Late at night, while she was in
bed, Shera heard the creaking of the floorboards in the next room. Trained to
react to any noise from that room, she quietly got out of bed and dressed.
Realizing the routine of 2 years ago, she had to smile to herself, as she
followed the sounds of his footsteps out the front door, and down the path
towards the 'lookout point.'
Sure
enough, there stood the Captain, gazing up at the sky-no, gazing up at the
rocket, leaning over the town, with a pensive look on his face. She knew better
then to disturb him when he was in one of his thoughtful moods. So she just
stood, a few paces behind him, and watched him, as he watched the rocket.
Eventually she turned around, and went back into the house.
When he
came in later, Cid didn't seem to think anything of the fact that there was a
pot of tea all ready to pour on the table, but Shera didn't care. She crawled
into bed again, and fell quickly asleep, utterly at peace with the world, as
most people would never be after what she was usually put through.
Cid was
less unaware than he appeared. He had known the whole time that she was behind
him, and it had oddly pleased him that she was concerned and caring. "Stupid
over-worried girl," he muttered to himself. "Should be getting' her rest, not
worryin' bout me." He climbed into his own bed, mumbling to himself until he
fell asleep. Same old routine, he thought.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shera
awoke the next morning to a loud roaring going on outside. She fell out of bed,
and scrambled to the window, in her nightgown, her hair still unkempt and
falling down around her shoulders. Looking outside, she saw a mob of people
pounding at the door, apparently trying to break it down. "AaaaAH! Captain!"
She tripped on the way to his room, and fell over. "Cap-!" "S'aight, calm
down."
He was
standing by the window, looking out with a calculating expression on his face. "Don't
suppose they're here to borrow a goddamn cup of sugar, huh?" He extended a hand
and helped Shera up. "Get in the back." "But, Captain, I-!" He turned on her.
"You heard me, girl! Get the hell in the back of the house! This's gonna get
really ugly. Now go!" He shoved her in the proffered direction, and, opened the
door, yelling out. "Yeah, whaddaya want? Can't a guy get a bit of goddamn sleep
in this town??"
There
was momentary silence from the raging throng outside. Then it roared to life
again. "You've got some nerve coming back here after what you done, Highwind!"
"Take your ship and get the hell out of our town!" "We were all doing all right
until you showed up! Revived the old memories!" "You ruined our dreams!"
"Aight, stow it!" Cid yelled. An angry person yelled back, "You've got no right
to tell us what to do." "YES HE DOES."
Everyone
stopped short at the voice, even Cid. "Wha-?" He spun around, and saw Shera
standing behind him, eyes flashing. "He's got every right to tell you what to
do. Look at you all," and she filled her voice with as much scorn as she could
muster, "standing here acting as if you own the world. You think you all have a
right to do this? Sure, you say, Cid ruined your dreams. Sure, you say, Cid
stopped the rocket, and the town's hopes with it. That only proves he has more
courage, more morality, more kindness then any of you. So, you're saying that
in your case, you would have launched the rocket? You would have killed me? Is
that what you're all saying? I was ready to die for the dreams of this town.
Seeing what I've seen today, I don't think I'd do it again. You disgust me, all
of you." She turned away.
There
was utter silence in the whole town for a full 5 minutes, with Shera glaring,
Cid staring in amazement, and the townspeople sticking to their own thoughts.
Then, one person spoke out, "Just go, Cid. Just go. We don't want you around
this town anymore. And that's all we gotta say. Maybe you had your reasons for
doing it, but it's done, and you did it, reasons or none. So just get out."
Then they all turned, and left, mumbling amongst themselves.
Shera
sighed. "Captain, don't even listen to them. They're-!" He shook his head to
quiet her. "Nah, Shera, they're right." "But-But-!" "No buts. They're right. I
ruined their dreams, their lives…their hopes for the future. And you played
your part in it, so shaddup about all this righteousness stuff. I'm gonna go
pack. I shouldn't stay here. This ain't my home anymore."
Shera
reached out a hand, and grasped his shoulder. "But…you just came…home…" She
looked so lost, completely different from the blaring angry girl he'd seen only
a moment before. "Well…" He scratched the back of his head. "I…dunno, I
guess…you could…come…with me. But nah, that's a bad-!" She had disappeared into
her room, calling over her shoulder, "I'll just hurry up and pack!"
He
stared at the doorway, blinking in confusion, and thinking to say something
about the danger of the rest of the world, and how she should stay home
and…well…stay home. But he shrugged, and yelled, "Make it quick, I don't have
all day!"
(CHAPTER THREE coming soon! Stay tuned! J
Please R&R!)
