Standing

by China Dennington

  “First I want to hear your story,” she said as they both sat down opposite each other.

  “Alright. So, being the nice person that she is, Ginvay decided that the worst punishment for me would be to be placed in solitary confinement for the rest of my life. You should’ve seen how she looked when she announced my “sentence”. She looked like she thought she was queen and judge of the world, and doling out the fairest punishment. Her nose was so high in the air that it almost touched the ceiling!”

  Gale giggled. “I can imagine. She looked similar when she told me that I had been sentenced to death by starvation. So regal, and like she was doing the best thing that she had ever done for the world!”

  Force and Gale both burst out laughing.

  “So, how did you escape? I looked carefully and couldn’t find a way out,” said Gale.

  “The day before yesterday, I found a loose brick in the floor of my cell. At the very bottom level, the cells have brick floors and metal walls. Anyway, I pried it off, and then I did the same for a few surrounding bricks. It turns out it was an entrance to some sort of underground water purifying facility. As soon as the hole was big enough for me to get through, I did. I waded through a bunch of underground tunnels, got hopelessly lost a few times, and eventually found my way out about thirty minutes ago. And that is what I have been doing for the last few days. Now, how did you wrestle Keesen out of Ginvay’s hands?”

  Gale smiled excitedly, but said, “First you need to get warm before you catch a cold. For goodness sakes, it’s snowing and you’re sopping wet!”

  Force looked down at himself, “Oh. That. Lets just say I slipped a few times.”

  Gale laughed and quickly ran to her tent, snatching a blue blanket and some noasé. He must be hungry. She jogged back to Force and tossed it to him.

  “Now, don’t make me wait any longer! I want to hear what happened!”

  Then Gale let it pour, she told about all the preparations and the rebellion, and the Dellinians. She conveniently omitted the details of her anxiety about him, and her run from the city to the cave. She saw on his face that he noticed the gap, but he had enough sensitivity not to ask about it. By the end of the story, Force was semi-dry.

  Gale lept up and grabbed his hand to help him do the same. “Come on, you have to see the new and free Keesen. It’s even better than Draysok!”

  Together they ran, the freezing breeze rushing past their ears and shoulders. They ran through the snow and towards the happy glowing city that was outlined by the setting sun.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  They reached the gates breathless and laughing. A strange combination, but a delightful one. As they went through the city searching for Tivia and Liam, it grew dark. Bright white lights that rather reminded Gale of Dellinia came on. They surrounded the very top and very bottom of every building, giving a special type of feeling that she had never experienced before. It was cozy and yet so big. Completely beautiful.

  They wandered around the city for about an hour before they ran into Liam and Tivia. They were dejectedly sitting on the steps to a former library that had been turned into a security developing center. Gale could tell that Tivia had been crying from her red face. Liam’s face was downcast, and sadness flowed from him. They had obviously come to the same conclusion about Force as Gale had earlier. She called to them twice through the smiling flow of people as they made their way towards the steps. They looked up at the second call, and caught sight of Force. Their faces conveyed disbelief and amazement. They both jumped up and ran to meet Force and Gale.

  “I thought you were dead!” said Liam to Force as he gave him a back slap.

  “Apparently not!” answered Force merrily.

  “Oh yeah! Junior can fly and control his fire now!” said Gale.

  “I knew he would get it,” replied Force with a smile.

  Then Gale realized that she hadn’t seen Junior since the battle. “Speaking of him, where’s Junior?” she asked.

  At that moment, Junior excitedly sidled up and gasped in delight when he saw Force. Gale and Force didn’t believe what they saw— right next to him was another flamien!

  Junior quickly bent down and wrote in the dirt,

  I have a playmate! I saved her from a cage! Her name is Kani! She can write too!

  Gale smiled in surprise, “Hi Kani!”

  Kani looked up shyly and waved.

  “I must have zoomed in on the tracker. That’s why I didn’t see her!” said Force.

