black pilot's suit.
"Ah, there she is, the star of the show. Join us beautiful Mist." The late twenties man in the pilot suit eagerly invites her.
Nayaa stands steadfast and stares at them for a second. Then with a friendly smirk; "And who are you people?"
"Ha-ha. I like your style. Take no prisoner kind of girl. I'm Gavor, a famous lightship pilot."
"Ah, the Black Cross." She responds, her friendly smile turning into a serious hard look.
"Like I said. I'm famous." Gavor responds looking at his friends with a cocky smirk. "So you saw me win the race. I bet you were impressed."
"Oh, my bad. So you must be the pilot of the Red Menace?" Nayaa responds exaggerating her fake confusion with a clownish glare at the pilot.
Gavor gives her a hard contemptuous smirk. "Ha, I knew I liked you for a reason, but those scores mean nothing to me. I crossed the line first. I am the winner of the race."
"Those numbers mean everything to me. You see, I was rooting for the Ghost, but you killed him. At least he put you in third place, even from beyond the grave. And now the Ghost will haunt you forever." Nayaa counters with a strong intense glare. Gavor looks discombobulated. For a moment he doesn't seem to know how to respond. His friends too look shocked and appalled. They must have all expected her to fawn over this famous pilot.
"What do you want from me? Murderer." Nayaa asks with eyes that could cut through steel. Everyone in the booth is stunned silent. Gavor seems to struggle for a second with his words.
"Ah-forget what I said. Take no prisoners? No. You're nothing but a worthless Carpati scumbag. I can't believe I invited you up here. Get out of my face you worthless primitive subhuman."
Nayaa's eyes have turned into steel blades. She's cutting Gavor down with her sharp gaze with such intensity he is forced to look away. "I was having a good time. You just ruined my mood, but at least if I walk away I won't become a murderer too." And she snatches round, away from his booth, with a long leap and nearly bumps into a couple walking behind her. She forcefully stops in her tracks to prevent the impact.
"Sorry." She apologizes first and then looks up at the couple who did the same, stopped suddenly to prevent the collision. Nayaa's eyes turn round. Had she not stopped she would have bumped, nose to nose, into Silestra Orr, who is arm in arm with Ricio Bret.
"Great." Nayaa muses under her breath.
"Hey, you're her!" Silestra reacts surprised gently pointing at Nayaa.
"Her would be I. You got that right." Nayaa replies with a condescending and angry smirk.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I apologize. I'm just happy to see you."
"Ah-really?" Nayaa takes a small step back looking at Silestra completely discombobulated. "OK, well I'm sorry too then. It's just, this guy over here, this Gavor. He really pissed me off."
"Oh yes, he's no friend of mine." Ricio ads. "He's arrogant and a horrible human being."
Nayaa nods, and looks hard into his eyes. "Hey, you're Rico!"
"I am."
"She's Andee's friend. The girl I told you about." Silestra interjects. Ricio's eyes open up wide in surprise.
"No! You?" Ricio is suddenly giddy with excitement. "I'm about to hug you right now, watch out." And he steps up and grabs Nayaa in a big hug. She looks over his shoulder to Silestra, baffled and not hugging him back. Ricio lets her go. "I am so happy to meet you. Silestra told me about you, and your amazing dancing skills. I hope to see you perform tonight."
"Ah, yeah... well, ah-I just did, that's why I'm up here." Poor Nayaa looks more confused than ever.
"Oh, we just got here. We missed it. That's unfortunate." Ricio looks disappointed.
"Ah, don't worry. I'm crazy about dancing. I'll do it again."
"That's fantastic. I can't wait to see it."
"Ah-OK, sure no problem, but-ah... why are you guys so happy to see me? That's just weird. You don't even know me." Nayaa asks looking at both completely baffled. They smile and Ricio responds.
"Andee saved my life. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. And than Silestra told me about you and the amazing dancers that you both are, and the way Andee rescued me, I assume it's because of your dancing skills. So that means that you are like him, and I think that's amazing. I was hoping to meet you, and Andee again. Is he here?"
"Wow-OK, ah-no, he couldn't make it."
"Ah-man! Is there any way you could get him here? I never got a chance to thank him. I passed out on his back, and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital. You have to tell him. I have to meet him. I won't be happy until I do. I want to thank him in person, and I want to reward him somehow."
"Really?"
