Serenity & Frion

Chirus, what do you think of this dress I made?

Wow! You look pretty in it, Valiesh. I love the blue shade, and the cut's amazing. It shows your body shape perfectly.

Oh! How about this?

I like that dress's red color, but I think the cut might be a bit baggy here. Do you see what I mean?

Here, right? Ah, I see it. It could use some tightening.

You got this, Valiesh!

I got a treat for you, Chirus.

What's that?

Give me a second to change... how do I look?

Cute bikini! 10/10!

Wow, you didn't hesitate there.

Did you want me to?

No!

Just kidding, Valiesh.

Valiesha cried in her sleep as the memory of her Endroman crippled her happy flashback. The Endroman did whatever she asked until Valiesha joined that protest against Senri in her town. When Valiesha returned home, the Endroman locked her in and beat her.

Senri was there as the Skelengels punished the protesters severely. Fathers and grandfathers were brutally beaten to death by the Endromen. Valiesha jumped from her bed, shocked by the nightmare.

"It's okay," The mother that Valiesha and Shyrin helped pat her shoulder. "You're safe now. I patched up your wounds."

"Oh, it's you. Thanks," Valiesha took a deep breath. "I never got your name."

"I'm Serenity. And yours?"

"I'm Valiesha. Are you alright?"

"Yes, and so is my baby, thanks to you and that girl with the sniper rifle," Serenity smiled.

"That's Shyrin. I told you she could do it. Where is she?" Valiesha slowly stood and looked out the window.

She noticed the rebels peacefully eating dinner with the other families. The Shima Enaga walkers puffed their nylon feathers and huddled asleep on top of the wrecked Endromen.

"My son is teaching her cooking. Frion likes her a lot," Serenity looked outside with Valiesha. "Thank you and the others for freeing us from those Endromen. I never wanted one, but Senri made it mandatory to avoid punishment."

"My gals don't like them either. Many of us learned the hard way. The so-called ideal husbands are all covert spies for Senri," Valiesha huffed. "Frion is your son?"

"Yes. Frion's my last son. Senri took my other babies away to Dessix," Serenity stood. "Frion's making beef stew for dinner. Why don't you eat with us?"

"That sounds nice."

As they walked downstairs, Valiesha noticed Firaga outside the windows. She's telling the other teenage daughters her dating stories while being drunk. The young girls would laugh as Firaga entertained them, trying not to drop her wine bottle.

There she goes again, rambling about the ten boys she's dated. Well, that's how Firaga is. Valiesha rolled her eyes.

Valiesha sniffed the aroma of the beef stew as she and Serenity walked onto the first floor with wooden walls like a camping cabin. There was Frion, a blue-haired young man with green eyes. He held Shyrin's arm, teaching her his signature stirring motion to prepare the stew.

Although Shyrin couldn't speak, Frion would motion signs and point to objects to help her understand. Likewise, Shyrin would sign shapes to communicate. The two were taste sampling the beef stew to ensure it had enough seasoning.

"Mom! We're almost done," Frion smiled as Shyrin stirred the stew with his motion.

"Thank you, dear," Serenity sat with Valiesha in the dining room.

They look so happy. Valiesha watched. I used to cook for Chirus. I hope I can be happy again like that with Chirus.

"Frion used to open a food shop where he would cook for the neighbors. He always loved bringing a smile to other's faces with his food," Serenity poured water into glasses. "Me, my husband, and other sons would always eat there."

Just like how Chirus enjoyed helping the sick manage their medications. Valiesha thought. "That's great! Is the shop still around?"

"Yes, but we all hid away once the Skelengels searched for my sons. But thanks to you and the rebels, Frion can finally reopen it peacefully."

"I see. If I may ask, is your husband still alive?"

Serenity sighed. "Truman deeply cared about our boys. When the Skelengels took my first son, he chased them down and promised to return if he found him. I'm not sure if Truman or my other sons are alive right now."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Dinner's ready!" Frion announced.

He and Shyrin set the table and served the group warm bowls of beef stew. Valiesha drooled, looking at the brown mixture of beef, yellow potatoes, orange carrots, green celery, and onions.

"This looks so good!" Valiesha told Frion. Chirus would love this too.

"Thanks! Shyrin and I made it together!" Frion stood proudly. "You're Valiesha, right? Nice to meet you!"

Valiesha quickly signed with Shyrin to see how she was. Shyrin replied with a grin and a peace sign. When the four sat, Serenity offered to pray before they ate. As the four closed their eyes, Serenity prayed:

"Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this wonderful meal. We are grateful for these brave girls who freed us and our neighbors from the Endromen. The rebels are fighting for our sons, who never return from Dessix. Please lend the Enagas your strength to battle Senri and save our boys. You declared that it's not right for a man to be alone and that you made him a helper. We humbly pray for all our deliverance from the despair the Skelengels brought upon our country. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen."

"Amen!"

The four eagerly munched on the beef stew, laughing and chatting about stories. As Frion practiced signing with Shyrin, Valiesha told Serenity about Chirus. While Shyrina and Frion shared about their siblings, Valiesha told Serenity how she was a fashion designer while Chirus was a pharmacy student, and she wished to say sorry for her mistakes.

"Chirus sounds like a good man," Serenity took a sip of brown broth. "I think it's very mature of you to want to make everything up."

"Firaga out there helped me realize my error. Now, Chirus is at Dessix Academy, and I want him back."

"Have you found out where it is? I heard the location is classified, and no citizen is allowed to know."

"My spy, Sunder, is looking into it. I'm sure she's-"

Valiesha's transceiver buzzed before she could finish. After swallowing a delicious potato from the stew, she picked the call up.

"Commander, do you copy?"

"Yes, Sunder. Loud and clear. What's your status? We've been worried about you."

"Sorry I took so long. I had some unexpected help and located Dessix. I'm sending you the coordinates," Sunder's voice buzzed. "It wasn't easy, but I got as much intel as I can."

"Great! Anything else you've found? Did you see Chirus?"

Sunder's sigh muffled the speaker. "Commander, you have no frickin clue what Chirus and the boys are going through."