  It was wonderful. Junior introduced Kani to everyone with joyful grunts and showed Force how he could fly. Tivia just beamed.

  “Is anybody hungry? I hear that a few restaurants have opened up today!”

  “Absolutely starving!” replied Force with a grin.

  They looked around and found a Tielniese diner. It was a very interesting experience for Force, but it was even more interesting to Gale. At that place, either the food was absolutely awful, or absolutely wonderful. There were new types of vegetables and soupy dishes of all kinds. Over dinner, they all talked of their exploits that day and of the new government that was being formed. Then they traveled to one of the city’s new inns. It’s amazing how fast these people have set up businesses! she thought in wonder, as they entered a comfortable lobby that had a clean feel to it. An hour later they were all laying in their different rooms. We actually did it! she thought with joy. Gale had a good feeling flowing through her as she fell asleep. Somehow she knew that things here would be great for a very long time.

  The next day, Gale woke up early and went out into the rejoicing city. She walked around and buried herself in everybody’s joy. It made her cry with happiness. Parties were going on everywhere and people were revelling in the forbidden books that had been hidden from Ginvay. The rest of the day was like a huge party — dancing and singing, and many other things. Everyone was celebrating like they never had before. At last, after twenty years, old friends were talking freely. Some of the older citizens were happily painting the outsides of buildings wild colors.

  Later that day, Force spotted Gale dancing with a group of girls in the street. He smiled as he watched her finish the intricate, quick paced dance, laughing and breathless. The other young women who had joined the dance were the same way, laughing and breathless. He walked up to her.

  “You learned those steps pretty quickly!”

  She laughed, her cheeks red from exercise. “Oh, believe me. I had my share of mess-ups!”

  They stood in silence for a moment, breathing in the crisp air.

  “We did it,” Force said softly.

  “Did you ever think that we would fail?” she asked teasingly.

  Some of the hair in her braid hung out, framing her face while her grey eyes twinkled.

  Force grinned, “Well, there was that moment when I rescued you, and then was sentenced to lifetime solitary confinement. And then there was that time when we were being chased by underwater commandos and I barely saved you. And there was also the time when…”

  Gale grinned and gave him a look that made him stop and grin even more. “Since when does two weeks ago become ‘that time?’” she asked.

  “Since now,” he said, putting his arm over her shoulder, his eyes dancing in amusement as they watched the joyous and free world.

  “And dont forget the time I saved you from being killed by Jaegear, and the time I saved the world from Ginvay, and…”

  He threw up his hands and grinned, “Alright, alright. We’ll call it even. You are pretty awesome.”

  Gale laughed.

  His arm dropped from her shoulder and he took her hand in his. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

  He started walking. She followed. After about fifteen minutes, they approached a brick building that was currently being painted bright blue. In very neat and precise spaces, the super thin oval discs that Gale had seen flying over the city that day floated lightly above the ground. The whole arrangement reminded her of a parking lot. Each d
isc floated in a space, like a car, and the building was off to the side.

  “A person that I met this morning showed me how to ride them. Now I’m going to show you.”

  Force’s motions were full of eagerness, Gale could tell that he was just barely keeping himself from running there. Then Gale understood. The sky. He loves being able to be in the sky. I bet he’s just waiting to take one of these things up into the sky at night where he’ll feel so close to the stars. She smiled.

  Finally, they reached one of the floating discs. Gale was amazed at how thin it was. It was only as thick as an inch. Force climbed onto it with ease, the excitement in his eyes apparent. Gale laughed. He had probably been doing this all day. He motioned with his hand for her to climb up on it.

  “Do we have to rent it or something?” she asked.

  “Nope, consider this a type of,” he paused, “vehicle library.”

  “That so cool!” Gale answered.

  “Come on!” he said, holding out his hand to help her up.

