotta get to the office. Matsuri, would you be so kind?"
"Of course, sir," Matsuri said. "I don't mind one bit."
"Thank you," Devin said. "I'd best be off. I'll see you soon." He turned and walked off.
"I never gave this back to you," Matsuri said, trying again to hand me her ranger key. "Trimeer never returned, and neither did the Gormin."
"Thanks," I said, placing the ranger key in my pocket.
"I hope you don't mind, but I was dropped off here, so we'll be walking," Matsuri said.
"I don't mind," I said. "After all, it will help me get rid of the rocking sensation that ship on water has given me."
Matsuri laughed. "Yea, that happens," she said.
We began our walk to the school, talking about different things, whatever we felt like talking about, and it just so happened that school got out just as we got there.
"Wow, look at the timing," I said as the bell rang. "I guess I can join the others leaving the school to head to the Galleon."
"Some come here?" Matsuri asked.
"Yea," I said. "I don't know if you want to meet them or not: one of them is the huge Super Sentai fan."
"I'll be able to give him the autograph, in person," Matsuri said.
I looked for Ahim, Gai, or Grace, but I couldn't find them. "They're not here?" I asked, confused. "They would never ditch school!"
"Then something must have happened," Matsuri said.
"Mr. Skimp," I said as he walked to us. "Where are the others?"
"They haven't been here since Monday," Mr. Skimp replied.
"That doesn't sound good," I said. "I've gotta get to the Galleon."
"If there are any problems, just call," Matsuri said. "I'll be ready to help out!"
"I would offer a ride, but I know that it will only slow you down," Mr. Skimp said. "Hurry."
I nodded, said my quick goodbyes, and started running to the Galleon. My vision of what happened to the others flashed inside my mind, and that made me run even faster.
As I got onto the Galleon, I took a moment to catch my breath and opened the door, finding seven seven-year-old kids. "Oh no," I whispered.
"Amanda, you're back," AkaRed said, who was trying to get a young Luka to eat her vegetables.
"No!" Luka cried. "Me no like green food!"
"What happened?" I asked, setting my suitcase down, but picking it up quickly to keep it out of reach of the young Captain Marvelous. "Don't go through my stuff, Marvelous!" I scolded.
"There was some kind of attack," AkaRed said. "I was here, and they were out fighting. I don't know how, but they are slowly aging backwards."
"When were they hit?" I said.
"Monday after school," AkaRed said. "I haven't allowed them to leave the Galleon to go to school, so that in case something happened, they wouldn't be hurt."
"Miss," Ahim said, tugging on my sleeve politely. "Who are you?"
Glancing at AkaRed, he motioned for me to act like we never met before.
"I'm Amanda," I said, getting to a knee. "What's your name?"
"Hello Amanda-sama!" Ahim said. "I'm Ahim de Famille!"
"Hello Ahim, it's nice to meet you," I said. Turning to AkaRed, I said, "I'm going to unpack and then come help you."
"Please do," AkaRed said, catching the plate Luka threw.
"I don't want green food!" Luka protested. "I want cake!"
"There's no cake, and we can't make one," I said, then disappeared to my room. I quickly unpacked, but as I was going to leave, someone suddenly clung onto my leg, causing me to fall. "Whoa!" I looked and saw that Grace was hanging onto me.
"Drag me!" Grace cried. "Drag me!"
"Grace," I said, prying her off of my leg and picking her up. "I can't carry you right now. I've got to help Daddy with the others."
"Ok!" Grace said, kissing my hair and then jumping out of my grasp, running out of my room.
I went to where AkaRed was, who was trying to keep Marvelous and Joe from fighting. "Hey, no roughhousing on the ship!" I said, pulling the two apart. "If I catch you two fighting again, you'll be going to the corner!"
"I'm the captain!" Marvelous said. "You can't tell me what to do."
"Well, the captain should be older," I said. I plopped him into his chair and put Joe on the couch.
"Careful," Joe said.
"Wha-?" I began, but Don suddenly crawled out from under the couch and grabbed my ankle. "Please don't leave me!" he cried. "Everyone is crazy!"
"Don," I moaned, trying to get my ankle free, but he kept hugging it to his chest. "I won't leave you. Just let go."
"I'm not crazy!" young Gai said, jumping up and down in the air.
AkaRed gave me a hand and tore Don from me. "I'll be able to handle them for awhile," he said. "Can you start dinner?"
I nodded. "Will do," I replied, going to the kitchen before I could be stopped. "Luka!" I grabbed her while she was on a chair looking into the freezer. "What are you doing?"
"I want dessert!" Luka said.
"After dinner," I said. "Go play with Ahim."
"No! I'll play with Marvelous!" Luka disagreed. She skipped out of the room.
"Let's see what I can cook up," I said, beginning to look through Don's cookbook.
"Dinner!" I called, setting up the last plate.
"Yay!" the kids cried, running to the table.
"Let me help you," AkaRed offered, coming into the kitchen and taking a few plates. "I really appreciate you helping out, especially when you should be resting after that cruise."
"Don't worry about it," I said. "Have you been able to sleep?"
"Not for the past few days," AkaRed said. "It seemed that they were ten when going to bed a few days ago, and then they were seven at midnight that night. Haven't slept since then."
"Any idea how to track this guy?" I said.
