Into The Unknown

✧₊⁺

My mind was in some sort of suspended state for a while, during which a memory of my ex-wife, Aki returned to me. It came back in small pieces, but it was an important conversation, that much I could gather. It must have been just before she served me the divorce papers with that doleful look of hers, and a tinge of regret in every word she spoke.

I interpreted what she said back then as an attack since it was said in parting, but I realize now that she was trying to warn me of something. I was deep into my cups at the time, so it’s all a bit hazy, but she kept repeating the words “Global Expansion”, and said she had to go far away for a while.

“Where I’m going, I can’t take you.”

I cried out, asking why I wasn’t enough for her. I didn’t get it then, and I still can’t say I do. However…

“You deserve better, but I’m sorry… I can’t explain. For your own good, please… move on with your life and find happiness.”

The tears rolled down her cheeks while I shook my head in disbelief.

“Just promise me one thing, Jiro, that you’ll never forget… how much…”

. . .

“How could I forget…” I groaned as my eyes fluttered open.

“Good, you’re awake.”

I perked up, startled to be greeted by a stranger’s voice first thing after regaining my senses. My eyes scanned my immediate surroundings out of instinct. I appeared to be in some sort of multi-passenger vehicle, but it wasn’t a train or a wagon. It was much more high-tech than that at first glance.

The cabin was spacious and sleek in design, featuring white panels and neon blue bulbs that blinked rapidly, their purpose a mystery. I only saw the back of his head, but the man who spoke to me was at the steering wheel of the vessel. I suddenly remembered the previous moment before I blacked out, and tried to get up but I was fastened securely to the bench-like seat beneath me.

“The other two I was with, what happened to—!?”

“Calm yourself, Hunter. They’re in the seat in front of yours.” The man spoke, turning a dial. “Look.”

The bench in front of mine spun around, and—as the man pointed out—Yuna and Shizuka were both passed out, heads resting against one another’s. Archie was tucked firmly in Shizuka’s arms like a stuffed animal.

“Are they…”

“Alive, but in a suspended state.” The man said. “Their continued suspension might suggest that they’re in an ad break, which leaves us a moment to speak freely, Nagai Jiro.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Things looked pretty bad before, but we had somehow scraped by with the help of this strange gentleman, it would certainly seem.

“I appreciate you getting us out of there, but who are you, and where are we?” I asked in rapid succession, still trying to make sense of everything.

“I am a feather in service to the Songbird of Memoria, Lady Autumn, and this is her personal airship, the New Dawn.” The man explained. “And this makes it twice now that our lady has gone out of her way to save you. You should consider yourself fortunate that she’s so generous, and try to be more careful.”

“So that was her handiwork in the mine too, I’m guessing?” I said, remembering the presence of butterflies and how Kururu described her voice. There was no mistaking it. “I’ll have to pass on my thanks when I see her again.”

“You will not have to wait long to fulfill that desire, Jiro.” Archie carefully removed himself from Shizuka’s iron grasp, floating beside me.

“What do you mean, Archie?”

“Your Supporter speaks true.” The man in the driver’s seat turned around to reveal himself, and the blue mask he wore. “We are currently approaching the capital city of Memoria where our lady is waiting to receive you, and your Eternal friends. She’s prepared quite the welcome party, as it turns out.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.” I waved him off. “I was hired to guide these two to the city, and once they’re dropped off I’ll simply go my own way. I wouldn’t want to impose on the Songbird’s kindness.”

“I might be tempted to agree with you and let you go since you’ve done nothing worthy of celebrating...”

Ouch.

“However, since it was a direct order from our lady that I fetch you, the circumstances have changed. As such, I’m afraid it wasn’t a suggestion.” The pilot sighed. “You will be joining us for dinner and then there is an urgent matter the Songbird wishes to discuss with you, you can thank her for everything then.”

“Then I guess I’ll do that.” I sighed, shrugging since I didn’t see much choice in the matter.

Belaboring that fact would only make things more difficult. I also couldn’t refuse a nice dinner, in any case, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious about what she might be prepared to tell me.

“If you want to learn more, come visit me in the cabaret club in the capital city. […] It has to be you.”

Blackheart already dropped quite the bombshell on Yuna, Shizuka, and me a short time ago. But it must have something to do with the ‘bad end’ the Songbird mentioned before. The web was beginning to untangle.

Suddenly, Yuna and Shizuka woke up from their slumber, rubbing their eyes. Fear struck them at first like they were still back at the wagon wreckage with Blackheart, but I reached out and placed my hand on Yuna's to get her attention.

