Chapter 25 ~ Loved Ones
I remember when I first enlisted in the praetorian guard at the age of fourteen. The process required discipline and of course no small amount of patience. Which I did not possess. Though the endurance tests and other trivial tasks we were assigned to complete were taxing. None of it compared to how long I spent waiting by the door for my acceptance letter. To hear whether or not I was going to be part of the guard. To be part of one the very few traditions that still remained of my kind and to be trained for the future adventure I was now in. Though right now it felt like more of a rescue mission than an adventure. The ultimate test for any warrior.
It had been nearly a week since the incident at the museum. At this point, the media had spread the news like wildfire. From the involvement of Gears and Harlequinn to the missing Dimensionator. People were scared and no one had any clear idea of what the enemy wanted. Or why they were doing this in the first place.
One thing was clear though, time was running out.
Not so much for Katherine's life, but for the small yet very important factor of that they had the dimensionator. Even though it is broken. There was no telling how long until they fixed it or worse improved it. And when that happens their true plans will be made clear and so will the person who's behind all of this.
Yet here I was sitting in the apogee space station playing the worst waiting game of my life.
"I hate this!" I finally shouted abruptly disrupting the peace and quiet of Ratchet and Flynn playing a holo game behind me. They both jumped startled by my outburst.
"I mean how hard is it to send coordinates? We need to save Kat and to get back the dimensionator! It's not like those stupid pirates are gonna stay loyal! After all, their captain left them! Left them!" At this point I was pacing throughout the room as I noticed Ratchet hand Flynn a couple of bolts. Though I wasn't surprised by the small interaction it still soured my mood even further. However rather than yelling at the two regarding the bet the two had placed on me I stormed off grumbling under my breath.
"Where are you going?" I heard Flynn call out through his translator.
"To go train! I need to hit something!: I called back leaving the two boys alone as they both watched my backside as I left.
Ratchet's POV
Though Ratchet waited until Roslyn was no longer in view and even waited a little after. He was already planning on going after her. Even if it meant losing to Flynn, who was losing up until Ratchet's attention was taken somewhere else, in a competitive holo game. As soon as he felt he had waited long enough he paused the game prompting Flynn to look at Ratchet in irritation.
"Look man! Just because I was finally kicking your ass in this game! It doesn't give you a free pass to suddenly be a sore loser!" He shouted as he set the controller down, but when Flynn realized that Ratchet's attention was not on him, but on someone else he sombered before he tapped Ratchet's arm to gain his attention.
"Dude trust me on this. Leave her alone and let her cool her head for a bit. Come on, let's finish this game real quick." He said as he handed Ratchet his controller. Hesitantly Ratchet took the controller, but he still didn't unpause the game instead he looked over his shoulder towards the direction Roslyn had walked off.
"Ratchet, I'm serious. Don't go after her."
"Why?" He asked slightly irritated as he unpaused the game determined to kick Flynn's ass this time. Flynn remained calm and focused as he answered Ratcher's question with his own.
"So she told you that she's Alister Azimuth's daughter right?"
Immediately, Ratchet's irritation worsened.
"What does that have to do with anything?" He asked as he continued to lose badly to flynn.
"Everything, dude." Flynn answered. "Ever since she was a kid, Rosie's always been known to be impatient. Sometimes that impatience would turn into anger. An anger that she's never fully conquered. An Azimuth family trait from what my old man told me."
Ratchet wanted to dismiss this fact, but deep down he knew it was true. Alister, when he was alive, though compassionate and kind also had a fierce temper. Much like the one Roslyn displayed from time to time.
"But what would she be so angry about?" Ratchet asked.
"More like who." Flynn answered. "She hated her father at first when she learned who he was and everything that belonged to the Azimuth name , then Leah for a while when Rosie wanted to be more independent, her race at times for how they treated her or for all the messed up rules they had regarding the past, and now she's angry at herself. Now more than ever and you know it." The round finally ended with Flynn as the victor, much to Ratchet's bitterness, but he never cheered like he normally would. Rather he set down the controller and faced Ratchet.
