1.1.1 Chapter Sixteen – A Funeral
1.1.1.1 And an Apparition
It was four o'clock. Everyone who was in the fortress attended, and everyone else on the planet watched it from a holographic projection screen (basically a modern television set). Dib, Caitlyn, Dillan, Kristen, Zim, Gaz, Pat (Dib's mom), and Seralio got special seats up front where they could see. Along the middle of the crowd was a cleared row where they would bring out Callista's casket. All was silent as the people in the room paid their respects to Callista Nali-noka, the brave girl whom gave up her life for the world.
"I wish that it could've been me who died instead of her. I just wish that she was alive."
"We all feel that way when someone close dies. It's normal," Kristen reassured, "I know I felt that way when I thought that Zim had died." Despite this, Dib felt very unsettled, trying to think up ways that he could have prevented it like, 'If I had fought back unconsciousness I could have stopped her. If I had stopped her from going out in the first place…' Dib recalled the time that he had met up with her in that meadow when they had dodged the rounds of gunfire by the automated firearms…then realized something. 'She wants me happy…she wants me to be happy.'
Finally, they carried out Callista in her casket, and described how she had given up her life. When it was over, they asked that they remember how she saved their lives. "Caitlyn, Dillan, salute your mother. She saved your lives. She's the real hero." All people in the column saluted, then, slowly but surely, everyone saluted her with the greatest honor. When called out to say some things about Callista, Dib approached the microphone.
"I have been commended for killing Merchenyl. I should not be. It is Callista who devoted her whole life to saving you and this planet. She tried, time and time again, but it didn't pay off until now. Callista is my wife. I do not say 'she WAS my wife' because that is not accurate. This is because she'll never be completely gone until she is no longer loved or appreciated. But she isn't dead. I love her and always will. My children love her. You people appreciate her. She is not dead, for her spirit lives on." Dib walked away from the podium and into another room by himself.
"Dib?" Callista's voice resounded throughout the halls like the echo of a bell ringing in a vast cave.
"Callista? Is that you? Where?"
"Behind you." Dib whirled around in astonishment as he faced Callista.
"I can't believe it…How'd you…?"
"I came to say goodbye. Or rather, judging by your speech, to say hello."
"Thank you…I don't know exactly what to say…"
"You're welcome. I know what you're saying. Exactly what you're thinking."
"Are you solid?"
"As solid as you."
"I'm going to miss you."
"Same here. But as you said, so long as I'm loved, I'll never be truly dead. Tell Caitlyn and Dillan that the amount they truly love me is the amount that I am truly alive."
"Callista?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Thank you. Thank you for making my life happy, and then keeping it safe."
"You're very much welcome. I also appreciate the times you've saved me."
"Who wouldn't? You're the most benevolent person I've ever met. I'll never forget you, and I'll never stop caring for you. Thank you, for saving me from my life without my actually dying."
"You're welcome. I have a hunch that we'll meet again."
"I think so too. I have a presentiment as well."
"Live your life, and live it well, and we shall meet again." Her image shimmered away into a spiral of emptiness as the door in back of him opened. It was Kristen.
"Hello? Dib? What are you doing here?"
"I met Callista. And I just know that that's not the last I'll ever have seen of her."
1.1.2 Chapter Sixteen – A Funeral
1.1.2.1 And an Apparition
It was four o'clock. Everyone who was in the fortress attended, and everyone else on the planet watched it from a holographic projection screen (basically a modern television set). Dib, Caitlyn, Dillan, Kristen, Zim, Gaz, Pat (Dib's mom), and Seralio got special seats up front where they could see. Along the middle of the crowd was a cleared row where they would bring out Callista's casket. All was silent as the people in the room paid their respects to Callista Nali-noka, the brave girl whom gave up her life for the world.
"I wish that it could've been me who died instead of her. I just wish that she was alive."
"We all feel that way when someone close dies. It's normal," Kristen reassured, "I know I felt that way when I thought that Zim had died." Despite this, Dib felt very unsettled, trying to think up ways that he could have prevented it like, 'If I had fought back unconsciousness I could have stopped her. If I had stopped her from going out in the first place…' Dib recalled the time that he had met up with her in that meadow when they had dodged the rounds of gunfire by the automated firearms…then realized something. 'She wants me happy…she wants me to be happy.'
Finally, they carried out Callista in her casket, and described how she had given up her life. When it was over, they asked that they remember how she saved their lives. "Caitlyn, Dillan, salute your mother. She saved your lives. She's the real hero." All people in the column saluted, then, slowly but surely, everyone saluted her with the greatest honor. When called out to say some things about Callista, Dib approached the microphone.
