"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the cell-phone!"
Yae was practically shaking with excitement. She hoped it worked. "Our baby is born!" Asagiri and Chrome chuckled at that.
With that said, Senku pulled the lever, a spark of electricity coming to life. Everyone cheered, celebrating the fruits of all their hard labor. "YEAH!"
Ruri smiled. "Our voices are going to travel across the sky and far into the distance."
Suika stood on her tippy-toes to get a better look. "That's so strange."
Kohaku nodded. "It's so great that we'll be able to send our voices over long distances. But how are we going to hear them?" She looked over at Senku and Yae.
Senku's eyes went wide and Yae noticed him panic. "What's the matter?"
"Oh shit...looks like we'll need to make another one. Whoops!" He scratched his head.
Yae face-palmed herself. "Of course...duh."
Everyone else just about fell over themselves. More work?! How cruel. However, Asagiri Gen seemed less than impressed with the idea. "You kept quiet about that on purpose, didn't you?" He looked over at Yae. "And what about you, Deary?"
Yae smoothed out her braid and chuckled nervously. "Actually, I was so excited about making this one that I totally spaced the fact that we would need two." After she said, Yae swore she saw a little bit of Asagiri's soul escape from his mouth.
As Senku rolled out the cable wire across the bridge, Yae walked with him, making sure nothing would snag or tug and helped keep the wire nice and straight.
"We don't need another one to make it work as a cell-phone." Senku told her. "But if we run a long cable, it should work as a phone."
"You mean, like one of those walkie-talkies?"
"Yeah, Kind of."
Once they reached the village and set the cable wire up on the other side in Ruri's hut, it was time to flip the switch and see if this baby worked.
"Are you guys ready for something awesome?" Senku said to everyone in the room and they nodded with anticipation.
"Ruri..." Chrome's voice popped out from other side, slightly echoing. Ruri gasped, her eyes wide. "Did you see that, Ruri? Pretty awesome, right? SCIENCE IS INSANE!" His voice boomed, sending shivers down the villagers spines as they neared the microphone.
Yae kept her eyes on Ruri, a small smile played across her face. Her young priestess friend was blushing. Was it because Senku's phone, or because of Chrome?
Everyone started talking at once, asking how it all worked and if making another one was possible.
"I'm shocked." Said Jasper. "That was definitely Chrome's voice."
Kokuyo was in disbelief. "I don't get it. How can something so tiny speak?"
"It's almost like a speaker." Ruri said.
"Almost?" Senku repeated. "It literally is a speaker."
"Amazing what science can do, huh?" Yae gently patted Ruri on the shoulder. "Microphones and speakers just convert between sound and electricity."
"Yeah, they're the same..." Senku stopped in mid-sentence.
"What's the matter, Senku?" Yae asked.
"Ruri...Did you just say speaker?"
It finally dawned on Yae too. "Oooh!"
"Bees! Bees!" Said some of the kids.
Asagiri was once again confused. "Huh? Speakers are bees?"
Ruri tried to explain herself better. "Um...I mean, aren't speakers a kind of bee?"
"How did that happen?" Senku asked her.
"It was in the Hundred Tales." Ruri replied simply.
"That's how it was passed down?" Asagiri asked.
"Yes. In tale 14, the Hundred Tales, there's a talkative bee named Speaker. When it poked gravestones with its needle, it could speak the voices of the dead."
"Speakers?" Senku was deep in thought again. "Needles on gravestones...Voices of the dead. That story isn't transferring any kind of knowledge."
Yae scratched her head. "I'm not sure I get it."
"Talk about suspicious." Said Asagiri. "It's using the word "speaker" to try to communicate something only to modern humans. And it's tale number 14."
Yae's eyes went wide. "One and four..."
"Or "I" and "shi"... as in "ishi."
"Stone..." Yae said softly. "Senku...your birthday."
Senku gasped, hardly able to believe it. Was it really true? "My old man's gravestone."
"The cemetery!" Yae said quickly.
