Iridescent: Chapter Fifteen

Iridescent

Chapter Fifteen

~Every Day’s a Saturday~

After the Fall

When Deontay led Zara and Miwa to the village where he was staying they received a huge welcome. The children of the village ran out to meet with the friendly visitor. Deontay, being a friendly fellow, ran up to them and picked them up. One of the children gave him two vials that they had found a few miles from the village. He thanked them with the little of their language that he knew and rubbed the child playfully on the head.

He led his friends into the village. Deontay led them to a makeshift home that looked to have been built in the last few days. He let them in and made sure that they were comfortable.

“Well, welcome to my humble abode!” Deontay spread his arms out, “It isn’t much but I like it. Keeps things simple and your priorities straight, you know?”

Miwa found a corner that he seemed to like and dropped down, “I like it!”

“You’ve been living here a while?” Zara asked.

“Yeah,” Deontay nodded, “I didn’t see any reason to leave and the kids kind of grow on ya. They are a bunch of great kids. Don’t know what they’re saying most of the time though… Anyway, make yourself at home.”

“It will be nice to sleep under a roof for a change,” Zara looked around.

“Yeah,” Deontay nodded, “Sleeping in the plains isn’t exactly the most comfortable.”

Zara smiled, “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“I’m sure I have some canned food somewhere,” Deontay looked through a bag of his, “What is your position on canned peaches?”

“Haven’t had any in months,” Zara sighed, “I’d love some.”

“Good,” Deontay laughed, “The kids in the village love the stuff.”

Miwa looked over, “Where do you get your supply of food?”

Deontay pointed around in a vague circle, “Around. You’d actually be amazed how many people drop everything when they see a sawed off shot gun.”

“You robbed people?” Miwa asked.

Deontay looked appalled, “No! I tried to give their things back but they just kept running!” He looked at Zara, “I didn’t realize I was that scary of a guy.”

Zara shrugged, “I guess when you’re carrying a sawed off shot gun it’s understandable.”

“Hmm,” Deontay nodded thoughtfully, “Well, we should get to bed. We have a long day tomorrow.”

“You can say that again,” Zara sighed.

The next day Deontay said goodbye to the village children. They were sad to see him go and so were the rest of the villagers. He left each family a can of fruit. Deontay promised that he would visit when things died down on the Island. Zara was unsure if they understood all of what he said but they seemed to get the just of it. The younger children cried at Deontay’s departure. After saying his last farewells, Deontay led Zara and Miwa out of the village.

“So what is our travel plan?” Deontay asked when they were some ways away from the village.

“We head through the desert to where we can get off the Island!” Miwa answered.

“Yeah,” Deontay said, “I got that but how are we going to travel through the desert? I mean you weren’t thinking of walking were you? That’s suicide. You know that, right Zara?”

“We have water,” Zara said.

“Yeah, but not travel-all-the-way-through-the-desert-on-foot kind of water! We’ll be dried prunes before the week is out!” Deontay thought a moment, “Wait, what day is it? I’ve lost track.”

Zara shrugged, “Feels like a Saturday.”

“Actually it’s—” Miwa tried to answer.

“No one asked you,” Zara glared at him.

Deontay nodded, “I’ve always liked Saturdays. Let’s say it’s Saturday.”

Miwa looked up at his two travelers, “But it’s—”

“In that case, we’ll be dried prunes before the end of next week! Do you want to be a dried prune? I don’t!” Deontay exclaimed.

“We’ll make it,” Zara smiled at her team mate, “Besides, I can’t die now. I’ve got someone’s butt to kick when I get the chance.”

Deontay nodded, “I mean that’s pretty good motivation.”

“Yeah,” Zara nodded, “So I can’t die until I cross the desert and get to where Miwa says we’ll find a way off the Island, cross the ocean, get to the mainland and kick Scar’s butt. Then I can die happy. But I won’t.”

“You won’t die happy?” Miwa asked, “But you just said…”

“No, what I was saying is that I won’t die,” Zara smiled, “I plan to live my life as an independent woman as an Agent. Maybe I’ll get a pet along the way somewhere but that’s just about it.”

