Chapter 12 – When Tomorrow Comes

I make landfall by exiting the ocean on to a beachhead on Continent Midheim and convert the Exosuit into repair assistance vehicle and set a course to the village.
Apon my arrival I enable my personal camouflage in preparation for my interaction with the Midengardians and I am greeted by Fenris as Ástríðr is conversing with a small group of Midengardians.
“Welcome back, Leader.”
“I have returned, Fenris. How long have you and the Midengardians been awake?”
“I don’t know. I just woke up and saw Ástríðr talking to those people.”
“I see. It would seem Ástríðr is doing well addressing the Midengardians’ questions in my absence.”
Ástríðr’s head peeks out from the group and notices me.
“Oh! Mr. Ninety you’re back!”
I go over to assist Ástríðr with her interaction with the Midengardians.
“I apologize for not meeting you sooner. I had matters that needed my attention but, I assume Ástríðr was able to provide you details of the situation in this village.”
A man with light orange hair and of average height to the other males in the group steps out from the group towards me.
“You were the one who brought us back to life?”
“I only helped in facilitating new bodies for your suspended spectral forms to inhabit.”
“Forgive my manners. I am Hákonr.”
“I am Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90 and you have met Ástríðr.”
“I just call him Mr. Ninety for short.” Ástríðr interjects.
“And this young wolf-girl is Fenris.”
Fenris comes up and begins to hide behind me, her ears and eyes peeking out cautiously.
“I think I can easily speak for everyone here so far and say that we thank you very much for our second chance and this village.”
“It is just what I am required as per my mission’s duties.”
“No matter we thank you.”
“I am unsure what Ástríðr has told to you so far.”
“She gave us very little information other than answering the many questions we asked.”
“Understood. Other than providing you new bodies, this village is for you to inhabit. There is a small amount of food that will sustain you until the farms are ready to produce reliably.”
“I see but I don’t know anything about farming. I don’t if anyone else knows either.”
“That will not be an issue. I will provide everyone here with training. Your survival will depend on everyone here working together.”
“Miss Ástríðr mentioned that there are other survivors.”
“Indeed, there is another village on Continent Asgard that has already made considerable progress.”
“ASGARD! It still stands?”
Ástríðr interjects, “I mean it’s there but it doesn’t look much different then here.”
“So, the Hall of Urthr and Odin’s Court are gone?”
“Unfortunately, both had to be razed to provide suitable living and farming spaces.”
“I see. it’s all gone then. We really are starting over.”
“As they were, yes, they are gone. However, I was able to save your historical data that was contained within the Hall of Urthr and placed them in a new Odin’s Court on Continent Asgard.”
“That is good to hear. All we have now is each other and making our way to a new tomorrow.”
“Oh, that’s kinda poetic. Were you a writer before?”
“I was not. I was a soldier in the Asgardian Defense Corps.”
“But Midengard was peaceful. Why have a military force?” Ástríðr inquires.
“It is true we were at peace but we had our fair share of rebellious factions and civil unrest. The Allfather and his council of elders maintained a defense corps in times of need. We also provided security for The Allfather and the Council.”
“That makes sense, but I don’t see how his military skills will help with the farming here.”
“I am not averse to manual labor and I will do what ever it takes for us to survive. When tomorrow comes it will be because of all of our efforts combined.”
“Are you sure you weren’t a writer before?”
“His words are not too unlike other soldiers I have interacted with in the past.”
“What shall we do today, now that we are awake?” Hákonr says.
“Funny you should say that. Umm, Mr. Ninety I was kinda bored waiting for everyone to wake up and you to come back so I hope you don’t mind but I went and made a banquet like we did for the people on Asgard.”
“I do not have an objection to your decision,”
“Excuse me, what is this banquet you speak of?”
“It’s just a sort of re-birthday party I came up with. It’s a way to celebrate your return and to send off those that didn’t make it.”
“That is very kind of you.”
“It appears that all the Midengardians here have finished waking up so it is an appropriate time begin your banquet if everything is ready.”
“Yeah, it is Mr. Ninety. It was pretty convenient that there was a place like the New Oden’s Court you made on Asgard.”
“There is an Odin’s Court here?”
“Indeed. I found that having a central gathering building to handle village affairs and celebrations.”
“Ah, yes there was an affairs building at the cities but nothing like Odin’s Court.”
“I guess you could call it an Odin’s Court mini then.” Ástríðr interjects.
“I see. Let see this Odin’s Court you have made.”
Ástríðr, Fenris and I escort the villagers to the banquet Ástríðr has prepared for them.
Many of the Midengardians remark at their new surroundings and I notice a few also remark at Fenris’ appearance.
We arrive at Odin’s Court and as we enter I notice the hall area is set up similar to the way that Ástríðr had done at the Odin’s Court on Continent Asgard replete with the matching food and drink.
Ástríðr goes to the throne and gets the microphone that she appears to have prepositioned earlier during her preparations.
“Please everyone come in and take a seat.”
The Midengardians enter and sit at the tables while admiring the architectural design surrounding them.
