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Part Two - Confrontations
“No, seriously--let me help!”
Agent_Magnolia the disco Aisha scrambled around
on the floor trying to arrange folders strewn about into a small stack. Chief
the yellow Wocky watched her discontentedly. “Honestly, Magnolia, I can pick
these all up by myself. You don’t need to concern yourself with it.”
“Like I have anything else to do?” Magnolia protested.
“Besides, sure you can pick them up, but it’d take longer, right?”
“Maybe. But, still,” replied Chief hesitantly.
“Are you sure you don’t have anything else that needs to be taken care of? Like...
um... something?”
Magnolia paused, her paw still resting on a folder.
She looked up, concerned. “Why do you care so much? I know a lot of people who
would be happy if someone came to pick up something they dropped for them, Chief.”
“Well, I just don’t want to seem like a burden,
that’s all.”
“Chief. Be serious here. You’ve been a burden
ever since I’ve started working here, and neither of us has cared much,” Magnolia
said pointedly. “Why start now?” She looked down at a purple folder on the floor.
“Ooh, colors! What’s this?” she inquired, picking it up and opening it.
“Uh -- Magnolia,” Chief protested.
Magnolia had already begun reading and was engrossed
in whatever the contents of the folder were. Her reading came to an abrupt halt
as the folder came to her knees. “...This is...” she murmured. “This was on
the news this morning, wasn’t it? So it’s true. Neopia really is going
to crash into the sun?”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to come to conclusions,”
said Chief. “But this folder has little to do with you, right?”
“Now it does, Chief,” Magnolia replied.
She glanced at the growing pile of papers to her left. “If you don’t mind, I’d
very much like to accept this mission.”
“You haven’t technically been given the opportunity
to,” said Chief. “It’s too dangerous, Magnolia -- I’m only concerned about your
safety.”
“Dangerous? Are you serious?” Magnolia
inquired. “If I was concerned about danger, do you think I’d really even
be here today? Danger is really of little concern to me -- and don’t
you think we’d all be in even more trouble if I just ignored this
mission?”
“Magnolia --”
“I can at least try, don’t you think?”
asked Magnolia. “Or do you really have that little faith in me?” She ignored
her opportunity to wait for an answer. “I’m either working with the agency or
I’m not, apparently. If you aren’t going to let me, I’m going to have to take
this mission by myself.”
“And you’d be interfering with matters you really
have no technical right to be concerned with.”
“And?” Magnolia inquired indignantly. “What,
are you going to arrest me or something?” She picked up the folder and stood.
“And you can organize the rest of these papers by yourself.”
Tiira_Misu’s house...
“Unauthorized?” Tiira_Misu the rainbow Usul set her teacup down on the coffee
table in front of her in surprise. “Magnolia, I never knew you were that rebellious.”
“You’re kidding,” Magnolia replied.
“Yes, I am,” said Tiira_Misu. “I thought you’d
pull something like this. I mean, really; what else am I supposed to
expect from someone like you?”
“Tiira_Misu, I honestly need your assistance,”
Magnolia told her. “There’s absolutely no way I’ll do this on my own.”
“You’ve got Sys-op,” Tiira_Misu replied. “Besides,
you’ve saved the world on your own plenty of times.”
“Not quite,” Magnolia said. “And how much is
Sys-op going to help when it comes to getting to The Narcissus, anyway?”
“Gee, you’re nice,” Sys-op the pink Kadoatie
murmured.
“Well, I’m right!”
“I see your point,” Tiira_Misu commented. “I
heard news from the Faerie Queen recently. According to the Space Faerie, both
ships need to be stopped at the same time in order to stop the entire plan.
I’ve already figured out how to stop The Fate, but The Narcissus
needs to be stopped first. That’s why I’m a little relieved you asked
for my help, because I sorta, kinda need yours in reality.”
“Oh, really?” Magnolia inquired. “So you want
me to go to The Narcissus?”
“I thought you’d never ask!” Tiira_Misu exclaimed.
“I have a spaceship constructed in the laboratory at this very moment!” She
stood up and took the teacups away. “So it’s settled!”
“It is?” asked Sys-op.
“Yes, you’re leaving this instant!” Tiira_Misu
replied.
“Wh-- I AM?” Magnolia inquired, standing up.
“But -- that’s way too soon!”
“Not too soon when we’ve got a week-long deadline!”
Tiira_Misu commented. “We’ve got to get you off the planet before tomorrow,
sweetie.”
Magnolia gazed at the coffee table silently.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she finally murmured as Tiira_Misu rushed off
to her laboratory. “W-wait -- where are you going?”
“The laboratory, silly! You aren’t going anywhere
without a spaceship!” Tiira_Misu called. “And come over here!”
Magnolia heaved a sigh and followed the wooden,
creaky steps down into the laboratory. “Exactly how long have you been planning
for a moment like this, anyway?” she inquired, peering through an empty beaker.
“You don’t build spaceships and test them in your spare time, do you?
She heard Tiira_Misu’s laughter from afar. “Magnolia,
you’d be amazed at the things I do with my spare time.”
Magnolia soon found Tiira_Misu opening a sliding
door. “Okay, this is the entrance to The Starboard -- that’s the ship
you’re leaving on. Just go down this tunnel and to the left.” She laughed. “In
fact, I’m actually a bit glad you’re leaving today. The neighbors -- not to
mention my sisters -- have been complaining about how much of an eyesore The
Starboard has been. I really don’t think she’s that cumbersome, do you?”
“Actually, the only thing I can see is a door,”
Sys-op murmured.
“Yeah, well, you haven’t been living with her
for a month,” Tiira_Misu said pointedly. “Just go, already!”
Magnolia walked through the door in compliance,
Sys-op following after. “How long before we leave?” Magnolia inquired.
“Not too long,” Tiira_Misu replied. “You’ll be
fine, I promise.”
The metal door slowly slid shut as Magnolia and
Sys-op continued down the long, blue tunnel. “It’s actually a bit strange,”
Magnolia began. “It isn’t the first time I’ve been in space, and yet it feels
like I’m completely new to this.”
“Doesn’t feel that way to me.” Sys-op yawned.
“Oh, like I asked for your input,” Magnolia snapped.
She stopped abruptly at the sight of another door marking the end of the tunnel.
“So, that’s it?”
“What, did you want to walk longer?”
“Well, no, but...” Magnolia turned to Sys-op
with a miserable expression on her face. “You do realize we could be potentially
waving goodbye to everything we’ve worked for. Sys-op, this isn’t like
last time -- this is serious. Something tells me Aglyco certainly won’t
be as nice to us as she was a year ago.”
“Of course she won’t be,” Sys-op said indifferently.
“But try not to be so pessimistic, Magnolia. I haven’t ever seen you like this,
you know.”
“I’m being pessimistic?” Magnolia inquired as
the door slowly opened. “Right. I guess I am too worried about this. It’s just...”
“Just what?”
Magnolia smiled. “Nothing. Door’s open.”
To be continued...
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