"Look, I know you like Roslyn." Immediately Ratchet's eyes widen as he thinks of an excuse to deny the statement, but Flynn beats him to it.
"I've seen how you've looked at her dude and I get it. Rosie's a beautiful woman. She always has been, but behind that beautiful face is a badass ex-sergeant who can take care of herself. She always has and she always will."
Ratchet wanted to rebuttal saying he already knew this. He knew she could take care of herself, but that didn't mean she had to. Not when he or anyone else here would drop whatever they were doing to help her. Okay maybe not everyone would go that far, but he certainly would. Afterall Flynn said it himself. He cared about Roslyn, deeply he might add. He knew he wasn't in love with her, but it was safe to say he definitely had a major infatuation on the woman despite her flaws. However the same couldn't be said about Roslyn. Even if she did trust him and cared for him as well. That didn't mean she shared his feelings. Plus if Ratchet didn't know any better it still felt like Roslyn was holding herself back.
"Well what if she actually needs help, but doesn't ask for it?" Ratchet asked.
"Then you step in and help her when you know she needs it, but right now isn't one of those times. Trust me on this one. Besides I've got a better idea of how to cheer her up. Come on." Slapping Ratchet's back, Flynn stood up and began to head towards the kitchen, which was the exact opposite direction of where Roslyn had stormed off.
Even when Ratchet followed suit and began to follow him, he kept looking back, just in case Roslyn decided she needed help afterall. Not because he wanted to impress her, but rather he wanted to show her that no matter what he would be there for her.
Roslyn's POV
Even though I loved tinkering with gadgets and building new inventions. Working up a good sweat also had a certain euphoria to it as well. Plus it was also nice that I wasn't disturbed by anyone. Although I was sure Ratchet was going to try to come after me or at the very least come check on me, like he always had done in the past.
But once the first thirty minutes passed I knew he wasn't coming to offer advice or at the very least be a sparring partner. Somehow I figured Flynn was behind it all and when I reached the kitchen smelling a delicious scent of Nanophyte Stew, a traditional lombax meal, wafting into the halls my suspicions were confirmed. Even though Nanophyte was a creature native to fastoon and wasn't available in Kaida. Leah knew how to make it so close to the real thing that it instantly became one of my favorite meals to this day and also a source of comfort. Something I knew only Flynn would know, but when I walked inside watching Flynn, Ratchet, and Angela swarming through the small kitchen trying to add the finishing touches to their 'surprise'. I couldn't stop my laughter from bubbling to the surface for all three to hear. Instantly they stop on their tracks, each looking at me wide eyed as if they'd been caught committing a crime.
"Rosie!" Flynn exclaimed. "You're not supposed to be here!"
"Then where am I supposed to be?"I asked, raising my eyebrow at the three as Angela resumed setting the table and Ratchet finished pouring the drinks. Flynn doesn't answer as he turns back to the stew giving it a couple of stirs. Stepping into the kitchen I sit down at the table as Ratchet sits beside me.
"We were hoping to surprise you. To cheer you up."He whispered. "Flynn said this was one of your favorite meals."
"But I just had to finish my training early."I joked loud enough to earn a laugh from everyone as Flynn served us all before sitting down to join us.
After I thank them all for their efforts I dig into the meal immediately feeling homesickness engulf me as the familiar flavors hit my tongue. It tasted like home. A place I was sure I wouldn't miss, but I did. But it wasn't just home that I missed.
I missed Leah.
I missed the guard and General Farron.
Most of all though I missed Kat.
"She should be here with us." I thought, trying my best not to cry. So much for comfort food solving all your problems.
I could feel everyone's eye on me, but rather than point out the obvious ongoing topic that was bothering me. Flynn asked how I thought the food was.
Instead of giving him the satisfaction that it was just as good as Leah's I made a jab at him that it needed more seasoning. To which Flynn called my bluff.
