The four of them stood outside the spacious mansion home of one, Dr. Clyde Enduro. Son of Elliot Enduro. An esteemed anthropologist who mainly studies society of past Filgaia, but it is not the only area he dabbles in. His younger brother is Jet Enduro. A boy who never was allowed to grow to be an adult and died as a teen. His body laid over the Filgaia Sample by Elliot Enduro and thus, the Filgaia Sample became Jet Enduro. In body. In spirit and mind he was not Jet Enduro.
"Who woulda' thunk that you gotta famous brother!" Gallows chuckled.
Clive fixed his glasses. "Yes, it is indeed interesting. Though, I doubt there is blood relation now. Just in, a more familial bond I suppose by name and the like."
"Aren't you excited Jet?" Virginia wondered.
"Whatever." Jet took a strong step to the front porch. Yes, he looked like it was nothing. That going to meet his brother and family was nothing. It was everything and beyond. He just did not want to show it on his face. He did not even want to talk. So far he's said only very few words. Even Virginia had to explain everything for him to the two others. He just said about, three words. If you never met him, you'd think he'd only have three phrases: 'Whatever', 'Who cares?', and 'Stop eating my breakfast Gallows and git your own!'. The latter phrase having no true relevance to the situation, but he said it. He even said 'git' instead of 'get', which was unlike him.
The four stood there without moving. "Well, aren't you going to knock?" Gallows wondered.
"Yes, I would like to get inside." Clive added.
"Guys, this is a big deal. We have to give him time." Virginia berated.
Jet was ready to tell her not to talk for him. It was too late now, and it would be pointless to fight her on this. He took an unsteady breath and raised his hand. Forming a fist. He never knocked.
"Welcome." The door opened and a young woman answered it. "Clyde has been expecting you. I suppose I should introduce myself, I am Faluna Enduro. I guess that makes me your sister-in-law." The young blonde with the porcelain skin gave a warm smile to the group.
Jet was a bit weirded out by not only her sudden appearance at the door, but just her entire personality. She just seemed overly happy. Sort of familiar at times to him. Hint, hint, they're standing right near him. "Uh,"
"What Jet is trying to say is that he is glad to meet you. He is going to make a corny joke about being your brother-in-law, and then go on to introduce us. The bubbly brunette—moi—is Virginia. The obnoxious waste of life drunk, womanizer of a priest is Gallows."
"Hey!" Gallows interjected.
"And the guy with the glasses is Clive." Virginia finishes saying.
"I can see Jet suffers from the same speech impediment that gets to Clyde at times." Faluna joked and the two girls giggled. Jet looked away. Gallows turned to Clive.
"I'm not really all those things am I?" Gallows wondered.
"No, not all of them, and not all the time enough to warrant it as your permanent personality. Though, priest is what you are suppose to be, and you're not one of those really." Clive explained.
"I…think I lost you." Gallows admitted. "Since the only word of that I understood was 'no' I'm going to go with that."
Jet glanced back to Faluna and Virginia who had finished their chattering. "Okay, come in, come in." Faluna waved them inside as she walked in the large foyer to the home. Why, the ceiling itself must have been at least thirty feet above them. That's a large space and it was not filled at all. One bit. The only thing in that space between the ceiling and the floor was a chandelier. A chandelier that is a chandelier. There was no this sort or another it was a chandelier. In front of them and to the left was a staircase. It went up a bit, then to the right, and then back up. A sort of zig-zag to the top. Why not put in a curved staircase, or simply one that went right up and back? These people with their fancy homes all have to be complex about it. The truth is about the home that the people that live there did not even say a word about what they wanted and expected the workers to build it, and this is what it came out as. All throughout the home with the many windows above the front door the sun lit it well. The smell to the air was of a food item. It would seem that someone was cooking, and it smelt all too pleasant and good. "I should say that you would wish to see the children your brother has, and of course, myself as well. How could I forget that much?" Faluna laughed. "I simply must remember that I am involved in this all and it's not just Clyde I am introducing." She admitted. "Now, now, I must seem a nervous woman. All too, too shy I would say. Yes, too, too shy indeed. What would you think? Well, I can't handle the answer so maybe it's best you don't respond."
