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“You even kick a** while being afraid, don’t you, Fiona? I mean… you wouldn’t’a still been there with Chicken McNugget when everybody else showed up if you weren’t brave. Other people would’a bailed as soon as backup got there.”

With a confident nod, Zach couldn’t help but chuckle. It was his way of attempting to be meaningful with Fiona, a person he happened to look up to. Her veteran status alone deserved, not commanded, respect. Her patient demeanor earned admiration. “I think… maybe after our lunch date, I’ll… you know… see what’s up there. I don’t wanna bring Gale up there without scopin’ the place out first, you know? What if there’s crazy Ropeasauruses runnin’ around up there? Or sea monsters that shoot stupid geta-shoes outta their mouths. You never know. s**t can get real cray real quick, I bet.”

He stared for a moment. “...ey Pern, you know where a guy can get a bazooka? You know… for personal safety reasons.”

Shifting his good arm for a stretch, Zach found he felt better already. It was cathartic to speak to Fiona, who didn’t ridicule him. It was easy to just be around Fiona. No pretention. “They said I can get outta here soon, with some home-care instructions or whatever. They said I need at least six thousand calories and you know, I ain’t about to turn down a buttload’a calories. Apparently broken bones are hella expensive, calorically.”

The fact that the boy knew a word as large as calorically might have been surprising to the redhead.

“That’s what you think, Pern.” Crossing his arms, Zach put on his most serious face. “I know a lot about bazookas. I’ve seen the Arnold and Stallone movies. I know a thing’er two about heavy weaponry and muscle shirts.”

For a while, mentor and mentee shared a peaceful moment, laughing about the unimportant things in life. Going back to school, jobs, senshi life… all left by the wayside in favor of the newest episode of the hit television series airing on Thursday nights, the best walking route, which restaurant had the tastiest chili. Gone were the worries of beginning adult life and the concern of war, corruption and bloodshed. For a precious moment, nothing else in the world mattered.

Soon Zachary Calloway, as Themisto, would travel to his homeworld for the first time and start to discover the past hidden deep in the fog. He would bring Denebola along for the ride, but for now, Zach didn’t have to think about that.