"ARE YOU COMPLETELY MAD!" ProtoMan nearly yelled.
Bass winced and could understand the red Navi's distress. "Look, I told you that you wouldn't like it!"
Lowering his voice, ProtoMan stared at Bass incredulously. "We can't do that! Bass, you're the last person I thought would suggest something this insane! I mean, she's your sister for heaven's sake!"
With a sigh, Bass nodded. "I know ProtoMan! But listen to me. If this wasn't the only way, I wouldn't even consider this, but it just might be."
The silver haired Navi paced restlessly. "What about you? You're thin enough to fit!"
Shaking his head, Bass chuckled. "No can do. If your shoulders are too broad, then I'm not gonna fit either." He pulled back his cloak quickly to reveal gold shoulder pads.
Whirling on his companion, ProtoMan was almost yelling again. "No! So help me God, I will not let you send Starfire, your own SISTER, out into the Undernet alone!"
"Excuse me."
Turning, ProtoMan saw Starfire with her arm drawn back. Abruptly, she brought her arm down, slapping her tall partner across the face. Stumbling back a step, ProtoMan rubbed his face where Star had hit him.
Standing firmly, her sightless eyes glaring at ProtoMan behind his own sunglasses. "I may be blind Proto, but I'm not deaf."
ProtoMan could only stare. "Y-You slapped me."
The black Navi gaped. "You slapped him!"
Stepping forward, Starfire sighed. "Proto, if I can get us out of here, I will. Please, understand this!"
ProtoMan couldn't help but stare for another moment before finally nodding once. "A-All right."
A smile spread across Starfire's face. "Then that's it then. I'm going to go get help."
"What?"
"I'm not as strong as you two! I can't move some of those boulders by myself. I've got to get help and come back."
ProtoMan stared incredulously at Bass. "She's kidding, right?"
Shaking his head, Bass sighed. "I'm afraid not ProtoMan. Starfire may be strong, but not like us."
A gentle touch on his shoulder made ProtoMan turn slightly.
Starfire was there, hovering almost protectively at his side, her face sweet. "Proto, I know that you're just looking out for me. Like when you told me to stay out of the cave, remember? But if I had, you'd be dead. This is another one of those things! You have to let go of what you care about to move on! I'll be okay, I promise you."
ProtoMan was still for a moment before sweeping Starfire up in a tight embrace. "Oh God Star, I hope you're right. I-I don't think I could stand to loose the best partner I ever had."
Although Bass couldn't see this, Starfire felt a couple tears fall onto her cheeks. She couldn't tell whose they were.
The black Navi sighed. "Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow. C'mon Starry, you've gotta get going."
"Hold on a moment Oniichan." Starfire took off the sunglasses and presented them to ProtoMan. "Here, if I come back with these on, Chaud will think you're dead and I took them."
He nodded and boosted her up into the hole.
As she prepared to climb in, Star chanced a glance back and imagined how the boys would look. Proto, tall and proud, always watching out for her. And Bass, lanky and roguish with a wild streak. Then she turned away, turned her face towards the sun, and crawled towards the light.
From Blitz Chick: This chapter is dedicated to my graduating class of 2005. Congrats guys! Now let's turn away from all we've known in middle school, and walk towards the sun.