Jet just remained silent and blinked. She smiled at him. One of them could feel the invisible sweat drop a-coming. In fact, both had them hanging over their heads and he was just thinking it may be just him. The rest of the party was all in their own observations while Faluna was talking. Gallows eyes went to how extravagant the place is. Clive was trying to figure out what sort of wood they used for the home. Brick as well. And first thing, how can there be so much wood when there was not a tree around? Obviously the home was built before Yggdrasil and Beatrice, and what-have-you occurred. Virginia stared at the back of Jet's head and glanced at Faluna on an offbeat. Jet was still a silent guy, and if did not talk soon she was sure Faluna would think him deaf or mute along with other assorted disabilities the worst of which went into mental handicaps.
Virginia moved forward. She was Jet's silence interpreter. That and she was just a little curious bugger now was she not. "Oh, children? Two right? I would love to meet them and I'm sure Jet is excited too." He glances at her. It says, 'No, I'm not! What the Hell are you doing?', and Virginia translates it. "Yes, Jet is interested greatly in his nephews. Most of all."
"Yes, I can see that they would be." Faluna replied. "Come now, up the stairs then. But, your friends are welcomed to go onto the kitchen there ahead. It will be lunch soon and they can get their drinks and seats as we go along."
Jet eyed the others. "Right, that sounds good." Gallows states.
"Hmm, it does smell very good the aroma. We should definitely investigate it." Clive replies.
"I'm gonna see the kids, if you wouldn't mind. We are going to end up in the dining area regardless." Virginia interjects.
The two go off for the kitchen—hoping not to get lost. Which Gallows does the moment he sees a bathroom and steps in as Clive goes ahead. Gallows steps out in the future and winds up in the storage room on the side of the house, but since that happens later, it will holds no relevance to this moment.
Virginia and Jet follow Faluna in her flowing dress with the long skirt that touches the ground. The yellow color to it like a flower they had seen once. Possibly in the Secret Garden. Jet maybe possibly in a memory.
"Oh, boys!" Faluna gives a domesticated shout. "It's nearly time for your lunch, and also, we have a visitor today that is waiting to meet you." Jet scratches at the back of his head. He would not run, but he was not otherwise sure what to do.
As Virginia reached the final step she accidently stepped on Faluna's skirt ripping it. "Ah! I'm so sorry! I should have paid more attention!" She creid in horror. "It's such a pretty dress too. I'm so sorry."
Faluna gives her a soft smile. "It is no big deal. I have three others of this dress. Come, I will need help getting out of this and into a new one."
"Right. I should help you out." Virginia eyed Jet. "Don't run away, and good luck." She gives him a confident smile, and he just blinks in a daze. The two women leave him for a far room to the side. The door closing sounds like that of a tomb door. This is how it feels to have a cave door be closed by a rock that was pushed in front?
Two sprites of boys came from another room. No, one was a sprite. The other an imp. Regardless it would look like a sort of trouble. Jet stared and blinked at them as they walked up. They walked up. Staring at his form, and blinked at him. One boy with blonde hair and freckles, and possibly the oldest in what looked like a sort of suit, for a young boy. Real classy. You could tell he did not like it. He must have been about ten he would think. The other boy with a sort of gray-blonde combination for a hair color. The boy wore similar clothing, but liked it, and looked like he wore it just to be like his older brother. Jet could only guess that the boy was around six or so.
For what seemed like an eternity to the three no one spoke. They nodded. They obviously must be family. After about--in actual time and not what they thought—a minute Jet raised his hand uncomfortably. "Uh, hi."
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Uh, well," He scratched his head. "I, guess, I'm sort of your uncle."
"Then, I guess I'm sort of your nephew." The younger one just nodded.
"A wise guy, eh?" Jet questioned.
"Wiser than you."
Jet stepped forward. Gave a little smirk, and rubbed the boy's hair until it was a mess. "Uncle Jet." He said plainly.
"Nephew Elliot." The older boy said.
"Me! Me! I'm a Jet too! Jet!" The younger boy jumped to get attention. Jet relented and gave that boy the same to the hair.
"So…lunch?" Jet simply stated.
"Let's go." The older boy started for the stair and the younger grabbed Jet's hand to lead him. Before they started on down though the far doors opened and out stepped Faluna in a new yellow dress.
"I see you three have all met up then?"
"His name is like mine!" The younger said.
