Log 12: Aftermath

Saturn sat just inside the schoolhouse. It was odd that Idree was running late. Most of the other students had gone home, but Sammy stayed for some reason. While Saturn appreciated the company, Sammy was beginning to annoy her.

"Hey, Jessie," Sammy said for the umpteenth time. "Can you teach me how you did that math question on your first day?"

“I don't know how to explain it," Saturn replied.

"If you ever figure that out, can you teach me?"

"I guess so..."

"Yay!" Sammy cheered.

Why was she so excited? It was just math. Numbers weren't that interesting, were they? Maybe Sammy was like the Professor. He liked numbers a lot.

"Are numbers interesting to you?" Saturn asked.

"Mm-hmm." Sammy nodded. "I wanna be a scientist when I grow up! So I'm gonna need all the math skills! What do you wanna be when you grow up?"

What did Saturn want to be as a grown-up? That was a good question. She wasn't sure. She hadn’t had any dreams or aspirations in the laboratory. The Professor actually asked her the same question, but Saturn couldn’t answer him either.

When she asked the Professor what she could be when she was all grown-up, he had said that she could be whatever she wanted. Saturn told him that she would want to see Mama again. The Professor said that that was an admirable want, but it was not an answer.

"Earth to Jessie." Sammy waved her hand in front of Saturn's face, snapping her back to reality.

"Did I zone out?"

"Yeah, completely!" Sammy held her arms out as far as she could for a moment. "What were you thinking about?"

"The—The fact that Idree isn't here yet," Saturn lied, stopping herself from revealing her secrets.

Sammy raised an eyebrow. "While that is weird, it seems weirder to still be thinking about it."

"Isn't your mama waiting for you?"

"Yeah, but I asked Mommy if I could keep you company until Idree arrives, so I am here." Sammy smiled.

"Mm. Thanks." Saturn really did appreciate it, but still, Sammy didn't have to wait with her. "Do you want to wait, or are you just being nice?"

Sammy looked offended. "Of course I want to! I wouldn't be here otherwise! Friends keep friends company! That's how friendship works!"

"Oh, really?"

"Uh-huh!" Sammy's grin widened.

The idea of friends was fairly new to Saturn. Based on what Sammy had said, it sounded like Kairo, Idree, and Andree were all her friends as well. That was really nice. Hopefully nothing bad had happened to Idree. It was very strange that she hadn't arrived yet.

"Hey! Look!" Sammy exclaimed, pointing at something beyond the entrance's glass walls.

"Huh?" Saturn wandered over.

Someone was walking toward the building. Saturn squinted. It was Dr. Glass. Uh-oh. That couldn't be good. According to Idree, the last time Saturn saw Brady, she removed a tracking device from Saturn's neck. Was there another one?

"Do you know her?" Sammy asked.

"Mm-hmm," Saturn answered. "She's a doctor."

"Cool." Sammy stared. "Why's she here, though?"

"I don't know..."

"Oh, I guess we should wait for her, then." Sammy returned to her floor seat, with Saturn following.

It wasn't long before Dr. Glass entered and waved Saturn over.

"Idree asked me to pick you up today. She's busy right now," Dr. Glass explained.

"Oh, okay," Saturn said. "See you tomorrow, Sammy."

"See you too! I better hurry to Mommy since your ride's here." Sammy grabbed her bag, waved goodbye, and hurried out the door.

In the car, Saturn wondered how to ask what Idree was doing. Was it even polite to ask? When she was in the lab and asked where the Professor was, his assistants always said that it was rude to ask. Then, yes, it was rude to ask, so she would not. It wasn't like last time, after all. Idree was probably just doing that shopping thing that Kairo mentioned, or perhaps she was helping a friend.

Dr. Glass's house was beautiful. Two stories, five bedrooms, and a front and backyard! Brady had three daughters. The youngest was six, the eldest fifteen, and the middle child was nearly ten. They all strongly resembled their mama, though happier and more energetic.

"Who's the brat?" the eldest asked rudely.

"Her name's Saturn, she'll be staying with us for a day or several. Treat her kindly," Dr. Glass answered.

"Yeah, whatever." The eldest definitely resembled their mama in attitude the most. Or maybe she was just annoyed to be sharing her home with another child? Wait, did Ms. Glass say Saturn would be here for days?

"I'll definitely be nice to her, Mom!" the middle-child declared. "She looks to be around my age! We can be friends!”

The youngest walked over to Saturn. She was clutching a teddy in one hand and staring half at the ground and half at Saturn. “Hello, my name's Judy." After introducing herself, she ran behind her mama's leg. Cute.

"I know your mama already introduced me, but I'm Saturn. I hope we can get along."

"Of course we can!" the middle-child exclaimed, hugging Saturn tightly. "We're gonna be good buddies, I can tell! My name's Amie! It's spelled A-M-I-E! I'm excited to hangout with you! I like chess and checkers and math and ..."

Amie was talking too much and too fast for Saturn to follow. Plus, the hug was surprising and far too tight. But, well, at least she knew two out of three names. That was good. Saturn pulled away from Amie's hug, in need of oxygen.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Amie asked.

"Too tight," Saturn gasped. "Your hug was too tight."

Covering her mouth with her hands, Amie cried out in shock, "Oh no! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry—!"

"Stop!" Saturn interrupted. "Please, talk slower and less. I can't follow anything you say and your words are slurring together."

"Huh?" Amie looked confused.

"I'll explain later."

"Okay."

"Girls, get back to your homework," their mama sternly ordered.

The middle-child jumped, giggled, and hurried off to her room. Judy followed. The eldest relaxed on the couch. Dr. Glass had more emotion in her voice when she spoke to her children. It was interesting.

"Tricia Liberty Glass, what are you doing?" Ms. Glass asked.

"I'm relaxing." Tricia was doing something on her phone, barely paying attention to her mama.

"Have you done your homework?"

"Nope," the eldest retorted.

Brady walked to the kitchen doorway. "I'm getting the lock."

Tricia slid off the couch and slunk down the hallway toward her room.

"It always works," Brady muttered, before returning to her usual droning tone. "Anyway, Saturn, are you hungry?"

"Uh-uh, lunch was enough."

"Really? Interesting."

Saturn tilted her head to the side. What was so interesting about it? Was that not normal? Whatever, she could ask Brady about it later.

After a while, Ms. Glass showed Saturn to her room. It was fairly large, compared to Idree’s guest room anyway. Saturn liked it. The window had a view into the backyard, and the closet was big, even if it was barren. Brady said she'd bring Saturn's uniforms over later.

Dr. Glass explained Idree's situation to Saturn after supper. The doctor said that Saturn could visit Idree everyday after school. It was sad, but obvious to Saturn, that she wouldn't be seeing Kairo soon after all. Idree and her brother had to recover before they could save Kairo.

When Saturn finally talked to Idree, she learned that they had met a new ally after the fight with Lyssa. Three, actually. Meghan, Osiris, and Katherine Pecan. They sounded like an odd group, but hopefully they'd turn out to be helpful when freeing Kairo.

The time with Brady lasted for a couple weeks. Idree's injuries turned out to be more severe than initially recognized. Andree wasn't any better off. Sadly, he was worse. But, eventually, Saturn did go back to Idree's house.

***

30th of August, 2136

A man in a formal suit straight out of the 1840's walked into the school Saturn attended. He opened the door of Class B-5.

"... and so—" Teacher Anne paused, looking to the door. "Um, sir, what are you doing?"

He entered the classroom, followed by two armed soldiers and walked to Saturn's desk. A shiver shot down her spine. She clutched her skirt.

"I'm here for this girl, Jessie Kighte!" the Professor announced.