Volume 2: Episode 3 - Ups and Downs
Lianne's Condo
Over the last few weeks, Darius developed a routine. Wake up time. Laundry twice a week. Relaxing with some movies or TV. He was now familiar with every Carpathian-style restaurant that delivered and knew each of their quirks. When he first arrived, he shuddered as he held Lianne's corporate account card in his paws, as though it were made of radium and would melt him if he looked at it funny. His first purchases were meager, just enough to get by. Lianne noticed after only a few days and encouraged him to get anything he liked. It was a business expense. Tax-deductible. If he still felt awkward, Lianne explained, just remember that the research on Mikado's unusually extensive injuries would benefit his company. Everyone wins, he said. However, Lianne added, even if his company did not benefit, he still wanted to help the ones who helped Quenya.
After that, Darius didn't hold back on his meals. Breakfast. Grilled salmon. Soy sauce. Rice. Pickles. Tea. And, sadly, nobody to share it with. He hoped that, someday, he could share a meal with Lianne and talk about the food, but it was not this day. The closest he could come was to eat with Ramses on video call. Not the same food, and it was mid-afternoon at his house, so he only had a snack.
Darius: Have you heard from Amenaru lately?
Ramses: It's been a few days. He said that there would be times he wouldn't be allowed to communicate.
Darius: I hope they're okay up there.
Ramses: The media here seems to think something big is going to happen soon. Lots of speculation, especially since the vashtari bombed Carpathia City. Everyone's a little on edge here, to put it mildly.
Darius pinched off a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put the morsel in his mouth. Suddenly, it didn't taste as good as before.
Darius: Understandable. I've been trying to keep my mind off all that with work. It's not easy sometimes. How is the rest of your family doing?
Ramses: Meri spends a lot of time with friends. Dad is like a zombie, wandering around the house in his underwear. Mom has been downstairs a lot lately, even doing most of the cooking. I guess we're just coping. I hope Amenaru comes back. I hope we don't have to evacuate...
Ramses's voice trailed off. For the past few weeks, they'd kept their topics lighthearted, both of them, perhaps subconsciously, perhaps not, avoiding the threat that loomed over all of them. Pretending like everything was normal. Now, the words were finally out.
Darius: I wish I could hug you. You left out one person in your answer. How are you doing?
Ramses: You know, I never realized how many of my friends are online until now. I never really thought about it until Meri started going out all the time.
Darius: Friends are friends no matter where they are. Whatever happens, stay safe...
As he spoke, Darius's eyes passed briefly over the time on the corner of his tablet. Just twelve minutes to the start of his shift and he wasn't even properly dressed yet.
Darius: Ack, I'm late! I gotta go! Love you, Ramses!
Darius poked at the "hang up" button on his tablet, shoved his last bit of fish in his mouth, and rushed to the bedroom to throw his clothes on. Halfway there, he froze, only for a moment. Did he just say "Love you, Rameses?"
ToCar Hospital
One week since Mikado got his new limbs. From then on, his care was more about physical therapy than surgery. Darius's job was to stay close and make sure that Mikado stayed upright as he moved back and forth between the balance bars. Turns were the hardest when he had to shift his arms to opposite bars. This was when Darius had to be at his most vigilant. It was a series of sprints, not a marathon. Five goes through the bars, a rest, and then go again.
This round, by Mikado's request, Darius turned on the radio to play some smooth, calming music. On his second time reaching the end of the bars, Mikado stumbled. Darius caught him quickly.
Mikado: I know Lianne said that it would take time for my brain to sync with my new parts, but I didn't think it would take this long.
And this was Darius's second job. Cheerleader.
Darius: You're doing great! Remember that Lianne also said that yours is the most extreme case he's ever worked on. He is impressed by your progress. I'm impressed by your progress. You're amazing. That said, we can take a break if you like.
Mikado paused and looked up at Darius's smiling face. Suddenly instilled with a sense of perseverance, he declined the offer.
Mikado: I want to finish the set.
Darius: I'll be right with you! Remember, heel, toe, heel, toe.
Mikado: Yeah, I got it.
Mikado continued his paces while Darius kept a comforting paw on him while occasionally checking his foot movements. Just before Mikado finished his fifth and final pass through the bars, the soothing music from the radio suddenly stopped mid-song and a frenzied announcer cut in.
We interrupt this broadcast for some breaking news. Lord Flinn's government has just released a statement stating that the Carpathian and Tokkastran fleets have engaged the vashtari...
Darius momentarily broke his concentration on Mikado, just long enough for him to stumble nearly down to his knees. Darius caught him just before his fancy new leg put a dent in the floor.
Darius: Oh no! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?
Mikado: I think I'll take that break now.
Darius: For sure. Let's go sit on the bed.
Darius didn't hear the next part of the announcement, at least, for as long as he was helping Mikado away from the bars. Once Mikado was safely on the bed, he could listen again.
...has warned all civilian ships to stay away from the area as they would likely be destroyed immediately. Our affiliate network reports that their telemetry probes show what appears to be weapons fire not far from the Polaris sector. Unfortunately, that's the only information we have for now. We have a special guest today to talk about what might be going on out there and what might happen next...
Mikado reached out and smacked the off button on the radio.
Mikado: I don't wanna hear some pompous pundit drone on and on about what might happen in a situation that nobody knows anything about.
Darius: We know something that the pundits don't. We know exactly what the Shadowdancer crew is capable of.
Mikado: I just hope it's enough.