"Yes, I know. Maybe you two may have more in common. Maybe even, Uncle Jet, will play treasure hunter with you?"
Jet just stared and blinked. Gave a shrug. And the younger boy gaped. Then the second woman entered the room, and it was the other Jet's turn to gape. A blushing Virginia in a pastel blue version of the pastel yellow dress Faluna wore came into the room. Nearly giving a nervous fidget to in her arm. She felt embarrassed. He just stared. She just looked down. Then he was pulled on and he started down the stair. Still with the same expression.
"Now, what say we head down for lunch. Do be careful walking down. It is not easy to walk simply in this." Faluna said with a twirl. "That boy, Jet, he does talk now, doesn't he?"
"Uh, Y-yeah he does. He, just doesn't like to…sometimes." Virginia said jittery.
"Oh, that's rather well and good then. I was feeling like a huge idiot talking and just getting a stare from him." Faluna admitted as they made their way to the foyer and followed after Jet and the two boys. Along the way Faluna opened a closet and let Gallows out of it. "This door will not lead you where you wish, Mr. Gallows."
Gallows chuckled. "Uh, yeah, I figured that. Just got a little lost." He joins the two women. Noticing Virginia. "Wow. What happened to you? Playing dress-up like that will get a few necks a-turning. I should know, mines already done a 360 twice over."
She remained with a darker blush. "Please, don't say that." She softly requested.
"Okay, but I'll be thinking it and you know it, so it's not like it'll help you anyway." Gallows replied with a shrug. "Why the makeup too though?"
"F-Faluna said that I looked better this way as a lady. I, sort of feel uncomfortable talking about it." Virginia glanced away.
"Uh-huh. So, when you show up do you think anybody's neck will snap from the turning? I would think if it goes around enough it would simply fall off." Gallows continued with a smirk.
She looked to the floor and tried to cover her face over. "Please…just stop talking to me." She requested as they entered the dining area.
This room was just as extravagant as any other part of the house. Heck, the banister on the stair alone was a work of art. The room was large. Tiled floor all white and black in some sort of pattern. The table longer than any other any of them had sat at. It could easily fit about three Maxwell Gangs or more. At the one end sat Clyde who was drinking his wine and talking with Clive who sat to his left about anthropology and random findings. Jet was trying to find where he was to sit. The younger Jet and Elliot took their seats away from the others, just because as children they would not be allowed in adult topics although, they still get to sit at the same table at least. Faluna took her place near to her husband. Gallows seated across from Clive. Virginia sat next to Clive.
"You will sit, brother, correct?" Clyde wondered as Jet was still looking at the table.
"He's not used to this Dr. Enduro." Virginia informed. "Jet, hurry, sit across from me!" She said only so Jet would hear. He looked around a bit nervously, saw her, nodded, and sat beside Gallows. "So, may I ask what is lunch?"
"Yes, it is a meal of sandwiches if you would believe." Clyde informed. The four drifters looked at one another strangely. Sandwiches did not sound like a meal that fit the occasion, setting, or what you would believe the people to be. "Yes, grilled cheese sandwiches. My specialty. You remember Jet, how I made them when we were kids? You loved them the most. No ones else's matched their excellence." Clyde continued with a smile. Jet gave a grin and nodded like he actually knew what he was talking about and had indeed remember such things. "Yes, and the rest of you will love them as well."
With that the door to the kitchen opened and a butler came out with a platter and placed the two of them at each end of the settings. "Thank you, Jeeves." Faluna replied with a smile. "That will be all." With that the old man left the room. Such service. The glasses were all already filled too. Jet just stared as his. The kids went to work lifting the platter and getting their sandwiches, and Clyde, Clive, Faluna, and Gallows did likewise. Jet continued drinking until it was gone. He had never in his life been thirsty like that. Was it this setting that did it? Virginia just stared at the platter. "Won't you eat, Virginia?"
"Oh, y-yes. I was just thinking of something." She took one of her own and bit into it a little. Faluna and Clyde just watched and gave a smile and went back to eating their own. Jet stared at her, though. She was finding that bizarre.
"If, you would excuse me." Jet stood. The first words from his that Faluna and Clyde really heard.
Gallows looked over. "Down the hall and on the right. Don't get lost." Gallows simply stated.