“You won’t settle down? Maybe find yourself someone you can spend the rest of your life with?” Deontay questioned.

“Nope,” Zara looked at Deontay, “There is no man in ‘independent woman’.”

“Actually…” Miwa started.

“Be careful of the next few words you say, Robo-dog,” Zara glared at Miwa, “You tread on very thin ice.”

“Never mind,” Miwa muttered.

“Right,” Deontay nodded, “Not even—nah, never mind.”

Zara looked at him, “Not even what?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Deontay shrugged it off, “Well, what if this guy really likes you and he’s just too shy to say anything.”

“Deontay,” Zara said quietly, “do you have something you would like to say?”

“Hmm?” at first Deontay didn’t understand, “Oh! No! It isn’t me! I was talking about someone else!”

“Uh huh, sure,” Zara looked unconvinced.

“No really!” Deontay stressed.

“I’m going to jog ahead,” Zara said, “Please take your time following me.”

Zara jogged off and Deontay tried to call after her but to no avail. She jogged ahead until she created quite a distance between them. Zara remained within view but didn’t turn around to make sure the others were keeping up. Miwa continued to walk alongside Deontay. There was a long silence between the two after Zara left. Deontay sighed before breaking the silence.

“I swear I was talking about someone else,” he said.

Miwa nodded, “Yeah, I believe you.”

“Do you really?” Deontay asked.

“Yeah, I do,” Miwa answered, “Now the trick is to get Zara to believe you.”

Deontay groaned, “Chaud owes me big time.”

“That he does, my friend,” Miwa sighed, “That he does.”

Iridescent: Chapter Six

Iridescent

Chapter Six

~A Girl and her Dog~

After the Fall

Zara woke up feeling exhausted. She sat up slowly and leaned against the wall. Her whole body was sore; every movement she made sent pangs of pain through her body. Zara sighed as she sat there. She didn’t move for several minutes. She just didn’t feel the energy to move.

She turned her head toward her pack and just stared at it. Zara shook her head and started to move to get to her feet.

“That’s enough,” she said aloud, “Can’t sit around and feel bad about yourself for too long or you might never get back up.”

“An excellent statement,” a voice said.

Zara looked up ahead of her. She saw the faint outline of a cloaked object. Zara grabbed the gun on her belt and fired at the object. It ran across the room and jumped onto some fallen cement from the floor above. She spent three bullets and didn’t want to use too many more than she had too. Zara grabbed one of her katana and charged at the nearly invisible figure.

“No, no! Don’t kill me! Please I’m too young to die!” the figure declared itself, “Please! I have so many practical jokes to pull still!”

Zara scowled at the sight of the figure before her, “Miwa! What the heck!? You scared the crap out of me!”

Miwa shuffled his feet on top of his perch. He was still in his dog form. His thin segmented tail waved low with shame.

“Sorry,” Miwa said, “I really am. I thought you would kill me if you saw me.”

Zara turned her back on him, “There aren’t an overwhelming amount of K-nine units walking around.”

Miwa looked down at his massive and sharp paws, “Sorry.”

Zara gathered her things, “What are you doing here?”

Miwa stood up on his four legs and jumped down from his perch, “My sensor picked up a familiar vital signature. So I went to check it out!”

“Naturally,” Zara muttered.

“When I found you unconscious I wasn’t sure what to do!” Miwa stated, “If you woke up and saw me you might freak out and shoot at me!”

“And cloaking yourself was naturally a better option,” Zara continued muttering.

“I was planning to keep myself cloaked and when you woke up, crawl out of the room and come in uncloaked through the front door!” Miwa said, “It didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped.”

“No, really?” Zara’s muttering continued, “You spoke while you were cloaked. I think it’s a little counterproductive.”

Miwa walked around her, “I’m sorry!”

“You made me waste three bullets!” Zara said loudly.

“I’ll make it up to you!” Miwa sat at the door, blocking Zara from leaving.

Zara put her hands on her hips, “And how do you plan to do that?”

