Chapter Three
Nebula marched up to Zenon at lunch. "Alright, spill." She said, plopping her palmtop and data boards down beside Zenon's. "You've been in smug mode major since this morning, and I want to know why!"
Zenon grinned. "Swear you won't tell?"
Nebula looked at her like she was an idiot. "Have I ever?"
"Once or twice."
"Well, I won't this time, OK?"
Zenon looked around furtively, then beckoned Nebula closer. "I'm going down to Earth again."
"WHAT?" Yelped Nebula loudly. The cafeteria got quiet as everyone looked over at their table.
Zenon waved at them slightly. They shrugged and rolled their eyes; they were used to Zenon by now. "I told you to be quiet!" she hissed.
"Sorry! But why?" Inquired Nebula.
"This is the part you can't tell! Mr. Maxete swore me to secrecy."
"I won't tell! Now tell me!"
"I'm going to start working for Microbe!" said Zenon, squealing the last word.
Nebula stared at her. And kept staring. Finally Zenon waved a hand in front of her dazed friend's face. "Neb? You in there?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH--*murmmph*!" said Neb, as her voice was suddenly cut off by Zenon's hand clapping over her mouth. The cafeteria had gone quiet again. Zenon sighed and pulled the unresisting Nebula out of the room.
Neither one noticed Margie, who watched them leave.
* * *
Nebula watched Zenon pack. After dragging her out of the cafeteria (then reviving her), Zenon had taken her to her place, where she started to get ready to go. It was only a half day anyway.
"So he just called you up and offered you a job?" Said Nebula skeptically. "That sounds strange major. How does he even know what you study?"
"It's not a secret, Neb. For all I know, they were looking for an intern, and the college suggested me. The station's school is just an off-shoot, ya know."
"I know. I just think it's strange."
"So did mom and dad. They argued with Mr. Maxete for an hour before they agreed." Zenon grinned. "I think I heard mom say something about how nice it will be to be able to put up the stress helmet for a while."
"How long is this internship supposed to last?" asked Nebula, fiddling with a hair comb that hadn't been packed yet.
"Seven months."
Nebula looked shocked. "But we'll miss your birthday!"
"No, figured that out too. I get weekends off. My birthday falls on a Saturday."
"Cool. How much do you get paid?" Zenon named a sum that made Nebula scream again. "And you don't have to rent an apartment? They cover room and board?"
"Uh huh."
"You get to spend more than a year with Protozoa?"
"Uh huh."
"Lucky."
"Oh yeah."
* * *
"Miss Karr? The shuttle will be landing in a few minutes. I've already been informed that Mr. Maxete is waiting at the port to pick you up."
"Thank you. Can you tell me what time it is?"
"It's one o'clock station time, Miss. Karr."
"Thank you very much." The trip had been smooth for the most part. A small meteor shower over Asia, but...And the military personnel were very nice about her having to hitch a ride. Not like they could call a cab. The shuttle jounced a little, then settled and rolled to a halt. The military people on the shuttle disembarked first, then Zenon.
"Miss Karr! Over here, please!" yelled a voice. Zenon looked over to see Mr. Maxete waving at her from beside a stretch limo. She hefted her bags over her shoulder and walked slowly over to him, trying to adjust to the gravity again. "I trust your trip was pleasant?"
"Yes, it was fine. The guys on board couldn't play poker worth beans, but hey, can't complain about the credits won." She said, grinning and patting her pocket. Mr. Maxete gave a great belly laugh, and a slightly deeper voice chuckled in the car.
"Still a card shark, Zenon?" said a British voice. Protozoa climbed out of the car, and spread his arms, wanting a hug.
Zenon squealed happily and complied. "You came to pick me up too? I didn't know you knew I was coming!"
"Zenon Zenon Zenon, did you really think I'd let my favorite space girl come to Earth--working for me--and not know it?" said Protozoa, taking her bags and throwing them in the trunk. Mr. Maxete had programmed the car for their destination, and as soon as Protozoa helped Zenon into the car, they were off to Microbe Manor.
* * *
"So, Zenon, what do you think your job will entail?" asked Mr. Maxete.
"I really don't know. I know I'll be helping out with the special effects at the concerts, but besides that..." Said Zenon, shrugging. It was about four. After Mr. Maxete and Protozoa had dropped her off in her palatal suite (and she had stopped hugging them both, which Protozoa thoroughly enjoyed), she had unpacked and explored the lovely room a bit. Then Mr. Maxete had come in to talk about why they brought her down.