Jet looked at him oddly. What did that mean? Regardless he left the room. It was silent for the next few moments. Then Clyde and Gallows started talking about Baskar and all. Faluna listening intently on such an exotic topic she heard little of. The boys had their ways of having fun. Virginia looked to the hall. "I-I'm going to see what's taking Jet so long." She stood and fell to the ground.
"You must remember the length of the dress, dear." Faluna explained sweetly.
Virginia got up in a grumble. "Yes, I will remember that." She gave a smile and went down the hall. It was quite quiet down there. She found the bathroom and knocked. No answer. She had this weird feeling, and turned around to look into what seemed like a den. Jet stood in there. "Jet?"
"Huh?" He glanced at her. "Oh, it's you." He went back to looking at the wall. Just staring.
Virginia came to his side and looked at the wall as well. It was lined with various photos of Jet and Clyde. She looked at him with a mixture of worry and concern. "What, is it Jet?"
"I…how can I tell him, that I'm not Jet? Look at this, how can I tell him? Tell him that, yeah, I look like Jet, but I'm not Jet." He closed his eyes tight. It frustrated him. "It, I would be thrown out of here in a heartbeat and, he'll hate me. His wife, and those kids, the same. Hell, Virginia! He's named a kid after m…Jet."
"I understand, that. I," She looks at the photos and him. "My father, was dead, but he never got to rest. Do you, know how it felt seeing him like that? He was pretty much a ghost. And, for a moment I hoped I had my father, and everything was fine. Look, at how that turned out."
"You're hopes that rose were crushed, but you lived." Jet simply said. "Am I going to crush their hopes?"
"You, can go on saying nothing, and being his brother, or, you can simply tell him something that's not so simple to say. What do you want to do Jet? Tell him, or let him think you're Jet and everyone will be happy, except yourself?" Her hand took his. Her comforting hand. "You're going to have to talk about something at least eventually. You won't be able to not say things unless you come up with some sort of psychological back story to it as to why you never say much."
"I, guess I'm just going to have to keep going like this. I can't tell him." Jet said breaking away from her hand. "Virginia, tell them that I don't say much for some reason that you think is psychological. That way I don't seem like a big jerk of a brother."
"Okay." He leaves for the dining area again to his seat, and she follows soon after. "So, you were saying that these sandwiches you made as a kid for Jet a lot?" Virginia wondered.
"Huh?" Clyde looks to her. "Yes, he was rather fond of them, weren't you Jet?"
Jet simply nodded and finally ate one. Can't say he liked it, but he acted like it was the greatest thing ever. A taste explosion. And, to be on the safe side he decided he would eat more than anyone else had as well just as a trump card in case the acting failed. Finally, lunch had ended, and Faluna departed for the kitchen to work there on the plates. The kids ran off to play again. Clive was offered a chance to see Clyde's library and took it, and Clive took it, and Gallows went along just so he would not get lost again. Virginia seeing that it should only be the two brothers went into the kitchen with Faluna, but Faluna told her not to help as a guess, and so Virginia was instead off to see the kids.
Unfortunately, they did not say much. She laughed when she found that to strangers they were the most silent of children. Sort of like Jet, what with being quiet, saying only choice words, and really only being talkative to people they trust. "My name's Virginia. From what I hear you're named Jet. Just like your uncle, huh? And, you're, Elliot right? Those are really good names." She nervously said as they stared at her from their bed. It was like she was talking in a whole other language. "Um, well, what do you do for fun?"
Still silence. The young one raised his hand though. She pointed that out and wondered what he was going to say. "Are you my aunt?"
"N-no."
"Oh, I wish I had an aunt too. Cousins."
"Well, Jet is still a young guy. He may just yet."
"I hope he does. I want to be the older bossy one."
"Hey! I don't boss you!" Elliot defended. Jet simply stuck out his little tongue.
"Now, don't fight." Virginia simply stated. "It's not worth it."
"We hear there's monsters all over the world. Have you ever seen one?" Elliot questioned.
"I, have seen A LOT of monsters and demons…golems…other weird things." She replied with too much exaggeration than needed.
"Really, and Unc'a Jet too?" Jet eagerly wondered.
"Jet may have seen even more than myself. I'm not sure. He's a really good fighter. He's just a bit trigger happy though on occasion. He doesn't think things through. So, he never has a strategy." She explained.
