Chapter 50
My Happy Ending
One month later...
Renton carried Charlie atop his shoulders as he walked alongside his friends. Raychel was in her mother's arms. Anemone was pushing Lily in the stroller. Maurice, Maeter, and Linck were playing soccer with their god-parents, Doggie and Gidget. Both Gidget and Hilda now wore rings on their fingers. Matthieu and Hilda were married now. Doggie and Gidget were engaged. Their wedding was in seven months. Tiptory had accepted Axel proposal and were to be married one year from now.
One week ago, Sumner and Hooky had taken Ruri and Gillian out for a romantic candle lit dinner. There they proposed to the ladies, the women happily accepted. Kylee was seeing Wes, while Rodriguez and Kurtz were competing for Elena's affection. Sind, Lotte, and Edie, had come to visit Sumner, Gillian, and Hooky. Dotti and Emil tagged along with them. Holland and Talho's child was four now. Dewey was the spitting image of his father. Mischa and Greg's little Norb wasn't so little anymore. He was two years old now.
Three weeks ago the Egans received a letter from their friends at Tresoir. Morita has popped the question on Sonia. She didn't know how to respond which is why she mailed Mischa asking her opinion. Mischa wrote her back, "Go for it! We wish you the best!" Three days later there was another letter. Sonia had taken their advice and accepted Morita's hand in marriage.
"So how are you and Dominic adjusted to parenthood?" Eureka asked Anemone. "It's challenging but, I think we're doing pretty good. You and Renton have been a huge help. Thanks." she replied. "Hey Renton, Anemone and I have been thinking." began Dominic. "Yeah? What about?" he inquired. "Your kids have Doggie and Gidget so, we were wondering if you and Eureka would mind becoming Lily's god-parents?" he asked casually. "Sure Dominic. What 'bout you Eureka?" Renton relayed the offer to his wife telepathically. "It's fine by me. We'd love to, Anemone." Eureka told her. Dominic and Anemone thanked them.
Elsewhere...
Stoner had just finished editing ray=out's final issue. He was now in the process of trying to come up with a title. "Let me see. What should I call it?" he asked himself. He snapped his fingers. "How about something like, 'Don't Stop Believin'? Yeah, that has a nice ring to it." stated Stoner pleased with himself. Ray=out's 100th and final issue would be entitled 'Don't Stop Believin'.
Elsewhere...
With the aide of Moonlight Shadow's former members Jurgen, Maria, and their children, had finally finished dismantling the last of every KLFs and LFOs weaponry. Now the only theat they posed were their massive sound systems. Every rider had mounted gigantic speakers where the guns used to be. The only things which would be damaged now were their eardrums. (As if the riders actually cared.) All airships had their weapons removed too. The Gekko and Super Izumo were just regular aircraft now. Firearms had all been destroyed in a huge bonfire.
Renton had retired Charles Beams' old rifle. It was on a mantle above his fireplace now. Engraved on the plaque was the phrase, "Get It By Your Hands". That had been the title of Charles' favorite song. The rifle had become a memorial now, a reminder to those who had lost their lives and the sole remaining weapon on the entire planet.
Later that night at the banquet...
"So, what happens now?' Holland asked his friend. "Maria and I are going back to Warsaw. We're gonna fix the place up and settle down with our children." Jurgens informed him. "What about you?" he inquired. "Me? Don't know yet. I've been asked to become a public official but, there's no way I'm doing that. I hate politics. I'm thinking of taking up lifting again. Maybe travel the world looking for the perfect wave or perhaps I'll open my own ref shop. One thing I do know for certain is I want to teach my son to lift when he's old enough." said Holland indecisive. "If you open a ref shop then I'll be your partner. We've been together since we were toddlers. There's no way I'll let you run your own business alone." stated Hap. "Thanks, Hap." he said. "Wow, you finally said it." his friend laughed. "Said what?" inquired Holland. "Said 'thanks'. Remember me saying, 'I'd like you to thank me once before I die'?" Hap reminded him. "I do now." he laughed. Jurgens chuckled. "Once a refboarder, always a refboarder, eh?" he said. "What about you, Matthieu?" asked Talho. "I'm going to start my own record company. Something I've always wanted to do." stated Matthieu. "I think that'll work out great." agreed Sumner. "What will you and Ruri do?" inquired Hilda. "Us? Sumner and I are going to be professional lifters." answered Ruri. "Maybe even form our own team. You're welcome to join us if you want, Moondoggie." offered Sumner. "Thanks dude. Maybe I'll take ya up on that offer." responded James.