"I have been commended for killing Merchenyl. I should not be. It is Callista who devoted her whole life to saving you and this planet. She tried, time and time again, but it didn't pay off until now. Callista is my wife. I do not say 'she WAS my wife' because that is not accurate. This is because she'll never be completely gone until she is no longer loved or appreciated. But she isn't dead. I love her and always will. My children love her. You people appreciate her. She is not dead, for her spirit lives on." Dib walked away from the podium and into another room by himself.
"Dib?" Callista's voice resounded throughout the halls like the echo of a bell ringing in a vast cave.
"Callista? Is that you? Where?"
"Behind you." Dib whirled around in astonishment as he faced Callista.
"I can't believe it…how'd you…?"
"I came to say goodbye. Or rather, judging by your speech, to say hello."
"Thank you…I don't know exactly what to say…"
"You're welcome. I know what you're saying. Exactly what you're thinking."
"Are you solid?"
"As solid as you."
"I'm going to miss you."
"Same here. But as you said, so long as I'm loved, I'll never be truly dead. Tell Caitlyn and Dillan that the amount they truly love me is the amount that I am truly alive."
"Callista?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Thank you. Thank you for making my life happy, and then keeping it safe."
"You're very much welcome. I also appreciate the times you've saved me."
"Who wouldn't? You're the most benevolent person I've ever met. I'll never forget you, and I'll never stop caring for you. Thank you, for saving me from my life without my actually dying."
"You're welcome. I have a hunch that we'll meet again."
"I think so too. I have a presentiment as well."
"Live your life, and live it well, and we shall meet again." Her image shimmered away into a spiral of emptiness as the door in back of him opened. It was Kristen.
"Hello? Dib? What are you doing here?"
"I met Callista. And I just know that that's not the last I'll ever have seen of her."
"Dib?"
"Yes?"
"Things didn't exactly work out with Zim."
"Really? I'm sorry to hear that."
"That's okay, I'm fine. I just have to wait for the right person to finally come along."
"Kristen?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Dib. Very gladly."
Author's Note: This is the end of the series unless you want me to continue it. If no one wants me to write one more about Dib's new life on Starland, then I won't. Or, rather, I merely won't post it. If you have read all four up to this part, you've read 289 pages, double-spaced, twelve-point font, Microsoft Word. That's longer than the novel I'm reading for skool! Well, I'll be writing away, awaiting the right story to develop into a novel or series, just waiting…
1.1.1.1 And an Apparition
It was four o'clock. Everyone who was in the fortress attended, and everyone else on the planet watched it from a holographic projection screen (basically a modern television set). Dib, Caitlyn, Dillan, Kristen, Zim, Gaz, Pat (Dib's mom), and Seralio got special seats up front where they could see. Along the middle of the crowd was a cleared row where they would bring out Callista's casket. All was silent as the people in the room paid their respects to Callista Nali-noka, the brave girl whom gave up her life for the world.
"I wish that it could've been me who died instead of her. I just wish that she was alive."
"We all feel that way when someone close dies. It's normal," Kristen reassured, "I know I felt that way when I thought that Zim had died." Despite this, Dib felt very unsettled, trying to think up ways that he could have prevented it like, 'If I had fought back unconsciousness I could have stopped her. If I had stopped her from going out in the first place…' Dib recalled the time that he had met up with her in that meadow when they had dodged the rounds of gunfire by the automated firearms…then realized something. 'She wants me happy…she wants me to be happy.'
Finally, they carried out Callista in her casket, and described how she had given up her life. When it was over, they asked that they remember how she saved their lives. "Caitlyn, Dillan, salute your mother. She saved your lives. She's the real hero." All people in the column saluted, then, slowly but surely, everyone saluted her with the greatest honor. When called out to say some things about Callista, Dib approached the microphone.
"I have been commended for killing Merchenyl. I should not be. It is Callista who devoted her whole life to saving you and this planet. She tried, time and time again, but it didn't pay off until now. Callista is my wife. I do not say 'she WAS my wife' because that is not accurate. This is because she'll never be completely gone until she is no longer loved or appreciated. But she isn't dead. I love her and always will. My children love her. You people appreciate her. She is not dead, for her spirit lives on." Dib walked away from the podium and into another room by himself.
"Dib?" Callista's voice resounded throughout the halls like the echo of a bell ringing in a vast cave.
"Callista? Is that you? Where?"
"Behind you." Dib whirled around in astonishment as he faced Callista.
"I can't believe it…How'd you…?"
"I came to say goodbye. Or rather, judging by your speech, to say hello."
"Thank you…I don't know exactly what to say…"
"You're welcome. I know what you're saying. Exactly what you're thinking."
"Are you solid?"
"As solid as you."