“I know where we can get supplies! And…and…and I might even know a way of the Island if you let me come with you!” he stated.

Zara shifted her weight, “A way off the Island? How?”

“The north east part of the—” Miwa stopped, “Oh, I wasn’t supposed to…”

“You weren’t supposed to what?” Zara leaned in closer, “What is it a big secret or something?”

“Kinda…” Miwa looked nervous.

Zara crossed her arms, “Fine. I’ll let you tag along if you promise you’ll take me to this way of the Island.”

Miwa’s ears perked up, “Fine! Do you want to go get the supplies now? I swear no one’s touched a thing! It’s full of great supplies!”

“Lead the way,” Zara motioned, “but I swear if you get in my way, I’ll cut off your tail.”

“You aren’t very nice,” Miwa muttered.

Zara walked after him, “I’m still mad at you.”

“Hey! I said I was sorry!” Miwa said loudly.

Miwa’s height was just around her waist. He walked alongside her through the streets. His bladed tail waved back and forth as he walked on all fours. He turned his head frequently as he would scan the surroundings. Zara looked up at the broken windows and buildings trying to find out where the android was taking her. It was hard to tell exactly in the city she was as everything looked the same, broken and tattered. But there were a few distinct landmarks that she recognized.

The duo came to a road block. Rubble blocked the road ahead of them. Miwa scanned the rubble and looked back at Zara.

“Follow me,” he said.

Zara rolled her eyes, “What have I been doing up to this point?”

Miwa shook his head and said quietly, “I do not see what Chaud sees in you?”

Zara narrowed her eyes, “What did you say?”

Miwa jumped on to a bolder, “Nothing. I just said you were great company.”

He jumped to another bolder higher up the rubble and waited for Zara to get on the first. Zara grabbed a metal rod and pulled herself upon to the bolder. When she had a firm footing, Miwa scanned again and jumped onto what looked like the hood of a car. Zara followed behind him making sure to step where he stepped. One wrong move and the whole mound could collapse.

Soon they made it to the apex of the mound. Zara looked out and shook her head.

“The Tower storage facility?” Zara breathed heavily.

“The main system may be down but the defense system is still running on generators,” Miwa explained.

“How much longer with the generators run?” Zara asked.

“Oh, until it gets flattened by a nuke,” Miwa stated, “or any other explosive really.”

Zara looked at Miwa, “You carrying any extra nukes?”

“I’ve got a few small missiles but sorry, fresh out of nukes,” Miwa jumped down to the next rock.

Zara followed, “I guess I could use my access code.”

“No, good,” Miwa answered, “The system went down with the Tower. The facility won’t let anyone in at this point.”

Zara thought to herself. Right when Miwa said that, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy getting in and out in one piece. She would make sure to bring up the issue of downed systems when the Tower fixed itself.

“Do you know what they have in there?” Zara asked to assess if it was worth going through with it in the first place.

“The last inventory check reveals surplus medical supplies for the hospital, foods stuff, small inventory of weapons and ammo, oh and a few cases of that Blue Gold stuff,” Miwa started the downward journey.

Zara sighed; looked like it was going to be well worth risking her life for. She followed Miwa back to ground level. The massive heap of rubble towered behind them. Miwa continued onward and they reached the gated fence.

There were we’re turrets visible on the outside wall designed to fire upon any unauthorized personnel meaning at this point it would fire at anyone. Flat robots patrolled the perimeter and were programed to detonate when it spotted an intruder. The roof was equipped with missiles to attack anyone who broke in. On the inside there was more. Lasers were scattered around and if they weren’t turned off by a certain code it would detonate a small explosive. Then the items themselves were monitored on pressure plates. If they were removed before a code could be entered the room would lock down. Zara often wondered how it was possible that no one working here had accidentally killed themselves.

Zara looked down at Miwa, “Do you have any ideas on how we’re getting those items?”

Miwa looked up, “Um, that’s why I brought you here.”