"Still, that's awesome! He fought a lot of monsters." Elliot replied.
"It's not so 'awesome' when they're in front of you ready to kill you." She lamented. "Yep, Jet has faced some interesting things. He's fought a golem, which is not common might I add. Knights. Plenty of demons. People who were turned to demons. A dream demon." She put a finger to her lip. "I'm sure I'm missing one important one." She wondered. "Oh! He's even fought the very guardians themselves!"
"Really? Wow. And he won every battle? He must be really tough."
"Well, no, alone he isn't. Do you want to know how Jet beat up so many bad guys? What his secret weapon is?" She eagerly announced.
"Is it that cool ARM he has?" Elliot wondered.
"No! He has some really cool power right?" Jet wondered.
"While he does have an impressive one of a kind ARM, and a…sort of power…no."
"So, what then?" Elliot finally asked.
"Me, for one."
"You? A secret weapon?"
"And, those other two guys. Without us Jet wouldn't have won so many times."
"So, you guys are like super and can fuse into one being and use an awesome power to vanquish foes?" Elliot theorized.
"No, no!" Virginia protested. Thinking the answer was far out there. "We're only super, because we're friends. You see, Jet's secret weapon is his friends, but he'll never admit it. We're all good at different things, and by working as a team we make up for the others' lacking trait. Like, Jet's pretty quick and strong. Gallows is powerful with his arcana. Clive is a great shot, but is slow. We only won so many battles because of the other."
"So, if we had great friends we could be super strong too?" Jet wondered.
"Well, you're almost a team being brothers. You each are probably better at different things. Still, the more allies the better I would think." Virginia observed.
"Did you fight all of those things too?"
"Yep."
"Wow, then you're pretty cool too then. Maybe you should be my aunt." Jet replied eagerly. Virginia simply looked away a moment in a blush and looked back without one quickly.
"Idiot! It doesn't just happen like that." Elliot replied. "They have to love each other, right?"
"R-right." Virginia sternly replied.
"Phooey." Jet crossed his arms causing a smile to cross Virginia's face. He was so cute! Imagine an actual little Jet running around and that would be just as cute too.
Speaking of the actual Jet. Well, not the actual Jet, but the Filgaia Sample named the same and looking the same, just not the same. The two brothers remained at the dining table following the meal. Jet in his usual silence, and Clyde just in an awkward one.
"So…you're a drifter than, Jet?" Jet nodded. "So, I would think you've seen a lot of things out there. Anything you think will help my study of the history of the planet and it's civilization?" Jet nodded. "Oh? Well, what?"
"Let's…not go into it right now." Jet simply replied.
"You don't talk much. I could have sworn you used to talk more." Clyde said with a scratch to the back of his head. "Thank you, Jet. For coming here, and being Jet. It really makes my day, to see my brother again. I can understand if you don't like this."
Jet stared at him with uncertainty in his mind. "What, do you mean?"
"Adam, I know."
"I'm not Adam. I'm Jet."
"No, you're Adam, the Filgaia Sample. I know, I'm Jet's older brother. I know my father's projects. I know what he did with my brother's body."
"I'm not Adam. I'm not your Jet. Who am I than?" Jet nearly stood in aggravation.
"Who are you? That is a question best solved by yourself." Clyde simply said. "I can help you then, Jet. Just, stay a little longer would you?"
"You…can help me?" Jet stared at this man. He knew the truth. He knows enough. Even though, he is not his brother, he still acts like a brother to Jet. "O-okay. Only, for a little longer."
"Thank you. This will mean much more to my sons and Faluna. They need family I would think, and, it does make me happy to see, my brother, even though it's only his image." Clyde said quietly.
"I…remember things though…and….I would like to say that whatever I can remember is memories that belonged to Jet." Jet replied seeming far off and distant.
"His mind was most likely brought along with the body, but it was fragmented and jumbled." Clyde theorized. "I, think I can help you Jet. If you will let me there is something I've been researching that you should see as well."
"If you think…it will help. I…guess…I can trust you." Jet calmly replied. Still, something in the back of his mind was yelling 'No!' out to him. He just could not shake that uncertainness and untrusting voice. The paranoid and suspicious voice in the back of his head. And, he was unsure if his voice, or that voice was the truth.