Ástríðr waits for everyone to finish entering and then she speaks.
“Welcome everyone. Thank you for coming. As some of you may have heard this a little party to get to know one another. Although, with the exception of Mr. Ninety, we are all Midengardians, but, we don’t really know each other. Even though we don’t know each other you have a chance to now. You see, you all now have something else in common other than being Midengardians. You now have the same birthday and so this meal is to celebrate your birth and a long and healthy life.”
Much like on Continent Asgard, the Midengardians look at one another and say some indistinguishable things to those near them.
“And so, I would like to propose a toast to your rebirth and to those who did not make it. In the clear pitcher is a fruit cocktail for the young ones. In the metallic pitcher is a drink for the adults. It is a drink that was popular with the descendants of those that escaped the disaster and landed on a planet called Earth. The drink is called mjöð and I raise this glass to you all to welcome you back to start a new beginning.”
Ástríðr raises the hand with a glass in it toward the ceiling and yells, “Skál!”
The totality of the Midengardians reciprocate by raising their glasses as well and yell, “Skál!”
“Now everyone please eat, drink and get to know your new brothers and sisters!”
Fenris comes up to Ástríðr pulls on her dress at get her attention and speaks with her.
“Ástríðr, I don’t understand what we are doing here. What is a birthday party?”
“Well, hmmm. I guess it’ll be a little difficult to explain since you think like a wolf but, a birthday is a day that umm…you use to celebrate on the date of your birth, becoming one year older.”
“That’s a strange human tradition. You’re always getting older. What does one specific day matter?”
“It comes from the old days when many people didn’t live as long as they do now…um I mean before the Raganrog. It was to celebrate surviving diseases or other life-threatening things.”
“I guess I can understand that but, why are we celebrating the dead?”
Oh, umm…when one of your…um…pack passes away you feel some sad feelings right?”
“Yeah, we do but only for a short time. We usually have to go on and look for our next hunt. It’s just a part of life.”
“Okay, umm, well, people are like that but they can hold it in their memories for a long time especially since we tend to live longer than wolves.”
“Oh yeah.”
“So, umm, just like birthdays we tend to celebrate the memories we had of the people who had a connection with.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Do you have someone you have memories of you want to remember?”
“I miss my mother and my siblings.”
Ástríðr picks up two glasses of the fruit juice and hands one to Fenris.
“Here. Now, hold it up like you are offering it to them in heaven.”
“O…okay.”
“To Fenris’ mother and siblings.”
“To my mother and siblings.”
“Skál!”
“S…skál!”
“Now drink.”
“O…okay.”
They both begin drinking their fruit juice but, Fenris stops and tears begin to fall from her eyes.
“What is this falling from my eyes?” Fenris asks.
“Oh my. You’re crying. Why are you crying?”
“I don’t know. I was thinking of my mother and my siblings and then I felt like I missed them and then water started coming from my eyes.”
“That’s okay. It’s normal to feel that way. Come here let me give you a hug.”
“I don’t know what that is but okay.”
Ástríðr pulls Fenris to her and embraces her.
Fenris’ arms dangle down and her face is covered in Ástríðr’s bosom as her crying intensifies.
A couple of the nearby females comes up to Ástríðr to see what the problem is with Fenris.
“Oh dear! Is she alright?” one female inquires.
“She’ll be fine. She’s just a ball of emotions right now. It’s all a new experience to her.”
“Oh, my! poor girl. Everything is a bit much to take in for one so young, isn’t it.” A different female exclaims.
The two females continue providing words of comfort to Fenris while paying no mind to her appearance.
Fenris’ crying begins to subside as she pulls her face from Ástríðr’s now wet bosom.
“Did I do something wrong?” Fenris inquires.
“Of course you didn’t.” Ástríðr replies to her. These women were just worried about you is all.”
“I’m sorry I worried you.” Tells the females.
“We’re just glad you are feeling better.”
“Ástríðr, I’m sleepy again.”
“I’ll take you back to the home by our camp. Thank you for help. Please don’t mind us and enjoy the festivities.”
“Take care. I hope you feel better little one.”
“Thank you.” Fenris replies.
Ástríðr and Fenris come up to me and I already have deduced what she will be asking me.
“You need to bring Fenris to the domicile I presume.”
“Yeah, I’ll bring her there and then if you could switch with me when I get back so I can close out this party.”
“Understood. I will await your return.”
The two depart and I continue observing the Midengardians’ celebration while answering questions that were asked of me.
After a small amount of time Ástríðr returns.
“She’s asleep soundly now. I’ll take over from here.”
“Your absence was no imposition to me.”
“Master. There is an attack at the ocean containment and the defenses have deteriorated considerably.”
“Understood, keep me appraised of the situation. I am departing immediately.”
“Command confirmed, Master.”
“Let me guess there’s a problem you have to take care of.”
“Indeed, there is. The undersea beings I rescued are under attack.”
“Well don’t tell me about. Go. Go. I got this here.”
“Understood.”
I get my repair assistance vehicle and use maximum velocity to approach Midheim’s waterfront.