Wedding Day

A Big Turn

A Spin-Off

~Wedding Day~

*Warning: Characters May Be Completely Different*

Zara stood facing the mirror and tugged and teased at her dress. She never really felt comfortable in them. It was something that carried over into her twenties from when she was a little child. They just never felt right. And now on her wedding day she would have to wear one.

She wore a slim white sleeveless dress that fit her exceptionally well. The dress was long enough to make a lovely circular train around her. Her figure was beautiful; she had the Tower and all the missions she had to thank for that. She shifted on her white high heels as she tried to look more comfortable in her dress. Her hair was pulled back and pinned in place with white flower pins. She didn’t have the traditional veil as a personal preference. Also, she wore no makeup. She hatted the way it made her face heavy. Only a touch of lipstick decorated her face.

Zara sighed and leaned against the mirror. What was she doing? Was she out of her mind? What happened to “I’m an independent woman, I don’t get married”? She groaned loudly against the mirror. Suddenly, she felt sick.

There was a knock on the door and both Hina and Vicky walked in. Hina crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. She wore a purple dress and shoes. Hina looked at Vicky who was wearing the same thing.

“She looks like she’s about to die,” Hina stated.

Vicky shrugged and walked up to Zara, “You okay?”

Zara shot up and started walking briskly to the door, “Nope, I am an independent woman and I don’t need a man. I’m leaving.”

Hina blocked the door, “Uh, no, you’re not.”

Zara shot her a dirty look, “I am not getting married to day or ever for that matter.”

“Uh, yeah, you are,” Hina stated.

Vicky rushed to Zara’s side, “It’s okay to feel this way! You’re just nervous! Just calm down and think it over!”

“Nervous?!” Zara turned to her, “I stare down gun barrels for a living! I don’t know the meaning of nervous!”

“Well, ‘walking out on your wedding’ is a pretty good description,” Hina answered.

Vicky looked around Zara, “Hina, you aren’t helping.”

Hina shrugged, “I just giving her a description of nervous.”

Zara pulled away from the group and flopped down on a sofa, “Argh! I don’t know what I’m doing anymore!?”

Hina and Vicky looked at one another for a moment before going over to console her.

Vicky sat beside her, “You’re getting married to the man you love today.”

“That’s another thing,” Zara stated, “I don’t even know if I really love the guy.”

Hina stared at her, “You don’t know if you love him? You’ve practically been dating for seven years! Seven years! And you said yes when he proposed.”

Vicky looked at Hina, “That was cute when he did that.”

“It was,” Hina agreed.

Zara put her hands on her face, “I feel like I’m going to die.”

Chaud opened the door to his changing room and peaked out. He crept out into the hallway and processed to sneak quietly. His white hair had gown a bit, similar to his fathers but not nearly as long. He wore a tan casual suit as he snick down the hallways.

He finally came to where he was looking for. The bride’s changing room. He straightened himself out before knocking on the door. When there was no answer he opened the door lightly to get a peek inside. The door suddenly opened fully and Chaud jumped back startled.

Naru stood in the door way, his eyes narrowed in disapproval, “Looking for someone?”

“Jeez, Naru! What the heck!? You nearly scared me to death!” Chaud tried to breathe normally again.

Naru looked at him, “I know. And what are you doing here?”

Chaud looked a little irritated, “I was just looking to see where they kept the pun—this is the bride’s dressing room! What do you think I’m doing here!? I wanted to see my soon to be wife!”

“No,” Naru stated.

“No, what?” Chaud questioned.

“You can’t see your wife until the ceremony. It’s bad luck otherwise,” Naru explained, “That and Zara might punch you in the face.”

Chaud considered the statement, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Naru sighed.

“Where is she anyway?” Chaud asked.

Naru shrugged, “Hina said something about an emotional breakdown. Something to do with water, throwing things, and—what was it—oh yeah, jumping out of windows. Long story short they took her to the bathroom where there are no windows.”

Chaud stared at him, “Seriously?”

Naru nodded.

“She’s taking this a lot better than I thought she would,” Chaud stated, “Can I go see her?”

“No,” Naru started pushing Chaud back to the changing room he was assigned.