"Of course. I will never forget what he did for me. No one else could have saved me, and no one else was willing to try. But he did. I am so grateful for his help."
"Wow, well, you're different."
"I hope that's a good thing." Ricio responds with a big smile.
"Sorry. My mouth has a mind of its own. No, I just thought you pilots were like this one." Nodding her head towards Gavor. "But you're cool. I'm glad Andee saved you."
"Join us. We're going to our booth, and I'd love to talk to you. I want to know everything about you and Andee. I'm fascinated. I know we live in different worlds but I think we could be great friends. God, I wish he was here."
"OK, yeah, I guess I can join you."
Mykee is on the sofa-bench on the east wall of their living room fiddling with his panel. Andee approaches than sits at the table with a late night snack.
"What'ya watching?" He asks his little brother.
"Highlights of the race. That Gavor, he's a real good pilot. Too bad he killed the Ghost. He was a good pilot too."
Mykee looks up to Andee who's eating quietly.
"Are you still mad?"
"I'm not mad."
"Yeah you are. You're mad cuz of that girl, and because what happened to the Ghost."
"Whatever. Watch your highlights."
Mykee makes a disapproving face and then looks back at his display, but a second later he looks back up at Andee.
"You're being dumb. You loved the prave last time. I know you want to go. If I could, I would go. Just to see those lightships out front." Andee continues chewing on his food ignoring his brother. "Lets go." And Mykee jumps off the sofa.
"Go where?"
"I want to go to the prave. I want to see the lightships."
"They don't let kids in."
"I don't want to go in. I just want to see the ships outside. Lets go."
"Mykee, it's the middle of the night. We're not going anywhere. You'll see those ships soon. I never had a vidrom when I was your age. Be patient."
Mykee contorts his face frustrated. "Than how come you're not going? All your friends are there. Why do you want to stay here?"
"It's none of your business."
"You're dumb. You won't take me to see the ships, and you're not even going yourself, for some dumb reason. Because of some girl."
"If you're going to annoy me, then go to sleep."
"Fine. You're an idiot. I don't want to talk to you any more." And Mykee rushes into the right side bedroom. Andee stares at his plate, chewing the last of his food, in bitter disappointment.
Back at the prave Nayaa is once again tearing up the dance floor. She is surrounded by several 3D anime characters, all of whom seem to have learned many of Nayaa's moves and are dancing in her style. Everyone is watching, even Gavor, but it is Ricio and Silestra that have the front row view up on the mezzanine. Silestra is watching with a calm smile but Ricio is besides himself. He is laughing, cheering and shouting, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Nayaa finally finishes her set and the bouncers clear a path for her up the stairs as they escort her into the VIP. The patrons cheer and applaud her on the way up. Nayaa is the star of the show, yet her face is meek and shy. She looks overwhelmed by all the attention.
Outside, Andee is walking past all the parked lightships in front of the pr
ave. He can't help but stop to admire. There are a lot more ships than last time, and like before, they are smaller than the racers, but with large spacious bubbles. Most are also made of single units, with the light emitting from directly below, not from cylinders or other exterior engines attached by arms like with many of the racers. Each seems to be more elegant than the next. After spending a good half hour admiring the lightships, Andee skips the line and squeezes through the crowd to the entrance, and immediately makes eye contact with Domie sitting on his stool.
"Hey it's grandpapy!" Domie shouts joyfully. "I thought you were at home, tucked away in bed." Andee puts his palms together and leans the side of his face on them like a pillow, closes his eyes, and snores.
"I am." Then looks up at Domie with a smirk. "But I'm sleep walking. And I'm feeling the music move me." Domie slaps his knee and laughs.
"I saw you for a minute last time. For a grandpapy, you sure can dance. You're pretty lady, Mist, she's got you beat, but you can sure hold your own."
"I assume she's here."
"Yeah, and with some suspicious dudes. You let your lady hang with other dudes?"
"We're good friends."
"Your loss." Domie nods at Andee with a disappointed look. "That's unless you're not into the ladies." Domie continues raising one brow like a question mark. Andee instantly frowns.
"Why do people think that?" Andee responds flustered. Domie laughs and slaps his knee.
"I'm just tripping' on you. You going in?"
"Yeah, thanks man."
"You and Mist are always welcome." Humbly nodding his head, Andee steps past the bouncers.
"Oh hey?" Domie yells after him. Andee turns around.