June 20, SD 772
You know, I really can't remember all of the details of those years. I've forgotten many of the words my friends spoke.
But Sophia's words… They never left my mind once after I was separated from my family.
"You know, my dad said Uncle Robert and Aunt Ryoko are the best Genomorphists in the Galaxy."
That immediately got my hackles raised. Enough people in my science classes had made unfriendly jeers at me because of my parents' fame for me to be wary of anyone approaching the subject. Even Sophia.
"So what about it? What brought that up all of a sudden? Is there something you wanna say to me?"
My typical responses. I was a good enough ball player for people to know I would not easily be taken down in a fight, so most left me alone after that.
Her response startled me.
"Yes there is."
She said them gently enough, but it set off alarms inside. Sophia? My friend? Going into the no-no zone? But why? These questions raced through my mind as she continued.
"It's just that, well…"
Go on.
"No matter how brilliant they are, they mess up sometimes, too."
Okay. That was random. What did they mess up? Our trip to Hyda? My hair color? What?
So of course I took the Squallian way out.
"Whatever. My parents may be brilliant, but what does that have to do with me? My parents are unique individuals, and I am my own person, too. What's the problem?"
It was true. I was smart enough, I guess, but I was no Robert Leingod. My talents lied in the athletic pool. And I guess I always excelled at those melee combat simulators. It was like I was born to fight at that level.
Sophia must have been surprised, because she said "Don't be so defensive."
Tough luck, girl. You invaded the no-no zone, prepare to … be lightly basted in cold demeanor and arrogant ignorance?
"Maybe someday…"
Those never end well.
"…someday you'll surpass them in one way or another! Or don't you think about things like that?"
Feh.
"You make it sound so easy…"
I hadn't even realized I said that out loud. I meant to think of some other response to get off the subject. But by now, I guess I was kind of curious as to where Sophia would go with it.
"Surpassing what they've done would be quite a feat."
"Don't be so worried about it. How about we do this, Fayt. I'll aim to surpass your mother, Aunt Ryoko, and you aim to surpass your father, Uncle Robert. That's fair, isn't it?"
"Not sure if I'd call that fair. Hmmm…"
Dammit! Again, I didn't mean to say that out loud…
Fortunately, she dropped it after that. Apris be praised.
…
Wait, who's Apris?
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My father, Robert Leingod…
He's renowned as the greatest Symbological Genomorphist to have ever lived.
He's also a difficult father. I mean, I know he's busy, but being gone all hours of the day and night; and dragging my mother with him! That's a bit much. Perhaps that's why I'm such good friends with Sophia. She's always been here for me, and we've always had each other.
Her parents are gone always, too. Her father, Clive Esteed, works with my father; and her mother is a pretty decent surgeon. Our houses are right next to each other, but if that's by design or coincidence, I'll never know.
I do remember overhearing my father asking Clive once about "the third." Clive said that Julie had left Earth. What that meant, I don't know. That's one of the earliest memories I have… I think I was 3 or 4 at the time. I remember it, because 8 years later, the Aldians started attacking the Federation. My father told Clive that "she's gone… she was on Remote Station #7…"
This memory was playing through my mind for some reason as I approached them there on the beach. I really don't know why.
They, of course, were relaxing in the natural sunlight so much that they only half paid attention to me. Like always. And also, like always, they complained about my playing games all the time. My mother was always so uninterested in me… I don't know why. Yet she said something that kind of got me defensive. She told me I shouldn't waste all my time playing games after Sophia agreed to come. I didn't see the problem, and told her so.
And then she said I was still a child; at least when I became "so defensive like that." Grr… Then she said I shouldn't worry about them, and to be with Sophia to make sure Sophia didn't starve herself when we got back to Earth. That made no sense. Why would Sophia starve herself just because I didn't spend a lot of time or attention to her on a beach resort vacation?
Mother's parting words were the real kicker. "You should be thankful I pay so much attention to you. It shows that I really care."
It was something along those lines, anyways. Yeesh. What am I, your disappointment?
My father was a little more straight about his concerns. "Games are all right, but only on your free time."
When else do I get to play them? In my sleep?
Hey… I've heard about a new system that allows you to control your dreams…. Maybe if I hooked it up to my gaming account, I could level up in my sleep…
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We went back to the hotel after that. 'We' being Sophia and I. We decided to take a good look at the hotel. There were several strange murals and pictures all over the place. We saw a funny one named 'Indian Summer.' Then we saw the door behind us. It seemed to call to us, like it knew we couldn't resist entering it.
It seems we couldn't.
I felt a strange almost-shudder run up my spine and whisper through my shoulders as we went in the open doorway.
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Abrupt end, I know. And no Peppita. Sorry!
I got this done far, far faster than I though I would. Try not to get used to it, I'm afraid…
Thanks, and reviews are more than welcome!