Deontay stood in front of the door with a confused look on his face. When he saw Chaud and Naru further down the hallway he looked to relax.

“Oh good, you found him,” Deontay sighed, “I was gone for two seconds and he booked it. Where’d you find him?”

“Trying to find Zara,” Naru responded.

Deontay looked serious all of a sudden, “Don’t you know it’s bad luck, man. It’s just like the cornbread, you just don’t do it. That and she would have probably punched you in the face.”

“So I’ve been told,” Chaud muttered.

Deontay looked at Naru, “I hear a rumor that she tried to jump out a window?”

“It’s on the first floor,” Naru shrugged, “She wouldn’t have gotten hurt or anything. Come on, Chaud; let’s fix up that suit before the ceremony starts.”

Chaud wondered, “Are there any windows where the ceremony is being held?”

“Quite a few,” Deontay nodded, “Why?”

“Would it be a problem to have the ushers stand in front of them?” Chaud asked, “It’d buy me some time in case she decides to make a run for it.”

“Hmm,” Deontay turned to walk away, “Sounds like a good idea.”

Chaud stood at the wedding altar. It was his turn to feel dizzy. So many questions ran through his mind. Would she be here? Would she leave him at the altar? What dress would she be wearing? Why were the lights so hot all of a sudden? He felt Deontay’s hand on his shoulder.

“You okay, man?” Deontay asked, “You need some air?”

Chaud smiled, “I’m fine, never been better.”

“Oh, boy,” Naru whispered, “He’s panicking.”

“Panicking?” Deontay looked at Naru, “What do we do with a panicking groom?”

Naru shrugged his shoulders.

“Will you boys stop whispering?” Hina whispered from across the aisle, “People are starting to stare!”

“The flower girl is coming!” Vicky warned as Amber skipped down the aisle.

“How did Zara feel before you left?” Chaud asked, “Did she feel okay?”

Hina rolled her eyes, “She isn’t going to jump out of anymore windows, if that is what you’re asking.”

“Guys,” Naru tried to be heard, “we should really stop whispering.”

“But seriously,” Chaud insisted, “what was her state of mind? Was she happy? Sad? Angry? At this point I’d be happy with angry. At least then she has to come up here and smack me.”

“Dude, are you sure it’s a good idea for you to get married?” Hina asked, “Seems a little like an abusive relationship to me.”

“Zara isn’t abusive,” Vicky said.

“She only hit him when he deserved it,” Deontay agreed, “No offence.”

“None taken,” Chaud smiled.

“Uh, guys,” Naru tried to warn the others as the orchestra got into position.

“Great, now people are really staring at us!” Hina groaned.

“No, they are all staring at Zara,” Vicky pointed.

All eyes turned to the back of the room as the wedding music started. Pachelbel’s Cannon in D Major was played by the orchestra. Zara stood in the back of the room, frozen, with a bouquet of white flowers in her hands. She couldn’t seem to move her feet which suddenly felt like concrete blocks. Her breath got caught in her throat and she found it hard to breathe. She felt lightheaded and leaned back. An arm caught her as she leaned. She looked up to her left at her escort.

Puppetmaster smiled down at her, “Are you alright child?”

Zara was out of breath, “I can’t breathe.”

“It usually helps if you exhale first,” he suggested.

She hadn’t realized it but she had been holding her breath. Zara breathed out and in again.

“Are you ready?” Puppetmaster asked.

“N—yes,” for some reason the word was so hard to say.

Puppetmaster escorted her up the aisle. Without any family left on her side of the family, Zara asked Puppetmaster to give her away. He accepted, of course and even bought a new suit and some dress shoes for the event. He didn’t look the most comfortable in a suit and tie but Zara didn’t mind. She was happy that he was there to make everything go a little more smoothly.

Zara looked ahead at the altar. The Maids of Honor and the Best Men seemed to be having a whispering argument. Zara sighed.

“I wonder what they are arguing about this time,” Zara muttered.

Puppetmaster looked at her, “Not all of them seem so irate.”