The two sat in silence for a short while, listening to the distant sounds of the ocean muffled through the windows. Each, in his own way, wondered what might be going on out there. Could the Shadowdancer already be destroyed? It would be a long time before they ever knew. Darius reached over to the radio and switched it back on. For a split second, whatever guest they had on the show rambled about something, but he didn't linger to find out what it was. Instead, he found a station that was still broadcasting music, a station called "Chill," which played relaxing music.
Darius: You wanna try some ear wiggles?
Mikado took a deep breath and responded with a heavy nod.
Mikado: Yeah.
Darius climbed onto the bed and kneeled directly behind Mikado, gently placing his paws on his head.
Darius: Ready.
Mikado moved his ears, first the right, still his natural, intact ear, with ease, while the left struggled to synchronize. Darius helped by guiding his artificial left ear to match the movements of the right, taking care to let Mikado do as much of the work as possible.
Darius: How does it feel.
Mikado: Still hurts, but better than last time.
Darius: Just let me know when you want to stop.
Mikado continued while Darius continued to massage his muscles, moving to the slow rhythm of the soothing music from the radio. Mikado didn't seem to tire. Neither did Darius, who was determined to stick with whatever he wanted to the very end, even if his own claws were to fall off with exhaustion.
After four songs, Darius indeed started to feel an ache in his paws. Just as he was considering asking for a break, a buzz came from the speaker next to the bed. Darius, who was closest, leaned over for a look.
Darius: It's Lianne. I'll signal him to come up.
Mikado nodded, as expected, while Darius tapped the confirm button.
Darius: How's your head?
Mikado: Still a little achey, but I feel like I did better this time. I definitely held out longer.
Darius: I'm glad you noticed. You're definitely getting better. I'm going over to the door to wait for Lianne.
Still kneeling, Darius scooted over to the edge of the bed, flipped his legs out from under him with a little hop, and landed on the floor. At the door, he only had to wait a few seconds for the bell to chime and he let Lianne in.
Lianne: I assume you've heard already.
Mikado: That the battle started? About half an hour ago.
Lianne: That's when the news figured it out. Truth is that it's been going on for two hours already. I'm getting sporadic updates from my contacts, but not much. I got an update ten minutes ago saying that Shadowdancer is still in it. I don't know much more than that.
A moment of silence passed, thoughts of friends and the ordeal they were going through filling their heads.
Darius: I could use some tea. Anyone else want some?
Mikado: Hot barley, if you don't mind.
Lianne: Chai latte.
Darius: Not a problem. I'll be right back.
Darius rushed out of the door and, as soon as it closed behind him, he clutched his chest before he reached out to tap the down button with his claw. He looked forward to a calm elevator ride with a friendly attendant.
But that's not what he got.
When the doors opened, the elevator was already packed with a noisy bunch coming down from one of the upper floors with barely enough room for him to squeeze inside. Lapin held the door for him and gave his usual customary greeting. To anyone else, he would seem his normal, friendly self, but Darius could see that he was, in fact, a little harried.
Lapin: Je vais descendre.
Darius squeezed his way into the chattering crowd, somehow ending up in the back as subtle shifts in their movements gradually squashed him into the corner. Finally, the elevator stopped at the fifth floor, the floor with the cafeteria. The tea shop, however, was on the first floor, so Darius would have to remain while the noisy crowd disembarked.
Lapin: Merci d'avoir utilisé.
Lapin completed his bow and the doors closed. Naturally, Darius expected the descent to continue, but, instead, Lapin put his arm on the brass control panel and rested his head on it, taking several deep breaths. As Darius contemplated asking if he was okay, their eyes met in the reflected shine of the brass panel. Lapin instantly straightened up and bowed to him.
Lapin: Mes excuses, Monsieur Bengal. Je vais continuer.
Lapin reached for the control lever, but Darius stopped him before he could go on.
Darius: Are you okay, Monsieur Lapin?
Lapin: Do not trouble yourself on my account, Monsieur Bengal. You have enough to worry about.
Darius: Maybe, but please, if something is wrong and you need to tell someone, I'll listen any time.
Lapin stole a quick glance at the panel. No requests, so he leaned against the elevator wall.
Lapin: Hundreds of times a day, up and down and saying the same things over and over. I feel as if my brain is melting. I have so desired to ask you, Monsieur Bengal, about your time on the Shadowdancer. You were a cadet there, no?
Darius: I was. I expected to gain some education for my career as a nurse, and I got a lot of that. What I didn't expect was to become so close to the crew. I think what I learned most there was teamwork.
Lapin: Ah, so much responsibility as a cadet?
Darius flashed a delighted grin.
Darius: Hey, we kept that ship running! Seriously, though, I'd say joining as a cadet is a great way to test if it's a future you want. I haven't decided yet, but I'm definitely considering it. Only 18 to 20-year-olds have that option, though.
The bell of the elevator dinged. A call from the first floor, where Darius was headed anyway.
Lapin: Duty calls, Monsieur Bengal. Someday, would you join me for tea so that I may ask you more?
Darius: Absolutely!
With a nod and a smile, a genuine smile this time, Lapin turned the crank and the elevator descended once more.
Lapin: May the battle be won, Darius, for all of our sakes.
Darius's ears pricked up. It was the first time that Lapin had ever used his first name. At the same time, the elevator arrived on the first floor. Darius stepped out, but this time, he turned just as Lapin delivered his usual parting line.
Lapin: Merci d'avoir utilisé.
And this time, Darius bowed back, also putting his paw on his chest, just as Lapin did every time.
Darius: And thank you for all your efforts.
Lapin responded with a little nod and then redirected his attention to the now-boarding passengers. Darius watched as the doors closed and then made his way to the tea counter to place his order.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
Zelbunnii
Avareonart
Less_end