  She hesitated, This looks pretty thin! I don’t even know how it’s supporting Force’s weight! Well, this is the future. I bet it’s safe. I’ll always be sorry if I don’t try it. So she carefully stepped up onto it. To her surprise, it didn’t waver the slightest bit.

  “It’s called an air soarer. All right, now this uses a person’s bioelectronic signature to create a type of magnet, that’s what keeps you from falling. When we get to the point where the atmosphere is too thin for us to breathe, a type of force field will form and oxygen will be pumped into it, but you won’t see it at all and it won’t prevent the wind from getting through,” Force said, then he closed his eyes.

  It started to rise. How’s he doing that? she wondered as they soared up towards the sky faster and higher. The ground dropped below them and so did Gale’s stomach, but not in a bad way. In the kind of way that is exhilarating. She felt like she was flying! I guess I kind of am! She thought as she smiled. The wind blew her braid around her face. On the impulse of the moment, she quickly pulled the ponytail holder out of her hair and vigorously unbraided it. Then the wind blew it in all directions. She grinned. Force opened his eyes and the air soarer stopped. Now the bright blue building below was a spec in the distance. Force looked at her, he was kind of surprised to see her long hair down. Gale realized that people rarely see her without her hair in a braid.

  “You have long hair!” he said.

  She laughed and slightly blushed, “So how do you drive this thing?”

  “It interfaces with your mind and you just have to tell it what direction and how fast. After a while it’s amazing because it takes the slightest thoughts related to it and forms a kind of rhythm. You don’t have to really think, ‘Go north, go faster.’ It just takes your impulses, you almost become one with it. It’s amazing. Anyway, you don’t even have to close your eyes. I did though because it’s hard to get off the ground and it takes a bit of concentration, after that it’s a breeze!” He smiled.

  “How does it know which person to take commands from?”

  “Oh, the first person who thinks, ‘I am the primary driver’ becomes the primary driver.”

  “Easy enough!” She grinned.

  “Do you want to try?” he asked happily.

  “Yes!” she replied.

  “Alright, I am going to think, ‘The other person is the primary driver.’ Then it will make you so.” He stared into space for a moment, “Okay. Command away commander!”

  She laughed. Then she looked at a cloud above and kind of decided to go there. The air soarer took them up to that point. It took to whimsy, not direct commands. This was amazing! Feeling the cold air blowing her hair, she grinned mischievously and decided to try something daring. All of the sudden, they went into a triple loop. Upside down, rightside up, upside side down, rightside up. Flying in large loops through the air. Gale had never felt anything like this before! So high above the ground, flying upside down in loops. Her hair loose. After the third loop they stopped.

  Gale looked at Force with glittering eyes, “Did you enjoy that?”

  He looked a bit dizzy. Force waited a moment to respond then smiled at her.

  “Hey! Why did you do that? I loved it!”

  They both laughed. Gale wished herself up and twirling towards the upper sky they went. It was noon, but as they hurtled through the clouds, taking the wind on their faces, the solid blue faded and became a bit darker. Gale stopped and looked around. This is so amazing! The clouds surrounded them in a dreamy dark purple, blue, and black sky. When Gale looked down she could barely make out Keesen. They were up so high, it was utterly incredible. When she looked up she could see space and the stars and planets. They were still white specs of light, the only difference was that they were a tiny bit bigger. Gale decided that she loved this place and all of the feelings that went with it. If she could have a home anywhere it would be here. She glanced over at Force. He looked awestruck. Quiet and smiling. He reached over and took her hand.

  “This is so incredible,” he muttered, then they just stood there enjoying the wonder and vastness of it all. After a few minutes he turned to her, “What if we stayed here?” he asked seriously.

  “What?” asked Gale, confused.

  He took a breath, “What if we stayed here in the future and didn’t go back? Look at all the technology. The name of the man who taught me how to fly this is Rhi. He told me that before Ginvay and Jaegear, everyone had one of these, an air soarer. Scientists were also working on a long distance space soarer. When Ginvay started bombing Jaegear’s cities all of the beta units and designs were destroyed. Wouldn’t it be amazing to soar around the stars? To fly around the universe?” He looked up towards space with longing in his eyes.

