Episode Three: Meant to Live
"Meant To Live" by Switchfoot
It was late in the afternoon in Bellforest as Axel Thurston watched his adopted great-grandchildren play across the street from his rebuilt workshop with an attached two-story house at its rear. He relaxed on a lawn chair just outside the open dual folding doors. Opposite him across the dirt road was a grassy field with a newly planted tree in its center. Maurice carried a digital camera and followed his younger siblings on a bug hunt. Linck and Maeter, nets in hand, would find assorted insects and he would photograph them. Axel sipped iced tea from a tall glass and chuckled when the trio caught their quarry, as their reactions were overly flamboyant. Inside the stout arching aeronautics hanger, filled with various machine tools, small burnt scraps of recovered family memorabilia sat on a workbench to the right. Above these was a framed copy of adoption papers that hung below an original print of "Pacific State". Just then, a drab-ivory telephone rang, which clung to the wall near the doors. Axel slowly got up and stretched.
"Thurston Garage, Axel speakin'," he answered, picking up the wired receiver, "Holland Novak; if I knew it was you I'd of stayed in my seat!"
"Very funny; old man," he chuckled over the receiver, "So how's the grandkids?"
"Great-grandkids," he corrected.
"Hey, you said it," rebuffed Holland, "I was tryin' to be nice."
"Yeah, yeah," sighed Axel, "The kids are fine; content as the bug they catch. Now that their adoption's complete, all we need is their parents."
"Good to hear," he acknowledged, before sobering up, "But that's what I was calling about."
"I don't like your tone," he snorted.
"Then you'll hate my message," replied Holland solemnly, "I got good news and bad: good news is we think they're finally ready to come home; though we can't say from where or when, consensus says they'll show up in Bellforest."
"And the bad?" asked Axel.
"The bad part is they're in danger; especially Eureka," he informed, "The short version is a vagabond we picked up hijacked a restored K.L.F. and is currently searching for her; for what purpose we're not sure. Time's on our side since he was last spotted over the Tian Shan Mountains and we doubt he knows where to search; still, we're not taking chances. We should be airborne within the hour. We'll patrol the area until they appear then take them in. Just be ready to evac if things get ugly."
"You sure know how to ruin good news," he sighed.
"Wish it were a bad joke," Holland lamented.
"Guess I should keep this from the kids?" inquired Axel.
"For now," he confirmed, "Don't need to give 'em false hope or worry."
"If my shop gets trashed again, I'm sending you the bill," he warned.
"The Confederation will compensate you like last time," assured Holland, "Take care of yourself."
Axel hung up and sighed. He turned just in time to see the children running over.
"Grandpa, Grandpa! Look what we caught!" smiled Linck, presenting Maeter, holding a brown Mantis.
"Oh my, you don't see many of these 'round here," he chuckled, "You get pictures, Maurice?"
"Only one 'cause Maeter ran over to you," he huffed.
"But we needed to show Grandpa!" she protested.
"And I'm glad you did," he assured, "But you need to let your brother take some photos so you can add the lil' fella to your collection."
"Okay," Maeter sighed.
She held out her hands as the Mantis began to slowly crawl up her arm. Maurice took several photos from different angles while she tried to not giggle, with little success.
"I think we should give him a name and keep it," suggested Linck.
"No, this guy is better left outside where he can enjoy the clean air and snatch up all the bad bugs," smiled Axel, "But you can still give him a name."
His disappointed frown was short-lived as he thought of a name, "Hmm, how about: Gekko?"
"Gecko?" challenged Maeter, "That's dumb; he's not a gecko."
"No, Gekko! Like the ship!" corrected Linck.
"But the Gekko's fast and he's… not so fast," she observed, "He should have a proper name."
"Like what?" he inquired.
"Well, Mantis are very cunning and usually patient," explained Axel, "They are strong for their size and deadly to their pray. They do a lot of good in gardens."
"How about Dominic?" Maurice suggested.
His siblings laughed.
"I don't think Dominic's anything like that," laughed Maeter, "He's too into Anemone to be useful."
"Well, he did say he'd protect her no matter what," recounted Linck, "Just like papa would for mama."
"From what I know of him, Dominic will make a fine name," smiled Axel.
"Oh, alright, but I get to name the next one!" she conceded.
Linck nodded as he watched Maurice take more photos.
"Finished," he smiled, "And we've filled up another memory card."
"Alright, now time to put Dominic back," smiled Axel.
"Okay," Linck sighed, "Do you think we'll see him again?"
"You could," he shrugged, "Remember, these guys like to hang out in the same areas so make sure you put him back where you found him; and when you check back, you just might find him again."
He smiled big before following Maeter back to the spot where they found it.
Maurice removed the memory card after shutting off the camera, "So who was on the phone?"
"Holland," replied Axel, putting his chair and glass inside, "He wanted to check on you kids and asked when you wanted to return."
"What'd you tell him?" he asked, helping close the shop doors.
"I told him we'd call once your studies are finished for the year," he smiled.
"Anything else?" prodded Maurice.
"No, nothing of importance," assured Axel.
He was not impressed but said no more.
"Okay, he's back in his tree-house!" announced Maeter, returning with her brother, "So, now what?"
"Well, your brother needs more memory cards," answered Axel, "We can go to the store and grab a bite while we're out; then it's back to your studies. How's that sound?"