"Yeah right you liar." He chided as he took another bite. I cracked a smile as I continued to enjoy the meal. Until Flynn again broke the silence.
"You know it's nice to see you actually eating for a change." He said which annoyed me.
"Right?" Ratchet added in. "It's like pulling teeth to get her to sit down and eat a meal." Immediately all three of them began to laugh as my ears drooped in embarrassment.
"I'm not that bad."I groan. "I've done worse than skip a few meals."
"Oh really?" Angela asks as her interest peaks. " Like what?"
I had an answer for her, but Flynn had to open his big mouth listing the one story we swore we'd take to the grave.
"Like setting a whole highway on fire." He said without even thinking. Immediately silence fell on the table as both Angela and Ratchet stared at me in bewilderment.
"Hey!" I exclaim holding my hands up in defense. "I'm not the only one who was at fault!" I then pointed my silverware at the little snitch in front of me. "Kathryn and Flynn both had a part to play with that!"
"True, but you planned the whole thing!" He says laughing at the memory.
"I didn't mean for it to go THAT far!" I shout, wishing I could disappear from the kitchen. But Ratchet, who remained surprisingly silent throughout dinner, finally inquired about the story.
"So...what happened?"
I between him and Angela, realizing no amount of persuasion was ever going to sway their questioning gazes. Sighing, I began the tale:
"I swore I'd go to the grave with this story." I said glaring at Flynn."But when Flynn, Kat, and I were around thirteen, we'd play in the tumbleweed fields just outside the city in Kiada. At this point construction was booming and the city had just built this new highway. Which was at the bottom of the cliff where the fields were. And in the fields lived an old farmer Mr-"
"Mr. Sirius Castor." Flynn butted in. "Was as mean as any old Lombax could come. Staked his claim on the tumbleweed fields when the Lomabaxes first came to Kiada. Apparently the old man had a knack of gathering the weeds and turning them into oil, thread, and even medicine. At first his products were highly valued, but by the time we were teenagers most no longer needed the resources and even forgot about him."
"Some even thought that he died." I said taking over the story once more. "Which is what we thought...So the three of us were playing in the fields until we heard Old Man Castor cursing at the top of his lungs to get off his property or he'd blast us off the planet."
"That doesn't sound too bad." Angela said.
"You're right it wasn't, but as we were leaving he called Rosie a Raug hén."
"A what?" Ratchet asked.
"A demon child." I answered. "He, like most you can imagine, blamed my father for the downfall. And by that point of my life most people recognized me on the spot and began to hate me without even trying to get to know me. All because I was the daughter of the exiled traitor, Alister Azimuth. So when he called me a Raug hén, my anger got the best of me….. It was a simple plan: Go into the fields at night and set one of his tumbleweed barrels on fire. Kat would be the lookout ,Flynn would be ready to put out the fire if it got out of control and I would set the thing on fire." I explained.
"But then the fire did get out of control." Flynn said. "So in an attempt to put it out we pushed it off the cliff. Right on to the newly paved highway."
"Within minutes the whole thing was on fire." I said shamefully leaning against my hand on the table.
"So what did you guys do?" Angela asks.
"Oh we booked it!" I exclaimed, shooting up."We cheesed it outta there! Swearing to each other we would never rat each other out. But when me and Kat got home...it was all over the news. Thankfully the fire was contained and they thought it was just a freak accident, but the damage was done. And Mr. Castor was livid beyond belief."
"So you guys didn't get caught?"Ratchet asked.
"Well…"I chuckled nervously." Leah wasn't fooled. You see I told her about the whole encounter before I took matters into my own hands and it didn't take long to put two and two together. We were grounded for that entire summer and told not to bother Mr. Castor or go into his fields ever again."
"I still can't believe you and Kat were only grounded for that summer. I was grounded for six months…..SIX MONTHS!"
"But if it weren't for you getting grounded you and Kat would've never dated. So in a way you should thank me." I winked at him making everyone begin to laugh including Flynn, who still flipped me off.
"So...you never saw Mr. Castor again?" Ratchet asked as he calmed down.