“It’ll be alright, Miss, little miss.” I turned to Yuna and Shizuka respectively. “The Songbird and her people saved us, you’re not in danger anymore.”

“We’re not? That’s… good.” Yuna appeared to heave a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Jiro-bo.”

“The Songbird saved us??” Shizuka’s worry melted just a tad. “Is she here right now?”

“We are on our way to go see her in Memoria, little one.” The pilot said.

“We should be approaching the city in under five minutes,” Archie added, a timer appearing on his interface.

“You know, there is another seat beside me if you would like to help me land as my copilot.” The pilot smiled, gesturing for Shizuka to come join him up front. “If you aren’t afraid of heights, that is, and it’s okay with mom.”

Shizuka looked at her mother as if seeking approval. When she got the nod she was looking for, she beamed and skipped over to the front passenger seat where the pilot was waiting to strap her in. I was bemused that the attitude he took towards me was much different, but I let it go.

“What does that button do?”

“You see, that operates the windshield wipers. And this one over here…”

While the pilot went through the process of explaining how the airship worked, I shot a smirk toward my Supporter.

“Careful now Archie, before you know it the kid might go and pick a new favorite babysitter, and you might be out of the job.” I snickered. “Then you’ll really be a useless hunk of junk.”

“That is no way to thank me for my aid, Jiro. The Songbird would not have received our distress call without my quick action.” Archie protested before looking at Yuna for backup. “Young lady, I would be sure to maintain a safe distance from this one, he takes in excess and never offers as much as a thank you.”

“Hey, that’s not fair, I’ve thanked you before… I think.” I scratched my chin. “Don’t listen to this guy, miss, he’s just—“

I paused in my tracks once I noticed that Yuna wasn’t listening to either of us. Her eyes were glazed over as she stared at the pink clouds outside our porthole window. I couldn’t read her expression, but it didn’t appear joyful in the least bit.

Could what Blackheart said still be eating away at her? I wondered that to myself as I tried to find some trace of her usual cheery nature in the far-off look she wore, but it was no use.

I mean, if everything I knew was a lie I wouldn’t be able to bounce back right away either. I’ve been completely discouraged by far less in my lifetime.

“I’m sorry, did you both say something?” Yuna’s trance broke as she caught me staring. “My head was up in the clouds, you’ll have to forgive me.”

“It ain’t a problem, me and Archie were just doing our normal bickering routine and threw out a line for backup.” I smiled before looking out the window. “Still, if there’s something on your mind, I’m all ears.”

“It’s just, Jiro-bo… Do you think this is really it?” Yuna mumbled, nearly inaudible to herself.

“I’m sorry?”

“Ah, don’t you worry about it, I’m just thinking out loud. I’m sure I’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.”

“Right…”

“Momma, look!” Shizuka suddenly got pumped up by something as she pointed out the window. “Hurry, you’ll miss it!”

We all got up to get a better look, and the sight amazed us. Filling up almost the entire view was the control tower, the crystal spire in all its glory. It was one thing to see it from the outer villages and territories but to be right in front of it was a modern marvel. It was massive enough to dwarf the Tokyo Sky Tree if it were stacked on top of the Burj Khalifa.

Not to be outdone was the sprawling city surrounding it. Purple and blue neon painted every skyscraper for kilometers around, and advertisements plastered on every surface. Flying cars dotted the sky, a relatively new invention back in the real world, they were more numerous here by a longshot. A techno-pop version of the overworld theme replaced the orchestra as we flew into city limits.

“Everyone strap in for a moment, please, the security drones are going to scan us for illegal cargo and then we’ll enter the tower’s lower levels.”

We did as the pilot asked, and a whole host of robots who were similar in shape and appearance to Archie surrounded the vessel and began scanning it with a blue digital web. After a moment, the blue became green and we were cleared to proceed.

“What would have happened if we were found with contraband?”

“The vessel would have been promptly shot down.” The pilot replied curtly.

“That seems a little extreme for fresh fruit.” I joked.

“It’s corruption—not produce—that the Director is worried about. He employed quite a security system to protect the city proper from Blackheart. There hasn’t been an attack within city limits since Project Memoria was launched.” He explained. “That’s why many save up credits to move here, for the guarantee of safety.”

“If only the Director put more focus on communities outside the city, the people wouldn't have to worry so much about threats.” I panned my glance to Yuna who had resumed her spacing out.

“Get ready to disembark, you’ve done a great job as my copilot, little one.” The pilot applauded Shizuka’s efforts with a smile. “We have officially arrived in the City of Memoria.”