Staring Up Above Part 1

It had been a long, miserable day, and I was at my wit's end. The cramps had started the night before, dull and manageable at first, but now they felt like daggers twisting in my abdomen. Every step seemed to amplify the pain, and the absence of medication aboard the ship only made matters worse. With limited supplies and most resources prioritized for emergencies, pain relief was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

Lumina sat beside her in their shared quarters, concern etched across her young face. “Sissy, are you okay?” she asked tentatively, her voice soft.

“I’m fine,” I snapped, though the bite in my tone wasn’t intentional. I immediately regretted it when I saw Lumina flinch. “Sorry, Lumina. I didn’t mean that. It’s just… this sucks.”

Lumina hugged her stuffed hamster pillow—a gift Franny had crafted for her to match Nutmeg—and nodded solemnly. “Maybe there’s someone who can help?”

“Unless they can magically make chocolate and ibuprofen appear out of thin air, I doubt it,” I muttered, leaning her forehead against the cool surface of the table.

After a moment of silence, Lumina’s face lit up. “I know! Aiden! He’s always making weird stuff. Maybe he can make something to help you feel better!”

I groaned, the mere mention of Aiden made my cramps feel worse somehow. “No thanks, Lumina. The last thing I need is that mad scientist poking around my personal problems.”

“But Sissy,” Lumina pleaded, tugging at her arm gently. “He’s really smart, even if he’s kind of... weird. And he’s super nice to me. I bet he can come up with something! Please?”

I sighed, knowing I didn’t have the energy to argue with Lumina’s hopeful persistence. “Fine,” I relented, waving a hand weakly. “But if this goes horribly wrong, I’m blaming you.”

Lumina beamed and grabbed my hand, helping me to my feet. Together, we made our way to one of the ship’s many communal spaces where Aiden tended to set up camp for his latest harebrained projects.

As expected, Aiden was surrounded by wires, small machines, and what appeared to be a series of glowing test tubes. A few kids sat nearby, watching intently as he explained the “breakthrough” properties of… something. I didn’t even have the energy to try to guess.

“Hey, Aiden!” Lumina called out cheerfully, skipping ahead. “We need your help!”

Aiden turned at the sound of her voice, his face lighting up when he saw the two of us. “Ah, my favorite fan! And… oh, it’s you,” he said, smirking at me as he wiped his hands on a rag. “What brings you two to my den of genius? Dare I hope it’s admiration for my brilliance?”

Aiden’s smirk was as infuriating as it was insufferably smug. He leaned casually against his workbench, arms crossed, as if daring me to admit defeat by even showing up. His rag, streaked with unidentifiable grease, hung precariously from one hand, while the other gestured theatrically toward his chaotic setup.

I groaned, rubbing her temples. “No, Aiden. Franny and the rest of the scientist are busy at the main laboratory. I feel like death warmed over, but apparently Lumina thinks you can help.”

“Death warmed over, huh?” Aiden tilted his head, his expression now laced with genuine curiosity. “What’s going on?”

“It’s—” I hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Look, I’m just dealing with… cramps. You know. Girl problems. And before you say anything, I know you’re not a doctor or anything remotely qualified, but Lumina seems to think you can whip up a miracle.”

Lumina, ever the peacemaker, tugged at my sleeve, urging me forward. “Aiden, Sissy’s not feeling well,” she said, her voice solemn as if delivering the gravest of news. “Can you make something to help her?”

Aiden’s expression softened slightly at Lumina’s earnestness, though his teasing lilt didn’t waver. “Ah, I see. A noble quest for aid in the name of sisterly love. Very well, I accept this challenge!” He swept a hand dramatically toward his cluttered workstation.

“Challenge?” I echoed, already regretting my decision to come. “Let’s not overdo it. I just need something for cramps. Nothing explosive, radioactive, or… glowing.”

“Explosive?” Aiden’s face contorted in mock offense. “Do you think so little of me?”