Zara looked again and sure enough Chaud was the only one not engaging in whatever argument was taking place. His eyes were only on her. She wondered what about her that had captivated his attention. It wasn’t like she was that attractive. She felt her cheeks turn red and decided that the floor was more interesting to look at.

Puppetmaster stopped at the base of the stairs as Zara continued on. Her legs felt like they were wobbling as she walked up the three or so steps. It felt like she was climbing a mountain. She stood on the left side of the altar and waited.

Vicky looked at Hina and nudged her in the arm. Hina looked at her with annoyance and then with understanding. She rushed down to fix Zara’s train. As she did that, Zara looked over her shoulder. Chaud’s family sat in the front row on the right side while Puppetmaster sat on the left, Shuppet sat beside him in a tiny suit and waved at her.

“You look beautiful,” Chaud whispered to her.

Zara looked at him, “Why are all the ushers standing by the windows?”

“Um, well,” Chaud laughed awkwardly, “funny story about that.”

“Dearly Beloved,” the pastor started, “We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

“Oh, please someone say something,” Zara closed her eyes and whispered.

Chaud looked at her, “You aren’t expecting anyone to, are you?”

The room was silent and the pastor continued, “Through marriage, Chaud and Zara make a commitment together to face their disappointments, embrace their dreams, realize their hopes, and accept each other’s failures. Chaud and Zara will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together through mutual understanding, openness, and sensitivity to each other.”

Hina tried to stifle a laugh but she wasn’t fast enough. She couldn’t picture Zara being sensitive at all.

The pastor continued, “We are here today, before God, because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes, to witness the joining in marriage of Chaud and Zara. This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now, through me, He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds.”

Right at that point the room filled with the sounds of ringing cellphones. Every Agent in the building looked at their cellphones. Even Sirius looked at his and Kaiba was first one to look at his. Zara reached down to her shoe and pulled out her phone that was strapped to her ankle. She looked at Chaud who was staring at her.

Zara shrugged, “What?”

She opened the cellphone and looked at it. She sighed.

“What?” Chaud asked.

“Apparently something’s happened in Egypt,” Zara shrugged.

Chaud sighed, “And there aren’t any other Agents to deal with it?”

“If there were, we wouldn’t have gotten the call,” Zara hit Chaud in the arm.

“We’ll it isn’t the Bahamas exactly,” Chaud muttered, “I hope I can get my money back.”

“We were going to go to the Bahamas?” Zara looked at him.

Chaud shrugged, “Egypt’s good too.”

She turned to the pastor, “Could we skip to the ‘I Do’s please? We’ve gotta run.”

“Well, um,” the pastor looked slightly confused, “Do you Chaud take Zara to be your wife, to live together, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Chaud said.

“Ditto!” Zara said. She snapped her fingers, “Rings!”

Deontay reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. Naru reached over to Chaud and tried plucking off a piece of lint that had been bugging him throughout the ceremony.

“Dude,” Deontay looked at him.

“Sorry,” Naru stated, “It was all I could think about.”

Deontay handed Chaud the ring. On Zara’s side, Vicky patted herself down as if she had lost the ring and didn’t know where it was.

Hina rolled her eyes, “It’s on your thumb!”

Vicky looked and sure enough, it was. She pulled it off and handed it to Zara. Chaud placed his ring on Zara’s ring finger and Zara placed her ring on his.

The pastor finished up, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Zara kissed Chaud on the lips and hiked up her dress and ran down the aisle. One of the ushers had went to grab the marriage license and was coming up the aisle. Zara grabbed a pen and signed. She looked back and saw the others standing where they were.

“Well come on!” she shouted, “I’m missing out on the Bahamas and now someone has to pay! I’d like to get to Egypt and punch the living daylights out of who thought it was a good idea to steal the sphinx! Chaud, get over here and sign the stupid license!”

The others started waking after her. Chaud smiled sheepishly at the murmuring crowd.

“Go ahead to the Reception; we’ll pay for it,” Chaud said, “Enjoy the meal. I heard the salmon is great.”

“CHAUD!” Zara yelled.

“Coming, dear!” Chaud ran after her.