"Yes, but that isn't all. Protozoa has been a little...depressed lately. He hasn't written any new songs in months."
"But what can I do? I'm not a lyricist." Said Zenon, frowning.
"No, but you are a good influence on him. Every time he encounters you, he is...revitalized, for lack of a better word. He comes back, full of new ideas, new songs, new *life!*" Mr. Maxete leaned forward in his chair and put his elbows on his knees. "How did you treat him when you first met him?"
She smiled a little shamefacedly. "I beat him at poker."
Mr. Maxete laughed. "See? Any other teenage girl would be screaming, trying her best to hug him, etc. You're different, and he needs that." He said. "How about last time. I've never seen him in such a good mood."
Zenon looked devilish. "We had a sleepover."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Just what I said, a sleepover. The extra space on the stay was full with soldiers. My family offered him a couch, but since I had a fold out wall cot in my room, he just moved in with me for a little while. My mom wasn't too happy, but as long as I got up in time for school, she was fine. The last night he was there, I brought an armful of snacks and locked the door behind us." She smiled reminiscently. "We watched vids, pigged out on popcorn, and I did his hair."
"You *what?*"
"I fixed his hair for him. He wouldn't let anyone else see it though. Good thing I got a picture for future blackmail."
Mr. Maxete laughed until tears ran down his cheeks. "Do you have it with you?"
"Yep, wanna see?" When he nodded, she went to the chest and brought out a small cube. She pressed a button on the side, flipping through the various holo pics in its memory. Finally she came to the picture. "Here it is. I got it while he was asleep." Indeed she had. Protozoa was in a pair of shooting star boxers and a shirt. He was lying half on and half off a small cot, with his feet on the bed, his head on the floor. He was drooling slightly. His hair was slicked down all over his head, save for a small bit on either side of his head, which looked like devil horns.
Mr. Maxete dropped the cube and held his sides, bending over and roaring. "Can I have a copy of that?" He finally gasped out. "It would make a great poster."
"No way!" said Zenon, smiling. "It's all mine! Besides, I was going to give him a copy as a going away present when I leave."
"Oh well, it was worth a try." He said, wiping his eyes. "Will you try to do what I asked, my dear? Be his friend?"
"I'm that anyway." She said.
"Good."
Nebula marched up to Zenon at lunch. "Alright, spill." She said, plopping her palmtop and data boards down beside Zenon's. "You've been in smug mode major since this morning, and I want to know why!"
Zenon grinned. "Swear you won't tell?"
Nebula looked at her like she was an idiot. "Have I ever?"
"Once or twice."
"Well, I won't this time, OK?"
Zenon looked around furtively, then beckoned Nebula closer. "I'm going down to Earth again."
"WHAT?" Yelped Nebula loudly. The cafeteria got quiet as everyone looked over at their table.
Zenon waved at them slightly. They shrugged and rolled their eyes; they were used to Zenon by now. "I told you to be quiet!" she hissed.
"Sorry! But why?" Inquired Nebula.
"This is the part you can't tell! Mr. Maxete swore me to secrecy."
"I won't tell! Now tell me!"
"I'm going to start working for Microbe!" said Zenon, squealing the last word.
Nebula stared at her. And kept staring. Finally Zenon waved a hand in front of her dazed friend's face. "Neb? You in there?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH--*murmmph*!" said Neb, as her voice was suddenly cut off by Zenon's hand clapping over her mouth. The cafeteria had gone quiet again. Zenon sighed and pulled the unresisting Nebula out of the room.
Neither one noticed Margie, who watched them leave.
* * *
Nebula watched Zenon pack. After dragging her out of the cafeteria (then reviving her), Zenon had taken her to her place, where she started to get ready to go. It was only a half day anyway.
"So he just called you up and offered you a job?" Said Nebula skeptically. "That sounds strange major. How does he even know what you study?"
"It's not a secret, Neb. For all I know, they were looking for an intern, and the college suggested me. The station's school is just an off-shoot, ya know."
"I know. I just think it's strange."
"So did mom and dad. They argued with Mr. Maxete for an hour before they agreed." Zenon grinned. "I think I heard mom say something about how nice it will be to be able to put up the stress helmet for a while."
"How long is this internship supposed to last?" asked Nebula, fiddling with a hair comb that hadn't been packed yet.
"Seven months."
Nebula looked shocked. "But we'll miss your birthday!"
"No, figured that out too. I get weekends off. My birthday falls on a Saturday."