Senku and Yae gathered Kohaku, Chrome and some of the others to Byakuya's gravestone. They were short of breath from running the whole way there, never stopping or slowing down. When they reached, Senku wasted little time and started pulling at the gravestone.
"What are you doing, Senku? That's sacrilege!" Kinro yelled at him.
"Is there something on the gravestone, Senku?" Chrome asked.
Senku chuckled. "I should have noticed a lot sooner. That man is such a pain in the ass. Just the gravestones of the founders? Now that I think about it, that's ten billion percent bull crap."
Yae leaned forward to get a better look. "It's not just a gravestone, is it?"
Senku shook his head. "No. It's a time capsule that's been kept in solid concrete."
"A time capsule? What's that?" Kohaku wondered.
"Is there really something inside it?" Chromed inched closer.
"Yeah, but we'll need to break it to get inside."
"Be careful." Said Yae.
Magma suddenly moved forward with a hammer, ready to flatted the damn thing.
"Hold it, meat head!" Senku yelled. Magma stopped right on time. "If I'm right, there's glass inside this thing. We're going to need both power and speed to crack this thing open swiftly."
Kohaku rolled up her sleeves and pulled out her tools. "Step aside, boys. I got this!" Everyone with amazement as Kohaku carefully and swiftly chiseled away at the stone.
"There's something inside!" Suika shouted once the top layer broke off. "It's some kind of silver chunk."
"We should take it back to the laboratory before we do anything else with it." Yae cautioned. "We don't want to expose it to anymore light or the elements in the air just to be on the safe side."
Senku nodded. "I agree. Let's head back."
Once the rest of the stone had been removed, it was clear was really covered up inside.
"It's silver because its wrapped in aluminum foil." Senku explained. "If we wash it with hydrochloric acid..." He lifted the circular disk and presented it to everyone.
"It's glass!" Chrome's mouth dropped open.
"A saucer?"
"It looks like they cut out the bottom of a bottle or something."
Senku admired the glass disk. "Saucer. Speakers. Speaking with needles." He chuckled softly. "Does that remind you of anything?"
Asagiri and Yae glanced over at each other. "It's a record!" They said unison as they both snatched it from Senku's hands.
"Oh wow! How cool!" Yae wondered what was on it and if it still actually worked.
"My dad's voice and voices of the crew are all on there. They went through the trouble of leaving us a voice recording."
Yae's eyes sparkled with delight. "Oh wow, I can't wait to hear!"
Senku smirked. "Well then, let's hear what they have to say."
"Chrome was right." Ruri's eyes went glossy. "Science truly is beautiful. It has let Senku's father speak to him from Heaven. And now, thousands of years later, traveling through time with science, such a thing is possible." The heart-warming moment was only going to get better as they all waited anxiously to hear what was on the record.
Of course, Chrome had his concerns and asked, "Wait, Senku. Are you trying to tell that record thing can trap sound?"
"That's impossible." Chimed Suika. "There's no way you can trap a sound."
Kohaku scratched her head. "I'm so confused."
Yae looked over at her chuckled somewhat. "That's alright. You don't have to completely understand to be amazed by it."
"So then," Kohaku asked, "how does it work?"
Senku looked at the glass record carefully. "Actually, the way it works is ridiculously simple." He went through the steps carefully, hoping everyone could follow along. He talked about grooves, vibration and how it all connects through a needle. "And that reproduces the original sound." Senku said, feeling proud of himself having remembered those little details.
"Is it really possible for glass to store sound?" Kaseki said. "I never would have guessed it."
"Senku's old man was badass!" Said Chrome.
Senku picked at his ear again. "Ah, he's cool, but he didn't do it. It had to have been the people who were stuck with him."
Yae guessed that Byakuya was rolling his grave after Senku said what he did. "Astronauts are some of the worlds most elite scientist." Yae told him, trying to give a bit of dignity back to the old man.
Senku smirked. "Yeah, all except for my old man. He got in on luck. Although, it is possible that he came up with the idea. He would have thought of something as goofy as this."