"I'm going to miss you."
"Same here. But as you said, so long as I'm loved, I'll never be truly dead. Tell Caitlyn and Dillan that the amount they truly love me is the amount that I am truly alive."
"Callista?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Thank you. Thank you for making my life happy, and then keeping it safe."
"You're very much welcome. I also appreciate the times you've saved me."
"Who wouldn't? You're the most benevolent person I've ever met. I'll never forget you, and I'll never stop caring for you. Thank you, for saving me from my life without my actually dying."
"You're welcome. I have a hunch that we'll meet again."
"I think so too. I have a presentiment as well."
"Live your life, and live it well, and we shall meet again." Her image shimmered away into a spiral of emptiness as the door in back of him opened. It was Kristen.
"Hello? Dib? What are you doing here?"
"I met Callista. And I just know that that's not the last I'll ever have seen of her."
1.1.2 Chapter Sixteen – A Funeral
1.1.2.1 And an Apparition
It was four o'clock. Everyone who was in the fortress attended, and everyone else on the planet watched it from a holographic projection screen (basically a modern television set). Dib, Caitlyn, Dillan, Kristen, Zim, Gaz, Pat (Dib's mom), and Seralio got special seats up front where they could see. Along the middle of the crowd was a cleared row where they would bring out Callista's casket. All was silent as the people in the room paid their respects to Callista Nali-noka, the brave girl whom gave up her life for the world.
"I wish that it could've been me who died instead of her. I just wish that she was alive."
"We all feel that way when someone close dies. It's normal," Kristen reassured, "I know I felt that way when I thought that Zim had died." Despite this, Dib felt very unsettled, trying to think up ways that he could have prevented it like, 'If I had fought back unconsciousness I could have stopped her. If I had stopped her from going out in the first place…' Dib recalled the time that he had met up with her in that meadow when they had dodged the rounds of gunfire by the automated firearms…then realized something. 'She wants me happy…she wants me to be happy.'
Finally, they carried out Callista in her casket, and described how she had given up her life. When it was over, they asked that they remember how she saved their lives. "Caitlyn, Dillan, salute your mother. She saved your lives. She's the real hero." All people in the column saluted, then, slowly but surely, everyone saluted her with the greatest honor. When called out to say some things about Callista, Dib approached the microphone.
"I have been commended for killing Merchenyl. I should not be. It is Callista who devoted her whole life to saving you and this planet. She tried, time and time again, but it didn't pay off until now. Callista is my wife. I do not say 'she WAS my wife' because that is not accurate. This is because she'll never be completely gone until she is no longer loved or appreciated. But she isn't dead. I love her and always will. My children love her. You people appreciate her. She is not dead, for her spirit lives on." Dib walked away from the podium and into another room by himself.
"Dib?" Callista's voice resounded throughout the halls like the echo of a bell ringing in a vast cave.
"Callista? Is that you? Where?"
"Behind you." Dib whirled around in astonishment as he faced Callista.
"I can't believe it…how'd you…?"
"I came to say goodbye. Or rather, judging by your speech, to say hello."
"Thank you…I don't know exactly what to say…"
"You're welcome. I know what you're saying. Exactly what you're thinking."
"Are you solid?"
"As solid as you."
"I'm going to miss you."
"Same here. But as you said, so long as I'm loved, I'll never be truly dead. Tell Caitlyn and Dillan that the amount they truly love me is the amount that I am truly alive."
"Callista?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Thank you. Thank you for making my life happy, and then keeping it safe."
"You're very much welcome. I also appreciate the times you've saved me."
"Who wouldn't? You're the most benevolent person I've ever met. I'll never forget you, and I'll never stop caring for you. Thank you, for saving me from my life without my actually dying."
"You're welcome. I have a hunch that we'll meet again."
"I think so too. I have a presentiment as well."
"Live your life, and live it well, and we shall meet again." Her image shimmered away into a spiral of emptiness as the door in back of him opened. It was Kristen.
"Hello? Dib? What are you doing here?"
"I met Callista. And I just know that that's not the last I'll ever have seen of her."
"Dib?"
"Yes?"
"Things didn't exactly work out with Zim."
"Really? I'm sorry to hear that."
"That's okay, I'm fine. I just have to wait for the right person to finally come along."
"Kristen?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Dib. Very gladly."
Author's Note: This is the end of the series unless you want me to continue it. If no one wants me to write one more about Dib's new life on Starland, then I won't. Or, rather, I merely won't post it. If you have read all four up to this part, you've read 289 pages, double-spaced, twelve-point font, Microsoft Word. That's longer than the novel I'm reading for skool! Well, I'll be writing away, awaiting the right story to develop into a novel or series, just waiting…