"Cool. How much do you get paid?" Zenon named a sum that made Nebula scream again. "And you don't have to rent an apartment? They cover room and board?"
"Uh huh."
"You get to spend more than a year with Protozoa?"
"Uh huh."
"Lucky."
"Oh yeah."
* * *
"Miss Karr? The shuttle will be landing in a few minutes. I've already been informed that Mr. Maxete is waiting at the port to pick you up."
"Thank you. Can you tell me what time it is?"
"It's one o'clock station time, Miss. Karr."
"Thank you very much." The trip had been smooth for the most part. A small meteor shower over Asia, but...And the military personnel were very nice about her having to hitch a ride. Not like they could call a cab. The shuttle jounced a little, then settled and rolled to a halt. The military people on the shuttle disembarked first, then Zenon.
"Miss Karr! Over here, please!" yelled a voice. Zenon looked over to see Mr. Maxete waving at her from beside a stretch limo. She hefted her bags over her shoulder and walked slowly over to him, trying to adjust to the gravity again. "I trust your trip was pleasant?"
"Yes, it was fine. The guys on board couldn't play poker worth beans, but hey, can't complain about the credits won." She said, grinning and patting her pocket. Mr. Maxete gave a great belly laugh, and a slightly deeper voice chuckled in the car.
"Still a card shark, Zenon?" said a British voice. Protozoa climbed out of the car, and spread his arms, wanting a hug.
Zenon squealed happily and complied. "You came to pick me up too? I didn't know you knew I was coming!"
"Zenon Zenon Zenon, did you really think I'd let my favorite space girl come to Earth--working for me--and not know it?" said Protozoa, taking her bags and throwing them in the trunk. Mr. Maxete had programmed the car for their destination, and as soon as Protozoa helped Zenon into the car, they were off to Microbe Manor.
* * *
"So, Zenon, what do you think your job will entail?" asked Mr. Maxete.
"I really don't know. I know I'll be helping out with the special effects at the concerts, but besides that..." Said Zenon, shrugging. It was about four. After Mr. Maxete and Protozoa had dropped her off in her palatal suite (and she had stopped hugging them both, which Protozoa thoroughly enjoyed), she had unpacked and explored the lovely room a bit. Then Mr. Maxete had come in to talk about why they brought her down.
"Yes, but that isn't all. Protozoa has been a little...depressed lately. He hasn't written any new songs in months."
"But what can I do? I'm not a lyricist." Said Zenon, frowning.
"No, but you are a good influence on him. Every time he encounters you, he is...revitalized, for lack of a better word. He comes back, full of new ideas, new songs, new *life!*" Mr. Maxete leaned forward in his chair and put his elbows on his knees. "How did you treat him when you first met him?"
She smiled a little shamefacedly. "I beat him at poker."
Mr. Maxete laughed. "See? Any other teenage girl would be screaming, trying her best to hug him, etc. You're different, and he needs that." He said. "How about last time. I've never seen him in such a good mood."
Zenon looked devilish. "We had a sleepover."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Just what I said, a sleepover. The extra space on the stay was full with soldiers. My family offered him a couch, but since I had a fold out wall cot in my room, he just moved in with me for a little while. My mom wasn't too happy, but as long as I got up in time for school, she was fine. The last night he was there, I brought an armful of snacks and locked the door behind us." She smiled reminiscently. "We watched vids, pigged out on popcorn, and I did his hair."
"You *what?*"
"I fixed his hair for him. He wouldn't let anyone else see it though. Good thing I got a picture for future blackmail."
Mr. Maxete laughed until tears ran down his cheeks. "Do you have it with you?"
"Yep, wanna see?" When he nodded, she went to the chest and brought out a small cube. She pressed a button on the side, flipping through the various holo pics in its memory. Finally she came to the picture. "Here it is. I got it while he was asleep." Indeed she had. Protozoa was in a pair of shooting star boxers and a shirt. He was lying half on and half off a small cot, with his feet on the bed, his head on the floor. He was drooling slightly. His hair was slicked down all over his head, save for a small bit on either side of his head, which looked like devil horns.
Mr. Maxete dropped the cube and held his sides, bending over and roaring. "Can I have a copy of that?" He finally gasped out. "It would make a great poster."
"No way!" said Zenon, smiling. "It's all mine! Besides, I was going to give him a copy as a going away present when I leave."
"Oh well, it was worth a try." He said, wiping his eyes. "Will you try to do what I asked, my dear? Be his friend?"
"I'm that anyway." She said.
"Good."