  Gale was shocked, she hadn’t thought about that option. We could stay here! We could help these people rebuild, and we could see a world at complete peace!

  Then she remembered something. She glanced at her feet then back up at Force, “I can’t, if I don’t go back, then Tivia and Liam will never exist. Besides, I still have my family back in 2013. I don’t want to leave them forever. Also, this is the future, but this future has a future too if that makes sense. I might as well be in my time looking at my future. I have to go back.”

  Force looked at her and rubbed the back of his head nervously, “I forgot about that. Well, if you’re going back, then I will too. Who knows, maybe I’ll invent some of these things.” He smiled.

  Gale smiled back as she looked around her at this wondrous place in the sky and felt the breeze blow softly on her face as it tugged at her hair.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The next day Gale and Force decided that they had to set out in order to reach Dellinia in time. As for Ginvay, Tivia made sure that she was well cared for. Despite her humane treatment, Ginvay harbored her hate until the day she died in that prison.

  Lynn looked fondly at Gale with a twinkle in her young eyes as she handed her a slip of paper, “Here is my email in your time if you ever need some advice.”

  Gale looked down at it, Lynntheelf@gmail.com.

  She broke into laughter, “I’ll email you as soon as I get back.”

  “I know,” the old elf said with a smile.

  Then Gale turned to Tivia and hugged her. Their similarly colored hair blew in the wind over the plain of melting snow. Spring was coming. How perfect. A new beginning.

  “Do you know where Ovev is?” asked Gale.

  “Yeah, Liam tapped into an old wireless satellite and sent him a message. He will be here in a few days,” Tivia answered.

  Gale smiled in remembrance of the big caring man.

  “Here, I want you to have this,” Gale said, handing her blue cloak and coat to Tivia.

  “Thank you!” replied Tivia, the hope and excitement of the new era in her eyes.

  They smiled at each other.

  “Well, we better get started towards Dellinia if we want to make it in time. It’s nice here, but I think I want to
get back to my family,” Gale said. She picked up the worn black bag and looked at the shining and happy city of Keesen.

  “As much as it pains me to say it, she’s right,” said Force with a smile.

  “Thank you both!” said Liam, giving Force a firm handshake and Gale a hug. Small trickles of tears ran down Tivia and Gale’s cheeks.

  “Girls,” said Force shaking his head. Tivia laughed and rolled her eyes.

  Kani and Junior stood there. Junior looking very pathetic. Inside he was still very much a child. He suddenly leaped into the air. Through the sky he plunged his wings, drawing letters with smoke.

  I will miss you both! good luck!

  Then he landed and shook hands with Force with a smile.

  “Good luck to you too, Junior,” Force replied.

  Gale glanced back once at Liam and Tivia’s waving forms which were outlined by the rising sun as she walked away with Force. The glass structures of Keesen flew up into the sky behind them. The sister, brother, elf, and flamiens watched as Gale and Force walked away from them and waved.

  Tivia leaned over to Liam and asked with an amused smile, “Do you think that we should have told them that Force was also our ancestor?”

  “Naaa, he’ll figure it out soon enough,” Liam replied with a grin.

  Force and Gale walked over the fresh smelling, lightly snowy fields back towards the ocean. They talked of the things that had happened, and how amazing it all was. A couple of days later they reached the shore and plunged into the sea to get to Dellinia. They got there a day before the Continuance opened. When they approached, Gale saw some movement in the city.

  “Do you think that the people who chased us are still here?” she asked.

  “I doubt it,” replied Force.

  When they landed in the city, Gale realized with joy, “Mermaids! They’ve come back, Force!”

  He grinned, “That must have been the shortest evacuation ever!”

  They saw Keed and swam over to him.