"I don't know how, and if I did, I don't have the time," AkaRed said. "After all, seven little kids are a lot of work."
"Now that I'm here, maybe you'll have some more time," I said.
"Hopefully," AkaRed said.
"Alright, who wants dinner?" I asked as AkaRed and I walked into the room, carrying the dishes and placing them in front of the kids.
"Itadakimasu!" Luka, Ahim, and Grace cried, while the boys began to eat.
"You should be polite and thank Amanda-sama for making such a great meal," Ahim said.
"We're hungry," Marvelous replied, his mouth full of food.
"No talking with your mouth full, Marvelous," I disciplined.
"Sorry," Marvelous said, keeping up the habit.
We continued the meal in silence, and when we finished, the girls said, "Gochisosama!"
"You're welcome, girls," I said. "Would someone like to help me with the dishes?"
"I would, if I can," Ahim said.
"Sure," I said.
AkaRed began his duty of watching over the others while Ahim and I cleared the table and did the dishes.
"Bubbles!" Ahim cried as the dish soap made a lot of bubbles.
"Yep," I said, getting a bit on my finger and putting it on the tip of Ahim's nose, causing her to laugh as she wiped it off with a towel. "Bubbles."
We finished our task and went to the living room, seeing that the others were watching TV on the computer while AkaRed was trying not to dose off to sleep.
"Good idea," I said as I sat next to AkaRed. "This will keep them occupied."
"SpongeBob SquarePants!" the group of kids cried.
"And good episode choice," I said. "You should go get some sleep."
"Not until they go to bed," AkaRed said. "They need to be asleep first. If anyone, you should be going to sleep."
"No, I'm good for now," I said. "I use to help out in a pediatric ward, so I know what to do with kids to get them ready to go to sleep."
"Good, because I have no clue what to do next," AkaRed said. "Grace was always such a good girl before, she didn't need telling what to do before, but now she's acting like the others."
"They need to get a bath and then be dressed for bed," I said.
AkaRed shook his head. "Like they would want to," he said. "They don't even like it when I accidently sprayed them with the water when doing dishes."
"They'll just have to get use to it," I said. "I know Ahim will be easy, and maybe Gai and Don, but I'm not sure about the others. We should start with them."
"I'll get Marvelous and Joe," AkaRed said. "You can try to control Luka and Grace. Keep with the girls so you'll feel a bit more comfortable. When you get Ahim tucked into bed, then you can call it a night."
"No, I'll help you if needed," I said. "If I'm going to be a doctor, I need to be use to long hours."
"If you say so," AkaRed said. He got to his feet and went to Marvelous. "Hey, it's time for a shower," he said.
Marvelous didn't notice that he was being spoken to: in fact, he was asleep.
"What did you put in the food?" AkaRed asked, picking up Marvelous.
"Nothing: good food gets you tired," I replied, taking a fast asleep Luka in my arms. "This will help us."
After getting Luka and Grace cleaned up, where they put in quite a fight after they realized what I was doing, I went to get Ahim, who was leaning on Gai's shoulder, snoozing.
Gai's head was resting against his chest, and Don was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, Ahim," I whispered, waking up the young ex-princess. "You've gotta take a shower."
Ahim yawned, which reminded me of a yawning puppy, and looked at me with blinky-eyes. "Ok," she mumbled, getting to her feet, yawning again, and letting me guide her to the girls' bathroom. "Amanda-sama, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Ahim," I said as I prepared the shower for the final person.
"Are you my mom?" Ahim said.
"No," I said, though I was startled by her question. "I'm just a friend."
"Is AkaRed-san my father?" Ahim said.
"No," I repeated. "He's also just a friend."
"Then who's my family?" Ahim said. "I know I come from the planet of Famille, but why am I here?"
"I'll tell you when you'll older," I said, not realizing just how much of an adult I was sounding like until I said that.
"Ok," Ahim said dreamily.
When I tucked Ahim in, I was going to leave when Ahim's small hand caught my arm. "Yes?" I asked.
"Tell me a story," Ahim said. "Please. AkaRed-san would tell me a story at night."
"What about?" I said, sitting on the edge of Ahim's bed.
"Anything," Ahim said. "But make it have a happy ending, please."
"Ok," I said thinking for a moment. Then, I began a story about a knight in shining armor and a princess, where the princess was kidnapped by a dragon and the knight freed the princess. "…And they lived happily ever after in the princess' castle. The end," I finished.
"Thank you," Ahim said, yawning again. She turned onto her side. "Goodnight, Amanda-sama."
"Goodnight, Ahim," I said, getting up and kissing Ahim goodnight on the forehead. "Sleep tight." I slowly closed the door behind me and let out a sigh of relief. Going to the living room because I heard the computer was still set to TV mode, I saw that AkaRed was in the captain's chair, fast asleep.
I smiled slightly and quietly switched the computer back to the screen of the Gokiager symbol and turned to AkaRed. "Hey, everyone's in bed," I whispered, shaking him slightly to wake him up. "Now you can get some sleep."
"This has been the quietest since they turned ten," AkaRed said, slowly raising his head. "Thanks. You have a way with kids."
"Now, time for us to go to bed," I said. "After all, you deserve it more than anything. And if anyone wakes up, leave it to me."
"If you insist," AkaRed said.
We went to our rooms and then went to bed.