Chapter 3
Extant
A piano plays as light rain pitter-patters on the roof of a house. The haunting song echoes through the mostly empty house. Voices whisper to him. Little pins and needles are poking him all over. His robes feel warm and damp. When he finishes the song, he sits for a minute, staring at the keys. The sting of the pins and needles slowly fades, and he feels cooler. Koan puts his head in his hands and then rubs his eyes.
Koan: "My head's killing me." He says under his breath.
He stands up from the old bench and walks over to a wooden chair with the floorboard creaking below him. He sits down on the chair as it squeaks from the weight of the formidable figure on top of it and closes his eyes.
A woman hangs over a sink, humming to herself. The soothing serenade echoes throughout the vacant room as soap and water run off a plate. She sets the plate on a stack of previously washed dishes to dry. Hearing the front door open, she turns her head to see the silhouette of a tall man enveloped by the golden shine of the setting sun. The man walks in and closes the door behind him. The woman walks over to the man, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Woman: "Hey." She said affectionately.
Man: "Hey, Athy." He said softly, wrapping his arms around her waist.
They kiss, then she looks at his face and is met with a troubled look. She puts her hands on his face.
Athy: "What's wrong?" She said tenderly.
Man: "I got laid off." He said, defeated.
Her face contorted into a confused look.
Athy: "What?!" She said, shocked. "Why?!"
Man: "Do you remember when I told you that was losing credits?"
Athy: "Yeah?"
Man: "Well, they started laying people off to keep from going bankrupt." He paused. "And I was one of those people."
Athy: "Aww, I'm so sorry." She said, holding him closer. "But what are we going to do?"
Man: "I'll have to find another job." He said, at a loss. "I'm so sorry, Athy." He said, resting his head on her shoulder.
Athy: "Cy, you had no control over that." She said sympathetically.
He sighs in response.
Cy: "Where are the kids?"
Athy: "Asleep."
Cy: "Already?"
Athy: "Yeah, we had a long day." She said, smiling.
He laughs and pulls her in closer.
Koan sits in his chair, panting quietly. He sits for a few seconds before standing up and walking outside. Standing on the dark, wet deck of the house, he looks up at the sky shrouded in a light gray coat. The cool, soft raindrops fall on his face, but he is unbothered.
Koan: "The rain's lighter today." He thinks to himself.
He stops staring and walks down the quietly creaking, wet steps. He goes underneath the house and reaches a washing line-like string attached from both ends to the bottom of the house and touches one of the many bundles of drying grass tied to it. He then moves on to the other ones to check if they're dry.
Koan: "Good, they're all dry." He thinks to himself.
After checking the grass bundles, he walks over to the earthen pots directly underneath the blanketed sky and checks inside to see if they collected enough water. The clear, hydrating liquid fills all the pots almost to the brim.
Koan: "That should be enough water." He thinks reassuringly.
Next, he returned to the underside of the house to check the wood pile. He observes, then grabs a few split logs and checks for moisture.
Koan: "Good, they're dry." He thinks to himself.
After confirming enough of the wood is dry, he goes back inside to check on the last thing. Once inside, he walks over to a small table in front of the wooden chair and inspects an earthen pot with small stones.
Koan: "I'm pretty sure this is enough." He thinks to himself. "Now, all I need is one of those birds."
After checking everything, he finally retreats into his 4-legged wooden haven and looks forward, thinking.
Athy and Cy sit diagonally to each other. The couple's loud thoughts deafen the silence in the room.
Athy: "So, what are we going to do?" She said unsurely.
Cy: "I told you I'll just have to get another job."
Athy: "But what other jobs pay fifty-four credits an hour?"
Cy: "I don't know." He said, distraught.
They pause for a moment.
Athy: "Do you think we'll be OK?"
Cy: "Yeah, we should be for a little while."
Athy: "But you still need to figure something out."
Cy: "I know."
They stop for a while, and then Cy looks up at Athy.
Cy: "Athy, do you remember Xerx?
Athy: "Yeah, isn't he the one who helped you kill those Krykna?
Cy: "Yeah! He said, rejuvenated.
Athy: "What about him?"
Cy: "He became king of Naboo a few years ago!"
Athy: "What does that have to do with anything?"
Cy: "I think he might be able to help us out!" He said excitedly.
Athy: "I don't know." She said, doubtingly. "What makes you think he'd help us?"
Cy: "He's a good friend. Plus, he was always there for me."
Athy: "Are you sure?"
Cy: "Yes."
Athy: "OK, well, how are you going to talk to him if they don't let you in."
Cy: "I'll just tell them I'm an old friend of his."
Athy: "But, what if they don't believe you?"
Cy: "Then he'll tell them."
Athy: "But-"
Cy: "Don't worry, It'll be fine." He said, putting his hands on her shoulders.