"Well then," said Yae. "What are we waiting for? Let's give it a listen!"
Senku nodded. "It should be easy enough to make a record player. We'll use some of the gear from the cotton candy machine."
A glimmer sparked in Kohaku's eyes. "Heh! I guess it was a good thing to mess up father's shield. It's so much better this way."
"As long as it can help you that's fine with me." Kokuyo said feeling somewhat giddy. "Just glad to be useful."
"And that right there is how people become cogs in society as they get older...like literally." Asagiri crossed his arms.
"I don't remember asking you for your social commentary." Said Senku and Yae laughed.
After a few passing moments while others went to gather a few supplies, Ruri came back.
"Here you go. I use this sew clothing and such." She handed the cloth over to Senku that had a tiny sharp object laying on top.
"Ah, this is perfect."
"Hey, a bone needle." Yae said. She had helped Ruri sew a few things before so she knew exactly what it was and also knew what Senku planned to use it for.
"Making a record player isn't actually that hard...but making the record is a whole other matter." The excitement in his face faltered somewhat and Yae noticed.
"Don't worry, Senku. We'll think of something. We always do."
Senku nodded at her. "If we're going to be cutting glass, we'll need an extremely hard rock."
This seemed right up Chrome's alley. "Yeah, something like corundom or diamonds, right?"
"Exactly," Senku told him.
With that said, the Kingdom of Science set off to make a record player.
It only took a single day to make the record, but in order to do that, everyone had to be working together.
"Yeah, we managed to pull it off!" Chrome pumped his fist into the air.
"Wait!" Said Yae. "Before we use it, let's bring everyone together. This is actual history we're about to witness."
"Yae is right." Said Senku. "It would be a shame if they missed out on this." He nudged her a little; that small physical affection going a long way to tell Yae silently that he appreciated her kindness when it came to thinking of the others.
Before long, everyone was together.
"What's going on?" asked Turquoise.
"Apparently we're going to hear the voices of the founders." Jasper explained quickly. He too was excited and could hardly wait.
"Okay, start spinning, Ginro." Senku said.
"Sure. I've gotten a lot of practice from the cotton candy machine."
Yae held her breath as Senku slowly and carefully placed the needle on the glass record. What would they hear? What kind of message would they receive? Yae automatically grasped Senku's hand, her attention focused on the record.
For a moment, it silent, but suddenly, a voice spoke out. "I don't know whose listening to this. It could be hundreds, maybe even thousands of years from now..."
Yae stole a glance over at Senku. There was a look on his face that she had never seen before and she could only imagine what kind of thoughts were running through his head.
"Those are the voices of the founding villagers?" Kokuyo was baffled.
"I think that's Senku's father talking." Kohaku told him. "It's really him."
"But enough about me!" Byakuya's voice suddenly got louder. "Who needs all this stuffy formality?...You revived from the petrification and somehow got your hands on this recording. Senku...you're listening, aren't you? I can tell. How many centuries has it been since we've seen each other? It's kind of crazy to think about." There was another small pause. "This will be the last call I make to you..."
Yae's heart sunk a little. She could feel Senku's palms going warmer than usual, but his stoic attitude remained the same.
"Senku, I want you to know that I have always...always..." Just when Yae thought Byakuya was about to say something mushy, he quickly changed the tone in his voice. "Ya know what? You're probably the last person who needs all that sappy father and son crap, so I'll just get to the point."
Senku laughed. "You know me alright."
"Senku, if the village is still here and you're having a tough time winning over the hearts and minds of whoever's living in it, try playing this for them."
Yae smiled softly. It didn't take much for Senku to win her heart.
Suddenly, Yae's thoughts were interrupted when Byakuya said, "I present to those who have lived unenlightened...the light of music!"
With the seconds that followed no one was prepared to hear what was next. Yae hadn't heard music for such a long time that she almost forgot how beautiful it truly sounded. There was a pang in her chest, a yearning for more, and a spark of memory. She had heard this voice before...this song. It made her feel happy and safe, like everything was going to be alright in the end. A hot tear ran down her cheek but Senku wiped it away before it could slip down her chin. There was a heartfelt smile on his face.