"Well it shortly after I was accepted into the Guard, more than a year or so later. I was given an assignment to assist an elderly man with odd jobs around his property. I didn't know until i I saw the address."
"I'm surprised you didn't try to get out of it." Angela said as she continued to eat.
"Ohhhh i did, but Flynn's dad, my commanding officer, wouldn't ease up. Said it was to teach me a fine lesson and it did." I smiled sadly then thinking about that old man.
"Mr. Castor though old was just as sad and as angry as I was. You see he lost his family to the fall. His son and his family were killed by the cragmites, leaving him alone in this strange new planet with no one. All he had was his wits and anger to keep him going. Once I learned that I
...made it my goal to stop by and see him even after my assignment was done. Despite him never calling me by my name, but eventually he stopped calling me a demon child. We became good friends. We found ways to bond and learn from each other. I showed him how to work new tech and he taught me about how life was on Fastoon and everything he knew about tumbleweeds."
We all laughed for a moment, until I noticed we were all finished with the meal. Silently, took the dishes to clean them. I felt everyone's eyes on mine,but it was funny that only Ratchet came to my side silently taking the washed dishes to dry them.
"So….what happened to him?" Ratchet asked after a few moments of silence. I looked at him then towards the table noticing both Flynn and Angela had left without a word. Those sneaks...
"He died peacefully in his sleep a little after I was eighteen. I remember being so sad when I heard the news, but you know what's funny. The house I lived in right before this crazy adventure, was his. He left the house and an acre of his land to me in his will." I smiled at the memory remembering my surprise of the discovery, but I also remembered how excited I was to get my own place.
"Seriously!?" He exclaimed.
"Seriously." I nodded. Silence fell between us once more until this time I broke it.
"Thanks for cheering me up. I really needed it."
"It was mostly Flynn's idea. Especially making your favorite meal, which was pretty good if i do say so myself."
I smiled as I was finishing up the task before me.
"If you think Flynn's was good. You should have Leah's." I said drying my hands before offering to make tea for the both of us.
"Is Leah like your foster or adoptive mom?" He asked as he sat down by the table. I smiled at the idea, but quickly dismissed his notion.
"More like her taking care of me was a promise to my mom." I answered as I set down both mugs of tea on the table. "Although she recently lost her husband and her son to the fall she decided to keep her promise and raised me with Kat."
"Leah had a son?" He asked, picking the mug as he took a small sip.
"Yes...his name was Liam. He died when he was just a baby. Leah was outside with her daughter tending to the laundry as her son was sleeping blissfully inside. Then Tachyon's forces stormed through and the house collapsed. Leah hopes to this day he's alive although I'm not sure how that's possible." I laughed sadly, but Ratchet didn't join in. Rather he seemed...perturbed by the conversation.
"Anyway what -"
"What about Leah's husband….what happened to him?"
I looked at him for a moment, taking in his body language. He was definitely more tense than he was a moment ago. His sad eyes were furrowed by his eyebrows. He was frowning out of anger, but rather out of hurt or even sadness as well.
"I don't know much about him…" I answered lightly, taking his eyes as they became sader. Why would this have such a huge effect on him
"But I do know he was considered a hero among our kind."
"Why?" He asked as he hung on every word I said. For a moment I considered lying to him saying he was an honorable warrior who died protecting our kind, but there was more to it than that. So. Much. More.
"He….stayed behind to give the Lombaxes a chance to run and to protect the Dimensionator. We all figured he died since he never came to Kiada."
"What was his name?" Ratchet asked sounding desperate and on the brink of tears.
"Are you sure you-?"
"Please Roslyn." He begged, interrupting me." I-I need to know what his name was."
I sighed taking a small breath before breathing out.
"Kaden. His name was Kaden."
Me:Thanks for reading this chapter! Sorry it took a bit longer than usual. I honestly had a lot of trouble writing it…. Anyways, thanks always for your support and I'll see ya for the next one. Stay safe and healthy everyone!