"Jeaves, alert our engineer to our situation" Cherry says, she's grown too used to the advantages of the computer.
"Already done, miss!" Jeaves replies in his usual monotone voice.
"It's been a while since we've entered a dream bubble, this should be fun!" Elise tries to lighten things up.
"I still stand by my decision to destroy the transmitter!" You say. This discussion is not through.
"This conversation is OVER, Sam." Cherry says.
"Yeah, maybe you should just get over it!" Will adds. He just gets under your skin, there has to be something up with this guy. The way he carries himself, the way he talks, even the way he and your sister act around each other, it all reeks of deceit.
"Fine, I'll be going then. I wouldn't want to bother you and the ghosts you hang out with, Sakura." Your sister's given name. She hates it when people call her that, mostly because dad called her that.
This while journey was a terrible idea from the start. Cherry was the only one who wanted to leave the session. You already won, and right before you entered the new world you made, she got a message. It was short and to the point a text from light years away reading: "Sakura, I'm sorry" - Dad. With that text you flew across the dark expanse of the void. She was the only one who wanted to find him, the rest of the team thought he was dead, well except for Wil, because he seems to go along with anything Cherry says.
All you found at the end of that path was a galaxy. A massive, bright galaxy, all revolving around a massive, green star, and in orbit around one of the smaller stars in this galaxy, in a massive field of asteroids you found a house. In this house was a note, everything else was either burned or shredded, nothing left for you to recognize. The note was simple, he killed everyone in the area of what is now the green star where several inhabited planets once resided, he was sorry, and he included coordinates to a new stop and now Cherry clings to that letter with her life.
"Stop calling me that!" She chimes in, "you know how I hate being called that!"
"How did he even get a japanese name for his daughter? He lived in America!" You ask, for the first time. Perhaps you should have asked this question a long time ago.
"We have more pressing matters currently Sam!"
"Maybe you two could learn to stop fighting!" Will adds, fuck you Will!
"Whatever, everyone to sleep if you want to do anything in the dream bubble." She dodges his suggestion.
"Oh, so when your boyfriend asks you to be decent to your brother you won't even acknowledge his request?" Elise teases. She enjoyed ruining their relationship as much as you did. The two of you both agree it's fun to mess with your paradox sibling and their love life.
"Hey, she's entitled to her opinion, Elise." Will responds.
"I can handle my own arguements." Cherry says, it's clear who wears the pants in their relationship.
"Fine, when did you become little miss ice queen?" Wil retorts.
"What was that?" Cherry starts getting angry.
"Nothing!" Will knows quite well that hell hath no fury like a woman scorn.
"That's what I thought!" Cherry follows.
Suddenly a bored voice comes ove the intercom. "Hey guys, it's me, Tim, we have an update on our arrival!"
"What, Tim?" You ask.
"Well, I was able to, after several hours of work, over-clock the main engine. We should be arriving about 2 months ahead of schedule!" Tim replies half enthused.
"Way to go, Tim!" Elise cheers.
"Yeah, great job, Tim. Things are starting to look up." Cherry says. "You've earned a break. Just in time too, we're entering a dream bubble!"
Tim replies with a resounding: "Yay, I get to sleep for the first time in what? Three days?"
"Well go ahead and sleep up, we've got a long journey ahead." Cherry says.
"Well, actually..." Tim paused.
"Actually what?" You ask.
"Well, I assume you know of Einstein's theory of relativity," Tim began, "well, according to his theory, if you go close to the speed of light, time seems to slow down. We may perceive time as passing normally, but the world outside of this ship is moving in slow motion by comparison."
"So how long will it feel like to us?" You ask.
"I'd say about three weeks to a month"
"Well then this trip may not be so bad after all." Will said trying to lighten the mood. Another month on this ship would still be hell.
Just then, Jeaves comes over the speaker.
"Mistress Cherry, we have an incoming radio transmission."
"I thought Sam destroyed the transmitter." She said, somewhat confused.
"He did, but he didn't harm the receiver."
"Alright, play the message!" She clearly just wants to spite you and your disdain of the radio idea.
"Very well madam."
Jeaves goes silent as static played over the speakers, after about twenty second a voice come on.
"You know Sam, I don't think it's very kind to destroy something your sister cares about. Maybe you should learn to respect other people's feelings."
With that short taunt Cherry's voice had been reduced to high pitched squeaks. She stared blankly at the speaker in disbelief.
"What's wrong?" You ask.
"That was dad."
END OF CHAPTER 17