"What about you two?" Gidget asked Hooky and Gillian. "We're thinking of working for the airlines. You know, be air-traffic controllers." replied Hooky. "Woz and I will be working at Tresoir." Jobs informed everyone. "Jobs wants to work alongside Dr. Bear." stated Woz. "So that means you and Mischa will be returning to Tresoir then?" Ken-Goh asked Greg. "That's right." he confirmed. "What will you do?" inquired Mischa. "I'll be staying with the Gekko. It's become my home. Besides, who else will pilot it if Moondoggie quits?" stated Ken-Goh.
"I've been invite to Belle Forest to live with Axel and his family." Tiptory told them. "We'll be living in Belle Forest too in a house right next door to Eureka and Renton." added Anemone. Dominic nodded. "What about you Wes?" he asked. "Wes will be returning to Bester with Kylee, Emil, and I." stated Dotti. "We'll be working at Dotti's Garage." Kurtz, Rodriguez, and Elena informed everybody. "I'm going home to Controrado to grow puncha nuts." said Yucatan.
A moment later there was a knock at the door. "Come in." said Naki. The door opened and a man entered. "I was told I could find Sumner Sturgeon here." the man stated. Sumner's eyes widened. "I know that voice." he thought. Sumner stood up from his chair. "Father?" he whispered. "Sumner? Is that you?" the man asked. "Who's that, Sumner?" Ruri asked him. "That's my father, Bernard Sturgeon. I haven't seen or heard from him in years." he stated.
Bernard came over his son and hugged him. "I knew your letter wasn't fake. It's great to finally see you again my boy. You've grown." he said. "It's good to see you too dad. How's Torino doing?" Sumner asked his father. "Why don't you ask him yourself? He's outside with his wife, Maria, and their son, Cole." replied Bernard. "Cole?" repeated Sumner. "Yeah, after Lotte's older brother. He was named in honor of him. Cole is nine now and anxious to meet his uncle." stated his father. "Who's this young lady?" he asked referring to Ruri. Sumner introduced her. "This is Ruri, my fiancee." he replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir." said Ruri shaking Bernard's hand. "Likewise, miss." he replied. "I've heard a lot about you and Torino from Sumner." she informed him. "Good, I hope." he chuckled. "Yeah, mostly." laughed Ruri.
Sumner and Ruri followed Bernard outside to meet Torino, Maria, and Cole. "Hey little brother. Long time, no see." greeted Torino. "It's been awhile, Sumner. The last time we met you were only sixteen and I was still pregnant." recalled Maria. "You're my Uncle Sumner?" Coles asked him. "That's right and this is your aunt, Ruri." Sumner told the boy introducing her. "You got married?!" exclaimed Maria. "Not yet. Right now we're just engaged." clarified Ruri. "Hooky, Gillian, Edie, Sind, and Lotte are here too in case you want to see them." Sumner notified his father and brother. "I'd like that. Is it alright if we come in?" Bernard asked his younger son. "Of course, dad." said Sumner leading them back inside.
Gillian and Hooky stood up and saluted Sumner's father. "It's good to see you again, sir." said Hooky. "At ease you two. You can drop the 'sir' too. I'm retired now, just another civilian. But it's good to see you and Gillian doing well." replied Bernard. "It's a shame Steven isn't with us anymore. He was a good man, Gillian. My condolences." he added. Gillian nodded. "Yeah, he was." she agreed.
Lotte went over to Torino and his family. "Torino." said Lotte acknowledging him. "Lotte." he responded. "You're Lotte?" Maria Sturgeon asked him. Lotte nodded. "Lotte, there's someone I want you to meet. This is Cole, our son. I named him after your brother." stated Torino as he introduced their son. "Cole, huh?" Lotte asked the boy. Cole nodded in response. "It's nice to meet you, Cole. I'm Lotte." he said shaking the boys hand. Sind smiled. "That was a noble thing you did there, Torino. Naming your boy after Lotte's departed brother. Very admirable." Sind told the boy's father. "Well, Cole was a kind person and I'm hoping my son will grow up to be a good person just like the man he was named after." stated Torino. "I'm sure he will, dear." his wife assured him.
Sumner began introducing his father and brother to everyone else. Torino introduced his wife and son. "By the way son, what are we celebrating?" inquired Bernard. "It's always like this. We've done this everyday since the war ended." Ruri informed the newcomers. "Really?" asked Maria (Sturgeon). "Yep." confirmed Sumner. "Cool. I like the sound of that, little brother." grinned Torino.
NEXT, THE EPILOGUE: WE FAST FOREWARD FOURTEEN YEARS WHERE I BEGIN BY DESCRIBING THE EUREKA SEVEN VOL. 12 DVD COVER. THE VERY THING WHICH INSPIRED THIS WHOLE STORY. THE MEANING OF THE PROPHECY THE THURSTONS AND SORELS WERE TOLD OF WILL BECOME CLEAR. ONE LAST TALE REMAINS. EPILOGUE: THE BRILLIANT LIGHT NAMED "HOPE"