Little suika was shaking with emotion. "I've never heard something so beautiful before."
"It's like the voice of an angel." Kaseki did his best to remain calm and not cry like a baby.
Ginro, on the other hand, had no shame as he tears rushed down his face. "Wah! It's amazing! I don't know what else to say."
Kinro slid over, ready to steady his younger brother if he needed to. "Well put." He said.
"That's Lillian singing. She was one of the beautiful and respected vocalists of our time. Imagine that being the first song you hear." Asagiri said.
"Lillian..." Yae mumbled her name. Somehow she knew the name bore some kind of meaning deeper than the message of Lillian's song.
"That's bad!" Chrome was close to shedding a few tears himself. "Two million years of humanity. So bad!" He finally let the tears flow. "Senku, Yae, I bet there was all kinds of awesome music like this in the past, huh?"
"Yeah, you're damn right. And music is just part of it. Games, television, movies, manga. So much art and entertainment, and all of it was made possible by science. There was a tone of ridiculously fun stuff from all over the world."
"Too bad it's all long gone now." Said Yae.
"But all that still has a chance to live on." Senku reminded her. "Inside our hearts. And I'm going to do everything I can to let you guys see it, but first, we're gonna need to take down the Tsukasa Empire and revive all the worlds statues."
The village roared with excitement and praise.
"I really wanna see everything for myself!" Suika could hardly contain herself.
"I'm so damn excited!" Kaseki pumped his fists into the air.
Talk of reviving all the statues around the world spread quickly. It filled people with hope for a better future.
"I must say," started Asagiri. "Your dad's got skill. Even from a thousand years ago, he's got complete strangers excited about bringing others back from the petrification and just Lillian singing made it possible. So does this help wash your guilt from having dragged your fellow villagers into a war? Maybe just a little?"
Senku laughed. "Come on. I never had any to begin with."
Yae playfully smacked his arm. "Not even a little bit?"
Senku rubbed his arm even though it barely hurt. "You know me." He smirked.
Once everyone dispersed, Yae took Furo out of her cage to eat. The forest had the most nutritious plants for her to eat, and she had yet to pay her respects to the weeping woman. It was late so she would be quick about it. And with most of the snow finally melting away, it was easier to make her way through and in no time Yae was right where she wanted to be.
Senku would be able to handle things on his own for the rest of the evening without her by his side.
While she waited for Furo to eat her fill, Yae placed a flower atop the statues head. She was humming Lillian's song. She worried little about anyone sneaking up on her. She was confidant enough in her fighting skills that she would be able to defend herself. But what came next she was not prepared for. Nothing could have helped her with what was about to happen; her mental state of mind innocent in the ways of being buried underneath the truth. It all came flooding back to her. Perhaps it was Lillian's song, or maybe just luck. But was she really lucky?
Yae's hand that held the flower shook above the statue's head.
"M-mah-mah...Mom...?" She backed away slowly; her body temperature rising quickly, cheeks flushing and he head spinning. She fell on her bottom and she grabbed her head, pulling at her hair. "No...NO!" She took in a deep breath and screamed, sobbing as tears fell down her red, heated cheeks.
It was like a scary dream she couldn't wake herself from; a nightmare she was reliving once again. Her memories had all come back to her. She remembered the kids from school, the shitty apartment she and her mother lived in. She remembered the kids who bullied her for her weight and for the fact that she was always so quiet. But it was more than just bullying. It was so much worse than that and Yae thought she was going to die from shock. Her breathing sped up, her heart raced and her head started to hurt so much. She did her best to think of Senku. It was him that made her fucked up life worth living, to perhaps someday have the courage to tell him how she felt about him, but the only face she could see was Tsukasa.
Next chapter will be all about Yae's past. Get ready for an overly protective Senku!
Also, please listen to the song Silence sung by Isak Danielson. It reminds me of Yae.