“Just… please don’t make this worse.” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Aiden’s grin widened as he ceremoniously retrieved a set of colorful test tubes, holding them up as if he were unveiling ancient artifacts. “Alright, little scientists!” he declared dramatically, his voice brimming with excitement. “Prepare yourselves to witness the glorious fusion of science and sugar. Today, we delve into the fascinating world of rock candy.”

The kids around him erupted into gasps and chatter, their wide eyes glued to his every move. Lumina bounced on her toes, hands clasped in excitement, while Nutmeg poked his tiny head out of her pocket, clearly intrigued by the commotion. In stark contrast, I slumped in the chair, barely hiding my annoyance.

“Rock candy? What happened to working on something to combat my cramps?” I mumbled, narrowing my eyes at Aiden.

Ignoring the sarcasm, Aiden turned back to the group. “Now, who wants to learn how to make candy crystals?!” The kids cheered, their enthusiasm washing over the room like a tidal wave. “Fantastic! Gather around, and I’ll show you the magical process.”

The action was more than enough to make me groan but I didn’t have the energy to stop him. Instead, I crossed my arms and watched as Aiden began his sugar-fueled science lesson.

“First, my dear apprentices, we create a supersaturated solution by dissolving sugar into hot water,” Aiden explained, his voice filled with the kind of energy reserved for TV hosts and overly enthusiastic professors. He carefully stirred the sugar into a glass bowl, the mixture shimmering under the room’s fluorescent lights. “You stir until the solution is ready to transform into something truly spectacular!”

“Nutmeg wants to help stir!” Lumina chimed in, lifting her hamster toward the bowl.

Aiden grinned. “Unfortunately, my little furry friend, this part requires hands. But don’t worry—your moral support is invaluable.”

As the kids giggled, Aiden poured the sugar solution into a row of containers, dropping strings tied to popsicle sticks into each one. “Now we let the magic begin! The sugar crystals will latch onto the string and start growing into marvelous candy creations.”

Lumina clapped her hands. “That’s so cool! How long does it take?”

“An excellent question!” Aiden said, pointing at her approvingly. “The crystals will need several days to fully form—an exercise in patience and scientific appreciation.”

Hearing that sat me up straighter, with my brow furrowed. “Wait, days? Are you telling me I sat through this monologue just to find out the candy isn’t even ready?”

“That is correct,” Aiden said with a grin. Before I could unleash my irritation, he held up a bag. “But I, being the forward-thinking genius that I am, prepared some earlier. Voila!” He pulled out a stick of vibrant blue rock candy, winking. “Crisis averted, thanks to me.”

I gave him a long, unimpressed stare. “So, you had this the whole time, and you still made me sit through your science show?”

Aiden's unapologetic enthusiasm lit up the room, a stark contrast to my growing exhaustion. The kids around him were completely enthralled, their eyes wide with wonder as they leaned forward to catch every word. Lumina, too, was absorbed, her innocent joy shining brighter than the fortress's dim corridors.

“Learning is an experience, Delia,” Aiden said with a smirk, snapping a piece of the blue rock candy in half and offering it to Lumina. “And who am I to rob the young minds of this fine establishment of a little fun?”

Lumina took the candy with a delighted grin, twirling it between her fingers before popping it into her mouth. “It’s so good!” she exclaimed, her words muffled slightly. “Sissy, you should try some!”

Aiden extended the other half toward me, his grin shifting into something almost playful. “Care for a taste?” he asked, his tone as smug as ever. “Maybe it’ll sweeten your mood.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, but the faint sweetness in the air teased my taste buds. With a resigned sigh, I snatched the candy and bit into it. The crunch was satisfying, and the flavor burst onto my tongue—a sharp, sugary delight that I couldn’t completely ignore.

“Fine,” I muttered begrudgingly. “It’s good. Happy?”

“Ecstatic,” he replied with a wink, clearly enjoying my reluctant approval.

As Lumina chatted with the kids about the candy-making process, I couldn’t help but feel a grudging sense of appreciation for Aiden. Annoying as he was, he had managed to make a miserable day just a little more bearable. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t entirely unbearable after all. But only maybe.