The two cheered. He locked the shop then followed Maeter and Linck as they ran ahead, nets in hand. Maurice walked beside him and watched Axel turn a wary eye skyward. He knew something was wrong but again said nothing. Meanwhile, across the countryside on a hill overlooking a lake, a large dark winged shadow descended. The sun inched closer to the horizon as the cockpit of TheEND opened up. Marcus removed himself from the interface and stood on its shoulders with a yawn.
"Mate; not sure I'm kosher with that position," he remarked, arching his back and stretching, "Still, concrete's soft when you're pooped. Sure hope the girls can forgive me for this one."
A long diesel-electric passenger train snaked it way past the pristine lake in the valley below, which was flanked by mountains and hills. Marcus sat down and took in the view. TheEND knelt on its own accord and watched the slowly setting sun.
"Crikey, what a day," he sighed, leaning back, "Still bloody tired. … Yep, we should Cap'n Cook this Eureka lass. … Squizz, we're close enough; when she arrives, we'll pounce, yeah? 'til then, I'm gonna kip. … Push some zeds then, mate. … Yeah, yeah. G'night big bloke."
With that, Marcus lay down and drifted off to sleep. As darkness fell, an older tan truck slowly made its way up a nearby dirt road. TheEND spotted the vehicle and stood up, waking Marcus.
"Hey, what gives, mate?" he yawned until noting the truck, "You woke me for that? Ain't no threat there. … Well, let's eye 'em n' see."
The truck was driven by an African male with a Caucasian female passenger. When they crested the hill, they stopped and stared at TheEND. Now only a few meters away, they talked for a moment before she got out and walked way towards the K.L.F. She was petite but shapely with long flowing lavender-dyed hair, fare skin, and blue eyes wearing a blue tub-top over a purple long-sleeve shirt and a long black skirt with a pyramid studded leather belt over calf-high boots. The driver sat on the door through an open window frame and watched. He was in his late teens with a small afro, gray jacket, jeans, and polarized sunglasses with red-orange tint.
TheEND knelt down to let Marcus jump off, "Hey, she'll be sweet. No drama, okay?"
He gave her a nod and a wave, "G'day, love."
"Hey there," she smiled, "So you're its new pilot?"
Marcus thought for a moment, "No, can't say that I am."
"Then what're you doing with it?" inquired the young lady, "Odd uniform for an Armada pilot."
He again thought about it, "It's in my care, per say; Gekkostate n' all that."
"Alright," she shrugged, "Don't assume you can say when it was upgraded by chance."
"Classified," chuckled Marcus, looking around, "But recently."
"I see," smiled the young lady, "The name's Emma."
"Rapt," he grinned, "Marcus T. So, you recognize this bloke, I take her?"
"Yes; even with the new look," she replied, "I was saved from a Coralian attack by this K.L.F. and was hoping to thank the pilot. She's been one of my hero's…"
"Will pass the message if ya fancy," he offered.
"I would appreciate it," nodded Emma, "So I'm guessing you're in the same squadron?"
"Somethin' like that," shrugged Marcus.
"Well, I know she wasn't the only one risking her life for us that day," she grinned deviously, walking closer to him, "So think of this payment for your sacrifice."
With that, Emma gently grabbed his arms and locked their lips. Marcus was dumbfounded to say the least. Their embrace lasted several minutes. The truck driver cheered and whistled with delight.
"I'm moving to Tresor in a few days," she informed with a wink, "If you're in town, look me up."
With that, Emma twirled around and walked back to the truck, leaving him speechless.
"Be seein' you!" she waved.
Marcus just stood there as Emma returned to the truck. She blew a kiss as they drove off, to which he merely waved. TheEND watched the truck drive out of sight; then turned its attention to Marcus.
"… Wha? Yeah, I'm ace," he replied, still dazed, "Umm, wow. Glad she didn't see me eyes."
He then climbed back up onto TheEND, "That'd be right, she'd hate me body; but ya only live twice, right? Wanna visit Tresor after all this? … Sure, you get your lass and I get mine apparently. … Strewth; mad as a cut snake but seein' how you were a rusting hunk of scrap metal… Figure of speech, mate! … Well, back to me kip. Wake me if another spunk lass rocks up."
TheEnd rolled its eyes. Night soon enveloped the region as the large debris ring shined with brilliance. Meanwhile, in Bellforest, the Thurston family settled down for an evening of study. The small living room easily fit a fireplace, located in the center wall that separated the kitchen and opposite a large couch beneath a window. Spiraling wooden stairs leading to the second floor were opposite the shop door across a small table. The dining room led to the kitchen and was opposite the front door. The children sat around the coffee table with copies of their latest photos while completing an assortment of homework math problems. A small pendulum clock sat atop the fireplace mantel and softly chimed the hour surrounded by family photos.
Axel, who had been tutoring his great-grandchildren, stood and stretched. He proceeded to the kitchen, checking if there were dishes to do. He then grabbed a piece of paper and began a grocery list. Once finished, he walked over and entered the workshop. Stepping down and closing the door, he leisurely strolled through the organized shop. Memories filled his mind as he recalled the events of the past year. Axel visited the recovered Thurston memorabilia and soon was lost in thought. Then a knock from the workshop doors echoed. This puzzled him, confirming the time from a nearby clock. With a grumble, he approached the doors. A second knock sounded from a personal door built into the port folding door. He unlocked the door and opened it.